Ahoy,
Madrid, I swear on my smoked sea salt's worth, is the smoking capital of Europe. Don't quote me on this. I'm only making this claim on speculation. It's like the whole city was smoking like chimneys. We thought Paris was bad, but they got nothing on Madrid. And when it wasn't the cigarettes, it was the motorcycle exhaust. Every bated breath I took, I could see my lungs wilting like flowers left in the sun with no water. Dying. I must have been holdingmmy breath the whole time I was in Madrid. It was awful. I'm glad my cardio health was adequate.
Besides that, Madrid is the largest city in Spain. And it was so crowded. It was more people than times square, but all the time, and everywhere. I long for Barcelona.
chafingly snuffled,
jt
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
not found here
Ahoy,
These are things I miss when I go on vacation:
1. Rice. I haven't realized until recently how prominent rice is in my life. It's amazing to me when thinking back on how I grew up. My parents enforced a very strict regimen of rice for dinner everyday for my whole life. No matter how late we got home, they would cook rice every night. They even brought a rice cooker on vacation. I'm thinking now that might be such a wild idea for my travels.
2. Fruit. Produce markets might not always be the easiest to come by. And it might be expensive, poor quality or we might not want to carry it around all day. I dream of grapes and oranges. These aren't really good excuses for why I'm fruit deprived on vacation.
3. Tap water. I don't like bottled water, nor the concept of bottled water.
longingly satiated,
jt
These are things I miss when I go on vacation:
1. Rice. I haven't realized until recently how prominent rice is in my life. It's amazing to me when thinking back on how I grew up. My parents enforced a very strict regimen of rice for dinner everyday for my whole life. No matter how late we got home, they would cook rice every night. They even brought a rice cooker on vacation. I'm thinking now that might be such a wild idea for my travels.
2. Fruit. Produce markets might not always be the easiest to come by. And it might be expensive, poor quality or we might not want to carry it around all day. I dream of grapes and oranges. These aren't really good excuses for why I'm fruit deprived on vacation.
3. Tap water. I don't like bottled water, nor the concept of bottled water.
longingly satiated,
jt
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
last leg
Ahoy,
Barcelona is the pickpocketing capital of Europe, according to wikitraval. But we also know Rafael nadal is from Spain, so we were super excited to run into him and have him kick our butts. We saw Roger Federer when we passed through switzerland. It was fabulous. He looked so chic in his watch advertisement.
Aside from being hyper cautious for pickpocketers, I still love Spain. The siesta thing makes it a lot less crowded in the middle of the day. The weather is a lot warmer, which the tall one is happy about. There are both small and big streets that lead into turnabouts like in other European cities.
Barcelona held the 1992 Olympics and that left an indelible mark on the city. It's obvious that some of the structures and monuments were built for the olympics. It's really interesting to see how the city runs after such a huge event. It's very different from what I saw of Athens. I won't bore you with the details. I know some of you must already be asleep. Certainly, the tall one is.
linguistically bulleted,
jt
Barcelona is the pickpocketing capital of Europe, according to wikitraval. But we also know Rafael nadal is from Spain, so we were super excited to run into him and have him kick our butts. We saw Roger Federer when we passed through switzerland. It was fabulous. He looked so chic in his watch advertisement.
Aside from being hyper cautious for pickpocketers, I still love Spain. The siesta thing makes it a lot less crowded in the middle of the day. The weather is a lot warmer, which the tall one is happy about. There are both small and big streets that lead into turnabouts like in other European cities.
Barcelona held the 1992 Olympics and that left an indelible mark on the city. It's obvious that some of the structures and monuments were built for the olympics. It's really interesting to see how the city runs after such a huge event. It's very different from what I saw of Athens. I won't bore you with the details. I know some of you must already be asleep. Certainly, the tall one is.
linguistically bulleted,
jt
Monday, December 26, 2011
omnomnom
Ahoy,
I haven't really reported much about the food, and you all must be dying to hear about our culinary adventures. All of you, my 2 readers. Despite our bullseye intent to see as much as we can, we did not sacrifice our taste buds. There have been hits or misses, but our bellies remain full and content. I'll just regale you with the highlights.
We had french food in London. London is not known to be a culinary Mecca, I think- more like a mishmash of everything else. I had a salmon dish and A had a nap. He was so sleepy, he was falling asleep in the middle of his sentences. So we proceeded to France where we were ordering blindly at this point. But it was delicious and simple. Baguettes with cheese and salmon for me, something carnivorous for the sleepy one. But my goodness, Italy took the cake. In Venice and rome we came across pizza, pasta and tiramisu that made my taste buds sing in a language I don't even know.
For however unpleasant the French come off, however mean, unhelpful, snooty, all other forms of unpleasantries in france, I'll give them this one thing. They know how to make heavenly noshes, divine pastries, amazing bread. I had curry lamb, duck confit, smoked salmon. All of it tasty. A had skate, risotto, and seafood ravioli. All of it tasty. We stopped in bakeries for bread and pastries. All of it tasty. And the macaroons. All of it tasty. Trend here? I wonder why Parisians seem so displeased because anyone who gets to delight daily in such orgasmic culinary tastes yet remain unhappy must be off their rocker.
delightedly satisficed,
jt
I haven't really reported much about the food, and you all must be dying to hear about our culinary adventures. All of you, my 2 readers. Despite our bullseye intent to see as much as we can, we did not sacrifice our taste buds. There have been hits or misses, but our bellies remain full and content. I'll just regale you with the highlights.
We had french food in London. London is not known to be a culinary Mecca, I think- more like a mishmash of everything else. I had a salmon dish and A had a nap. He was so sleepy, he was falling asleep in the middle of his sentences. So we proceeded to France where we were ordering blindly at this point. But it was delicious and simple. Baguettes with cheese and salmon for me, something carnivorous for the sleepy one. But my goodness, Italy took the cake. In Venice and rome we came across pizza, pasta and tiramisu that made my taste buds sing in a language I don't even know.
For however unpleasant the French come off, however mean, unhelpful, snooty, all other forms of unpleasantries in france, I'll give them this one thing. They know how to make heavenly noshes, divine pastries, amazing bread. I had curry lamb, duck confit, smoked salmon. All of it tasty. A had skate, risotto, and seafood ravioli. All of it tasty. We stopped in bakeries for bread and pastries. All of it tasty. And the macaroons. All of it tasty. Trend here? I wonder why Parisians seem so displeased because anyone who gets to delight daily in such orgasmic culinary tastes yet remain unhappy must be off their rocker.
delightedly satisficed,
jt
macaroon holidaze
Ahoy,
As we stand next to one of the great wonders of the modern world, "the Eiffel tower is not as interesting now that it isn't sparkling." The Eiffel tower sparkles every half hour or so. We walked up the stairs and were in the tower when they turned the lights on, so we got some really cool shots.
In other monumental ventures, the arc de triomphe looks even bigger in person. The roundabout to get to it is so wide, but we saw people jaywalking. There is an underpass to get there. We were concerned nothing would be open on Christmas and we would starve, but not the case. The champs élysées was incredibly crowded and plenty of restaurants were open. The Christmas markets we've been running into are great and filled with overpriced, non uniquities. They're a lot like American ones in that it's the same stuff being vended by multiple parties. I'll spot some things that I'm sure are not from anywhere near here, or that I've seen in the states before.
We tried photo bombing some wedding pictures near the palace. We were probably successful because they shooed us away. I'm sure we have photo bombed millions of pictures as we have been photo bombed repeatedly as well. It'll be fun to see how our photos turn out.
We saw the notre dame during a Christmas service. And there was a playground in the back. We got shooed out as they were closing. This seems to be a recurring trend with us.
The louvre, however, was a little lax on security. I got a foot into the water and still there was no one to shoo me away. I know you would need a week at least for the louvre alone, so we just gawked at the exterior.
smokingly shuffled,
jt
As we stand next to one of the great wonders of the modern world, "the Eiffel tower is not as interesting now that it isn't sparkling." The Eiffel tower sparkles every half hour or so. We walked up the stairs and were in the tower when they turned the lights on, so we got some really cool shots.
In other monumental ventures, the arc de triomphe looks even bigger in person. The roundabout to get to it is so wide, but we saw people jaywalking. There is an underpass to get there. We were concerned nothing would be open on Christmas and we would starve, but not the case. The champs élysées was incredibly crowded and plenty of restaurants were open. The Christmas markets we've been running into are great and filled with overpriced, non uniquities. They're a lot like American ones in that it's the same stuff being vended by multiple parties. I'll spot some things that I'm sure are not from anywhere near here, or that I've seen in the states before.
We tried photo bombing some wedding pictures near the palace. We were probably successful because they shooed us away. I'm sure we have photo bombed millions of pictures as we have been photo bombed repeatedly as well. It'll be fun to see how our photos turn out.
We saw the notre dame during a Christmas service. And there was a playground in the back. We got shooed out as they were closing. This seems to be a recurring trend with us.
The louvre, however, was a little lax on security. I got a foot into the water and still there was no one to shoo me away. I know you would need a week at least for the louvre alone, so we just gawked at the exterior.
smokingly shuffled,
jt
Sunday, December 25, 2011
walk the champs élysées
Ahoy,
Boys take something like 5 minutes to shower, which will forever amaze me. Sure, I can take that short a time too, but I have to try really, really hard. But one thing that is universal is the size of our bladders. We have been going through this cycle of being thirsty and looking for the water closet. He has a bladder the size of a peanut, and with all the expressos he drinks, you would think since the volume is smaller- he would need to empty his bladder less often. But that is not the case.
Anyone will tell you that walking around is the best way to see any city, and that is true for all the cities we've been so far. We spend almost the whole day walking around and getting lost, so our travels are not for the faint of heart or slow of pace. It's been fantastic seeing everything by foot stumbling in and out of touristy areas and looking for things off the beaten path.
One of the features that has thrown me off the map is the lack of a grid network. The streets all lead into turnabouts and public squares, and connect like a spiderweb. It's great for creating open streets and clear views, but more for aesthetics than function. This seems to be the goal of Paris and France, so mission accomplished. The people here think like that too. Smetimes it's like they are all on a catwalk.
merrily sunburned,
jt
ps. Joyeaux Noel
Boys take something like 5 minutes to shower, which will forever amaze me. Sure, I can take that short a time too, but I have to try really, really hard. But one thing that is universal is the size of our bladders. We have been going through this cycle of being thirsty and looking for the water closet. He has a bladder the size of a peanut, and with all the expressos he drinks, you would think since the volume is smaller- he would need to empty his bladder less often. But that is not the case.
Anyone will tell you that walking around is the best way to see any city, and that is true for all the cities we've been so far. We spend almost the whole day walking around and getting lost, so our travels are not for the faint of heart or slow of pace. It's been fantastic seeing everything by foot stumbling in and out of touristy areas and looking for things off the beaten path.
One of the features that has thrown me off the map is the lack of a grid network. The streets all lead into turnabouts and public squares, and connect like a spiderweb. It's great for creating open streets and clear views, but more for aesthetics than function. This seems to be the goal of Paris and France, so mission accomplished. The people here think like that too. Smetimes it's like they are all on a catwalk.
merrily sunburned,
jt
ps. Joyeaux Noel
Friday, December 23, 2011
kindness of strangers
Ahoy,
There's this philosophy or saying I've heard before that goes something along the lines of how people live their lives dependent on the kindness of strangers. I can understand how there would be those skeptic cynics who strive to be fiercely independent. Strangers are strange, and inherently you don't have to trust them.
I try to know where I'm going and what I'm doing, but I have often depended on the kindness of strangers. And I try my best to be helpful to strangers. Never is the kindness of strangers more valuable and meaningful than when you are in a foreign country with only a small arsenal of the native tongue's vocabulary under your belt.
Of all the countries we've been in, France has had the least helpful, least friendly people who were the least interested in trying to help in any way. So we were apprehensive at coming back. But as the fates would have it, we found ourselves on a train that arrived at 2146. Somehow we got on the right train. Somehow we got on the metro and transferred to a bus that led us to our accommodations for the night. Somehow we got to Paris.
I can't recall how many times we have asked for directions, instructions, tickets, reservations, information, change, etc. I can't recall how many times it has been more of a struggle and frustration than it should be. And I can't recall how many people have hindered us.
Thank the mighty travel gods for all those who have helped us on our trip.
gracefully perturbed,
jt
There's this philosophy or saying I've heard before that goes something along the lines of how people live their lives dependent on the kindness of strangers. I can understand how there would be those skeptic cynics who strive to be fiercely independent. Strangers are strange, and inherently you don't have to trust them.
I try to know where I'm going and what I'm doing, but I have often depended on the kindness of strangers. And I try my best to be helpful to strangers. Never is the kindness of strangers more valuable and meaningful than when you are in a foreign country with only a small arsenal of the native tongue's vocabulary under your belt.
Of all the countries we've been in, France has had the least helpful, least friendly people who were the least interested in trying to help in any way. So we were apprehensive at coming back. But as the fates would have it, we found ourselves on a train that arrived at 2146. Somehow we got on the right train. Somehow we got on the metro and transferred to a bus that led us to our accommodations for the night. Somehow we got to Paris.
I can't recall how many times we have asked for directions, instructions, tickets, reservations, information, change, etc. I can't recall how many times it has been more of a struggle and frustration than it should be. And I can't recall how many people have hindered us.
Thank the mighty travel gods for all those who have helped us on our trip.
gracefully perturbed,
jt
Paris is like NYC
Ahoy,
Paris is like New York. But more. More people. More mean. More dirty. More subways. More pushy. More smoking. More graffiti. More.
dashedly bumped,
jt
Paris is like New York. But more. More people. More mean. More dirty. More subways. More pushy. More smoking. More graffiti. More.
dashedly bumped,
jt
Thursday, December 22, 2011
serendipity
Ahoy,
Our trip from Venice to Brussels consisted of 3 train rides. We went from Venice to Milan, Milan to Basel, and Basel to what was supposed to be all the way to Brussels. But the strikes, you see, happen all the time and during weekdays and are nation wide. So our train got stopped in luxembourg. Because of strikes, nothing was running in all of Belgium. So 8 o'clock at night we find ourselves stranded in Luxembourg. I guess stranded is an understatement, because of all places to get stuck in, Luxembourg is one of the best. We rushed over to the hostel and checked in for the night. We explored the next day and have perhaps fallen in love.
We also zipped through Switzerland, which was amazing. We were not expecting to go through or see Switzerland, but it was gorgeous from what we saw out the window. It was snowing and all snow covered mountains and beautiful. Anyone that knows me, knows that snow is my favorite. We will definitely return.
It's a shame we never got to see Brussels. We were really looking forward to the chocolate, but we'll be back! Luxembourg and Switzerland were fantabulous surprises.
remotely adrift,
jt
Our trip from Venice to Brussels consisted of 3 train rides. We went from Venice to Milan, Milan to Basel, and Basel to what was supposed to be all the way to Brussels. But the strikes, you see, happen all the time and during weekdays and are nation wide. So our train got stopped in luxembourg. Because of strikes, nothing was running in all of Belgium. So 8 o'clock at night we find ourselves stranded in Luxembourg. I guess stranded is an understatement, because of all places to get stuck in, Luxembourg is one of the best. We rushed over to the hostel and checked in for the night. We explored the next day and have perhaps fallen in love.
We also zipped through Switzerland, which was amazing. We were not expecting to go through or see Switzerland, but it was gorgeous from what we saw out the window. It was snowing and all snow covered mountains and beautiful. Anyone that knows me, knows that snow is my favorite. We will definitely return.
It's a shame we never got to see Brussels. We were really looking forward to the chocolate, but we'll be back! Luxembourg and Switzerland were fantabulous surprises.
remotely adrift,
jt
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
new friends
Ahoy,
It rained just about the whole time we were in Lyon. But it was an incredibly pleasant stay. I selected a room from the airbnb website. It was the first time we used airbnb. There's a certain degree of risk or trust when you decide to stay in a room in a strangers house. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The room and bed was comfortable, everything worked. Sometimes there was breakfast or whatever they were cooking at the time. The host was amazing. We suspect he has genie blood. He performed some function of a miracle to help us get to Rome, and let us stay an extra night free of charge. It might be better than a hotel because we got full access to kitchen and pantry, laundry, conversation with locals. It was like staying at a friend's house. I'm sure not every experience is like this, but this was a fantastic first time with airbnb.
drizzily awestruck,
jt
It rained just about the whole time we were in Lyon. But it was an incredibly pleasant stay. I selected a room from the airbnb website. It was the first time we used airbnb. There's a certain degree of risk or trust when you decide to stay in a room in a strangers house. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The room and bed was comfortable, everything worked. Sometimes there was breakfast or whatever they were cooking at the time. The host was amazing. We suspect he has genie blood. He performed some function of a miracle to help us get to Rome, and let us stay an extra night free of charge. It might be better than a hotel because we got full access to kitchen and pantry, laundry, conversation with locals. It was like staying at a friend's house. I'm sure not every experience is like this, but this was a fantastic first time with airbnb.
drizzily awestruck,
jt
art of scowling
Ahoy,
So I know they're always telling you that french people are not nice, but I think it's better to find out for yourself than to make these grand assumptions. After a few days in France, I think it's more true than not. They all do this sneering, Scowling face as if stuck that way. And they don't smile back at you, not even service workers. A describes it as if it pains them to smile.
One of the first differences we noticed was that londoners looked so much more friendly. And then in Italy, too, their expressions were just softer and less hostile. But I'd like to mention not all French people are mean. Our host had a friend of his staying with him too, and she was really nice. And the strangers we got in a car with were really nice.
French people are similar to new Yorkers in this manner. They have to develop this toughness about their disposition or else they will get overstimulated and overwhelmed. Closing off to the world is like a defense mechanism. I can understand this need in big cities and where there is a lot happening.
heavily friendless,
jt
So I know they're always telling you that french people are not nice, but I think it's better to find out for yourself than to make these grand assumptions. After a few days in France, I think it's more true than not. They all do this sneering, Scowling face as if stuck that way. And they don't smile back at you, not even service workers. A describes it as if it pains them to smile.
One of the first differences we noticed was that londoners looked so much more friendly. And then in Italy, too, their expressions were just softer and less hostile. But I'd like to mention not all French people are mean. Our host had a friend of his staying with him too, and she was really nice. And the strangers we got in a car with were really nice.
French people are similar to new Yorkers in this manner. They have to develop this toughness about their disposition or else they will get overstimulated and overwhelmed. Closing off to the world is like a defense mechanism. I can understand this need in big cities and where there is a lot happening.
heavily friendless,
jt
not quite frigid
Ahoy,
"we are standing next to one of the 7 great wonders of the ancient world, and I am uninterested. "
My California boy has trouble surviving when the mercury drops below a certain range. I thought it was toasty that night. We ended our very long day of walking all over Rome at the collesseum. Everything was really close together so we were at the next stop on our walking tour before we thought about it. This made it easy to see just about all we wanted to.
Unfortunately, Venice was not warmer. It might have been the coldest of all. I thought it was lovely, granted there was a bit of a bite, but not uncomfortably so. A just about shivered like we were in the arctic. There's certain tolerances that get developed when you live in a place where there are seasons.
toastily brazen,
jt
"we are standing next to one of the 7 great wonders of the ancient world, and I am uninterested. "
My California boy has trouble surviving when the mercury drops below a certain range. I thought it was toasty that night. We ended our very long day of walking all over Rome at the collesseum. Everything was really close together so we were at the next stop on our walking tour before we thought about it. This made it easy to see just about all we wanted to.
Unfortunately, Venice was not warmer. It might have been the coldest of all. I thought it was lovely, granted there was a bit of a bite, but not uncomfortably so. A just about shivered like we were in the arctic. There's certain tolerances that get developed when you live in a place where there are seasons.
toastily brazen,
jt
Monday, December 19, 2011
border patrol
Ahoy,
By some function of a miracle we arrived in Rome the night of the 18th. Half a day later than planned, but safely and securely nonetheless. Our host in Lyon knew of this carpool site in Europe. There's one in the states too. He called this one fellow that was out of seats, but forwarded us to another group. A mother and her daughter. So the night before our flight, we got an email it was cancelled. By now it was almost midnight, but our host texted the mother and daughter and they called back. So the next day we got in a car with complete strangers who didn't really speak English, and we don't really speak French and we all drove to Rome.
They were incredibly nice and friendly, contrary to our perception of the French. A got to drive for a bit in Italy. The mountains in the south of France were incredible, so gorgeous. And even more so because it was snow covered.
roamingly frazzled,
jt
By some function of a miracle we arrived in Rome the night of the 18th. Half a day later than planned, but safely and securely nonetheless. Our host in Lyon knew of this carpool site in Europe. There's one in the states too. He called this one fellow that was out of seats, but forwarded us to another group. A mother and her daughter. So the night before our flight, we got an email it was cancelled. By now it was almost midnight, but our host texted the mother and daughter and they called back. So the next day we got in a car with complete strangers who didn't really speak English, and we don't really speak French and we all drove to Rome.
They were incredibly nice and friendly, contrary to our perception of the French. A got to drive for a bit in Italy. The mountains in the south of France were incredible, so gorgeous. And even more so because it was snow covered.
roamingly frazzled,
jt
Sunday, December 18, 2011
breaking news
Ahoy!
First snow! First snow, you guys! First snow in Lyon this morning! We left France. We will be back. Our flight got cancelled and we hitch-hiked to Rome. Details to come.
assuredly terminal,
jt
First snow! First snow, you guys! First snow in Lyon this morning! We left France. We will be back. Our flight got cancelled and we hitch-hiked to Rome. Details to come.
assuredly terminal,
jt
Saturday, December 17, 2011
remain alert
Ahoy,
So our logic that zipped us through London was that we have eurail passes for all the countries on our itinerary except London, London is boring (according to A's friend from London who is skeptical of everything), and we figured it would be the most like home. Sometimes a piece of home is not too bad. There is nothing like the hospitality of the French to make you want to go scurrying back to boring, familiar London with your tail between your legs. But alas, we began this journey with only the intentional direction of moving forward, and with our Dino companion as my witness we will persist. And we will make it home one way or another.
Winter travel is seeming more tricky than we originally perceived. I guess the holiday season really is upon us with plenty of folks scrambling home to meet the frenzy of another holiday gathering. Winter does not trump holidays, and people will continue traveling regardless of the season. There is no off-season for tourism in Europe because it doesn't really get cold enough, and maybe people are less pansy.
Our Lyon - Rome connection was fully booked, so this little snafu had us initiate plan b, which was a flight to Rome instead. The airline or airports cancelled all flights today, hopefully our flight tomorrow won't be cancelled.
We remain flexible, caffeinated, and aware of puppies.
faithfully fortunate,
jt
So our logic that zipped us through London was that we have eurail passes for all the countries on our itinerary except London, London is boring (according to A's friend from London who is skeptical of everything), and we figured it would be the most like home. Sometimes a piece of home is not too bad. There is nothing like the hospitality of the French to make you want to go scurrying back to boring, familiar London with your tail between your legs. But alas, we began this journey with only the intentional direction of moving forward, and with our Dino companion as my witness we will persist. And we will make it home one way or another.
Winter travel is seeming more tricky than we originally perceived. I guess the holiday season really is upon us with plenty of folks scrambling home to meet the frenzy of another holiday gathering. Winter does not trump holidays, and people will continue traveling regardless of the season. There is no off-season for tourism in Europe because it doesn't really get cold enough, and maybe people are less pansy.
Our Lyon - Rome connection was fully booked, so this little snafu had us initiate plan b, which was a flight to Rome instead. The airline or airports cancelled all flights today, hopefully our flight tomorrow won't be cancelled.
We remain flexible, caffeinated, and aware of puppies.
faithfully fortunate,
jt
Thursday, December 15, 2011
wonky hours
Ahoy,
Sometimes people don't believe me when I tell them I don't take naps. Or they are astounded that I continue to exist and function. And then! And then! They outright clutch their pearls when I tell them I don't drink coffee either. Far be it for me to approve of your habits, but there are things I have been programmed not to do. Taking naps is one of them. This is typically not a problem because I rarely put myself in the position to have the opportunity to take naps. Courtesy of SAS, I've been conditioned to fall asleep on bus or train rides. Now I find myself with the opportunity to sleep for at least 5 hours in the middle of the day from Paris to Lyon. So I bring to you my 3am rantings as a result of the extended nap I had today.
Things like this throw off my circadian rhythm. Jet lag has never really been a problem for me, and we've recently theorized my possible genetic fortitude for fully functioning at fewer hours of sleep. I'm not sure what latitude and longitude London is on, but I'm accustomed to certain shadows at certain times of day. Despite the rumored doom and gloom of London, the sun did come out. It looked like 4 in the afternoon when it was noon. Of all things that have not affected my circadian rhythm, where the sun is in the sky is not one of them. For this reason, I think it would be really strange to ever live in London.
wide-eyedly rambling,
jt
Sometimes people don't believe me when I tell them I don't take naps. Or they are astounded that I continue to exist and function. And then! And then! They outright clutch their pearls when I tell them I don't drink coffee either. Far be it for me to approve of your habits, but there are things I have been programmed not to do. Taking naps is one of them. This is typically not a problem because I rarely put myself in the position to have the opportunity to take naps. Courtesy of SAS, I've been conditioned to fall asleep on bus or train rides. Now I find myself with the opportunity to sleep for at least 5 hours in the middle of the day from Paris to Lyon. So I bring to you my 3am rantings as a result of the extended nap I had today.
Things like this throw off my circadian rhythm. Jet lag has never really been a problem for me, and we've recently theorized my possible genetic fortitude for fully functioning at fewer hours of sleep. I'm not sure what latitude and longitude London is on, but I'm accustomed to certain shadows at certain times of day. Despite the rumored doom and gloom of London, the sun did come out. It looked like 4 in the afternoon when it was noon. Of all things that have not affected my circadian rhythm, where the sun is in the sky is not one of them. For this reason, I think it would be really strange to ever live in London.
wide-eyedly rambling,
jt
London calling
Ahoy,
London will have to wait once again for my presence to grace it's lovely cobbled streets. Stumbling over the stones, we recognized much of the architecture as our own. With the first immigrants hailing from the UK, it is clear they did not take as much creative license in the New World as some of my colleagues today in urban design. Nonetheless, the uneven pavement did not keep us from seeing the usual sights - Big Ben, London Bridge, the Queen (I'm kidding, we didn't see the Queen)' etc.
I'll forever remember London as the city of mismatched proportions. It seems the place was built for folks with a smaller stature. Everyone was so TALL, and the spaces they had to fit into were so small. It was a touch comical - like clowns in cars at the circus.
Everywhere we went, I couldn't help but be reminded by Harry Potter. I'd remember to look the other way to jaywalk, sometimes not a hair too soon, as a double decker bus came rumbling down towards me. It's just like that scene from the movie where Harry, Ron, and Hermione have to squish in between the buses in London.
royally dazed,
jt
London will have to wait once again for my presence to grace it's lovely cobbled streets. Stumbling over the stones, we recognized much of the architecture as our own. With the first immigrants hailing from the UK, it is clear they did not take as much creative license in the New World as some of my colleagues today in urban design. Nonetheless, the uneven pavement did not keep us from seeing the usual sights - Big Ben, London Bridge, the Queen (I'm kidding, we didn't see the Queen)' etc.
I'll forever remember London as the city of mismatched proportions. It seems the place was built for folks with a smaller stature. Everyone was so TALL, and the spaces they had to fit into were so small. It was a touch comical - like clowns in cars at the circus.
Everywhere we went, I couldn't help but be reminded by Harry Potter. I'd remember to look the other way to jaywalk, sometimes not a hair too soon, as a double decker bus came rumbling down towards me. It's just like that scene from the movie where Harry, Ron, and Hermione have to squish in between the buses in London.
royally dazed,
jt
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
take off
Ahoy,
Let me preface this by confiding in you that this was my first time flying across a major body of water. Having said that, i think you will excuse the jazzercise pounding in my chest when I tell you we flew over the (expletive) ocean!!! Miles of ocean, not terrain, under this tush.
Can we please talk about the first class treatment on our budget ticket deal? Two meals and all the fixings. The flight is less than 6 hours long, which is scarcely enough time to watch all the free movies we want (which we didn't't). They gave us toothbrushes and socks. Now that's class. Folks, flying domestic has it's thrills and frills, but at the end of the day Virgin Atlntic has stolen my heart.
dazzlingly docked,
jt
Let me preface this by confiding in you that this was my first time flying across a major body of water. Having said that, i think you will excuse the jazzercise pounding in my chest when I tell you we flew over the (expletive) ocean!!! Miles of ocean, not terrain, under this tush.
Can we please talk about the first class treatment on our budget ticket deal? Two meals and all the fixings. The flight is less than 6 hours long, which is scarcely enough time to watch all the free movies we want (which we didn't't). They gave us toothbrushes and socks. Now that's class. Folks, flying domestic has it's thrills and frills, but at the end of the day Virgin Atlntic has stolen my heart.
dazzlingly docked,
jt
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
find me here
ahoy,
12/13___ night departure Newark, NJ to London
12/14___ arrive morning London, UK
12/15___ depart morning to France, stop in Marseilles or Avignon
12/16___ Lyon, France
12/17___ Lyon, depart overnight train to Rome, Italy
12/18___ arrive morning Rome
12/19___ Rome
12/20___ depart morning to Florence, late train to Venice
12/21___ Venice, Italy, depart overnight train to Brussels, Belgium
12/22___ arrive morning Brussels
12/23___ depart morning to Bruges, mid-day train to Paris
12/24___ Paris
12/25___ Paris, depart overnight train to Barcelona, Spain
12/26___ arrive morning Barcelona
12/27___ Barcelona
12/28___ depart morning to Madrid
12/29___ morning flight Madrid to SFO (stopover in Chicago)
nearly booked,
jt
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
upcoming
ahoy,
This is a test for if I want to post while I'm away this winter. I'm not bringing my laptop, but A will have his iPad. We'll be zipping across the continent so fast I don't know if I'll remember it all. I hope I will have time to write to here for memory keeps. Our schedule is just about finalized, and I'm in the process of booking accommodation so we don't have to sleep on benches in the park, though that seems to be the trend these days. Besides, A and his thin California blood starts quivering at the thought of 50 degree temperatures.
This is a test for if I want to post while I'm away this winter. I'm not bringing my laptop, but A will have his iPad. We'll be zipping across the continent so fast I don't know if I'll remember it all. I hope I will have time to write to here for memory keeps. Our schedule is just about finalized, and I'm in the process of booking accommodation so we don't have to sleep on benches in the park, though that seems to be the trend these days. Besides, A and his thin California blood starts quivering at the thought of 50 degree temperatures.
spirited away,
jt
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
feastivus
Ahoy,
For Thanksgiving this year, I went to visit my aunt and cousins in Boston. Sometimes I think it was just a shame I didn't grow up with these cousins, because I think we would have been close. They're just a hair older than me, which is just old enough for me to idolize. And maybe I would have followed them around worshiping the ground they walked on, because I feel like I was lacking in this kind of figure growing up, though I don't think it was to my detriment. I'm just saying I might have been someone different. They're really great people to chat with and have the funniest insights.
The highlight as always with Thanksgiving was the food! My goodness, the food! They own a restaurant, so they always do the whole feast thing with free reign over the whole restaurant. They had 2, count 'em, 2 deep fried turkeys and 2 things of prime rib - the stars. I'm more into the sides: peas(!!!) corn, mushrooms, stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta, mashed potatoes, cornbread, baked potatoes, baked taro, baked sweet potatoes salad, gailan, rice. And, it's Boston, so they have to have a ship-ton of seafood. They had 3 huge sacks of clams, and made clam chowder from scratch, clams casino, bacon wrapped scallops, deep fried scallops, deep fried soft shell crab.
And then! Dessert was an entire meal by itself. There was death by chocolate, apple pie, lemon pie, sweet potato pie, oatmeal raisin cookies, cinnamon buns, mini cheesecakes, white cake, butter pecan cupcakes, don tot, sponge cake. Oh, my goodness, so much food.
But then, later that weekend, my aunt made haw gao and taro cake(!!!) from scratch. She's definitely the cool aunt.
reminiscently plump,
JT
For Thanksgiving this year, I went to visit my aunt and cousins in Boston. Sometimes I think it was just a shame I didn't grow up with these cousins, because I think we would have been close. They're just a hair older than me, which is just old enough for me to idolize. And maybe I would have followed them around worshiping the ground they walked on, because I feel like I was lacking in this kind of figure growing up, though I don't think it was to my detriment. I'm just saying I might have been someone different. They're really great people to chat with and have the funniest insights.
The highlight as always with Thanksgiving was the food! My goodness, the food! They own a restaurant, so they always do the whole feast thing with free reign over the whole restaurant. They had 2, count 'em, 2 deep fried turkeys and 2 things of prime rib - the stars. I'm more into the sides: peas(!!!) corn, mushrooms, stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta, mashed potatoes, cornbread, baked potatoes, baked taro, baked sweet potatoes salad, gailan, rice. And, it's Boston, so they have to have a ship-ton of seafood. They had 3 huge sacks of clams, and made clam chowder from scratch, clams casino, bacon wrapped scallops, deep fried scallops, deep fried soft shell crab.
And then! Dessert was an entire meal by itself. There was death by chocolate, apple pie, lemon pie, sweet potato pie, oatmeal raisin cookies, cinnamon buns, mini cheesecakes, white cake, butter pecan cupcakes, don tot, sponge cake. Oh, my goodness, so much food.
But then, later that weekend, my aunt made haw gao and taro cake(!!!) from scratch. She's definitely the cool aunt.
reminiscently plump,
JT
Monday, October 31, 2011
soggy tomatoes
Ahoy,
Christmas is upon us! Come one, come all! To celebrate the arrival of the holiday season! Amidst the wind, rain, and snow - Halloween happened. As planned, I threw together a tomato costume. I was happy with it despite the strawberry confusion none of us anticipated. Blood sugar likely will spike the day after, so I'm on lookout for cavities and diabetes.
The highlight of the Halloween weekend in DC was playing Christmas carols and cutting out paper snowflakes. FoundingFathers Farmers was delicious and I loved the style and design in the restaurant. Some people say they only care about the food at a restaurant, and I'm sure that's a major focus. But I think that service and decor also play large roles in your experience at a restaurant as a whole. I'm a sucker for big exposed wooden beams and heterogeneous rock walls.
forestedly motivated,
JT
Christmas is upon us! Come one, come all! To celebrate the arrival of the holiday season! Amidst the wind, rain, and snow - Halloween happened. As planned, I threw together a tomato costume. I was happy with it despite the strawberry confusion none of us anticipated. Blood sugar likely will spike the day after, so I'm on lookout for cavities and diabetes.
The highlight of the Halloween weekend in DC was playing Christmas carols and cutting out paper snowflakes. Founding
forestedly motivated,
JT
Monday, October 24, 2011
Peter's Kill
Ahoy,
Haha! I got on the list for the van to go climbing this weekend! Many kudos to the rock climbing dieties for circumstances that caused other people to drop their names!
I'm usually one of the early or on-time people. I woke up at the unGodly hour before the sun came up to go to school and wonder if I was in the right place because no one else was there. Seeing as how it was the unGodly hour of daybreak, it would be reasonable to believe that was why campus was desolate. If I keep up my punctual habits, it is easy to see myself eternally wondering if I'm in the right place.
I had lots of fun. The landscape in the Northeast was breathtaking in the most literal sense of the word. It is unlike anywhere else I've been. In California, it was always a lot of Redwoods or desert and rocks. There's a sea of deciduous trees in New York. The leaves had started to change colors, so there were reds and golds and greens of every shade that were just starting to change. The woods were on fire. It's amazing to me how many different landscapes and types of environments that exist in the States. The incredible variety and diversity makes everywhere seem so unique and worthy of travel. How am I ever going to see it all? And that's only in the States. My experiences seem like so few and insignificant. How will I ever do it all?
clingily pinched,
JT
Haha! I got on the list for the van to go climbing this weekend! Many kudos to the rock climbing dieties for circumstances that caused other people to drop their names!
I'm usually one of the early or on-time people. I woke up at the unGodly hour before the sun came up to go to school and wonder if I was in the right place because no one else was there. Seeing as how it was the unGodly hour of daybreak, it would be reasonable to believe that was why campus was desolate. If I keep up my punctual habits, it is easy to see myself eternally wondering if I'm in the right place.
I had lots of fun. The landscape in the Northeast was breathtaking in the most literal sense of the word. It is unlike anywhere else I've been. In California, it was always a lot of Redwoods or desert and rocks. There's a sea of deciduous trees in New York. The leaves had started to change colors, so there were reds and golds and greens of every shade that were just starting to change. The woods were on fire. It's amazing to me how many different landscapes and types of environments that exist in the States. The incredible variety and diversity makes everywhere seem so unique and worthy of travel. How am I ever going to see it all? And that's only in the States. My experiences seem like so few and insignificant. How will I ever do it all?
clingily pinched,
JT
Monday, October 3, 2011
flying bologna
Ahoy,
So I thought I'd start keeping a record:
- Red Skirt Fiasco of 2011: I put my red skirt in with our lights. The dye is still running apparently. It dyed our clothes pink. And then the bleach took out pink, but left it yellow still. I will remain forever regretful for ruining his graph paper button-up.
- Endless Lettuce Incident of 2011: A decides he wants to ask for the whole box of lettuce, just to see if they'd give it to him. We were eating lettuce for more than a month. I knew when he grabbed that box, he'd eat it for one day, maybe two tops, and then get tired of it. Situations like those do force your culinary creativity to start churning.
- Banana Bread Fiasco of 2011: I forgot to add the eggs to the banana bread wet ingredients. I was wondering why it was so dry as I was spooning it into the baking pan. Half an hour in the oven and I realize I had forgotten the eggs. I pulled the pan out and added the eggs directly into the mix. Lo and behold, A was so gracious to proclaim them deliciously edible.
- Brownies 2 ways Fiasco of 2011: I used the normal recipe from the box of Nestle Tollhouse cocoa powder. It came out dry and not fudgey. It normally does. It looked dry going into the pan. This was odd because I always use this recipe and it always comes out excellent. For comparison, we made microwaved brownies in a mug. K liked it, but A and I thought it tasted too much like vegetable oil. Unsuccessful brownie expeditions. 2 ways.
That's it for now. I'm sure more will turn up.
mischieviously malfeasant,
JT
So I thought I'd start keeping a record:
- Red Skirt Fiasco of 2011: I put my red skirt in with our lights. The dye is still running apparently. It dyed our clothes pink. And then the bleach took out pink, but left it yellow still. I will remain forever regretful for ruining his graph paper button-up.
- Endless Lettuce Incident of 2011: A decides he wants to ask for the whole box of lettuce, just to see if they'd give it to him. We were eating lettuce for more than a month. I knew when he grabbed that box, he'd eat it for one day, maybe two tops, and then get tired of it. Situations like those do force your culinary creativity to start churning.
- Banana Bread Fiasco of 2011: I forgot to add the eggs to the banana bread wet ingredients. I was wondering why it was so dry as I was spooning it into the baking pan. Half an hour in the oven and I realize I had forgotten the eggs. I pulled the pan out and added the eggs directly into the mix. Lo and behold, A was so gracious to proclaim them deliciously edible.
- Brownies 2 ways Fiasco of 2011: I used the normal recipe from the box of Nestle Tollhouse cocoa powder. It came out dry and not fudgey. It normally does. It looked dry going into the pan. This was odd because I always use this recipe and it always comes out excellent. For comparison, we made microwaved brownies in a mug. K liked it, but A and I thought it tasted too much like vegetable oil. Unsuccessful brownie expeditions. 2 ways.
That's it for now. I'm sure more will turn up.
mischieviously malfeasant,
JT
Monday, September 26, 2011
flaky folks
Ahoy,
So I've been having trouble securing a group of people that are not flaky, or lazy-butts. I understand why this has become an issue. Most, if not every, social gathering with which my colleagues engage revolves around alcohol. Being that I do not care for such frivolity, I have neglected any sort of bonding that may occur when people are inebriated. I have come to realize how truly remarkable and amazing my friends are. However, they are geographically predisposed. Having established that, I must now seek out sober people that like to have fun during normal business hours.
I have no problem wandering on my own, but I find that the right companion does make certain events more fun. I won tickets for Singapore Eats. The food was delicious and spicy, and you missed out. And I met this couple from Sweden who had been to NY loads of times for business, but this time they were here for pleasure. Bryant Park Fall Festival was happening and I'm really glad I went to the show I did. It was totally worth it, despite the unsolicited and unfulfilled rain warnings. It's been incredibly humid in the Northeast corridor, but the weather forecast remains unreliable and incorrect because this past weekend was as gorgeous as one could hope for. Duumbo Arts Festival was a fine way to spend a visit ALL the way to Brooklyn. Brooklyn Bridge Park is really coming along and expanding quite nicely, carousel and all. Of course, the hipsters continue to crawl the district. This was the last weekend ferries were running to Governor's Island. I missed the vendy awards on Saturday, but Sunday was fun too. It's original purpose is clear in a lot of what remains on the Island, which was a neat experience to be among. I finally met someone who didn't flake out for that adventure. Hopefully more adventures to come.
clingily stuffed,
JT
So I've been having trouble securing a group of people that are not flaky, or lazy-butts. I understand why this has become an issue. Most, if not every, social gathering with which my colleagues engage revolves around alcohol. Being that I do not care for such frivolity, I have neglected any sort of bonding that may occur when people are inebriated. I have come to realize how truly remarkable and amazing my friends are. However, they are geographically predisposed. Having established that, I must now seek out sober people that like to have fun during normal business hours.
I have no problem wandering on my own, but I find that the right companion does make certain events more fun. I won tickets for Singapore Eats. The food was delicious and spicy, and you missed out. And I met this couple from Sweden who had been to NY loads of times for business, but this time they were here for pleasure. Bryant Park Fall Festival was happening and I'm really glad I went to the show I did. It was totally worth it, despite the unsolicited and unfulfilled rain warnings. It's been incredibly humid in the Northeast corridor, but the weather forecast remains unreliable and incorrect because this past weekend was as gorgeous as one could hope for. Duumbo Arts Festival was a fine way to spend a visit ALL the way to Brooklyn. Brooklyn Bridge Park is really coming along and expanding quite nicely, carousel and all. Of course, the hipsters continue to crawl the district. This was the last weekend ferries were running to Governor's Island. I missed the vendy awards on Saturday, but Sunday was fun too. It's original purpose is clear in a lot of what remains on the Island, which was a neat experience to be among. I finally met someone who didn't flake out for that adventure. Hopefully more adventures to come.
clingily stuffed,
JT
Thursday, September 8, 2011
just one more
Ahoy,
So it was this time a year ago, A and I were scrambling around for documents, etc. to prove that we would be good tenants. It was hot and sticky. I had a guest and she had a guest we had to end up housing with her friend. This time around is a little different. This time has included 24/7 rain and a drippy ceiling. I'm still living at the same place, and this time I'm by myself. Who will eat my food? Who will I cook for? I'm apprehensive, but this is my last year. It can't be too disastrous.
I got bit twice last night. I guess some things stay the same.
lonesomely starved,
JT
So it was this time a year ago, A and I were scrambling around for documents, etc. to prove that we would be good tenants. It was hot and sticky. I had a guest and she had a guest we had to end up housing with her friend. This time around is a little different. This time has included 24/7 rain and a drippy ceiling. I'm still living at the same place, and this time I'm by myself. Who will eat my food? Who will I cook for? I'm apprehensive, but this is my last year. It can't be too disastrous.
I got bit twice last night. I guess some things stay the same.
lonesomely starved,
JT
Monday, August 22, 2011
coming back
Ahoy,
It's incredibly strange to me. It throws me off a little. Whenever I make a visit to the Bay Area, I have these mixed feelings. I say mixed, because I never thought this place would strike me as such. It's like I'm coming back to all that was familiar. It's as if I left, but was supposed to come back. I never intended to create any sort of attachment like this. I spent the better parts of my years here hating it, resenting it, but I've spent the better parts of my adult development discovering it and myself. I wonder if this feeling fades away.
nostalgically smitten,
JT
It's incredibly strange to me. It throws me off a little. Whenever I make a visit to the Bay Area, I have these mixed feelings. I say mixed, because I never thought this place would strike me as such. It's like I'm coming back to all that was familiar. It's as if I left, but was supposed to come back. I never intended to create any sort of attachment like this. I spent the better parts of my years here hating it, resenting it, but I've spent the better parts of my adult development discovering it and myself. I wonder if this feeling fades away.
nostalgically smitten,
JT
Sunday, August 21, 2011
last meal
Ahoy,
If you could choose your last meal, what would it be? I remember that as a question on top chef challenge. The chefs had to prepare the last meal requests for these great chefs they admired. Every meal stepped back to basic comfort food their parents cooked for them when they were young. The chefs had this challenge of making basic food, but not making it too basic to be disappointing or too fancy to be unfamiliar. I've had so many meals - sometimes basic, sometimes fancy - but I'll always revere tomatoes the way my grandma made it, and broccoli the way my mom made it.
Perhaps it was over-dramatic of me to regard this past weekend as our last meal, but it felt like what would our last outing before everything changes. Soak it all in. The wood of the chopsticks, the grain of the plate, the tiling on the walls, the stacks of glass under each lightbulb, the curve of the bench, and cascades of SF light through the non-slanted windows. We tried beef carpaccio because I was curious about all the rage on cooking shows. The idea of it is really strange and foreign and disturbing to me, but it was delicious in a not-too-chewy-but-smooth-peanut-saucy-tangy-flavour sort of way. We tried taro rolls, which was sweet of him because A claims to hate taro but I think he just says that to send me into a frenzy. They tasted like not-enough-taro-but-needs-the-lettuce-wrapped-and-sauced-to-taste-best-flavour. The shrimp was packed with punch-you-in-the-mouth-delicious-you-don't-want-it-to-end-flavour. And the albacore came with pickled mangoes that I wish weren't pickled but tasted perfect-and-not-too-vinegary-with-the-albacore flavour. We realized we perhaps ordered too much food after the second dish came out. His smile was delectable nonetheless. I'll forever regret if he thought otherwise.
scrumptiously satiated,
JT
If you could choose your last meal, what would it be? I remember that as a question on top chef challenge. The chefs had to prepare the last meal requests for these great chefs they admired. Every meal stepped back to basic comfort food their parents cooked for them when they were young. The chefs had this challenge of making basic food, but not making it too basic to be disappointing or too fancy to be unfamiliar. I've had so many meals - sometimes basic, sometimes fancy - but I'll always revere tomatoes the way my grandma made it, and broccoli the way my mom made it.
Perhaps it was over-dramatic of me to regard this past weekend as our last meal, but it felt like what would our last outing before everything changes. Soak it all in. The wood of the chopsticks, the grain of the plate, the tiling on the walls, the stacks of glass under each lightbulb, the curve of the bench, and cascades of SF light through the non-slanted windows. We tried beef carpaccio because I was curious about all the rage on cooking shows. The idea of it is really strange and foreign and disturbing to me, but it was delicious in a not-too-chewy-but-smooth-peanut-saucy-tangy-flavour sort of way. We tried taro rolls, which was sweet of him because A claims to hate taro but I think he just says that to send me into a frenzy. They tasted like not-enough-taro-but-needs-the-lettuce-wrapped-and-sauced-to-taste-best-flavour. The shrimp was packed with punch-you-in-the-mouth-delicious-you-don't-want-it-to-end-flavour. And the albacore came with pickled mangoes that I wish weren't pickled but tasted perfect-and-not-too-vinegary-with-the-albacore flavour. We realized we perhaps ordered too much food after the second dish came out. His smile was delectable nonetheless. I'll forever regret if he thought otherwise.
scrumptiously satiated,
JT
Friday, August 19, 2011
series of events
Ahoy,
Some unfortunate circumstances led us up to the Bay Area this weekend. Nonetheless, we'll make the most of this trip. It was my last weekend in California. I'll be the first to admit, I'm sad to leave my guy and "our nest," as he so affectionately refers to it.
We drove up Thursday night. The climes were brisk and foggy, per usual. What can you expect? We stayed with his friend, J, who lives in a ski cabin looking house. The huge wooden beams and giant window overlooking the bay are jewels to be envious of. It's all the way winding up the hills somewhere so we explored an extra amount and passed it once. We were greeted by his kitty who raced up the stairs with me and slept on my head later that night. I'm sure he means well. A forgot his orange carabiner. I forgot fruit in his fridge. I'm hopeful they were consumed regardless, not the carabiner - the fruit.
A requested my absence for the day, so I got the opportunity to pester B in SF. The last time I was there, he had been in Chicago. And he returned to SF before I would be back in Chicago, so we wouldn't have seen each other until winter. But this unexpected trip meant one last encounter! He gave me a tour of his whole school - the whole 2 buildings. I zipped past the security using one of his old IDs. They have sooooooooooo many compoopers! on every floor! Meanwhile, my school is scrambling for working parts. Color me green! I met most of his friends in passing, I remember no names except the ones we had lunch with. I'm also glad I got to meet another old college friend. She had just gotten off her work orientation early and had time to chat with us. How kind the fates were that day. We sat outside on stones in the Yerba Buena Garden. Much to my delight, the Metreon is going to be a Target.
My geographical situations have made me realize the scope of which my friends range. I'm grateful for all the places and experiences I've been through, but it's becoming more clear to me that sometimes the place can be as good as the relationships I've forged there. As hard as I tried to sever my ties, I'm finding they still exist. Home is increasingly more ambiguous to me as I'm realizing I've scattered bits and pieces of me everywhere I've been with the people I love.
disruptively disjointed,
JT
Some unfortunate circumstances led us up to the Bay Area this weekend. Nonetheless, we'll make the most of this trip. It was my last weekend in California. I'll be the first to admit, I'm sad to leave my guy and "our nest," as he so affectionately refers to it.
We drove up Thursday night. The climes were brisk and foggy, per usual. What can you expect? We stayed with his friend, J, who lives in a ski cabin looking house. The huge wooden beams and giant window overlooking the bay are jewels to be envious of. It's all the way winding up the hills somewhere so we explored an extra amount and passed it once. We were greeted by his kitty who raced up the stairs with me and slept on my head later that night. I'm sure he means well. A forgot his orange carabiner. I forgot fruit in his fridge. I'm hopeful they were consumed regardless, not the carabiner - the fruit.
A requested my absence for the day, so I got the opportunity to pester B in SF. The last time I was there, he had been in Chicago. And he returned to SF before I would be back in Chicago, so we wouldn't have seen each other until winter. But this unexpected trip meant one last encounter! He gave me a tour of his whole school - the whole 2 buildings. I zipped past the security using one of his old IDs. They have sooooooooooo many compoopers! on every floor! Meanwhile, my school is scrambling for working parts. Color me green! I met most of his friends in passing, I remember no names except the ones we had lunch with. I'm also glad I got to meet another old college friend. She had just gotten off her work orientation early and had time to chat with us. How kind the fates were that day. We sat outside on stones in the Yerba Buena Garden. Much to my delight, the Metreon is going to be a Target.
My geographical situations have made me realize the scope of which my friends range. I'm grateful for all the places and experiences I've been through, but it's becoming more clear to me that sometimes the place can be as good as the relationships I've forged there. As hard as I tried to sever my ties, I'm finding they still exist. Home is increasingly more ambiguous to me as I'm realizing I've scattered bits and pieces of me everywhere I've been with the people I love.
disruptively disjointed,
JT
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
brother approved
Ahoy,
I got these climbing shoes with monkeys on them. From the kids section. I got to use them on real rocks today. There were a lot of boys there too. They all have cooties. But I came back and disinfected. Despite my daily showers, I still live with a boy - so I will never get all the cooties off. I have accepted my fate.
scramblingly blistered,
JT
I got these climbing shoes with monkeys on them. From the kids section. I got to use them on real rocks today. There were a lot of boys there too. They all have cooties. But I came back and disinfected. Despite my daily showers, I still live with a boy - so I will never get all the cooties off. I have accepted my fate.
scramblingly blistered,
JT
Monday, August 15, 2011
deep fried everything
Ahoy,
This weekend we went to the OC Fair to eat deep fried everything. It was awful. I don't think I've ever been to a state fair. It was a lot like what I thought it would be. There were lines, there was food, there were rides, there were games, there were prizes. There were Hello Kitty prizes and Pokemon prizes, which were a surprise. There were no award winning giant vegatables. And I must have missed the pie eating contest. They were all regular size. The pistachios on display looked super tasty, but I couldn't reach over the rope barrier far enough to stick my hand in the jar. And A likes to follow rules. The cows were gorgeous - they had such shiny coats. The baby goats were the cutest. And the chickadees!
But the best part must have been the dog show. It was quite the spectacle, which I'm not sure how I feel. Some part of me is thinking that these dogs must have more fun not being paraded around as trick dogs. He had a 15 year old dog performing tricks. At that age, the dog must just want to laze around. This sleazy looking guy had them jumping over him and up in the air to catch these frisbees. He looked like he could have been the murderer out of a Bones episode. He said they were all rescue dogs. Seeing animals on display like that makes me question if they really are happy or if the guy is using them to make a living.
On the list of regrettable things to eat was deep fried twinkies, deep fried oreos, deep fried kool-aid, deep fried klondike, deep fried bacon deep fried butter, chocolate covered bacon, funnel cake, mexican funnel cake, apple fries, and the list goes on. I was having a problem convincing A to go on any rides to begin with. All hopes were dashed after the eating commenced.
And then! And then! We had plans for Brazilian barbeque with another one of A's friends! This here might be cause to return to a life of vegetarian pursuits.
Speaking of unhealthy things, I made monkey bread this week. Probably one of the least healthy things ever. But goodness is it tasty!
agedly tossed,
JT
This weekend we went to the OC Fair to eat deep fried everything. It was awful. I don't think I've ever been to a state fair. It was a lot like what I thought it would be. There were lines, there was food, there were rides, there were games, there were prizes. There were Hello Kitty prizes and Pokemon prizes, which were a surprise. There were no award winning giant vegatables. And I must have missed the pie eating contest. They were all regular size. The pistachios on display looked super tasty, but I couldn't reach over the rope barrier far enough to stick my hand in the jar. And A likes to follow rules. The cows were gorgeous - they had such shiny coats. The baby goats were the cutest. And the chickadees!
But the best part must have been the dog show. It was quite the spectacle, which I'm not sure how I feel. Some part of me is thinking that these dogs must have more fun not being paraded around as trick dogs. He had a 15 year old dog performing tricks. At that age, the dog must just want to laze around. This sleazy looking guy had them jumping over him and up in the air to catch these frisbees. He looked like he could have been the murderer out of a Bones episode. He said they were all rescue dogs. Seeing animals on display like that makes me question if they really are happy or if the guy is using them to make a living.
On the list of regrettable things to eat was deep fried twinkies, deep fried oreos, deep fried kool-aid, deep fried klondike, deep fried bacon deep fried butter, chocolate covered bacon, funnel cake, mexican funnel cake, apple fries, and the list goes on. I was having a problem convincing A to go on any rides to begin with. All hopes were dashed after the eating commenced.
And then! And then! We had plans for Brazilian barbeque with another one of A's friends! This here might be cause to return to a life of vegetarian pursuits.
Speaking of unhealthy things, I made monkey bread this week. Probably one of the least healthy things ever. But goodness is it tasty!
agedly tossed,
JT
Monday, August 8, 2011
less jam, more jelly
Ahoy,
This must be one of our less jam-packed weekends. We lingered in pretty late making breakfast/lunch both days. Probably closer to lunch foods. We watched quite a few episodes of Bones. I think I'm dreaming in Bones episodes again because there was a serial killer in one of my dreams. This happened before when K and I went on a Bones binge. It was terrible and awesome at the same time.
So one my last day at NYDOT last spring, I left the offices and stumbled onto the pier where they had a shipping container showing short films. I watched this film about this guy fishing for his fish for the night's dish at his restaurant. This weekend, A and I went to the restaurant featured in the film. I feel like the world revolves around food, and it should if it doesn't because goodness! Why the **** not? Other food endeavors included a stint to a sketchy neighborhood to assuage A's chicken and waffles craving we had let run on for more than a week. Sometimes you feel out of place and sometimes other people make you feel out of place by gawking at you.
We walked around the reservoir at Silver Lake that was kept at more than an arm's distance away from me via concrete and fences. The puddle looked like it would have been fun to dip my feet in. Even the reservoir in Central Park has a low lying, friendly fence. There wasn't much around here but the library looked nice from the outside. And we stopped at a coffee shop to continue feeding his coffee addiction. I can confirm that it's an addiction because he complains about withdrawl headaches. My favorite floofy haired user and abuser.
I got free tickets for the Laugh Factory when I tried to donate blood, but they didn't have any openings because it was appointment only. I got away with freebies anyway for trying. And I didn't even need to prick my finger. Can we recall the low iron count mistrials of the year past? And I didn't even walk away with anything but a bandaged finger for trying all those times.
The shocker of the night was spotting one of my classmates from my undergrad days. We had the same classes for one and half years because all the Environmental Sciences are required to take certain classes and complete a thesis. It was so trippy seeing her there (commence duck and hide). I didn't talk to her much, unless we had to critique each others' projects, but we were in the same place at the same time for 1.5 years. And I don't even know her name. Having gone to school on the opposite coast, I expected to never see any of them ever again. I expected to leave all that behind and never look back. If you had asked me a year ago if I would be here, I would never in a million years have guessed it.
vacuously enamored,
JT
This must be one of our less jam-packed weekends. We lingered in pretty late making breakfast/lunch both days. Probably closer to lunch foods. We watched quite a few episodes of Bones. I think I'm dreaming in Bones episodes again because there was a serial killer in one of my dreams. This happened before when K and I went on a Bones binge. It was terrible and awesome at the same time.
So one my last day at NYDOT last spring, I left the offices and stumbled onto the pier where they had a shipping container showing short films. I watched this film about this guy fishing for his fish for the night's dish at his restaurant. This weekend, A and I went to the restaurant featured in the film. I feel like the world revolves around food, and it should if it doesn't because goodness! Why the **** not? Other food endeavors included a stint to a sketchy neighborhood to assuage A's chicken and waffles craving we had let run on for more than a week. Sometimes you feel out of place and sometimes other people make you feel out of place by gawking at you.
We walked around the reservoir at Silver Lake that was kept at more than an arm's distance away from me via concrete and fences. The puddle looked like it would have been fun to dip my feet in. Even the reservoir in Central Park has a low lying, friendly fence. There wasn't much around here but the library looked nice from the outside. And we stopped at a coffee shop to continue feeding his coffee addiction. I can confirm that it's an addiction because he complains about withdrawl headaches. My favorite floofy haired user and abuser.
I got free tickets for the Laugh Factory when I tried to donate blood, but they didn't have any openings because it was appointment only. I got away with freebies anyway for trying. And I didn't even need to prick my finger. Can we recall the low iron count mistrials of the year past? And I didn't even walk away with anything but a bandaged finger for trying all those times.
The shocker of the night was spotting one of my classmates from my undergrad days. We had the same classes for one and half years because all the Environmental Sciences are required to take certain classes and complete a thesis. It was so trippy seeing her there (commence duck and hide). I didn't talk to her much, unless we had to critique each others' projects, but we were in the same place at the same time for 1.5 years. And I don't even know her name. Having gone to school on the opposite coast, I expected to never see any of them ever again. I expected to leave all that behind and never look back. If you had asked me a year ago if I would be here, I would never in a million years have guessed it.
vacuously enamored,
JT
Monday, August 1, 2011
friends up north
Ahoy,
I have friends? I haven't seen these people in forever. Due to geographical circumstances and poor timing, I have just barely missed these people so many times these past years. The stars aligned on our drive up the California landscape and I'm really happy I got the opportunity to see these people again. A million thanks to A for helping me make that happen. A million thanks to my friends for coming out and meeting me.
I've heard that a place is only as good as the people there. With that said, we can now recall Operation Move B to the Bay of 2008 (succussful). Let's not forget my suitemates, a few of which I continue to make contact. My primary fellow griper set up camp in the SF-Bay Area despite my West Coast Slander Campaign of 2007-2008. The irony of life continues to amuse me. Given my initial hesitation for the bay (understatement of the century), I've found its disposition to have improved over the years as the people I've developed relationships with have created their own spaces in my heart. I have pieces of myself scattered across the country. A year ago, I thought I was on my way home for good. But once I got there, I found that my home had become a million tiny pieces embedded in my memories like souvenirs from vacation. Home is not so easy to return to, I'm learning.
cordially torn,
JT
I have friends? I haven't seen these people in forever. Due to geographical circumstances and poor timing, I have just barely missed these people so many times these past years. The stars aligned on our drive up the California landscape and I'm really happy I got the opportunity to see these people again. A million thanks to A for helping me make that happen. A million thanks to my friends for coming out and meeting me.
I've heard that a place is only as good as the people there. With that said, we can now recall Operation Move B to the Bay of 2008 (succussful). Let's not forget my suitemates, a few of which I continue to make contact. My primary fellow griper set up camp in the SF-Bay Area despite my West Coast Slander Campaign of 2007-2008. The irony of life continues to amuse me. Given my initial hesitation for the bay (understatement of the century), I've found its disposition to have improved over the years as the people I've developed relationships with have created their own spaces in my heart. I have pieces of myself scattered across the country. A year ago, I thought I was on my way home for good. But once I got there, I found that my home had become a million tiny pieces embedded in my memories like souvenirs from vacation. Home is not so easy to return to, I'm learning.
cordially torn,
JT
Monday, July 25, 2011
bye, brother
Ahoy,
Alas. Ohmeohmy. Oh, brother. He's gone and left me. I can't imagine growing up with any better brother. I can't imagine having any better brother. He's as good as they come. My parents at least got that one right.
reminiscingly trodden,
JT
Alas. Ohmeohmy. Oh, brother. He's gone and left me. I can't imagine growing up with any better brother. I can't imagine having any better brother. He's as good as they come. My parents at least got that one right.
reminiscingly trodden,
JT
Sunday, July 24, 2011
hiking sticks, dinosaurs, and rocks
Ahoy,
My brother, forevermore the proponent of all things free, is an excellent hiker. Griffith Park, which is free, has some excellent 50+ miles of trails. It was extra sunny on our side of the mountain. We scrambled down the mountain to get to the Observatory, which was free, because we didn't see a trail that would take us directly there. From there we scittered through a tunnel that didn't have a bike/ped path where inconsiderate LA drivers honked at us despite there being a sign to watch out for bike/ped individuals. I was taught share as a child. Clearly LA drivers feel otherwise.
We went bowling later that night, not free, but "extreme." We did get a free game for next time thanks very much to L's skills. They played Michael Jackson and other videos on the projectors and flashed lights everywhere.
The following day we watched dinosaurs on the big screen, free. K really liked dinosaurs as a kid. Translated from Chinese, he called them 'bite bite.' We have this picture of him in a toy store standing next to a line of dinosaurs he arranged. My grandma is sitting with him. She had to make herself comfortable as the dinosaurs needed to all be in a single file straight line. It looked like they had been there for awhile. The museum showed Jurassic Park at their park and had a paleontologist tell us about all the bad science in it. It was like Movies in the Park in Chicago. Except in Chicago, we don't need to bundle up and we don't leave with our stuff all wet. Pluses across the board for Chicago.
We got to take K rock climbing. I'm pretty sure of all the ways I scared him throughout his life, and all his phobias I was probably the root cause of - heights is not one of them. Being my little brother, he's been dragged on many outings. I'm always delighted at his willingness and company any day of the week. It's surprising the things you can make your brother do. It's always fun to share something new with him. Many thanks to A for taking us and teaching K. Apparently K rocked the wall. My brother's so silly, and boss. Don't you forget it.
beamingly lofty,
JT
My brother, forevermore the proponent of all things free, is an excellent hiker. Griffith Park, which is free, has some excellent 50+ miles of trails. It was extra sunny on our side of the mountain. We scrambled down the mountain to get to the Observatory, which was free, because we didn't see a trail that would take us directly there. From there we scittered through a tunnel that didn't have a bike/ped path where inconsiderate LA drivers honked at us despite there being a sign to watch out for bike/ped individuals. I was taught share as a child. Clearly LA drivers feel otherwise.
We went bowling later that night, not free, but "extreme." We did get a free game for next time thanks very much to L's skills. They played Michael Jackson and other videos on the projectors and flashed lights everywhere.
The following day we watched dinosaurs on the big screen, free. K really liked dinosaurs as a kid. Translated from Chinese, he called them 'bite bite.' We have this picture of him in a toy store standing next to a line of dinosaurs he arranged. My grandma is sitting with him. She had to make herself comfortable as the dinosaurs needed to all be in a single file straight line. It looked like they had been there for awhile. The museum showed Jurassic Park at their park and had a paleontologist tell us about all the bad science in it. It was like Movies in the Park in Chicago. Except in Chicago, we don't need to bundle up and we don't leave with our stuff all wet. Pluses across the board for Chicago.
We got to take K rock climbing. I'm pretty sure of all the ways I scared him throughout his life, and all his phobias I was probably the root cause of - heights is not one of them. Being my little brother, he's been dragged on many outings. I'm always delighted at his willingness and company any day of the week. It's surprising the things you can make your brother do. It's always fun to share something new with him. Many thanks to A for taking us and teaching K. Apparently K rocked the wall. My brother's so silly, and boss. Don't you forget it.
beamingly lofty,
JT
Friday, July 22, 2011
oh, brother
Ahoy,
K and I like our beverages less sugar, more water. So we always water down our juices (I know, blasphemous!). I find a 1 to 1 ratio is usually enough. We, maybe especially he, doesn't like things too sweet, so it was no surprise when he found his ice cream sandwich to be too sweet. Maybe the bacon flavour next time.
For dinner, we got burgers, which aren't typically on my list of cravings for a number of reasons I won't diluge you with. There's this picture from when K, my cousin C, and I were kids. We were eating dinner on one of those mini plastic yellow tables all kids have (you know the one I'm talking about). And the kicker is that I had half my bowl of rice on the table instead of in my belly or in my bowl. I was so messy. Burgers was just like that. Yet again, the messiest. Sometimes, there's just no getting around it. Good thing there were no cameras to recreate that shot.
sloppily delightful,
JT
K and I like our beverages less sugar, more water. So we always water down our juices (I know, blasphemous!). I find a 1 to 1 ratio is usually enough. We, maybe especially he, doesn't like things too sweet, so it was no surprise when he found his ice cream sandwich to be too sweet. Maybe the bacon flavour next time.
For dinner, we got burgers, which aren't typically on my list of cravings for a number of reasons I won't diluge you with. There's this picture from when K, my cousin C, and I were kids. We were eating dinner on one of those mini plastic yellow tables all kids have (you know the one I'm talking about). And the kicker is that I had half my bowl of rice on the table instead of in my belly or in my bowl. I was so messy. Burgers was just like that. Yet again, the messiest. Sometimes, there's just no getting around it. Good thing there were no cameras to recreate that shot.
sloppily delightful,
JT
Thursday, July 21, 2011
sound the alarms
Ahoy,
I had a blast with the brother. Not even half a day in LA and we ran into Dr. Saroyan from Bones at Whole Foods. We had been watching Bones all day. Arriving at our destination, we went to Whole Foods - where we didn't need to buy anything. Boy, was I glad we made that little detour. If anybody knew our habits, it's that we are not always the most exciting. We've been known to spend days watching endless, mindless, glorious television. Recall the Boston television incident of 2009. Within the span of less than a week, we burned through 3 seasons of Bones. We're probably the worst people to watch anything with. We talk the whole time - constant jibber jabber about the unimportant details. We get excited and really into the show. My cousins can attest to that as they were witness to the Boston television incident of 2009. It seemed we had gone on vacation so we could watch their tv. All day and all night.
Well, we made an attempt on his visit to not be glued to the television screen, which would have been miraculous because I don't have a tv here. We probably watched 2 movies and less than 10 episodes of Bones. Our first non-tv activity was my driving a deathmobile to go get him at the airport.
K: Whose car is this?
J: A's sister's car, but she is out of town. And his car has been out of commission.
K: Is that okay? He trusts you to drive this? I wouldn't. (As he shakily puts on his seat-belt.)
How dramatic my brother is. I don't know where he gets it from.
Later we took the bus, likely much to his relief, to get to mini-golf and Dr. Saroyan! Any golfer would be shocked to witness my antics on the course. I clearly do not have the precision nor patience to be suited for this activity. We should have ended it after my hole in one. K was ballin'. A was ballin'. Boys.
saucily teed,
JT
I had a blast with the brother. Not even half a day in LA and we ran into Dr. Saroyan from Bones at Whole Foods. We had been watching Bones all day. Arriving at our destination, we went to Whole Foods - where we didn't need to buy anything. Boy, was I glad we made that little detour. If anybody knew our habits, it's that we are not always the most exciting. We've been known to spend days watching endless, mindless, glorious television. Recall the Boston television incident of 2009. Within the span of less than a week, we burned through 3 seasons of Bones. We're probably the worst people to watch anything with. We talk the whole time - constant jibber jabber about the unimportant details. We get excited and really into the show. My cousins can attest to that as they were witness to the Boston television incident of 2009. It seemed we had gone on vacation so we could watch their tv. All day and all night.
Well, we made an attempt on his visit to not be glued to the television screen, which would have been miraculous because I don't have a tv here. We probably watched 2 movies and less than 10 episodes of Bones. Our first non-tv activity was my driving a deathmobile to go get him at the airport.
K: Whose car is this?
J: A's sister's car, but she is out of town. And his car has been out of commission.
K: Is that okay? He trusts you to drive this? I wouldn't. (As he shakily puts on his seat-belt.)
How dramatic my brother is. I don't know where he gets it from.
Later we took the bus, likely much to his relief, to get to mini-golf and Dr. Saroyan! Any golfer would be shocked to witness my antics on the course. I clearly do not have the precision nor patience to be suited for this activity. We should have ended it after my hole in one. K was ballin'. A was ballin'. Boys.
saucily teed,
JT
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
hello, brother
Ahoy,
My brother(!), the greatest brother ever, one of my bestest friends, most noble punching bags - is coming to visit me! We will engage in so much adventure! It will be so much fun I'll die!
gleefully jetlagged,
JT
My brother(!), the greatest brother ever, one of my bestest friends, most noble punching bags - is coming to visit me! We will engage in so much adventure! It will be so much fun I'll die!
gleefully jetlagged,
JT
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
aquariums are my favorite
Ahoy,
The Aquarium of the Pacific is south of LA. Maybe an hour or so. But I guess everything in LA takes an hour to get to. It had the normal stuff. There tanks, animals, informational placards. Of course every aquarium nowadays talks about climate change and pollution. We went to the Aquarium Monday night because it was half priced. I'm going to say that it wouldn't have been worth it at full price. Nevertheless, I had lots of fun.
There were a lot of places to pet things - sharks, rays, sea jellies, sea stars, sea urchins, etc. I don't think I've ever pet a sea jelly not in the ocean. I'm pretty sure I got stung by a bunch of tiny jellies when I was in the Bahamas, but I don't think that counts the same as petting. The lobby room area spans the front to back of the place - like a giant hall. They have space to project movies onto the walls 8 times, which was impressive. They had one of those hanging globe thingers. The foxes! Oh, goodness, the foxes! They were the most adorable things! They didn't have so many larger mammals like the Oceanarium at the Shedd Aquarium. I did think the fountain and play area is neat for the kids that might get bored of looking in tanks. And they had a bird house with super duper friendly and colorful birds. They will land on you if you hang around long enough. This one is on the smaller scale of aquariums, but they make a lot of effort to make it interactive for children.
treadingly goggle-eyed,
JT
The Aquarium of the Pacific is south of LA. Maybe an hour or so. But I guess everything in LA takes an hour to get to. It had the normal stuff. There tanks, animals, informational placards. Of course every aquarium nowadays talks about climate change and pollution. We went to the Aquarium Monday night because it was half priced. I'm going to say that it wouldn't have been worth it at full price. Nevertheless, I had lots of fun.
There were a lot of places to pet things - sharks, rays, sea jellies, sea stars, sea urchins, etc. I don't think I've ever pet a sea jelly not in the ocean. I'm pretty sure I got stung by a bunch of tiny jellies when I was in the Bahamas, but I don't think that counts the same as petting. The lobby room area spans the front to back of the place - like a giant hall. They have space to project movies onto the walls 8 times, which was impressive. They had one of those hanging globe thingers. The foxes! Oh, goodness, the foxes! They were the most adorable things! They didn't have so many larger mammals like the Oceanarium at the Shedd Aquarium. I did think the fountain and play area is neat for the kids that might get bored of looking in tanks. And they had a bird house with super duper friendly and colorful birds. They will land on you if you hang around long enough. This one is on the smaller scale of aquariums, but they make a lot of effort to make it interactive for children.
treadingly goggle-eyed,
JT
Monday, July 18, 2011
beachy keen
Ahoy,
A took me to Santa Barbara over spring break this past March. It was for rock climbing. We were in the mountains overlooking the city and into the ocean. It was gorgeous, to say the least. Afterwards, we pillaged for Mexican food downtown. Great success. We came back this time for the California Wine Festival in Santa Barbara. It wasn't in the mountains; we were on the beach.
Carmageddon ended up being no big deal, similar to Y2K.We fished for seafood prior to the event. The day was sunny and warm, but the sea breeze was perfect. Wine glass in hand, we charged into the drunken masses. I'm kidding. They weren't that drunk yet. Live music, wine, beer, and the occasional appetizer food item made for a glorious day. Apparently, A and his friend, L, shucked a sea of oysters. I had this gross organic, vegan cookie. Never again! By the end, the port-a-potties were out of toilet paper with a waiting line out the wazoo. Most everyone was tipsy, loud, and friendly (as far as I can remember).
We lazed on the grass for a little bit after we left. At which point a freebie took place that I will forever refer to as the lettuce incident of 2011. We had each received a grocery bag with 4 boxes of lettuce, but then A spotted them giving away the whole boxes that held the boxes. Never one to turn down free things, he decided he wanted it. The box was big enough to occupy more than half the back seat of the car, in addition to the grocery bags. All I could think about was where we were going to put all that and how it was going to get consumed. I don't even like lettuce that much.
despairingly herbivorous,
JT
A took me to Santa Barbara over spring break this past March. It was for rock climbing. We were in the mountains overlooking the city and into the ocean. It was gorgeous, to say the least. Afterwards, we pillaged for Mexican food downtown. Great success. We came back this time for the California Wine Festival in Santa Barbara. It wasn't in the mountains; we were on the beach.
Carmageddon ended up being no big deal, similar to Y2K.We fished for seafood prior to the event. The day was sunny and warm, but the sea breeze was perfect. Wine glass in hand, we charged into the drunken masses. I'm kidding. They weren't that drunk yet. Live music, wine, beer, and the occasional appetizer food item made for a glorious day. Apparently, A and his friend, L, shucked a sea of oysters. I had this gross organic, vegan cookie. Never again! By the end, the port-a-potties were out of toilet paper with a waiting line out the wazoo. Most everyone was tipsy, loud, and friendly (as far as I can remember).
We lazed on the grass for a little bit after we left. At which point a freebie took place that I will forever refer to as the lettuce incident of 2011. We had each received a grocery bag with 4 boxes of lettuce, but then A spotted them giving away the whole boxes that held the boxes. Never one to turn down free things, he decided he wanted it. The box was big enough to occupy more than half the back seat of the car, in addition to the grocery bags. All I could think about was where we were going to put all that and how it was going to get consumed. I don't even like lettuce that much.
despairingly herbivorous,
JT
Sunday, July 10, 2011
the park
Ahoy,
One of my favorite things in LA, and California, are the parks. At Berkeley, I loved how close I was to forests and nature and how all of it was nestled into the city and landscape of urban space. Having grown up across the street from the park and the Lakefront, I've become used to having parks and natural landscapes nearby. I've always loved living in cities, but they wouldn't be the same if not for the parks that polka dot its interiors.
Parks in LA are of a different grade than in other cities. Not as common are the playgrounds and picnic fields of New York Public Parks or Chicago Park District. Like much of California, parks in LA tend to be forest preserves or regional/state parks. They are protected swatches that have always been trees and forests that now happen to have trails. It's a trip to get to these parks. In NYC, there is a goal of every resident being within a 10 minute walking distance from a park. I don't think that would be possible here. I love the park, and the ones I've been to in LA are great, but they're just so far away. Like everything else in this city.
So he told me we were going to Griffith Park, but we were stopping at other ones along the way because I get antsy and restless in the car. So we never made it to Griffith Park, but ended up only making it to Runyon Canyon Park. There were canyons, dogs, a horse, and a goat. None of them followed me home.
exhaustively compliant,
JT
One of my favorite things in LA, and California, are the parks. At Berkeley, I loved how close I was to forests and nature and how all of it was nestled into the city and landscape of urban space. Having grown up across the street from the park and the Lakefront, I've become used to having parks and natural landscapes nearby. I've always loved living in cities, but they wouldn't be the same if not for the parks that polka dot its interiors.
Parks in LA are of a different grade than in other cities. Not as common are the playgrounds and picnic fields of New York Public Parks or Chicago Park District. Like much of California, parks in LA tend to be forest preserves or regional/state parks. They are protected swatches that have always been trees and forests that now happen to have trails. It's a trip to get to these parks. In NYC, there is a goal of every resident being within a 10 minute walking distance from a park. I don't think that would be possible here. I love the park, and the ones I've been to in LA are great, but they're just so far away. Like everything else in this city.
So he told me we were going to Griffith Park, but we were stopping at other ones along the way because I get antsy and restless in the car. So we never made it to Griffith Park, but ended up only making it to Runyon Canyon Park. There were canyons, dogs, a horse, and a goat. None of them followed me home.
exhaustively compliant,
JT
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
where LEGOland is
Ahoy,
Due to time and other considerations, we did not go to LEGOland. Fear not, brave souls, I will return. LEGOland will be mine.
So we went to San Diego to visit one of A's best friends and explore, of course. I was told it should, theoretically take 2 hours to get there (which is still a long trip by my standards). Due to traffic and other considerations, it took upwards of 4 hours (count 'em - 1-2-3-4 hours!). I was taught the word for 'jalopy' in Spanish in high school. To which I and my classmates replied with various confused and disbelieving groans and gripes as to what that was and why it would ever be relevant to us and when we would ever use it. The highlight of this drive to San Diego was probably seeing these 2 old, what I could only describe as jalopies carrying cargo and furniture that was stacked twice as high, on top of, and over the jalopy. To my amazement.
We stayed with his friend on his ginormous couch in a house full of people that I wasn't sure if they all lived there or not. The people were really nice, but "unambitious," he described. Nonetheless, we had a grand time engaging in conversation, television, food, and games with the household. Mostly excellent restaurant selections were provided throughout the weekend ranging from happy hour appetizers to Mexican. A boy at the dim sum restaurant was wearing a LEGOland hat. There was a barbecue Saturday night at which 12 pounds of meat were consumed. Apparently 12 pounds was not enough.
A and I went to the beach on Saturday and climbed around some cliffs and looked at ginormous, (probably) expensive houses. We likely trespassed on someone's property and sat on their chairs. I only have evidence of his delinquency. What a shame. On Sunday we ventured downtown to the Seaside Village, probably equivalent to the Chicago lakefront. Tourist traps galore amongst the Navy ship and giant red lobster. The usual people that look like statues, balloon animal artists, stalls for souveneir tchotchkes. There was this one guy that was stacking towers of rocks of deceptively uneven surfacing. He would have a bunch of large flat-ish ones and then the top 2 would be a super tiny pebble like thing with a ginormous one on top of it. We spent an evening at Old Town, which I'm sure would have a lot of historical significance, but seemed more like a theme park of the wild west with souveneir shops instead of saloons. It looks a lot like those towns from Oregon Trail. How many wagon axles and boxes of ammo will you need to cross the river before spring?
Nothing but sun, per usual. Apparently it was hot, but it wasn't humid enough for me to really catch on fire.
broilingly dry,
JT
Due to time and other considerations, we did not go to LEGOland. Fear not, brave souls, I will return. LEGOland will be mine.
So we went to San Diego to visit one of A's best friends and explore, of course. I was told it should, theoretically take 2 hours to get there (which is still a long trip by my standards). Due to traffic and other considerations, it took upwards of 4 hours (count 'em - 1-2-3-4 hours!). I was taught the word for 'jalopy' in Spanish in high school. To which I and my classmates replied with various confused and disbelieving groans and gripes as to what that was and why it would ever be relevant to us and when we would ever use it. The highlight of this drive to San Diego was probably seeing these 2 old, what I could only describe as jalopies carrying cargo and furniture that was stacked twice as high, on top of, and over the jalopy. To my amazement.
We stayed with his friend on his ginormous couch in a house full of people that I wasn't sure if they all lived there or not. The people were really nice, but "unambitious," he described. Nonetheless, we had a grand time engaging in conversation, television, food, and games with the household. Mostly excellent restaurant selections were provided throughout the weekend ranging from happy hour appetizers to Mexican. A boy at the dim sum restaurant was wearing a LEGOland hat. There was a barbecue Saturday night at which 12 pounds of meat were consumed. Apparently 12 pounds was not enough.
A and I went to the beach on Saturday and climbed around some cliffs and looked at ginormous, (probably) expensive houses. We likely trespassed on someone's property and sat on their chairs. I only have evidence of his delinquency. What a shame. On Sunday we ventured downtown to the Seaside Village, probably equivalent to the Chicago lakefront. Tourist traps galore amongst the Navy ship and giant red lobster. The usual people that look like statues, balloon animal artists, stalls for souveneir tchotchkes. There was this one guy that was stacking towers of rocks of deceptively uneven surfacing. He would have a bunch of large flat-ish ones and then the top 2 would be a super tiny pebble like thing with a ginormous one on top of it. We spent an evening at Old Town, which I'm sure would have a lot of historical significance, but seemed more like a theme park of the wild west with souveneir shops instead of saloons. It looks a lot like those towns from Oregon Trail. How many wagon axles and boxes of ammo will you need to cross the river before spring?
Nothing but sun, per usual. Apparently it was hot, but it wasn't humid enough for me to really catch on fire.
broilingly dry,
JT
Monday, July 4, 2011
happy 4th on the beach
Ahoy,
We returned to LA for fireworks. I guess technically not LA. Redondo Beach is a little south of LA. We tried to meet A's friends from tennis when it started. There were 2 shows. After the first one (disappointing), apparently a boat drove out and set off another set closer to us. Off in the distance we could see fireworks from a few other cities. But still, nothing like what Chicago has.
satisfactorily adequate,
JT
We returned to LA for fireworks. I guess technically not LA. Redondo Beach is a little south of LA. We tried to meet A's friends from tennis when it started. There were 2 shows. After the first one (disappointing), apparently a boat drove out and set off another set closer to us. Off in the distance we could see fireworks from a few other cities. But still, nothing like what Chicago has.
satisfactorily adequate,
JT
Saturday, June 25, 2011
moving week
Ahoy,
I've never really had to move so much as find places to store my stuff. My many years of going to school away from home has resulted in flights that must include free bags. Other than taking my things back and forth from home to school, moving for me has always meant moving my stuff into storage so I can go home and making sure I am under the 50 pound weight limit.
But we're moving apartments this week. So that means make a big mess, transport the big mess, and sort through and reorganize the big mess. This should be fun. A has a lot of clothing.
materialistically piled,
JT
I've never really had to move so much as find places to store my stuff. My many years of going to school away from home has resulted in flights that must include free bags. Other than taking my things back and forth from home to school, moving for me has always meant moving my stuff into storage so I can go home and making sure I am under the 50 pound weight limit.
But we're moving apartments this week. So that means make a big mess, transport the big mess, and sort through and reorganize the big mess. This should be fun. A has a lot of clothing.
materialistically piled,
JT
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
back in the bay
Ahoy,
I've always regarded this place as school. So it's strange to return and look at it through a different lens. It's strange to not have to be in class or taking the bus up to the lab for work (which were so overly extravagant - my only regret is not continuing to work with LBL if only just for bus privileges). For however much I griped about being here, I've found an affection or nostalgia for the people, places, and things I encountered during those 3 years. I'll admit there have been things I've missed about the bay. Yogurt Park, for example, which is actually soft serve ice cream marketed as frozen yogurt. Swing dancing on Sproul Plaza was always something I looked forward to when I was a student.
What's especially strange is looking at everything from a moving automobile. I had always walked, biked, or bused my way around. It's amazing how different your perspective can be from an automobile over that of walking. Regardless, mobility was never a concern when I lived here. I believe that's one of the best advantages this part of California has over its southern counterpart. The streets are narrower. Things are closer together. People are actually on the sidewalks and it doesn't take eons for the walk light to switch on. No cars required. We had a bus pass that was good for the county bus system. That was probably one of the smarter investments they required us to pay with our tuition.
languidly calamitous,
JT
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
planes, trains, and automobiles
Ahoy,
So I'm pretty sure it took nearly 3 hours to get from the airport back to A's apartment by public transit. I landed a little after noon.
1. FlyAway from LAX to Van Nuys.
Van Nuys does not mean the Metro Orange line stop for Van Nuys. It just means in-Van Nuys-and-still-incredibly-far-away-from-everything-else. Why would I expect otherwise? So I ask the lady at the ticket counter for how I should get to the Metro Orange line stop. She does not seem to know what I'm talking about. She must be one of those Angelenos that-doesn't-know-public-transportation-exists-in-her-city. She mentions that she thinks there's a bus stop outside that may or may not go-somewhere-I-want-to-go-in-a-timely-or-untimely-manner. I move on to ask the police officers if they know how I should get to where I want to go. One guy says there's a bus stop across the street outside the bar that goes-straight-down-the-street-and-probably-to-where-I-want-to-go. Another fellow intercepts and describes the bus as unreliable-and-who-knows-how-long-the-bus-will-take. The group of officers have a huddle to discuss the best way to get to where I want to go. After much ado about nothing, they concur with the first guy and so I cross the street to wait for the bus outside the bar. It is just about 1300 hours at this point. The sidewalks are melty and treeless. And I'm pretty sure this was when I got gum on my shoe.
2. Metro 237-Woodley
The bus arrived, to my amazement, in a timely manner. Rode straight down Woodley Avenue to the Woodley Metro Orange line stop. This was easy and quick.
3. Metro Orange Line
Rode from Woodley to Sepulveda. This was easy too. And then I had to wait for the Metro bus to get back to the apartment. I'm pretty sure I waited nearly an hour here. I've waited here for this bus in this direction before. Last time, I got impatient and rode the I'm-too-impatient-to-wait-for-the-bus-that-takes-forever-so-I'm-just-going-to-walk-to-Target-now. But I had luggage this time, so I waited. My dad called and I told him yes-I-am-back-at-the-apartment-and-am-now-preparing-food-to-eat-no-it-is-not-noisy-where-I-am.
4. Metro 234
Finally! Rode straight down Sepulveda to my final destination. And the tricky thing was I didn't have keys. So I was banking on arriving at in-a-timely-manner-so-I-could-catch-someone-still-there-to-open-the-door-for-me-or-else-I-would-have-to-break-in. Lucky for me, A's roommate goes out the door at late-to-never-hours-unless-he-needs-food-or-to-walk-the-dog-because-he-doesn't-seem-to-be-doing-much-else-productive.
I arrived just after 1500 hours. Quite the journey.
solely sticky,
JT
So I'm pretty sure it took nearly 3 hours to get from the airport back to A's apartment by public transit. I landed a little after noon.
1. FlyAway from LAX to Van Nuys.
Van Nuys does not mean the Metro Orange line stop for Van Nuys. It just means in-Van Nuys-and-still-incredibly-far-away-from-everything-else. Why would I expect otherwise? So I ask the lady at the ticket counter for how I should get to the Metro Orange line stop. She does not seem to know what I'm talking about. She must be one of those Angelenos that-doesn't-know-public-transportation-exists-in-her-city. She mentions that she thinks there's a bus stop outside that may or may not go-somewhere-I-want-to-go-in-a-timely-or-untimely-manner. I move on to ask the police officers if they know how I should get to where I want to go. One guy says there's a bus stop across the street outside the bar that goes-straight-down-the-street-and-probably-to-where-I-want-to-go. Another fellow intercepts and describes the bus as unreliable-and-who-knows-how-long-the-bus-will-take. The group of officers have a huddle to discuss the best way to get to where I want to go. After much ado about nothing, they concur with the first guy and so I cross the street to wait for the bus outside the bar. It is just about 1300 hours at this point. The sidewalks are melty and treeless. And I'm pretty sure this was when I got gum on my shoe.
2. Metro 237-Woodley
The bus arrived, to my amazement, in a timely manner. Rode straight down Woodley Avenue to the Woodley Metro Orange line stop. This was easy and quick.
3. Metro Orange Line
Rode from Woodley to Sepulveda. This was easy too. And then I had to wait for the Metro bus to get back to the apartment. I'm pretty sure I waited nearly an hour here. I've waited here for this bus in this direction before. Last time, I got impatient and rode the I'm-too-impatient-to-wait-for-the-bus-that-takes-forever-so-I'm-just-going-to-walk-to-Target-now. But I had luggage this time, so I waited. My dad called and I told him yes-I-am-back-at-the-apartment-and-am-now-preparing-food-to-eat-no-it-is-not-noisy-where-I-am.
4. Metro 234
Finally! Rode straight down Sepulveda to my final destination. And the tricky thing was I didn't have keys. So I was banking on arriving at in-a-timely-manner-so-I-could-catch-someone-still-there-to-open-the-door-for-me-or-else-I-would-have-to-break-in. Lucky for me, A's roommate goes out the door at late-to-never-hours-unless-he-needs-food-or-to-walk-the-dog-because-he-doesn't-seem-to-be-doing-much-else-productive.
I arrived just after 1500 hours. Quite the journey.
solely sticky,
JT
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
into thin air
Ahoy,
This week we were on the other side of the mountain from last week. Except, it was a lot easier to get to. Instead of driving up a really windy, bumpy dirt road where people had been getting their cars stuck, there was a tram that rode you straight to the top. How extravagant! What a pampered life rock climbers lead... The top popped you out into a ski-resort type lodge. Apparently people come up here for prom. There were loads of varieties of dress and footwear. I think it's funny when people go somewhere that is meant for hiking in their finest heels. How are they supposed to explore?
swirlingly dazzled,
JT
Friday, June 3, 2011
greetings & salutations
Ahoy,
Central Park in my backyard is definitely one of the perks of living in NYC I miss. The closest large park is Balboa Park, which is about half a mile away. Being close to a park is great but it's no Central Park. There are not nearly enough trees and not nearly enough shade. The road to get to the park is like running alongside a freeway. After having been able to run for 6 miles straight through Central Park without stopping for the past few months, I was definitely not used to having to stop for traffic at crosswalks. As far as distance goes, there is plenty, but goodness! it was so boring! There is a golf course, so it was lots of lawn, not much variation in the landscape to my right, and traffic to my left. I don't like running when it's hot and boring. Actually, I don't like running ever, but hot and boring enhances the not liking.
The weirdest thing to me was that people kept saying 'hi' or asking how I was doing. Not even people that were just walking, people running too. I saw maybe 20 to 30 people on the trail and most of them said something. In Central Park, I see hundreds of people and not once have I ever said anything or anyone ever said anything to me (sincerely, that is, but that's a whole 'nother story). I've been told to live in NYC, but leave before I get hard. I think this is just indicative of how much human interaction people in each city get. LA and NY are the biggest cities in the States, but it's amazing how different they are. LA breeds its population to sit in cars all day. It's possible to get in and out of your house without ever encountering another soul. But in NY, the streets and subways are filled with people that have invaded each others' personal space. Of course people in LA have the capacity to greet other people, they haven't been bombarded by them all day, every day already. I had heard about this social phenomenon before in movies and classes, but it's interesting to be able to experience and observe it.
deadeningly amused,
JT
Central Park in my backyard is definitely one of the perks of living in NYC I miss. The closest large park is Balboa Park, which is about half a mile away. Being close to a park is great but it's no Central Park. There are not nearly enough trees and not nearly enough shade. The road to get to the park is like running alongside a freeway. After having been able to run for 6 miles straight through Central Park without stopping for the past few months, I was definitely not used to having to stop for traffic at crosswalks. As far as distance goes, there is plenty, but goodness! it was so boring! There is a golf course, so it was lots of lawn, not much variation in the landscape to my right, and traffic to my left. I don't like running when it's hot and boring. Actually, I don't like running ever, but hot and boring enhances the not liking.
The weirdest thing to me was that people kept saying 'hi' or asking how I was doing. Not even people that were just walking, people running too. I saw maybe 20 to 30 people on the trail and most of them said something. In Central Park, I see hundreds of people and not once have I ever said anything or anyone ever said anything to me (sincerely, that is, but that's a whole 'nother story). I've been told to live in NYC, but leave before I get hard. I think this is just indicative of how much human interaction people in each city get. LA and NY are the biggest cities in the States, but it's amazing how different they are. LA breeds its population to sit in cars all day. It's possible to get in and out of your house without ever encountering another soul. But in NY, the streets and subways are filled with people that have invaded each others' personal space. Of course people in LA have the capacity to greet other people, they haven't been bombarded by them all day, every day already. I had heard about this social phenomenon before in movies and classes, but it's interesting to be able to experience and observe it.
deadeningly amused,
JT
Sunday, May 29, 2011
freezying cold
Ahoy,
Somewhere beyond Riverside. Deep in the middle of nowhere. Up a really windy dirt road. People have lost their cars and livelihood to the treachery of these paths. I'm kidding. Probably not. Found myself camping next to boulders. A's friends were SUPER DUPER prepared. They had an extra tent and two 0-degree sleeping bags for us. And a cooler full of meat and beer. For the lions, tigers, and bears.
We spent some time clambering up some big rocks.
Some people napped too.
We walked up the side of the mountain. We walked down the other side of the mountain. We wanted to swim in the river and lie in the sun. We wanted to try to be nice to everyone.
Any grand plans for the next day were scrapped when we awoke to ice covered tents as a light icy mist continued to grace upon us. We scrambled out of there in a jiffy. I had a wet shoe.
mildly windblown,
JT
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
revisiting this URL
Ahoy,
I reckon it's about time I revitalize this blog seeing as how this will be another summer away from home. I must say that this was an unexpected situation. A year ago I was on a plane bound for Chicago with no anticipation of returning. Westbound was not a direction I had ever imagined I would be embarking on ever again, certainly not with such vigor. But alas, I find myself awaiting more adventures on this golden coast. Life is just full of surprises. New and wonderful at every airport terminal.
optimistically exposed,
JT
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