6:30pm – 1260 miles into trip right outside of St. Louis, Missouri Kevin and MK decide to pull an all-nighter and drive through the night. First cup of coffee and red bull. Kevin driving.
6:45pm – Said HI and BYE to St. Louis, MS
7:22pm – Phone time with family
7:45pm – Realized how awful and awesome driving west into the sunset is
8:00pm – Rest stop to check load, stretch legs, MK starts watching Anchorman while Kevin quotes every line
9:00pm – Classy car dinner with leftover spinach lasagna
9:45pm – Finished Anchorman
10:20pm – Drove through Kansas City, crossed into Kansas
10:52pm – Kansas Turnpike
11:00pm – Second cup of coffee and red bull, MK driving
11:11pm – Brown vs. Board Educational Museum signs are everywhere
12:50am – Topeka, Kansas
1:30am – With Kevin asleep pretty much since driver change, MK resorts to Spanish music and Broadway tunes to keep her awake
2:01am – Kevin wakes somewhere in BFE Kansas
2:49am – Quick stop in Hays, KS for gas
3:35am – Parked at rest area to take nap
6:30am – MK hogs sleeping bag from passenger side, freezing Kevin wakes and decides to get going again
(8AM BECOMES 7AM AS MST IS CROSSED)
7:31am – MK awakes to more cornfields, a full bladder, and an empty stomach
7:45am – McDonald's stop
8:00am – Hello Colorado (quick photo shoot with sign)
8:08am – Saw first ‘tumbleweed’ blow across the road
8:10am – In commemoration, MK starts and finishes the movie Dumb and Dumber
9:45am – Fill up on gas, MK driving
10:10am – First sign of the Rockies in the far distance!
10:20am – Drive by of Denver
10:45am – After combating gail wind forces and fast mountain drivers, MK relinquishes the wheel – Kevin driving
11:30am – In the middle of the Rockies – MK and Kevin in awe!
12:20pm – Arrive at destination: Winter Park, Colorado to visit Casey!
3:00-6pm – Nap time!
7:00-10pm – Dinner and drinks with friends in Colorado… Nothing better!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Trek West Part One
Coming to you from inside the beast that is Taco (Kevin’s Toyota Tacoma). She is filled to the brim with what a couple thinks necessary to have, trekking across the country. As Kevin puts it, “We have a small REI strapped to her.” As a girl, I’m proud by the fact I only have 3 official tupperwares with my name on it (and one has towels, linens, and other odds and ends that we’ll both use). The other 12 or so (of varying sizes) are packed with fishing rods, lines, and flies, kayaking helmets and lifejackets, sleeping bags, camping equipment, disc golf toys, and one small tub of plaid button ups and Patagonia shorts. Kevin is an expert packer, so even though we’re carrying a lot, and the truck certainly feels weighed down, it’s all compact and neatly tucked away under a tarp. I was in charge of packing the cab. A guitar (hopefully that will be put to good use this summer), a box of electronics, pillows, and some DVD cases among other things block our view through the back window. We also each packed a ‘week’ bag filled with toiletries and clothes we plan on using during our drive (which was almost impossible to plan and pack for… We started at the beach with balmy 75 degree Fahrenheit weather but we know we’re headed to Fraser, Colorado where Kevin’s friend lives and has reported to us that they have 2 feet of snow… What?!) To finish off the mess, our backpacks with cell phone chargers, books, and laptops and finally a delicious soiree of goodies that Kevin’s sweet, sweet mom bought and packed for us are all on top for easy access. We’ve already made good use of our sandwich fixins and I’m completely grateful for (and in danger of), not only an entire box of vanilla wafers, but chocolate chip cookies she bagged for us! (THANKS CINDY!!!) Side note: Kevin just informed me we are 1004 miles into our trip!
AND we just passed the Kentucky state line (shout out to Patrick and his home state!) We left Kevin’s house in Nashville around noon today. Thankfully, the day we planned to drive to Nashville, Kevin awoke feeling much better than he had in days. No more stomach problems! So to Nashville we headed, albeit much later in the day than we had originally anticipated. I had planned on making a stop right outside of Pigeon Forge to get a good Patrick hug in (one of my dearest and bestest friends), but since we didn’t leave until 1:30, and then were delayed even more from having to redirect because the President was flying out of the Asheville Airport at 2, we had to forego our plans to meet up. Which to that I say, he just needs to come out west sometime this summer. We arrived at Kevin’s dad’s house to open arms and just in time for dinner! They had prepared steaks, asparagus, and potatoes and we were delighted and stuffed by an amazing home cooked meal! To top it off, Kevin told them to keep a supply of chocolate so I could get my fix (do I sound like a druggy for chocolate or what?!). So Kevin’s little sis prepared chocolate lava cakes!! Olive garden had NOTHING on those tasty little bites of Heaven! This was my first official meeting of Kevin’s father, stepmom, and sister so it was wonderful getting to know them all and seeing just where Kevin gets all of his humor, manners, and quirks! The next day was a ‘running errands’ kind of day… Kevin treated me to my favorite breakfast spot, Cracker Barrel (a chain I don’t mind touting!) and then we got him a new phone (which is the exact same one I own and I’ve already had to change my notification ringers, sheez…). Most importantly, I finally got myself to an eye doctor. As I stated in my previous blog, I was having severe eye problems that as Kevin stated, “Makes her cranky as all get out.” But you’d be cranky too if every morning your eyes felt like they were on fire OR swollen shut with eye crust (yeah… eye crust…). Kevin’s mother was the one who hooked me up, since she worked at said office. So I officially met Kevin’s mom there! It was funny because Kevin had already fully warned me that every lady that worked there would know exactly who I was and what type of fun Kevin and I were getting in to. Sure enough, I was approached more than once with the line, “You must be MK!” I felt special! After being reassured that I was having a bad case of eye allergies (with a small flair up of a past eye condition), I was given the a-ok and a whole bunch of free samples of eye drops to alleviate the situation – thank you Dr. Scott. They already feel better and I feel restored to my ole self again! (Kevin is probably more thankful than I am…) Following the doctor and a quick car tour of downtown Nashville (there’s a full sized replica of the Pantheon! WHO KNEW?! I didn’t!), we were a bit peckish so Kevin wanted to introduce me to Krystals burgers. I trust his judgement, but at the same time, the kid can’t smell and that affects his taste buds… The little boogers were disgusting. I don’t even think there was real meat in those things. The Dr. Pepper I got was good though. So after I crushed Kevin’s dream of us sharing a love for Krystals, we headed to his momma’s house for yet another awesomely home cooked meal. This time it was caesar salad, spinach lasagna, and garlic breadsticks! What did we do to deserve such treatment?! Not only that, but I was surprised with adorable Michael Kors sandals (with the official logo ‘MK’ on them – perfect!), magazines for the drive, and all the previously aforementioned food items! Score! Again, we were early bedders (which I’m slowly getting used to, believe it or not!) because we planned to get up at the crack of dawn for breakfast at a Nashville staple, the Pancake Pantry. So with Kevin’s mom we met his dad and the four of us dined on delish breakfast items. I ordered the pecan pancakes (YUM-MY) and some egg whites, that I caught some slack for from Kevin’s dad – a true character! He told me the story of Nicole Kidman going to a local dive bar down the road that served food and trying to order an egg white omelette. The cook told her they weren’t on the menu and refused to make them for her! Ha! Apparently, she’s not as demure and sweet as she seems! A national enquirer type magazine ran the story as “Kidman refused egg whites!” and the owner said it was the best free advertisement that he ever had! Now, on Sunday brunches, they offer ‘The Nicole.” You can guess what it is. Hahaha… So once again, we were treated to a fulfilling meal, one that would really get our day of driving started!
After goodbyes, hugs, and pictures, Kevin and I headed back to the his dad’s for one last good pack of Taco (but not before a nice mid morning nap on a full stomach). We filled her with gas, and got on our way! We’re still not too sure what we’ll be doing tonight – to drive or not to drive is the question. To camp or not to camp. To hotel or not to hotel. We decided to just drive and see what we feel when the time comes! Currently, we have our GPS set to Fraser, Colorado (our next real destination before West Yellowstone) and if we drive straight, we’ll arrive at 6:35am… Granted, we’ll have to stop for gas, pee breaks, and photo opportunities.
Signing off for now because I’m done AND because of this:
Kevin reaches for his phone, answers: Hello?
MK turns radio down.
Kevin: It’s for you.
MK starts to reach for phone as Kevin says: It’s your publisher calling, he wants to know when you’ll be done with your book.
Wha wha wha whaaaaaa….
AND we just passed the Kentucky state line (shout out to Patrick and his home state!) We left Kevin’s house in Nashville around noon today. Thankfully, the day we planned to drive to Nashville, Kevin awoke feeling much better than he had in days. No more stomach problems! So to Nashville we headed, albeit much later in the day than we had originally anticipated. I had planned on making a stop right outside of Pigeon Forge to get a good Patrick hug in (one of my dearest and bestest friends), but since we didn’t leave until 1:30, and then were delayed even more from having to redirect because the President was flying out of the Asheville Airport at 2, we had to forego our plans to meet up. Which to that I say, he just needs to come out west sometime this summer. We arrived at Kevin’s dad’s house to open arms and just in time for dinner! They had prepared steaks, asparagus, and potatoes and we were delighted and stuffed by an amazing home cooked meal! To top it off, Kevin told them to keep a supply of chocolate so I could get my fix (do I sound like a druggy for chocolate or what?!). So Kevin’s little sis prepared chocolate lava cakes!! Olive garden had NOTHING on those tasty little bites of Heaven! This was my first official meeting of Kevin’s father, stepmom, and sister so it was wonderful getting to know them all and seeing just where Kevin gets all of his humor, manners, and quirks! The next day was a ‘running errands’ kind of day… Kevin treated me to my favorite breakfast spot, Cracker Barrel (a chain I don’t mind touting!) and then we got him a new phone (which is the exact same one I own and I’ve already had to change my notification ringers, sheez…). Most importantly, I finally got myself to an eye doctor. As I stated in my previous blog, I was having severe eye problems that as Kevin stated, “Makes her cranky as all get out.” But you’d be cranky too if every morning your eyes felt like they were on fire OR swollen shut with eye crust (yeah… eye crust…). Kevin’s mother was the one who hooked me up, since she worked at said office. So I officially met Kevin’s mom there! It was funny because Kevin had already fully warned me that every lady that worked there would know exactly who I was and what type of fun Kevin and I were getting in to. Sure enough, I was approached more than once with the line, “You must be MK!” I felt special! After being reassured that I was having a bad case of eye allergies (with a small flair up of a past eye condition), I was given the a-ok and a whole bunch of free samples of eye drops to alleviate the situation – thank you Dr. Scott. They already feel better and I feel restored to my ole self again! (Kevin is probably more thankful than I am…) Following the doctor and a quick car tour of downtown Nashville (there’s a full sized replica of the Pantheon! WHO KNEW?! I didn’t!), we were a bit peckish so Kevin wanted to introduce me to Krystals burgers. I trust his judgement, but at the same time, the kid can’t smell and that affects his taste buds… The little boogers were disgusting. I don’t even think there was real meat in those things. The Dr. Pepper I got was good though. So after I crushed Kevin’s dream of us sharing a love for Krystals, we headed to his momma’s house for yet another awesomely home cooked meal. This time it was caesar salad, spinach lasagna, and garlic breadsticks! What did we do to deserve such treatment?! Not only that, but I was surprised with adorable Michael Kors sandals (with the official logo ‘MK’ on them – perfect!), magazines for the drive, and all the previously aforementioned food items! Score! Again, we were early bedders (which I’m slowly getting used to, believe it or not!) because we planned to get up at the crack of dawn for breakfast at a Nashville staple, the Pancake Pantry. So with Kevin’s mom we met his dad and the four of us dined on delish breakfast items. I ordered the pecan pancakes (YUM-MY) and some egg whites, that I caught some slack for from Kevin’s dad – a true character! He told me the story of Nicole Kidman going to a local dive bar down the road that served food and trying to order an egg white omelette. The cook told her they weren’t on the menu and refused to make them for her! Ha! Apparently, she’s not as demure and sweet as she seems! A national enquirer type magazine ran the story as “Kidman refused egg whites!” and the owner said it was the best free advertisement that he ever had! Now, on Sunday brunches, they offer ‘The Nicole.” You can guess what it is. Hahaha… So once again, we were treated to a fulfilling meal, one that would really get our day of driving started!
After goodbyes, hugs, and pictures, Kevin and I headed back to the his dad’s for one last good pack of Taco (but not before a nice mid morning nap on a full stomach). We filled her with gas, and got on our way! We’re still not too sure what we’ll be doing tonight – to drive or not to drive is the question. To camp or not to camp. To hotel or not to hotel. We decided to just drive and see what we feel when the time comes! Currently, we have our GPS set to Fraser, Colorado (our next real destination before West Yellowstone) and if we drive straight, we’ll arrive at 6:35am… Granted, we’ll have to stop for gas, pee breaks, and photo opportunities.
Signing off for now because I’m done AND because of this:
Kevin reaches for his phone, answers: Hello?
MK turns radio down.
Kevin: It’s for you.
MK starts to reach for phone as Kevin says: It’s your publisher calling, he wants to know when you’ll be done with your book.
Wha wha wha whaaaaaa….
Saturday, April 24, 2010
At least I had Fiddlesticks?!
(Written in two parts because I couldn't find the time or energy to finish what I had started!)
Currently writing from a beautiful day on the Outerbanks of North Carolina. I've been here since Wednesday of last week. Kevin drove up and spent my last 3 days in New York with me. It was wonderful. The weather made it even harder to say goodbye, but after my security deposit was (FINALLY) collected, we set out to start the first leg of our adventure.
Leaving NYC was a very surreal experience. Despite the fact I was only there just shy of 2 months, it was still like saying goodbye to a good friend knowing that, even though you will see each other again, you don't know when it will be... I was quiet until Virginia, at which point I realized just how lucky I am, and fortunate that I'm able to do so many incredible things with my life.
So here I am, at the beach, with my love, biding my time until we start our official trek across the country to West Yellowstone, Montana. Kevin has been a professional kayaking guide for a company in the OBX called Coastal Kayaks for the last 5 seasons. He came out just for 6 weeks to help the bossman start the summer. I've been lucky enough to get to go out on the water with him several times. I love it... despite the fact that I'm still learning how to paddle... AND despite the fact that we were nearly charged by a 13 foot alligator that was literally growling at us. But I love going out and seeing Kevin in his element.
(And here my friends, is where I got distracted from house/dog-sitting...)
NOW I come to you in the comfort of my own bed (or at least, the comfort of the 'guest bedroom' bed) at my parents' abode in the mountains of NC. We have officially started our trek, having left the Outerbanks yesterday morning/early afternoon. So far, we haven't had the smoothest of rides - literally and figuratively speaking. We found a nail in the front driver's tire of Taco (Kevin's truck), so we had an hour detour to get that taken care of. Once on the road again, poor Kevin's health took a turn for the worst. He had been feeling ill since the night before. We attributed it to the fact that we were both mentally and physically exhausted (having both gone out on tours the day prior for a full 12 hours). Unfortunately, by the next afternoon (a little over 2 hours into our trip) Kevin couldn't stand to be behind the wheel. I had to drive and let Kevin sleep and sip his ginger ale. We had already planned a stop in Greensboro to see my sister and her new pup. It would also be the first time my sis would meet Kevin! He manned up ('Bless his heart') and we had a lovely visit, laughing and playing with her full grown bulldog named 'Pink' and her new addition to the fam, 'Roy' (short for ROYGBIV - the colors of the rainbow). I should probably mention that I have the WORST puppy fever imaginable. I've always been a dog person, and I love having the furry things around, but with the floating lifestyle I lead, it would be completely unfair for the dog. We might play with the idea a little more seriously once in Montana, but we'll just have to see...
Anyway, after hugs were shared and my sister and I laughed another laugh, we headed out again and towards the mountains. Again, with Kevin not feeling up to par, I drove us the remaining 3.5 hours to Hendersonville. We had to stop by the airport to pick up my mom's car since she and the bro had left it there that morning to fly out to Shanghai (where my parent's live full time at the mo). A man by the name of Mr. President Barack Obama just happens to be in Asheville this weekend, so after asking the ticket guy if the plane was still in the area, we pulled around to see Air Force One just chillin' on the tarmac! Crazy. Hoping to sleep off the rest of his bug, Kevin and I retired early to bed.
This morning we awoke to the beautiful mountain sunshine. Unfortunately we also awoke to more of the same with Kevin. But after some nausea had passed, he felt confident enough to go on with our plans for the day. First stop: Barleys for some fiddlesticks (again, I'm ADDICTED). They were so amazing, and luckily for me Kevin couldn't stomach too many (is that bad to say?). We also met up with a lovely friend of mine from Asheville. So with her in tow we headed to the next stop: French Broad Chocolate Lounge (if you live or plan to visit the Asheville area, this is a MUST). Since I knew I wouldn't be indulging in this fine establishment for quite some time, I splurged and never looked back: a box of 6 delicately crafted and savory chocolates (with natural flavors like lavender, rose, chai, and orange zest) AND.... a liquid truffle. The Aztecs would DEFinitely approve of this indulgence. It's the thickest hot chocolate I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing (even over Russian hot chocolate which was about the only thing I liked when visiting that country). I'm proud (sad? embarrassed?) to say I drank and ate all of it in 4 hours time! So for what Kevin couldn't eat, I well made up for it. (it's ok... I plan to get into a healthier routine once settled in Montana)
The late afternoon/night had been designated for all our Brevard folk. By the time we headed that way though, the rain AND the bug in Kevin's stomach were back with a vengeance. After a stop at The Hub to see some friends of Kevin's, we headed straight to his old house to pick up some leftover boxes of his, AND so he could chill out for a bit. The poor thing has zero energy since he hasn't been able to stomach any food. He plugged on and we went to a couple's house whom I'd never met, very dear friends of Kevin's. Our visit was much shorter than anticipated though since he was on a continuous vomiting clock. I had to stop once while on the road, and well... I won't get graphic. Needless to say, we had to head home and forgo seeing any more people. It was a total bummer, but our friends are amazing people who we'll always have in our lives, and frankly, I need this boy to get better so I'm not the only one behind the wheel on the rest of our 50 hour drive out West!
Also of concern: My eyes have been very uncooperative as of late. They're constantly red, itchy, and on fire. It could be allergies, but at this point, I think I'm going to need a nice steroid drop for any real relief to take effect. I've had severe eye problems before, so it could also be a flair up. My eye sight is starting to worsen. I have an appointment at an eye doctor's office in Nashville for Monday (we'll be visiting with Kevin's folks for a couple days), and hopefully that will get taken care of.
We're a motley crew we are: Kevin and I. I can't see well, he can't process food. Taco had a nail in her tire. And they're calling for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in our area. Whew... What a great way to start our trip...
Currently writing from a beautiful day on the Outerbanks of North Carolina. I've been here since Wednesday of last week. Kevin drove up and spent my last 3 days in New York with me. It was wonderful. The weather made it even harder to say goodbye, but after my security deposit was (FINALLY) collected, we set out to start the first leg of our adventure.
Leaving NYC was a very surreal experience. Despite the fact I was only there just shy of 2 months, it was still like saying goodbye to a good friend knowing that, even though you will see each other again, you don't know when it will be... I was quiet until Virginia, at which point I realized just how lucky I am, and fortunate that I'm able to do so many incredible things with my life.
So here I am, at the beach, with my love, biding my time until we start our official trek across the country to West Yellowstone, Montana. Kevin has been a professional kayaking guide for a company in the OBX called Coastal Kayaks for the last 5 seasons. He came out just for 6 weeks to help the bossman start the summer. I've been lucky enough to get to go out on the water with him several times. I love it... despite the fact that I'm still learning how to paddle... AND despite the fact that we were nearly charged by a 13 foot alligator that was literally growling at us. But I love going out and seeing Kevin in his element.
(And here my friends, is where I got distracted from house/dog-sitting...)
NOW I come to you in the comfort of my own bed (or at least, the comfort of the 'guest bedroom' bed) at my parents' abode in the mountains of NC. We have officially started our trek, having left the Outerbanks yesterday morning/early afternoon. So far, we haven't had the smoothest of rides - literally and figuratively speaking. We found a nail in the front driver's tire of Taco (Kevin's truck), so we had an hour detour to get that taken care of. Once on the road again, poor Kevin's health took a turn for the worst. He had been feeling ill since the night before. We attributed it to the fact that we were both mentally and physically exhausted (having both gone out on tours the day prior for a full 12 hours). Unfortunately, by the next afternoon (a little over 2 hours into our trip) Kevin couldn't stand to be behind the wheel. I had to drive and let Kevin sleep and sip his ginger ale. We had already planned a stop in Greensboro to see my sister and her new pup. It would also be the first time my sis would meet Kevin! He manned up ('Bless his heart') and we had a lovely visit, laughing and playing with her full grown bulldog named 'Pink' and her new addition to the fam, 'Roy' (short for ROYGBIV - the colors of the rainbow). I should probably mention that I have the WORST puppy fever imaginable. I've always been a dog person, and I love having the furry things around, but with the floating lifestyle I lead, it would be completely unfair for the dog. We might play with the idea a little more seriously once in Montana, but we'll just have to see...
Anyway, after hugs were shared and my sister and I laughed another laugh, we headed out again and towards the mountains. Again, with Kevin not feeling up to par, I drove us the remaining 3.5 hours to Hendersonville. We had to stop by the airport to pick up my mom's car since she and the bro had left it there that morning to fly out to Shanghai (where my parent's live full time at the mo). A man by the name of Mr. President Barack Obama just happens to be in Asheville this weekend, so after asking the ticket guy if the plane was still in the area, we pulled around to see Air Force One just chillin' on the tarmac! Crazy. Hoping to sleep off the rest of his bug, Kevin and I retired early to bed.
This morning we awoke to the beautiful mountain sunshine. Unfortunately we also awoke to more of the same with Kevin. But after some nausea had passed, he felt confident enough to go on with our plans for the day. First stop: Barleys for some fiddlesticks (again, I'm ADDICTED). They were so amazing, and luckily for me Kevin couldn't stomach too many (is that bad to say?). We also met up with a lovely friend of mine from Asheville. So with her in tow we headed to the next stop: French Broad Chocolate Lounge (if you live or plan to visit the Asheville area, this is a MUST). Since I knew I wouldn't be indulging in this fine establishment for quite some time, I splurged and never looked back: a box of 6 delicately crafted and savory chocolates (with natural flavors like lavender, rose, chai, and orange zest) AND.... a liquid truffle. The Aztecs would DEFinitely approve of this indulgence. It's the thickest hot chocolate I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing (even over Russian hot chocolate which was about the only thing I liked when visiting that country). I'm proud (sad? embarrassed?) to say I drank and ate all of it in 4 hours time! So for what Kevin couldn't eat, I well made up for it. (it's ok... I plan to get into a healthier routine once settled in Montana)
The late afternoon/night had been designated for all our Brevard folk. By the time we headed that way though, the rain AND the bug in Kevin's stomach were back with a vengeance. After a stop at The Hub to see some friends of Kevin's, we headed straight to his old house to pick up some leftover boxes of his, AND so he could chill out for a bit. The poor thing has zero energy since he hasn't been able to stomach any food. He plugged on and we went to a couple's house whom I'd never met, very dear friends of Kevin's. Our visit was much shorter than anticipated though since he was on a continuous vomiting clock. I had to stop once while on the road, and well... I won't get graphic. Needless to say, we had to head home and forgo seeing any more people. It was a total bummer, but our friends are amazing people who we'll always have in our lives, and frankly, I need this boy to get better so I'm not the only one behind the wheel on the rest of our 50 hour drive out West!
Also of concern: My eyes have been very uncooperative as of late. They're constantly red, itchy, and on fire. It could be allergies, but at this point, I think I'm going to need a nice steroid drop for any real relief to take effect. I've had severe eye problems before, so it could also be a flair up. My eye sight is starting to worsen. I have an appointment at an eye doctor's office in Nashville for Monday (we'll be visiting with Kevin's folks for a couple days), and hopefully that will get taken care of.
We're a motley crew we are: Kevin and I. I can't see well, he can't process food. Taco had a nail in her tire. And they're calling for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in our area. Whew... What a great way to start our trip...
Saturday, April 10, 2010
breaking contentment
I have an extremely selective memory, on top of a short term one. But some things, most of them mundane, stick out so vividly that I keep asking myself why my brain chose to remember them the best. For instance, my siblings and I used to carpool with some neighbors. On a drive back from school, I distinctly remember being in the backseat as the girl drove us home (she had her learner's permit). She was driving too closely to the yellow line towards the curb, so her dad said, "Jennifer - don't get too close to that yellow line!" And her reply, "WELL... at least I'm not close to the white lines!" Why oh WHY I can recall that specific moment, I'll never know. And it's frustrating because I feel like I've lost so many wonderful memories that I only miss once I've been reminded of them in FULL detail by a friend. Another moment (one in which pertains to this blog), was a line spoken by one of my closest friends in college. If someone asked how my life was going then, I normally would respond with, "I'm content!" I thought that would portray the fact that I was happy in my life (and I was...). One day though, we were talking and she said she never wanted to be just 'content.' For her, contentment meant settling - meant that you weren't living your life to its fullest. Sure enough, definition of 'content' is: "satisfied with a certain level of achievement, good fortune, etc, and not wishing for more."
Being content might be ok for some. But not me. I agree with my friend. I never want to be just 'content.' I'll always want to reach higher in life and I'll always wish for more. Never in the materialistic sense, ever. But trying to soak up everyday and living life to the fullest. Which is why I'm leaving New York, for now at least. I know what's here. A summertime 'conventional job' where it's too hot out and my back is sweating before I even reach the subway. Er, no thanks. I would be content though, just living in the city, enjoying the parks (on my days off...), drinking with my friends in the beer gardens, and living in NYC for the glory of saying I live in NYC... Contentment.
I'm breaking the pattern, stepping out of this mold I've crafted for myself since I was a little girl. I never want to settle into a life where I'm content (ok, well at least not until I'm old and have retired here!!: http://www.fincabellavista.net/faq.htm
hahaha!!). I want to be challenged. I want to understand as many things with my eyes, my ears, nose, hands and feet while I can! I want to go on adventures. I want more moments that my brain can actually remember...
Being content might be ok for some. But not me. I agree with my friend. I never want to be just 'content.' I'll always want to reach higher in life and I'll always wish for more. Never in the materialistic sense, ever. But trying to soak up everyday and living life to the fullest. Which is why I'm leaving New York, for now at least. I know what's here. A summertime 'conventional job' where it's too hot out and my back is sweating before I even reach the subway. Er, no thanks. I would be content though, just living in the city, enjoying the parks (on my days off...), drinking with my friends in the beer gardens, and living in NYC for the glory of saying I live in NYC... Contentment.
I'm breaking the pattern, stepping out of this mold I've crafted for myself since I was a little girl. I never want to settle into a life where I'm content (ok, well at least not until I'm old and have retired here!!: http://www.fincabellavista.net/faq.htm
hahaha!!). I want to be challenged. I want to understand as many things with my eyes, my ears, nose, hands and feet while I can! I want to go on adventures. I want more moments that my brain can actually remember...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Mullet Day
Mullet Day - n. A particular 24 hour period in which one has a more conservative, work-related event in the morning which is then directly followed by a non-specific 'fun' activity in the evening. (thanks Chef!)
That was my day yesterday. In case you were wondering, I'll explain...
There was an open call for Grease, the musical. Girls only. It was a non-union, great paying, fall touring job. My roommate and I were up at 7:15 to leave by 8am. I had figured that would give us PLENTY of time to get to the studio (Pearl for those of you who do the auditioning thing in NYC), and sign in on the 'unofficial' list before the auditions would start at 11:30.
'Unofficial' lists are started by the girls that first get to the studio. In most cases, that means they're there before I've even woken up (and most times before the studio is even opened in the morning). Theatre companies will always say that the 'unofficial' list won't be recognized, but I've never been to an audition where it hasn't. People would revolt. So when it comes time for us to start lining up in order to be seen the 'official' list is directly copied from the 'unofficial' one.
When we arrived at the studio at 8:30am, I knew we were in trouble, just from the amount of girls waiting to get on the elevator. When we got to the 12th floor it was even worse. There were girls everywhere. Sure enough, the unofficial list had been started (and started MUCH earlier than I anticipated) and we were numbers 316 and 317... No bueno... No bueno AT ALL. We found out from a first-timer (she had flown in just for this audition) that a lot of girls had been invited to a 10am dance call. Great. That meant they would get through all those girls first before they even considered the rest of us. It wasn't until 12:30 that they started on the 'unofficial' list (which had grown to be over 450 names long), and even then they were type-casting.
Type-casting can be a really great thing. Yesterday, I was extremely thankful for it. If companies are looking for a very specific look, and I don't fit it, I'd rather them not waste my time and vice versa.
So around 1:45, we were sent in the room, 30 at a time, lined up 10 deep in 3 rows. Each row took their turn in front of the 'judges' table. I believe there were 3 girls typed-in out of the 30 in my group. And they all looked 12. And that was that. Each group was averaging about 5 girls that were held, so at the end of the day, there were probably only around 60 or 70 that got to actually audition.
Because we had had such a long and draining morning (trust me, auditioning is WORK and rejection is inevitable), we decided to not let the beautiful day go to waste. My roommate and I, joined by another lovely girl that was my roommate's best friend in high school, headed to Mother Burgers for some $3 margaritas. And so the 'party in the back' commenced...
After sitting outside, basking in the sun, and getting sufficiently tipsy off frozen beverages, my roommate and I headed out for some shopping. And go figure, Red Mango (my FAVORITE yogurt chain) just happened to be on the way (hmmm... random....). So we stopped in for a delightful treat that hit the spot in no time, then went on our way. I'm planning a big move to Montana (again, more on that later...), so I hit up some sales racks and found some great heavy sweaters for cheap, cheap, cheap... Then it was time to meet my friend, Mandy. I said goodbye to Alicia at 49th street on the N train and was on my way to Rudys.
Rudys is a great bar in NYC for many reasons:
1. There's a giant pig standing out front.
2. $9 pitchers of GREAT Rudys Red Beer
3. FREE HOT DOGS
4. Cool atmosphere, great vibe
5. The best barstaff in the city
6. My friend, the doorman
7. FREE HOT DOGS
8. Convenient location
I highly recommend it.
So Mandy and I did our usual 3 pitchers or so (we're champs... even though I became sufficiently bloated), and she got a hankering for some yogurt. She's been trying to get me to taste PinkBerry (a rival of Red Mangos) for the past few weeks, and I knew I should so that my opinion of Red Mango would be solidified and just. She called them at 10:52pm to see what time they closed. At 10:54pm we were running the 2 blocks to PinkBerry before the door locked. Exercise: check. I got a small of the 'original' flavor. Here's my formal opinion: Red Mangos IS better. The original flavor there isn't as tart, they have more yogurt flavoring options (which I actually tried a new one yesterday called Madagascar Vanilla - PHENOM-MENAL), they have dark ghiradelli (sp?) chocolate chips (need I say more), the staff prepares the yogurt MUCH quicker, and I just like Red Mango better, so there... I WILL say, in PinkBerrys defense, I wouldn't NOT eat there, but if I had my choice, it'd be the other. Oh, and also I wish Red Mango would get some of the brownie bites that PinkBerrys has. They are delicious!
With my PinkBerry in tow, I said goodnight to Mandy and sprinted home so I could wish my beloved a Happy Birthday. I was late by 12 minutes (stupid slow trains), but still got to Skype and be the first to formally wish him a great day. I'm a big believer in birthdays, so I hate not being with him to celebrate and just simply give him a big ole birthday hug. But I'll see him on Sunday, as he'll be driving to the big city to whisk me away... Stay tuned!
That was my day yesterday. In case you were wondering, I'll explain...
There was an open call for Grease, the musical. Girls only. It was a non-union, great paying, fall touring job. My roommate and I were up at 7:15 to leave by 8am. I had figured that would give us PLENTY of time to get to the studio (Pearl for those of you who do the auditioning thing in NYC), and sign in on the 'unofficial' list before the auditions would start at 11:30.
'Unofficial' lists are started by the girls that first get to the studio. In most cases, that means they're there before I've even woken up (and most times before the studio is even opened in the morning). Theatre companies will always say that the 'unofficial' list won't be recognized, but I've never been to an audition where it hasn't. People would revolt. So when it comes time for us to start lining up in order to be seen the 'official' list is directly copied from the 'unofficial' one.
When we arrived at the studio at 8:30am, I knew we were in trouble, just from the amount of girls waiting to get on the elevator. When we got to the 12th floor it was even worse. There were girls everywhere. Sure enough, the unofficial list had been started (and started MUCH earlier than I anticipated) and we were numbers 316 and 317... No bueno... No bueno AT ALL. We found out from a first-timer (she had flown in just for this audition) that a lot of girls had been invited to a 10am dance call. Great. That meant they would get through all those girls first before they even considered the rest of us. It wasn't until 12:30 that they started on the 'unofficial' list (which had grown to be over 450 names long), and even then they were type-casting.
Type-casting can be a really great thing. Yesterday, I was extremely thankful for it. If companies are looking for a very specific look, and I don't fit it, I'd rather them not waste my time and vice versa.
So around 1:45, we were sent in the room, 30 at a time, lined up 10 deep in 3 rows. Each row took their turn in front of the 'judges' table. I believe there were 3 girls typed-in out of the 30 in my group. And they all looked 12. And that was that. Each group was averaging about 5 girls that were held, so at the end of the day, there were probably only around 60 or 70 that got to actually audition.
Because we had had such a long and draining morning (trust me, auditioning is WORK and rejection is inevitable), we decided to not let the beautiful day go to waste. My roommate and I, joined by another lovely girl that was my roommate's best friend in high school, headed to Mother Burgers for some $3 margaritas. And so the 'party in the back' commenced...
After sitting outside, basking in the sun, and getting sufficiently tipsy off frozen beverages, my roommate and I headed out for some shopping. And go figure, Red Mango (my FAVORITE yogurt chain) just happened to be on the way (hmmm... random....). So we stopped in for a delightful treat that hit the spot in no time, then went on our way. I'm planning a big move to Montana (again, more on that later...), so I hit up some sales racks and found some great heavy sweaters for cheap, cheap, cheap... Then it was time to meet my friend, Mandy. I said goodbye to Alicia at 49th street on the N train and was on my way to Rudys.
Rudys is a great bar in NYC for many reasons:
1. There's a giant pig standing out front.
2. $9 pitchers of GREAT Rudys Red Beer
3. FREE HOT DOGS
4. Cool atmosphere, great vibe
5. The best barstaff in the city
6. My friend, the doorman
7. FREE HOT DOGS
8. Convenient location
I highly recommend it.
So Mandy and I did our usual 3 pitchers or so (we're champs... even though I became sufficiently bloated), and she got a hankering for some yogurt. She's been trying to get me to taste PinkBerry (a rival of Red Mangos) for the past few weeks, and I knew I should so that my opinion of Red Mango would be solidified and just. She called them at 10:52pm to see what time they closed. At 10:54pm we were running the 2 blocks to PinkBerry before the door locked. Exercise: check. I got a small of the 'original' flavor. Here's my formal opinion: Red Mangos IS better. The original flavor there isn't as tart, they have more yogurt flavoring options (which I actually tried a new one yesterday called Madagascar Vanilla - PHENOM-MENAL), they have dark ghiradelli (sp?) chocolate chips (need I say more), the staff prepares the yogurt MUCH quicker, and I just like Red Mango better, so there... I WILL say, in PinkBerrys defense, I wouldn't NOT eat there, but if I had my choice, it'd be the other. Oh, and also I wish Red Mango would get some of the brownie bites that PinkBerrys has. They are delicious!
With my PinkBerry in tow, I said goodnight to Mandy and sprinted home so I could wish my beloved a Happy Birthday. I was late by 12 minutes (stupid slow trains), but still got to Skype and be the first to formally wish him a great day. I'm a big believer in birthdays, so I hate not being with him to celebrate and just simply give him a big ole birthday hug. But I'll see him on Sunday, as he'll be driving to the big city to whisk me away... Stay tuned!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday Monday
A day in the life of (an unemployed) MK while enjoying her (short lived) time in (the spring of) New York City...
(All times are approximate. Events subject to rescheduling due to weather, planned day or night activities and/or auditions.)
-8:30am - Morning text/call from my love (a great way to start any day)
-9:30am - Outta bed, face washed, teeth brushed, and eating breakfast
-10:30am - Mile walk to Astoria Park with stops by Brooklyn Bagel for a caffeinated beverage (if it's 59 degrees or below, a hot, black coffee. if it's 60 degrees or warmer, an iced coffee with skim milk, no sugar. Sometimes I go with The Bagel House, but the old lady that normally works the counter in there scares me and I hate drinking from styrofoam cups) and picking up the free daily Metro and AM papers
-11:00am - Feet in the grass, sunshine on my back, doing my crosswords
-12:30pm - Walk back to apartment
-1:00pm - Lunch
-2:00pm - Daily project time (whether it be running errands, laundry, or a trip into the city for red mango and/or hang out with friends... Today it was a special project for Kevin's birthday. And I watched episodes of Arrested Development...)
-6:30pm - Dinner
-8:00pm - Gym (which sometimes comes right after the park. Wednesday and Saturday are definite early gym days... Those are my yoga mornings)
-9:45pm - Shower
-10:00pm - Skype date with Kevin
-12:00am - Either picking up where I left off of a certain movie that I can never stay awake to watch the entirety of every night, or enjoying a chapter or two of my current read
It's nothing exciting like bathing with elephants in Thailand or nightclubbing with friends in Monte Carlo (been there, done those), but for now I'm happy about how I spend my time here. New York in springtime is a magical place and to be able to slowly take it all in and stop and smell the roses (figuratively speaking of course, because I'm sure if someone actually had a rose garden in front of their house, they'd have to install an ugly security fence to prevent passerbys from disturbing the flowers) is a beautiful thing.
(All times are approximate. Events subject to rescheduling due to weather, planned day or night activities and/or auditions.)
-8:30am - Morning text/call from my love (a great way to start any day)
-9:30am - Outta bed, face washed, teeth brushed, and eating breakfast
-10:30am - Mile walk to Astoria Park with stops by Brooklyn Bagel for a caffeinated beverage (if it's 59 degrees or below, a hot, black coffee. if it's 60 degrees or warmer, an iced coffee with skim milk, no sugar. Sometimes I go with The Bagel House, but the old lady that normally works the counter in there scares me and I hate drinking from styrofoam cups) and picking up the free daily Metro and AM papers
-11:00am - Feet in the grass, sunshine on my back, doing my crosswords
-12:30pm - Walk back to apartment
-1:00pm - Lunch
-2:00pm - Daily project time (whether it be running errands, laundry, or a trip into the city for red mango and/or hang out with friends... Today it was a special project for Kevin's birthday. And I watched episodes of Arrested Development...)
-6:30pm - Dinner
-8:00pm - Gym (which sometimes comes right after the park. Wednesday and Saturday are definite early gym days... Those are my yoga mornings)
-9:45pm - Shower
-10:00pm - Skype date with Kevin
-12:00am - Either picking up where I left off of a certain movie that I can never stay awake to watch the entirety of every night, or enjoying a chapter or two of my current read
It's nothing exciting like bathing with elephants in Thailand or nightclubbing with friends in Monte Carlo (been there, done those), but for now I'm happy about how I spend my time here. New York in springtime is a magical place and to be able to slowly take it all in and stop and smell the roses (figuratively speaking of course, because I'm sure if someone actually had a rose garden in front of their house, they'd have to install an ugly security fence to prevent passerbys from disturbing the flowers) is a beautiful thing.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Ah, Fiddlesticks!
As I write this, I am currently in the process of trying to recreate one of my constant food cravings - fiddlesticks. As taken from barleystaproom.com: Fiddlesticks: Barley's sourdough dipped in a tangy hot sauce and baked. Served with parmesan peppercorn or bleu cheese dipping sauce - $4.95
I'm OBSESSED with them. Ask any close friend or family member. When I'm away from home for days, weeks, months, or years I always come home expecting to go to Barleys solely for fiddlesticks within 48 hours.
Also I was thinking... I'm leaving New York City in 2 weeks (I'll write more about that adventure later) and there are a few things I want to experience/do/see/taste before I leave... Here's my OCD list in progress...
Things to experience/do/see/taste before I leave NYC:
1. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
2. Picnic in the park
3. Multiple Red Mango visits (need to get my fix...)
4. Visit and try EVERYTHING that BabyCakes has to offer
5. One more Broadway show
6. Beer Garden
7. (Note to self... don't let the fiddlesticks bake in the oven for as long as I did... yep... burnt them, but nothing a little extra saucing couldn't fix)
7. Acquire a NYC Brewery pint glass (to add to the collection)
8. Spend a day taking 'artsy' photos all around the city
I'm sure within the next few days more will be added, and hopefully all will be crossed off. Stay tuned...
I'm OBSESSED with them. Ask any close friend or family member. When I'm away from home for days, weeks, months, or years I always come home expecting to go to Barleys solely for fiddlesticks within 48 hours.
Also I was thinking... I'm leaving New York City in 2 weeks (I'll write more about that adventure later) and there are a few things I want to experience/do/see/taste before I leave... Here's my OCD list in progress...
Things to experience/do/see/taste before I leave NYC:
1. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
2. Picnic in the park
3. Multiple Red Mango visits (need to get my fix...)
4. Visit and try EVERYTHING that BabyCakes has to offer
5. One more Broadway show
6. Beer Garden
7. (Note to self... don't let the fiddlesticks bake in the oven for as long as I did... yep... burnt them, but nothing a little extra saucing couldn't fix)
7. Acquire a NYC Brewery pint glass (to add to the collection)
8. Spend a day taking 'artsy' photos all around the city
I'm sure within the next few days more will be added, and hopefully all will be crossed off. Stay tuned...
Friday, April 2, 2010
The Arduous Task of Naming My Blog
It took me all day.
Almost went with 'Following an American Drifter' on a whim from my beau who nonchalantly welcomed me into his world of 'drifing' the other day. “Drifter – noun – A person who is continually moving from place to place, without a fixed home or job.” Yep, that would definitely describe me, but it doesn't describe all of me. And if I'm the only person who reads this blog, the title sounds too narcissistic, since I wouldn't actually be following me because, well... ya know... I'm writing it and all...
Anyway... That's not the point. The point is that I believe I'm finally ready to commit myself to the world of blogging. I am at, shall we say, a 'crossroads' where for the first time in my life, my dreams and goals and ideals and beliefs have all started to adapt and change and grow and expand. And as a self-confessed 'ambitious free spirit' I'm embracing it all in a comfortable, but confessed apprehensive manner.
I'm a firm believer in the little slogan, “Everything happens for a reason,” which is why I choose to live the way I do. Surviving off of gut feelings, silly whims, and my heart's desires hasn't steered me wrong so far! I've traveled the world, lived and loved, made money through my passions, and learned from every up and down along the way. Life is such an adventure, getting out of it what you put in it.
So, dear blog reader, welcome to the world that is my life. Every boring day, every upcoming adventure, and every thought in between. Welcome to a world of made up words and lighthearted contradictions that seem to come from Here, There and Everywhere.
Almost went with 'Following an American Drifter' on a whim from my beau who nonchalantly welcomed me into his world of 'drifing' the other day. “Drifter – noun – A person who is continually moving from place to place, without a fixed home or job.” Yep, that would definitely describe me, but it doesn't describe all of me. And if I'm the only person who reads this blog, the title sounds too narcissistic, since I wouldn't actually be following me because, well... ya know... I'm writing it and all...
Anyway... That's not the point. The point is that I believe I'm finally ready to commit myself to the world of blogging. I am at, shall we say, a 'crossroads' where for the first time in my life, my dreams and goals and ideals and beliefs have all started to adapt and change and grow and expand. And as a self-confessed 'ambitious free spirit' I'm embracing it all in a comfortable, but confessed apprehensive manner.
I'm a firm believer in the little slogan, “Everything happens for a reason,” which is why I choose to live the way I do. Surviving off of gut feelings, silly whims, and my heart's desires hasn't steered me wrong so far! I've traveled the world, lived and loved, made money through my passions, and learned from every up and down along the way. Life is such an adventure, getting out of it what you put in it.
So, dear blog reader, welcome to the world that is my life. Every boring day, every upcoming adventure, and every thought in between. Welcome to a world of made up words and lighthearted contradictions that seem to come from Here, There and Everywhere.
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