Where in the World: Indianapolis, Indiana
The Inspiration: Ok, so this doesn't seem like a terribly exciting location, but in a few weeks the National Samoyed show will be in Indiana, and I'd really like to go. My parents are going to visit a friend from Oregon who will be showing her dogs, and visiting with other friends in Cincinnati and Indy on the way, and I'd love to be part of the trip. Is that silly? Probably not, especially considering these fantastic and hilarious friends.
Also, I'm really ready to just go SOMEWHERE and am particularly envious of travelers lately. Maybe I could get one of those nanny jobs where you travel with a family and take the kids to exotic museums while the parents conduct international business and I could do my homework while the kids have nap time or take their violin lessons at the Parisian conservatory... Do you know people like that? Are they hiring? Can you introduce us? Can you tell that I could use a change of scenery?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
A Great American Road Trip
Where in the World: The Open Road
The Inspiration: Envy, as usual; it seems the seven deadly sins (well, at least lust, envy, greed, gluttony, pride in your adventures, and a dose of sloth on the beach; wrath doesn't fit very well, which is a good thing) are all very closely related when it comes travel. This week I've been talking to a friend who is driving through the West, and during a few moments of clear phone signals I've been getting amazing descriptions of the scenery and wildlife. I loved driving through the Southwest when I was there a year and half ago, and I'd love to see it in the fall when it would be perfect for hiking.
I am also a huge fan road trip music; I think there a some really fantastic songs that deserve the setting of the blue sky and great stretches of lonely highway. My friend's road trip has me humming Matt Costa's "The Road" and the Counting Crows' "Omaha" and "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby" ("We drove out to the desert/ just to lie down beneath this bowl of stars.")which are certainly staples for any trek across Nebraska into the mountains. The play list already has a few items, which are expanding exponentially as I write this, so I think I should stop with the distracted writing, and maybe find a map. As long as I watch my mileage, this is a dream that isn't out of reach. =)
The Inspiration: Envy, as usual; it seems the seven deadly sins (well, at least lust, envy, greed, gluttony, pride in your adventures, and a dose of sloth on the beach; wrath doesn't fit very well, which is a good thing) are all very closely related when it comes travel. This week I've been talking to a friend who is driving through the West, and during a few moments of clear phone signals I've been getting amazing descriptions of the scenery and wildlife. I loved driving through the Southwest when I was there a year and half ago, and I'd love to see it in the fall when it would be perfect for hiking.
I am also a huge fan road trip music; I think there a some really fantastic songs that deserve the setting of the blue sky and great stretches of lonely highway. My friend's road trip has me humming Matt Costa's "The Road" and the Counting Crows' "Omaha" and "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby" ("We drove out to the desert/ just to lie down beneath this bowl of stars.")which are certainly staples for any trek across Nebraska into the mountains. The play list already has a few items, which are expanding exponentially as I write this, so I think I should stop with the distracted writing, and maybe find a map. As long as I watch my mileage, this is a dream that isn't out of reach. =)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Greece
Where in the World: Greece
The Inspiration: A friend's photos of hiking on Mount Olympus. So far my attraction to Greece had been half-based on stories of the lovely islands and coastline dotted with white and blue houses, and half on the lure of ancient myths and archaeology. Somehow I had never before considered the wonders of hiking in mountains of the gods, and now I'm entirely engaged in this daydream. There is so much of the world begging to be explored!
The Inspiration: A friend's photos of hiking on Mount Olympus. So far my attraction to Greece had been half-based on stories of the lovely islands and coastline dotted with white and blue houses, and half on the lure of ancient myths and archaeology. Somehow I had never before considered the wonders of hiking in mountains of the gods, and now I'm entirely engaged in this daydream. There is so much of the world begging to be explored!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Go West!
Where in the World: Westward! Mostly to the coastal states.
The Inspiration: "Paradise is there," among other things. This weekend starts a series of weeks where I would like to be on the west coast. For starters, there will be a fantastic party to celebrate my cousin's 30th birthday in San Francisco. Then, my best friend will be completing some tremendously challenging tests, during which time I'd like to provide moral support and ice cream, and be there at the completion to celebrate her overall brilliance and success, and help her move half way across the country again. Also, I'd love a chance to just visit and talk with my brother, who lives in Seattle, and I'm feeling more and more like I'll need a plane ticket to do that. Oh, and he invited me to go to a really fabulous music festival with him in three weeks, so that too.
All of these lovely attractants exist without even mentioning the overwhelming beauty of the Pacific Northwest when it's not raining, the loveliness of Pacific coastlines, the delightful temperance of San Francisco's weather, and the glorious buttes and curves and wide open landscapes from southern California to south central Texas. I'm all full of itinerant lusting today.
The Inspiration: "Paradise is there," among other things. This weekend starts a series of weeks where I would like to be on the west coast. For starters, there will be a fantastic party to celebrate my cousin's 30th birthday in San Francisco. Then, my best friend will be completing some tremendously challenging tests, during which time I'd like to provide moral support and ice cream, and be there at the completion to celebrate her overall brilliance and success, and help her move half way across the country again. Also, I'd love a chance to just visit and talk with my brother, who lives in Seattle, and I'm feeling more and more like I'll need a plane ticket to do that. Oh, and he invited me to go to a really fabulous music festival with him in three weeks, so that too.
All of these lovely attractants exist without even mentioning the overwhelming beauty of the Pacific Northwest when it's not raining, the loveliness of Pacific coastlines, the delightful temperance of San Francisco's weather, and the glorious buttes and curves and wide open landscapes from southern California to south central Texas. I'm all full of itinerant lusting today.
Friday, August 14, 2009
My Golden Ticket Dilemma
Warning: Ignorance may be bliss regarding this one.
Where in the World: ANYWHERE that JetBlue Flies, September 8- October 8, for $599.
The Inspiration: It's pretty obvious that I've found an airline special, isn't it? I think I'm in love with JetBlue. Check this crazy action out (go ahead, I'll be right here debating and waiting for you to get back): http://www.jetblue.com/deals/all-you-can-jet/?intcmp=HPHero1Eng_All-You-Can-JetPass
Here's the tricky part: this is AMAZING, but I work on the weekends, and go to school during the week. I don't know if I could take off all of the weekends in September without getting fired, or even to have enough cash to eat and stay in all the places I'd like to visit in that month. If this were for August, while I don't have classes, there is no question that I would already be a happy vagrant, sending a postcard goodbye to my tea shop job. My tea shop job is nice, though, and they are very kind to accommodate my occasionally ridiculous class schedule, and I am very far from wealthy and need the cash. Knowing that this special exists is rather torturous, though; it's my Pandora's box, full of all sort of delights and evils, and nearly impossible to avoid opening.
Hmmmm.... Perhaps I can get someone to pay me to travel, and to write about it? I think tonight I'll fall asleep singing "I've got a golden ticket!" and dream about just that.
Where in the World: ANYWHERE that JetBlue Flies, September 8- October 8, for $599.
The Inspiration: It's pretty obvious that I've found an airline special, isn't it? I think I'm in love with JetBlue. Check this crazy action out (go ahead, I'll be right here debating and waiting for you to get back): http://www.jetblue.com/deals/all-you-can-jet/?intcmp=HPHero1Eng_All-You-Can-JetPass
Here's the tricky part: this is AMAZING, but I work on the weekends, and go to school during the week. I don't know if I could take off all of the weekends in September without getting fired, or even to have enough cash to eat and stay in all the places I'd like to visit in that month. If this were for August, while I don't have classes, there is no question that I would already be a happy vagrant, sending a postcard goodbye to my tea shop job. My tea shop job is nice, though, and they are very kind to accommodate my occasionally ridiculous class schedule, and I am very far from wealthy and need the cash. Knowing that this special exists is rather torturous, though; it's my Pandora's box, full of all sort of delights and evils, and nearly impossible to avoid opening.
Hmmmm.... Perhaps I can get someone to pay me to travel, and to write about it? I think tonight I'll fall asleep singing "I've got a golden ticket!" and dream about just that.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Into the Woods
Where in the World: A Cabin in the Woods
The Inspiration: A sense of peace. Things got pretty busy there for me at the end of the semester, and my family reunion to honor my grandpa's 80th birthday just happened to overlap with the last week of classes. My family, particularly my mom, hosted all 29 of the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who came for almost a week. It was a happy sort of chaos, but a good bit of chaos nonetheless, and we were all exhausted before the last airport run on Tuesday evening. I had the "burden" of staying behind at the cabin for two days to do all of the laundry that we had left behind. It actually did take that long to get through the majority of it (and I still had to bring some sheets back home to wash here) but it was FANTASTIC to spend two days alone at the cabin with my dog. We had the woods, the lake, and the whole lovely cabin to ourselves. The first night noises from the field kept Angie on high alert all evening, which made me nervous, but red wine and full, orange moon more than made up for it. I'm so thankful that I have access to such a lovely place (it's owned by my generous aunt and uncle on the other side of my family), and I'm thinking I might just ask if I can go back the the very next time I have two days off in a row. =)
The Inspiration: A sense of peace. Things got pretty busy there for me at the end of the semester, and my family reunion to honor my grandpa's 80th birthday just happened to overlap with the last week of classes. My family, particularly my mom, hosted all 29 of the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who came for almost a week. It was a happy sort of chaos, but a good bit of chaos nonetheless, and we were all exhausted before the last airport run on Tuesday evening. I had the "burden" of staying behind at the cabin for two days to do all of the laundry that we had left behind. It actually did take that long to get through the majority of it (and I still had to bring some sheets back home to wash here) but it was FANTASTIC to spend two days alone at the cabin with my dog. We had the woods, the lake, and the whole lovely cabin to ourselves. The first night noises from the field kept Angie on high alert all evening, which made me nervous, but red wine and full, orange moon more than made up for it. I'm so thankful that I have access to such a lovely place (it's owned by my generous aunt and uncle on the other side of my family), and I'm thinking I might just ask if I can go back the the very next time I have two days off in a row. =)
Monday, July 27, 2009
Bargain Huting
Where in the World: That's up to you!
Today I read this nice little article from the NY Times "Practical Traveler" and had to pass it along: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/travel/26prac.html?ref=travel
It's the end of the semester, and I'm not going to Australia next week, which is still disappointing despite being a rational choice. I'm guessing that I'm not the only one who is distracting herself with visions of beaches and mountains and the smiles of distant friends. I am a bargain shopper by choice and necessity, so sometimes I try to pay a little bit of attention to fare patterns and to help determine how I can make the most of my time off. This article is a good starting point, and it's always smart for students to talk to a travel agent to see if she can find any discounted fares for you, too.
Also, this will probably be my last post for the semester. I've been enjoying pretending that I have an audience for my rambling wishes and stories, so I'm going to try to keep up with the blog. However, I'm guessing that the frequency of my posts and number of my "followers" will drop, so I wanted to say thank you for reading and for sharing! Happy travels!
Today I read this nice little article from the NY Times "Practical Traveler" and had to pass it along: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/travel/26prac.html?ref=travel
It's the end of the semester, and I'm not going to Australia next week, which is still disappointing despite being a rational choice. I'm guessing that I'm not the only one who is distracting herself with visions of beaches and mountains and the smiles of distant friends. I am a bargain shopper by choice and necessity, so sometimes I try to pay a little bit of attention to fare patterns and to help determine how I can make the most of my time off. This article is a good starting point, and it's always smart for students to talk to a travel agent to see if she can find any discounted fares for you, too.
Also, this will probably be my last post for the semester. I've been enjoying pretending that I have an audience for my rambling wishes and stories, so I'm going to try to keep up with the blog. However, I'm guessing that the frequency of my posts and number of my "followers" will drop, so I wanted to say thank you for reading and for sharing! Happy travels!
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