I almost just ate a raisin. What a mistake.
Yesterday was one of the weirdest days I've had in a long time. It felt like the universe was playing tricks on me the whole day, which is appropriate for April 1st, I guess. I was in Burlington, Vermont (which is beautifully quaint, by the way) and the hotel was testing their fire alarm...ALL DAY. And it was LOUD. And disruptive. I had angry participants.
Then, we drove to Albany, New York (to which there is not a direct route) and had to take about 20 different "Routes" and "County Routes" and roads of the like, so basically, we were going through the most rural parts of southern Vermont and northern New York. (Something I never guessed I'd ever be doing, that's for sure.) We drove past little cabins on big lakes and, at one point, we swore we were going to die a death right out of "I Know What You Did Last Summer" because the fog was so similar to that of a horror movie, right before someone commits a fatal error and perishes forever. When entering New York across a magnificent bridge, it was so amazing with the sun shining through the clouds on the Adirondack Mountains and the icy waters and the Lake Champlain monument we were passing that we decided to stop and take some pictures. It was humid out, past 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but while we were stopping, it started to rain (with the sun out) and we caught sight of 2 gorgeous rainbows right over the lake. Really incredible.
We got back on the road and drove through the middle of nowhere (several times, in fact) and came to the mountain range during which it started to POUR. And I don't mean just a minor, brief rainfall...we couldn't even HEAR each other in our black Ford Escape. So, we stopped talking for a while because the noise was as if we were at a rock concert...our ears were even ringing afterwards. It was intense. PLUS, the fog was so dense that I could barely see our route. And by this time, we were on the Interstate, so while the road was wider and straighter than previous ones we were on, there were huge trucks and more traffic.
The entire time we were in the mountains (well, when we could hear each other), we joked that there would probably be a huge thunderstorm that night because it would just add to all the weather oddities we experienced that day. Sure enough, last night we had a thunderstorm and I had to move the car in (again) pouring rain. We had lightning, thunder...the whole works. The wind gusts were so strong that I thought someone was moving furniture in the adjacent room. I only realized it was the wind when I couldn't get to sleep and heard it whipping through the windows and tearing apart any loose pieces of the building.
Apparently, we're supposed to have 30 mph winds today, with gusts up to 60 mph.
Perfect weather for driving to Syracuse, eh?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Southern Living's Not for Me
Today, I've discovered that I am definitely not cut out to live in the South. Balmy weather (which, admittedly, I love right now, but would hate all year long), fast and fried food (can I please get a salad WITHOUT iceberg lettuce?), slow moving (GO FASTER, I'm in a hurry), slow talking (spit it out, j-j-junior), and just a general dirtyness are all qualifications of this area of Birmingham.
In contrast, last night, I spent the evening at the top of the Vulcan Tower which is this huge statue/tower on the top of a bluff that overlooks the entire city of Birmingham. It was well worth the $3.30 I paid to watch the sun set from a few thousand feet about sea level. Romantic, inspiring, and windy are a few words that come to mind when I think about last night.
And, of course, in true Southern fashion, I found myself some good ole BBQ from a little place just a few minutes from my hotel. The thing is...it wasn't very good. Too much worchester sauce in the BBQ (I'm developing a sensitive palate as you can see) and the beef I ordered wasn't shredded. Bummer. The salad (iceberg lettuce strikes again) was okay and the beans were definitely the best part of the meal. Well, that and my Chocolate Mint Balance Bar. I'm so sick of eating out.
Which brings me to my last point: I get to go home tonight! After four months of a continuously strenuous cycle (going home for a week, then traveling for three weeks...going home for a week, then traveling for three weeks...), I'm back in Seattle after only one week on the road. Hallelujah! Here I come!
Finally, besides being in low spirits because I am at the grossest, dirtiest, filthiest, grungiest, smelliest, moldiest, balmiest hotel EVER right now, I am feeling good because...you guessed it...
MY BIRTHDAY IS IN 25 DAYS!!!!!!
In contrast, last night, I spent the evening at the top of the Vulcan Tower which is this huge statue/tower on the top of a bluff that overlooks the entire city of Birmingham. It was well worth the $3.30 I paid to watch the sun set from a few thousand feet about sea level. Romantic, inspiring, and windy are a few words that come to mind when I think about last night.
And, of course, in true Southern fashion, I found myself some good ole BBQ from a little place just a few minutes from my hotel. The thing is...it wasn't very good. Too much worchester sauce in the BBQ (I'm developing a sensitive palate as you can see) and the beef I ordered wasn't shredded. Bummer. The salad (iceberg lettuce strikes again) was okay and the beans were definitely the best part of the meal. Well, that and my Chocolate Mint Balance Bar. I'm so sick of eating out.
Which brings me to my last point: I get to go home tonight! After four months of a continuously strenuous cycle (going home for a week, then traveling for three weeks...going home for a week, then traveling for three weeks...), I'm back in Seattle after only one week on the road. Hallelujah! Here I come!
Finally, besides being in low spirits because I am at the grossest, dirtiest, filthiest, grungiest, smelliest, moldiest, balmiest hotel EVER right now, I am feeling good because...you guessed it...
MY BIRTHDAY IS IN 25 DAYS!!!!!!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Spitting Images
So, I was walking in Capitol Hill this afternoon and this woman pretended to spit on me. She hocked a fake lugee (sp?) and everything. It was weird and I felt oddly dirty afterwards.
Right now, I'm having pretty much the best day of my life. I'm sprawled out on the couch, covered in a warm blanket, watching college basketball. God, I love this time of the year. The excitement and anticipation that comes with March Madness and the NCAA Tournament is unparalleled by any other event. There has been some serious upsets this year, but that's part of the game, I guess. I have a love/hate relationship with said upsets because they are exciting to see, but difficult to pick! My brackets are dismal this year due to previously-mentioned underdog winnings.
I'm going to finish having my best day ever.
Thank you, universe!
Right now, I'm having pretty much the best day of my life. I'm sprawled out on the couch, covered in a warm blanket, watching college basketball. God, I love this time of the year. The excitement and anticipation that comes with March Madness and the NCAA Tournament is unparalleled by any other event. There has been some serious upsets this year, but that's part of the game, I guess. I have a love/hate relationship with said upsets because they are exciting to see, but difficult to pick! My brackets are dismal this year due to previously-mentioned underdog winnings.
I'm going to finish having my best day ever.
Thank you, universe!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Break of All Breaks...and a Nashville Story
Yes, I'm just sitting here, in my living room, enjoying the NCAA Tournament and painting my nails. I love my life.
Here's a post from last week that I had saved as a draft:
Here's a post from last week that I had saved as a draft:
March 11, 2008: Today, I'm in the nation's country music capital...Nashville! I was also here this past weekend with coworkers, which proved to be an excellent use of my precious weekend. We all stayed at the Sheraton downtown, which was totally in walking distance of everything. Unfortunately, it snowed hardcore (for Nashville, anyways) on Friday night, so some of my colleagues didn't get in until late. We bar-hopped a bit in the snow and froze our butts off for the most part. Good times.
Saturday afternoon we had fun walking Broadway and stepping into random bars to listen to people sing their hearts out. Some of these people are amazing! It is such a cool, unique culture down here -- unlike anything I've experienced before. A moderately large city with a super small town feel. And everyone is so nice!
Saturday afternoon we had fun walking Broadway and stepping into random bars to listen to people sing their hearts out. Some of these people are amazing! It is such a cool, unique culture down here -- unlike anything I've experienced before. A moderately large city with a super small town feel. And everyone is so nice!
While hanging out on Saturday, I happened to buy a western belt with a huge and awesome western belt buckle (which I wore with jeans and a white collared shirt tied up to show about 6 inches of my belly) and I debuted my new country "look" when we went out line-dancing and karaoking on Saturday night. It was so fun!
Before we went out, I made a preposition that whoever scored a cowboy hat and brought it back to the hotel without paying for it would be the winner. I didn't mean anything by it (I really didn't think anyone would go for it), but I found that as we bar-hopped, I kept looking for that victim (aka - a lonely cowboy of sorts) to "steal" his hat. Finally, we went to a karaoke bar in Printer's Alley and I spotted my guy...so, I went up to him and began chatting. He was so sweet and our interaction was so innocent; he was at the bar for his bachelor party with all of his friends and some family members ("This is my dad, Pete," spoken in a singsong Georgian accent). He, of course, was wearing the coveted cowboy hat, and was telling me that he had all of these tasks to do that night, none of which he thought he'd accomplish. He was recounting about how he was supposed to get a girl's panties among other things, and I saw in this statement an opportunity. Yes, folks, I saw an opportunity to negotiate one thing I wanted for one thing he wanted. SO, (you guessed it) I told him that I would give him my panties in exchange for his cowboy hat. And though shocked, he agreed to it after a few minutes of convincing ("Really, you will really do that? Are you sure? Are you shitting me? Really? I luuuve you!") and a bit more explanation ("Well, this IS my friend's hat, but I don't THINK he'll mind if I trade it..."). So, in a very gentleman-like manner (he was a chivalrous bachelor, if nothing else), he escorted me to the men's restroom (the line was too long for the women's) and I removed my girl-under-things to prepare for the exchange. In the process, I was so proud of myself (my goal of the year is to work on my negotiation skills...did I mention I also got free breakfast and nightly hors d'oeuvres for our entire group at the Sheraton?) and upon exiting the bathroom, I may have been missing my panties, but I had a smile on that practically blinded anyone who looked at me. Quickly, quietly, the trade was made and I had myself my very own black and beautiful cowboy hat! I (almost) won!
So, the night dragged on (not really, it was quite fun, actually) and it was peppered with Bachelor Boy's cowboy-hat-owning friend who really, really wanted his prized possession back.
"Sorry," I said, "but your friend made a deal fair and square. Take it up with him. This hat is mine now."
He tried to barter for a Cubs baseball cap. He tried to buy it back from me (hmmm, I could have made a pretty penny...), but the meaning of that hat and what I went through to get that hat was worth much more than any amount of money.
Total cover charges for Nashville bars: $3.00
Total cost of drinks during night out in Nashville: $20.00
Trading a pair of panties for a real, live Nashville cowboy hat: PRICELESS
...Kelly
Before we went out, I made a preposition that whoever scored a cowboy hat and brought it back to the hotel without paying for it would be the winner. I didn't mean anything by it (I really didn't think anyone would go for it), but I found that as we bar-hopped, I kept looking for that victim (aka - a lonely cowboy of sorts) to "steal" his hat. Finally, we went to a karaoke bar in Printer's Alley and I spotted my guy...so, I went up to him and began chatting. He was so sweet and our interaction was so innocent; he was at the bar for his bachelor party with all of his friends and some family members ("This is my dad, Pete," spoken in a singsong Georgian accent). He, of course, was wearing the coveted cowboy hat, and was telling me that he had all of these tasks to do that night, none of which he thought he'd accomplish. He was recounting about how he was supposed to get a girl's panties among other things, and I saw in this statement an opportunity. Yes, folks, I saw an opportunity to negotiate one thing I wanted for one thing he wanted. SO, (you guessed it) I told him that I would give him my panties in exchange for his cowboy hat. And though shocked, he agreed to it after a few minutes of convincing ("Really, you will really do that? Are you sure? Are you shitting me? Really? I luuuve you!") and a bit more explanation ("Well, this IS my friend's hat, but I don't THINK he'll mind if I trade it..."). So, in a very gentleman-like manner (he was a chivalrous bachelor, if nothing else), he escorted me to the men's restroom (the line was too long for the women's) and I removed my girl-under-things to prepare for the exchange. In the process, I was so proud of myself (my goal of the year is to work on my negotiation skills...did I mention I also got free breakfast and nightly hors d'oeuvres for our entire group at the Sheraton?) and upon exiting the bathroom, I may have been missing my panties, but I had a smile on that practically blinded anyone who looked at me. Quickly, quietly, the trade was made and I had myself my very own black and beautiful cowboy hat! I (almost) won!
So, the night dragged on (not really, it was quite fun, actually) and it was peppered with Bachelor Boy's cowboy-hat-owning friend who really, really wanted his prized possession back.
"Sorry," I said, "but your friend made a deal fair and square. Take it up with him. This hat is mine now."
He tried to barter for a Cubs baseball cap. He tried to buy it back from me (hmmm, I could have made a pretty penny...), but the meaning of that hat and what I went through to get that hat was worth much more than any amount of money.
Total cover charges for Nashville bars: $3.00
Total cost of drinks during night out in Nashville: $20.00
Trading a pair of panties for a real, live Nashville cowboy hat: PRICELESS
...Kelly
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Providence, Rhode Island is a dream come true.
What a quaint little city...it's so lovely here! I'm at a place called the Johnson & Wales Inn - it's a hotel owned by the school (Johnson & Wales) where they "employ" students & interns. Also, to my pleasant surprise, they have a kick-ass restaurant made so by the fact that culinary arts students are scheming up and preparing wonderful dishes. Listen to the dinner I had last night:
1) Baby spinach salad with French brie, cherry tomatoes, sliced & toasted almonds tossed in a raspberry vinagrette along with 2 different kinds of warm & wonderful bread with whipped butter
2) Braised lamb loin with wild mushroom risotto & endive salad accompanied by a glass of pinot noir
3) Mocha creme brulee with whipped cream & espresso bean crumbles
It was more pleasing to the palate than words can describe.
It's weird the places I get to see and the people I get to experience and the food I get to taste...I feel really lucky when nights like last pop up amongst the chaos of traveling every day. I certainly deserved it after the morning/afternoon I had yesterday! What a mini-nightmare! No working overhead, rude hotel staff, annoying and demanding participants...I definitely needed the bath I took in my whirlpool hotel tub and the time I took to read the rest of my book. Last night was surely relaxing, as it needed to be.
In other news, I think I'm becoming more of a snob. Maybe a traveling snob of sorts? I am impatient when I don't get exactly what I want, I'm more discerning then ever before, I am borderline rude when people don't understand me. I have specific needs, people! I expect them to be met because I am the one traveling all the time - not you, hear me? I go from city to city every damn day and the least you could do (instead of being completely and utterly incompetent) is to help a girl out! Seriously...you wouldn't believe the number of times I run into hotel staff that are lazy and impolite and just plain useless. You see? I'm not becoming a snob, I AM one.
Well, I'm gonna go have some b-fast (code word...well, not really...for breakfast) in the restaurant...
Ciao, friends and family!
1) Baby spinach salad with French brie, cherry tomatoes, sliced & toasted almonds tossed in a raspberry vinagrette along with 2 different kinds of warm & wonderful bread with whipped butter
2) Braised lamb loin with wild mushroom risotto & endive salad accompanied by a glass of pinot noir
3) Mocha creme brulee with whipped cream & espresso bean crumbles
It was more pleasing to the palate than words can describe.
It's weird the places I get to see and the people I get to experience and the food I get to taste...I feel really lucky when nights like last pop up amongst the chaos of traveling every day. I certainly deserved it after the morning/afternoon I had yesterday! What a mini-nightmare! No working overhead, rude hotel staff, annoying and demanding participants...I definitely needed the bath I took in my whirlpool hotel tub and the time I took to read the rest of my book. Last night was surely relaxing, as it needed to be.
In other news, I think I'm becoming more of a snob. Maybe a traveling snob of sorts? I am impatient when I don't get exactly what I want, I'm more discerning then ever before, I am borderline rude when people don't understand me. I have specific needs, people! I expect them to be met because I am the one traveling all the time - not you, hear me? I go from city to city every damn day and the least you could do (instead of being completely and utterly incompetent) is to help a girl out! Seriously...you wouldn't believe the number of times I run into hotel staff that are lazy and impolite and just plain useless. You see? I'm not becoming a snob, I AM one.
Well, I'm gonna go have some b-fast (code word...well, not really...for breakfast) in the restaurant...
Ciao, friends and family!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Full in Manchester, New Hampshire
I just had a free and wonderful lunch (isn't free lunch usually wonderful?) at SERESC (it stands for something that I don't care to write at the moment) in Bedford, New Hampshire. I'm back on the road and typing on a laptop that SERESC provided to me at no charge. I love this! They also do all of my AV set-up...basically, I just sit here and stare at the wall for the whole day. Not really, I actually worked out, bought some flipflops at Target...you know, things that you do on a regular day at the office, right? :)
Anyhow, I'm back to blogging as well. I'm sure my loyal (and not-so-loyal) followers don't even check this website anymore, but I'm okay with that. Basically, I just like to see my ridiculous thoughts on paper (er...the computer screen, rather) and it's a nice log of my travels. Well...of some of my travels. My computer is back to normal, but I hate bringing it on the road with me. It's so heavy and such a hassle in the airport. I'm all about being low maintenance on the road.
Happy March!
Anyhow, I'm back to blogging as well. I'm sure my loyal (and not-so-loyal) followers don't even check this website anymore, but I'm okay with that. Basically, I just like to see my ridiculous thoughts on paper (er...the computer screen, rather) and it's a nice log of my travels. Well...of some of my travels. My computer is back to normal, but I hate bringing it on the road with me. It's so heavy and such a hassle in the airport. I'm all about being low maintenance on the road.
Happy March!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Yikes!
My computer's on the fritz! Of course, I HAVE been at home for the last 2 weeks, but I've also be LAZY. Yeah. Sleeping, eating, talking, laughing, relaxing...that's been my life for the past 14 days.
Sorry -- the computer's got a fatal error, so I've gotta call HP to get her up and running!
Here's what my next week looks like:
Sioux Falls, SD
Denver, CO
Grand Junction, CO
Phoenix, AZ
Albuquerque, NM
Ciao to y'all! :)
Sorry -- the computer's got a fatal error, so I've gotta call HP to get her up and running!
Here's what my next week looks like:
Sioux Falls, SD
Denver, CO
Grand Junction, CO
Phoenix, AZ
Albuquerque, NM
Ciao to y'all! :)
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