Month: April 2026

For a number of reasons, I usually travel with a portable chef’s kit. I have my professional chef’s kit (Messermeister) with all my pro knives and a few other things that come in handy. However, I really don’t don’t like to put that into checked luggage at the best of times, and especially in a backpack that may or may not be secure.

So, I decided to get the above kit, had it on my Amazon Wish List (thanks!). Three decent knives, cutting board, sheaths/covers for the knives, and even a sharpener. Semi-hard case protects nicely. Price was such that while more than I would like, I won’t cry (too hard) if something happens to it.

However, it was lacking a few things and the ‘lightweight’ cutting board was anything but in my opinion. Total kit weighed in at 3.08 pounds. So, pulled the bamboo cutting board, bought some inexpensive plastic mats, and cut them down with the landlord’s jig saw (with his permission) and now have three cutting boards at need at a fraction of the weight. In fact, it dropped the weight down to 1.74 pounds.

However, like I said, some things missing. So, a folding camp spatula has been added, a can opener (yes, could have saved even more weight with a military opener, but I wanted something easier to use), a proper corkscrew/bottle opener, a kfork, two sizes of kspoons, a scrub pad/sponge, and a tea towel are now resident in the kit. Total weight, 2.78 pounds. Not ideal, but better than a sharp stick in the eye.

NOTE: the kspoon, etc. thing comes from an experience a former cigar buddy had. He had an employee who was not the sharpest spoon in the drawer, and among other things referred to knives as ‘kah-nif-ees’ which led to jokes about kah-spoons, kah-forks, etc. It still makes me smile a bit. As does his thinking Rhodes Scholars were ‘Road Scholars’ because they could read maps and find their way any where and everywhere…

Like to have something like this as I can not only use it to cook at the apartment, but it is ideal to have on any long train trips as I can pick up sausages, cheese, and other delights and have food and drink without the need to get off the train. If I do that, will share. Reminds me, need to see if I can include my titanium cup in the luggage to have for that as well. Paper napkin for a plate and you are good to go. Also, if I have to camp or semi-camp while out and about, again, covered for food prep and such.

More soon.

Please check out my Winter 26 Bleg!

If you would like to help me with this trip, seminary courses, and more, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. I’ve added Cash App ($CliffPow7) and Venmo (@Clifford-Powers-5). There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. Getting hit by lightning is not fun! It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

No, not talking about passports and visas (you should have already done such). Instead, talking about wills, power of attorney, and other paperwork you need to have in place before traveling, especially if you do any ‘adventure’ traveling. This isn’t adventure per se, thought it will be a good adventure Lord willing, but if anything goes wrong I want people to have what they need to help me and to know what I want done.

So, I’m having a new will done. I did the last one online; but, for reasons I’m not going to discuss in public, I am having a lawyer do the documents this time. That way they should be air-tight, and such that governments nor anyone else can stick an oar into.

In addition, I’m also updating my Power of Attorney for Healthcare and taking care of a few other documents so that if anything happens to me, especially while I am overseas, the people here will have access to anything and everything needed to take care of me, or to bury me. My only caveat is that I be given an Orthodox Christian funeral. If I were to die on the pilgrimage, I have left instructions to bury me there. I don’t see the need to bring me back here, even if the travel insurance covers it. By the way, this is the second formal written public notice of my intentions in that regard.

Depending on your circumstances, you need to have things worked out in all regards — health, estate, guardianships, etc. — before you head out. Especially if you are married and have children, you need the I’s crossed and the T’s dotted.

I will admit, the costs of such services has gone up a LOT since I last used a lawyer, but it is worth it to have things air tight. That said, feel free to hit the tip jar as that was a major and unbudgeted expense.

UPDATE: Not thrilled with the legal beasts, as they did not have it done last week as promised; there were too many difficulties with meeting this week which they assured me they could do; and, they insisted on all sorts of extra boilerplate instead of keeping it simple. So, a three page will became 22 pages, etc. I think I walked out with six separate documents when I wanted three; and, one copy of all documents was app. 3/4 inches thick. BTW, fair warning: never ask me for an honest opinion unless you really want it, as at one point when reviewing documents earlier this week when asked what I thought I responded that ‘it looks like the explosive release of a year’s worth of legal constipation.’ No joke, I actually did say that to them. At least it is done. Remember: whatever you plan for never happens, so plan for the worst, pray for the best, and accept what comes.

Please check out my Winter 26 Bleg!

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, and to start a truly new life, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.