Welcome to the final post of Travels With Phyllis.
I apologize for the lateness of this.
I've been in LA for almost 3 weeks now. It's been crazy and fun and stressful all in one. I have a bedroom now. Fully equipped with a bed! And don't forget the dresser and desk chair named Moses. IKEA is a wonderful place.
I also now have a JOB! I'm half a week into it. Teaching gymnastics at JAG. It's only 20 minutes away, and so far I've only hit the terrible LA traffic once on my way home. It's been good, the gym's pretty big and there are a lot of people, but they're all really nice.
So my life right now consists of hanging out with Sharon in the morning ( I'm going to be lost when she goes back to teaching), then teaching, and then hanging out with Sharon and Eric. LA is great. There's so much to do, its insane. Lots of free music that Sharon likes to find. I haven't found an ultimate team, but I hope I can and make it work since I work afternoons and early evenings.
This whole experience has been over the top and amazing. I'm sad I flagged at the end and didn't go to the Grand Canyon, but I'm really happy to be here. 35mm photos have been developed and will appear online soon.
Well I guess that's all. Thank you for listening.
Safe travels. <3
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Last Night of Comfort and Control
Tucson has been great. Getting to spend time with Grandpa was really nice. I know so many more family stories now. We built quite an array of furniture, we're a pretty good team, no arguing. I finally got to see some Norway photos. My scorpion friend from the first night showed up again while I was in the bathroom. Let's just say I freaked out a bit, but we found him after he scuttled(shiver) away and Grandpa killed him with a hammer.
It's been a bit odd as well. I'm sleeping in the bed I had when I was 11 and in Sudbury. I wake up to the same mirror but I'm 11 years older and just as strange. The obvious thing is that Grandma isn't here, which is hard in the quiet way the fact of it lingers in small and large spaces in the house. The kitchen table is clean all across and no one was up at 3 in the morning, aside from some distraught coyotes. It has been nice to remember things though. I sat in a closet and went through some old photographs. I took a few clothes, some books, and a few pieces of jewelery. The pack rat and family items lover in me wants to take everything even if I won't wear it or use it. I could write forever on this though, so I'll spare myself.
Phyllis is almost completely packed, now with some extra items. It's strange because she looks less full than before. Ha, oh well. An 8 hour drive awaits us tomorrow. But Los Angeles is at the end, shouting at me. Though I'm still not sure if it's yelling "COME HERE!" or "STAY AWAY!" I hope it's the first, but it's going to be fun either way, I'm convinced. If you haven't gotten mail, I promise it's coming some time this week. I'm still pretty tired, so early bed time again.
Tomorrow life starts in more of a real way. In the way that I now must take full responsibility for myself. In the way that I now must admit this might be hard. Hard, but who wants easy anyways?
"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life. " ~ Kerouac
It's been a bit odd as well. I'm sleeping in the bed I had when I was 11 and in Sudbury. I wake up to the same mirror but I'm 11 years older and just as strange. The obvious thing is that Grandma isn't here, which is hard in the quiet way the fact of it lingers in small and large spaces in the house. The kitchen table is clean all across and no one was up at 3 in the morning, aside from some distraught coyotes. It has been nice to remember things though. I sat in a closet and went through some old photographs. I took a few clothes, some books, and a few pieces of jewelery. The pack rat and family items lover in me wants to take everything even if I won't wear it or use it. I could write forever on this though, so I'll spare myself.
Phyllis is almost completely packed, now with some extra items. It's strange because she looks less full than before. Ha, oh well. An 8 hour drive awaits us tomorrow. But Los Angeles is at the end, shouting at me. Though I'm still not sure if it's yelling "COME HERE!" or "STAY AWAY!" I hope it's the first, but it's going to be fun either way, I'm convinced. If you haven't gotten mail, I promise it's coming some time this week. I'm still pretty tired, so early bed time again.
Tomorrow life starts in more of a real way. In the way that I now must take full responsibility for myself. In the way that I now must admit this might be hard. Hard, but who wants easy anyways?
"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life. " ~ Kerouac
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
C'est etrange, non?
The night in the tent was perfectly alright. Bit cold at one point, but a sweatshirt and socks fixed that. My plan to wake up at 5 was thwarted by a 430 am wake up call from some guy hollering his lungs apart. So aside from slightly terrifying me, I was up half an hour ahead of time. I showered and packed up and it was just getting light as I left.
Heading down to New Mexico I stopped in a random small town to get some gas. It was apparently the oldest town in Colorado, swell. They also had a post office, so I finally mailed a few cards. Instead of taking the main highway down to Santa Fe, I took the advice of the guy I met on the train and went through Taos. It was a pretty cool place, lots of art galleries, something New Mexico is overflowing with, and nice shops and parks and such. I saw the fattest cat in a bookstore, and bought a caramel apple from a chocolate shop. I also met a man who was waiting for his wife by a store near my car. He noticed my plates and we struck up conversation as I was leaving. His wife was actually from Springfield, small world.
Santa Fe was really nice. For a city, and a capitol city is was like Madison, very quiet and calm and such. A lot more art galleries, but the Georgia O'Keeffe museum was closed, as was the Native American Art Institute. So I mostly walked around, looked at small places, took pictures, and bought a necklace from the line of Indian art in front of the Palace of the Governors. I spoke with one woman for a while, about her art, the market's authenticity versus the fake stuff across the street in the park, etc. She was really interesting, so I ended up buying one of her pieces. I was going to get tamales from a street vendor, but by the time I was hungry and went back they were all packed up. Which is fine and good for my wallet.
From Santa Fe to Albuquerque I took this side scenic route, instead of the main highway. It was called the Turquoise Trail, and took you past all these tiny tiny run down towns, who's only source of income is probably the tourism they try to attract. The first town, Cerrillos, was very non-existant. Their trade store was also closed, so there wasn't much to see, I took a few photos, wrote a post card and was on my way.
The next town was Madrid, but on my way there I saw this yard with signs saying "Come See!" and had to turn around a go back. This place ... I'm not sure I really have the words. The woman who owned the bit of land was parked in her car outside the gates, she was probably in her 50's, looked like she's had a biker's life, with the tatoos and the leather clothes and crooked teeth, oh and her scary dog. She had taken what used to be a putput mini golf place, and spent 10 years putting together this "Tiny Town." Creepy is the only way to describe it. Every inch was worth a photo, run down doll houses filled with dolls dressed as every kind of character. Sculptures built of of skulls and old manikins, chains of hundreds of keys, a swing set covered in old torn curtains. It basically looked like 25 five year olds had just run around and messed up all this junk. It was amazing. While I was there, this couple pulled in and started walking around. They were speaking French, and since I was lonely I ventured to talk to them. Surprise I can still speak French! They were from Belgium and were doing a North American tour by car. They had started in LA and were working their way up to Canada and the North East.
Madrid wasn't much, it weirded me out some more. Most everything was closed, and the things that were open were empty. I went into one store and the woman who was working talked to me for an hour about everything from how she wouldn't get married again if she had the choice to where she donated her anthropology books from when she got her masters. It was interesting, but I was getting a bit tired of these towns, so didn't stay all that long. Originally I had researched places to stay on this road, and the bed and breakfast in Madrid had sounded cool. It was a coffee place too, but closed when I was there, and I'm so glad I didn't decided ahead of time to stay there because I would have freaked out being there overnight.
Albuquerque finally showed up, and I met Alison, one of Aunt Sue's recently graduated TAs. She was really cool, and we just talked from the moment I got there, through a delicious Indian dinner, and back to her place. She's a photographer, and has a cat, which was nice, since I really miss Muffin.
The next morning I left around 9, and headed to Truth and Consequences. It was also very small and mostly closed, but I met a few interesting people, took a lot of pictures, and had lunch at the local Co-op which was great. I also got these organic lollipops that were quite good. From there I drove across more mountains at 15 miles per hour around hair pin curves to get to Silver City, which was much the same, if only a little bigger than T or C. I met a guy in a used bookstore who had just had open heart surgery 3 weeks before. The place smelled comfortably of used books, dust, and lingering marijuana. The next drive was the last for a few days, three hours into Arizona (another hour gained) to get to Tucson.
It was great to see my Grandpa, and be at home, and know where I am and such. We ate dinner and caught up. I had a visual encounter with a scorpion when I was checking my email, but he seems to have gone into hiding today. I've been pretty lazy, slept late, ate, showered. We're waiting for the bedroom set from IKEA to show up so we can put it together. I'm going to go through some books. And we're going out for Chinese tonight.
I think I'm skipping out of the Grand Canyon. I do really want to see it, but I'm a bit tired of being a singular tourist so I'm going to save it for another time when I can go with someone. Plus I really want to get to LA and move in and get a job and start DOING things. Haha. Not that I haven't been doing a lot the last few weeks. But limbo is only enjoyable for so much time.
" This could be the very minute I'm aware I'm alive.
All these places feel like home." ~ Snow Patrol
Heading down to New Mexico I stopped in a random small town to get some gas. It was apparently the oldest town in Colorado, swell. They also had a post office, so I finally mailed a few cards. Instead of taking the main highway down to Santa Fe, I took the advice of the guy I met on the train and went through Taos. It was a pretty cool place, lots of art galleries, something New Mexico is overflowing with, and nice shops and parks and such. I saw the fattest cat in a bookstore, and bought a caramel apple from a chocolate shop. I also met a man who was waiting for his wife by a store near my car. He noticed my plates and we struck up conversation as I was leaving. His wife was actually from Springfield, small world.
Santa Fe was really nice. For a city, and a capitol city is was like Madison, very quiet and calm and such. A lot more art galleries, but the Georgia O'Keeffe museum was closed, as was the Native American Art Institute. So I mostly walked around, looked at small places, took pictures, and bought a necklace from the line of Indian art in front of the Palace of the Governors. I spoke with one woman for a while, about her art, the market's authenticity versus the fake stuff across the street in the park, etc. She was really interesting, so I ended up buying one of her pieces. I was going to get tamales from a street vendor, but by the time I was hungry and went back they were all packed up. Which is fine and good for my wallet.
From Santa Fe to Albuquerque I took this side scenic route, instead of the main highway. It was called the Turquoise Trail, and took you past all these tiny tiny run down towns, who's only source of income is probably the tourism they try to attract. The first town, Cerrillos, was very non-existant. Their trade store was also closed, so there wasn't much to see, I took a few photos, wrote a post card and was on my way.
The next town was Madrid, but on my way there I saw this yard with signs saying "Come See!" and had to turn around a go back. This place ... I'm not sure I really have the words. The woman who owned the bit of land was parked in her car outside the gates, she was probably in her 50's, looked like she's had a biker's life, with the tatoos and the leather clothes and crooked teeth, oh and her scary dog. She had taken what used to be a putput mini golf place, and spent 10 years putting together this "Tiny Town." Creepy is the only way to describe it. Every inch was worth a photo, run down doll houses filled with dolls dressed as every kind of character. Sculptures built of of skulls and old manikins, chains of hundreds of keys, a swing set covered in old torn curtains. It basically looked like 25 five year olds had just run around and messed up all this junk. It was amazing. While I was there, this couple pulled in and started walking around. They were speaking French, and since I was lonely I ventured to talk to them. Surprise I can still speak French! They were from Belgium and were doing a North American tour by car. They had started in LA and were working their way up to Canada and the North East.
Madrid wasn't much, it weirded me out some more. Most everything was closed, and the things that were open were empty. I went into one store and the woman who was working talked to me for an hour about everything from how she wouldn't get married again if she had the choice to where she donated her anthropology books from when she got her masters. It was interesting, but I was getting a bit tired of these towns, so didn't stay all that long. Originally I had researched places to stay on this road, and the bed and breakfast in Madrid had sounded cool. It was a coffee place too, but closed when I was there, and I'm so glad I didn't decided ahead of time to stay there because I would have freaked out being there overnight.
Albuquerque finally showed up, and I met Alison, one of Aunt Sue's recently graduated TAs. She was really cool, and we just talked from the moment I got there, through a delicious Indian dinner, and back to her place. She's a photographer, and has a cat, which was nice, since I really miss Muffin.
The next morning I left around 9, and headed to Truth and Consequences. It was also very small and mostly closed, but I met a few interesting people, took a lot of pictures, and had lunch at the local Co-op which was great. I also got these organic lollipops that were quite good. From there I drove across more mountains at 15 miles per hour around hair pin curves to get to Silver City, which was much the same, if only a little bigger than T or C. I met a guy in a used bookstore who had just had open heart surgery 3 weeks before. The place smelled comfortably of used books, dust, and lingering marijuana. The next drive was the last for a few days, three hours into Arizona (another hour gained) to get to Tucson.
It was great to see my Grandpa, and be at home, and know where I am and such. We ate dinner and caught up. I had a visual encounter with a scorpion when I was checking my email, but he seems to have gone into hiding today. I've been pretty lazy, slept late, ate, showered. We're waiting for the bedroom set from IKEA to show up so we can put it together. I'm going to go through some books. And we're going out for Chinese tonight.
I think I'm skipping out of the Grand Canyon. I do really want to see it, but I'm a bit tired of being a singular tourist so I'm going to save it for another time when I can go with someone. Plus I really want to get to LA and move in and get a job and start DOING things. Haha. Not that I haven't been doing a lot the last few weeks. But limbo is only enjoyable for so much time.
" This could be the very minute I'm aware I'm alive.
All these places feel like home." ~ Snow Patrol
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Somehow the RV campsite I'm in has internet
I am a strange combination of things at this moment. I'm eating dinner. 630 is very early for me, but makes sense since I want to wake up 430 so I can leave by 530. Dinner, since I'm at a campsite, consists of a peanut butter and honey sandwich. Cold leftover rice that I cooked in Boulder. A cheese sandwhich, since I want to eat the rest of the cheese before it goes bad. Wine. Another plum since I have a lot, and oreos. I promise not to drink the whole bottle. I'll probably only have one glass, but there was a cute wine store in Manitou Springs and I'm supporting a local business.
That's where I am right now. Manitou. It's an odd place. The town is like 2 feet big, but Pike's peak is right there looming over. I spent a couple hours wandering around taking pictures. There was a democratic rally going on. Which was awesome. A woman stopped me and asked if I would take a picture of her and the man sitting next to them. I hope it comes out. I may have ruined the roll when I changed it. Which would be terribly sad.
Then at 240 I took a train up to Pike's Peak, it took a good hour and a half to get up. The ride was beautiful though, I took a lot more photos and talked to the two guys next to me, and then to the conductor on the way down since I was in the last row. At the top it was freezing, and it even snowed a bit. The whole ride just made me feel small, the mountains are so impressive.
It's starting to get dark, so even though my tent is all pitched I'm going to stop this early and finish eating and get ready to sleep. I'm still wicked tired for no reason. I hope some day I can come back to this odd town and hike up the Mountain.
"And here I am in Colorado! I kept thinking gleefully. Damn! damn! damn! I'm making it!" ~ Kerouac's On the Road
That's where I am right now. Manitou. It's an odd place. The town is like 2 feet big, but Pike's peak is right there looming over. I spent a couple hours wandering around taking pictures. There was a democratic rally going on. Which was awesome. A woman stopped me and asked if I would take a picture of her and the man sitting next to them. I hope it comes out. I may have ruined the roll when I changed it. Which would be terribly sad.
Then at 240 I took a train up to Pike's Peak, it took a good hour and a half to get up. The ride was beautiful though, I took a lot more photos and talked to the two guys next to me, and then to the conductor on the way down since I was in the last row. At the top it was freezing, and it even snowed a bit. The whole ride just made me feel small, the mountains are so impressive.
It's starting to get dark, so even though my tent is all pitched I'm going to stop this early and finish eating and get ready to sleep. I'm still wicked tired for no reason. I hope some day I can come back to this odd town and hike up the Mountain.
"And here I am in Colorado! I kept thinking gleefully. Damn! damn! damn! I'm making it!" ~ Kerouac's On the Road
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Photos
You can now look at the digital pictures of my adventures! Just look to the right and there are 3 soon to be 4 albums. =) enjoy
September 20th: I finally made it to Today
So this is the 3rd post I've published tonight. Peter and Mike were awesome and helped me figure out how to get the internet to work. Basically my computer is very very old and ... well, we're online now so no more worries.
I got a bit of a later start than I wanted today, but since I was staying here one more night it wasn't a big deal. On my way to Denver I stopped in downtown Boulder at a farmer's market. Got some delicious plums and ate one of those honey straws. There were a lot of stands, I had to keep clear of the cheese since I have no good way of keeping it fresh. There were also local stores selling food, so I had a corn tamale for 2nd breakfast. It was amazing, and spicy, and my very first tamale ever.
Driving to Denver was easy enough. Once there, the morning was kind of like yesterday, frustrating because I didn't know how I wanted to get about. Where should I park my car? Should I ride my bike into town? Well after trying that, and deciding I didn't want to get hit I drove to the Botanical Garden Museum. It was beautiful, and very relaxing, which I needed. They had an indoor tropical jungle exhibit. And I decided that I wouldn't mind being cremated and spread around in the jungle so I can grow into that crazy atmosphere: the humid and heavy yet cool and damp air, and the plants that fight over the light and the giant leaves and, yeah okay I'm strange but I like it.
Downtown was ok. I'm kind of tired of outside street malls, but not of independent bookstore(of course). I got a Jamba Juice smoothie for lunch and only bought one book at the Tattered Cover Bookstore. I looked at all the outsides of the cool buildings like the capitol with its gold roof, but nothing was open cause it was Saturday.
On my way out I decided to go West into the mountains a bit to see if I could drive up Mount Evans. It was in one of the books Katie gave me to look through and was only 30 minutes from Denver. The drive was amazing, and Phyllis did just fine. An hour from the bottom of the mountain I was as far up as you could go. There was snow around still, and it was probably in the low 50's or high 40's. I wanted to stop the car at every turn to get out and take a picture, it's just so amazing. The road got scary and narrow and yikes! close to the edge, but I made it. There were these funny little animals sitting on the side of the road at times. The first one I saw looked right at me, and it kind of looked like a beaver only smaller and with no giant tail. So I have no idea what they were, but they were cute, and brave since they were sitting at the very edge of the road. On my way down I saw this large group of men halfway up part of the mountain, and when I listened in it sounded like praying ... in Spanish. I gathered up enough to know they were having some sort of religious event. Definitely Christian, and definitely interesting. It made me remember that I haven't put any of the Spanish CDs on yet.
Called home on the way back to talk to Mom and Dad, since I haven't posted or called for a while. And I got Chipotle for dinner. YUM. It was a very Spanish foods day. Back at the Zaidel's we went through my computer's stupidness, and I listened to them talk politics in the other room. I've loved it here, and I'm really sad to leave. I hope I make it back some day, either to hike or rock climb or live.
Tomorrow I'm leaving as early as I can force myself to for Manitou Springs CO. It's right near Pike's peak, which I may partially hike up. There's also a train that goes up it. I don't want to drive it, Phyllis did enough today, and Katie Gill said it's scary. I should really have someone else in the car for things like that, to keep me from getting too nervous. First night of camping too, yay new tent!
I need to find a good place for my Obama sticker on my car.
I forgot to mention the light. Driving back from Boulder right after sunset, when there was still light enough that ruled out the street lights. I realized that my arms were purple, and it felt like melting into the landscape outside the car. Did I mention I really love it here.
Kerouac has already made it to California, I'm taking a bit more time.
" If you are able,
Don't have a stable
With any mangers,
Be rude to strangers.
Moral: Behave"
I got a bit of a later start than I wanted today, but since I was staying here one more night it wasn't a big deal. On my way to Denver I stopped in downtown Boulder at a farmer's market. Got some delicious plums and ate one of those honey straws. There were a lot of stands, I had to keep clear of the cheese since I have no good way of keeping it fresh. There were also local stores selling food, so I had a corn tamale for 2nd breakfast. It was amazing, and spicy, and my very first tamale ever.
Driving to Denver was easy enough. Once there, the morning was kind of like yesterday, frustrating because I didn't know how I wanted to get about. Where should I park my car? Should I ride my bike into town? Well after trying that, and deciding I didn't want to get hit I drove to the Botanical Garden Museum. It was beautiful, and very relaxing, which I needed. They had an indoor tropical jungle exhibit. And I decided that I wouldn't mind being cremated and spread around in the jungle so I can grow into that crazy atmosphere: the humid and heavy yet cool and damp air, and the plants that fight over the light and the giant leaves and, yeah okay I'm strange but I like it.
Downtown was ok. I'm kind of tired of outside street malls, but not of independent bookstore(of course). I got a Jamba Juice smoothie for lunch and only bought one book at the Tattered Cover Bookstore. I looked at all the outsides of the cool buildings like the capitol with its gold roof, but nothing was open cause it was Saturday.
On my way out I decided to go West into the mountains a bit to see if I could drive up Mount Evans. It was in one of the books Katie gave me to look through and was only 30 minutes from Denver. The drive was amazing, and Phyllis did just fine. An hour from the bottom of the mountain I was as far up as you could go. There was snow around still, and it was probably in the low 50's or high 40's. I wanted to stop the car at every turn to get out and take a picture, it's just so amazing. The road got scary and narrow and yikes! close to the edge, but I made it. There were these funny little animals sitting on the side of the road at times. The first one I saw looked right at me, and it kind of looked like a beaver only smaller and with no giant tail. So I have no idea what they were, but they were cute, and brave since they were sitting at the very edge of the road. On my way down I saw this large group of men halfway up part of the mountain, and when I listened in it sounded like praying ... in Spanish. I gathered up enough to know they were having some sort of religious event. Definitely Christian, and definitely interesting. It made me remember that I haven't put any of the Spanish CDs on yet.
Called home on the way back to talk to Mom and Dad, since I haven't posted or called for a while. And I got Chipotle for dinner. YUM. It was a very Spanish foods day. Back at the Zaidel's we went through my computer's stupidness, and I listened to them talk politics in the other room. I've loved it here, and I'm really sad to leave. I hope I make it back some day, either to hike or rock climb or live.
Tomorrow I'm leaving as early as I can force myself to for Manitou Springs CO. It's right near Pike's peak, which I may partially hike up. There's also a train that goes up it. I don't want to drive it, Phyllis did enough today, and Katie Gill said it's scary. I should really have someone else in the car for things like that, to keep me from getting too nervous. First night of camping too, yay new tent!
I need to find a good place for my Obama sticker on my car.
I forgot to mention the light. Driving back from Boulder right after sunset, when there was still light enough that ruled out the street lights. I realized that my arms were purple, and it felt like melting into the landscape outside the car. Did I mention I really love it here.
Kerouac has already made it to California, I'm taking a bit more time.
" If you are able,
Don't have a stable
With any mangers,
Be rude to strangers.
Moral: Behave"
September 19th...don't be fooled
Today was a mixed day, but in the end, probably the best day so far. Which is probably why I'm now messing with my schedule and extending my stay. I feel slightly bad I didn't figure this out before Katie and Peter went to bed. Oh I'm so tired ... so here's a quick recap of today and I'll type it better later when this is actually a post. ... maybe
-oatmeal: i had it for breakfast
-drive to boulder: quick and painless, easily found parking, and was intending to bike to Chautauqua Park but ...
-bike stuck on car: because i left half my key chain at the house, so i drove closer to the park, a good decision since the bike ride would have killed me (very slow incline)
-Chautauqua park!, 2 trails: took about an hour and a half to walk in the park and some of its trails. Bewared of bears and mountain lions. I'm badly out of shape, but it was exhilarating anyways, and I wished whole heartedly that I could rock climb.
-then flagstaff, phone still worked up there: i almost didn't do this. My feet were already pretty sore and I hadn't eaten lunch yet and it was like 1:15. But I said to myself (something I do a lot now) "Jess, this was the thing you WANTED to do today, so suck it up and do it." It took me an hour to get to the top, I stopped a few times, and mistook a very loud chipmunk for a mountain lion, but all was well. At the top, 6 thousand and some odd feet, I took beaucoup des photos, and ate my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My phone was working really well and I text/imed Erin because I was lonely and excited. It took me 42 minutes to get back down and happily tired I changed my shoes and shirt, parked where I was originally going to park and walked into downtown Boudler.
-ouch feet: blisters, just one really bad, bigger than a quarter and had to pop it after I showered
-the hill: cool university of colorado at boudler area of shops and food. I got some post cards and a crepe, yum. There was such an awesome mix of people it was unreal. All the people who look like they've hitched/hopped trains to get into Colorado made me feel ashamed, like I'm not doing this cross country thing properly.
-pearl st.: journey dancers, green tea ice cream and weird candy, obama sticker! yes there were people in their 50s and so dancing to journey at this festival that was going on. The other three items listed are things I acquired on pearl st.
-more walking: to get back to the car, but I talked to steph!!! so it was fine
-groceries: I gave in and bought some food, i was dying to cook and eat real food, so I made vegetable stir fry with rice (which took longer than usual because of the elevation). I spent the time waiting for the rice to cook watching The Brainstorms play ... oh wonderfulness.
-talk like a pirate: yes it was national talk like a pirate day. I got back to the house in time to see Katie and Peter getting dressed up to go out. Would've gone but I hadn't showered and I was starving. So I hung out with Lucia their dog and watched House and ate dinner.
-chat with katie: another awesome political discussion occurred when they got back. I really need to listen to more NPR.
-finally showered: then decided that I was going to stay one more night due to logistics and passed out
-great day: i LOVE boudler.
" Starve your canaries.
Believe in Fairies."
-oatmeal: i had it for breakfast
-drive to boulder: quick and painless, easily found parking, and was intending to bike to Chautauqua Park but ...
-bike stuck on car: because i left half my key chain at the house, so i drove closer to the park, a good decision since the bike ride would have killed me (very slow incline)
-Chautauqua park!, 2 trails: took about an hour and a half to walk in the park and some of its trails. Bewared of bears and mountain lions. I'm badly out of shape, but it was exhilarating anyways, and I wished whole heartedly that I could rock climb.
-then flagstaff, phone still worked up there: i almost didn't do this. My feet were already pretty sore and I hadn't eaten lunch yet and it was like 1:15. But I said to myself (something I do a lot now) "Jess, this was the thing you WANTED to do today, so suck it up and do it." It took me an hour to get to the top, I stopped a few times, and mistook a very loud chipmunk for a mountain lion, but all was well. At the top, 6 thousand and some odd feet, I took beaucoup des photos, and ate my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My phone was working really well and I text/imed Erin because I was lonely and excited. It took me 42 minutes to get back down and happily tired I changed my shoes and shirt, parked where I was originally going to park and walked into downtown Boudler.
-ouch feet: blisters, just one really bad, bigger than a quarter and had to pop it after I showered
-the hill: cool university of colorado at boudler area of shops and food. I got some post cards and a crepe, yum. There was such an awesome mix of people it was unreal. All the people who look like they've hitched/hopped trains to get into Colorado made me feel ashamed, like I'm not doing this cross country thing properly.
-pearl st.: journey dancers, green tea ice cream and weird candy, obama sticker! yes there were people in their 50s and so dancing to journey at this festival that was going on. The other three items listed are things I acquired on pearl st.
-more walking: to get back to the car, but I talked to steph!!! so it was fine
-groceries: I gave in and bought some food, i was dying to cook and eat real food, so I made vegetable stir fry with rice (which took longer than usual because of the elevation). I spent the time waiting for the rice to cook watching The Brainstorms play ... oh wonderfulness.
-talk like a pirate: yes it was national talk like a pirate day. I got back to the house in time to see Katie and Peter getting dressed up to go out. Would've gone but I hadn't showered and I was starving. So I hung out with Lucia their dog and watched House and ate dinner.
-chat with katie: another awesome political discussion occurred when they got back. I really need to listen to more NPR.
-finally showered: then decided that I was going to stay one more night due to logistics and passed out
-great day: i LOVE boudler.
" Starve your canaries.
Believe in Fairies."
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