I love birthdays. I am not one of those Adulty McAdultsons who don’t tell anyone it’s their birthday, and spend the day exactly as every other day, letting it slide away in insignificance. (Ahem, you know who you are, you traitor to all birthday magic.) I think birthdays are meant to be celebrated, whether you’re turning seven or fifty-seven, and I’m on a mission to destroy the myth that tells adults they are too old for enjoying birthdays. I love…
After our reunion in Montana came to an end, I knew I wanted to do a little exploring while I was off work and across the United States anyhow. I saw Banff was only 4 hours north from our location in Montana, so Philip and I girded our loins, I peeled him away from Montana, and off we went to Canada. Our chosen route took us through Kootenay Park, Banff Park, and Jasper Park, which are all perched atop each other. We…
I went to a family reunion in Montana in July, and came home with full intentions of telling you all about my trip. I created a couple drafts of pictures, which sat and sat in desolation, while inspiration did not leap to mind. But here’s what I did instead of writing about my family reunion, in case you wanted to know: Journaled Clipped my nails Ate and slept and went to work and went home Watched movies Coveted these sandals…
Usually I keep the posts on here pretty lighthearted even when attempting to convey something a bit more serious, but today, it’s time for a dash of hardcore honesty. Monday was the Mondayest of Mondays, in every sense of the word. But let me back up a little… You know how sometimes long trips make you feel a bit fuzzy, like everything is surreal, and this could all be a dream you wake up from soon? I was definitely feeling…
Hello all, As the title may have informed you already, I am currently throwing my responsibilities aside and exploring new parts of the earth. We had a family reunion in Montana and I managed to twist Philip’s arm and convince him to take me to Banff, Kootenay, and Jasper National Parks just north of us afterward. They are unbelievable. I plan to tell you all about it shortly, but wanted to let you know why there isn’t a regular post…
Never mind that I hadn’t even sat on a bike in maybe ten years or so. “Let’s do the Virginia Creeper Trail!” they said. “It’ll be fun!” they said. “It’s super easy!” they said. So I agreed, since I have a hearty dose of fear-of-missing-out, and since occasionally I like to do something I’m bound to be terrible at. The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34 mile gravel path that is made from an old railroad track. The first 17…
Jobs to have besides working in the minibarn industry: Be a florist. Try interior design. Do mosaic tiling in kitchens. Be a cardiothoracic surgeon. Be a janitor for the cardiothoracic surgeon. Drive a school bus. Design hair bows to sell on Etsy. Write guidebooks for obscure places nobody has thought to review, such as the tiny little town of Mocksville, NC. Be a chef. Become world famous for your taco-making skills. Topics of conversation to discuss besides minibarns and volleyball:…
The girl whose vanity is lined with hundreds of bottles of cosmetics. She has thirty different shades of foundation, and often wears about 5 at once. She wouldn’t dream of playing sports, as it might chip her fresh manicure, and she can’t venture beyond the end of the sidewalk because nature doesn’t work well with her high heels and suede skirts. She avoids babies who might spit up on her, uncouth people who wear Walmart fashions, and shade (gotta work…
Dear New York City, I first encountered you when I was a wee child, on my way to JFK to pick up my big brother from his endless stint in Ghana, Africa. It was only six weeks that he had been gone, but to my mind it may as well have been years. There was perhaps a fleeting and distant glimpse of Lady Liberty as we passed by, but my most vivid memory is sitting in the airport terminal, watching…
The nieces and nephews usually seem to come in batches of two or three, and this time is no exception. Caspian and Francie made their appearances, and a few weeks later, this little guy came along to complete the trio. Elliot Keobi, his name is. With perfect skin and dimples and the cutest little mouth and a thatch of dark hair- how does he rate? Shouldn’t the cuteness be spread out a little? I got to meet him today, and was…
The guy who can’t imagine doing something as menial as his own housework. His mother packs his lunch and cleans his bathroom and washes his bed and all his dishes, because it has never crossed his mind that he could and should take care of himself. Sometimes this guy moves into his own house, and then he lives in a pit of grime and junk food, because he doesn’t ever think he should have to do something like wiping down a…
Confession: I really went to Paris for the food. Sure, I couldn’t wait to see the crooked streets and tourist attractions and hear the French accents, but really, the croissants and baguettes drew me the most. I sometimes ponder why people who don’t care about food even bother to travel, seeing as trying new cuisine is one of the greatest simple pleasures of life. So, the food in Paris… I kept a list of (nearly) all the food I ate…