Ramblings of my Silly Adventures

BV

2007-07-28T15:03:00.001-07:00

Buena Vista, Col.

HGTV -- our own version

2007-07-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

We bought a dresser off Craigslist for $5 and sanded it down and painted it black. Here's the photos! It was actually really fun and cool to say we did it ourselves! We need to get new handles for the dresser soon...

South Philly Girl in Denver

2007-07-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

I had this same idea, to start blogging pretty regularly about the differences I saw in living back East and here. This lady beat me to it. I certainly identify with some of the things she's saying!

http://denver.yourhub.com/Denver/Blogs/Life/My-Life/Journal-Entries/Blog~335985.aspx

Front Range on a Health High Vs. Rest of U.S.

2007-07-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

Part of the reason we moved here!!!!

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_6446991

New Car!!!!!

2007-07-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

I love this new (used) car. We are naming her "Seven" b/c she was bought on 7/7/07!!!!!!

Pics attached.

You know you're a Coloradon if....

2007-07-23T19:22:00.000-07:00

1. You switch from "Heat" to sworty"A/C" within 24 hours, perhaps even the same
day.
2. You know what the "Peoples Republic of Boulder" means.
3. Your sense of direction is: towards the mountains and away from the
mountains.
4. You're a meat-eating vegetarian.
5. The bike on your car is worth more than your car and you have your own
special bike lane.
6. You're able to drive 65 miles per hour through 13 feet of snow during a
raging blizzard without even flinching.
7. You take your out-of-town guests to Casa Bonita even though you would never
go there otherwise.
8. You think your major food groups are granola bars, tofu and Fat Tire Beer.
9. You design your kid's Halloween costumes to fit over a snowsuit.
10. You think that sexy lingerie is wool socks and flannel PJs.
11. You know all 4 seasons "almost winter, winter, still winter and spring blizzards"
12. You've been tear gassed in a riot to celebrate a CU/CSU victory.
13. You can never figure out why your out-of-town guests faint from altitude
sickness on a picnic to the mountains.
14. You can drive over a 12,000-foot pass in 4 feet of snow, but can't get to
work if there are 4 inches of snow.
15. You know the 'correct' pronunciation of Buena Vista.
16. When you visit friends at sea level, you can drink a case of beer and not
get a buzz.
17. Your car insurance costs more than your car.
18. You have surge protectors on every outlet.
19. April showers bring May blizzards.
20. 'Timberline' is someplace you have actually been.
21. You know what a 'Chinook' is
22. You know what a 'Rocky Mountain Oyster' is.
23. You know what a "fourteener" is.
24. ..But you don't know what a "turn signal" is.
25. A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you nearly as much as a Democrat
in Congress does.
26. Your golf bag has a 9-iron, a 3-wood and a lightning rod.
27. People from out of state breathe 5 times as often as you do.
28. Having a Senator named Nighthorse doesn't seem strange.
29. Thunder has set off your car alarm.
30. You have an $800 stereo in your $300 truck.
31. You think a red light means 3 more cars can go.
32. Where we're going, we don't need roads!!
33. You know where the real "South Park" is.
34. You can recognize the license plates of all 50 states on sight.
35. Driving directions usually include 'Go over ________ Pass.'
36. You've checked for ticks.
37. You've dressed in shorts, sandals, and a parka with a hood.
38. You've gone snow skiing in July and.........
39. You've played golf in January and.......
40. They were in the same year!
41. You've urinated on the Continental Divide just so it could run into both
oceans, and you get a certain feeling of satisfaction from knowing that
California and Texas are both downstream.
42. You know what a downslope and an upslope weather pattern is.
43. You actually understand these jokes and send them to your Colorado friends - even
those that deserted.

Best Cities in the World

2007-07-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

Some of the one cities on this list were pretty surprising.

http://www.citymayors.com/features/quality_survey.html

Need translation services?

2007-07-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

My friend Rocky is your man!!!

http://www.technical-edit.com/translation.html

New Job!!!

2007-07-09T17:15:00.001-07:00

I recently accepted a job with Westword, Denver's alternative free weekly newspaper!!!! I am going to be working in advertising sales. I'm so excited!!!!

Check out the paper online, and PLEASE, if you're in the area, let me know of any new (or old) businesses that want some advertising!!!

http://www.westword.com/

Denver!!!!

2007-07-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

Denver was named one of 30 best towns/cities in America by Outside magazine!!!!!

Described as "Fit, fun and packed with adventure." "Denver has more than 60 community gardens, one of the greenest mayors in the country, and easy access to the Front Range trails and ski resorts."

We love Denver!!!

:)

http://outside.away.com/index.html

Green Weddings!

2007-06-30T08:55:00.001-07:00

The Post had a really neat article about how to make your wedding green. Being ecofriendly isn't usually cheaper, but some ideas are definitely affordable. As I become more and more aware of what my choices do to the environment, It would be really neat to incorporate some of these ideas for our wedding.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/20/AR2007062000519.html?hpid=features1&hpv=local

Turn off your Computer....save some CO2s, please

2007-06-27T07:39:00.001-07:00

http://green.yahoo.com/index.php?q=node/568

Quandry

2007-06-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

We tackled our first 14er this weekend, Quandry Peak. It honestly was one of the toughest things I've ever done. The views at the top were spectacular.

http://www.14ers.com/

Would you trade your car for a bike?

2007-06-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

I love New Belgium Brewery.

http://www.followyourfolly.com/folly_tour_de_fat.html

Great American Road Trip Video on YouTube!

2007-06-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp3K0_rOQD4

Road trip!

2007-06-06T09:36:00.001-07:00

We hit a lot of these on our extended road trip!!!!!

http://www.prweb.com/releases/travel/realtravel/prweb531153.htm

Bolder Boulder 10k!

2007-05-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

Josh and I ran the Bolder Boulder 10k this weekend. It was a blast! Typically over 50,000 runners participate each year. The stadium was full of runners and they kept piling in. One woman set the Guiness book of world records for hoola hooping the entire 10k! Here are some photos:

Be Green at Starbucks!!!!

2007-05-28T17:13:00.001-07:00

I've recently begun to bring my own mug to Starbucks when I go once a week for a treat. The trend must be catching on -- Starbucks has stickers to put on your mug to make it easier for staff to make your beverage (see photo).

I know, I know, part of the experience of Starbucks is to have the cup....but think how you're reducing waste and helping the earth!

Moose!

2007-05-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

We went backpacking this weekend in RMNP and we saw a MOOSE!!!!!!!! So cool. Here are some photos attached.

Published!

2007-05-15T20:22:00.000-07:00

My story was published in the AT magazine! There was also a headshot of me included in the publication that was a little disconcerting. Hahaha.

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/pp.aspx?c=jkLXJ8MQKtH&b=948765&printmode=1

Trek Bike Competition

2007-05-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

Trek bikes had a Women Who Ride competition this past month. If chosen, you'd review their new line of women's bikes and gear. To enter, you had to write an essay of 500 words. Below is mine. Cross your fingers, I'd really love to win!

-----------------

I wasn't always a cyclist. Sure, I rode a lot when I was a kid, and I loved the freedom it gave me: freedom from the responsibilities of being class president, volunteering as a mentor to disabled youth and working menial teenage jobs. In college, the bike began to collect dust as I experimented with other sports, ran a marathon and backpacked in the Appalachians.

I rediscovered my love for cycling about three years ago. Tired of a packed Washington, D.C. metro, I wanted to try biking to work. After a brief test ride in a local bike shop, I was hooked again.

Arriving to work never felt so good. Using my own energy, I did not have to rely on a train, bus or another person. I gained a new sense of independence. I began to notice that on the days I rode to work, I had a more positive attitude. I breathed a little deeper, felt more alive and looked forward to the commute home. Coworkers looked at me in awe and were inspired to get out there themselves.

From bike commuting grew countless long weekend rides with friends, a charity ride and a week long bike vacation at RAGBRAI. I loved being part of a cycling community that welcomed me with open arms, despite bruised knees due to my clumsy attempts to adjust to my clip-in pedals. Everyone was eager to share training tips, new routes and gear advice.

My training rides are reflections of my daily life, with its obstacles and triumphs. Bad day at work, one stroke for stress relief. Bad news about Mom's health, one stroke to give her strength. Dad's cancer ratings down finally, one stroke for relief. Close friend moving away, one stroke for good luck.

I love to ride because it gives me more than I give it. I like to train hard, but in the end, it's not the speed I remember but the sense of adventure that comes from a bike ride. The same often traveled road looks very different from behind handlebars. New routes are always waiting to be unearthed and the more you ride, the more you gain.

An adventurous girl raised in New Jersey, I resided in the Washington, D.C. area for 7 years, taking advantage of the extensive D.C. trail network and biking throughout the hills of Virginia. Last year, seeking new possibilities and a change of scenery, I decided to quit my job and move out West. After a two month road trip, blogging regularly to family, friends and strangers about experiencing America from a different vantage point, I decided to move to Denver.

Living in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, the variety of trails and the challenges of biking in the Rockies have inspired me to expand my cycling horizons. As an avid cycling enthusiast and professional writer, I can clearly communicate my passion for biking in a compelling and fun style. My love and enthusiasm for cycling is contagious. I would be perfect for the Trek Women Who Ride program.

I sold my car :(

2007-04-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

I sold my great, first car. I was so attached to this car!! Some people made fun of her but I loved her. ;( I hope the new owner takes good care of her. Now begins the life of sharing a car with Josh. It has been fun to take more proactive steps to becoming more green friendly. Yesterday we planted trees in Washington Park for Arbor Day. It was a blast! I'm sore today.

Rocky Mountain High

2007-04-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Some photos from my parents visit!! We visited Garden of the Gods and Rocky Mountain National Park.

The Invitation

2007-01-17T20:03:00.000-08:00

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

- Oriah

Denver: Runner's Paradise :)

2006-12-29T20:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-239-283-318-5346-0,00.html

Share the Road!!!

2006-12-29T17:47:00.000-08:00

Please sign the petition!!!!!!! Can't wait to get my bike out here, I miss it!

http://www.BicycleColorado.org/to/ShareTheRoad

Great American Road Trip Final List

2006-12-20T21:28:00.000-08:00

We saw over 70 "sights" which consisted of towns, cities, national parks, state parks, forests, etc. We were on the road 60 days total, about 3 of those we were driving back to Denver, our new home of choice. It went so quickly. You could easily spend weeks, months, years, at a lot of the places we saw quickly. Hopefully we'll return soon. Here is the final list:

Blackwood, NJ
Atlantic City, NJ
Ligonier, Pa
Washington, D.C. /Centreville, Va
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Cary, N.C.
Myrtle Beach, SC
Georgetown, SC
Charleston, SC
Folly Beach, SC
Hampton Plantation, SC
Bluffton, SC
Hilton Head, SC
Savannah, Ga
Skidaway Island State Park
Francis Marion National Forest
Cumberland Island, Ga./St.Mary's Ga
Clemson, SC
Vicksburg, Miss
Tyler, TX
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
Van Horn, TX
Fort Stockton, TX
Guadalupe Mountain National Park
Carlsbad Caverns, NM
Roswell, NM
Valley of Fires, NM
White Sands National Monument
Oliver Memorial Park (Alamagordo)
Santa Fe, NM
Highlands Ranch, Co/Denver, Co
Boulder, Co
Stop in Vail, Co
Moab, Utah
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Salt Lake City, Utah
Park City, Utah
Village of Solitude and Brighton
Provo, Ut
Boise, Idaho
Auburn, Calif
San Leandro, Calif
Hayward, Calif
San Francisco
Mount Tamalpais, Calif
Golden Gate Park
San Rafael, Calif
Half Moon Bay, Calif
Monterey, Calif - the Monterey Aquarium
Carmel, Calife
Point Lobos State park
Santa Barbara, Calif
Morro Bay, Calif
Lompac, CAlif
Los Angeles, Calif
Santa Monica, Calif
Venice Beach, Calif
Temecula, Calif
San Diego, Calif
Sedona, Az
Phoenix, AZ
Tempe, AZ
Scottsdale, Az
Flagstaff, Az
Grand Canyon National Park

Future Colorado Adventures!

2006-12-20T19:51:00.000-08:00

We are really looking forward to exploring our new home, the state of Colorado. We've made a list of things we want to see and do:

Rocky Mountain NP
Gunnison, CO
Leadville, CO
Fort Collins, CO
Colorado Springs
Estes Park
Durango
Mesa Verde NP
Great Sand Dunes National Monument
Aspen and back to Vail
Back to Boulder (I think we'll go often)
Cheyenne WY ( to visit my friend Matt)
Florissant Fossil Beds Nat'l Monument
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
San Juan Skyway
Ouray, Co (hot springs!)
Telluride
Breckenridge
Georgetown, CO

Places we still want to see!!!!!

2006-12-20T19:32:00.000-08:00

We were able to see so much on our trip but there is much more to explore. In addition to re-visiting all the sights and cities we saw on this trip, we've come up with a list of things we missed in the USA that we'd like to get to someday:

Crater Lake NP
Bryce Canyon NP
Zion NP
The Wave Trail (border of Utah and AZ)
Yosemite
Acadia
Yellowstone
Portland
Seattle
Glacier NP
Grayson Highlands (Lisa really wants to see the wild ponies)
Los Alamos/Trinity Test Site
Big Bend NP
Death Valley NP
Joshua Tree NP
Mesa Verde NP
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Vermont Tour (Ben and Jerry's, Cheese factory)
Taos, NM
Hawaii!!
Grand Teton NP
Madison, WI
Petrified Nat'l Forest
Alaska
Chicago (Josh has never been)
Meteor Crater (AZ)
Grand Canyon over night with white water rafting
Sunset Crater Nat'l Monument
Wupatki Nat'l Monumen
Rainbow Bridge
Capitol Reef
Back for an overnight at White Sands NM
Navajo Nation (we drove through it but didn't get to see anything really)
Saguaro NP
Apache Trail
Congaree NP

And many more!!!

The Apartment!!!!!!!

2006-12-16T13:07:00.000-08:00

We love this place! In order: Bedroom, Kitchen, bathroom, view of the Denver skyline from our living room window, Living room.

Conclusion

2006-12-09T09:23:00.000-08:00

Needless to say, I’m disappointed the road trip is over. It was a great 2 months that went by so quickly. In those 2 months we were able to see America from a unique vantage point. Driving through the beautiful scenery proved that this trip was not just about the destination but the journey. I was awed, amazed and inspired by the beauty that I am so fortunate to live in. We met so many great, friendly people in our travels. In our 2 months we really only scratched the surface of what there is to see and do in this country. This fact is further proven by 2 couples we met who have been traveling the USA in their RVs for over 3 years now. I’m so glad we expanded our trip to include many national parks other than just American cities. I am deeply grateful to the National Park Service for preserving so many places of beauty in this country. Once I am gainfully employed I plan to make a donation to see the continued success of the National Park system to educate, protect and preserve the enormous amount of beauty in our country’s boundaries. Though having some commercialized development near a natural wonder is a little upsetting, it does get people out to see the wonders in the USA.

Going in the fall afforded us the opportunity to see many sights and cities with less people, and saved us money at off season hotels and hostels, but the cold ended up costing us more as we went on b/c I don’t have a winter sleeping bag. And Josh was kind of sick of camping since he did that for 6 months on the trail. One of the best parts of this trip was seeing all of our friends and family who live in their own pockets of the USA and who welcomed us into their homes! The best way to see a city or town is to have a local take you around :) Thanks to everyone who put us up for a few days! We will certainly return the favor.

Maybe it’s because I grew up on the East coast, but as we kept driving, and we were surrounded by the incredible Rocky Mountains, it was a constant reminder that we were making the right decision. The vastness of the move, and the fact that we were moving closer to the mountains and new things....made you get excited and ready to start a new chapter. I know Westerners come to the East coast and are enamoured by its beaches, large cities with so much to offer and great food :)but there is truly something unique about the West. Especially in the Southwest where the Native American culture is shared and celebrated, you can really gain a sense of roots in the USA.

I was excited to see all the different state license plates we saw out on the road (though, for the record, I only saw one Jersey license) b/c it meant that others were getting out there and seeing this country, too. I’ve traveled for a long period of time before in Europe, and this experience was just as rich in different ways. Though, I kept hearing my mom’s voice in my head when we’d see something truly special. “America First!” she loves to say.

Travel is great for the mind, body (man I’ve enjoyed those McDonald’s fries, ha! Kidding, we ate a lot of local food, too) and soul. It renews your sense of wonder and hunger, challenges you in situations and ways that your daily routine won’t. Makes you excited to get out there to see, feel and touch things. Not to mention the great memories, laughs and stories you’ll keep for a lifetime.

Always remember, in the words of Supertramp: Take the long way home!! We certainly did, and it was worth every penny.

Now on to life’s next adventure: finding a good job, friends and fun in our new city! Please come visit us in Denver, Colorado. Thanks for reading, I hope you had as much fun following us as we did exploring. Thanks for all your support over the past 2 months as we’ve been traveling, finding our new place to live in an unconventional way. We really appreciate it and We miss everyone.

Until next time…Happy Trails!

Things to do on next trip:

More photos of places we’ve eaten

Keep better track of our quotes of the day

Find more time to write the blog and in my own journal

Incorporate more photos of stuffed animals. They were funny!

More photos of just us i.e. hound more people

Have more money (when ISN’T this part of a list?)

Buy a winter-rated sleeping bag

A decision has been made!!!!!!! December 9-11, the Drive Back "Home"

2006-12-09T09:17:00.000-08:00

We're moving to Denver, Colorado!!!!!!!!!!

We're very excited! Denver fits best what we wanted in each city, and I guess we can say "You were right" to the hundreds of people who said we'd end up there. We really liked the feel of the city and the easy access to outdoor activities.

We expect visits from everyone (but after we get jobs, please)!

The Best and Worst of the Great American Roadtrip

2006-12-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

Stats and The Best and Worst of the Road Trip

We’re compiling a list of the best and worsts of The Great American Roadtrip 2006.

# of days on the Road – 60

Miles traveled - Over 9,000

Most Expensive Day- $159 in Monterey, Calif (this included an oil change and trip to the Aquarium)

Least Expensive Day- $0 in Highlands Ranch -- Thanks to the Park family!

Longest day of driving- 9 hours to Mississippi from South Carolina

Shortest day of driving- 1 hour - Albuquerque to Santa Fe

Nights at a campground-

Nights at a hostel-

Nights in a hotel (Thank you Quality Inn Inc. for running your buy 2 get one free! Nights)

Nights spent with a friend

Number of laughs - immeasurable

Best Happy Hour Deal – Conch Restaurant in Savannah, Ga

Best Campsite – Guadalupe National Park in Texas

Best Lodging Deal (that we had to pay for) - $30 for 2 nights in Charleston (tent camping in the parking lot)

Best Lodging Deal (free) – Francis Marion Nat’l Forest, 20 miles north of Charleston, SC

Best Breakfast – Tia Sophia’s in Santa Fe

Best Dinner - Crab Shack in Charleston, S.C.

Best Lunch - Sherpa Restaurant in Boulder, Co and little Mexican place in Van Horn, TX

Best National Park – This was a really tough one, but it's a tie btw Arches National Park in Utah and the Grand Canyon

Best bargain souvenier – Josh’s $5 Moab Tshirt

Best Off-the Beaten Path stop – Valley of Fires in New Mexico

Worst Hostel – Route 66 Hostel in Albuquerque

Worst Meal – stuffing and SPAM canned corned beef

Weirdest Meal- New Mexican Italian food in Albqu

Worst Campsite Deal – Skidaway Island (very nice) but it was $$! South of Savannah. $50 for 2 nights.

Most Overpriced Cities: Park City, Utah, San Fran, L.A.

Some of the big Highlights for us on this trip: Arches NP, The Grand Canyon, Denver and Boulder, Charleston, the freedom of everyday, Thanksgiving in San Francisco, The California Coast, The Monterey Bay Aquarium

Some bad happenings, though they're pretty funny now: Accidentally kicking a homeless guy out of a park, Sleeping in our car, Sleeping in Santa Fe at 8,000 feet elevation, getting lost,
not being allowed to participate in a time share video b/c we were unemployed.

The Grand Finale - The Grand Canyon December 8th

2006-12-07T13:29:00.001-08:00

The Grand Finale certainly lived up to its name. I got choked up seeing it. We visited the Grand Canyon on a particularly bright and sunny day so the photos really don't do this canyon justice. I'm looking forward to coming back and hiking down to the bottom of the GC.

Sedona, AZ and Flagstaff, Az December 7th

2006-12-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

Phoenix and the surrounding area December 6th-7th

2006-12-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

Santa Barbara and Los Angeles November 30th- Dec 2nd

2006-12-07T08:53:00.001-08:00

With Jules in Santa Monica, Calif.

Temecula, Calif and San Diego, Calif November 3-December 5th

2006-12-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

California Coast November 29th

2006-11-29T22:26:00.000-08:00

The California Coast is beautiful. Craggy, enormous with amazing views of the coast as you drive. I was lucky enough to be a passenger to enjoy the beauty the whole ride down -- the road is pretty windy so Josh really had to pay attention. Highway 1 is really unlike any part of the East coast I've seen - completely undeveloped, you feel as if you've stepped back a 50 years. And you wish you had a convertible ;)

As we were driving along the CA coast, we saw a spot on the beach where a colony of elephant seals lives. These creatures were so cute, and unexpectantly SMELLY and full of boistrous noises that sounded like belches. They also farted like crazy. Hahahahhahaa. They were hilarious to watch; fighting with one another, grooming and scratching themselves, and moving like ungraceful, fat blubbery ballerinas across the sand. It was so cool to see them in their natural habitat.

Monterey and Carmel Calif, November 27th and 28th

2006-11-29T21:53:00.000-08:00

I'm going to try and write down the highlights of each place, as writing a novel is too much now as we get furthur in the road trip. I should say we are winding down but that depresses me too much.

Sites visited:

Downtown Carmel, Calif

Canary Row, made famous by Jon Steinbeck.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, which was voted the nation's best aquarium where we saw: Great White Shark, sea otters, a penguin feeding, lots of different jellyfish, seat turtles, a large octopus and many huge fish in the outer bay exhibit. Definitely worth the price of admission.

San Francisco, November 23-27

2006-11-27T20:54:00.000-08:00

It was great to go back to San Fran and hit some of the places we didn't get to on our last trip a year ago.

Highlights:
Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge (last time it was too foggy)
Hanging out in Union City
Lunch in Chinatown (best Chinese food I've ever had)
Lunch in North Beach (YUM italian food)
Visit to San Rafael
City Lights Booksellers
Buffalo in Golden Gate Park
Hike up to Mt. Tamalpais with great views of the city
Thanksgiving with the coolest ladies over the age of 71 that I know.

Some firsts for me on this Trip

2006-11-21T09:17:00.000-08:00

My Firsts on this trip:

First time hiking (or seeing) in the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, Co
First time visiting the following cities or states: (just driving through doesn’t count for me): Charleston, Colorado, New Mexico, Savannah, Utah, Idaho
First time in a cave
First time getting poison ivy
First time in a Wal-mart (I know, it doesn't sound true, but it is)
First time on Sand Dunes that weren’t near an ocean
First time in a desert (okay, I had been to Vegas, so this one is debatable)
First time spending more than 30 strait days with someone :)

Boise, Idaho – November 20-21, 2006

2006-11-21T09:13:00.001-08:00

Salt Lake City – November 19

2006-11-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

Vail, Colorado and Moab, Utah – November 16-18

2006-11-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

We left Colorado and knew we wanted to check out Boise, Idaho next. We’ve heard great things and wanted to satisfy our curiosity. We were going to drive through Wyoming to get there, but my family in Highlands Ranch thought going through Utah would be a better way to go. The drive from Denver to Grand Junction, Co was gorgeous. We stopped in to Vail, Co for lunch. The Rocky Mountains were just starting to get some snow which made the mountaintops look incredible. Note: the further we get west the more frustrated I become to find the right words to describe the beauty we are seeing! I used too many of the good words earlier on in the blog :)

I was looking at the map on our drive to Utah and I saw that the town of Moab was close to the interstate we were on. We decided to stop in there for one night at least, b/c Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park were closeby. I had read about Moab in Backpacker magazine a few years back, and remembered wanting to visit there. We got to Arches National park around 2 p.m. and were awed by the enormous sandstone formations that were in front of us. Utah is said to have “Nature’s Skyline.” Instead of skyscrapers lining the sky like in New York, in Utah, the sky is full of these beautiful rocks. We kept driving around and snapping pictures. Around 3 p.m. we started a hike to Delicate Arch, the best-known arch in the park, and perhaps Utah. The views from the short hike of 3 miles were so rewarding. They brought you so high up so you could see how vast the park was. 800,000 people visit Arches a year. There are 700 arches in the park. Of which we saw about FIVE. And we hiked and drove a fair amount in the park. Crazy. It’s the highest concentration of natural arches in the world.

Just goes to show you that going off the itinerary can really pay off!!!!

Highlands Ranch, Co, and Denver/Boulder Nov 11-15, 2006

2006-11-21T09:07:00.000-08:00

New Mexico Adventure November 4-11, 2006

2006-11-16T19:38:00.000-08:00

Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, Roswell, White Sands National Monument, Valley of Fire Nat'l Monument, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, NM

We left Austin around 11.30 and hit the road. Stayed overnight in Fort Stockton, Texas and then headed to Guadalupe Mountains in the morning where we planned to camp. We arrived around 2.30 Mountain time. We’ve entered a new time zone! Which makes it more difficult to get a hold of people at home, we are discovering. The drive from Austin was the definition of a beautiful Sunday drive (minus the slow crawling)! We saw ranches, mountains and a lot of desert life. It was gorgeous, we stopped a couple of times to take pictures, but they really don’t do it justice. For most of the drive we were the only car on the road. Josh said the nearest town was 100 miles in either direction. Wow! There is so much undeveloped land here out West.

We stopped in the town of Van Horn for lunch and had the most authentic and best Mexican food I’ve ever eaten! The salsa was SO HOT and I’m sure the owner was laughing at how much water I had to drink to soothe my tongue. It was very tasty though! The best part was that 2 lunches cost $8 total.

We were greeted by the largest mountain in Texas, Guadalupe Peak upon on entrance to Guadalupe National Park. We stopped in to the visitors center and then took our car to where we would camp. We had an unbelievable view, and our tent site was great! It was $8 to camp but the site was worth it. Guadalupe gets our vote for the best camping accommodations for your dollar so far on this trip. There were real bathrooms and water. No showers, but we don’t care! ;)

We didn’t get there early enough to hike on one of Guadalupe’s 80 miles of trail, but hopefully next visit we could hike and camp in the backcountry. There are caves and canyons to explore in addition to the desert hiking. We spent the rest of the afternoon looking at our guidebook and relaxing. Made some dinner and went to bed around 9 p.m. It was a full moon that night so there was a little bit of light outside our tent to cast on the amazing mountain above us. Though, as I read more about Guadalupe Mountains I found out that the peak in front of us was actually coral. When the water from the sea that used to cover a lot of the southwest washed away, you’re left with a coral mountain.

Next time we’re at Guadalupe it would be cool to hike out to the backcountry and spend more time there.

The next morning we woke up early and headed to Carlsbad Caverns. Carlsbad Caverns is the world’s deepest limestone cave. I’ve never been in a cave so this was really exciting! Carlsbad is really a “cave of wonders.” Every turn we took in our visit exposed new interesting rock formations. Some of the geological explanations were a little above my head but my smartie companion is used to explaining things to me. If you want to learn more about how the limestone cave was created by sulfuric acid, go here http://www.nps.gov/arch/. 100s of thousands of free tailed bats call the Cavern its home, and the cavern has a developed amphitheater where you can see the bats leaving at night for their feeding.

The pictures we took at Carlsbad don’t do the natural beauty justice. We’ll have to rely on memory and postcards to keep the true amazing beauty of the caverns alive.

If you stand in a place in the cavern where not many people are around you, you hear nothing except the periodic drip of rainfall. Utter silence. It’s very calming. The developed path had lights, but if those lights were not there, you could not see your hand in front of you.

There are a few small pools of water in the Cavern, and it really angered me to see that signs were posted to not throw coins in the water. AHHHHHHHHHHH. It’s upsetting to think that one of the world’s natural wonders that is available for people to see is destroyed by people throwing coins and touching the caverns.

I think Carlsbad is going to be one of my favorite places we saw on this trip. It has been unlike anything else I’ve seen in my life. We'd really like to come back again in the future to check out more parts of the cavern and take a guided tour to the "unpopular" parts of the cavern.

I’m inspired to take up splelunking after our visit to Carlsbad!

We left Carlsbad and headed to Roswell, NM, the site of the alleged government cover up in the 1940s when aliens landed on earth (must have taken a wrong turn). We visited the UFO Museum in downtown Roswell and there was definitely some convincing evidence that the supposed alien spacecraft did crash in the desert. The museum was a very bare bones exhibition, sort of looked like a group of 8^th graders put it together, which made it more amusing. The town definitely plays to the alien connection – alien heads, pens, pencils, magnets, alien dolls, you name, it, you can buy it. This stop was more for my mother than us. She is obsessed with ghosts, aliens, etcetc, and so I took her along with us. Overall, Roswell is just another little town.

A huge thanks to our friend Jeff Lupardo for encouraging us to visit White Sands National Monument. These great wave-like dunes of gypsum (which we also learned about at Carlsbad) have swallowed up 275 square miles of desert, creating the world’s largest gypsum dune field. The white sand is blinding and the dune fields are like a big sandbox, and Josh and I acted accordingly.

On our way to Albuquerque we stopped by the Valley of Fires National Monument.

http://www.geo.utep.edu/loca/Volcanos/VALLEY.HTML

Santa Fe - November 10, 2006

More later....I'm pooped!

The Winding Road

2006-11-06T19:21:00.000-08:00

I have played this song on repeat so many times it is driving Josh a little crazy. It's a sad song but I like the lyrics. It sounds a little depressing (don't worry, I'm not sad) , but it makes me think of our trip in some ways, the chorus, esp. now that we are all the way out in California!

Bonnie Somerville - Winding Road Lyrics
Well, the rain keeps on coming down
It feels like a flood in my head
And that road keeps on calling me
Screaming to everything lying ahead

And it's a winding road
I've been walking for a long time
I still don't knowWhere it goes
And it's a long way home
I've been searching for a long time
I still have hope
I'm gonna find my way home

And I can see a little houseOn top of the hill
And I can smell the ocean The salt in the air
And I can see you You're standing there And you're washing your car
And I can see California sun in your hair

And its a winding roadI've been walking for a long time
Still don't knowWhere it goes
And it's a long way homeI've been searching for a long time
Still have hope
I'm gonna find my way home

All these dreams took me so farAnd I felt I just couldn't go on
And I want to hang Out the window of your car
And see just how good this baby can run

'Cause it's a winding road
I've been walking for a long time
And I still don't knowWhere it goes
And it's a long way home I've been searching for a long time
Still have hopeWe're gonna find our way home

It's a winding road
Still have hopeOne day we'll find our way home
It's a long way homeI've been searching for a long time
Still have hopeWe're gonna find our way home
It's a long way home It's a long way home

Find yourself a City

2006-11-06T18:39:00.000-08:00

Josh and I listen to this song on the road sometimes since we're looking for a city to live in!

Cities (David Byrne)Think of London - small cityDark - dark in the daytime
People sleep - sleep in the daytime
If they want to - if they want to

I'm checkin' 'em out
I'm checkin' 'em out
I've got it figured out
I've got it figured out
There's some good points - some bad points
But it all works out -
I'm just a little freaked out

Find your city -Find yourself a city to live in
I will find a city -Find yourself a city to live in

A lot of bridges in Birmingham
A lot of ghosts - and a lot of houses
Look over there - dry ice factory
Good place to get some thinking done

I'm checkin' 'em out
I'm checkin' 'em out
I've got it figured out
I'm the one who got it figured out
There's some good points - some bad points

Find your city -Find yourself a city to live in
I will find a city -Find yourself a city to live in
Did I forget to mention -Forget to mention Memphis
Home of Elvis and the ancient Greeks

Do I smell - I smell home cooking

It's only the river - it's only the river
I'm checkin' 'em out
I'm checkin' 'em out
I've got it figured out
I've got it figured out
There's some good points - some bad points

Are those things real? Denied!
Find your city -Find yourself a city to live in
I will find a city -Find yourself a city to live in
I will find a city -Find yourself a city to live in
I will find a city
Find yourself a city to live in

Is this my life?

2006-11-06T17:50:00.000-08:00

As we’ve been traveling over the past 20 days or so, I’ve had some moments where I think “Is this my life?” I’ve traveled for a long period of time before, and this trip has brought back some old travel memories and created new ones. We have met and visited with some pretty cool people, seen some off the beaten path places and some of America's best cities, and have laughed so much as we created new stories. Here's a short group of random thoughts and quick tales of our time on the road:

Am I really fishing through all these items in the trunk to find a clean shirt? Yes, b/c all the others are dirty and we haven’t been to a family member’s house lately to clean them.

That hotel room is $50??? Forget it. That would put us way over budget!

When the registration lady asked me how old I was and then told me that I “didn’t look 25,” I got the feeling she didn’t want to give me a hotel room b/c that wouldn’t be proper. Of course, this happened in the South.

Whenever Josh uses his camp stove on the table in our hotel room I can’t help but laugh. Whenever I’ve stayed in hotels before we go out or order a pizza, but here we are, cooking. He once fried up some corn beef and it smelled like cat food. He thought it tasted gross but then proceeded to EAT it b/c he didn’t want to waste food/money. He really ought to be on Survivor.

I’ve eaten more McDonald’s on this trip than I have in the past 5 years. One time, we ordered Chinese food the night before and brought it in the car with us. Josh ate the leftover Chinese food in McDonald’s while I munched on some French fries. Hahaha who eats leftover Chinese in a McDonald’s? I know, gross.

No matter how many times you say to yourself “I WILL remember where I put this item”…you won’t. And then you will search for it for a long time and it will turn up somewhere stupid – like the car glove compartment or the pocket of your jacket.

What IS that smell???? Oh, it’s the sandollar and starfish we found on the beach and decided to keep but neglected to let it completely dry out. THAT is why the trunk smells like old seafood!

I get mad when it costs us more than a $5 donation to car camp. FIVE dollars.

Showering every other day is a good week.

I’m sure Josh is sick of hearing me ohhhhhh and ahhhhhh over some of the stunning scenery that we see on a daily basis, especially the last few days when we drove north through Texas and now in New Mexico. Unbelievable drives!

And the thought that is in my head most: Does this REALLY have to end and do we really HAVE to pick a place to actually live and get jobs and go back to all that responsible stuff? It’s more fun to just be on perpetual vacation b/c this trip has opened my eyes and made me appreciate the world around me even more, and the best part is I’m doing it with my very best friend! But alas, we are not independently wealthy, so we’ll make the most of our time out here.

Austin, TX October 31 – November 4, 2006

2006-11-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

It was with great anticipation that we began our drive to Austin, TX. We were now finally visiting a city we had researched before and that we would maybe move to. Not to mention that we had been meaning to visit my cousin Mike Austin for over 2 years now.
Austin is also the home of Shawn Colvin, one of my favorite singers. One of her cds can always be found in my cd player!

The drive into Austin was full of bright lights and enticing signs for the usual unhealthy fast food. We got to my friend Heather’s apartment around 7 p.m., had a drink and then the 3 of us headed downtown.

We purposely arrived in Austin on Halloween. We wanted to be in a cool city for the celebration. Austin did not disappoint! 6th street was flooded with costumed people walking in and out of different bars. We walked up 4th street and had a beer and some food at the GingerMan, which had the most beer on tap of any bar I’ve seen! And they were still having draft specials at 9 p.m. at night! It was a really cool bar that you feel right at home in !

The people of Austin were very friendly and many of the shops that we walked into, people would ask us how we were and strike up a conversation. Before Austin, my only real exposure to Texas has been visiting family in Dallas. My family in Texas may get defensive about this, but Dallas has never been a favorite of mine. Glitz, glamour enourmous cars and lots of makeup give Dallas its personality.

Not that people in Austin don’t love their state. Don’t try to find a common bond or joke in how Texas thinks it really IS that much better, b/c some of the natives will agree, no matter how open minded they are. J It’s obvious that Texans love their state by the amount of times you see the Texas flag as you’re driving around here. As a girl who has been brutally teased for being from New Jersey, Texans need to turn it down a bit! ;)

On Wednesday we met Heather for lunch at the largest Whole Foods Market in the USA, 80,000 square feet of food, free beer and wine tastings, not to mention huge selections of meat, fish, eteetc. 1/3 of the store is set aside for take-out and sit down meals, and our lunch was delicious. The store is equipped with free wi-fi, and was impressive. It reminded me of Harrod’s in London, though, I guess I’m a bit of a brat b/c Harrod’s is unlike any other huge food store I’ve seen. After lunch we went to “Book People”, a local popular book store. Then we drove downtown, parked the car, and walked all over downtown. We went into the capital building (which is 7 feet larger than our federal capital) which had historical paintings and intimate art detail.

We ended our day at the Scholz, the oldest bar and business in Texas, over 140 years old. The Scholz was a very cool pub that served german food. Vegetarians wouldn’t like it very much, I wasn’t in the mood for meat so I had a grilled cheese of the children’s menu. Haha J

Near dusk, we walked down to the Congress street bridge to see the bat colony that thrives in Austin. I know, BATS, gross! But I learned about these fascinating creatures that also live in the city of Austin and how they eat over 3000 pounds! of insects in between the months of March-November. When we first got there you could hear them using their wings and slowly waking up. Soon after the sun goes down, you can see them swarming above your head, high in the air, and in massive groups. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before! And it was here, in Texas, not in a zoo. We were really lucky to have made it in time to see the bats, as most of them are heading to Mexico. It’s mostly the mothers who were left.

The people here seem very laid back and are very conscious of the decisions they make toward the environment and one another. Also, it seems like almost every place we saw had WiFi….the city is very progressive. It’s a city that you can feel pretty comfortable in as a tourist, especially if you’re like-minded. The city seemed pretty easy to navigate through (and this is coming from a girl who gets lost in a paper bag.) Austin is passionate about food and I am too. There are tons of restaurants to choose from and Austinites seem to really get out and enjoy the cuisine. Although Austin isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as Charleston or Savannah, the amount of parks in the city and surrounding it make up for it. We def. have the feeling that we could be happy here—but no decisions yet! Gotta see everything first and take some time to think about it all. ;)

We met Heather for lunch again on Thursday and went to a Vegan/Vegetarian restaurant. On the way to lunch we drove down Guadalupe Street, or “The Drag” which is the main street on UT’s campus. UT is located in the northeast part of the city is needless to say, is a huge part of the community there. We then headed to SoCo, South Congress street, which has a lot of neat shops and restaurants. I became a true tourist and bought a “Keep Austin Weird” tshirt. I love the idea of keeping it weird! www.keepaustinweird.com. The shop owners were funky, fresh and friendly. We stopped at Doc’s, an old garage converted into a bar, and had 2 appetizers and a pitcher of beer for $15. We have found some incredible food deals on the road! Oh, by the way, if anyone has Boardwalk or any of the pink or orange pieces from McDonald’s let me know. We’re missing one from each and we could split winnings!

Austin claims to be the “Live Music Capital of the World” and it certainly lives up to its name. Live music can be heard in almost every bar, from every genre. Great importance is placed on keeping Austin this way. Since there are so many venues, bands can find it easier to get gigs in the city of Austin. We didn’t have enough time to check one out, hopefully next time. Some charge a steep cover also.

On Friday we took it easy at my cousin Mike’s apartment b/c we both weren’t feeling 100%. I guess traveling around for 20 days is catching up to us. We did venture out for lunch at Threadgill’s, the place where Janis Joplin got her career start. The southern food there was delicious! Josh had meatloaf, Mike had glazed ham. I had cheese grits with a salad and lima beans. Not to mention the buttery rolls to start our meal. Yuuuuuuuum. Nope, not losing any weight on this trip! Next time we’re here we’d like to take a trip out to Hill Country, go to some nearby wineries, see San Antonio, the Trity Oak, and see a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse. And hang out in more of the neighborhoods in the city.

Pros
Lots of parks
Warm (hot) weather
Food was cheap!
“big city” with small town feel
Unique shops with like-minded individuals

Cons
Jobs?
Need a car, no great subway system
Pretty bad rushour traffic (but I guess that is everywhere)
Some sprawl?

Big thanks to Heather and my cousin Mike and his girlfriend Aspen for putting us up in Austin! It was great to hang out with everyone in Austin, wish we had more time to spend there. Though I guess that is the feeling with any great visit/trip! P.S. We miss my cousin’s cats. And Megan and Joey’s cats. Still.

Josh said Texas is the only foreign country he’s ever visited :)

Next stop: Guadalupe National Park, Texas, and then a week in New Mexico.

Clemson, S.C. and Tyler, TX October 25-October 31, 2006

2006-11-06T17:02:00.000-08:00

We visited Clemson, S.C. and Tyler TX to see family. We had a good time hanging out in our families' hometowns. It was also nice to take a break from being a tourist! Thanks for letting us stay, Christa and Dom and Deanna! Next stop: Austin, TX

Cumberland Island, Ga. October 24-25, 2006

2006-10-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

An unexpected diversion, Cumberland Island, Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island, is now one of my most favorite places in the USA. We saw this island mentioned in our guidebook, Let’s Go! Guide to the USA on a budget and decided to go, since it sounded so neat. I used Let’s Go! When I backpacked Europe and it rarely lead me in the wrong direction (thanks Harvard kids.) However, the prices in our book weren’t accurate and getting to the island ($46 for the both of us) really put us at budget. But in the end, it was totally worth it. Named “One of America’s 10 Best Beaches” by the Travel Channel, Cumberland Island is truly a national treasure. http://www.nps.gov/cuis/

We took the 9 a.m. ferry over Cumberland island and tried to warm up. It was FREEZING!! Our toes were numb. We waited in the ranger cabin to register and get our campsite, and we began chatting with one of the couples there. I mentioned something to Josh about the Appalachian Trail, and the guy asked us if we did much hiking on the A.T. I told him Josh had just finished a thru-hike of the entire trail. Then this guy told us he had hiked the whole AT also!!!!!! What a coincidence. There are only about 8,000 thru-hikers in the world, and 2 of them are on this tiny island in Georgia on this random Tuesday!! To give you an idea of how secluded this 16 mile island was, there were probably about 30 people (mostly children of middle school age) on our ferry going just for the day, and about 8 total of them were camping overnight. The guys talked about the A.T. for awhile (this guy had thru-hiked in ’91).

On our hike to Stafford beach, we saw about 4 armadillo! They are the cutest ugly creatures I’ve ever seen. I know it doesn’t make sense, but they’re so ugly they’re cute. We watched one hunt for ants for about 10 minutes and then walked on. We passed a beach entrance on our “hike” to the campsite, so we decided to stop in. The beach sand was beautiful, simple and pure, like no one had touched it for years. The undeveloped island has no places to buy food or souvenir shops, and there are few toilets. And that is how the National Park Service wants it. In 1972 the few inhabitants on Cumberland island were asked to give up their homes in exchange for island visiting privileges, to preserve the island to how it looks now. Cumberland Island is a complex ecological system of interdependent animals and plant communities. It is marsh, forest and beach, which make it a perfect place for great fishing, swimming, tanning and hiking.

We hung out on the beach for awhile and collected a sand dollar, starfish and many conch shells. We hiked on to our campsite (which had bathrooms, yay) and unloaded our stuff. Our campsite was about a quarter mile from the beach. Since we were up so early, we ended up falling asleep for an hour. Woke up at 3 p.m. and headed to the beach. You can’t see anyone on the beach! It’s like your own private beach! Josh decided to join the Polar Bear club and jumped into the ocean. We walked around and hung out on the beach till about 6 p.m.

Staring out at the ocean, I saw 2 dolphins swimming next to one another!!!! We followed them along the beach, and thought about jumping in the water to take a photo with them, but then we saw a HORSE!!!!!!!!! YES, A REAL LIVE HORSE ON THE BEACH!!!! I was so excited (can’t you tell). We took lots of pictures and then just sat on the beach and watched the horse eat. We headed back to cook dinner around 5.30. When it got dark out at night there, you could see EVERY star in the sky! Very different from the squinting you have to do in the northeast. We fell asleep around 9 p.m. to the sound of the ocean in the distance and animals scurrying in the underbrush.

On Wednesday, we woke up at 7 a.m. to watch the sunrise on the beach (I know, you’re barfing). It was gorgeous! Beautiful colors, and it was just us and 2 other people on the beach. We hiked 3 miles back to the ferry and loaded on for our departure. Met a cool couple from St. Louis who were visiting family on the east coast. They had hiked the El Dio? Trail (sorry, I forget the name) in Spain which we hope to do someday. It’s supposed to be an incredibly international trail with the chance to really get the local flavor of Spain. Got lunch at St. Mary’s town in Georgia, and then headed to Clemson, S.C. to visit Josh’s sister. After Clemson we’ll head to Tyler, Texas and then Austin, Texas, the first city that we’ve actually considered moving to. It’s taken us awhile to actually GET out West!

Cumberland Island was awesome and worth the 2 hour excursion. The weather could have been warmer, but if it had been we would have been dealing with mosquitos. It didn’t rain, we saw dolphins, armadillos, a horse, bright stars in the sky and the sun rising. Next time we come it would be perfect to stay for 3 nights so we could take a hike out to a part on the island that the horses hang out in their herds, hike to the northernmost part of the island and spend more time on the beach. It is a quiet, inspirational place with centuries of history. The island also has the Dungeness, the former estate of Thomas Carnegie, brother of Andrew Carnegie. The First African Baptist Church is also there. We can’t do any pros or cons of Cumberland Island since no one is allowed to live there. :(

Next stop: Clemson, S.C. to visit Josh’s sister.

Savannah, Ga., October 22-23rd, 2006

2006-10-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

Cathy, Matt, Josh and I drove to Savannah around noon on Sunday. Savannah is only 20 miles from Bluffton. And it’s Sunday, so you know what that means: EAGLES GAME! We walked down to Riverstreet, the waterfront area in Savannah. Riverstreet is one of the main streets in Savannah and is full of bars, shops and restaurants. We stopped in to a “Wet Willies” to get some slushy drinks and then to a “regular bar” to watch the Eagles game. The game was heart-wrenching. The Eagles lost in the last 4 seconds to a field goal. Ugh. We found another Eagles fan there (we’re everywhere!). Like my brother said, they’re the worst team with the best stats he’s ever seen.

Savannah is a city known for its drinking, and my friend Matt was determined to make that my first impression of the city. After the game, we went back to Wet Willies. http://www.wetwillies.com/ These drinks are no joke. 190% grain alcohol. Whoa. Josh thinks they should be illegal. In Savannah waitresses ask you if you want your drink “for here or to go.” You’re allowed one alcoholic beverage in your hand on Riverstreet. We carried our drinks down to the water and enjoyed people watching (or people enjoyed watching us). We had a lot of laughs and talked about high school and everyone made fun of me. Haha. Matt and Cathy headed back to Bluffton around 5 p.m. and Josh and I went and grabbed some dinner. We drove to our campsite at Skidaway Island Park around 9 p.m. Skidaway is about 20 miles from Savannah and our campsite cost us $24 a night. Skidaway is a pretty nice facility with restrooms, water stations at each site and laundry facilities. This works with the budget much better than a $80 hotel room. One thing about the South that we both noticed is that to everyone here, 20 minutes is “really far.” Huh? Maybe we’ve been living in the North too long, (or were we in the south technically? Northern Virginia? It’s debatable) but everyone thinks 20 miles is really long. In Va, driving to D.C. could take you 10 minutes, 20, 30, or 40, so being in the car for 20 minutes goes by pretty quickly. Funny.

We got to Savannah pretty early on Monday and stopped in at the Visitors Center. We really have become serious tourists with maps in our hands and questions for the workers there. Visitors Centers can really sometimes be overwhelming so we didn’t stay very long.

Savannah is a city full of cobblestone streets, large oak trees with overflowing Spanish moss, historic homes, churches and 21 green square gardens. Savannah, like Charleston, is very walk-friendly and a very eye-pleasing city to take a stroll in. This port city used to be a bustling center for cotton, and many of the older buildings that are now bars and shops on Riverstreet are former cotton warehouses. Savannah was a gift to President Abraham Lincoln from General William Tecumseh Sherman.

Savannah boasts one of the country’s biggest St.Patrick’s Day celebrations. Josh was there for it in recent years. The river is dyed green, and the open container law is even more liberal than usual.

Josh was on a mission to see all the squares, and we saw about 19 on our day in Savannah. Each has a distinctive centerpiece, usually a monument to some historical figure. They are all very pretty, but start to look like one another after awhile. Apologies to those who see our photo album and have to go through all 100 photos of Savannah. We stopped in for lunch at Café Ambrosia on Broughton street, which appeared to be one of the main drags in the city. After lunch we kept on our walking tour. We’d plop down in a square and enjoy the sun, head off in another direction, or walk down one of the popular streets. We also popped into Starbucks for an afternoon jolt (Thanks J.Shaw!) to keep us going (being on vacation is tiring ;))

As we walked down Riverstreet to head back to our car, we found a happy hour that had $2 beers. Hey, with beer that cheap, why not stop, right? So we did. We both had a Sam Adams Octoberfest and then found out that they had happy hour appetizer specials! We ordered 3 and our total bill was $10.55. Yes, 3 appetizers (2 orders of dumplings and one of MUSSELLS) and 2 beers for under $11 with tax. Woohoo!! What a great find. Thanks Cobblestone Conch bar!

Next time we visit Savannah I’d like to take a ghost tour (Savannah is known as the most haunted city in America.) But the cheapest one is $15 and that would almost be half of our budget! So we opted to skip it. We’d also like to visit Tybee Island, the nearest beach to Savannah and explore the more of the city other than the historic district. We really enjoy just walking around and exploring on our own. Savannah has a great vibe, we both really liked it. But we move on.

Next Stop: Cumberland Island, Ga. We’re ready for a break from touring city life.

Pros
Beautiful, laid back, good scene for a city
Large historic district
Close to the beach

Cons
Jobs?
Outdoor activity access
Conservative

Next stop: Cumberland Island, Ga.

Bluffton/Hilton Head Island, S.C. October 20-21, 2006

2006-10-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

A short drive from Charleston and we were in the historic town of Bluffton, South Carolina. Bluffton is about 10 miles from Hilton Head Island, S.C. and has over 20 historic homes. Many of the older homes were burned during the course of the civil war by union troops, although some of have been restored.

Josh and I stopped in at the visitors center and walked around the main street and took some photos of homes from the 18th and 19th centuries. The south is full of old homes and plantations. I’ve also noticed that golf courses have become increasingly popular as we’ve traveled down south. Some golf courses in Hilton Head cost you $200 just for a day of golf!

After touring the historic street in Bluffton, we walked to the Sippin’ Cow, an adorable deli and ice cream shop. I got a chai iced tea and Josh had an iced coffee. We picked up some wine at a nearby shop and then drove to my friend Matt’s house. Matt and I haven’t seen one another since high school graduation, but he is one of those great guys that you can pick up right where you left off. We went through elementary and middle school together also, and were in the youth group at church together. Yay Blackwood Buddies! We went to the Bluffton Festival on Friday night which is a little block party for the residents of Bluffton, held every third Friday of the month. Matt’s neighbor Carol was entering her dog in the costume contest, and we just could not stop laughing at this pooch. You really have to see the photos to believe it. It’s like this lady was picked right from Los Angeles and plopped into this southern town of Bluffton, S.C. Some people really get into their pets. She said to us at one point during the night, “I love this dog more than life.” Enough said. The festival was a lot of fun (beer is sold on the street too!) and we headed to get some dinner afterward at Peppers Porch. Everyplace we go to eat in the South has She-Crab soup! Yum. We also got fried green tomatoes which I didn't think were very good.

Saturday morning we got a late start and headed to Hilton Head. Matt gave us a tour of the Island and the surrounding area. We saw Michael Jordon’s home and drove past (and through one) some of the most affluent gated communities in Hilton Head. We got on the beach around 1 p.m. and hung out there till about 5. It was a beautiful beach day, 78 degrees and sunny! It was great to lay on the beach and hang out. We went grocery shopping after the beach and Josh, Matt and I prepared a Mexican Fiesta dinner complete with guacamole dip, margaritas, bean dip, taco dip and tacos. It was delicious! Then we watched the movie “Eulogy” which was pretty funny and went to bed.

Many thanks to my friend Matt Dooley for housing us Friday and Saturday night! Any time spent with Matt is full of loud, hard laughs which always make for a great time.

Pros of Bluffton, South Carolina:
Climate
Close to the Beach and Savannah
Dooley

Cons:
Jobs?
Outdoor activity access
Small

Next stop: Savannah, Ga.

Hampton Plantation and Charleston, S.C. October 18-19, 2006

2006-10-20T20:38:00.000-07:00

First, disclaimer: These entries are usually written quickly and as a steady (or unsteady) stream of consciousness, so I apologize for grammar, tense and spelling errors, as well as confusion. Thank you.

After leaving Georgetown, we passed a sign for the Hampton Plantation site, a national historic landmark. So we decided to stop in. The Hampton Plantation was a busy working rice plantation in the 18th and 19th centuries. We walked the grounds and stood at the edge of the bank of Wambaw creek to view the remains of old rice fields that used to stretch out for acres. I couldn’t help feeling a little guilty, knowing people had worked 12 + hour days just to get by, and here we were as guests. Not to mention the fact that hundreds of slaves had basically built wealth for a few southern families. In 1850 alone, 250,000 pounds of rice were cultivated. The plantation was serene, full of beautiful oaks, flowers and other vegetation. Sitting on a bench there, I was thinking of how many memories, good and bad, were created here a long time ago.

After about an hour, we got back on the road and headed further south to Francis Marion National Forest. Josh gets the best USA backpacker award by finding out that the FMNF allows people to camp there for free. Woo hoo! Under budget for today. We got to FMNF around 4 p.m. and hung out in the tent while it rained a little. Made dinner around 6 p.m. (yumm, cheddar broccoli rice and crackers and cheese) and then read/chatted in the tent till about 10 p.m.

We got an early start to Charleston the next morning. As we drove into Charleston, it did not appear to be the lovely city people had told me about. I’m not sure if it was the early morning hour or the fact that I felt extremely eager to see the city, but the parts that welcomed us were run-down and dirty. However, just like any city, Charleston has its rough edges of town, but I didn’t expect this to be the first thing to hit me as we searched the city for our hostel. I know, I know, I’m a snob.

We checked into our hostel around 10 a.m. We stayed here: http://www.notsohostel.com/ Free wi-fi, pretty nice facilities, free towels and make-your-own-waffle breakfast. Our campsite cost us $11 with tax the first night, then $22 the next (I’m thankful to the guy who checked us in the first day and only charged us for one person!). Aside from free, this may be our best lodging deal. Especially in a city! I can now say that I’ve camped in a parking lot. Nothing like waking up to the sound of tires moving on rock. Awesome. ;0) Years ago I thought I was really "backpacking" Europe by staying in hostels, but I am REALLY backpacking the USA by staying in a tent most of the time. I was such an amateur back then. Anyway, since we saved on lodging that left us with more money to spend on our favorite item: food!!

We headed downtown around 11.30 and stopped to have lunch at Sticky Fingers, a South Carolina chain for BBQ. http://www.stickyfingersonline.com/We had a big feast of salad, spinach dip, ribs, pork BBQ sandwiches, cole slaw and beans. It was delectable and we both really needed a nap after that huge meal. But we pressed on! Our time in Charleston was limited. The further downtown we walked the more I began to see the Charleston so many people had told me about. We walked up Meeting street which was where we had lunch, then walked through the open air market which had so many neat artists selling their work and then up East Bay street which had more unique café’s, bars and restaurants. Charleston reminds me of San Francisco only the weather is much warmer and less populated. I never saw a CVS while I was there.

We walked back on King Street which reminded me of any main street you’d find in New York, DC or Chicago. Chain retail stores like Banana Republic, Gap, and Ann Taylor, line the street. When you hit King Street you’re reminded that you are in America J Don’t let all those unique mom and pop stores that you were in before let you forget! We were in the mood for a snack, and stumbled on a gelateria that had a happy hour from 5-7. Cones were $1 and milkshakes were 2 for 1!!!! What a steal. We each got cones! Here is their website: http://www.gelateriamodica.com/ We walked down a different street on our way back and passed the College of Charleston, which looked like something out of a movie. There were art students scattered around drawing black and white sketches of the buildings on their campus. We headed back to the hostel and chilled out for the night, tired from all the walking.

There are a lot of older people here in Charleston, which is balanced (slightly) by the number of college students who reside here. Josh and I joked that we were “with Grandma.” I definitely didn’t feel like we saw many of the young professional types, but maybe we were hanging out in the wrong areas.

The colorful, historic homes in Charleston did not disappoint. Stunning, intricate and enormous, these homes date back to the 17th and 18th century. Each has its own special charm. Some of the signers of the Declaration of Independence owned homes here. Charleston is a very pedestrian friendly city and an antique collector’s dream. It reminds me of Old Town Alexandria but with Palm trees. If Josh thought coming off the trail meant that he didn’t have to walk as much, he was mistaken. We walked about 15 miles over 2 days in Charleston. Each time we’d walk back to our hostel we’d take another way back, and find secret hidden gems along the way. Most tours of the historic homes ranged from $14 on up, so we decided to just view from the street instead of paying.

I’m not sure why the big Hollywood stars don’t buy homes here. If I had a couple million dollars to spare, I would buy a home here. Charleston has great character. It’s also warm, near the beach, romantic and the people are friendly.

Josh and I got up early on Thursday and went for a run around the town. Running in a city/town can give you a much better sense of the community’s atmosphere. We were greeted with many smiles and hellos as we sweat through the city and found a coffee shop to grab a mocha and muffin. We headed back to the hostel to shower and then went to check out Folly Beach which is 20 minutes from Charleston. Folly Beach was very foggy this day, but we took a long walk on the beach and found some great shells. Conch shells and even a starfish! (the day before while sitting at a bench at the “battery” part of town we saw dolphins swimming in the water!) You don’t find these types of shells in Jersey. Our pockets were full and then we decided to get some crabs, since we were at the beach. We stopped in at Folly’s Crab Shack and ordered the she-crab soup, crab stuffed mushrooms and then we split the Ultimate Crab Pot which included a dungess crab, king crab, snow crab, shrimp corn-on-the-cob and potatoes (can you tell Josh is trying to gain weight?). It was a feast to stay the least. We were stuffed and then had to take a nap on the beach. Headed back to Charleston around 4 p.m. and chilled out at the hostel (in a hammock!) and walked back to Modica in time for ice cream happy hour. It’s nice to find a sweet spot in town, even if it’s only for 2 days! We chatted with the owner for a little bit and it turns out his parents are from Sicily, where my grandmom is from, and we chatted a bit about Italy. I loooooooove gelato, and it was a real treat to have some homemade gelato. On our night walk around Charleston, we had the waterfront to ourselves. We started to head back to our hostel around 8 p.m. and passed a big screening of Xmen3 on one of the big lawns in Charleston. We sat down and watched the end of the movie. There was a vendor there selling kettle korn. Now you know how much of a big popcorn lover I am, and I do not take my popcorn ratings lightly, but this kettle korn was the best kettle korn I’ve ever had in my life. Popped perfectly, each kernel was at its full capacity, and very little kernel pieces were left in my mouth. Simply delicious. We got back to the hostel and I chatted on my cell phone for awhile and Josh read his book.

We had never seriously considered moving down south. Charleston was pretty much ruled out before we visited b/c it’s not really a place for a career, based on all the tourism and no big businesses are based there. Its unemployment rate is worse than the National average. However, I think it would be a great place to retire! And I would love to come back and visit for an extended period of time at some point.

Pros
Pedestrian Friendly
Beautiful scenery
Great weather
Close to the beach
Seemed to be pretty bike friendly

Cons
Bad job market (huge)
Not close to outdoor activities
Young professional scene?
Expensive houses

Next stop: Bluffton/Hilton Head, S.C.

Myrtle Beach, S.C. October 16th and Georgetown, S.C. - October 17

2006-10-17T10:27:00.000-07:00

On our drive to South Carolina, we stopped into a McDonald’s for lunch. The real south immediately hit us as we sat down and overheard a minister talking to a young couple preparing for marriage. He warned them about how the devil will try and place himself between the both of them, and how hanging out with other Christian couples would bring them closer to God. We even got to hear the minister bring up the subject of sex! I think if you took a tour of the local McDonald’s in this country you would get a feel for the locals. The couple could not have been older than 19 years old. This is definitely different than Northern Virgina. We played Monopoly and have 2 of the orange pieces!! We’re hoping to get the other on our roadtrip so our winnings can pay for the entire trip. Maybe our odds will be better b/c we’re moving around so much and eating McDonald’s in a variety of places? One can hope.

After lunch we traveled another 30 miles and took a quick stop at South of the Border. How can you resist as you see the Pedro signs proliferating all over 95 south? SOTB is full of some of the nation’s tackiest items, and bad food. It’s everything that is wrong and right with America.

It progressively got warmer the further south we traveled! Yay!!! And we began to see more and more RVs. And accents started to get thicker!

We’re staying at the Seabanks hotel, one block from the beach, for $27 with tax!! Woohoo! The room is nice enough, though the cats staying with a couple upstairs look a little out of place. People can stay here for the month for $350. There really is another side of America that we’ve already begun to see on this trip….

We took a walk on the beach and dipped our feet in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time on this trip. At the end we’ll dip them in the Pacific Ocean!

We took a walk on the beach and then Josh made us some dinner on his campstove. Spicy Thai Chili. Yum.

The main drag in Myrtle Beach, the Grand Strand/Route 17/Kings Highway, is full of firework stores, tacky tourist shops and every restaurant you can imagine. It’s just basically an ugly strip where tourist traps abound. Not that I have much room to talk, Wildwood, is similar, but it’s not nearly as big as this place! It’s like Ocean City, MD but 10 times the size. Billboards every 50 yards…it’s the epitome of American coastal decadence. Myrtle Beach hails itself as the second most popular beach town in America. Any guess on what the most popular one is? I’m not sure either…

We left Myrtle around 11.30 a.m. b/c it was raining and didn’t look like we could get any beach time in. The beach looked nice enough last night, though hotels line up right along the beach.
We stopped at Krispy Kreme (yay, they had a doughnut-making factory there) and Dollar General. We were driving through Georgtown, South Carolina when we decided to stop for a break. I’m glad we did – Georgetown is full of 18th century homes and has a cute main street. We stopped in at an internet café and sat outside and had some tea and coffee, which is where I am typing this entry now. There were a lot of pictures that had bible quotes on the wall. We plan to mosy on to Francis Marion and Sumter National Forest, where we can camp out for free. Then we’ll wake up early and head 20 miles to our next stop: Charleston, South Carolina

Chapel Hill, N.C. October 13-16th

2006-10-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

Chapel Hill is this cute little town that is the home to the University of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is part of the research triangle, which also includes Raleigh and Durham. This hub is responsible for progressive inventions, research and other advances in academia. The University of North Carolina is the nation’s first state university. It’s pretty cool to walk around campus knowing that students have been living and studying here since 1789.

UNC is a very diverse student body. The atmosphere is liberal and progressive, and everyone is friendly. Southern hospitality is no myth. Franklin Street, the main street in Chapel Hill, is full of unique shops, restaurants and UNC pride. You can’t walk 2 feet without passing a person in baby blue. Friday night we went to Bandido’s for dinner with my best friend Laura and her friend Nate. Afterward we went to Lucy’s bar, Fuse and then Goldie’s. Most of the bars in Chapel Hill have a great beer selection and we had a lot of fun with Laura, Nate and Amanda.

The campus was alive early on Saturday a.m. as students, alumni and locals were in a hurry to get to the UNC football game. We took our coffees to the main area of the campus and sat on the steps of an academic building. We had a blast watching the fraternity boys walk by in their seersucker pants, accompanied by a blonde girl to interlock arms with. Apparently the uniform for fraternity boys on this campus consists of khaki shorts or pants, with a collared shirt, and a bandana that holds your sunglasses on your head. Sometimes there is a sweater worn over their shoulders. In most parts of this country, this uniform is completely hilarious, however, in Chapel Hill; it marks your status as a member of a fraternity. I’ve only seen people wear that uniform in movies when they are on a yacht. It was great fun people watch on the steps and compare how different we were from this crowd where southern pleasantries are common.

On Saturday night we went to the North Carolina Fair which was an absolute RIOT! The fair had every bad food you could possibly think of; pizza, hot dogs, French fries, pork chop on a stick, and giant turkey legs. We ate hot dogs, funnel cake, alligator on a stick and popcorn. You could get practically anything fried at the fair. Fried snickers, Milky Way, vegetables, coke (yes, they fry the coca-cola in strips and sell it!!!). We could feel our arteries clogging up as we munched our way through the fair. We couldn’t stop laughing our heads off at the spectacles surrounding us and when we went on the Tilt-A-Whirl. I looooove that ride!! There was a freak show at the fair, which was pretty sad! I thought all those things ended years ago. The features of the freak show include the world’s smallest woman, the world’s largest horse, a woman with no arms and no legs, the largest rat and a two-headed baby (in a jar). As we tried to exit the fair, the fireworks started. A fellow fair-attendee made the comment, “What’s the point, it’s not July” as the fireworks were going off. We were in hysterics. My stomach hurt from laughing.

I won a stuffed animal at the Fair! I am highly skilled at those water shooting games (little known fact). I now have a great stuffed pony as a memento of the North Carolina State Fair. The Fair was a perfect thing to include on our road trip. The crowd at the Fair was very diverse. After the fair we checked out a bar in Chapel Hill called The Speakeasy. They had Allagash White on tap! Woohooooooooo!

Sunday a.m. we met Josh’s aunt, uncle and sister for brunch in Cary, N.C. Cary is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States. It’s full of “greenways” and bike paths. The houses there are gorgeous and the residents were all smiles and polite to us. We had brunch at Lucky 32 and then headed back to Chapel Hill, grabbed some dinner at The Loop and had our North Carolina vanilla milkshake. Laura and I went for a run and Starbucks on Monday a.m. and then Josh and I hit the road around noon.

We made the big mistake of not taking enough photos on the Chapel Hill part of this trip. We were having too good of a time to remember to take more snapshots of Franklin street and the fair.

Thanks so much Laura and Amanda for putting us up your house!!! And to Mary Carol and Dave for a tasty brunch in Cary. We had a great, great time. It’s going to be really hard to top our Chapel Hill weekend!

Pros of Research Triangle area:
Friends and family there!
Good climate
Inexpensive
Good biking and running paths

Cons:
Far drive to rock climbing, backpacking
Not all that impressed with Raleigh as a major metropolitan city
Big tech market

Next Stop: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!

First stop on the Roadtrip: Washington, D.C/Northern Virgina

2006-10-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

The roadtrip kicked off with a visit back to the old homestead. On Thursday night we stopped at my old house and picked up a few items and then headed to Josh’s cousin’s house. We met their Uncle Joe for dinner at Clyde’s in Tyson’s Corner. There was a lot of trail talk as Josh got to retell a lot of his journey north from Springer Mountain, Ga. To Katahdin, Maine.

Friday we headed downtown D.C. to grab lunch at Potbelly (my fave!) and then stopped in the old office and walked around. It was great to see everyone, and we headed to Mackey’s Pub around 4.45 to start happy hour. After being in the company of such great people, it makes you wonder why you want to move in the first place!

A big thanks goes out to Megan and Joey for hosting their unemployed and homeless cousins at their place in Centerville, Va.!

We’ve decided to make a list of Pros and Cons for each place we visit. We haven’t ruled out moving back to the DC area sometime in the future after our move somewhere new.

Pros
Lots to do
Proximity to family
Good job market
Good bike trails
Cultural and historical activities
Great Friends!!

Cons
Traffic
Expensive
We’ve lived there awhile (looking for a change, this is our primary reason for moving)
Distance to outdoor activities
Overcrowded
Not exactly the most friendly place on earth

Roadtrip Update: We’re hoping to add Boise, Idaho to our list of cities to visit. We’ve heard really good things and it appears to fit our criteria for a new place to live. Imagine if this urban Jersey girl moved to IDAHO!

We’re attempting to do this trip on $70 a day. I know, I know, it’s ambitious, but we’re going to try. We’re keeping a list of the expenses in a separate log, not online (I don’t think you really care to know if we spend $12 on Hardee’s burgers)

Next stop: Chapel Hill, NC!

Great American Vanilla Milkshake Contest!

2006-10-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

We’re in search of America’s Best Milkshake on this trip! The reason for this is twofold: 1. We love vanilla milkshakes 2. Josh needs to put on weight after his 2,185 mile trek to Maine.

The point scale is 1-5. Points are allotted for taste, presentation and overall quality.

Ligonier, Pa – Beno’s Café.
Comments:
Good shake, but it tasted too healthy. Perhaps they used low fat milk or frozen yogurt.
Rating: 3.6

Arlington, Va. – Whitlow’s on Wilson
Comments:
Excellent, excellent shake. Thick, creamy, with plenty of tasty whipped cream. Good presentation (given to you in the stainless steal cup, with extra to have later) cherry on top. You have to ask Barbara at Whitlow’s to make yours, she makes them the best. So great that other waitstaff ask her to make it instead of them attempting it. Why botch perfection? But we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves, there are a lot more states to try the shakes in.
Rating 4.8

Chapel Hill, N.C. – The Loop
Comments: Yummy shake. Extra part of the shake given which is a plus. However, the presentation leaves something to be desired and there was no whipped cream.
Rating 4.0

Charleston, S.C. – Modica Cafe
Comments: Modica Café is a gelateria, so I guess in a true milkshake contest we shouldn’t compare, but we will anyway. Josh got a caramel and vanilla gelato milkshake, and I got a fragola (strawberry) and vanilla shake. Whipped cream was given, though no extra shake. Modica has a “2 for 1” shake deal, where you get 2 shakes for the price of one, so this helped the score. Presentation was good, in one of those fancy milkshake glasses. Very yummy, even though more healthy b/c gelato is 94% fat free.
Rating 4.1

New Location Prereqs

2006-10-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

What we’re looking for in our new location/city:
-Close distance to outdoor activities such as backpacking (mountains) and good running trails
-Bike-friendly
-Cool downtown area
-Good job market (big enough place where non-service industry jobs are available. We want to have careers, and not just jobs)
-A diverse area in terms of people, industries and things to do
-Inexpensive cost of living (We’d like to buy a house that has a yard and 4 bedrooms for under $300k)
-Good weather
-pedestrian friendly

We know we can't have it all, and some things are more important than others. This is our dream list :)

If you have any suggestions that aren’t on our list, let us know! We’ll look into adding it to our list.

I'm moving!

2006-09-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Josh and I are moving out West!!! We will start the Great American Road Trip somewhere around October 10th. We'll be visiting the following places:

Washington, D.C. (to say goodbye once more to all our friends!)
Chapel Hill
Clemson, S.C.
Charleston/Bluffton S.C.
Savannah, Ga.
New Orleans (hopefully volunteer for a couple days)
Tyler, TX
Austin, TX
Denver, Co
Alberquerque, NM
Santa Fe
Flagstaff
Phoenix

Then all the way up the West Coast....depending on how many funds are left! This route is subject to change depending on our mood....

I'm hoping to chronicle our adventures in this space.

I've always wanted to drive cross country -- I can't wait!

Donate your $$

2006-07-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

Go Sarah!

http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?mode=2&pmmsid=1202713

Road Trip!

2006-05-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

It's Memorial Day and I love to travel, so I am headed to the cool Trail Town of Damascus, Virginia to visit my boyfriend Josh who is hiking the entire Appalachian Trail.

Check out the NYT article on Damascus and its famous "Trail Days" festival:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9405EFDA173EF931A25756C0A9609C8B63

And another plug for Josh's Blog:
http://www.trailjournals.com/corpjosh/

All I really needed to know I learned in Kindergarten

2006-05-26T06:24:00.000-07:00

I'm writing a story about a bank that has donated oodles of $ to create a playground and sprayground in it's neighborhood. It reminded me of "All I really needed to know I learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulhgram. So simple and true.

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.These are the things I learned:* Share everything.* Play fair.* Don't hit people.* Put things back where you found them.* Clean up your own mess.* Don't take things that aren't yours.* Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.* Wash your hands before you eat.* Flush.* Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.* Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.* Take a nap every afternoon.* When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.* Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.* Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.* And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Website Winners

2006-05-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

Cool Websites:

http://youthink.worldbank.org/

http://www.feedmebetter.com/

9-11

2006-05-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

By Richard Pretorius

The silence told the story. Couples held hands as they headed to the theater exits. Seven friends had filled up one row, sharing jokes and stories before the movie began. As the credits rolled, they simply turned around and filed out. Not a word was exchanged.A man who came to the United States from Hungary 18 years ago had said a few hours earlier, as if he wanted the whole world to know, that he was proud to be a U.S. citizen. He, too, simply left .

A few movie-goers stood quietly watching as white type on a black screen told them what they had known for nearly five years--that no one on United Flight 93 had survived the crash in the Pennsylvania country side, that the military had failed in its belated attempt to thwart the jets-turned-into-missiles.The movie that some argued should not be shown and that many feared seeing was really about one thing--courage. That of ordinary people working to overcome the highjackers and stop them from killing many more people. The passengers learned from cell phone conversations with friends and family that planes had already hit the World Trade Center. They knew another landmark must be next.

The public record is excruciatingly clear on this.We all know that a group of passengers’ success cost them and everyone else aboard United Flight 93 their lives. Would those of us sitting in our comfortable seats eating overpriced popcorn have been so brave? Would we have been a fighter risking all or would we have cowered in a corner hoping that others saved us? Would “let’s roll” been our call to define our character in action?While the movie no doubt took some liberties with what actually happened inside the plane on Sept. 11, 2001, it gives us a searing glimpse into what it really means to be a hero. In an age when that the term is often applied to an athlete who scores the winning basket or hits a tie-breaking home run, “United 93” reminds us what courage truly is.“We’ve got to do something,” one passenger said to the others.

And do something they certainly did, knowing full well that they would most likely die in the process. That is a lesson that should never be forgotten.The silence that engulfed the movie-goers like a fog was a reminder that to relive that September day, whether by Hollywood production, book or news footage, is to still be shocked and deeply saddened.Shocked that such an attack could happen in a country that spends hundreds of billions of dollars on defense each year. Shocked that 19 men and their accomplices could develop or be brainwashed with such a hatred of the United States that they would take on the most audacious suicide mission. Shocked that, despite all the wars and innocent lives lost, man could still be capable of such cruelty toward his fellow man.

Tears flowed on the screen as passengers made frantic good-bye phone calls to family members. Tears were present in the eyes of movie-goers as they felt the passengers’ pain and obviously wondered what they might do in the same heart-wrenching situation.Tears would certainly also come to any person who pondered a thought that became part of the national conversation in the months after 9/11: Whom would you call knowing the plane was going to crash? Mother or wife, father or girlfriend, daughter or son, boyfriend or best gal pal? An impossible choice. But one that has to be made.

The passengers on United 93 made the impossible choices. The movie has no recognizable stars, for an obvious reason. Headlines do not make the hero; action does.A powerful message and memorial, indeed.

Great New Magazine!

2006-04-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

For all the women out there who are sick of magazines that are obsessed with showing us how to lose a few pounds.

There's a great new adventure magazine out there for women that focuses solely on excercizing adventures, called Women's Adventure Magazine. I bought a copy at REI this weekend and am enjoying it.

Check it out!

http://www.womensadventuremagazine.com/

Date your Coworker!

2006-04-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

It's always a constant joke among friends that you shouldn't get involved with someone at work. I think you shouldn't let that deter you. If you handle things appropriately it is not a big deal ;) But of course I am biased. This story is cute:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/06/AR2006040600040.html

Jack Bauer Rocks!

2006-04-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.notrly.com/jackbauer/index.php?topthirty

I heart 24!

:)

2006-04-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances" -Martha Washington

BlueCrab

2006-03-31T07:20:00.000-08:00

A former high school teacher of mine owns a boat and takes people out for trips. This year he has taken a sabbatical from teaching and is sailing all over the globe!

Check him out:

http://www.bluecrabcharters.com/

2006-03-30T13:13:00.000-08:00

" Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'"

Be Happy :)

2006-03-22T12:38:00.000-08:00

It pays! ;)

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/21/commentary/everyday/sahadi/index.htm

So there IS an explanation for why I'm broke!

2006-03-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.strappedthebook.com/facts.php

Take Control of Your Life

2006-03-21T13:45:00.000-08:00

"The best day of your life is the oneon which you decide your life is your own.No apologies or excuses.No one to lean on, rely on, or blame.The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey -and you alone are responsible for the quality of it.This is the day your life really begins."
Bob MoawadInspirational Author, Speaker and Coach

Check This Guy Out -- He ROCKS!

2006-03-09T14:18:00.000-08:00

http://www.trailjournals.com/corpjosh/

Phoodski

2006-02-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

Check out my food saavy friends!

http://phoodski.blogspot.com/

15 Meanings

2006-01-31T14:01:00.000-08:00

What types of meaningful experiences do people value? In the course of helping companies develop products and services that suit their markets, every year we interview over 100,000 individuals from countries and cultures around the world. In these interviews, we’ve found commonalities among the meanings people feel strongly about, whether we’re studying the adoption of new software in Poland or the purchase of toothbrushes in Florida.
We’ve compiled a list of these meanings, but it is far from exhaustive. We’ve found potentially dozens of types of meaningful experiences and at least as many possible ways to characterize them. What we concentrate on here are 15 of the meanings that emerge most frequently in these interviews and appear to be universal among people’s values. While the relative importance of these meaningful experiences might vary and their interpretation could differ slightly, all cultures seem to recognize their significance. This is good news for businesses, because it means that there is a certain constancy among human needs that transcends the distinctions of culture and language.

(Since none of these meaningful experiences is more or less important than any other, we’ve presented them in alphabetical order)

1. AccomplishmentAchieving goals and making something of oneself; a sense of satisfaction that can result from productivity, focus, talent, or status. American Express has long benefited from transmitting a hint of this meaning to its card holders by establishing itself as a credit card intended for those who are successful. Nike relies on the essence of this meaning for many in its “Just Do It” campaign.

2. BeautyThe appreciation of qualities that give pleasure to the senses or spirit. Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder and thus highly subjective, but our desire for it is ubiquitous. We aspire to beauty in all that surrounds us, from architecture and fine furnishing to clothing and cars. Enormous industries thrive on the promise of beauty stemming from shinier hair, whiter teeth, and clearer skin. Beauty can also be more than mere appearance. For some, it is a sense that something is created “correctly” or efficiently with an elegance of purpose and use. Companies such as Bang & Olufsen audio equipment and Jaguar automobiles distinguish themselves through the beauty of their design.

3. CommunityA sense of unity with others around us and a general connection with other human beings. Religious communities, unions, fraternities, clubs, and sewing circles are all expressions of a desire for belonging. The promise and delivery of community underlies the offerings of several successful organizations including NASCAR with its centralizing focus on car racing and leagues of loyal fans that follow the race circuit, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and their Harley Owners Group (HOG), and Jimmy Buffet with his dedicated Parrotheads. These businesses attract and support user communities who embody specific values tied to their products and services.

4. CreationThe sense of having produced something new and original, and in so doing, to have made a lasting contribution. Besides driving our species to propagate, we enjoy this experience through our hobbies, the way we decorate our home, in telling our stories, and in anything else that reflects our personal choices. Creation is what makes “customizable” seem like a desirable attribute, rather than more work for the buyer, for example, making the salad bar a pleasure rather than a chore.

5. DutyThe willing application of oneself to a responsibil- ity. The military in any country counts on the power of this mean- ing, as do most employers. Duty can also relate to responsibilities to oneself or family, such as reading the daily paper to stay abreast of the news. Commercially, anything regarded as “good for you,” including vitamins, medications, Cross-Your-Heart bras, and cush- ioned insoles relays some sense of duty and the satisfaction it brings.

6. EnlightenmentClear understanding through logic or inspiration. This experience is not limited to those who meditate and fast, it is a core expectation of offerings from Fox News, which promises “fair and balanced” reporting, the Wall Street Journal, which many consider the ultimate authority for business news, and the Sierra Club, which provides perspective on environmental threats and conservation.

7. FreedomThe sense of living without unwanted constraints. This experience often plays tug-of-war with the desire for security; more of one tends to decrease the other. Nevertheless, freedom is enticing, whether it’s freedom from dictators, or in the case of Google, the freedom to quickly search the Web learning and interacting with millions of people and resources.

8. HarmonyThe balanced and pleasing relationship of parts to a whole, whether in nature, society, or an individual. When we seek a work/life balance, we are in pursuit of harmony. Likewise, when we shop at Target for a toaster that matches our mixer, we are in pursuit of harmony. Much of the aesthetic appeal of design depends on our personal desire for the visual experience of harmony.

9. JusticeThe assurance of equitable and unbiased treatment. This is the sense of fairness and equality that underlies our concept of “everyman” or Average Joe. It helps explain the immense popularity of the Taurus and the Camry, the ranch house, Levi jeans, and white cotton T-shirts—all products with a simple, impartial appeal to a very broad audience.

10. OnenessA sense of unity with everything around us. It is what some seek from the practice of spirituality and what others expect from a good tequila. Although we don’t normally think of them as a company, the Grateful Dead sustained its revenues for decades building an experience that connected with its fans’ desire for oneness. Similarly, organizations that connects their members into nature or a broader sense of the world, like the Monterey Bay Aquarium or the United Nations, are capable of evoking a meaning of oneness.

11. RedemptionAtonement or deliverance from past failure or decline. Though this might seem to stem from negative experiences, the impact of the redemptive experience is highly positive. Like community and enlightenment, redemption has a basis in religion, but it also attracts customers to Weight Watchers, Bliss spas, and the grocery store candy aisle. Any sensation that delivers us from a less desirable condition to a more pleasing another one can be redemptive.

12. SecurityThe freedom from worry about loss. This experience has been a cornerstone of civilization but in the U.S. in particular, acquired increased meaning and relevance after 9/11. On the commercial side, the desire for this experience created the insurance business, and it continues to sell a wide range of products from automatic rifles to Depends undergarments to credit cards that offer protection from identity theft.

13. TruthA commitment to honesty and integrity. This experience plays an important role in most personal relationships, but it also is a key component of companies like Whole Foods, Volkswagen, and Newman’s Own, all of which portray themselves as simple, upright, and candid.

14. ValidationThe recognition of oneself as a valued individual worthy of respect. Every externally branded piece of clothing counts on the attraction of this meaningful experience whether it’s Ralph Lauren Polo or Old Navy, as does Mercedes Benz, the Four Seasons hotel chain, and any other brand with status identification as a core value. 15. WonderAwe in the presence of a creation beyond one’s understanding. While this might sound mystical and unattainable, consider the wonder that Las Vegas hotels create simply through plaster and lights. Disney has been a master of this experience for decades, and technology companies routinely evoke awe as they enable their users to do what seemed impossible the year before.

http://www.makingmeaning.org/meanings.html

Revealing Ones Self

2006-01-18T07:53:00.000-08:00

A friend forwarded this to me. It comes from her weekly yoga emails.

Revealing the Self

One of the greatest causes of feeling disconnected to others is the belief that we need to hide some part of our personality. This belief is based on the fearthat if we are "revealed", we will be rejected. What we don't realize is that the act of revealing ourselves, and our true nature, is what creates strong bondsbetween "ourselves" and "others".

It is ironic but not suprising that what we commonly try to stuff inside or hide are the very things that we tend to share - the things that make us human. Our anger (or anxiety or depression), our desires, our ambitions, our vulnerabilities, our imperfections, our bad habits, and our background -including experiences or "mistakes" that have made us who we are. We think it is safer to project an image to others. We think that others need this image to like us, approve of us, or respect us. The image ends up being abarrier to connection.

People do not always see what is behind the barrier(although they often do). But they can see and feel the barrier - and that is enough. One of the greatest paths to connection is to let yourself be fully seen and known. Revealing ourselves does not shield us from the judgments of others. But it is important to realize that people who judge you for revealing yourself were judging you already.

There is no true safety is staying hidden. All it does is layer on the punishment of self-judgment and isolation. Not everyone in the world needs to know every aspect of yourself. But there is no aspect of yourself that should be hidden from everyone in your life. There is no aspect of yourself that is "unacceptable". There is no aspect of yourself thatcannot create a connection to others with shared experiences, shared challenges,and shared goals.

The PracticeThis week, I invite you to practice svadhyaya (self-reflection) - one of the temperamentally of yoga ethics, as described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. A good timeto practice self-reflection is after a meditation or asana practice. It is important to create a sense of physical openness and mental clarity - otherwise,self-reflection can be a way to reinforce old beliefs about ourselves rather than generating new insight.

I'd like to suggest that you do any practice that makes you feel relaxed and"clear". It could be as simple as noticing your breath in a relaxed or seatedposition for a few minutes. It could be any sequence of postures, self-guided orwith guidance (from a CD, DVD, book, etc.). If you have trouble starting a home practice but attend yoga classes, you can even do the following reflection in agroup yoga class, in savasana or a final seated meditation.

The Reflection, Ask yourself: What part of yourself do you keep compartmentalized? What side of yourself do you think you need to hide - from friends, co-workers, family, yourchildren, your neighbors, or anyone? Self-reflection should not be an intenselyintellectual process. Don't over-analyze yourself. Simply create the conditionsfor insight (through a yoga practice) and then sit with the question. Other waysto ask this question might be, "What one thing would I not tell anyone aboutmyself?" or "What image do I try I try to present to others - how do I want themto perceive me?"ParticipateIf you want to let yourself be more fully known, consider revealing this side ofyourself on our discussion board. You can take a baby step first - just naming this part of yourself ("my emotions" or "my habit of _______"), with or without any explanation or long story. Simply owning it, and sharing it. If you see something in another person's post that you recognize as part of yourself, let that person know - a simple, "me, too".

An important part of this practice is realizing how much more connected your feel to a person when they reveal something human about themselves. When you see this, it becomes easier to let down your own barrier.

100 Most Powerful Women

2005-12-29T13:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/11/MTNG.html

I hope to make this list someday! ;)

Life...

2005-12-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday.

Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And, there on television, she said it was "exciting." Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first. The audience laughed so hard they cried.

Maya Angelou said this:

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."
"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."
"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."
"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."
"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."
"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."
"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."
"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."
"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

2005-12-21T11:49:00.000-08:00

I'm reading a fascinating and enthralling book now, called Into the Wild. I can't put it down!!! I really admire the author's writing. Very vivid yet delivered in a sort of newsy way, with an exceptional use of a great array of words.

It's inspiring me to hike the entire Appalachian Trail...

http://outside.away.com/outside/features/1993/1993_into_the_wild_1.html

I feel like I really would have liked Chris had I gotten the chance to know him.

Be an Entrepreneur !

2005-12-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

Inspiring...

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20050801/entrepreneur.html

PostSecret

2005-12-03T11:34:00.000-08:00

The link below is to a very unique blog. A man in Germantown left a bunch of postcards on trains, in library books, and other places people would see one, pick it up, and write a secret of theirs on it to send in. He gets thousands a week now, and posts the best ones on here. It's a fascinating blog.

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

Importance of Thank you notes

2005-12-01T07:24:00.000-08:00

My mom was always a big believer in thank-you notes. This one was a tear-jerker:

http://bostonworks.boston.com/globe/view_cube/archive/112005.shtml

Cross Country Skiiing

2005-11-28T09:48:00.000-08:00

We went Cross Country skiiing over the Thanksgiving "break" and had a blast! Cross country skiing is an awesome workout! My abs, triceps and legs were in some serious pain later that night. I wish I lived somewhere cold so I could cross country ski more often! Most places close enough to here are over an hour and a half away.

Bikram Yoga, or HOT YOGA

2005-11-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

I took Bikram yoga last week in D.C. It was really cool (or hot, rather). The workout was awesome and I felt an improvement in my balance. I think it's good yoga for people who don't really like yoga (like me). You sweat so much (the room is heated to 105 degrees). I'd keep taking it if I had more dolla'dolla. If you live in the DC area, their intro week is a GREAT deal $20 for 7 days, unlimited classes.

http://www.bikramyogadc.com/

I GOT A NEW JOB/PROMOTION!!!!!!!!!!

2005-11-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

Hallelujah!!!!! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

I am gainfully re-employed at my current company. I will be the assistant editor of our in-house magazine that has over 10,000 readers! Effective in 2 weeks.

I am very excited.

The Ultimate Punk'd Story!

2005-11-17T07:48:00.000-08:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/gawker/20051115/en_gawker/thelindsaylohanstory;_ylt=Ar65BxQJMGEMjmmFFE6BPZtxFb8C;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA

Motherhood Penalty

2005-11-16T13:30:00.000-08:00

This infuriates me:

http://www.fortune.com/fortune/annie/0,15704,1125384,00.html

VA Bars

2005-11-12T18:20:00.000-08:00

92 list of bars, cont'd.....

Whitlows
Ireland 4 Courts
Claredon Ballroom
Galaxy Hut
Jay's Saloon
Mister Days
Mexicali Blues
Bailey's
Carpool
Gaffney's
Iota
Summers
Sine
The Continental
Rock Bottom Brewery
Molly Malone's
Dr.Dremo's
Clarendon Grill
11th Street Lounge
Murphy's
Bullfeathers
Gatsby's Sports Bar
Tiffany Tavern
Bistro Europa
Portners
Stella's

200 Bars in the D.C. area

2005-11-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

Bars we've been to so far in the D.C. area. Check out the WashingtonPost for their reviews, but offical, "TeamJL" reviews will follow, someday, when we get around to it.

It's sad to think of all the $ I've blown in these bars! 92 and counting.

D.C.
The Big Hunt
Apex
Jaleo
Cap City Brewing Company
Lucky Bar
RFD
Cafe Citron
Mackey's
Brickskellar
Froggy Bottom
Ozio
Mad Hatter
Rumors
Black Rooster Pub
Polly's Cafe
The Saloon
Steson's
McFadden's
Fado
Nanny O'Briens
Rhino Bar
TomTom
Brass Monkey
The hookah bar in Adams Morgan
Millie and Al's
Angry Inch
Harry's
Tombs
Colonel Brooks
Dubliner
Irish Times
Bullfeathers
Johnny K's
Politiki
Cap Lounge
Hawk and Dove
Orantique
Sign of the Whale
Madam's Organ
Sequoia
Joe's bar on the waterfront
Black Cat
DC9
9:30 Club
Mr.Smith's
Garrett's
The Bottom Line
Recessions
Front Page
Buffalo Billiards
Tequila Grill
Gordon Biersch
Red River Grill
My Brother's Place
1223
Polly Esther's
18th Street Lounge
Porter's
The Reef
John Harvard's
Common Share
The Pourhouse
Cafe Saint Ex
51st State
Flanagan's
93 - ChiCha Lounge
94- The Science club

*Okay, this is getting too long, VA bars will be the next post.

Pics from Vegas!!!

2005-11-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/melissabernardo/album?.dir=581b&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/melissabernardo/my_photos

Women of the Business World -- UNITE!

2005-11-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

Check out this excellent article on women working together to help one another succeed:

http://www.fastcompany.com/resources/talent/heffernan/102405.html

Want to hike the entire Appalachian Trail?

2005-10-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

I recently joined the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (I hike enough on it to give back a little, and I'm a sucker for non-profits who send me free labels!) and was exploring their site today. Josh and I have been talking about hiking the entire trail for some time now -- I think it would be such an amazing adventure. I had never even heard of this great accomplishment till I met Josh, an avid hiker.

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.786999/k.548/ThruHiking.htm

We'd have to come up the money to do it -- and I really want to someday. 2000 miles! What aching feet I imagine.

I think I'd miss my comfy bed though. And I'd have to learn not to hate hiking in the rain!

The Joy Diet by Martha Beck

2005-10-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

In my endless quest to find my labor of love, I picked up a book called "Finding your North Star" the other day by Martha Beck, a life coach and career counselor. One of her other books is called "The Joy Diet" and gives 10 guidelines to follow in order to enhance your life.

Nothing: Do nothing for fifteen minutes a day. Stop mindlessly chasing goals and figure out which goals are worth going after.

Truth: Create a moment of truth to help you unmask what you're hiding-from others and from yourself.

Desire: Identify, articulate, and explore at least one of your heart's desires-and learn how to let yourself want what you want.

Creativity: Learn six new ways to develop at least one new idea to help you obtain your heart's desire.

Risk: Take one baby step toward reaching your goal. The only rule is that it has to scare the pants off you.

Treats: Give yourself a treat for every risk you take, and two treats just because you're you. No exceptions. No excuses. (This would have to include ice cream for me)

Play: Take a moment to remember your real life's work and differentiate it from the games you play to achieve it. Then play wholeheartedly.

Laughter: Laugh at least thirty times a day. Props encouraged.

Connection: Use your Joy Diet skills to interact with someone who matters to you.

Feasting: Enjoy at least three square feasts a day, with or without food.

Something for Free

2005-10-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

I went to Borders the other day to purchase a San Francisco guide, and while I was checking out the cashier asked me if I wanted a free bracelet. It resembled one that of the Livestrong inititative, so I said SURE! And I walked away from Borders in such a GOOD mood b/c I had just gotten something for FREE!!!!

Which got me thinking,

Why are so few things in life free?

Oh right, the important stuff is free -- advice, love, friendship, etcetc. But we all know there's no such thing as a "free lunch."

I looked at the bracelet and thought about wearing it. It's purple and has "Reading is Magic" written around it.

I'll pass.

VEGAS!

2005-10-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

The Vegas trip was awesome, I had a great time. The best part was the company -- the gals from high school. Angel, Jill, Casey and Melissa. We got there Thursday night and went to Harrah's where I saw my first Elvis! We danced and gambled.

I only lost 30 bucks or so on the slots, but gambling really did feel like I was throwing my money in the toilet. So much for beginner's luck!

Vegas is everything that is wrong with America, but that is what makes it fun! It's overstimulating. It's over-the-top. It's dry. Women are outnumbered 20 to 1 (or so it felt in Club Pure at least) and then men are more aggressive than usual.

Vegas is Disney World for adults. Instead of stuffed animals there are strippers to buy for the night. Instead of happyland rides, there are clubs with booze.

We slept in, went shopping, went out to eat, went out at night to drink and party. Some of the highlights were a fancy dinner out at Drai's and the Comedy show where the opening act was from Philadelphia!

It was a good old-fashioned girls weekend! Can't wait for the next one :)

San Francisco!

2005-10-04T05:34:00.000-07:00

We're headed to San Francisco, CA from Oct 22- Oct 25. I'm so excited! I haven't been to CA since I was a little girl. We'll see my Aunt Coni and Aunt Lou, along with a bunch of Josh's friends who live out there. I was checking out this website for things to check out while I'm there:

http://onlysf.sfvisitor.org/what_to_do/

San Fran has so much to offer! I have a feeling I'm not going to want to leave.

TWO DAYS TILL VEGAS!