I love this time of the year in the Midwest. It's clean, fresh, breezy, warm, and it brings back so many good memories. Like when things weren't so complicated (read: before one needed to work to have money to pay for stuff) and I would spend summers waking up early to practice dance for five hours in the sweltering humidity or barely working at the newly-opened gas station down the road and eating my daily Wendy's Big Bacon Classic with a cup of free French Vanilla "cappuccino" or taking walks with my mom right before dusk when the heat had dissipated and the mosquitoes were ready to bite or laying outside in the backyard on my cat blanket with headphones on and one book, one magazine, one writing utensil, one pad of paper, and new CD...just in case I got bored. Ahhh. Those were all wonderful moments while they lasted.
Seattle just isn't the same. I need the pain and relief of humidity!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
A New Low
I exercised in a business park today. At least it had a lake!
I'm in Fishkill, New York tonight. We just drove from Bristol, Connecticut which is the home of ESPN. Interesting, right?
I had a great, GREAT weekend in Boston. I love that city! Before driving to the home of the Red Sox, I ended my week in Portland, Maine. On my way down, I decided to take a little detour and stop in the posh Kennebunks (on the coast of Maine) for a few hours. What a beautiful place! I went to Old Orchard Beach and walked near the Atlantic...
...I got caught in a crazy thunderstorm and got ice cream...
...I made my way to Kennebunkport and did a little shopping...
...and took some pictures of the beautiful seaside town...
I couldn't decide on what kind of (homemade!) ice cream to get, so I got the "sampler" (oh man) with these flavors: Almond Joy, Mocha Chip, Peanut Butter, and Mint Chocolate Chip. I wasn't disappointed!
And in Boston, we went to a great pub called Christopher's in Porter Square on Friday night and then on Saturday, we hit the Boston Harbor Hotel for afternoon tea, the Boston Commons, Faneuil Market, the North End (where Little Italy resides), Newbury Street shopping, and strode along the Charles river. We grabbed a drink at the oldest tavern in the USA (Bell in Hand since 1795), we dined at the infamous Mike's Diner by Boston University Medical Center, we had a little snack (and pink sangria!) on the outdoor patio at Joe's on Newbury.
Overall, the weekend was wonderful and I totally want to move to Boston!
I'm in Fishkill, New York tonight. We just drove from Bristol, Connecticut which is the home of ESPN. Interesting, right?
I had a great, GREAT weekend in Boston. I love that city! Before driving to the home of the Red Sox, I ended my week in Portland, Maine. On my way down, I decided to take a little detour and stop in the posh Kennebunks (on the coast of Maine) for a few hours. What a beautiful place! I went to Old Orchard Beach and walked near the Atlantic...
...I got caught in a crazy thunderstorm and got ice cream...
...I made my way to Kennebunkport and did a little shopping...
...and took some pictures of the beautiful seaside town...
I couldn't decide on what kind of (homemade!) ice cream to get, so I got the "sampler" (oh man) with these flavors: Almond Joy, Mocha Chip, Peanut Butter, and Mint Chocolate Chip. I wasn't disappointed!
And in Boston, we went to a great pub called Christopher's in Porter Square on Friday night and then on Saturday, we hit the Boston Harbor Hotel for afternoon tea, the Boston Commons, Faneuil Market, the North End (where Little Italy resides), Newbury Street shopping, and strode along the Charles river. We grabbed a drink at the oldest tavern in the USA (Bell in Hand since 1795), we dined at the infamous Mike's Diner by Boston University Medical Center, we had a little snack (and pink sangria!) on the outdoor patio at Joe's on Newbury.
Overall, the weekend was wonderful and I totally want to move to Boston!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Schnectady, New York
A few fun facts about me right now:
1) I just ate at Chez Daisie Creperie in preparation for my trip to France. Yum!
2) I'm in a ramshackle, depressed city where bizarre behavior seems to be frequent. I think I've seen at least 15 people limp across the (near barren) streets of downtown. One guy tried to cross and literally just stood right in the middle of the right lane while I was trying to drive by. He was on his cell phone (not to be bothered by the 10 cars moving in the road ahead of him) and he was really indecisive when choosing what to do: Move back to the curb or cross? Move back to the curb or cross? MAKE A DAMN DECISION! I'M DRIVING AND I'M IMPATIENT AND I WILL NOT HESITATE TO RUN YOU OVER! I don't really like it here.
3) I really hate it when people rummage through my stuff on the job.
4) I'm drinking flavorless chai tea at this very moment. It's disappointing.
5) Our Holiday Inn sells pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I've been dreaming about them since last time I was here in March. So, last night, I traveled down to the front desk and its adjacent "Sweet Shop" to buy some. I couldn't decide which flavor to purchase (Half Baked or Phish Food?!?) and I happened to ask a young lady who was microwaving a frozen dinner to help me with my decision. I must have appeared to be seriously contemplating getting both flavors because with a quick glance at my stomach, she said, "Are you pregnant or something?"
Uh. No.
1) I just ate at Chez Daisie Creperie in preparation for my trip to France. Yum!
2) I'm in a ramshackle, depressed city where bizarre behavior seems to be frequent. I think I've seen at least 15 people limp across the (near barren) streets of downtown. One guy tried to cross and literally just stood right in the middle of the right lane while I was trying to drive by. He was on his cell phone (not to be bothered by the 10 cars moving in the road ahead of him) and he was really indecisive when choosing what to do: Move back to the curb or cross? Move back to the curb or cross? MAKE A DAMN DECISION! I'M DRIVING AND I'M IMPATIENT AND I WILL NOT HESITATE TO RUN YOU OVER! I don't really like it here.
3) I really hate it when people rummage through my stuff on the job.
4) I'm drinking flavorless chai tea at this very moment. It's disappointing.
5) Our Holiday Inn sells pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I've been dreaming about them since last time I was here in March. So, last night, I traveled down to the front desk and its adjacent "Sweet Shop" to buy some. I couldn't decide which flavor to purchase (Half Baked or Phish Food?!?) and I happened to ask a young lady who was microwaving a frozen dinner to help me with my decision. I must have appeared to be seriously contemplating getting both flavors because with a quick glance at my stomach, she said, "Are you pregnant or something?"
Uh. No.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Familiar Faces
A few weeks ago, an old friend of mine from Green Bay was out in the Seattle area with her father to visit some family. We made plans to meet up and hang out for the day which proved to be a really great time. When I dropped her off at the end of the night, her dad jumped out of the car, gave me a big hug, and said, "Well, it must be nice to see a familiar face out here in Seattle!"
I thought about this for a long time on my ride back up to the city. What does the word "familiar" mean to me? What did it mean in the past? Who or what actually constitutes as "familiar" anymore? How long do I have to know someone for them to be considered "familiar" to me?
In all honesty, Seattle is familiar to me. It has become familiar to me over time. Seattle is my home. A place I have all to myself - where I endured miserable days, never-ending papers, lots of tears, various roommates, significant life moments, late-night movies, beautifully delicious dinners, memorable birthday parties, deep conversations, and plenty of drinks. People in Seattle are my friends, friends who make this place unforgettable. And I supposed that I'm learning more and more as time passes that it's not necessarily the places you go, it's the people you meet that make those places special. I've enjoyed cities mostly because of the friends who've made those places warm and inviting for me. I'm often asked where are my most favorite places to go in the United States. Well, that's easy. I love going to visit family and friends.
What Paul may not have realized when he mentioned "familiar faces" is that the term is entirely relative. My most familiar face in Cherry Hill, New Jersey is the banquet server at the Mansion on Main. My most familiar face in Oak Lawn, Illinois is Ashley at the front desk of the Hilton off Cicero. My most familiar face in Sacramento is my best friend in the whole wide world for ever and ever times one million for life. My most familiar faces in Milwaukee are my brother and his fiancee. My most familiar faces in Green Bay are my incredibly supportive parents. And my most familiar face in Seattle (among many) is that of JH.
I thought about this for a long time on my ride back up to the city. What does the word "familiar" mean to me? What did it mean in the past? Who or what actually constitutes as "familiar" anymore? How long do I have to know someone for them to be considered "familiar" to me?
In all honesty, Seattle is familiar to me. It has become familiar to me over time. Seattle is my home. A place I have all to myself - where I endured miserable days, never-ending papers, lots of tears, various roommates, significant life moments, late-night movies, beautifully delicious dinners, memorable birthday parties, deep conversations, and plenty of drinks. People in Seattle are my friends, friends who make this place unforgettable. And I supposed that I'm learning more and more as time passes that it's not necessarily the places you go, it's the people you meet that make those places special. I've enjoyed cities mostly because of the friends who've made those places warm and inviting for me. I'm often asked where are my most favorite places to go in the United States. Well, that's easy. I love going to visit family and friends.
What Paul may not have realized when he mentioned "familiar faces" is that the term is entirely relative. My most familiar face in Cherry Hill, New Jersey is the banquet server at the Mansion on Main. My most familiar face in Oak Lawn, Illinois is Ashley at the front desk of the Hilton off Cicero. My most familiar face in Sacramento is my best friend in the whole wide world for ever and ever times one million for life. My most familiar faces in Milwaukee are my brother and his fiancee. My most familiar faces in Green Bay are my incredibly supportive parents. And my most familiar face in Seattle (among many) is that of JH.
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