tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9300653468932024122024-02-20T02:47:09.926-08:00Van-Q-ver To BawlmerObservations of a West Coast girl relocated to Baltimore, Maryland from Vancouver, British Columbia.Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-22537552053829378762011-08-18T11:46:00.000-07:002011-08-18T11:46:15.975-07:00Fancy Free in FrederickLast weekend Sean & I took a drive out to Frederick, Maryland's second largest city. It's a great little town, full of 19th century architecture, cool shops and tons of great restaurants.<br />
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We had a walk around their Carroll Creek Promenade, and came across the amazing Community Bridge. The plain concrete bridge was painted by a number of local artists in trompe l'oeil. The effect is so well done, you have to touch it to break the spell. There are dozens of hidden symbols within the paintings, see if you can find some! Here are a couple of pics:<br />
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</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-36336514770970657102011-08-11T09:11:00.000-07:002011-08-11T09:11:25.549-07:00Full HouseI write this morning from an allergy induced stupor that just inspired me to open up a cookbook, mistaking it for a laptop, and start typing in it. Needless to say, the autosave function was not so great. And folks, this is me <i>before</i> medication.<br />
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The past month was a busy one, and also super awesome; my in-laws came to stay with us. All of them.<br />
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So for most people, the idea of having their in-laws stay with them, in their home, is the stuff of nightmares. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been a little worried. After all, since we used to live about 5000km apart, I'd only seen them on a handful of occasions. Plus, we'd invited the five of them to stay with us, in our 2 bedroom apartment.<br />
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All my worries melted away as soon as they arrived. It was so good to have family around and the apartment seemed to expand like a wizarding tent to contain us all comfortably. The week flew by much too fast as we enjoyed trips to the zoo & aquarium, science centre, fancy dinner out and family dinners in. Our nephew Sawyer was a pleasure to have around; he's so crazily well behaved and fun to do things with. Some of my favourite parts of the week were having a girls day out shopping with my sister-in-law & mother-in-law, and getting caught in a freaking monsoon at the zoo where everyone got soaked to the skin, jumped in puddles and laughed their asses off. Now that's family bonding. <br />
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We even got a couple of family pictures this week! Quite the feat as several of the subjects are notoriously camera shy.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm looking forward to our next family get together, which is only a few months away, and hope they'll all visit us again really soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The one not so good thing that transpired from the week was that our cat Max got really pissed off (pun intended) at having his kingdom invaded. He got his revenge by peeing behind our bed. I don't know when this happened (soo sorry Donny & Susan!) and if it affected our guests who might have been too polite to mention it, or if he waited until everyone was gone to let us know what he thought of us. Of course, to get back there to clean we have to remove the mattress and partially deconstruct the headboard and bed frame as it's too heavy to move. Next time, we'll have goldfish.</div><br />
Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-32343495295389005282011-07-13T15:54:00.000-07:002011-08-25T22:47:44.700-07:00This is My Jam Song!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As some of you may know, I am a huge jam fan. I don't eat it very often, but when I do I love thick, sticky, lumpy jams like my Grandma Betty used to make. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My Grandma used to make awesome jams. I have wonderful memories of staying with my grandparents for the weekend, and when I woke up in the morning my Grandad would make oatmeal, and Grandma would make me toast. There was a little jam caddy that would be brought to the table, usually with either plum or apricot jam, and we'd enjoy breakfast together listening to classical music on the radio and watching rainbows dance across the table. The rainbows were made by a little table lamp with a crystal base that my Grandma would bring to the table every morning just for that purpose.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until last fall, it had been 20 years since I'd tasted jam like my Grandmother's. Sean & I stole away to Salt Spring Island for a long weekend to partake in their apple festival. The weather was not great, but we stayed at a <a href="http://www.saltspringmercantile.com/">very comfortable little bed & breakfast</a> (really, you should go there) and drove around to the various apple farms to sample their crops and buy apples & preserves. At one of these little farms, I bought a jar of plum jam from someone's great-aunt and it took me back to my childhood. I even composed a song in honour of the jam, which I will sing for you one day if you get me very, very drunk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stumbled upon a blog last week (<a href="http://hipgirlshome.com/blog/2010/8/13/your-first-canning-project.html">The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking</a>) with a foolproof Plum Lemon Jam recipe. Later that week at the farmers' market I came across the first of the plums; some tiny red ones little bigger than cherries. I already had some unwaxed apples from the organic grocer (for natural pectin), as well as sugar and lemons. It was serendipity. I picked up a canning kit on the way home and got busy! The aforementioned blog recommended <a href="http://www.tigressinajam.blogspot.com/2009/05/canning-101.html">Tigress in Jam</a>'s blog for instructions on hot water bath processing which were extremely helpful.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Things I learned from my first foray into canning:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EW08Be06z3Q/Th4UTQBAMBI/AAAAAAAAAXI/DTM5KkxA82Y/s1600/IMG_20110713_175518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EW08Be06z3Q/Th4UTQBAMBI/AAAAAAAAAXI/DTM5KkxA82Y/s320/IMG_20110713_175518.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horrible mess.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><ol><li>Pick bigger plums. I had a bitch of a time pitting ten thousand little MFing plums to get enough by weight for the recipe. Bigger plums!</li>
<li>If using apple peels for pectin, peel the whole apple in one long curl. Otherwise, when the jam is done you're stuck picking through the dark purple goo trying to tell the difference between apple skins (bad) and plum skins (good). The answer; there is no difference. Oh well, this batch might be a bit chewy.</li>
<li>Steam is hot and steam burns are ouchy. Wear oven mitts even when you don't think you need them.</li>
<li>Keep a full, boiled kettle on hand in case you need to top up the canner.</li>
<li>It's very easy to make a horrific mess, so plan your space accordingly, and have everything you need on hand.</li>
<li>It's not that hard to do. Sure, my jam will not be winning any awards, but it won't be giving anyone botulism either!</li>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the finished product! I'm happy to relate that all the jars sealed, so they should last a little while... so long as I can show some restraint.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">By the way, the author of one of the blogs I referred to has their own book!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hip-Girls-Guide-Homemaking-Self-Sufficiency-/dp/0062014706?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking: Decorating, Dining, and the Gratifying Pleasures of Self-Sufficiency--on a Budget!" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0062014706&tag=vanqvert-20" /></a></div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0062014706" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-75777548976349510842011-07-08T08:22:00.000-07:002011-07-08T08:38:59.608-07:00A Canuck in Uncle Sam's BackyardLast night it rained so hard that it washed away the grass.<br />
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This is a strange land full of fireflies and alien insects, of trees and plants that look like they belong in a jungle far away. But I guess I am the one far away, and it is I who am out of place.<br />
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Last weekend we drove. Our destination was Sean's family in New Brunswick, Canada. We were driving home. We left here the evening of June 30th and arrived, appropriately enough, on Canada Day.<br />
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Despite my 5000 km trek across the continent, the drive was a challenge because it was 1300 kms in one leg, overnight. We drove through Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine before crossing into New Brunswick.<br />
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An interesting anecdote; 30 minutes south of the border in Maine we stopped at a gas station for provisions and the clerk told me she'd been to Canada once, but she didn't know which state (province) she'd been in. I was thinking about this last night and wondering if we (Canadians, and everyone else in the world) paint Americans as ignorant because they are, or just because we don't really understand them (or like them- as a group, not individually). Is it ignorant to live just across an international border and not know anything about the other side, or it just a result of nationalistic navel gazing? Are we any better? I mean, I could probably name 40 of the 50 states before I moved here, and all of them now, but is this because I'm a well rounded, educated, informed citizen of the world (ahem, if i do say so myself), or is it a result of living within the sphere of dominance of a culturally pervasive Hegemon? I can't say I know anything about Mexico.<br />
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Education aside, (that's a whole other argument) I'm thinking that the differences in global awareness between Canadians and Americans is cultural. Americans are proud, extremely proud of who they are. They have remained more or less isolationist culturally, despite messing around in everyone else's business militarily and economically. While there are regional differences, as an outsider it's clear that Americans are patriots. They know where they came from, they know their own history (as they choose to remember it), and they know who they are. They are red, white & blue, apple pie & BBQ, thanks giving, God-fearing Americans. They don't apologize, but they do feel slightly sorry for anyone who is not American (so long as you stay in your own country). Maybe there's nothing wrong with that.<br />
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As a Canadian, I find all this flag waving a bit disturbing, but that is a product of my own cultural education.<br />
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In Canada, we're all really interested in our individual roots (mine are Scottish, English, Algonquin First Nations* by the way (*we think)). Many families spend generations in Canada and still identify with their home country. And we're more or less ok with that. We speak French and English, but you'll find signs in Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi and others in many of our bigger cities. We're still apologizing for the awful things our ancestors did to our First Nations peoples. We're not too worried about our own politics because we know that whoever gets elected, it won't make that big of a difference in what does or doesn't get done. When pressed to identify a 'typical Canadian food' to an outsider, a lot of us would cop out and say Kraft Dinner. We see Canada Day as a day off work, and not a whole lot more.<br />
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What binds us together as Canadians? Hockey, high taxes and health care would be my guess, paired with an strong sense of being 'un-american'. You'd probably have a different answer, and I guess that's my point. You can't really put a finger on what it is to be Canadian, but we still love our country.<br />
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We just shut up about it.<br />
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One of Sean's coworkers (also Canadian) told him when we got here that you'll never feel more Canadian than when you're living in the States. This is very true. Right now my biggest hurdle in accepting my new home is losing the chip on my shoulder about what 'They' don't know about 'Us', and instead focusing on letting go of my own prejudices about them. It'll never be home, but I want to learn to love it for what is is.Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-25385903793331745012011-06-27T13:25:00.000-07:002011-07-08T06:51:12.066-07:00Blue Crab KillersLast week we earned our ticket as Marylanders. And it only cost us $30. I'm speaking of our first experience with Maryland Blue Crabs, the official food down here. Everyone eats them, and you can get them absolutely anywhere, in one form or another. Within a five minute drive of where we live there are at least 3 places that sell nothing else but steamed blue crabs and crab cakes to go.<br />
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</div><div>Blue crabs are smaller than Dungeness and instead of being served with butter and lemon, they are steamed with a hell of a lot of Old Bay seasoning and eaten as is. The result is a sticky, spicy, salty experience that is alot of work, but worth the picking.</div><div><br />
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</div><div>We ordered a dozen mediums (that's what they recommended for two! they are quite small- about the size of a man's hand), bought a couple mallets (they don't use crackers) and dug in over a couple bottles of ginger beer. It was messy, fun and delicious, but we both concluded that we prefer the west coast's dungeness and find the seasoning a bit too salty. Next time we'll see if they'll steam them half seasoned for us.</div></div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-91195357845971988632011-05-26T16:35:00.000-07:002011-05-26T16:41:13.482-07:00Touring with Tara OR Beautiful BaltimoreWhat a month! May has had it's ups and downs, but since the ups were so awesome, that's where I'm going to start. We had our first house guest! My good friend, the gorgeous and super-fantastic Tara came for a visit! I can't tell you how nice it was to be able to hang out with a friend. Despite having been here almost 3 months now, I haven't really been out much. With Tara here, I had no excuse not to go out and see my city!<br />
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Before my adventures with Tara, I'll admit I didn't hold Baltimore in very high esteem. I'd heard that there were nice bits, but I assumed it was like this crappy old bench- once shiny, now worn, patched and beat-up . Well, there are definitely parts like that, but together, Tara and I found the charm in Charm City.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fvOHcVLf0aSifwDkniR9qejUY32qJ5wmMfOGpjTlIp6BdRxtSzxzEG-5rNgrynHVnmfQAUSCxrc_bSnNoruwg706eZkJ4TQX_MLhttg4lSfKbWpGMGiZN2qMbAhkUkPE3Xd438ib9J8/s1600/mtwash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fvOHcVLf0aSifwDkniR9qejUY32qJ5wmMfOGpjTlIp6BdRxtSzxzEG-5rNgrynHVnmfQAUSCxrc_bSnNoruwg706eZkJ4TQX_MLhttg4lSfKbWpGMGiZN2qMbAhkUkPE3Xd438ib9J8/s400/mtwash.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We started out in the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Mount+Vernon,+Baltimore,+MD&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.641855,107.226563&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Mt+Vernon,+Baltimore,+Maryland&ll=39.299236,-76.613846&spn=0.187039,0.418854&z=12">Mount Vernon</a> neighbourhood. Right off, the architecture blew us away. Above is an example of any old street in this area. What got me was the attention to detail, and the creativity that went in to making these buildings. Not only were they built to to last, they were also built to captivate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXMuaeOOw2X1wXgbWvKcnVPY0cJMNmkjg0P334cTHlKivjMl5ZiQF1fkEmehKmVkOPIwpQki7K2spKi7W0i1y-Dao1TtUzbobG_Mt-TtkADLF8jtTXn2Ij5ESoUVy0ak1fbtyxLbimh4/s1600/faces.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXMuaeOOw2X1wXgbWvKcnVPY0cJMNmkjg0P334cTHlKivjMl5ZiQF1fkEmehKmVkOPIwpQki7K2spKi7W0i1y-Dao1TtUzbobG_Mt-TtkADLF8jtTXn2Ij5ESoUVy0ak1fbtyxLbimh4/s400/faces.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each building, if you took the time to look, had something special to offer. Some had elaborate leaded glass work, others had decorated pillars or the original (painstakingly restored) carved wood doors. This fellow caught my eye when I was looking for the source of a birds' call.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtdGrOSMmfDW04CJjDdd5e6xjAR1Tcf8vEJ9pTgJA8tA7J8xqWZ_AtkRnPyQqC9zaoW-zlh3h5zcZleK88me2_svNlykugg0xQoaSXXjo6esB9c3Ivev_iKNN_U9Zu-mewAwg_0PNQYk/s1600/bootscraper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtdGrOSMmfDW04CJjDdd5e6xjAR1Tcf8vEJ9pTgJA8tA7J8xqWZ_AtkRnPyQqC9zaoW-zlh3h5zcZleK88me2_svNlykugg0xQoaSXXjo6esB9c3Ivev_iKNN_U9Zu-mewAwg_0PNQYk/s400/bootscraper.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another cool feature we noticed on our stroll were these boot scrapers- some plain, some shaped like griffins and other beasts. They were all over the place, and I can only assume that they are the original ones from before the roads were paved. Who knows how old they might be, as the city of Baltimore was founded in 1729.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1jeNPub2z9ktYjYbdW1hVfwwnEiyKGsYLVe4FnaT1nCnFKpDkYf66nbggTFcNNHgXs46_0EkmgXvQ6zQqwzBDFfnCGmeNThQgmrnLezmy-u7cA7uU4MXnJOYMEC2VR3ENvQlmJIVX3s/s1600/vernon00.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1jeNPub2z9ktYjYbdW1hVfwwnEiyKGsYLVe4FnaT1nCnFKpDkYf66nbggTFcNNHgXs46_0EkmgXvQ6zQqwzBDFfnCGmeNThQgmrnLezmy-u7cA7uU4MXnJOYMEC2VR3ENvQlmJIVX3s/s400/vernon00.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Based on what I've seen so far, Baltimore is a city of churches and monuments. They're everywhere. Some are modest, others magnificent. I won't bore you with every picture we took that day, but here are a few of my favourites.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57MEBX-herKnMY-_u80bUhDgDINJqZajz98uUVr8jsH0C7R1ZS9SF6cjj9ii7VmBNtWeidoK_2YmfRW9i5X6-xObPrpfxJhsXgtjW3CgXOH10kE6iOZgseJie6L_GpoLeYlqfUODINYM/s1600/vernon1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57MEBX-herKnMY-_u80bUhDgDINJqZajz98uUVr8jsH0C7R1ZS9SF6cjj9ii7VmBNtWeidoK_2YmfRW9i5X6-xObPrpfxJhsXgtjW3CgXOH10kE6iOZgseJie6L_GpoLeYlqfUODINYM/s400/vernon1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Above and below is the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, built in 1843. It sits at the very edge of a large and extremely confusing traffic circle. Seriously, it has multiple traffic lights- some to let you into the circle, others to stop you while you're in it. I pledge here and now never to brave it by car, as I fear for my sanity (and for others' safety).</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBsvnHeaCdtx475brDlkPTz6_uI0ogx7i3c-i0ubL6PooDgYANdCHtbv0mEb66PCEEXem5x8FMvLho2D73dpaMEMejxEXeKUIpjgqfdFhUwNCjsibZTk0Ms0nBsZvv0gau5lG04rtoaA/s1600/vernon2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBsvnHeaCdtx475brDlkPTz6_uI0ogx7i3c-i0ubL6PooDgYANdCHtbv0mEb66PCEEXem5x8FMvLho2D73dpaMEMejxEXeKUIpjgqfdFhUwNCjsibZTk0Ms0nBsZvv0gau5lG04rtoaA/s400/vernon2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I amused myself imagining that these are the doors that let the sinners in. I tried the door, but it was locked (what does that say about me, I wonder). Actually, as far as we could tell, none of the churches were open to the public. Such a shame as the interiors must be breathtaking.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWoNXrpNAfCdNYwe3XAlmIXSHQZ4ybhUtByzoOtAWm1HiQdfohdzGRWIdhP5ZPeL5wQexf_1HnC_KTWpPN2FrTgibK1ef4ZZH-e0rgIAJRs_Czru0kOi5XLOVI1GyQdMlhyphenhyphenzE3W1epsw/s1600/washmon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWoNXrpNAfCdNYwe3XAlmIXSHQZ4ybhUtByzoOtAWm1HiQdfohdzGRWIdhP5ZPeL5wQexf_1HnC_KTWpPN2FrTgibK1ef4ZZH-e0rgIAJRs_Czru0kOi5XLOVI1GyQdMlhyphenhyphenzE3W1epsw/s400/washmon.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Here is Baltimore's Washington Monument. Smaller than the one in DC, but us Baltimoreans will have you know ours was the first. I'll also venture to say ours is better looking. So there, DC. To the left of the monument is a statue of La Fayette, whose army of Frenchmen came to the aid of the Americans during the American Revolution.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPM5mVnVtHlS8wsSLrI7Mo7mI_k6NfbRPAWJHJ4WveS8D6tTK8xxyX3rZ9NOipHRPULduMdVV4gYMUYHGgfTpDK3ZdISlqJBTifiyNIwLjHK1u1rRAxUJv3t_clpDf9WFGt9q85AMiI2w/s1600/first1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPM5mVnVtHlS8wsSLrI7Mo7mI_k6NfbRPAWJHJ4WveS8D6tTK8xxyX3rZ9NOipHRPULduMdVV4gYMUYHGgfTpDK3ZdISlqJBTifiyNIwLjHK1u1rRAxUJv3t_clpDf9WFGt9q85AMiI2w/s400/first1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favourite building of the day was the First and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church (on the corner of Park Ave & Madison St... weird, eh?) built in 1847. The style is tudor-gothic, and pictures don't do it justice. If you look closely just above and to the right of the rosary window, you'll see a tree that has taken root. Below are a couple more shots from different angles closer up.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBjFo11Ve7as7S49jz8DRSLBlM6oIj4g74TlHpDGA4begPZs-pysUvDDhYFl5L-FoGPfvbkPT2UB7y9mHjWONsYMJRbrSHNeIJc1k8z5kxs808GoDTlwt_qjJZKIgxG9z6AuBrab-vt4/s1600/first2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBjFo11Ve7as7S49jz8DRSLBlM6oIj4g74TlHpDGA4begPZs-pysUvDDhYFl5L-FoGPfvbkPT2UB7y9mHjWONsYMJRbrSHNeIJc1k8z5kxs808GoDTlwt_qjJZKIgxG9z6AuBrab-vt4/s400/first2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KFXcLuYH38v_vbjwwLLxIpXG7OW11WrFVkJ0mu9ufKGQW5qhCW4mItUzthnG6bKwaelAzhLZxxuIsMIyvIl_Mox-6udMAkgs2xb7Hc4R-c-a3Aj5Ycik2SyN-3SSG5zuRsMgOrZEDWE/s1600/first3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KFXcLuYH38v_vbjwwLLxIpXG7OW11WrFVkJ0mu9ufKGQW5qhCW4mItUzthnG6bKwaelAzhLZxxuIsMIyvIl_Mox-6udMAkgs2xb7Hc4R-c-a3Aj5Ycik2SyN-3SSG5zuRsMgOrZEDWE/s400/first3.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmahcCPPhHiA8Scz6VW9LlsFS6kDGIBBUycApV4YIpWsKMFS31CS1WUyC42VTcXMUNFXAJGk1lKYe_rdTiMlQ0fQ9BLwHZwhdgkkk_t5VOlJ8oLhwLsf5q_-57JbiZPmcL5B9F29d4qs/s1600/first4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmahcCPPhHiA8Scz6VW9LlsFS6kDGIBBUycApV4YIpWsKMFS31CS1WUyC42VTcXMUNFXAJGk1lKYe_rdTiMlQ0fQ9BLwHZwhdgkkk_t5VOlJ8oLhwLsf5q_-57JbiZPmcL5B9F29d4qs/s400/first4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Around the side of the church is an impressive display of prayer ribbons. Buddhists have something similar called prayer flags. They write a prayer, or draw a mandala on a piece of bright cloth and hang it up. The idea is that every time the wind catches the flag, the prayer is blown away to heaven.<br />
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These ribbons each represent a prayer. The blue ones are for peace and reconciliation. The green ones for for the Iraqi people who have died during the wars in Iraq. The gold ones are for the families of American soldiers lost in Iraq. The darker gold are for the families of American soldiers lost in Afghanistan. The red ones are for the Afghani people who have died during the war in Afghanistan.<br />
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Our first thought was that there should be more blue ribbons.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1a3sF4VeGFq899bNBrbcZJls4p8gGjfPDq_i49OQO_60bVrikNaFgl6H7hF3_tpSLQZiyUJmZaHWzcBbGHHv7zqYQuuOQclf0-JxF40nKsN9sdAPUVTxGUyRLVSjMYWUFvK88gCdOIcc/s1600/cardcat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1a3sF4VeGFq899bNBrbcZJls4p8gGjfPDq_i49OQO_60bVrikNaFgl6H7hF3_tpSLQZiyUJmZaHWzcBbGHHv7zqYQuuOQclf0-JxF40nKsN9sdAPUVTxGUyRLVSjMYWUFvK88gCdOIcc/s400/cardcat.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Now library lovers, prepare yourselves for one of the most amazing sights in Baltimore; The Peabody Institute Library.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Gx6ZmJb8HFlwbiyDIg2vrPbJfJh9g-gNA0mDkd2zwCOpvJCeIVghorVMPJiEUhXCAMLT-bpdWfiWJ5nVxTHzyx8db2gt3fAtvwtW4eCMlJ0a64nIj5I39M6lInFg2Q_5PyoV9Cp_8Jk/s1600/peabody1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Gx6ZmJb8HFlwbiyDIg2vrPbJfJh9g-gNA0mDkd2zwCOpvJCeIVghorVMPJiEUhXCAMLT-bpdWfiWJ5nVxTHzyx8db2gt3fAtvwtW4eCMlJ0a64nIj5I39M6lInFg2Q_5PyoV9Cp_8Jk/s400/peabody1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
George Peabody donated $300,000 to get things started, and the Peabody Institute opened to the public in 1878. When we were there, there were several groups of people studying, but despite this the hush was enormous.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj0GMGcMDZLBltIGSErEvmNqWEftIK42JPhRsccpYlbhBplxf6dP9bD6gU5TDNafOk3G9Zx1kL67P5M638TjdUqmWOIWf6q-WTjTJ40Ot2ylPEbgQo9rL2zOsqLDLwBvW6uwi-9XZ-HQ/s1600/peabody2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj0GMGcMDZLBltIGSErEvmNqWEftIK42JPhRsccpYlbhBplxf6dP9bD6gU5TDNafOk3G9Zx1kL67P5M638TjdUqmWOIWf6q-WTjTJ40Ot2ylPEbgQo9rL2zOsqLDLwBvW6uwi-9XZ-HQ/s400/peabody2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2iIaYhl1K7Uns4vQpR8m7HogmwraVYNhE8Z9sNiIB88MPksFFoTNbOE-fuH836_JLCDaKrE8JxVKfGhCAmwO-Izc4EvW7LqAnx-YvkSTE3GdQloQ8lIS1n1QZqZanJZqZdnXCEcHgxE/s1600/mayfair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2iIaYhl1K7Uns4vQpR8m7HogmwraVYNhE8Z9sNiIB88MPksFFoTNbOE-fuH836_JLCDaKrE8JxVKfGhCAmwO-Izc4EvW7LqAnx-YvkSTE3GdQloQ8lIS1n1QZqZanJZqZdnXCEcHgxE/s400/mayfair.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To end my post, I'll leave you with a picture of the Mayfair; a derelict theatre next to the economy lot where we parked. For your reading pleasure, (and to satisfy our curiosity) we chatted up the lot attendant for some background information. Built in 1880, it was in nearly continuous use for 100 years. During it's life it was a gymnasium, skating rink, auditorium, theatre, and cinema. For the past 30 years it's stood empty, and over time the windows were broken and the roof caved in. The Mayfair is the last old theatre on a street that was once all theatres. Proof that, for better or worse, we can't hold on to all the treasures of our past.</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-75365254327687192392011-04-28T15:28:00.000-07:002011-04-28T15:28:23.919-07:00Potting Plants and Playing NiceOne of my recent dalliances with domesticity has been to start up a little garden on our deck. I've done this before, but a combination of a north-facing apartment in a cool climate and my own inattention yielded post apocalyptic-like results. Remember Ursula the Sea-witch in Disney's 'The Little Mermaid'? How she turned all those poor mer-folk into shriveled up little weed-people? Well, that's typically what my gardens look like after a month or so. This time though... this time will be different. At least I hope it will, because those herbs ain't cheap.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGFhUmb48vBB_5mg9FSvOpZ7Zy2HKeGRjPUOupUrTOrZXgwdZ_lSudTX4QcRucewLDm6oj3Yulfd1l4zcUhgIM6fJj7kdsmF5L9cwjlikX7JUhGUNJy2h09okep2xuVh1ltopuTjzfQs/s1600/tomato+sprouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGFhUmb48vBB_5mg9FSvOpZ7Zy2HKeGRjPUOupUrTOrZXgwdZ_lSudTX4QcRucewLDm6oj3Yulfd1l4zcUhgIM6fJj7kdsmF5L9cwjlikX7JUhGUNJy2h09okep2xuVh1ltopuTjzfQs/s320/tomato+sprouts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Aside from the usual suspects (tarragon plus several varieties of thyme, mint, oregano, sage & basil) I'm trying my hand at tomatoes. (*cough, again*) This time I'm growing them from seed, and only growing cherry varieties, with which I've had better luck in the past. Today they finally sprouted!! Yes, I know I'm starting late, but things have been busy, kay?<br />
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One kind I have growing is Sungold, which are the scrumptious orange gems we had on Salt Spring Island last fall. Sean's pretty excited. Mr. 'I hate vegetables' actually said that these tomatoes were the best thing he'd ever eaten. EVAR!!! With any luck, we'll be up to our eyeballs in tomatoes this summer, so anyone want to come for a visit?<br />
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Speaking of visits... drum roll please... Just 9 more days until the arrival of our first house guest from home- Tara!! Stay tuned for details.<br />
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We have a pretty full weekend planned, which may or may not include a gathering at Sean's boss's house. This is where the 'playing nice' comes in.<br />
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While I relish the opportunity to converse with people other than myself and the cats (haven't been doing much of the people meeting just yet), especially since from the sound of things, there may be some pretty cool people to meet, we may have a problem.<br />
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Those of you that know me understand that if you ask me a straight question, I will give you a straight answer, often before considering the repercussions. In other words, when you ask "How do I look in this colour?" I will honestly reply; "Terrible. Blue is NOT your colour. Makes you look like a figure from a wax museum. And better stay away from the white too- you KNOW you'll just spill something down your front."<br />
<br />
So yeah, not big on the tact. Or the white lies. I personally prefer the direct, sugar-free approach and I'm (slightly) aware this sometimes makes me come across as... well, a bitch. I'm supremely lucky to have friends and family who love me anyway.<br />
<br />
I am capable of playing nice, so long as I concentrate and don't drink too much. That is the plan. However, I really dread those questions like;<br />
<br />
"So, how do you like living in Maryland?"<br />
<br />
The answer is too complex for polite company. Or for first impressions. I guess what I'm saying is I'll be spending my Friday night coming up with a list of questions people might ask me, and then rehearsing the corresponding good girl answers. Help me Grilled Cheesus.Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-13329019700210076832011-04-18T18:30:00.000-07:002011-04-18T18:41:14.482-07:00I'm Afraid of Baltimore... I'm Afraid of Baltimore...Today Sean had the day off, so we decided to make our first trip into the big city.<br />
<br />
Things did not go as planned.<br />
<br />
First off, on Friday Sean mentioned to a coworker our plans for exploring the city. The coworker made one of those half restrained 'ouch' faces when he heard we'd planned to walk around, and delicately suggested we keep an eye on our surroundings as neighbourhoods can be very different from one street to the next.<br />
<br />
As we first entered the city, we drove by nice green parks, college campuses and tidy row houses. The very next street over, the row houses had ply board for windows, chain link over the doors and people outside actively stealing cars as we drove by at 11 am on a Monday. This is when I started singing my 'I'm afraid of Baltimore' song, and rocking in my seat.<br />
<br />
The rest of the drive was more of the same; a couple of nice streets that you could see yourself living on, then a couple of streets that looked like Vancouver's downtown east side, if you threw some guns into the mix. Ok, I didn't see any guns, but then again, if I had, would I be blogging right now? I don't know.<br />
<br />
Today we'd decided to explore the neighbourhoods of Hampden & Homewood on the North Western side of Baltimore. We'd mainly decided on this because we had dinner reservations nearby at arguably the best restaurant in the city, and figured we could find more than enough to do in the area for a day.<br />
<br />
Everything was closed. Every museum, art gallery, cool specialty shop, historical landmark- hell, even Baltimore's Washington Monument is closed Mondays. As it happens, everything in the County is closed on Sundays, and everything in the City is closed Mondays.<br />
<br />
What an spectacular mix of bad luck and poor planning.<br />
<br />
We stopped at Hampden's iconic <a href="http://www.cafehon.com/">Cafe Hon</a> to regroup and have some lunch. This is the cafe made famous by the 'Hon's' of the area's signature rockabilly hybrid look & attitude. Apparently, in the summer months it's not uncommon to see droves of tattooed ladies in 50's dresses with wicked beehives, often sporting props (in the cafe there was a pic of a lady who had a tin of Old Bay- Baltimore's favourite seasoning- in her hive.). The cafe's atmosphere was fun, but the food was horrible and overpriced- not a good combination. While picking at our lunches, we combed through our guidebook to find that pretty much anything we'd want to see elsewhere in Baltimore... was also closed on Mondays. The only things open were the aquarium and the zoo, and we weren't really in the mood. We thought about walking around the inner harbour- a very touristy area that would definitely have shops open, but we weren't feeling very confident in our ability to stay on the good streets, and decided to leave our wandering until we could learn more about the city.<br />
<br />
So... we went to Ikea.<br />
<br />
Anticlimactic isn't it? Well, we needed a couple things that we couldn't order online (namely a coffee table and a full-length mirror) and it was only a 20 minute drive (45 minutes from home). Say what you like about Ikea, but I love it. Sure, I'd rather buy my furniture at a boutique, or from a craftsman, but not only can we not really afford it, but we have no idea where we are going to be in 5 years. Ikea furniture is easy to customize, and if you can't take it with you, then you're $200 in the hole and not $2000.<br />
<br />
After 3 hours of Ikea we were tired and hungry. We headed back to Hampden for dinner at <a href="http://www.woodberrykitchen.com/">Woodberry Kitchen</a>.<br />
<br />
Dinner erased all evils.<br />
<br />
WK is an extremely popular restaurant here, featuring local & seasonal meat and produce. It takes more that 2 months to get a weekend reservation (if you don't mind eating at 8:15pm). If you want prime hours, I have no idea how far in advance you'd have to book. Fortunately for us, Mondays are not quite as bad, and I was able to get a res for an early dinner only 3 weeks in advance.<br />
<br />
The location is really cool; a re-purposed factory or warehouse. The walls are the original brick, and the ceiling is super high- maybe 4 regular stories. The kitchen is open, and even on a Monday we could see the Chef/Owner Spike Gjerde hard at work by the brick wood burning oven. There was a very impressive 2-story...? what the hell would you call it? Well it's function was to hold cords of wood for the stove, but it was big and beautiful and imposing. The place was decorated with old tools, but not overdone or cheesy. Just enough to give you something cool to notice. Behind me were giant floor to ceiling leaded glass windows letting in lots of light.<br />
<br />
The food was simple, but (almost) perfectly executed. We started with brick oven roasted asparagus with a chopped egg & tarragon dressing. I can't explain to you how amazing asparagus is when you roast it in a freaking million degree oven. I roast it all the time at home, and grill it too, but it doesn't nearly compare to the results they got at WK. The flavour was rich and nutty, and tips were so crispy they almost disintegrated on your tongue. My only complaint was there was a bit too much pepper for my liking, which overpowered the tarragon in the dressing. Still, a very nice dish. Our meal came with complimentary water service (this means they bring you your choice of flat or sparkling water, and refill your glass for you whenever needed- usually something you have to pay for.) and 3 kinds of house made bread- an italian with sesame seeds (my favourite- the seeds get so nice and toasty! Yum!), a spelt and a boston brown. The bread was just the thing to sop up a little of that chopped egg dressing- such a simple but delicious sauce, I'm definitely doing that at home soon.<br />
<br />
For supper Sean had Mac & Cheese (after talking all afternoon about eating more pig, he went with the pasta because it had been a long day, and it's one of his best comfort foods) from the 'Meatless Monday' special menu, and I had Scallops with ramps, hen of the woods mushrooms, radishes, pork belly and tarragon mayonnaise. Sean loved his Mac & Cheese made with aged gouda and a golden crispy breadcrumb topping. But...<br />
<br />
MY SCALLOPS WERE AMAZING.<br />
<br />
They really were. I've never had them so perfectly caramelized, or expertly cooked. They were a 10. (I'd give them an 11, but that would be ridiculous.) The outside was so crisp, and the inside soft, supple and sweet. The ramps were silky and smothered in butter. The radishes and mushrooms were lightly cooked, and lightly seasoned so they could speak for themselves and balance out the more powerful flavours of the pork and the ramps. I loved the tarragon mayonnaise; the perfect compliment to all the dish's components.<br />
<br />
Hungry?<br />
<br />
I got a really good laugh when I gave a taste of my scallops to Sean, who typically does not like seafood. I've been wanting to make a scallop recipe at home, and I hoped that the best scallops I've ever had might convince Sean he's missing something. He chewed thoughtfully, and then likened them to 'Sea Gelatin'. Not in an entirely bad way though, so maybe there is hope.<br />
<br />
For dessert, Sean had a wonderful parfait of malt flavoured ice cream, peanut caramel, and homemade marshmallow cream- they even bruleed the top. I had a couple bites, and it was marvelous. I could have had dessert (the dinner portions were small), but to be honest, nothing appealed to me and I was in a bit of a snit. I was cranky because several of the desserts featured cranberries, which I didn't think was appropriate since they are way out of season. I don't know why it ticked me off so much (even I could tell I was having an unreasonable reaction), but Sean suggested it was because subconsciously the thought of cranberries made me homesick. I think I'll go with that. Don't worry, I behaved myself- no plate throwing or filibustering- just no dessert :(<br />
<br />
The best part- only a 25 minute drive from home, and free valet parking. We used to drive all the way to Seattle for a meal of this calibre (and we won't even talk about the price of parking). I look forward to going again... maybe we can get another reservation... September perhaps?Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-63406887638624061332011-04-15T20:41:00.000-07:002011-04-15T20:42:27.550-07:00A Lot.So what have I been up to?<br />
<br />
Well, the answer comes in two parts; A Whole Lot, and A Lot of Nothing.<br />
<br />
A Whole Lot:<br />
<br />
Two weekends ago, Sean and I attended the<a href="http://www.beerandbourbon.com/maryland/show-info"> Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival</a> in Timonium, MD. This is a weekend long event that showcases 60 beers, 40 bourbons and A WHOLE LOT OF BBQ. That's right, folks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPa32GHxOlDJ_XFcyef1EjxX1EAwzofsMvbS6pz_X5BiTScI2oirchexWWJb6GsH9vHpYGFMqXMHfQHW-ix1ZlbRNif_MK2QsjAciQnfpABcCeh2HQ-MaLpofsDk3qRiw5j78nCXrISk/s1600/welcome.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPa32GHxOlDJ_XFcyef1EjxX1EAwzofsMvbS6pz_X5BiTScI2oirchexWWJb6GsH9vHpYGFMqXMHfQHW-ix1ZlbRNif_MK2QsjAciQnfpABcCeh2HQ-MaLpofsDk3qRiw5j78nCXrISk/s320/welcome.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Now, I know what you're thinking, over the past year we've all but given up alcohol, and have cut back our meat consumption to 2-3 servings (and sometimes less) per week. What can I say? We fell off a whole lot of wagons that weekend (and felt it the next day).<br />
<br />
We attended the festival on the Friday night, for the 'Full Hog Pig Pickin'. Upon entering the fairgrounds, we were given a miniature beer glass (6 oz) and a 'beer bra' to hang it around your neck while you are eating/chatting/dancing/stumbling around. We also got a meal ticket for a pulled pork dinner.<br />
<br />
We started with a couple beer tastings (generous 4-6 oz pours), then decided we had best eat some food, or our night would be a short one. In the BBQ arena were 6 food tents operated by 6 different local catering companies. Vegetarians may want to look away.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MHYpoO7sm0A4nLzHp-gnPjW7zJtNLaNj2OixWKXq6w2xb0hV13NIijBBs8HrCZeghwN3_cwBUvKIiZb12vR_6Me8k1NzYLqdnyzFfemgmiDlc9i94gRn_H5rkVYJdRe0fC8y02LG704/s1600/pig+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MHYpoO7sm0A4nLzHp-gnPjW7zJtNLaNj2OixWKXq6w2xb0hV13NIijBBs8HrCZeghwN3_cwBUvKIiZb12vR_6Me8k1NzYLqdnyzFfemgmiDlc9i94gRn_H5rkVYJdRe0fC8y02LG704/s320/pig+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Each station had it's own take on a pulled pork dinner; some did sandwiches, others biscuits, and some just let the meat speak for itself. Sides were very southern (we are after all in the 'South') such as cole slaw, potato salad, collard greens and black beans. <a href="http://www.blacksaucekitchen.com/">One place</a> took a more imaginative approach with dishes like jerk pork biscuits, and espresso smoked chicken (they also had a sweet potato & bacon bread pudding, which I had much later that night, and it might have been the beer & bourbon, but it felt like the best thing I'd ever put in my mouth.) Every tent had it's own pig done in their signature fashion. That's a whole lot of pig. You could safely say we 'pigged out'.<br />
<br />
Back to the booze. At the start of the evening, we meandered through the warehouse, tasted the interesting brews, discussed their merits, and people watched. It looked a little like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWhqVOlQVHSSnp8jXFedRG3lEgieA5pf2f2rN6z4JS1nT_x-dgFTQaXSrpq9wlNrALOZar-n0WmBncppGwa4nSuPyIrnQMzyaQfOQniXPLEaMS9nO6oAGMJqtQn2rPi5EL_RykpetfAs/s1600/horny.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWhqVOlQVHSSnp8jXFedRG3lEgieA5pf2f2rN6z4JS1nT_x-dgFTQaXSrpq9wlNrALOZar-n0WmBncppGwa4nSuPyIrnQMzyaQfOQniXPLEaMS9nO6oAGMJqtQn2rPi5EL_RykpetfAs/s320/horny.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Those people aren't us, by the way. I couldn't get Sean to wear the hat. After an hour or so (or possibly less...) there was less meandering and more weaving going on. The talking got louder and was making less sense. Where before I might have been heard saying something like "Very hoppy, with a nice citrus finish", now it was more like "Mmmm beer. Good. More!" and trying really hard not to burp in public. At least, not too loud. It looked a little like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rVxT4uHQwxFSdT8tuFwBRa-2CJ4OKmhNGQEKA0etRkLN8zo-pi-DKBHSbxnPd8YnAjluOrIJ7zlWVlWRq1YS_6x7JhxVrGt9q5zkvygL23OGHCd_QaicJ182b64hblvSdnEXTu9W-yk/s1600/IMG_20110401_193414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rVxT4uHQwxFSdT8tuFwBRa-2CJ4OKmhNGQEKA0etRkLN8zo-pi-DKBHSbxnPd8YnAjluOrIJ7zlWVlWRq1YS_6x7JhxVrGt9q5zkvygL23OGHCd_QaicJ182b64hblvSdnEXTu9W-yk/s320/IMG_20110401_193414.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not too long after this, we'd sampled most of the 60 beers and had moved on to the bourbon. I don't think we tried much of it, but then it doesn't really take much, does it? It looked a little like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFZnXJnYnruWpQiVKJuZNlBYGv5GOiWlPEX-Qga7GeoS_pkUsA9pX-_l-DRv_ZhKitS4YNyb1PTKAho0sm3nn23Fyz8fgXHwCgoir2v9_slpXJCX6GThXkZ-YtBr8b-YR5nJ78__gKVA/s1600/IMG_20110401_193408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFZnXJnYnruWpQiVKJuZNlBYGv5GOiWlPEX-Qga7GeoS_pkUsA9pX-_l-DRv_ZhKitS4YNyb1PTKAho0sm3nn23Fyz8fgXHwCgoir2v9_slpXJCX6GThXkZ-YtBr8b-YR5nJ78__gKVA/s320/IMG_20110401_193408.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Being responsible non-citizens, we had taken a cab to the fest (unlike the majority of attendees, unfortunately), so when it came time to leave we called for a taxi. Dispatch explained that it was a very busy night, and it would be at least AN HOUR AND A HALF before they could get a car out to us. Hearing this, we made the fateful decision to walk home. After all, it's only 4 miles. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, ladies and gentlemen, 4 miles is about 6.4 kms, which while normally not an unreasonable distance to walk, turns into a fucking marathon when you are full of pig and drunk as a skunk. It took us and hour and a half to do it, but we got home safe and sound. I didn't get up until 1pm the next day. Good times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another thing I did recently was get a Maryland State drivers license! I must say, what a freaking ordeal. It took me 2 tries, 3 visits to government offices and a total of 4 hours of waiting for my number to be called, but it's done. In case you ever find yourself needing to get one, just follow these simple steps:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ol><li>Go to the Social Security office and apply for a SSN card (like a SIN) even though you don't qualify, so that they can give you a piece of paper stamped 'DENIED'. (Very important step- I missed it the first time)</li>
<li>Take your 'Denied' paper, Passport, old Drivers' License and two official proofs of address (very hard to get without an SSN as most companies won't list you on an account without one) to the DMV- called a MVO here.</li>
<li>Wait in line for a very long time to see the desk clerk. She will look at your documentation quizzically and ask you if Canada is part of the USA. You will chuckle like a polite Canadian thinking it was a (bad) joke. She will look at you like you have shit for brains while waiting for you to give her an answer. You will reply, "Um... No. No it isn't." She will give you a number. I kid you not. I wish I was, but I'm sooo not.</li>
<li>Sit in a waiting room listening to crying babies, millions of disembodied cell phone sounds and drunk people talking about the cars they stole over the weekend. Sit there for an hour. </li>
<li>When your number is called, give your documents to a clerk who has never issued a Drivers License to a Canadian before. After a brief poll, nobody in the entire office has ever even seen a Canadian before and has no idea how to process your documents. Start wishing you had a mickey in your purse. Or a gun.</li>
<li>After your info is entered into the system, you get another number. Sit for another 20 minutes.</li>
<li>tha.......fried chicken...mah word!.......hangin owt.............suh-leepy......church. Try to nod at appropriate intervals, and maybe toss in a 'Yes M'am'. Now pay the $27 licensing fee. You're done!</li>
</ol><div>That wasn't too hard, was it? True story, I swear to you.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Last weekend we planned an outing to the town of Westminster. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLKvcLi60CM00IjBdZvo_MgZ6Lty-6RhrbzIuEra6jO4DoK0CB7df_XX7s8mtfaUJSARXjrDbVXYWTyWLSiOw_SFsBBLRvbOTkdH7orpCuEk-3P4BRutYTaqu4oiXrMNr2NIcOUCEh4I/s1600/westminster+map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLKvcLi60CM00IjBdZvo_MgZ6Lty-6RhrbzIuEra6jO4DoK0CB7df_XX7s8mtfaUJSARXjrDbVXYWTyWLSiOw_SFsBBLRvbOTkdH7orpCuEk-3P4BRutYTaqu4oiXrMNr2NIcOUCEh4I/s320/westminster+map.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>We basically cracked the guidebook and pointed. It was supposed to be a quaint little town, with a couple neat museums and places to see. We set off Sunday morning on a nice 45 minute drive. When we got there, we popped in to the Visitors Center. The 'nice' old lady asked us why we would be out on a Sunday and what we expected to be able to see. We told her we were open to suggestions, and she suggested we stop by the convenience store, as it might just be open. We went back out to the car, where I tried to burn the building down using just my heathen mind, but I needed some newspaper to help the flame along and I was fresh out. Instead, I took this picture of the `haunted`pub next door. Which was closed. We learned not to travel on Sundays.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd26KK71E6xoot8Ph-dnbT_NFpLejWxGGrHNaE6s3FUALe5fcFbcwOF4wTY1PG7ZCumi_ZIlIp5yVVv1ZD_8ZvO3XQH42KS3mcn6dBjbaoz4lHb-3m3DtQndZKxuvaDugjZbnU8nZmbkw/s1600/westminster+haunt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd26KK71E6xoot8Ph-dnbT_NFpLejWxGGrHNaE6s3FUALe5fcFbcwOF4wTY1PG7ZCumi_ZIlIp5yVVv1ZD_8ZvO3XQH42KS3mcn6dBjbaoz4lHb-3m3DtQndZKxuvaDugjZbnU8nZmbkw/s320/westminster+haunt.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div> As for the 'Whole lot of Nothing' portion of this post, it starts and ends with two words and a roman numeral. Dragon Age II.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Yes, my favourite (or second favourite? I don't know, Fable might be first...) game franchise came out with a sequel and it is <i>awesome</i>. I'd put off buying it because I knew once I started playing, I wouldn't stop until I was done. And I didn't. And I'm on my second play through. My first run took 20 or so hours and was fantastic. I rushed it though because the story was so good I just wanted to know what happened next. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I know many of you don't get video games, and I understand that. I was once a non-believer. But then I fell in love with a guy who makes video games, and he showed me that they're not all about shooting things and blowing up cars. Some games are so well designed that the worlds they inhabit have their own history and myths. Playing can be like immersing yourself is a really good book, but being able to make decisions that will affect how characters interact with you, and even how the game ends. You can be an altruistic hero, or a money hungry bastard. Or anything in between. Anyways, I guess my point is that the last couple weeks I've played an awful lot of Dragon Age. And maybe not so much of anything very productive.</div><div><br />
</div><div>This weekend we get a long weekend, even though it's not a holiday. Sean's company used to be (up until 2 weeks ago) headquartered in Massachusetts, where Monday is Patriot's day. Now, both offices in RI & MD get fake holidays. Yippee!</div><div><br />
</div><div>As we've learned nothing is open on Sundays down here in the US of A, on Monday we're heading in to Baltimore for the first time. On the docket is a trip to<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druid_Hill_Park"> Druid Hill Park</a>, and dinner at the famous <a href="http://www.woodberrykitchen.com/">Woodberry Kitchen</a>. Who knows what else we'll get up to. Looking forward to it.</div><div><br />
</div><div>And back from popular demand, I leave you with pictures of our cats. Because that's what people with no kids do.</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XIXfpFJlybr4qoEFnSUdRimz3_7pC851EQJtScLbEqyUSIWZzb_2kMhwPnR7E89Hv5LNGCFZdlvzmbtSSbxT6zXibPsH22YIq71y8_3EqKzp2noUoDrxYFr2IbGorsRjoaufBnJW-LI/s1600/Leo+ROAR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XIXfpFJlybr4qoEFnSUdRimz3_7pC851EQJtScLbEqyUSIWZzb_2kMhwPnR7E89Hv5LNGCFZdlvzmbtSSbxT6zXibPsH22YIq71y8_3EqKzp2noUoDrxYFr2IbGorsRjoaufBnJW-LI/s320/Leo+ROAR.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leo sez ROAR!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhp_hRV8JH6-p6XfaYuEtLAhfdORfy2CxLshovMGUDT0Tpkm82SWDOgqWTel32NBwfQwVBlwdkn11y74g6gEhm0BFc55WPARGEnhvpGCmgBc-9JzmBkHuEwPpY_G-ioRVzuITRZMQzx4/s1600/Max+rub.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhp_hRV8JH6-p6XfaYuEtLAhfdORfy2CxLshovMGUDT0Tpkm82SWDOgqWTel32NBwfQwVBlwdkn11y74g6gEhm0BFc55WPARGEnhvpGCmgBc-9JzmBkHuEwPpY_G-ioRVzuITRZMQzx4/s320/Max+rub.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max gets cuddles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1CH1y4ProBU1W81NEf-f9_I8GLb44gbY7tvf2Pf9z9nqfldGlmoeMsEhuM5reKaIkIMxBazvOM2kiLc2ny0lkaL3-Zw2zpECOnh_y4exFkkq2JdqyKZuemwaj6XX9JT2EOr_icz5Jdg/s1600/Leo+helpin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1CH1y4ProBU1W81NEf-f9_I8GLb44gbY7tvf2Pf9z9nqfldGlmoeMsEhuM5reKaIkIMxBazvOM2kiLc2ny0lkaL3-Zw2zpECOnh_y4exFkkq2JdqyKZuemwaj6XX9JT2EOr_icz5Jdg/s320/Leo+helpin.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leo helps Sean install a curtain rod.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKniIsuzhlUZ2tIdzUz1xXOWLhFjpoUyYeF_Ax1073FyrN3_6NN9ZEW7mFNwycpY3bIEtk8ieIrT9pEZYs-dwQdiRBY8VK79Et7gHQ0Bi0dIjSAGEUSvlN1wAwc5sTx5NwTBpvPl3Ou8/s1600/Max+TV.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKniIsuzhlUZ2tIdzUz1xXOWLhFjpoUyYeF_Ax1073FyrN3_6NN9ZEW7mFNwycpY3bIEtk8ieIrT9pEZYs-dwQdiRBY8VK79Et7gHQ0Bi0dIjSAGEUSvlN1wAwc5sTx5NwTBpvPl3Ou8/s320/Max+TV.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max watches TV.</td></tr>
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</div></div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-81278449241563549022011-03-24T09:14:00.000-07:002011-03-24T09:14:31.604-07:00Weekend (late post)This weekend I bought stuff from Amish people. That was kind of cool.<br />
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</div><div>There's this place nearby called the <a href="http://www.padutchmarket.com/cockeysville/index.html">Pennsylvania Dutch Market</a>. It took me awhile to decide if these people are really Amish, or just dressed that way, but I've come to the conclusion that nobody would wear their hair like that just for a job. From what I can gather, though it is run by Amish, most of the goods being sold are bought wholesale from elsewhere. Either that, or the Amish have started raising their meat in feedlots & with antibiotics, and slapping 'made in China' tags on thier knick-knacks. Still, it's a neat place, and they make a lot of fresh baking every morning, and soft pretzels which are chewy, salty and amazingly delicious. Writing that made me realize I've skipped lunch!</div><div><br />
</div><div>After the market we swung by the local garden center and picked up some herbs to plant in a window box. I don't have them planted yet, and so far the boys have not tried to eat them, so all's well. Pretty lazy weekend.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Our furniture (the first batch, at least) will be arriving on Wednesday! Yay! It's been like living in a studio apartment, so I'm really looking forward to gettting the bedroom set up... even if it does mean a few days of putting things together.</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-49464502348894561282011-03-18T13:15:00.000-07:002011-03-18T13:15:45.828-07:00I Think My Next Door Neighbour is John Cena<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="400" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTFGUeR0sYvwGFHkf_FB5XcmSm0-DKQUH4eJyNvBvK4uJ5z5ij-ig" width="265" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I'm not a wrestling fan...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But I know who John Cena is...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And I think he lives next door.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Let me start at the beginning. You know my neighbour in <a href="http://wifezillablog.blogspot.com/2011/03/ooom-pa-pa-ooom-pa-pa-boom-boom.html">6d</a>? Well, I heard his dog whimpering in the stairwell, so I crept to the door like the nosy neighbour that I am, and peeked through the viewer...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And there he was, John Cena. At least, it looked like him. But the stairwell was a little dim. Still, I'm going with my gut. I'm also not going to be complaining about the noise anytime soon.</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-80892128822504267042011-03-18T12:59:00.000-07:002011-03-18T12:59:38.213-07:00Wake Up Call<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IFx2aEa87yg?fs=1" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">As I think I've mentioned, our apartment is bordered on 3 sides by a forested area, and we get a lot of birds. The cats LOVE sitting in the window sills and watching them. The loudest are the <a href="http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/cardinal.htm">cardinals</a>, and being bright red, they're easy to spot. I'd never seen one before moving here, so I thought I'd share this with you! The video isn't mine- I've been trying to catch a pic of them for days without any luck.</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-7185706696626447712011-03-17T12:21:00.000-07:002011-03-17T12:21:21.612-07:00Ooom-pa-pa- Ooom-pa-pa, Boom-Boom-Boom, Weeeyow-Wow- Clang- Olé!I'd planned on doing a post with a few pictures of the outside of our building, and the community, but that will have to wait. Right now, I need to vent about our neighbours.<br />
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The building consists of three outside doors, each letting in to a foyer with mailboxes. There are six steps down to the two garden-level apartments, six steps up to two middle level units, and another two small flights up to two more units. So, six units per door, eighteen per building (well ours at least; many of the other buildings are bigger).<br />
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We have a mid-level end unit, so we really only have three neighbours to worry about, the people below us, above us and to the left of us. Let me tell you, it's more than enough.<br />
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As I'm writing this, it's 3pm, and next door has had their music on super loud, on and off, for the past 17 hrs. We've never seen our neighbour in 6d. I have no idea who he or she is, but they like to party. And not just on the weekend, apparently. Things will be peaceful, the sun shining, the birds singing, and then the BOOM-BOOM-BOOM starts. The cats are terrified and go hide and I try to ignore it. It was loud enough last night (between 11pm & 4am) to be annoying, but now the noise seems to be permeating the entire apartment. I could wear headphones, but that's not the point.<br />
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You may think the walls are thin, but they aren't. Not overly anyway. We hear the downstairs neighbours at mealtimes, mainly because there's a family of at least a dozen Mexicans living in there, and they're happy, passionate people. The kids are always making happy kid sounds, and there's never any angry yelling. They're loud, but at least they're a good loud.<br />
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The only noise we hear from the upstairs neighbour is the occasional creaking of the floor boards in the middle of the night. (Thank goodness!!)<br />
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A while ago, I'd had enough. I`d been moving/unpacking things all morning, and I was taking a break to have lunch and watch a show. I couldn't hear the dialogue for the BOOM-BOOM-BOOM coming from next door. So I did something I never do. I put on a CD of my own, specially chosen to mix horribly with the din next-door (Florence & the Machine for anyone interested)... and I turned up the volume...<br />
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For one song. I just couldn't do it; it's so rude and inconsiderate. Funny thing is, it also worked (temporarily anyway) because the person in 6d left!<br />
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Unfortunately, if only half worked. When 6d left, I turned off my music and through the hum of silence and bruised eardrums I could hear more noise. Downstairs is playing what I can only describe as some sort of hybrid Latin-Oom-pa-pa music. Presumably to drown out the rest of us.<br />
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Earphones it is.Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-79027789903262094492011-03-14T09:38:00.000-07:002011-03-14T09:38:43.083-07:00Setting up HouseSo, I'm home. My new home, that is, in Baltimore County Maryland. I'm still a little bit amazed that I drove across the continent last week. Still settling in.<br />
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The apartment is... well, I'm still undecided. The bones are good, but it's clear shortcuts have been taken over the years, and it's not as quiet as we'd hoped. I'll blog more about neighbours later, but lets just say it turns into a Mexican Karaoke Disco around here on weekends. It's not as bad as it sounds though, because it means we don't have to worry too much about the noise we make. Besides, some of those karaoke singers aren't half bad. (but most of them are ALL bad)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqcEcyKJsAof43RNlpEaR71NkCvKePtZ1gzzwGjf2IC5YnBn-_RTvnTwxlRfyqMYSdUae-OO4LMBp6S5mbQ4jklITKEnRY3xSI1w3SvA48c4HedoHCWebIA1X1ue3U4JYNDjjl52drqg/s1600/livingroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqcEcyKJsAof43RNlpEaR71NkCvKePtZ1gzzwGjf2IC5YnBn-_RTvnTwxlRfyqMYSdUae-OO4LMBp6S5mbQ4jklITKEnRY3xSI1w3SvA48c4HedoHCWebIA1X1ue3U4JYNDjjl52drqg/s320/livingroom.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I first got here, I could tell that Sean had done a lot of unpacking and assembling. The living room was basically unpacked, as was the kitchen.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XpcpepVUXrhihUJNO6kazvav2aau6rnLM8VYY86kRuXeXABoQIXqyP7N1ZWMdyiLS6H7Y3aMBoBlV73z_MOD1k4yTb-PsfEWPUFzrDeHIODHj6a8XkavWlqox71nepfS6YCxy-cn5Vw/s1600/kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XpcpepVUXrhihUJNO6kazvav2aau6rnLM8VYY86kRuXeXABoQIXqyP7N1ZWMdyiLS6H7Y3aMBoBlV73z_MOD1k4yTb-PsfEWPUFzrDeHIODHj6a8XkavWlqox71nepfS6YCxy-cn5Vw/s320/kitchen.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The kitchen is large for a rental apartment (big enough to fit a 4-top kitchen table), but it has about one quarter of the kitchen storage I'm used to, and very limited counter space. I opened the cupboards, and Sean has them well organized, but they're already full... and there's a lot more to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjkRPUtJIQ46yzfJb2V5Lq4mPFdwi4lDdLY2pO5vGKG16d0AF_QDpRgIfhC_pb1kpoWPgetm554ZkFGMLRkedveL0XGIiyEh3IVoRIl7fdbtKt5qGQMWOZrZtE9qQhRIb0yPr3MAh-6Y/s1600/entertainment+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjkRPUtJIQ46yzfJb2V5Lq4mPFdwi4lDdLY2pO5vGKG16d0AF_QDpRgIfhC_pb1kpoWPgetm554ZkFGMLRkedveL0XGIiyEh3IVoRIl7fdbtKt5qGQMWOZrZtE9qQhRIb0yPr3MAh-6Y/s320/entertainment+room.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, I saw the bedrooms. Yikes. These are some of the empty boxes (Sean broke them down shortly after this was taken and we took them out to recycling).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNV2GIxjPQrW7f7-aovyQ3iFpNcUQMcYqumbC5QndDIYErA19MazHpxAdfSENs5ZNkSyn9Tmjobdr8FcC_0eB97pUym9rzyEmmFqhWsRRdMLaYLzP0hZ7Am95aB7bnislKYvYGc5cVcpk/s1600/bedroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNV2GIxjPQrW7f7-aovyQ3iFpNcUQMcYqumbC5QndDIYErA19MazHpxAdfSENs5ZNkSyn9Tmjobdr8FcC_0eB97pUym9rzyEmmFqhWsRRdMLaYLzP0hZ7Am95aB7bnislKYvYGc5cVcpk/s320/bedroom.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are just a few of the boxes waiting to be unpacked. Sean's been hard at work, but the truth is, we've run out of places to put things. You may have noticed there's not a lot of furniture... very observant to you. Let me show you some of what we have.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxT8WoyZNUgKYcQKjTtBGix9QIIDxS9i9cE_Hg9dsyI9AGTLKKURFNnjo_7NOF89HI_NI6iiV-D5shyfi1woK8M_YfjWEPS0B8ovmvHXHrQGs9F6Plm6fB66CDIHCeaBTyuqJRP3LHzIk/s1600/media+center.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxT8WoyZNUgKYcQKjTtBGix9QIIDxS9i9cE_Hg9dsyI9AGTLKKURFNnjo_7NOF89HI_NI6iiV-D5shyfi1woK8M_YfjWEPS0B8ovmvHXHrQGs9F6Plm6fB66CDIHCeaBTyuqJRP3LHzIk/s320/media+center.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our media center where we watch TV & movies, play Xbox 360, listen to music and relax.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrglQ0rdkS8fcTchfjb32mmrZHyBI-JcfDWJz-poBEagYpfCn5oHxiTBp6L94c366ao59wgAgdSrVGqQvsHjLaaNoGmJjQqxGrlwCl52f4ZXmlILXkLXNHNfClMbrDe5EyEwrA2VJ6bb4/s1600/office.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrglQ0rdkS8fcTchfjb32mmrZHyBI-JcfDWJz-poBEagYpfCn5oHxiTBp6L94c366ao59wgAgdSrVGqQvsHjLaaNoGmJjQqxGrlwCl52f4ZXmlILXkLXNHNfClMbrDe5EyEwrA2VJ6bb4/s320/office.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My office, where I email, surf the web, and blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NKxq315AnALZZR-1IgWnocY38fj5DPiNxkXhA3nHQQe2p2BTffWGtH50g9R7cVpZ1rC7ijBb2x8ZkKJ7iQwImJBEjOeFiqVEB_md8Ea6HN3MWisdILMNt0eL7zgO4tLexFCRVeB5rvU/s1600/bed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NKxq315AnALZZR-1IgWnocY38fj5DPiNxkXhA3nHQQe2p2BTffWGtH50g9R7cVpZ1rC7ijBb2x8ZkKJ7iQwImJBEjOeFiqVEB_md8Ea6HN3MWisdILMNt0eL7zgO4tLexFCRVeB5rvU/s320/bed.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our bed, where we sleep. (Don't worry- it folds out!) Also the dining room (chairs which double as tv trays not shown) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alright, it's not quite as bad as that. We have a kitchen table which is currently being employed as a computer desk & breakfast nook. We have some cabinets and bookshelves. But that's pretty much it. We didn't bring a whole lot with us, because we weren't sure what was going to fit, and it was going to be cheaper to buy new furniture than it was to ship the old (much of which were hand-me-downs and didn't owe us anything).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So what did we do this weekend? Quite a bit. We ordered a butt-load of furniture for one; bed, mattress, chest of drawers, night tables, desk, more bookshelves, etc. This will be the first shipment of several as we paint and get an idea of what we want to do with the space. We've decided to take the second bedroom as ours because it's quieter, and use the master bedroom (which is almost twice as big) as a media room. It'll have a desk with the computers, a sofabed and tv. We'll see what else we can fit in there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For those of you counting, that means we're going to have 2 guest beds... enough to accommodate a whole family... *hint* hint* Quinns, Brayfords and Kings! We already have some friends who have made plans to come and visit and I can't wait to have them here!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also got some phone lines (land & cell) set up, so if you don't already have our numbers, and you want them, let me know!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest of the weekend was quiet because we both needed it to be. We did some grocery shopping, a little housework and just spent time together. Nice to be able to do after so long!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFmfYGAt_I3eXuqYgVlS_E7Jb8np-Jr9X6n1Q2GLicJTPzNwPzZ4k3t3KCwgF8vKyYgxcxa3dQO2F7aRg4XQzbydWg2Wjc2BLEjddRvNfQ43MAq-bt3_DdZNR3veEgs1gwq2OJKAXL2w/s1600/leo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFmfYGAt_I3eXuqYgVlS_E7Jb8np-Jr9X6n1Q2GLicJTPzNwPzZ4k3t3KCwgF8vKyYgxcxa3dQO2F7aRg4XQzbydWg2Wjc2BLEjddRvNfQ43MAq-bt3_DdZNR3veEgs1gwq2OJKAXL2w/s320/leo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, a big thank-you to everyone who followed me across the country, leaving encouraging comments and emails!! It felt good connecting with home every night and sharing my adventures. I'm going to continue blogging both the amazing and the monotonous parts of life here in 'Bawlmer'. I hope you all stick around for the ride and keep in touch! Leave me a note in comments if there's something you'd like me to write about!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-7708589685209961602011-03-12T10:28:00.000-08:002011-03-12T21:29:13.924-08:00Day 8 on the Road; A Lovely Drive or Storms, Fog and TORNADO!My last day on the road was eventful and bladder bursting. Probably not two things you want to be together.<br />
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I left Toledo around 7:30am after giving a couple from Georgia a jump start. They were absolutely shitting themselves because the weather report was calling for snow, and they were 'Southern People' and 'sick of all this cold weather'. I didn't point out that it was 7 C.<br />
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I had noticed the weather forecast, but it sounded like the snow was to start after I was out of Ohio, so I wasn't too worried. Even if they were wrong, I had excellent snow tires and a heavy laden car. Another thing I'd noticed on the news that morning was how many tornadoes had been cropping up in the area. I counted myself lucky to have missed them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycM7kLWFIgKN8f7gw-DRcAyvzebPnpjFEwRQ8vrMfDxtIBtWTw2SEicXrLiqZJto_DgilG7pZ8AXWGBgGcYE9QWkTn1AVQcxEdlNCXgKzmZronGDASNYE1KlSi72-CbMC4RU-i8CLL8Q/s1600/penn2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycM7kLWFIgKN8f7gw-DRcAyvzebPnpjFEwRQ8vrMfDxtIBtWTw2SEicXrLiqZJto_DgilG7pZ8AXWGBgGcYE9QWkTn1AVQcxEdlNCXgKzmZronGDASNYE1KlSi72-CbMC4RU-i8CLL8Q/s320/penn2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once on the road, apart from having to pay a horrendous amount in road tolls ($40 over 2 days!!!), life was good. For the first hour at least.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My darling cats, who up until now (barring that first day) had been excellent travellers, decided that 7 days was their cap. After an hour on the road they were miaowing, clawing at their kennel and making other disturbing noises. When I could, I pulled over at a rest stop to check on them. They were really eager to get out of the kennel! I tried them in a litter box; not interested. I let them roam the car and stretch their legs; still noisy and demanding. I gave them pets and attention; not good enough. Finally, I tried feeding them- and bingo, the little gluttons had been jonesing for a second breakfast. Once they'd eaten (and I'd bought a coffee and an air freshener- cat food in an enclosed space = yuck) we were back on the road, and we only stopped for gas and bathrooms for the rest of the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMxNlVOr16DGDnS-9asI_dA6cgShPIycWoS6lktetsVM3FiRVborhYihzwg81roZwntUdyePzISOzPkibu3v4BBGdnizedhuEcZFhDcqMAIPlj9M5YcaR9YbWovGlY7YSVJOfd5FMbA8/s1600/penn3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMxNlVOr16DGDnS-9asI_dA6cgShPIycWoS6lktetsVM3FiRVborhYihzwg81roZwntUdyePzISOzPkibu3v4BBGdnizedhuEcZFhDcqMAIPlj9M5YcaR9YbWovGlY7YSVJOfd5FMbA8/s320/penn3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love Pennsylvania. It's dotted with cute little family farms and picturesque communities. It's also hilly, which I like and full of trees (double like). It actually reminded me a lot of the drive through rural New Brunswick, north-west of Fredericton. I bet it's beautiful in the fall when the leaves are turning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMpxQ6dNvIbs00Oa0GBMB78ZiznNV_JP3H6VPc09JKWwHa_cD1DR5P_q2rM0f5DYGYO0ETqK3nZ3A09xzYiXY_obh84AtH2H5jyTA6TNJf77LmAxyH7SC9FPIh1hC66yQOkWyLUu9s7I/s1600/pennsylvania1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMpxQ6dNvIbs00Oa0GBMB78ZiznNV_JP3H6VPc09JKWwHa_cD1DR5P_q2rM0f5DYGYO0ETqK3nZ3A09xzYiXY_obh84AtH2H5jyTA6TNJf77LmAxyH7SC9FPIh1hC66yQOkWyLUu9s7I/s320/pennsylvania1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As lovely as it was, I couldn't spare the time to stop, so all my pictures are taken (quite skillfully, if I do say so myself) over my shoulder with my fingers crossed for luck whilst driving 140 kms/hr. What I do for you people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59bMG-7u0w7k8p-bqKPiAPx_UoN09-Jv2jwOao4OPHqcYPObz_mFtdpofHUJ8e3IQmj3MsNFt5CW7kScRrB4yFKU4KS9JzcmDLKIPuyo4Z15ebkPXX-hUBg7DkfElETUswco6vjtPsrw/s1600/tornado.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59bMG-7u0w7k8p-bqKPiAPx_UoN09-Jv2jwOao4OPHqcYPObz_mFtdpofHUJ8e3IQmj3MsNFt5CW7kScRrB4yFKU4KS9JzcmDLKIPuyo4Z15ebkPXX-hUBg7DkfElETUswco6vjtPsrw/s320/tornado.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I was snapping a few of these pics, I happened to look over my other shoulder, and nearly wet myself. Tornado!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it! I snapped another quick pic (just in case I got sucked up and spat out, so someone would know what happened), and booted it. As far as I know, it didn't touch down, but it was huge and freaking scary.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3x91AcZrYdvlGbapnp9d3ZJ4HhLrYD4i0L4zlKCoCkuN69fdQRHRR4nWs1mjNNZBIaMotlWI8-xbdTFWwlBiv2UE9DFIGSxm7kxSTns472PfzDR357ncK5oqgkVNKa_LZvitJMf5nNk/s1600/pennsylvania2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3x91AcZrYdvlGbapnp9d3ZJ4HhLrYD4i0L4zlKCoCkuN69fdQRHRR4nWs1mjNNZBIaMotlWI8-xbdTFWwlBiv2UE9DFIGSxm7kxSTns472PfzDR357ncK5oqgkVNKa_LZvitJMf5nNk/s320/pennsylvania2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the tornado episode I didn't take any more pictures for awhile, preferring to keep an eye out for further doom. Later, going over some mountains, the fog rolled in really thick, and the rain started coming down. I crossed the Mason-Dixie line, which symbolizes the cultural divide between North-Eastern United States and Southern United States. Once I was into Maryland it was raining as hard as I've ever seen it rain in Vancouver. A strangely appropriate homecoming. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got into Baltimore at precisely the worst possible time- right at the beginning of rush hour. Baltimore rush hours are legendary, and now I know why. When I hit the beginning of it, my (piece of shit) GPS told me I was an hour from home, but it actually took me about 2 1/2 hrs. This was partly because when I took the exit the GPS told be to, I was in the right hand exit lane, when I should have been in the inside lane because (unbeknownst to me) I needed to make an immediate left. Of course, nobody in that left lane was at all interested in letting me in, so I had to loop around on to another highway and come back around again. Bad time to have to pee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On my way around I stopped at a light and the elderly gentleman in the car in front of me got out and told me he'd broken down. He didn't have a cell phone, so I offered him mine, but he was confused and couldn't remember his number. I stayed with him for about 20 minutes and we tried every number he could think of, and finally got a hold of his niece who was going to send one of her boys to pick the fellow (Mr. Page) up. I offered to stay, but he said he'd be ok, and I told him to stay in his car and put on his hazard lights. The whole time we were there, not another person stopped, but we did get honked at about a billion times. Not very heartening, but I guess that's a big city in rush hour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally getting home to Sean was worth the 8 days of driving, dingy hotels and drive-thru dining. After half an hour it felt like we'd never been apart. I had an amazing adventure, but it's nice to be home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Today's drive: 778 kms in 10 hrs.<br />
Starting point; Toledo, OH.<br />
Terminus; Cockeysville, MD (Yupp, that's the town where I live, 40 mins north of Baltimore)<br />
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Playlist:<br />
Audiobooks: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Taken-Hazel-Micallef-Mystery-ebook/dp/B003UD8KCY?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Taken: A Hazel Micallef Mystery</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003UD8KCY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
Albums: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fame-Monster-Deluxe-Lady-Gaga/dp/B002QGUFWE?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969">The Fame Monster [Deluxe Edition]</a><img border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002QGUFWE" /><br />
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</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-71773824963742544592011-03-10T17:40:00.000-08:002011-03-10T17:40:49.756-08:00Honey, I'm HOME!We got here safe and sound! Saw a tornado on the way, and drove through a crazy rain storm, but managed to stay on the road, so gold star for me. More this weekend!Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-22788684526761239422011-03-09T19:57:00.000-08:002011-03-12T10:37:46.525-08:00Day 7 on the Road: Chicaaaago! or Holy Toledo!.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*Update*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've decided that most of the pictures speak for themselves, but I'll just add a few things. First off, one of my main objectives in visiting Chicago was to eat a Chicago-style Hot Dog. Those of you who know me well will attest to the fact that as snobby as I am about food, and as much as I love to eat at super-fancy or trendy restaurants and enjoy fine dining, my favourite thing in the world to eat, bar none, is a really good hot dog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There's a little Jewish deli with a couple of locations in Vancouver called <a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps/place?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=kaplans+deli+vancouver&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=kaplans+deli&hnear=Vancouver,+BC&cid=11729502644814377050">Kaplans</a>. Maybe you've been? Well, if you like pastrami on rye with a side of latkes, this is your place (but you might want to share your plate with a friend- just sayin'). Well, on a visit there a few years ago I had the 'Chicago Dog', which according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago-style_hot_dog">Wikipedia</a>, is </div><blockquote>"a steamed or water-simmered, kosher-style, all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, originating from the city of Chicago, Illinois. The hot dog is topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish (often a dyed neon-green variety, sometimes called piccalilli), a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt. The complete assembly of a Chicago hot dog is said to be "dragged through the garden" because of the unique combination of condiments."</blockquote>All I can say is I fell in love. And here I was, in the vicinity of Chicago- it was hot dog time!!<br />
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Unfortunately, hot dogs don't exist. At least, that is what I found to be the case in Chicago. I only had an hour and a half, and I spent the whole time walking and snapping pics and keeping my eyes peeled for a hot dog stand. I was also using my yoga training to take super deep breaths through my nose to try to sniff one out. I'll tell ya, I smelled a lot of things that day, not all of them good, and none of them hot dog.<br />
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If this weren't reason enough to go back, I absolutely loved the city. It smacked me across the face how huge it was, and how quintessentially American. We'll definitely be back before the year is out, and next time I'll be prepared.<br />
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Today's drive: 580 kms in 9 hrs. (including detour to Chicago, f*%# up with hotel booking, and GPS taking me to the wrong (2nd) hotel)<br />
Starting point; Princeton, IL.<br />
Terminus; Toledo, OH.<br />
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Playlist:<br />
Audiobooks: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Experiment-Maximum-Ride-Book/dp/0316067954?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, Book 1)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0316067954" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (my personal opinion- absolute crap),<br />
Albums: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fame-Monster-Deluxe-Lady-Gaga/dp/B002QGUFWE?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Fame Monster [Deluxe Edition]</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002QGUFWE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/King-Dead-Decemberists/dp/B0049OSQ18?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The King Is Dead</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0049OSQ18" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today, I took an hour & a half out of my drive and I went to Chicago and saw as much as I could. Chicago is such an amazing city. I walked around gawking at the skyline with a goofy grin on my face. I can't wait to go back!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been a long day, and I had some trouble finding a hotel, so I'm just going to post these pics, and I'll fill in a post later. Tomorrow I think I'll get an early start, and make the great push to Baltimore. It's a little further than I normally drive, but I'm sooo close, I have to go for it! So, you might not hear from me tomorrow either. Sorry everybody! I promise I'll finish this up really soon! I'm off to bed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l9HaG7mVyPyghKd5TJPyTng4dAFZ7ndTuV_qL-0QEXz-g1Hrvp-NraMhu45PemFo05zR2CP936eZ01mZnvL5cpN_onFstUABjFnDUeWRZmSSat2IwyCqCEW48vjv0fH6V7pnKlgJgc8/s1600/traffic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l9HaG7mVyPyghKd5TJPyTng4dAFZ7ndTuV_qL-0QEXz-g1Hrvp-NraMhu45PemFo05zR2CP936eZ01mZnvL5cpN_onFstUABjFnDUeWRZmSSat2IwyCqCEW48vjv0fH6V7pnKlgJgc8/s320/traffic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First traffic of the trip</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d3BIpt-734vRH1pNBt8zT0vM3yCqCKJ1czyUB05OQ1XiJt9M_RIwxk-E3BZpeVlpOTFka9Rwno32BkQsJx5Ose_9Hh2AWA0MGDWSDBwYeFg3rXmWM6b20vBxSNSYDh_YTqlhk4NRgYo/s1600/mich.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d3BIpt-734vRH1pNBt8zT0vM3yCqCKJ1czyUB05OQ1XiJt9M_RIwxk-E3BZpeVlpOTFka9Rwno32BkQsJx5Ose_9Hh2AWA0MGDWSDBwYeFg3rXmWM6b20vBxSNSYDh_YTqlhk4NRgYo/s320/mich.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Michigan Ave</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2oHVhEc4Pek4VIle1SkFHJuXrbzTaN-zciGMo9aQ9XH7kgUuNYT5uQvSqHtg4k8M1hLzO0hnoR95dwZcZX1siM4Ixdr4WaM1CWSTXWiRm5bDgRagucHNfyx1OJSmbnx5tGaIDpRY6VI/s1600/library1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2oHVhEc4Pek4VIle1SkFHJuXrbzTaN-zciGMo9aQ9XH7kgUuNYT5uQvSqHtg4k8M1hLzO0hnoR95dwZcZX1siM4Ixdr4WaM1CWSTXWiRm5bDgRagucHNfyx1OJSmbnx5tGaIDpRY6VI/s320/library1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chicago Library</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8cuZTVWABCD8bEcS9cTsBEuMVbY3TwBIxwmA0Il98FGlK7Z4Z76WaP2L0o6CwnTGYVfIfnt4Y4HJdYkhCld8i3x-wfK8Zcy_K_WG-3lSz2pbXK0JbQNRNtGItJDK931dH7pViEECxRg/s1600/corner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8cuZTVWABCD8bEcS9cTsBEuMVbY3TwBIxwmA0Il98FGlK7Z4Z76WaP2L0o6CwnTGYVfIfnt4Y4HJdYkhCld8i3x-wfK8Zcy_K_WG-3lSz2pbXK0JbQNRNtGItJDK931dH7pViEECxRg/s320/corner.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Corner of Michigan and Monroe</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRME8TOeQLCqCbs6M6Uv4JR7IrmSb9eAeLHYMVLdJtUPRRfyRplCV-oEdgt26YWOBzqdVv266iuScog3SRDKSxFESLVC590hQrRh924WU8F8SC07NVBkA6N18MFgkueNfqMAnTYZ7LETw/s1600/athlet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRME8TOeQLCqCbs6M6Uv4JR7IrmSb9eAeLHYMVLdJtUPRRfyRplCV-oEdgt26YWOBzqdVv266iuScog3SRDKSxFESLVC590hQrRh924WU8F8SC07NVBkA6N18MFgkueNfqMAnTYZ7LETw/s320/athlet.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chicago Athletic Society Building</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvr3H7hGLS1YZN9BvOjnCs03k45DNZgPqImcFs3G9G3eKm5T9PjbU7jcsyZZ3oe_4ATjh3OW_TRpGclCsLNfxfhVQAviaR0HpevL-FqwnJMVsaoLn_sbfQ1oRYKpMTf-4laPdjouy1KQ/s1600/alley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvr3H7hGLS1YZN9BvOjnCs03k45DNZgPqImcFs3G9G3eKm5T9PjbU7jcsyZZ3oe_4ATjh3OW_TRpGclCsLNfxfhVQAviaR0HpevL-FqwnJMVsaoLn_sbfQ1oRYKpMTf-4laPdjouy1KQ/s320/alley.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alley- look at the awesome fire escapes!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcUldRToIw49Hzc7pqSH0fI_IemRvQLqPvIhaXAEyc7OsbFWg10dkyTYufjj5m0zzcodr1G0YXL2dmR2C3uFMxkyu9eC3WzF-hUjFlIGnDUK0jNS1Qr5g5SrNaHBZnrR8My_UQbGfR5U/s1600/wrigsq.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcUldRToIw49Hzc7pqSH0fI_IemRvQLqPvIhaXAEyc7OsbFWg10dkyTYufjj5m0zzcodr1G0YXL2dmR2C3uFMxkyu9eC3WzF-hUjFlIGnDUK0jNS1Qr5g5SrNaHBZnrR8My_UQbGfR5U/s320/wrigsq.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wrigley Square</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS2ftW3BKde7LwmYo_1sjEI_mLeSpm_2Cds-6xoRZyCtQLrSxy_rrUbu9kNPzoPbF5OVFVGLxHk-axqmCSo2xkUuR7lLAoX5hQDnmZfoAt2t3pNrogcYmawmsnu6riipfL6RIpc5FyZk/s1600/jayp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS2ftW3BKde7LwmYo_1sjEI_mLeSpm_2Cds-6xoRZyCtQLrSxy_rrUbu9kNPzoPbF5OVFVGLxHk-axqmCSo2xkUuR7lLAoX5hQDnmZfoAt2t3pNrogcYmawmsnu6riipfL6RIpc5FyZk/s320/jayp.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Bandstand & Great Lawn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y2peUxD4IBXBsD6nhWG_ZprlnhnsOEighszUMilRp-NyzGcW0XPZnNr_2265L76wM4O2quk13VHzldK75Mk_trZh97EJDphWpA1iTujUpXFW8r8-ZW3bLBMB770-dcDJZqUUtQRgFwU/s1600/bean1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y2peUxD4IBXBsD6nhWG_ZprlnhnsOEighszUMilRp-NyzGcW0XPZnNr_2265L76wM4O2quk13VHzldK75Mk_trZh97EJDphWpA1iTujUpXFW8r8-ZW3bLBMB770-dcDJZqUUtQRgFwU/s320/bean1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Cloud Gate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58d4OaC6FMNb0c0iQMgJ4Wjo-jJ5oxaFalykzFHZw1hmw3KJDqhn99ccJBvXOClNhedJKn533As8WfYdCvRIzCvdi9X84645iTvzpk0YMJxXA-ce9PjhZN_Qn6lcEAwNu3ltDj2suBG0/s1600/bean+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58d4OaC6FMNb0c0iQMgJ4Wjo-jJ5oxaFalykzFHZw1hmw3KJDqhn99ccJBvXOClNhedJKn533As8WfYdCvRIzCvdi9X84645iTvzpk0YMJxXA-ce9PjhZN_Qn6lcEAwNu3ltDj2suBG0/s320/bean+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYc9v7TuP4TfZXFtsjjD_O5-AB69WUCU9f68WFOEv6Cc40IxTz0Jsw1VnL8Fqm4fThVGCrJeLGI37PfIBc705bnHP0XLUtUqDCmpgDvJNZ7-ySmAss7mV85QwvakOOEuQnoOGig910qcU/s1600/bean2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYc9v7TuP4TfZXFtsjjD_O5-AB69WUCU9f68WFOEv6Cc40IxTz0Jsw1VnL8Fqm4fThVGCrJeLGI37PfIBc705bnHP0XLUtUqDCmpgDvJNZ7-ySmAss7mV85QwvakOOEuQnoOGig910qcU/s320/bean2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrH22JnAHH5Vwye1aT-4IIhb_czcth0A4f6-GdwPcjKk2Tk6GNyEru9LZ36TE5vivpSskWiCwHz-mHiY25icHWM1NMfqnt5TNJqMrSSsOvtX7DgZZqrArnAqtJeYCcFXQt1RyFBicbzo/s1600/IMG_2698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrH22JnAHH5Vwye1aT-4IIhb_czcth0A4f6-GdwPcjKk2Tk6GNyEru9LZ36TE5vivpSskWiCwHz-mHiY25icHWM1NMfqnt5TNJqMrSSsOvtX7DgZZqrArnAqtJeYCcFXQt1RyFBicbzo/s320/IMG_2698.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Self Portrait</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNcTb1iG_XNDvi26myoc4SF6PY15vOGzQdAyW9hWxJ8FYRNHsDRF09LRWywpnKdOCsFpaveh9Xn5Wyte9uYJB3ZImhVEEAPPuY-mqdusT0GL26hF8UqX0SJCTJb2Q8bGPWxSkgj51Iyc/s1600/beaninside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNcTb1iG_XNDvi26myoc4SF6PY15vOGzQdAyW9hWxJ8FYRNHsDRF09LRWywpnKdOCsFpaveh9Xn5Wyte9uYJB3ZImhVEEAPPuY-mqdusT0GL26hF8UqX0SJCTJb2Q8bGPWxSkgj51Iyc/s320/beaninside.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Under the Cloud Gate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpAyTyisQo1ibxT04N8J8xBtlAaqCnRoGoJ7O5jIuL0fSCkv_GEeE9UHf0opB2dxOzAkiOYhG5CLqxzRbu8ChkQLZvSmMOVDPYbbz2OPtiX8eDxACT2A40dmNuKJv6UYX0OephjEMOB0/s1600/can+in+chi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpAyTyisQo1ibxT04N8J8xBtlAaqCnRoGoJ7O5jIuL0fSCkv_GEeE9UHf0opB2dxOzAkiOYhG5CLqxzRbu8ChkQLZvSmMOVDPYbbz2OPtiX8eDxACT2A40dmNuKJv6UYX0OephjEMOB0/s320/can+in+chi.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A maple leaf I drew on the underside of the cloud gate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKWG_ittn7lQKwsq4uMN7G5L_WZ2as2p_atpCMQc9ifgGOCF5o1TOwJ52qU_KOO9qSQrinQwRd_51xjbFhZ0mEQ3ubCoO2PhN721FY01lCF0dIEln9dO7rmHr1BCnn-k6eZkPl7fnHT4/s1600/artins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKWG_ittn7lQKwsq4uMN7G5L_WZ2as2p_atpCMQc9ifgGOCF5o1TOwJ52qU_KOO9qSQrinQwRd_51xjbFhZ0mEQ3ubCoO2PhN721FY01lCF0dIEln9dO7rmHr1BCnn-k6eZkPl7fnHT4/s320/artins.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chicago Art Institute</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlZ2cto1SFgc5uv7AhVwt8i2qCvJAEq_LzrcVZ1Tk-HYPd8bRCJEQLfcetMuQsuaZf_9hhcsMt1FM6Q8ppzna5dNHWQBB5f61iCnucvQMT7Z-EOe30PkR_RjO_Ye2xbxbY5sAhTk73d0/s1600/bust2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlZ2cto1SFgc5uv7AhVwt8i2qCvJAEq_LzrcVZ1Tk-HYPd8bRCJEQLfcetMuQsuaZf_9hhcsMt1FM6Q8ppzna5dNHWQBB5f61iCnucvQMT7Z-EOe30PkR_RjO_Ye2xbxbY5sAhTk73d0/s320/bust2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bust of the famous conductor, George Solti</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAdZxUwWYO8nFeJPSuoFkwao9u2i9sB-EmUhcBT-yAz5Z-aw-IZhHtGOrvho1uAYcUE-6bWFTvWGk4Bg8zzM8r5uLySq-UgGQ6COw_gJLRK1Nji7Ffe4Rpyk78jMqkPBFrVmbeM9tHk4/s1600/face1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAdZxUwWYO8nFeJPSuoFkwao9u2i9sB-EmUhcBT-yAz5Z-aw-IZhHtGOrvho1uAYcUE-6bWFTvWGk4Bg8zzM8r5uLySq-UgGQ6COw_gJLRK1Nji7Ffe4Rpyk78jMqkPBFrVmbeM9tHk4/s320/face1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Crown Fountain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9ZtjjVPRJFNPSiuoVolWpcMJa0UBKm_ZYE2iHtlrqvdMx-SgAkZU0DR4L6i-mkToWn80e-vvGfoFlXQIVpHGY_tby2_09gFsCdSEykZgWvwaE9tI0UPSTBph6hxBhZpUvwvurutqu0o/s1600/face2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9ZtjjVPRJFNPSiuoVolWpcMJa0UBKm_ZYE2iHtlrqvdMx-SgAkZU0DR4L6i-mkToWn80e-vvGfoFlXQIVpHGY_tby2_09gFsCdSEykZgWvwaE9tI0UPSTBph6hxBhZpUvwvurutqu0o/s320/face2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACnVHQEHRGtc9J_D5V2SPJEAwqFj_63VUCmIdJhQQKhQos1zf0T9DNzu48AH4GdK1FMcwRoOJIdzyIDSfl35v45dvlQVlVWqs_tZrS_gLxe8HIE4h0LIRXi8JJc_gEwzpz65uKZvAVZ8/s1600/face3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACnVHQEHRGtc9J_D5V2SPJEAwqFj_63VUCmIdJhQQKhQos1zf0T9DNzu48AH4GdK1FMcwRoOJIdzyIDSfl35v45dvlQVlVWqs_tZrS_gLxe8HIE4h0LIRXi8JJc_gEwzpz65uKZvAVZ8/s320/face3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rs10MFt4Y9x4crXbwklI9Rbk-slVovSkJlZ11LqTgowsKe81XTM8jxc4PdN67r3hCvBH-ehkNfPjULwXPNuP0iEynvfhqOaWa5SmHOzg4wkdMy30r8RSbSBU7yuJjKf_BYW7ft46Zvo/s1600/lincolnprk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rs10MFt4Y9x4crXbwklI9Rbk-slVovSkJlZ11LqTgowsKe81XTM8jxc4PdN67r3hCvBH-ehkNfPjULwXPNuP0iEynvfhqOaWa5SmHOzg4wkdMy30r8RSbSBU7yuJjKf_BYW7ft46Zvo/s320/lincolnprk.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Painted (dead) trees in Lincoln Park</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIP7UeKZMc0JtGVhNkmLodGohfJmC5s808b4vVLBJ6POTRry1H9QOudnHxuXJcq0Hq-i0VFwrFWmNwrsiauJ3GZdj54xYqL3YMStocRY8onW41MV1jErYMvHjbDj-QqlUR38jnTT7XpQ/s1600/bath2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIP7UeKZMc0JtGVhNkmLodGohfJmC5s808b4vVLBJ6POTRry1H9QOudnHxuXJcq0Hq-i0VFwrFWmNwrsiauJ3GZdj54xYqL3YMStocRY8onW41MV1jErYMvHjbDj-QqlUR38jnTT7XpQ/s320/bath2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Max, having a bath</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6Rtp5P52LwuUwTJKRjRKSkZndSHLIrbdUZD3dPJYlfkIhOts1DbBLUWw8C8yaFRV9p7a_g8EXKTwSKWJpy7nytsnd1O28V-V2Vm13txcnOmdU0bdnJIHR6IACwfZ_93yfHh2SKYBpys/s1600/leo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6Rtp5P52LwuUwTJKRjRKSkZndSHLIrbdUZD3dPJYlfkIhOts1DbBLUWw8C8yaFRV9p7a_g8EXKTwSKWJpy7nytsnd1O28V-V2Vm13txcnOmdU0bdnJIHR6IACwfZ_93yfHh2SKYBpys/s320/leo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Leo, napping yesterday- just too cute not to share.</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-18035967850998579312011-03-08T20:03:00.000-08:002011-03-08T20:03:02.603-08:00Day 6 on the Road: Move Over, Coming Through! or How'd I get to Iowa?Today was great. Had a good sleep and was on the road by 7:30am. The temperature was only around 0 C, so I didn't even have to scrape the windshield, which is always a good thing. Just as we were getting ready to go, I heard the weirdest sound. It was something like a whole bunch of sirens far off in the distance. It took me a minute or two to figure out that is was hundreds (maybe thousands) of Canada geese camping out in a nearby wetland. The boys thought is was pretty awesome too.<br />
<br />
Nebraska was not my cup of tea. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the place made me uneasy. Could've been all the flat, wide, open fields; could have been all the hillbillies. I don't know. This morning we crossed the state line... into Iowa! The funny thing is, I didn't realize we would be passing through Iowa! I also didn't realize we'd be driving through Indiana or Ohio! I guess what happened is I was focusing on the cities & states I'd be stopping in, and just sort of... skipped over the rest of it. So, for your education as well as my own, here's the run down of the states I've passed through and the ones to come!<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Been through: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa & Illinois.</li>
<li>To come: Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland.</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Fy5YVE1vAyR3st99blLXXQgDkjNYiR4sqSApEbb7tIhFA5lmMLBn8-Ig8EskUpp_7HEgSS4rBQ2T9t73I75efkIZE4R0ieJyZnAb5QsBdl1mSt5qYhWaBPB1nOO7vVSY4LILLhWHT-0/s1600/smltwnia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Fy5YVE1vAyR3st99blLXXQgDkjNYiR4sqSApEbb7tIhFA5lmMLBn8-Ig8EskUpp_7HEgSS4rBQ2T9t73I75efkIZE4R0ieJyZnAb5QsBdl1mSt5qYhWaBPB1nOO7vVSY4LILLhWHT-0/s320/smltwnia.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stopped by a rest stop shortly after crossing into Iowa. There was a lady there named Melody (my Sister' name!) whose job it was to direct travellers to whatever they were looking for. I told her I wanted to take a few pictures of some cool things that wouldn't take me too far out of my way, and she hooked me up! I really enjoyed driving through Iowa. It's less prairie-like than Wyoming & Nebraska, and it actually has trees! The landscape is very pastoral and calming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OoF7TTu4hxXMe6WlQifU_jnfdqRC2HtGJw8T60T3SuYNvahxDLRVJ2OWAOSbqrxQZfJWpY35RNZBtaaGJBDorm1Tcs9T3Qa3RWQzxLmpDfDikHMUlWmk14gVcKVkblsAZe-1CG8WoGo/s1600/wndmll.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OoF7TTu4hxXMe6WlQifU_jnfdqRC2HtGJw8T60T3SuYNvahxDLRVJ2OWAOSbqrxQZfJWpY35RNZBtaaGJBDorm1Tcs9T3Qa3RWQzxLmpDfDikHMUlWmk14gVcKVkblsAZe-1CG8WoGo/s320/wndmll.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is an authentic Danish windmill build in 1848 and transported to Elk Horn, Iowa in 1976. Apparently it is a pretty big deal. It cost the locals $100,000 at the time to have it brought over. You can climb around inside and visit the gift shop and museum, but it was so freaking windy and cold, I just wanted to get back in the car and crank the heat. I did however support the local economy by buying gas and a delicious Cheddar, Pear & Bacon sandwich (on homemade multigrain bread) at the local diner called 'Good Eats'. Yes it was. I just love fruit in sandwiches. And salads. Yes, I'm kinda weird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OoF7TTu4hxXMe6WlQifU_jnfdqRC2HtGJw8T60T3SuYNvahxDLRVJ2OWAOSbqrxQZfJWpY35RNZBtaaGJBDorm1Tcs9T3Qa3RWQzxLmpDfDikHMUlWmk14gVcKVkblsAZe-1CG8WoGo/s1600/wndmll.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGtJFjac9rXCYkfzWE115FjPCo-KBqqjp1QSgZ_Is02vawH0JfdCquTrdOssaRcnyh34Xi2CgVLLR9oS2GyY2onr5IPcBTAidwTxH-XQuWDesxcSNFtvprf-tnIUnsU5oGemc1KlPVng/s1600/hndchran.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGtJFjac9rXCYkfzWE115FjPCo-KBqqjp1QSgZ_Is02vawH0JfdCquTrdOssaRcnyh34Xi2CgVLLR9oS2GyY2onr5IPcBTAidwTxH-XQuWDesxcSNFtvprf-tnIUnsU5oGemc1KlPVng/s320/hndchran.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This picture is for my friend Eunice, who is clearly very fond of bronze busts (that sounded dirty, didn't it?). Sorry about that. I don't know why they had a bust of Hans Christian Andersen in Elk Horn, except for the reason he was Danish. Maybe that was enough. Or maybe he was on sale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRO3cTz9DNsZ9Dv_Ftz7cw4PfYztoeEOD6NgEL9PjGWsmN9IPyp6vs_ok711ImfHnVHDUoiCxKaviyXeh7cFN_vV73gHyEeJqV-y4lVnR94ZtpOTMieDoyUU0dqpcfy-9HX33PImAT04/s1600/freroc1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRO3cTz9DNsZ9Dv_Ftz7cw4PfYztoeEOD6NgEL9PjGWsmN9IPyp6vs_ok711ImfHnVHDUoiCxKaviyXeh7cFN_vV73gHyEeJqV-y4lVnR94ZtpOTMieDoyUU0dqpcfy-9HX33PImAT04/s320/freroc1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next landmark is a sombre one. There used to be a huge graffiti rock in Greenfield, Iowa, where kids would go to let off some steam or make some fringe art statements. Then one year, a local artist named (I kid you not) Bubba Sorensen decided to paint it for Memorial Day as a tribute to the area's fallen military men & women. He's been doing it every year now for over ten years, with a new fresco every Memorial Day. Some local families were so moved that they wanted to scatter their loved ones' ashes at the site, but it was pointed out that the spot is quite windy, and that wouldn't end well. Instead, Bubba suggested they put the boys' ashes in his green paint, so a part of them would be there forever. To date, the ashes of 20 service men & women have been painted on Freedom Rock.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmdcN2l7jljo2YhyobObiBWUVh4Dle4IBztyPPnAVsWGf9vmaRVITUy93M-L4U89yL8MtZXUUA4PHWH9SeV-pS7HHFzpL6IX0qdb8fIf9AQzVpW2wv0UTfIRuXeu7jTXL1BWclXa0cxc/s1600/freroc2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmdcN2l7jljo2YhyobObiBWUVh4Dle4IBztyPPnAVsWGf9vmaRVITUy93M-L4U89yL8MtZXUUA4PHWH9SeV-pS7HHFzpL6IX0qdb8fIf9AQzVpW2wv0UTfIRuXeu7jTXL1BWclXa0cxc/s320/freroc2.JPG" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW7XQ79i-IGvfARYwZ-gcBBUjV3D8Y5Ngld7W0DeteJxAWTJUkjsrxudUQzuKNflMKp9_vjKrqv6gRAgvafEcpNByx9qA_9W7f3sK51VasMXzpXIWQVekd5gdA2RKFAzpyCq02HZObzQ/s1600/freroc3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW7XQ79i-IGvfARYwZ-gcBBUjV3D8Y5Ngld7W0DeteJxAWTJUkjsrxudUQzuKNflMKp9_vjKrqv6gRAgvafEcpNByx9qA_9W7f3sK51VasMXzpXIWQVekd5gdA2RKFAzpyCq02HZObzQ/s320/freroc3.JPG" width="252" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipveSO5j7P_7cGxd5RynbIx73jAk7S2bw0_rO7HkE5C2A14XaHE9Zhyphenhyphenb138daw-xpSFmjKEpezcP-JiZqIFE8Os6SHz4dap_99xybLtzGxQ9k5CVsgFVjqeFwxz2qNeEBVQ_zRAwvUcFE/s1600/mississippi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipveSO5j7P_7cGxd5RynbIx73jAk7S2bw0_rO7HkE5C2A14XaHE9Zhyphenhyphenb138daw-xpSFmjKEpezcP-JiZqIFE8Os6SHz4dap_99xybLtzGxQ9k5CVsgFVjqeFwxz2qNeEBVQ_zRAwvUcFE/s320/mississippi.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On a different note, today I crossed the mighty Mississippi River! Yes, it does go all the way up to Illinois! Actually, it flows down from Illinois (or somewhere else, I'm not entirely sure because Leo is napping on the map). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyd3kSzWClqSgOun23dBOwJhTj6264OZSnz5nNvQsuIp0EMqhyphenhyphenuURWhNpN-FCGv0WnHHGpFnwnQ3cp4nk5pPQ5xx8jbpwRjMvS3nk6wFVeM6thHJoSRI5T92sfuvRGdw9ALUCTMI-9Xu0/s1600/illinois.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyd3kSzWClqSgOun23dBOwJhTj6264OZSnz5nNvQsuIp0EMqhyphenhyphenuURWhNpN-FCGv0WnHHGpFnwnQ3cp4nk5pPQ5xx8jbpwRjMvS3nk6wFVeM6thHJoSRI5T92sfuvRGdw9ALUCTMI-9Xu0/s320/illinois.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Proof that I made it into Illinois. I had great plans to capture every State sign as I passed it, but the truth is, many of them are placed where there is nowhere to pull over, and occasionally (like in the case of Oregon), there is no sign at all- at least not where I was driving.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLmM1O7VfKYTToPBjvCrjRQYYNeY1JsFH_9f0BG4f3rKZzsv9lgc71Vk6g_3Y_BYz-ZZ5JPMVMxBkZBshI-WZJhvg5hR-pyiQf0-SeUNTBOPoZXrlFCimHyr8ZRSmZXA4hsFpAOOBRko/s1600/hmtwn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLmM1O7VfKYTToPBjvCrjRQYYNeY1JsFH_9f0BG4f3rKZzsv9lgc71Vk6g_3Y_BYz-ZZ5JPMVMxBkZBshI-WZJhvg5hR-pyiQf0-SeUNTBOPoZXrlFCimHyr8ZRSmZXA4hsFpAOOBRko/s320/hmtwn.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tonight I'm staying in a real dive. I won't go into the details because if you are eating, you might throw up on your keyboard and demand restitution. Originally I thought it was about 2% better than the motel in Baker City, but now I've decided that it is in fact worse. Again, I'm not going in to details, that way it will be easier to forget.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEPVHhuCjmUDSLe_mMQ7dxtaQ35t379KCH41N1AF_8MtIG_IutGiGLVdHZ_n-wmU6mxoqRkoF2sYl3FRoZs-Uz2zMImcu3s0NTB3YTRDKFa01W2ACtqIy35Y7TFJoE5kN2LB2jdXj7M4/s1600/maxandleo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEPVHhuCjmUDSLe_mMQ7dxtaQ35t379KCH41N1AF_8MtIG_IutGiGLVdHZ_n-wmU6mxoqRkoF2sYl3FRoZs-Uz2zMImcu3s0NTB3YTRDKFa01W2ACtqIy35Y7TFJoE5kN2LB2jdXj7M4/s320/maxandleo2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Max and Leo are OK with it though. Can you spot Leo?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoksVLD8zrGTD9n0CY4eFzWtddzfEh8rk0ElatwCvRvdbnZPUmHkSMmkDWP4GhYgoKd8-WoYdPx97DxCB2J0sg__jGn2ZZrdIU1pDU_BZTPBGP7j0Ed7mfmFPosxjc_xpVQS5cRIUupo/s1600/max1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoksVLD8zrGTD9n0CY4eFzWtddzfEh8rk0ElatwCvRvdbnZPUmHkSMmkDWP4GhYgoKd8-WoYdPx97DxCB2J0sg__jGn2ZZrdIU1pDU_BZTPBGP7j0Ed7mfmFPosxjc_xpVQS5cRIUupo/s320/max1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Max was helping me plot tomorrow's trip with my smart phone & GPS. Now he's taking a well deserved break.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet5X9DHZAoGFfrv7ogdmdbqg0B18Jw3dUy4Rv-BRmTk6ffjaPWv-hcE-xDCxIIMiqvehMztgzWs-jPBex0XpmoPPHJS-sR6z4gX08e2cGRyhs3_QHnyPtIrvu5jdn_w-34-VlrX8WpR0/s1600/IMG_2615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet5X9DHZAoGFfrv7ogdmdbqg0B18Jw3dUy4Rv-BRmTk6ffjaPWv-hcE-xDCxIIMiqvehMztgzWs-jPBex0XpmoPPHJS-sR6z4gX08e2cGRyhs3_QHnyPtIrvu5jdn_w-34-VlrX8WpR0/s320/IMG_2615.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Leo's more old-school, he's all over the maps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiEkK7_ppTFSTDA_379_lcA999XT23Ranf27svHA_3PZHOSnQU0ns-D84OgVRsP05ToYi_mx08YxwIYuzWoyoBMdbOPk4pZFX6H88FIK0Yrw48IX4QigoVVddBwGQrz3KStIXrrnVqyw/s1600/leo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiEkK7_ppTFSTDA_379_lcA999XT23Ranf27svHA_3PZHOSnQU0ns-D84OgVRsP05ToYi_mx08YxwIYuzWoyoBMdbOPk4pZFX6H88FIK0Yrw48IX4QigoVVddBwGQrz3KStIXrrnVqyw/s320/leo2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Travelling is exhausting for everyone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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Today's drive: 827 kms in 9 hrs. <br />
Starting point; Grand Island, NE.<div>Terminus; Princeton, IL.<br />
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Playlist:<br />
Audiobooks: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hull-Zero-Three-Greg-Bear/dp/0316072818?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969">Hull Zero Three</a><img border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0316072818" /> (if you like Sci Fi, dystopian fiction, or even a good mystery, you should read this book! It was amazing!)<br />
Albums: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/ArchAndroid-Janelle-Monae/dp/B002ZFQD0E?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The ArchAndroid</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002ZFQD0E" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-54028619641218102642011-03-07T19:11:00.000-08:002011-03-08T16:42:03.491-08:00Day 5 on the Road: The Epic FailToday sucked.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8A4RTMomSU7Sl8ptHTNZLWLuUIOowdrpRZzdumZKtSD-kmfQ2QgrYAO9S_PpjWUigNbcni2Y2Mty50XT_Pio9OdWc_Z2GJy0GTD_G2-NhShZHOeUDlPU9spnU_nYHwOyCyKRGMyrbDFY/s1600/IMG_2518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8A4RTMomSU7Sl8ptHTNZLWLuUIOowdrpRZzdumZKtSD-kmfQ2QgrYAO9S_PpjWUigNbcni2Y2Mty50XT_Pio9OdWc_Z2GJy0GTD_G2-NhShZHOeUDlPU9spnU_nYHwOyCyKRGMyrbDFY/s320/IMG_2518.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I woke up this morning and checked the road conditions, and decided to delay departure by an hour to let the trucks do their thing. We ended up leaving even later than that, because brilliant me, I didn't factor in the time it would take to scrape all the ice off my car. Thankfully, like a good Girl Guide, I have 3 different scrapers with me, so I have that covered.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBC9ArsEL1twGSTnHZ76Vo2q4NWMDsAVSsrfxbyWq7ep0VECq7sdspSZ_jx-WjO4q04L9wzRaPMwRO_Qn38iF7AlPvgY6PqDge8wZaq4evL8NXXmEL_Opnmo2rqBg2hLQJyELnHWNxY8/s1600/cheyenne1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBC9ArsEL1twGSTnHZ76Vo2q4NWMDsAVSsrfxbyWq7ep0VECq7sdspSZ_jx-WjO4q04L9wzRaPMwRO_Qn38iF7AlPvgY6PqDge8wZaq4evL8NXXmEL_Opnmo2rqBg2hLQJyELnHWNxY8/s320/cheyenne1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Once we were on our way, we swung through downtown to hit the Starbucks (surprising, eh?), and I snapped this pic of their State building. The rest of Cheyenne looked like a time warp to 1960, complete with giant, cheezy neon billboards and 'futuristic' architecture reminiscent of the Jetsons.<br />
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Shortly after leaving town, I discovered that we had a problem. A pretty big problem. My windshield washer fluid was frozen. You might say 'big deal', but when you're driving down a snowy, icy highway with 6 semis for every car, and the temperature is -9 C, every little bit of moisture that gets thrown up on to the windshield freezes instantly, and you have NO way of clearing it off. So I pulled over at the next truck stop and put a pint of rubbing alcohol and some strong winter wiper fluid in. The truck stop is called Antelope Truck Stop and as well as the usual C-store, gas, washrooms and laundry, there was a tiny little Indian restaurant! The stop is run by 3 generations of a hardworking, multitasking Punjabi family. Even though it was 9am, I decided to stroll over to the restaurant while my wiper fluid did it's thing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolPJbBpMeKaMj6ptjyd_LTLjSeiAglviZNmqhZIHCgmqFXAPm9O28W_lfbynIDHYlf2BMZ1jipQKNrgmTFlLnC1ZyfE14mqYFUU7zspiofhypJOLs88GvTL6S5cHybozVjzJ-CJDhNNw/s1600/antelope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolPJbBpMeKaMj6ptjyd_LTLjSeiAglviZNmqhZIHCgmqFXAPm9O28W_lfbynIDHYlf2BMZ1jipQKNrgmTFlLnC1ZyfE14mqYFUU7zspiofhypJOLs88GvTL6S5cHybozVjzJ-CJDhNNw/s320/antelope.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'm SO glad I did. Lunch prospects have been rare along my trip, and I've had to eat fast food or protein bars most of the time. I'd been hoping to come across a little place like this, so I ordered the samosas. They came hot and fresh (to go) 10 minutes later, complete with sauce, veggie kachumber and a very generous portion of <a href="http://recipefactory.blogspot.com/2007/06/chole-puri.html">Chole Puri.</a> I put the to-go bag on the passenger seat, and within moments the car smelled so wondrous I caught myself groaning with desire several times. I'm so glad nobody was around to hear that. I can't tell you how freaking delicious it all was. The samosas were not quite as good as (in my opinion) the BEST samosas EVAR at <a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps/place?um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=calgary+sweets+surrey+bc&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=calgary+sweets&hnear=Surrey,+BC&cid=4947952731930686651">Calgary Sweets</a>, but they came pretty close.<br />
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To take the good with the bad, the windshield fluid was still frozen. I cleaned out the nozzle, and did everything else I could, but in the end, I just had to deal with it. Every 50 miles of so, I'd pull over at a gas station and clean the windshield.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrV0EXZtiEI9tXmJImjFO6kIEuS05Pht2UHrqORtODVI17JG-lXy7CVRbWpNklS96B1-AsttnzEBThEmmB0DNt0UVFRIIt611ZXSJeXjERE9EBv-rJhGlU3QMSzqKaIvNPYmC07ufaNI/s1600/nebraska1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrV0EXZtiEI9tXmJImjFO6kIEuS05Pht2UHrqORtODVI17JG-lXy7CVRbWpNklS96B1-AsttnzEBThEmmB0DNt0UVFRIIt611ZXSJeXjERE9EBv-rJhGlU3QMSzqKaIvNPYmC07ufaNI/s320/nebraska1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Cue the Banjo!! We're in Nebraska, and let me say (quietly) that it's a little bit like Deliverance around here. Maybe not in the big towns, but in the tiny ones where I'd stop to do the windshield, I got in and out as freaking fast as I could.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXc0cWb6Weg0pGrvi-ArF6yhLFYYictQ93vWD9Uja4F8ZJBNusiR9Bfb2HxlbScQC1q_z7SU5h-zQfZAg6MCe661hD2IkuQElDpzIAR1uPebVp5r153BuGvevUl9tlDRvK_HcUe9xa8mU/s1600/birds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXc0cWb6Weg0pGrvi-ArF6yhLFYYictQ93vWD9Uja4F8ZJBNusiR9Bfb2HxlbScQC1q_z7SU5h-zQfZAg6MCe661hD2IkuQElDpzIAR1uPebVp5r153BuGvevUl9tlDRvK_HcUe9xa8mU/s320/birds.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My migration through Nebraska seems to have coincided with the migration of millions of Canada Geese. Really neat to see. I only caught a corner of the giant cloud of them as the roads were very icy today and my attention was focused on staying between the lines. I'm happy to report I drive much better than I colour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because of my late start, crossing into a new timezone and all the stops I had to make, we lost a lot of time today. I decided to stop for the night in Grand Island (not an island) Nebraska because it has a Mazda dealership. I swung by the service center at around 4:15pm and explained my situation. They looked at me like I had 3 heads. The car sat in the heated shop for another 15 minutes before a tech took a look at it, and wouldn't you know it, the wiper spray worked the first time! I'm guessing the fluid lines just needed that time out of the freezing weather to thaw. (Now they really thought I was nuts.) With all that rubbing alcohol mixed in, it shouldn't (knock on wood) give me any trouble tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What did I learn today? Well, I learned to put the alcohol in the wiper fluid <i>before</i> you hit the cold weather. I learned that if you are a woman of greater than 30 yrs in Wyoming, you sleep in curlers and walk around looking like you're ready to accept a country music award. I learned that either people in Nebraska can't afford to see the Dentist, or there aren't many Dentists in Nebraska (or both.). I learned that when in doubt of what to have for dinner, ask a Mexican where the good Mexican food is (it was a very good food day).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQB2S6dSCITQnaMFXOWIojQxPNy3OACicrnIoK6J2DW2wkZoYzadEzs5GpULrgTSqSfn-tN-2ytP75IZG7queXtQBWIChx8r8ZkBgg5nJh3ur-zrlAgcVD96NFpGYDaJOnt2naloAvNk0/s1600/relax.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQB2S6dSCITQnaMFXOWIojQxPNy3OACicrnIoK6J2DW2wkZoYzadEzs5GpULrgTSqSfn-tN-2ytP75IZG7queXtQBWIChx8r8ZkBgg5nJh3ur-zrlAgcVD96NFpGYDaJOnt2naloAvNk0/s320/relax.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tonight's hotel room is minuscule, but clean and well appointed. Max and Leo approve. Oh! Cat news! You probably don't care, but I'm going to tell you anyway that it would appear that Max's diabetes are in remission! He's been off Insulin for almost a week now and his blood sugar levels are right where they should be for a non-diabetic cat, even with all this stress! He does have a touch of kitty acne though, (because of the stress) so he'll probably need to see a vet anyway when we finally get to Baltimore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Today's drive: 590kms in 7 hrs. <br />
Starting point; Cheyenne, WY.<br />
Terminus; Grand Island, NE.<br />
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Playlist:<br />
Audiobooks: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hull-Zero-Three-Greg-Bear/dp/0316072818?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hull Zero Three</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0316072818" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
Albums: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Friends-Total-Strangers-Trews/dp/B002NPUCUS?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Acoustic- Friends and Total Strangers</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002NPUCUS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-67810421123594626582011-03-06T20:32:00.000-08:002011-03-06T20:54:32.354-08:00Day 4 on the Road: From Rolling to Relaxing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's long day of driving had a rough start. I couldn't drag my ass out of bed for love or money. By the time I was up, showered & out the door (with cats & crate in tow) it was past 8am. I didn't realise until later that since Utah is an hour ahead, my body felt like I was trying to get up an hour too early. Thank god & toast that Odgen had a Starbucks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0waUKCG7wlbaqyovYV74aTXf1BPWu4KtOyP8IKMBNAvNJbrsIb_d2ZLxW4rrdpRTGrAqPiBsmKBN3_ieuBow-StqSV07_EL9bHL2RIsVeNOYARfMoTs-Df64qMcYLQD0rDSDJO74xpM/s1600/utah1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0waUKCG7wlbaqyovYV74aTXf1BPWu4KtOyP8IKMBNAvNJbrsIb_d2ZLxW4rrdpRTGrAqPiBsmKBN3_ieuBow-StqSV07_EL9bHL2RIsVeNOYARfMoTs-Df64qMcYLQD0rDSDJO74xpM/s320/utah1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Driving through Utah was amazing, and very distracting. I had to pull over so many times just to look around. This is definitely a place I could see myself coming back to to explore. One of our Library patrons vacationed there once, and he said that if you ventured out into the canyon lands, there is graffiti that you can see that's been there for hundreds of years! Now take a moment and remember the last time you made some graffiti (for me, I think it was Jr. High), and imagine someone looking at it 200 years from now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtK1nhBR9N5gQqjYAm5_3sOmKWGlcdNff4yssYUSJDDBqYGiHTXQpUWPTwzj_XG-5z3INudlHnbROjBXQeK_mLvdVDxndR9-97PbCEo5FJWCrmsGOYnrbHkPZ0PJrUKUaogYjS_Cv5_g/s1600/utah2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtK1nhBR9N5gQqjYAm5_3sOmKWGlcdNff4yssYUSJDDBqYGiHTXQpUWPTwzj_XG-5z3INudlHnbROjBXQeK_mLvdVDxndR9-97PbCEo5FJWCrmsGOYnrbHkPZ0PJrUKUaogYjS_Cv5_g/s320/utah2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> Another thing I found interesting about Utah were the houses. I don't have any good pictures to illustrate this, but there were an awful lot of little communities of houses (maybe 30 or so?) scattered around the valley just outside of Salt Lake City. No big deal, right? Well, the thing is, I'm not sure you could really call these houses as they were more like mansions. Ten to Twenty bedrooms, easy. I'm still not sure what to make of these. Wealthy, secluded neighbourhoods? Polygamist compounds? Who knows, but it's fun to speculate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY00o6E8IadQc60_jMcn9Nhv_dCPgwDpkhGfRrqQj2JYn-sSnbh6gGyF52xneQiIkVmkwKRF_y6ZRBpXto90SLc__iOyqt3iHzdMWSjbHdKts8wIj7q9fyNXPJmJeglz3OLjYsraAepkE/s1600/utah3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY00o6E8IadQc60_jMcn9Nhv_dCPgwDpkhGfRrqQj2JYn-sSnbh6gGyF52xneQiIkVmkwKRF_y6ZRBpXto90SLc__iOyqt3iHzdMWSjbHdKts8wIj7q9fyNXPJmJeglz3OLjYsraAepkE/s320/utah3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Crossing the border into Wyoming was a very tangible thing. You could tell you'd done it even with your eyes closed, but you'd bloody well better keep them peeled. The first thing you notice is that the pavement switches from asphalt to concrete slabs. From what I understand, concrete lasts longer, though you wouldn't know it by the state of Wyoming's roads. On top of the 'thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk' sound you get (because the slabs shrink in cold weather producing a gap in between each piece), there are a million effing potholes. Now, to a semi, they're probably not a big deal due to the size of their tires, but they're a huge deal when you're driving a compact!! Fortunately, as you can see above, the hwy is pretty much a straight line, so it's easy to dance around the holes- if you're paying attention.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGYh3XqhS2Zg9aM2hmIQnqY6yxj50j949_j0f4ekJgT1QDV-WN70ajVwiC2xqQEV5_5KcDHNyEui9zSReTVE1Tc_HEkapvNoVFSNhesFfVDGywa2K2-vBNwfcNf1nIk9NVd6mZM4SJ5Y/s1600/wy2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGYh3XqhS2Zg9aM2hmIQnqY6yxj50j949_j0f4ekJgT1QDV-WN70ajVwiC2xqQEV5_5KcDHNyEui9zSReTVE1Tc_HEkapvNoVFSNhesFfVDGywa2K2-vBNwfcNf1nIk9NVd6mZM4SJ5Y/s320/wy2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ran into some more wind farms- up close this time. They really are ginourmous. I feel like a little kid every time I see them- I really shouldn't get so excited!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrp2oLeFe0yrvGNB9luqjx5q1XEPBmuglco6i3HTl6HoCqxDzMEGUZZo3WsRWlj08uBcqwMLp2cGkCNX2WpsqWnzEcmVKt6uaN11yEObUbU290FNB9_F1bA5JkXr3ozBacnGhhLqWqmjg/s1600/contshi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrp2oLeFe0yrvGNB9luqjx5q1XEPBmuglco6i3HTl6HoCqxDzMEGUZZo3WsRWlj08uBcqwMLp2cGkCNX2WpsqWnzEcmVKt6uaN11yEObUbU290FNB9_F1bA5JkXr3ozBacnGhhLqWqmjg/s320/contshi.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Today I also crossed the Continental Divide! Cool, right? Please wait a moment while I look up what the hell it is... Okay, I'm back. According to Wikipedia, The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Divide_of_the_Americas">Continental Divide of the Americas</a>, also called the Great Divide, separates the watersheds of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean">Pacific Ocean</a> from those of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean">Atlantic</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Ocean">Arctic Oceans</a>. Fair enough!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaCpD7AJfhe-C64ptlt7-TFRa6jW5tUvnAtj2WdT1lU14r1Ia2h1stcN3mw2kkjZxQRrHCb6jQeyqYzZPPm-MopteOpmbuP8H_m9QUfIE6lUd9pkIo_5mCIaJpt5rrg2uAlIxUTqiX_w/s1600/wy3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaCpD7AJfhe-C64ptlt7-TFRa6jW5tUvnAtj2WdT1lU14r1Ia2h1stcN3mw2kkjZxQRrHCb6jQeyqYzZPPm-MopteOpmbuP8H_m9QUfIE6lUd9pkIo_5mCIaJpt5rrg2uAlIxUTqiX_w/s320/wy3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> What you see above is indicative of the second half of the drive through Wyoming today. Rolling rangeland, with a smattering of cattle (I saw tons of black ones and a few furry ones- seriously! They had long, curly fur! No, they weren't Bison, I'm not a complete moron) and sheep, and the occasional oil pump. All of the grazing animals I've been seeing have tiny little babies that couldn't be more that a couple weeks old- probably newer. They're soooo cute, and totally putting me off meat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjKZfAyKXa9qmkIAYK51Zij_PFZQ6hLmk_kAKv-MUQZPIQAFOOVhZYoRkfUALKuddWR6PR1Vk0wqDnIEJduIX8bFih0VUATpyMmCKBzFS4gEAgg1Qk-jTIVzVq92cOnEE1WtQauydi1w/s1600/lilam.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjKZfAyKXa9qmkIAYK51Zij_PFZQ6hLmk_kAKv-MUQZPIQAFOOVhZYoRkfUALKuddWR6PR1Vk0wqDnIEJduIX8bFih0VUATpyMmCKBzFS4gEAgg1Qk-jTIVzVq92cOnEE1WtQauydi1w/s320/lilam.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, let's talk about some important issues. Namely, the difficulty of finding suitable washroom facilities in a timely manner. When I'm driving in Washington & Oregon, we always stop by the rest stops; use the washrooms, stretch our legs, maybe get a cup of terrible (but free) coffee. They tend to be well designed & well run, reasonable clean and well used. Let's just say, that didn't seem to be the case on my travels today. I think I pulled in two or three rest stops today and just kept on driving (and those are the ones I stopped at!). Fortunately, just as I was starting to get desperate, a sign loomed like a holy grail in the distance... I experienced my first '<a href="http://www.littleamerica.com/">Little America</a>'. Little America rest stops are more than just a place to pee- but if that's your purpose, then you're in for a treat- sparkling clean MARBLE bathrooms, with marble shower stalls too! And a HUGE gift shop that you could waste a whole afternoon in, and a restaurant, C-store, a gas-station, post-office, truck stop, and HOTEL! Seriously, go to the <a href="http://www.littleamerica.com/">website</a>. It's freaking unreal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTpYHpbi8PbFYoe5DvpTBNFIsDWGH3vDmblLIGBXEyD-OWeNdGa3xi4lILA8PEu23Kq2z-4OvRcjbwrLoFNWsSkfyB0f0kC3HEhJvg1mejqQSDA3hUnaRR6YPLDrHTsXoirPCymi2Pm4/s1600/sinclair1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTpYHpbi8PbFYoe5DvpTBNFIsDWGH3vDmblLIGBXEyD-OWeNdGa3xi4lILA8PEu23Kq2z-4OvRcjbwrLoFNWsSkfyB0f0kC3HEhJvg1mejqQSDA3hUnaRR6YPLDrHTsXoirPCymi2Pm4/s320/sinclair1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> Around lunch time I pulled off the highway because I saw a sign for a little Mexican joint, and it sounded like the perfect place to stop. Unfortunately, it was really busy, and the temperature had dropped, so I had to give up on lunch as I didn't want the boys to freeze in the car while I was eating tamales. It was a neat little side trip though, as the entire town is done up in Mexican architecture, complete with apricot stucco and terra cotta tile roofs. Pictured above is an old Inn.<br />
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</div> The town is called Sinclair, after the refinery that (I'm assuming) everyone works at. It used to be called Parco... you guessed it- after the original refinery.<br />
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</div>Late in the afternoon it started to snow, and I decided it would be prudent to make another rest stop just in case we ran into trouble. I did run into trouble- at the rest stop, in the form of LOSING MY CAR KEYS! I was on the verge of being hysterical (though some witnesses might argue I was over the verge) when I finally found them on a ledge in the Ladies'... right where I left them. From now on, when I'm not driving they'll be safely secured to a carabiner hooked on my belt loop. Once the keys were safely in my hands, I decided to freeze my ass off and nearly break my neck taking a couple pictures of this Lincoln Monument.<br />
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</div>Now, we're safe and warm in a budget chain motel in Cheyenne, WY. To be perfectly honest, I've been very spoiled staying in fancy hotels, so 'slumming it' was never going to be very fun for me (I'm such a snob). However, whatever my expectations were, the rooms I've had so far have been so much worse. Truly Shitacular.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">So, it really feels like tonight we hit the jackpot. We're at the same chain we've been using all along (except for that hellish night in Baker City), but the room is soooo much nicer, and the bed seems pretty comfortable. Max is especially happy with the flat screen TV.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNPKFGj5WdXmt06kWnK5yb7hDtLGFIGyHbuFshKdlmBRdqBpMQwjlzxFjYmzi43g2PBtFtKXRPORGiT_5f2J9uOjgIwBAfZUKEvAbCzBEy5JcZvi8cbbmyUdJ-2bVcTu9fxb7avAjVM8/s1600/Leo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNPKFGj5WdXmt06kWnK5yb7hDtLGFIGyHbuFshKdlmBRdqBpMQwjlzxFjYmzi43g2PBtFtKXRPORGiT_5f2J9uOjgIwBAfZUKEvAbCzBEy5JcZvi8cbbmyUdJ-2bVcTu9fxb7avAjVM8/s320/Leo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Leo is sad that he can't hide under the bed (the frame is enclosed), but he's made himself really comfortable under the bed skirt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #282828; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Today's drive: 703 kms in 7 hrs.<br />
Starting point; Ogden, UT.<br />
Terminus; Cheyenne, WY.</span></div><div><br />
</div><div>Playlist:</div><div>Audiobooks:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Burglar-Kinsey-Millhone-Alphabet-Mysteries/dp/0312939000?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: #955331; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">B is for Burglar (Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries, No. 2)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0312939000" style="border-bottom-style: none !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-width: initial !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PB3RU8" style="border-bottom-style: none !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-width: initial !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-8634823826774483882011-03-05T19:41:00.000-08:002011-03-07T19:39:10.457-08:00Day 3 on the road: The Flat Bits are Boring or Don't eat all the donuts.Ooof. I'm so full.<br />
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It had been a long day, so I ordered in some Eggplant Rolatini, salad & some little fresh cinnamon doughnuts for dessert. Well, when it came the order was wrong, but being hungry I ate the doughnuts. When the replacement order arrived, they brought a second order of complimentary doughnuts in apology. What can I say? I didn't want them to go to waste! And so they will go to waist.<br />
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I got up freaking early and got the hell out of dodge- or rather the El Dorado Motel in Baker City. We were on the road by 6:30am, and up into the rolling hills of eastern Oregon.<br />
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I'd just like to say, if you are ever in north eastern Oregon, and happen to get a flat tire or something, don't walk to the nearest house- don't even get out of your car. And lock the doors. And pray. I could be wrong (it's possible, I hear it can happen) but I'm pretty sure that part of Oregon is entirely populated by serial killers. How do I know this? Well, when I drove through it today there were miles and miles and miles of hills and open space, not a town in sight... then there would be one solitary, run-down trailer with a sinister old pick-up truck and a ramshackle shed. This pattern would repeat for hundreds of miles. Who else would live like that?<br />
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The drive through the mountains was easy as the road builders must have been lazy and built the road around the base instead of over the summit. We passed into Idaho, and down into Boise. I don't know why anyone would ever want to go to Boise, let alone live there. It's butt-ugly, and smells of potatoes frying in old oil. I did see a prairie dog though! (Highlight of my day.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stopped for lunch in Twin Falls, ID and got some nice shots of Snake River. Some of the best scenery all day.</span></td></tr>
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</div> The drive into Utah was more interesting than Idaho. Lots of pretty snow covered mountains. But otherwise, today's drive was pretty dull. The cats didn't even make a peep!<br />
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Point of interest; if any of you are wondering why Charlie Sheen is in the news media so much, it`s because at any time of any day, you can find at least one episode of 2 & 1/2 Men on TV. There's absolutely no getting away from it.<br />
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Today's drive: 690kms in 7 hrs. <br />
Starting point; Baker City, OR.<br />
Terminus; Ogden, UT. (Just outside of Salt Lake City)<br />
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</div><div>Playlist:</div><div>Audiobooks:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hatchling-Guardians-Gahoole-Book/dp/0439739500?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Hatchling (Guardians of Ga'hoole, Book 7)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0439739500" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Burglar-Kinsey-Millhone-Alphabet-Mysteries/dp/0312939000?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">B is for Burglar (Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries, No. 2)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0312939000" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div>Albums: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hands-All-Over-Maroon-5/dp/B003MZ0I84?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hands All Over</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003MZ0I84" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sigh-No-More-Mumford-Sons/dp/B0032Y8XH8?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sigh No More</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0032Y8XH8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lungs-Florence-Machine/dp/B001PB3RU8?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Lungs</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PB3RU8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-34362193396061690052011-03-04T22:08:00.000-08:002011-03-04T22:08:25.556-08:00Day 2 on the Road, or Stonehenge to BethlehemToday was a really long day of driving, but the scenery was so nice it just flew by! And to make things even better, Max & Leo seem to have adjusted to travelling and were good as can be! I think they miaowed maybe 10 times in 9 hours and no accidents! I know I'm using a lot of exclamation marks, but this is very good news!!!!<br />
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We were on the road by 7am, and charged along I-5 to the 205, then on to the I-84. The I-84 starts at Portland, and follows the Columbia river east across Oregon. .<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBNwLP2U9mg7oYMw6wi-h6FB0sOomRLxNOU64Wy8bkZtUpuTU-IO5OFt7OLqT8YHpgfL8aMZFrjCGh0Q-JUXOYjKe5X0sSywjiIU-3fvwsxL6asNoPDaFPokVUyRf7sWrSFqlasX-D44/s1600/mosscastles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBNwLP2U9mg7oYMw6wi-h6FB0sOomRLxNOU64Wy8bkZtUpuTU-IO5OFt7OLqT8YHpgfL8aMZFrjCGh0Q-JUXOYjKe5X0sSywjiIU-3fvwsxL6asNoPDaFPokVUyRf7sWrSFqlasX-D44/s200/mosscastles.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
The first section of the Columbia river gorge was beautiful and fascinating. You can tell that there had been a lot of geological processes at play to create such a complex landscape. It looked like driving past mossy castles. I vaguely remember bits and pieces from a Geology course in university, but not enough to quench my curiosity. I think I'll have to read up when I get home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQJbsc-4lZaDJdzz6xe7vzvUrhX8b18eVNOf5HK39P4_9lMfLTpzCZH29JWKsu00Mz3Em6_ZkBNmfmNYu21DIYA43BeHy26cHbN3ZRlg5sUr4bMIhfiar-zmjxdH8K-thMjhUacOBg6U/s1600/windfarm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQJbsc-4lZaDJdzz6xe7vzvUrhX8b18eVNOf5HK39P4_9lMfLTpzCZH29JWKsu00Mz3Em6_ZkBNmfmNYu21DIYA43BeHy26cHbN3ZRlg5sUr4bMIhfiar-zmjxdH8K-thMjhUacOBg6U/s200/windfarm.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Wind farms were neat to see all along the gorge. I can't remember ever seeing one before, and they were much bigger than I expected. It was a good place for them too as it was quite windy! My first experience with wind shear, and good practise for the long prairie stretched ahead.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhkraIWVCDnMVeNuemVdHhHC600TM1gJwwLjOh-KJnAyGM98x6XCTOULHHdKsJEYal8eWM99cSWMCPN0ns5T01fo5U2whq8hpxtAtBiW1clxjVacISOTEhgR5y2ARKG6MQQSSjtPBm1c/s1600/maryhill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhkraIWVCDnMVeNuemVdHhHC600TM1gJwwLjOh-KJnAyGM98x6XCTOULHHdKsJEYal8eWM99cSWMCPN0ns5T01fo5U2whq8hpxtAtBiW1clxjVacISOTEhgR5y2ARKG6MQQSSjtPBm1c/s320/maryhill.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>About 300 kms into my trip, I was presented with a unique side-trip that I couldn't pass up. At a place called Maryhill I crossed the Columbia back into Washington state, and drove 15 minutes up a narrow, windy road.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRccEVuK3DDPkCXexSZkg9IjSBC-6-GuLgQkghg-MI46n5DJkK772xREd0c0mJxGeRUE7Cl8U7F1tsHnC_xBYEZDcQxq3CHl-1dMSV0NogLFGeiTq6wNi3c86GPbYOgydNKOPKExnHKY/s1600/windfarm2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRccEVuK3DDPkCXexSZkg9IjSBC-6-GuLgQkghg-MI46n5DJkK772xREd0c0mJxGeRUE7Cl8U7F1tsHnC_xBYEZDcQxq3CHl-1dMSV0NogLFGeiTq6wNi3c86GPbYOgydNKOPKExnHKY/s200/windfarm2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I parked, got out of the car, and strolled towards...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WPx9gS9aQuwrvx9DRzFFKih7LyQPZZTUiH7OW2ozpsyRGb3Row7mIILH6CJPdy0zmJO_OoDvBSFij8PdY95xFiJoV4f79kJInQCkbofBFrzeJJUj-tudAMWavXo_iBExQTska3hyphenhyphenMIg/s1600/stonehenge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WPx9gS9aQuwrvx9DRzFFKih7LyQPZZTUiH7OW2ozpsyRGb3Row7mIILH6CJPdy0zmJO_OoDvBSFij8PdY95xFiJoV4f79kJInQCkbofBFrzeJJUj-tudAMWavXo_iBExQTska3hyphenhyphenMIg/s320/stonehenge.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Stonehenge!!! What the hell? Yes, someone actually build a scale replica of Stonehenge in the freaking middle of nowhere, Maryhill (pop. 98... I'm not even kidding). I took the opportunity to stretch my legs, and take a few pictures.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4L-10qXVVjM6ug5TfM8tTHw0KR7oVvEkcPJc0PmOfyCeYzYbj1xq1-tDhEbugY7SqF08DHaauGEjkbInuZu6OUS6uMboW20l8g5mXW82ZlXyoFF2hxcSz_WROOm10jx-SzfNLxtP7H0/s1600/stnhng3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4L-10qXVVjM6ug5TfM8tTHw0KR7oVvEkcPJc0PmOfyCeYzYbj1xq1-tDhEbugY7SqF08DHaauGEjkbInuZu6OUS6uMboW20l8g5mXW82ZlXyoFF2hxcSz_WROOm10jx-SzfNLxtP7H0/s320/stnhng3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DjnHq01yLwgq0DYkXsUzSMckZMqFJaqN35XyNq_77KPjZilMx1BCQiPxmkBxQzd_sEApm9ND6vAfgl3o8iey52D1wDRmnCLFNvfpRpQOMBGnKugwpI8JOSvlw2TyJ43_PDVxHI560Lg/s1600/stnhng4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DjnHq01yLwgq0DYkXsUzSMckZMqFJaqN35XyNq_77KPjZilMx1BCQiPxmkBxQzd_sEApm9ND6vAfgl3o8iey52D1wDRmnCLFNvfpRpQOMBGnKugwpI8JOSvlw2TyJ43_PDVxHI560Lg/s320/stnhng4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Towards the end of my meanderings, I came across a plaque dedicating the monument to fallen soldiers. I don't quite get it, but what the heck. The tomb of the builder was also nearby (creepy!)</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FzNLDfHx0rAJJIqHU7ot835WBpX4ohsQI9qtg01CJt38mCvy_5uiWwdYQK_7BJwEfWM0cp3HEuV7yc2E_WGccvxyp-Tfkq2jdBbTUf9z0yOlpbkgWCzQTAm7wBqxfLpvlsygPkxvDzY/s1600/maxwild.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FzNLDfHx0rAJJIqHU7ot835WBpX4ohsQI9qtg01CJt38mCvy_5uiWwdYQK_7BJwEfWM0cp3HEuV7yc2E_WGccvxyp-Tfkq2jdBbTUf9z0yOlpbkgWCzQTAm7wBqxfLpvlsygPkxvDzY/s320/maxwild.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I decided since I was getting to stretch my legs, maybe the boys would like to as well! I took them out one at a time on leashes, and after about 3 minutes of wilderness (in the form of a grassy field and bird sounds) they both decided they'd had enough of the wild! They jumped back in the crate as quick as I could open the door! They are definitely house cats!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The last picture is of a cute little town called Arlington that I drove through, that for some reason has a giant rocket shaped glyph marked into the hills above town. With an eleven in it. What does it mean? I have no idea, but I did think it was interesting.</span></span><br />
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There was lots more driving today, but no more pictures as I was driving through the blue mountains. The roads were nice and dry, and the sun was shining (occasionally). There were long stretches of nothing but mountains and hills between one gas-station outposts. I stopped for lunch in Boardman (which my Mom has since told me is home to a bomb testing range) at a little First-Nations run cafe and had a great tuna sandwich. I've taken to planning my hotel stops at lunch time, so I looked at my maps and coordinated with my GPS, deciding I could make it to Baker City by 4pm (my nightly cut-off). There weren't any other towns to stop in for 50 miles before or 70 miles after, but since there were lots of hotels in town, I didn't think there would be a problem.<br />
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I was wrong. Apparently, Baker City hosts a huge regional basketball tournament this weekend and almost everyone was full! The Super 8 I'd planned to stay at had a room, but their "pet friendly" policy did not extend to cats, which was very frustrating after a long drive. After half an hour of calling a dozen different places, I finally found somewhere with a room that would take all three of us, so no manger tonight. Though, a manger might be cleaner. Unfortunately, it's not the nicest of places. All I can say, is there is NO way I'm letting this comforter come anywhere near my face. Oh well, it seems safe, and it's just one sleepless night. Thank god there's a Starbucks in town.<br />
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<div>Today's drive: 670kms in 9 hrs. <br />
Starting point; Olympia, WA.<br />
Terminus; Baker City, OR.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Playlist: </div><div>Audiobooks: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/1st-to-Die-ebook/dp/B000FA5Q2M?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">1st to Die</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000FA5Q2M" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hatchling-Guardians-Gahoole-Book/dp/0439739500?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Hatchling (Guardians of Ga'hoole, Book 7)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0439739500" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div>Albums: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yer-Favourites-Tragically-Hip/dp/B000ASDF6S?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Yer Favourites</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000ASDF6S" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Suburbs/dp/B003X73QA8?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Suburbs</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003X73QA8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000ASDF6S" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-33612478339323095582011-03-03T18:49:00.000-08:002011-03-03T20:42:38.834-08:00Day 1 on the Road or "JAILBREAK!"Our first day on the road started out very well. I picked up the cats from the <a href="http://www.catpawsinn.ca/">cat hotel</a>, gave them their sedatives, and away we went!<br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCqGpiO5epq6Sf76RgLFTtNf1vFxfrnmgQdmTFpzenO28wlwWxG9FnZJpQfyczDSBysTwyZQ4Rx-vw4eblx2C7SyBiz5x4d2K5luZBE5HuMpgtNy5SkOZRkh9-_rBzJc6bjokkIEF6DQ/s1600/IMG_2351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCqGpiO5epq6Sf76RgLFTtNf1vFxfrnmgQdmTFpzenO28wlwWxG9FnZJpQfyczDSBysTwyZQ4Rx-vw4eblx2C7SyBiz5x4d2K5luZBE5HuMpgtNy5SkOZRkh9-_rBzJc6bjokkIEF6DQ/s320/IMG_2351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>In no time we were at the border crossing, and after a short wait, it was our turn at the booth. I expected to have to pull over and go through customs inside, complete with cargo & pet inspection. I had my passport, the cats' immunization records & international bills of health, paperwork to import the car, supplemental paperwork from the initial visa application, and a manifest of everything in the car. This, I'd been led to believe by a number of sources, was what I'd need to present. I also expected to possibly pay duty on the car.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I pulled up to the booth and handed the guard my passport. He looked at it and asked; </div><div>"Where's home?"</div><div>"Currently? Baltimore." I replied.</div><div>"Where are you coming from?" he inquired.</div><div>"Delta." I responded (I've been staying at my parents' place being nursed back to health and eating their food for the past 3 days)</div><div>"What do you have with you?"</div><div>"Two cats and my personal effects"</div><div>"How much currency coming with you?"</div><div>"$300 cash"</div><div>"Okay, have a nice day."</div><div><br />
</div><div>Whaaaaaaat? Well, he didn't have to tell me twice! I sped away before he could change his mind, grabbed gas and was on the road again by 10am.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Unfortunately, this is where my luck ran out today.</div><div><br />
</div><div>By 10:15am, Leo had figured out how to open the zipper of his travel carrier. I pulled over, put him back in the carrier, and secured the zipper. Off we go again!</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5BdYcAOfR5wMatf_fSvc1cYvHFArwP4q3K55v65eRmXQLC1SDwA_xW8WTMqNMoJ8ryF3x2AnrdHOtSMVICVHw_q9XUZfcfr6cQklMsnAEOFtvSMrdy5STkkl8wtMxIhmMuVe_Xe0NNs/s1600/IMG_2359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5BdYcAOfR5wMatf_fSvc1cYvHFArwP4q3K55v65eRmXQLC1SDwA_xW8WTMqNMoJ8ryF3x2AnrdHOtSMVICVHw_q9XUZfcfr6cQklMsnAEOFtvSMrdy5STkkl8wtMxIhmMuVe_Xe0NNs/s200/IMG_2359.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div>By 10:30am, Leo had chewed a hole in his carrier big enough to escape through & he was loose!</div><div><br />
</div><div>For the first hour, I let him roam the car and get acclimatized to his surroundings. He climbed all over me, the car, and the luggage, trying to find the best view. This became problematic as he decided the best view was from the dash.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVIKxAHNR1l9U2e_AJw4JbiMkO5ToBdnUlFZvoZDHJB3pCs_o5UfLUZXsIyLP0huKxKoA_6jQ_WmyTHjEa8GH49ltVQtSjvuf_orgRkE_LVlmFnpEoD2OAXhF8lc0bd_tUHGOivST-us/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVIKxAHNR1l9U2e_AJw4JbiMkO5ToBdnUlFZvoZDHJB3pCs_o5UfLUZXsIyLP0huKxKoA_6jQ_WmyTHjEa8GH49ltVQtSjvuf_orgRkE_LVlmFnpEoD2OAXhF8lc0bd_tUHGOivST-us/s320/IMG_2354.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0Hc3qgtVZl1XAsSeNKJkVnoqnd8yv4f0AFSFvjJ4ns6rqqRjLnNkt3_0TQvAuQOfIvYT3t3Kan3XP0txiE5P3jGMQ4NXyi04F_JRuqQTrCbnU_cQT9vuNywAVy7n3m4TceQ2eN2puIU/s1600/IMG_2352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0Hc3qgtVZl1XAsSeNKJkVnoqnd8yv4f0AFSFvjJ4ns6rqqRjLnNkt3_0TQvAuQOfIvYT3t3Kan3XP0txiE5P3jGMQ4NXyi04F_JRuqQTrCbnU_cQT9vuNywAVy7n3m4TceQ2eN2puIU/s200/IMG_2352.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>*Don't worry, in the first picture we're parked!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjIXyIlgp9qjtS7KX65lHkbu4M3qFTx0LYkobl0AnMVwSe-EMtIeaieQ_bIjy3jWoRVuCzeVTNzTwpvspsSaSbDrZMa0R82Q6kg7UTGOiKbS05jJkxFThRMOnxcvPdaj_XdjRIfLU38Y/s1600/IMG_2357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjIXyIlgp9qjtS7KX65lHkbu4M3qFTx0LYkobl0AnMVwSe-EMtIeaieQ_bIjy3jWoRVuCzeVTNzTwpvspsSaSbDrZMa0R82Q6kg7UTGOiKbS05jJkxFThRMOnxcvPdaj_XdjRIfLU38Y/s320/IMG_2357.JPG" width="320" /></a>Step two was to harness up. This worked for awhile, until he discovered that the leash stretched enough to let him play at horizontal bungee jumping. </div><div><br />
</div><div>This might be a good time to mention that while the sedative I gave the cats (actually, I ended up giving them a dose and a half after 30 minutes of no results) worked a little on Max, it had no effect on Leo. Actually, that would be a lie. While it didn't calm him down, it made him very stoned. Who knows, maybe to him his carrier was made of marshmallows and he couldn't resist chowing his way through. Leo does love marshmallows.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Nearing Seattle, traffic was getting more congested, and Leo was getting more agitated. I pulled into a Walmart and pulled out a credit card.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUEKjZx0r3QgEMuc3YkPzXVNyn2DupNgcYPrzMC_HxWGDlL0QnMGprwUmUYiYaEFY-u6vfZhncL3npIxyoF5e9QDcY7n21F-NyZTqpRVeoib6iz5bUO7RwepdrofFxo0L8tbY2feKZtM/s1600/IMG_2358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUEKjZx0r3QgEMuc3YkPzXVNyn2DupNgcYPrzMC_HxWGDlL0QnMGprwUmUYiYaEFY-u6vfZhncL3npIxyoF5e9QDcY7n21F-NyZTqpRVeoib6iz5bUO7RwepdrofFxo0L8tbY2feKZtM/s200/IMG_2358.JPG" width="200" /></a>30 minutes later I'd successfully assembled a crate big enough to hold a poodle (or a 5yr old, in a pinch). The crate went into the car, the cats went into the crate, and I went in to the washroom.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Apart from the occasional mewl or hiss, the rest of the trip went very smoothly. And to tell you the truth, if it hadn't, at that point I would have just turned up my audiobook.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Today's drive: 290kms in 6 hrs. </div><div>Starting point; Delta, BC, Canada. </div><div>Terminus; Olympia, WA, USA.</div><br />
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</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-56834444815788397082011-02-26T23:21:00.000-08:002011-02-26T23:41:05.871-08:00What am I going to DO?When people hear that my husband & I have moved across the continent, and into a strange and foreign land, their first question is always 'Why'?<br />
<br />
That question is easy enough to answer; Sean was offered an excellent opportunity in Baltimore, and his current company wasn't treating him very well. We don't have kids, and it seemed like the perfect chance to try something and somewhere new. I could elaborate, but that's the gist of it.<br />
<br />
The next question is always a lot harder to answer; 'What are YOU going to do?'.<br />
<br />
The truth is, I have no idea.<br />
<br />
I can't legally work in the states. Thankfully we'll be able to make ends meet without my having to do any under-the-table nannying or dog walking, which is fortunate because I'm not a huge fan of drooling and poop. Human or canine.<br />
<br />
I've tossed around some ideas of my own, and have had an outpouring of suggestions from friends and family. For kicks, I thought I'd list a few of them below, and if you'd like- leave a comment on which I should take up, or suggest something new!<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Take my yoga practice to the next level and become and instructor. (To be honest, I'd need to at least get good at it before entertaining this one, but a good idea nonetheless)</li>
<li>Train up those important thumb muscles and hone my hand-eye coordination by playing video games all day. (I really like this one...)</li>
<li>Write a Baltimore food blog. (Maybe even answer the eternal question of how come a city so close to New York can't make an edible slice of freakin' pizza for chrissakes!)</li>
<li>Polish up my Spanish and work illegally in a restaurant kitchen.</li>
<li>Learn to sew. (I got a C- in high school sewing. I sewed the sleeves of a sweatshirt on backwards- like cuff to shoulder. I didn't think it would matter as much as it did. They were also much too long. Sort of like a shirt for an orangutan or sloth or something. I still have no idea where I went wrong.)</li>
<li>Learn to play the banjo.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Banjo-Dummies-Bill-Evans/dp/0470127627?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Banjo-Dummies-Bill-Evans/dp/0470127627?ie=UTF8&tag=vanqvert-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Banjo For Dummies" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0470127627&tag=vanqvert-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470127627" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vanqvert-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470127627" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> I am seriously considering this suggestion.</li>
<li>Do some online courses. Almost as much fun as cleaning toilets, but much more expensive. </li>
<li>Make babies. (Yeah, thanks for the suggestion. No comment.)</li>
<li>Write a book. This seems to be one of the more common suggestions, possibly because if I were writing down my stories, I wouldn't be telling them to people, and they could have a brake from listening to me talk.</li>
<li>Cookie of the day blog. Sean suggested this one, and selflessly offered to help eat the fruits of my labour. And by fruits I of course mean cookies. I have vetoed this suggestion as I have no intention of making myself a widow any time soon.</li>
</ol><div>So what do y'all think? Have you ever been out of work? Any ideas?<br />
*Also, a quick shout-out to my loyal readers in the Netherlands. Hallo! Welkom!*<br />
<br />
</div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930065346893202412.post-40391498989123190102011-02-25T10:33:00.000-08:002011-02-25T10:33:14.130-08:00Update, or Why I'm Still Here.I should have been driving through Boise right now, instead, I'm driving my way through a box of Kleenex- fast. Yup, I'm still home, for the moment anyway because I'd already arranged to give up the apartment to my tenants TOMORROW.<br />
<br />
Let's take a look at my checklist, shall we?<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Do every piece of laundry so it's ready to be packed. (check)</li>
<li>Fold & pack clothes. (not so check)</li>
<li>Separate out important paperwork to have on hand for trip, and pack/recycle/shred the rest (not even pretending to check)</li>
<li>Do a sweep of leftover stuff in the apartment for things I've forgotten to pack. (Nope. Seeing a trend?)</li>
<li>Pack remainder of things to be brought along. (oooog...)</li>
<li>Pack up car. (moooaaaannnn...)</li>
<li>Take out garbage & recycling. (*collapses*)</li>
</ul><div>I don't know what's going to happen. My folks have offered to put me up for a few nights & put the cats in a kennel, but my Dad's recovering from complications with his surgery, and I don't want to give him the plague. And there's the fact that I can't even freaking get out of bed to do all the things I need to do!</div><div><br />
</div><div>*Spaz!* *Freak-out* *TANTRUM!!* *Smash!*</div><div><br />
</div><div>Ok, so all of those shenanigans were in name only as I can barely sit up, so unfortunately smashing is definitely out of the question. Turns out several other people (that I know of) have since caught Mike's flu- he's like the effing monkey from the movie Outbreak.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Enough complaining, I'm going to have a(nother) nap, and things will just have to sort themselves out. </div>Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168622667160139606noreply@blogger.com0