As part of Val and Tara's Wedding Celebration 2005 (VATWC05), we registered for gifts in case people wanted to get us something. Our friends Lisa and Tanya, who also got married last year, sent us four napkins and napkin rings off of our registry from one of our lists. The company, in error, sent us the Pomagranite napkins instead of the Sienna napkins. Oh no!
I just called them to straighten this out. The good news is: the right color of napkins are on the way from C&B, but since I didn't have my registry number on me, they needed to know my last name and first name, and my husband's first name, to which I answered:
"Tara"
and she responded:
"Um...okay?"
And I'm thinking, 'Are you asking me? Because I'm pretty sure that's his name."
Friday, October 28, 2005
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Ouchie for Mr. Froggie!
Like I do every morning, yesterday I dropped off Tara at work, turned around and headed back into Northampton to go to work. Same thing every morning, like all the other people I was traveling with. Every morning there's traffic on the bridge and every morning, at least for the last eight days, the bridge has been wet. And yesterday, like every other fall of every other year forever, there were wet leaves all over the bridge, too.
When I'm stopped at a stop light or stopping at a stop light I often check my rear view mirror to make sure the person behind me is also stopping. My dad taught me how to drive, and defensively at that, so this is not atypical of my driving behavior. So yesterday, I knew I was doomed when I looked in my rear view mirror to see a silver Jeep Wrangler careening over the crest of the bridge far too fast to stop in time before using my Teach Peace Focus butt as her brakes. It happened fast enough that I couldn't not watch it happen, and at 35 miles per hour, she crunched and pushed me and my car, and then came to a full stop. Luckily for her, her car had a metal cage on the front to protect it in case some negligent person who later said, "Oh I guess I do need new tires like I suspected!" hit her while speeding on the bridge. Oh, wait. That negligent person WAS HER and I was the victim!
After the Wrangler ate my bumper, the cops came and I filed a report with the insurance company, I went to work. After about three hours, I developed a splitting, rabid headache and an irresistable desire to sleep. I called my doctor who directed me to the emergency room, where I eventually ended up and where I was diagnosed with a concussion.
After some lovely Oxycodone and 13 hours of sleep, I feel much better. Unfortunately, Mr. Focus didn't fair so well.
When I'm stopped at a stop light or stopping at a stop light I often check my rear view mirror to make sure the person behind me is also stopping. My dad taught me how to drive, and defensively at that, so this is not atypical of my driving behavior. So yesterday, I knew I was doomed when I looked in my rear view mirror to see a silver Jeep Wrangler careening over the crest of the bridge far too fast to stop in time before using my Teach Peace Focus butt as her brakes. It happened fast enough that I couldn't not watch it happen, and at 35 miles per hour, she crunched and pushed me and my car, and then came to a full stop. Luckily for her, her car had a metal cage on the front to protect it in case some negligent person who later said, "Oh I guess I do need new tires like I suspected!" hit her while speeding on the bridge. Oh, wait. That negligent person WAS HER and I was the victim!
After the Wrangler ate my bumper, the cops came and I filed a report with the insurance company, I went to work. After about three hours, I developed a splitting, rabid headache and an irresistable desire to sleep. I called my doctor who directed me to the emergency room, where I eventually ended up and where I was diagnosed with a concussion.
After some lovely Oxycodone and 13 hours of sleep, I feel much better. Unfortunately, Mr. Focus didn't fair so well.
Friday, October 07, 2005
Hello my name is...Hello?
As a way to bask in our utter nerdiness, Tara and I actually TiVo Jeopardy! Tara and I have watched Jeopardy! together for almost six years...just about since day O.N.E.
Tonight, there was a female contestant on named Helen. During Double Jeopardy! she signaled in to answer the question, and in typical Trebek fasion he starts, "Yes..." and then follows with naming the contestant who won the signal, except he says, "Hello." So there's an awkward pause until Helen realizes Old Trebek means her, and answers with the question.
There's another awkward pause and Trebek's acknowledgement that Helen had answered the question right, then a little giggle from Alex. Then he says, laughing at himself, "Why did I call you 'Hello'?"
Um, what is, you're a robot for $400?
Tonight, there was a female contestant on named Helen. During Double Jeopardy! she signaled in to answer the question, and in typical Trebek fasion he starts, "Yes..." and then follows with naming the contestant who won the signal, except he says, "Hello." So there's an awkward pause until Helen realizes Old Trebek means her, and answers with the question.
There's another awkward pause and Trebek's acknowledgement that Helen had answered the question right, then a little giggle from Alex. Then he says, laughing at himself, "Why did I call you 'Hello'?"
Um, what is, you're a robot for $400?
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Homophobics "R" Us
I am currently sluggishly plugging away at my MEd at UMass, reveling as often as I can in the disenfranchisement of part-time student/full-time worker. Everything there is geared towards the full-time student. Offices are only open from 9 - 4 when, I don't know, I'M WORKING, and readings are email access-only, which is great, because I, as a non-degree student don't qualify for an email address. So, I've run into a variety of obstacles in my experience so far, but none larger than the obstacle I ran into in class last night.
I am taking College Student Development Theory, which might sound really boring to most people but is actually very interesting and the psychological theories we learn are much more widely applicable than just to college students. We are study everything in stages: first, the general theories of college-age development, then specifically and in this order: gender development, sexual identity development, racial development, cognitive development, moral development and faith and religious development.
The general theories were interesting enough, but fell short in that 99% of the studies were done on upper middle class white males from Princeton, and, for variation, sometimes upper middle class white males from Harvard. When it came time to discuss gender development I thought, "All right. Now we can get into the nitty gritty. We can talk about feminism, marginlization, sexism, skewed studies, identity intersections! It will be great and lively!" Well, I was wrong. Our potentially wonderful conversation about gender development was instead replaced by a discussion about popular media and Barbie and Ken. BARBIE and KEN and GI JOE, people. Do you really want to know when I last talked about Barbie and Ken and GI Joe in relationship to my gender identity formation?! Do you?! Nine years ago in my first-year of college in Women's Studies 101. Have we not progressed in our conversation about gender beyond Barbie? Did we not have six massive theories in front of us to discuss in a more relevant way?
Yesterday we discussed sexual identity formation, reading articles that, for variation, studied upper middle class white GAY men from elite colleges. Really, it's all about diversity in sources. Being the hyper-intellectual class that we are, we spent most of the discussion talking about (sounds of trumpets blaring here):
Will and Grace.
Oh, and for flavor:
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
After several assaults on Carsen's "character" I thought it was important to point out that Carsen is actually a real person who is not acting as himself but rather is actually HIMSELF. And it is TELEVISION, which is, generally speaking, very very loosely rooted in reality ANYWAY. The professor found it problematic that Jack from W&G is so effeminate, and "won't that be a problem for someone watching the show who will then think that all gay people act that way?" We started talking about perception and identity, and how maybe Jack was an important character for gay men who are silly and snarky and funny and effeminate, and maybe FUCK ALL to those who leap to conclusions about all those they meet who might be gay and act like Jack.
She ended the conversation by saying that she thought only gay actors should play gay characters, and that gay characters should only be played by gay actors. This is the same as blackface, she said. Then, to top it all off, she throws in some lovely comments about four of the five African American women in her study of five African American lesbians felt that gay marriage wasn't a civil right. No context, no follow up. She just felt that was important to put out there.
Needless to say I was fuming, and when I talked to Sarah later I told her all of the above. She said that she thought only cancer patients should play cancer patients on TV, and then paused....
"Not that being gay is like having cancer. That's not what I mean..."
And I replied, "Well, you know, it is a disease of the mind, so I'm not sure if it's fair for me to comment."
I am taking College Student Development Theory, which might sound really boring to most people but is actually very interesting and the psychological theories we learn are much more widely applicable than just to college students. We are study everything in stages: first, the general theories of college-age development, then specifically and in this order: gender development, sexual identity development, racial development, cognitive development, moral development and faith and religious development.
The general theories were interesting enough, but fell short in that 99% of the studies were done on upper middle class white males from Princeton, and, for variation, sometimes upper middle class white males from Harvard. When it came time to discuss gender development I thought, "All right. Now we can get into the nitty gritty. We can talk about feminism, marginlization, sexism, skewed studies, identity intersections! It will be great and lively!" Well, I was wrong. Our potentially wonderful conversation about gender development was instead replaced by a discussion about popular media and Barbie and Ken. BARBIE and KEN and GI JOE, people. Do you really want to know when I last talked about Barbie and Ken and GI Joe in relationship to my gender identity formation?! Do you?! Nine years ago in my first-year of college in Women's Studies 101. Have we not progressed in our conversation about gender beyond Barbie? Did we not have six massive theories in front of us to discuss in a more relevant way?
Yesterday we discussed sexual identity formation, reading articles that, for variation, studied upper middle class white GAY men from elite colleges. Really, it's all about diversity in sources. Being the hyper-intellectual class that we are, we spent most of the discussion talking about (sounds of trumpets blaring here):
Will and Grace.
Oh, and for flavor:
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
After several assaults on Carsen's "character" I thought it was important to point out that Carsen is actually a real person who is not acting as himself but rather is actually HIMSELF. And it is TELEVISION, which is, generally speaking, very very loosely rooted in reality ANYWAY. The professor found it problematic that Jack from W&G is so effeminate, and "won't that be a problem for someone watching the show who will then think that all gay people act that way?" We started talking about perception and identity, and how maybe Jack was an important character for gay men who are silly and snarky and funny and effeminate, and maybe FUCK ALL to those who leap to conclusions about all those they meet who might be gay and act like Jack.
She ended the conversation by saying that she thought only gay actors should play gay characters, and that gay characters should only be played by gay actors. This is the same as blackface, she said. Then, to top it all off, she throws in some lovely comments about four of the five African American women in her study of five African American lesbians felt that gay marriage wasn't a civil right. No context, no follow up. She just felt that was important to put out there.
Needless to say I was fuming, and when I talked to Sarah later I told her all of the above. She said that she thought only cancer patients should play cancer patients on TV, and then paused....
"Not that being gay is like having cancer. That's not what I mean..."
And I replied, "Well, you know, it is a disease of the mind, so I'm not sure if it's fair for me to comment."
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Life is Beautiful
Today, on her way to work, a 23 year old woman was killed 250 feet from my office door when an armored car hit her while she rode her bike. It is not known yet exactly what happened, other than she was hit, then pinned, then died before they even got an ambulance there. Her bicycle was mangled into a horrific twist of metal, pedals, and parts.
This morning, before I knew what happened, I went about my day and took care of business. My coworker came into my office to tell me what happened, and choking back tears I immediately called Tara at work to tell her I love her. You see, Tara walks that same sidewalk everyday, and crosses in front of cars everyday, and 100s of people, literally, stand, everyday, where that woman was killed. She died today. She started out her morning like any other morning, ate the same breakfast she always eats, and rode her bike like she does everyday. Who knows what could have changed what happened to her today. Maybe if she forgot her wallet in her apartment or stopped to pet the cat one last time -- or didn't -- she would still be on earth right now, watching tv and thinking about her bike commute tomorrow morning.
Things change on a dime. Hundreds of thousands of people on the Gulf coast, in Asia, and in Iraq are learning that and living that everyday. Some of these things we can't control, but it underscores the importance of always and everyday treating people the way you want them to remember you, and don't ever let a day go by that you don't tell people who you love that you love them so much it hurts.
This morning, before I knew what happened, I went about my day and took care of business. My coworker came into my office to tell me what happened, and choking back tears I immediately called Tara at work to tell her I love her. You see, Tara walks that same sidewalk everyday, and crosses in front of cars everyday, and 100s of people, literally, stand, everyday, where that woman was killed. She died today. She started out her morning like any other morning, ate the same breakfast she always eats, and rode her bike like she does everyday. Who knows what could have changed what happened to her today. Maybe if she forgot her wallet in her apartment or stopped to pet the cat one last time -- or didn't -- she would still be on earth right now, watching tv and thinking about her bike commute tomorrow morning.
Things change on a dime. Hundreds of thousands of people on the Gulf coast, in Asia, and in Iraq are learning that and living that everyday. Some of these things we can't control, but it underscores the importance of always and everyday treating people the way you want them to remember you, and don't ever let a day go by that you don't tell people who you love that you love them so much it hurts.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Friday, September 02, 2005
Selfish
Everything I could possibly complain about in my life pales in comparison to the horror that those on the Gulf coast of the US are facing right now, and that which they have faced all week. I have been riveted and floored by each new photo, report, piece of footage, and interview. I cried quietly at my desk today thinking of those people, chest-deep in waste water, pushing bodies and material goods aside as they sought something -- anything-- to bring them relief. I am shocked by the pictures of young mothers of young babies looking anguished and dehydrated, hoping they might be able to give thier babies a meal tonight. I am hurt and angered by how abandoned many of those people feel, by their city, their state, and their federal government. I am sad that every face that looks back into each camera is a black face. Everyday I wake up and what was bad the day before has now gotten worse. First the storm, then the people stranded, then the flooding, then the fires, then the shooting, then the starvation, then the dying.
I can't imagine losing everything, hanging on to only what I could carry, while the world slipped away in chaos around me. I am thinking about and praying for those people for whom that is their reality.
I can't imagine losing everything, hanging on to only what I could carry, while the world slipped away in chaos around me. I am thinking about and praying for those people for whom that is their reality.
Oh, that pesky English language!
In conclusion, as part of my job. Because I ran in to problems all the time with people that can't right. Its really annoying, and often people don't check there grammer and then I have to. Its not something I can get around. Some highlights from the passed weak:
- Someone writing me an email thanking me for my 'patients'
- A document from another office on campus including the word 'varietiations'
- Someone who called telling me they weren't sure if they were qualified because they hadn't yet finished their 'bachelorette's' degree
- A menu suggesting I might try their 'streusal' or their 'blacklened chicken'
I have made my fair share of errors, but come on people! I kahnt dew aul thuh werk four eww!
- Someone writing me an email thanking me for my 'patients'
- A document from another office on campus including the word 'varietiations'
- Someone who called telling me they weren't sure if they were qualified because they hadn't yet finished their 'bachelorette's' degree
- A menu suggesting I might try their 'streusal' or their 'blacklened chicken'
I have made my fair share of errors, but come on people! I kahnt dew aul thuh werk four eww!
Monday, August 29, 2005
Not for the squeamish!
OWWWWWW!!
Sometimes at the end of the day I get sick and tired of sitting face-forward in my office chair so if I'm sort of checked out by 4, I spin my chair around and kneel on the seat, elbows on my desk. It makes my back and legs and shoulders feel better, and while it inhibits my typing mobility, I find myself in this position at least three times a week.
All of my weight rests on the back of the chair, which has to be the perfect distance away from the desk in order to be properly supported by the edge of the desk while I maneuver some weird alien typing position. If the phone rings there is balancing and leaning and all kinds of acrobatics necessary to not have the entire ridiculous system go flying into the air in an eruption of phone, arms, pencils, feet, and keyboard. I've been working for a long time to achieve this balance.
Today I was in my usual position when I moved my hand to do something on my desk. Without realizing it, this set in motion a very painful lesson for me. As I reached out for whatever it was I wanted, I managed to push the chair back out of balance, hurtling it towards the desk's edge. Normally, this would not be an issue, but since I was reaching, the planets aligned to place perfectly that tender tag of skin, nerves, and tissue that adorns my breast between the edge of the desk and the chair, in perfect position for my chairback closing in for a good hard pinch, then squeeze, then crush.
I screamed, "OWWWW!" but could accept no sympathies because I didn't want to explain what I had done! I quickly lifted my body weight off of the chair and had to actually check for (1) continued connectedness and (2) blood. It was a horrible, horrible low, and while things are not bleeding and still connected, I hope my hypothetical baby doesn't mind always being stuck on the one working side that's left. I think the other side has been pinched off and sealed for good.
Sometimes at the end of the day I get sick and tired of sitting face-forward in my office chair so if I'm sort of checked out by 4, I spin my chair around and kneel on the seat, elbows on my desk. It makes my back and legs and shoulders feel better, and while it inhibits my typing mobility, I find myself in this position at least three times a week.
All of my weight rests on the back of the chair, which has to be the perfect distance away from the desk in order to be properly supported by the edge of the desk while I maneuver some weird alien typing position. If the phone rings there is balancing and leaning and all kinds of acrobatics necessary to not have the entire ridiculous system go flying into the air in an eruption of phone, arms, pencils, feet, and keyboard. I've been working for a long time to achieve this balance.
Today I was in my usual position when I moved my hand to do something on my desk. Without realizing it, this set in motion a very painful lesson for me. As I reached out for whatever it was I wanted, I managed to push the chair back out of balance, hurtling it towards the desk's edge. Normally, this would not be an issue, but since I was reaching, the planets aligned to place perfectly that tender tag of skin, nerves, and tissue that adorns my breast between the edge of the desk and the chair, in perfect position for my chairback closing in for a good hard pinch, then squeeze, then crush.
I screamed, "OWWWW!" but could accept no sympathies because I didn't want to explain what I had done! I quickly lifted my body weight off of the chair and had to actually check for (1) continued connectedness and (2) blood. It was a horrible, horrible low, and while things are not bleeding and still connected, I hope my hypothetical baby doesn't mind always being stuck on the one working side that's left. I think the other side has been pinched off and sealed for good.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
And the theme of the weekend is...
Well, it's not chicken.
I'm back at work after several glorious days of hanging out with Sarah, Doug, and monsterHarrison. It was a wonderful visit, though all too brief, but we did a lot together this weekend, including a trip to the farm, an outing at the park, going to church together, and spending lots of time lounging about, chasing Harrison around, and visiting. Oh, and zombies. There were zombies, too. And, um, some x-rated infantile searches on Google.
I got to put Harrison down for bed both nights, which is just an incredible experience. I loved snuggling him with his freshly shampooed yummy smelling hair while he picked through each book he wanted read and drank his milk. He roamed around the bed, jumping on and off and explored things in room. He chatted with himself and told me unintelligible things about what he was finding, then he'd climb back up into my lap and we'd read another book together. It was simultaneously the most intimate and most uncomplicated experience of my life, to sit with him, fully trusting, enthusiastic, loving and curious. I loved hearing him squeak and grunt as we learned about Mr. Brown's sounds and as we read Goodnight Moon. I loved lying him down in his crib, watching him prop his butt up in the air, snuggle his blanket, and quickly quiet himself down to sleep. I loved catching him 40 minutes later thumbing through Tara's Beginning Chinese books, the only books he could reach from the crib.
I loved being with family, and playing cards, and watching movies. I loved chasing Harrison around everywhere, and watching Sarah and Doug parent him together. I loved pushing Harrison in the swing, seeing Tara hold him, and watching him laugh as I tickled his tummy. I loved seeing how much he develops in the six week gap between times that I see him. I loved laughing so hard I cried with Sarah, Doug, and Tara, the kind of laugh you only have with your most intimate friends. I loved the endless debate of tandal, and pony.
I will post pictures of Bub in the Tub when I download them from home. Until then, goodnight, moon.
I'm back at work after several glorious days of hanging out with Sarah, Doug, and monsterHarrison. It was a wonderful visit, though all too brief, but we did a lot together this weekend, including a trip to the farm, an outing at the park, going to church together, and spending lots of time lounging about, chasing Harrison around, and visiting. Oh, and zombies. There were zombies, too. And, um, some x-rated infantile searches on Google.
I got to put Harrison down for bed both nights, which is just an incredible experience. I loved snuggling him with his freshly shampooed yummy smelling hair while he picked through each book he wanted read and drank his milk. He roamed around the bed, jumping on and off and explored things in room. He chatted with himself and told me unintelligible things about what he was finding, then he'd climb back up into my lap and we'd read another book together. It was simultaneously the most intimate and most uncomplicated experience of my life, to sit with him, fully trusting, enthusiastic, loving and curious. I loved hearing him squeak and grunt as we learned about Mr. Brown's sounds and as we read Goodnight Moon. I loved lying him down in his crib, watching him prop his butt up in the air, snuggle his blanket, and quickly quiet himself down to sleep. I loved catching him 40 minutes later thumbing through Tara's Beginning Chinese books, the only books he could reach from the crib.
I loved being with family, and playing cards, and watching movies. I loved chasing Harrison around everywhere, and watching Sarah and Doug parent him together. I loved pushing Harrison in the swing, seeing Tara hold him, and watching him laugh as I tickled his tummy. I loved seeing how much he develops in the six week gap between times that I see him. I loved laughing so hard I cried with Sarah, Doug, and Tara, the kind of laugh you only have with your most intimate friends. I loved the endless debate of tandal, and pony.
I will post pictures of Bub in the Tub when I download them from home. Until then, goodnight, moon.
Friday, August 19, 2005
"Woof! Woof!" means "Stupid humans!"
Gaylen has been studying a lot lately, not really able to pay a whole lot of attention to Tucker.
This morning she came home from her exam and he had removed a book from the bookshelf. He tore out every single page and piece and ripped all of it to shreds.
The book?
"What is Your Dog Thinking?" addressing behavior analysis of canines.
This morning she came home from her exam and he had removed a book from the bookshelf. He tore out every single page and piece and ripped all of it to shreds.
The book?
"What is Your Dog Thinking?" addressing behavior analysis of canines.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Wedding bliss
As we plan the reception, Sarah continues to suggest this idea for a centerpiece that she found on the web. Really, you can't make this shit up:
Here's a unique centerpiece idea. Clean beer bottles thoroughly and
remove the labels. Spray paint the bottles with a glitter spray (silver,
gold or in your wedding colors). Tie a matching or contrasting ribbon
around the neck of the bottle with ribbon streamers hanging down. Place
either a candle in the top or fill with water and insert flowers.
On what planet, people?! Beer bottles?!
Here's a unique centerpiece idea. Clean beer bottles thoroughly and
remove the labels. Spray paint the bottles with a glitter spray (silver,
gold or in your wedding colors). Tie a matching or contrasting ribbon
around the neck of the bottle with ribbon streamers hanging down. Place
either a candle in the top or fill with water and insert flowers.
On what planet, people?! Beer bottles?!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Texas has a whorehouse in it!
That's why I'm going there...tomorrow! I'll post when I get back!
(I'll take you to lunch if you can tell me where this post's title comes from!)
(I'll take you to lunch if you can tell me where this post's title comes from!)
Sunday, August 07, 2005
At last, the Nova Scotia Post
Well, let's start backwards, only because starting backwards explains why this post took one week to appear. That means we must start with Saturday, July 30. Saturday July 30 marked the day we had to leave Peggy's Cove, NS and head back home. It was the day we were going to visit Prince Edward Island. It was the day we were going to stay in Bangor, Maine, and, in fact, the day we made the worst decision of our lives: to drive straight home to Northampton. Oh, and I'm the only driver. Oh, and we didn't leave PEI until 6:15. PM. Yeah, and you thought I was smart! Needless to say, the last week has been spent sleeping in every free moment and digging out at home from mail, cleaning, kitty snuggling, etc. We both worked all week, and the church opens next weekend, so we've been there every other moment of the day. Literally every moment of the last week has been occupied with something.
The drive through Mass., New Hampshire, Maine and New Brunswick at the start of our trip was relatively uneventful. If you've ever seen the northern seacoast of main or been in southern New Hampshire, you know exactly how uneventful it can be. But on day 2 of the trip we arrived at the Bay of Fundy. The Bay was beautiful and fantastic. The water in the bay rises 17 meters during its six hour tide cycle, making it the highest rising tide in the world. We spent a couple of hours there, and even got to walk on some of the mudflats that remain once the tide starts to go out. We had a beautiful day, and a long, long drive.
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday we spent most of the time walking around town, sitting by the ocean, enjoying the cool weather and watching a lot of movies and reading a lot! Monday was our one year wedding anniversary, and we celebrated by going out to a nice dinner in Halifax. Can you say brie-stuffed almond crusted chicken with raspberry sauce? MMMM. We also went on a long, 10-mile cruise out into the Northern Atlantic, during which we saw seals, a leatherback turtle, and many, many puffins. They were pretty rough seas, and we were soaked when we got back, but we had a fantastic time. Puffins are pretty freakin' cute. Or, if you like Battlestar Gallactica, FRACKIN'.
On Wednesday we took a 750 mile tour of Nova Scotia, driving to the easternmost tip to Cape Breton island and National Park. This area, filled with Acadian and Scots-Gaelic cultures, was truly fascinating and beautiful. We drove and took pictures, hiked a little, and stopped on the way home at the only college in North America dedicated to teaching Celtic art. Fascinating.
Each morning for the rest of the week, we woke to the bagpiper playing away at the lighthouse, and spent more of our time reading, sunning, relaxing and walking around. If you're ever in Peggy's Cove, get the Nova Scotia Five-Berry ice cream served in a homemade waffle cone. It's five bucks (Canadian), but you will know heaven. HEAVEN.
Finally Saturday came, and we headed out to Prince Edward Island. We enjoyed the red, rust-oxide dyed beaches, and the warmest water north of South Carolina (along with some jellyfish). We pigged out at an all-you-can-eat-PEI-mussles lobster dinner, and then made el decision stupido mentioned above. It was a very relaxing vacation, and though I thought being that isolated would get to me, I'd pay a lot of money to be right back there at this moment.
Some things I learned in Canada:
1) Canadians love their flag. More than Americans, and more specifically, more than Texans. The Canadian flag is everywhere. EVERYWHERE.
2) Grocery stores are not open on Sunday.
3) Sharp cheddar cheese, regularly available in the US, is called Old Cheese in Canada. Mild is called Regular. Extra sharp, you ask? Well, duh: EXTRA OLD CHEESE.
4) Gas in Canada is expensive. It's about 99 cents per liter, and there are about 3.75 liters in a gallon.
5) I'm sad American English has abandoned the following spelling: colour, centre, litre, cancelling, behaviour. I am not sad we don't spell it yogOurt.
6) Beteen Tara and I, we can eat three buckets of mussels. Eww and yummy all at the same time.
7) Measuring distance in KM makes driving 750 miles go much faster. You just feel more productive.
8) The "Caution: Deer Crossing" signs in Nova Scotia depict the least graceful most freaked out deer running across the road I've ever seen indicated in a street sign anywhere ever.
9) I will voluntarily wake up earlier than I get up by force with an alarm clock when I have to get up for work.
10) The National Park system is very well executed with wonderful attractions, friendly staff, and clean washrooms. It also only costs six bucks (Canadian) to get in. NP in the US cost more than the gas it takes to get there.
The drive through Mass., New Hampshire, Maine and New Brunswick at the start of our trip was relatively uneventful. If you've ever seen the northern seacoast of main or been in southern New Hampshire, you know exactly how uneventful it can be. But on day 2 of the trip we arrived at the Bay of Fundy. The Bay was beautiful and fantastic. The water in the bay rises 17 meters during its six hour tide cycle, making it the highest rising tide in the world. We spent a couple of hours there, and even got to walk on some of the mudflats that remain once the tide starts to go out. We had a beautiful day, and a long, long drive.
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday we spent most of the time walking around town, sitting by the ocean, enjoying the cool weather and watching a lot of movies and reading a lot! Monday was our one year wedding anniversary, and we celebrated by going out to a nice dinner in Halifax. Can you say brie-stuffed almond crusted chicken with raspberry sauce? MMMM. We also went on a long, 10-mile cruise out into the Northern Atlantic, during which we saw seals, a leatherback turtle, and many, many puffins. They were pretty rough seas, and we were soaked when we got back, but we had a fantastic time. Puffins are pretty freakin' cute. Or, if you like Battlestar Gallactica, FRACKIN'.
On Wednesday we took a 750 mile tour of Nova Scotia, driving to the easternmost tip to Cape Breton island and National Park. This area, filled with Acadian and Scots-Gaelic cultures, was truly fascinating and beautiful. We drove and took pictures, hiked a little, and stopped on the way home at the only college in North America dedicated to teaching Celtic art. Fascinating.
Each morning for the rest of the week, we woke to the bagpiper playing away at the lighthouse, and spent more of our time reading, sunning, relaxing and walking around. If you're ever in Peggy's Cove, get the Nova Scotia Five-Berry ice cream served in a homemade waffle cone. It's five bucks (Canadian), but you will know heaven. HEAVEN.
Finally Saturday came, and we headed out to Prince Edward Island. We enjoyed the red, rust-oxide dyed beaches, and the warmest water north of South Carolina (along with some jellyfish). We pigged out at an all-you-can-eat-PEI-mussles lobster dinner, and then made el decision stupido mentioned above. It was a very relaxing vacation, and though I thought being that isolated would get to me, I'd pay a lot of money to be right back there at this moment.
Some things I learned in Canada:
1) Canadians love their flag. More than Americans, and more specifically, more than Texans. The Canadian flag is everywhere. EVERYWHERE.
2) Grocery stores are not open on Sunday.
3) Sharp cheddar cheese, regularly available in the US, is called Old Cheese in Canada. Mild is called Regular. Extra sharp, you ask? Well, duh: EXTRA OLD CHEESE.
4) Gas in Canada is expensive. It's about 99 cents per liter, and there are about 3.75 liters in a gallon.
5) I'm sad American English has abandoned the following spelling: colour, centre, litre, cancelling, behaviour. I am not sad we don't spell it yogOurt.
6) Beteen Tara and I, we can eat three buckets of mussels. Eww and yummy all at the same time.
7) Measuring distance in KM makes driving 750 miles go much faster. You just feel more productive.
8) The "Caution: Deer Crossing" signs in Nova Scotia depict the least graceful most freaked out deer running across the road I've ever seen indicated in a street sign anywhere ever.
9) I will voluntarily wake up earlier than I get up by force with an alarm clock when I have to get up for work.
10) The National Park system is very well executed with wonderful attractions, friendly staff, and clean washrooms. It also only costs six bucks (Canadian) to get in. NP in the US cost more than the gas it takes to get there.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Bangor? I don't even know her!
We have arrived for our first night in lovely Bangor, ME. The whole visit to lovely Bangor, ME will be less than nine hours, which is fine, because there's no way we could see all of the thriving metropolis that is Bangor, ME in less than three days, at least.
We're out the door to press on in 3...2...1...
Peace.
We're out the door to press on in 3...2...1...
Peace.
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