It seems everyone could use a pick me up. So whether it is by treating yourself or helping someone else brighten up their day – these items are sure to make someone smile. Perhaps treat a friend who is a first responder to a gift – a thoughtful way to help them and the economy. Here are my picks for the week.

Staying at home is the safe thing to do these days. Why not make it as relaxing and as stress free as possible? Here are a five items to life your spirits, bring nature into your home and hopefully bring peace, happiness and joy into your world.

In early 2015, a group of my friends decided to hike up Mt. Whitney, a peak of 14,505 feet in the Eastern Sierras of California. The idea came from our buddy John Marsden. He often was the catalyst of our adventures, and he liked it when his friends could join him on these trips. Many of us in this circle of friends were hikers, and have even done hikes together.

Forty pairs of eyes scan the countryside looking for movement, any movement. With binoculars and cameras at the ready, we hoped for a bear or a moose, but were willing to settle for some Dall sheep high up the mountain.   Not a passenger aboard the bus maintained a semblance of composure.

You don't have to be a gambler to have a great time at San Manuel Casino. While the place does have some of the best gaming in Southern California, it also boasts great restaurants, exciting nightlife, and a comfortable hotel. And best of all, the casino is only about an hour drive from downtown Los Angeles and minutes from LA-Ontario International Airport.

After years of long winter months of Seattle's nonstop stop rain and a sun which refused to shine, I packed up my car and followed the sun to the warmth of San Diego. I was not disappointed; the city was blessed with 12-months of sunshine with an an average temperature between 55 to 75 degrees.

Santa Fe, New Mexico is more than a place. It is a spirit, an energy that enters your soul and takes residence in your worldview as well as your inner vision. A state of mind more than a city; a way of life more than a place to live. It’s a lifestyle, not a destination.

If you’re a germaphobe you might want to stop reading now. You could be freaked out by the displays in this museum showcasing in sometimes graphic detail the sorts of diseases that — no pun intended — plague humankind.

Here are a few great items to have on your next travel adventure. When traveling, space is limited, here are a few wonderful and useful items to take with you.

While recently charting my course to California’s Eastern Sierra, I spotted a tiny town on the map called Independence. It was located off Highway 395, right along my path. And with a name like Independence, it screamed history and small town California. I had to investigate.