Spring!

Yay, Spring has finally sprung! It actually feels like I won't need a coat for much longer. Might I remind you that this Spring is extra special because it's my first in two years (I missed it last year on account of my being on the other side of the world).

Now all I need is the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens next weekend and I'm set!

In addition to my last post...

I'm currently reading The Best American Travel Writing 2006, edited by Tim Cahill. It's really quite a good read. There are so many diverse, eclectic stories about so many different things, not just places. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in learning about foreign cultures, locations, and about the heart and soul of travel. Some of my favorite stories include one about a giant in Russia, one detailing the crossing of the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan, and one about an old river guide in the Grand Canyon. There are so many more too, each offering a different perspective and insight into travel. But more than travel, it's about the people, which I've always felt is the main reason for traveling. A common link in each essay is an account of the locals, the indigenous, both good and bad. It blows my mind to think about how some people live in developing nations, and even in some developed ones, as compared to the way I live. I'm so used to being a young woman who lives in New York, such a techologically advanced city, that I almost feel entitled to certain things. But you read about women in other countries and they don't even bat an eyelash at atrocities and disadvantages they experience. It's fascinating to me how I got so lucky while so many others...well, I don't want to say they're unlucky per se, because that would be incredibly ethnocentric, right? It's just...different. Anyway, enough pontificating. It's a good read regardless of where you come from.

First of all, I'd really like to have the ability to touch things without receiving a most painful shock...I'm talking sparks flying (well, not flying exactly, but there are definite sparks). How can I prevent this from happening?

Also, I'm under the spell of The Chapin Sisters. They have such magical voices; I've never before wanted so much to be able to sing like anyone specific, but these gals have IT. I bought their record (on vinyl, no less...looks like I'll have to bust out the old turntable), and there's a beautiful Joni Mitchell-like drawing on both sides (the other side has music by a group called the Winter Flowers).

Equally as inspiring is the book I'm reading: The Best American Travel Writing 2006. Some really amazing stories in there. I think I need to get back into the creative nonfiction writing. Although, arguably that's sort of what I'm doing here, right?

Commute

Man, people are really grouchy on these commuter trains. Not only that, but they have approximately zero manners. I have since sworn to curb all loud gum-chewing, lower the volume on my Mp3 player, and avoid talking on the phone unless absolutely necessary. Nonetheless, while I go OUT OF MY WAY to be as polite as possible, I still get the occasional asshole making me feel like I'M doing something wrong. Take today, for instance: I'm squeezed into a 3-seater like usual between two men. I hardly pay attention to the seats around me when I'm on the train because I'm either engrossed in a book or sleeping. So naturally I don't notice when seats around me empty out as the ride progresses. I'm one stop away from my station when the man in the window seat next to me glances around anxiously and turns to me saying in an irritated & exasperated tone, "Well, I guess ONE of us should get out as there are plenty of empty seats around." Then looks at me pointedly as though I should be one of these people. Meanwhile, I had just awoken from a nap and was getting out at the next stop anyway, which btw is only one more stop away from THE END OF THE LINE. Yes, it's unpleasant being squeezed in, but he could have simply excused himself and gotten out of the seat OR patiently waited like a normal person until the last stop, which was coming up shortly. Instead, he expects one of us (me or the man in the aisle seat) to take the initiative when we are completely content staying where we are. I swear, some people just do not know how to talk to other humans.

Pardon the rant, suburban commuters suck, which is why I plan on not being one for much longer. I'll just have the sunny subway commuters to deal with...

Spring?

Come on now Spring...I know you want to come out. I realize that Winter is bullying you into postponing your warmth, but please, for the love of sunshine and flowers, hurry the f$#* up!

I spent a frosty, but beautiful, Saturday in Ithaca, NY with Josh. We drove up to hike in the gorges and see some waterfalls. Although the trails were technically closed, we got around the shoddy barrier fence and went through anyway. Amazing. We saw the falls as people rarely see them: covered in ice and snow. Just gorgeous...or should I say, gorg--ok I won't go there LOL. As we rounded a bend in the trail, however, we came across a dead deer. It looked like it lost it's footing or something and fell off the cliff; it hadn't been attacked or anything. But man, was that an upsetting thing to see. Not to mention shocking. It took me five full minutes to work up the courage to walk past it. And even then, I couldn't look at it, I had to hide behind Josh as we passed. And I was shaking for a good five minutes thereafter. So sad.

After that trail, we visited a few other waterfalls, one of the more spectacular being the Taughannock Falls. Just a huge, tall wall of water rushing down. Awesome. We were both remarking at the fact that even though both of us had visited Niagara Falls, this was still breathtaking. We drove along Cayuga Lake and visited a winery. Tasted some nice wines and bought a bottle of really sweet, but surprisingly tasty, dessert wine. I'm shocked that I actually liked it. It's especially good with chocolate ;-)

It's nice to get away...I think we've caught the bug. Well, we always had it (especially me), but now we're more into it...we're already looking up flights to Chicago LOL.