Poor driving, going long hours without rest, booze, cell phones and stupid decisions can cut the cross-country trip short and send you to the hospital, or on that final journey heavenward (or to that other place).

I've driven the 3,000 miles many times from US coast to coast, often alone and on several trips with family and/or friends. Of course, if another driver is with you, the ordeal is not only easier by half, but can be almost pleasant. There's companionship and conversation that help pass the hours and miles away. That will help preserve your sanity. Also, while one is driving, the other can snooze. use noise-cancelling earphones to listen to music, do laptop computer work or watch a DVD.

Lately, instead of the firepower of navies, armies and air forces, it appears the best way to protect yourself from modern pirates is to use plastic deck chairs and tables as weapons. There was a real-life recent news report that cruise ship passengers helped fight off a Somali pirate attack by throwing those lethal plastic tables and deck chairs at the bad guys.

The ship is the MSC Melody, and while on its way to ports in the Middle East, the captain made the mistake of cruising too close to the Somalia coast where the pirates lurk.

A gang of armed pirates in a high-speed motorboat suddenly came dashing up to the cruise ship and started firing rifles and tossing boarding ropes up to the railings in preparation for boarding. Before the crew could be alerted, passengers near the railings took matters into their own hands and began to fight back with everything they could find on deck.

Fortunately for everyone but the pirates, the ship’s armed guards arrived on deck and began firing at the pirates. This caused the raiders to jump back into their boat and speed away.          

Although the reality of piracy is nothing to laugh at, this incident doesn’t have to be all negative. Now that one cruise ship has experienced the thrill of contact with Somali pirates, others can add exciting activities to entice people to book cruises and join in on the fun. Here are a few ideas:

A news service recently posted an article listing the top ten reasons for missing a flight. Most were the usual lame excuses, including heavy traffic and security delays. All silly and unnecessary. Travel55+ has 5+5 of the real reasons that even a hard-nosed airline gate attendant has to  believe as perfectly valid. The excuses will bring tears to his eyes, and he will hold your flight, or even make the pilot come back, just for you. Here they are:

In just about every hotel room, you’ll find fire emergency instructions. We start our safety measures at the front desk. We ask for a room no higher than the 7th floor. Why? That’s usually the highest a fire truck ladder can reach. Don’t make fun of us. Just check the history of major hotel fires, and being trapped in a room on an upper floor is a remote possibility, but it happens. Here are some other instructions: