Ahoy,
There hasn't been much happening lately. A and I went to an Ocktoberfest thinger at the Alpine Village in Torrance. It was not what we expected. There was a stage with some singers and stein holding competitions. It was amusing. There was not nearly as much beer as I thought, or food. The highlight was probably getting vehicular gummies at the German grocery store. They were delicious.
A got a motorcycle. We made a trip to the store to pick up security implementation and I'm pretty sure at some point in that visit he had one of everything in his hand. Security is no joke when it comes to his new girlfriend.
We went to a ballet at my request. A said he liked it more than he thought he would. Isn't that always the case with things I pick to do.
We made another trip to ikea at some point. It's always a challenge because we have limited space in his auto, so I end up riding home with a lot of stuff in my lap. It's a precarious journey.
I've lately added some broccoli and cauliflower to my garden, and it's been quite the struggle keeping the hornworms from eating all of it. This is a long war, and probably unending. I must remain vigilant.
I really miss weather. It's been so hot all summer. I'm so sick of it. I'm ready to feel the bite of a chilly day. I remember stepping into the shower in Chicago winters and having my limbs stinging for a while under the warm water because they were cold before I entered. I kind of miss that sensation. Of feeling the warmth and comfort of a hot shower, getting into cozy pajamas, and tucking into a cozy bed I had to wiggle around in to warm up. I am so over this feeling of having to constantly peel off the layers, and being sticky from sunscreen and sweat. Over it!
delectably munched,
jt
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
to the south
Ahoy!
Another milestone for me this year is going to the south! Although some folks argue Texas is a whole other category for the south - it's Texas - it's quite possibly the closest I've been at this point in my life. We stayed with friends that say "y'all," who were incredibly kind and accommodating. Our initial goal was to meet up with our cruise director - our favorite Jewish Texan, currently in Seattle. You may know him from other appearances on this soapbox. We love him! And we love his friends! Their house is hugenormous. Although I could never imagine myself in such a house, I do appreciate the hospitality of others who have such gargantuan homes.
Our first stop was for burgers and fries - the equivalent of in n' out in this neck of the woods. The burgers were good; I'm no burger connoisseur. But the fries were way better than in n' out. Now every time I munch on in n' out fries, I'll be thinking about P. Terry's fries. My fry world has been ruined. Austin is the hipster capitol of the south, and I totally believe it. We went to a hipster coffee shop and ate at a homey brunch place in a formerly sketchy neighborhood. Also, we ate at a Tex-Mex place that gave out huge portions, and an amazing bbq place. I prefer American/ Southern bbq over kbbq. Kbbq has never been my favorite. I never want to go, and dread when others request it. It's really out of peer pressure, but such is life. There is no force as strong as peer pressure! It was hotter than a brick over pizza there! We spent part of a day on the water canoeing. We went to where the bats are and we could hear them! Another day we spent at a brewery, and then we came home and A napped for probably more than 5 hours. I love this part because he started out the day really adamant about doing something athletic. Really, really adamant. And then he napped on the couch until dinner. Sometimes the brain wants one thing, but the body wants another.
Our last day we had time to walk around downtown Austin before our flight. We made it out early to try to beat the heat. We saw the Capitol, UT, and made it all the way to the flagship Whole Foods. It was pretty toasty by the time we were on our way to the airport, but we made it before the worse of it. Whew! There was a lot of downtime at the airport, but I was more than happy to be sitting inside.
We did a lot of fun things, and ate yummy food, but Austin was so incredibly toasty! I really thought it would be normal by September. I don't understand how anybody goes anywhere for more than half the year. It's amazing. I would not make it out there. I would not.
determinedly climate controlled,
jt
Another milestone for me this year is going to the south! Although some folks argue Texas is a whole other category for the south - it's Texas - it's quite possibly the closest I've been at this point in my life. We stayed with friends that say "y'all," who were incredibly kind and accommodating. Our initial goal was to meet up with our cruise director - our favorite Jewish Texan, currently in Seattle. You may know him from other appearances on this soapbox. We love him! And we love his friends! Their house is hugenormous. Although I could never imagine myself in such a house, I do appreciate the hospitality of others who have such gargantuan homes.
Our first stop was for burgers and fries - the equivalent of in n' out in this neck of the woods. The burgers were good; I'm no burger connoisseur. But the fries were way better than in n' out. Now every time I munch on in n' out fries, I'll be thinking about P. Terry's fries. My fry world has been ruined. Austin is the hipster capitol of the south, and I totally believe it. We went to a hipster coffee shop and ate at a homey brunch place in a formerly sketchy neighborhood. Also, we ate at a Tex-Mex place that gave out huge portions, and an amazing bbq place. I prefer American/ Southern bbq over kbbq. Kbbq has never been my favorite. I never want to go, and dread when others request it. It's really out of peer pressure, but such is life. There is no force as strong as peer pressure! It was hotter than a brick over pizza there! We spent part of a day on the water canoeing. We went to where the bats are and we could hear them! Another day we spent at a brewery, and then we came home and A napped for probably more than 5 hours. I love this part because he started out the day really adamant about doing something athletic. Really, really adamant. And then he napped on the couch until dinner. Sometimes the brain wants one thing, but the body wants another.
Our last day we had time to walk around downtown Austin before our flight. We made it out early to try to beat the heat. We saw the Capitol, UT, and made it all the way to the flagship Whole Foods. It was pretty toasty by the time we were on our way to the airport, but we made it before the worse of it. Whew! There was a lot of downtime at the airport, but I was more than happy to be sitting inside.
We did a lot of fun things, and ate yummy food, but Austin was so incredibly toasty! I really thought it would be normal by September. I don't understand how anybody goes anywhere for more than half the year. It's amazing. I would not make it out there. I would not.
determinedly climate controlled,
jt
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Thursday, October 1, 2015
the trip that didn't go
Ahoy,
Last year over labor day weekend, we went to Chicago. I had this big plan for a family road trip to Toronto, but my mom wasn't being helpful with her requests, and my brother started new work, and the RRS got sick. Such good timing. This year, I thought I'd go ahead and just plan it to Michigan just for A and I. We started out going first to Ann Arbor, where we stayed at an airbnb near campus. It was forecasted to rain, and rain it did. A said he had never seen so much rain, most epic storm of his life. What a milestone. It started pouring immediately after we paid for parking at the garden. A was a trooper and took off his shoes and socks to walk around the garden paths, which all happened to be grassy. The garden looked pretty big, but we hustled out of there after about an hour and a half. On the way out we saw sprinklers simultaneously going off while it was raining. More water than all of the east coast.
We spent a day at the Henry Ford Museum. A day. It was open for 8 hours, and we spent 8 hours there. And it was definitely not enough time. It's a lot like Disneyland because you spend all day walking around looking at attractions. Apparently Henry Ford was buying anything folks were selling back then. Edison's workshop and house, Wright brothers' store and house, Robert Frost, Noah Webster, plantation/slave owner ranch, George Washington Carver's house, and so many more. All these old houses he had had moved to his property. It was amazing to step back in time like that. We ended up with less than 2 hours in the museum. Why is it I always feel like we are just running through a museum trying to look at everything as the clock ticks down to closing time?
We stopped in Detroit for a hot second because the RRS is a pansy. I'm not sure about his street cred a lot of the times. We got mini burgers at a hipster place and saw an old art deco building. Detroit used to be the NYC of the midwest until manufacturing and industry in the States declined. You can tell it used to be grand. So much of Detroit has become run down and abandoned that it is now ripe for hipsters to invade. I look forward to that process. It will be an incredibly interesting case study.
We met up with my mom and brother in Grand Rapids, MI, the 2nd largest city in Michigan. Perhaps it was because we were there on a weekend, but it seemed like a much quieter, smaller town than I was expecting for 2nd biggest. The highlight was the garden, one of the biggest in the area and well curated. It was an incredibly hot day. What else is new?
Our last stop was St. Joseph, MI, a happening little beach town on the other side of Lake Michigan. There were a lot of people out probably because it was a holiday weekend. We walked through, walked by the beach, picked up some ice cream, and continued our journey back to Chicago. Chicago is still my favorite place on Earth.
finally homebound,
jt
Last year over labor day weekend, we went to Chicago. I had this big plan for a family road trip to Toronto, but my mom wasn't being helpful with her requests, and my brother started new work, and the RRS got sick. Such good timing. This year, I thought I'd go ahead and just plan it to Michigan just for A and I. We started out going first to Ann Arbor, where we stayed at an airbnb near campus. It was forecasted to rain, and rain it did. A said he had never seen so much rain, most epic storm of his life. What a milestone. It started pouring immediately after we paid for parking at the garden. A was a trooper and took off his shoes and socks to walk around the garden paths, which all happened to be grassy. The garden looked pretty big, but we hustled out of there after about an hour and a half. On the way out we saw sprinklers simultaneously going off while it was raining. More water than all of the east coast.
We spent a day at the Henry Ford Museum. A day. It was open for 8 hours, and we spent 8 hours there. And it was definitely not enough time. It's a lot like Disneyland because you spend all day walking around looking at attractions. Apparently Henry Ford was buying anything folks were selling back then. Edison's workshop and house, Wright brothers' store and house, Robert Frost, Noah Webster, plantation/slave owner ranch, George Washington Carver's house, and so many more. All these old houses he had had moved to his property. It was amazing to step back in time like that. We ended up with less than 2 hours in the museum. Why is it I always feel like we are just running through a museum trying to look at everything as the clock ticks down to closing time?
We stopped in Detroit for a hot second because the RRS is a pansy. I'm not sure about his street cred a lot of the times. We got mini burgers at a hipster place and saw an old art deco building. Detroit used to be the NYC of the midwest until manufacturing and industry in the States declined. You can tell it used to be grand. So much of Detroit has become run down and abandoned that it is now ripe for hipsters to invade. I look forward to that process. It will be an incredibly interesting case study.
We met up with my mom and brother in Grand Rapids, MI, the 2nd largest city in Michigan. Perhaps it was because we were there on a weekend, but it seemed like a much quieter, smaller town than I was expecting for 2nd biggest. The highlight was the garden, one of the biggest in the area and well curated. It was an incredibly hot day. What else is new?
Our last stop was St. Joseph, MI, a happening little beach town on the other side of Lake Michigan. There were a lot of people out probably because it was a holiday weekend. We walked through, walked by the beach, picked up some ice cream, and continued our journey back to Chicago. Chicago is still my favorite place on Earth.
finally homebound,
jt
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)