I'm sick. ...Again.
I went for several years without even a yearly physical, and yet this year, since starting my new job at an elementary school, I've been about four times... in about three months. And I'm sick again.
I went 23 years without any allergies, and in the past two months I've had two added to my medical record.
I'm now convinced that it wasn't rats who carried the plague, it was children.
I feel like I have Typhoid Mary in my class.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Solo camping
So it turns out I do have something interesting to write about.
Last weekend was my first adventure in solo camping. So as anyone who has ever met me knows, I get cold very easily. As in, I'm a total wuss, and when the temperature drops below about 70F, I start shivering. For a girl born and raised in NH, that is just unacceptable. ... And pathetic.
Anyways, When I had a three-day weekend and was in desperate need of a break from reality, I decided to test out my new sleeping bag-- I've had the same sleeping bag since I was about 10, and while it is still fully functional, it is not a cold-weather bag. Since winter lasts like 3/4 of the year where I am, it made sense (after more than a decade) to finally upgrade to something a little less summery. This might also have been prompted by the overnight trip we took the middleschoolers on this summer at the camp I worked at-- one of the younger girls had the same sleeping bag. Don't judge me; I needed a new one.
So I decided to test out my cold-weather gear. My dad has some property out in the middle of nowhere. For those of you who have ever been to NH, you may scoff at the phrase, thinking that it encompasses the whole state, but no, this is in the middle of nowhere by NH standards; as in complete with bobcat, bear, and roads that don't even exist, according to my GPS.
I tried to convince my dad to go with me, but he was off on another hunting trip, so I had the choice of going alone, or bailing. I went.
The few people I told thought I was kidding. Like I said, I get cold easily. I wore sweatshirts in the Kalahari desert. No kidding. And this is November in NE.
I got there after dark, set up camp (in the dark, in the woods, by myself. Shut up, I'm proud of myself) and built myself a little fire. I tucked myself as far down in my new sleeping bag as I could go, and thus passed the first night.
I got woken up by mergansers splashing in the lake, making a total racket. Day one spent reading, watching the critters, hiking, cooking over another fire... it was lovely.
Another night, another day like the first. I not only survived the chilly nights, but it was such a beautiful way to spend the weekend after the stress of the week. Plus when you're so far out that you can't see a single light from civilization, the stars are unimaginably beautiful.
...And I just really like building campfires.
Last weekend was my first adventure in solo camping. So as anyone who has ever met me knows, I get cold very easily. As in, I'm a total wuss, and when the temperature drops below about 70F, I start shivering. For a girl born and raised in NH, that is just unacceptable. ... And pathetic.
Anyways, When I had a three-day weekend and was in desperate need of a break from reality, I decided to test out my new sleeping bag-- I've had the same sleeping bag since I was about 10, and while it is still fully functional, it is not a cold-weather bag. Since winter lasts like 3/4 of the year where I am, it made sense (after more than a decade) to finally upgrade to something a little less summery. This might also have been prompted by the overnight trip we took the middleschoolers on this summer at the camp I worked at-- one of the younger girls had the same sleeping bag. Don't judge me; I needed a new one.
So I decided to test out my cold-weather gear. My dad has some property out in the middle of nowhere. For those of you who have ever been to NH, you may scoff at the phrase, thinking that it encompasses the whole state, but no, this is in the middle of nowhere by NH standards; as in complete with bobcat, bear, and roads that don't even exist, according to my GPS.
I tried to convince my dad to go with me, but he was off on another hunting trip, so I had the choice of going alone, or bailing. I went.
The few people I told thought I was kidding. Like I said, I get cold easily. I wore sweatshirts in the Kalahari desert. No kidding. And this is November in NE.
I got there after dark, set up camp (in the dark, in the woods, by myself. Shut up, I'm proud of myself) and built myself a little fire. I tucked myself as far down in my new sleeping bag as I could go, and thus passed the first night.
I got woken up by mergansers splashing in the lake, making a total racket. Day one spent reading, watching the critters, hiking, cooking over another fire... it was lovely.
Another night, another day like the first. I not only survived the chilly nights, but it was such a beautiful way to spend the weekend after the stress of the week. Plus when you're so far out that you can't see a single light from civilization, the stars are unimaginably beautiful.
...And I just really like building campfires.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Shameless Plug
So I haven't posted in months, it's true. This was started (and intended) as a public travel journal, and ended up being a "this is my life" sort of thing. Lately, my life hasn't been interesting enough to write about. It happens. So what does one write about when daily life is too boring?
Well, you can now follow my socio-political ideas over at "What's Wrong With This Picture" (subversiverants.blogspot.com) or for something less weighty, you can read up on ideas for fun, food and fix-ups at "Try This At Home" (fixthis.blogspot.com).
Unless I start traveling again, or at least start leading a more interesting life, odds are this one won't have much to say, but I'll do what I can. Until then, enjoy some of the other brain-leakage! Who knows, there might even be a good idea or two in there somewhere.
Well, you can now follow my socio-political ideas over at "What's Wrong With This Picture" (subversiverants.blogspot.com) or for something less weighty, you can read up on ideas for fun, food and fix-ups at "Try This At Home" (fixthis.blogspot.com).
Unless I start traveling again, or at least start leading a more interesting life, odds are this one won't have much to say, but I'll do what I can. Until then, enjoy some of the other brain-leakage! Who knows, there might even be a good idea or two in there somewhere.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Afterprom
At 23, I feel a bit old for Prom. Apparently, though, I don't look it.
Since Merry's boyfriend Ben is a teacher, and his friend Nick is a substitute teacher, to keep them company while they chaperoned the After-Prom Party, Merry and I crashed the affair for some awesome bowling, which I totally rocked. Plus we got free cotton candy, which is always a good thing.
Then we tried to leave. They wanted me to "sign-out," believing me to be a highschool student. I nearly had to pull out my drivers license, and Nick had to vouch for me. I didn't realize I looked that young.
As my moving date approached, Kyle (yes, from the Gettysburg trip) made a repeat appearance, wandering around the harbor with me, scandalized that in the months I'd lived in the area, I'd spent so little time in Baltimore itself. We also hit up the Baltimore Zoo. Very depressing. Don't go to the Baltimore Zoo.
For my last day, Nick took me to the Baltimore Aquarium, where I tried to push him into the Shark Tank. Someone else must have already had that idea though, because they'd taken precautions against such things. Major bummer. The Cheesecake Factory afterwards more than made up for the lack of shark-week inspired drama.
The drive back to NH was thankfully uneventful, although painfully long. Bailey has been tormenting my little sister's dog since we got here, but the wanton destruction of cardboard boxes and toilet paper has apparently stopped, so I have no qualms about letting my cat chase the dog if that's what it takes to keep her occupied and entertained.
Since Merry's boyfriend Ben is a teacher, and his friend Nick is a substitute teacher, to keep them company while they chaperoned the After-Prom Party, Merry and I crashed the affair for some awesome bowling, which I totally rocked. Plus we got free cotton candy, which is always a good thing.
Then we tried to leave. They wanted me to "sign-out," believing me to be a highschool student. I nearly had to pull out my drivers license, and Nick had to vouch for me. I didn't realize I looked that young.
As my moving date approached, Kyle (yes, from the Gettysburg trip) made a repeat appearance, wandering around the harbor with me, scandalized that in the months I'd lived in the area, I'd spent so little time in Baltimore itself. We also hit up the Baltimore Zoo. Very depressing. Don't go to the Baltimore Zoo.
For my last day, Nick took me to the Baltimore Aquarium, where I tried to push him into the Shark Tank. Someone else must have already had that idea though, because they'd taken precautions against such things. Major bummer. The Cheesecake Factory afterwards more than made up for the lack of shark-week inspired drama.
The drive back to NH was thankfully uneventful, although painfully long. Bailey has been tormenting my little sister's dog since we got here, but the wanton destruction of cardboard boxes and toilet paper has apparently stopped, so I have no qualms about letting my cat chase the dog if that's what it takes to keep her occupied and entertained.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Gettysburg
I went to Gettysburg once as a little girl, with my mom and my sisters. I loved reading about the Civil War, and was ecstatic to get to SEE where things happened.
It rained. The whole time. And every electronic tour-guide thingy pronounced it "get-iss-berg" which annoyed the crap out of me.
But hey, it was still cool. Place names I'd read about a thousand times, like Devil's Den and Little Round Top were actually real, and I could climb all over them. I could actually SEE where Pickett's charge was.
Fast forward about a decade or so:
A college friend from freshman year (for those of you who don't remember, that was in New Jersey) called me up. Apparently both of us were about an hour away from Gettysburg. Daytrip!
Kyle, who had been to Gettysburg a lot more frequently than I had, suggested meeting up at this quaint little restaurant for lunch, then making a day of it. When he was telling me about it, I'd thought he was exaggerating, but no: the Dobbin House actually DOES have THE BEST french onion soup ever made. It's ruined me forever. Now I'm going to have to drive all the way back to Virginia anytime I want french onion soup.
We also had rum drinks and actual food, but who cares about that.
Then we wandered into the Guest Center in search of a map, or really any sort of guidance. They suggested an Auto Tour, but who wants to see everything from a car? We were told we wouldn't be able to walk everywhere. We rolled our eyes; we're twenty-something. Clearly we know better.
So on foot, we set off. We wandered around, probably in circles and zigzags, for HOURS. After a brief stop at Friendly's for sundaes, we were off again. We ended the day watching the sunset from the top of Devil's Den. 11:30 a.m. lunch, wandered all day, half an hour for ice cream, wander somemore, and left at 8:30 or 9ish at night. Looking at the map, we HAD covered just about everything.
Yep, we showed that Info Center Lady: You CAN walk it... as long as you're willing to not be able to walk the next day (my feet were KILLING me).
It rained. The whole time. And every electronic tour-guide thingy pronounced it "get-iss-berg" which annoyed the crap out of me.
But hey, it was still cool. Place names I'd read about a thousand times, like Devil's Den and Little Round Top were actually real, and I could climb all over them. I could actually SEE where Pickett's charge was.
Fast forward about a decade or so:
A college friend from freshman year (for those of you who don't remember, that was in New Jersey) called me up. Apparently both of us were about an hour away from Gettysburg. Daytrip!
Kyle, who had been to Gettysburg a lot more frequently than I had, suggested meeting up at this quaint little restaurant for lunch, then making a day of it. When he was telling me about it, I'd thought he was exaggerating, but no: the Dobbin House actually DOES have THE BEST french onion soup ever made. It's ruined me forever. Now I'm going to have to drive all the way back to Virginia anytime I want french onion soup.
We also had rum drinks and actual food, but who cares about that.
Then we wandered into the Guest Center in search of a map, or really any sort of guidance. They suggested an Auto Tour, but who wants to see everything from a car? We were told we wouldn't be able to walk everywhere. We rolled our eyes; we're twenty-something. Clearly we know better.
So on foot, we set off. We wandered around, probably in circles and zigzags, for HOURS. After a brief stop at Friendly's for sundaes, we were off again. We ended the day watching the sunset from the top of Devil's Den. 11:30 a.m. lunch, wandered all day, half an hour for ice cream, wander somemore, and left at 8:30 or 9ish at night. Looking at the map, we HAD covered just about everything.
Yep, we showed that Info Center Lady: You CAN walk it... as long as you're willing to not be able to walk the next day (my feet were KILLING me).
Stuff
I gave my notice at work. I don't have anything lined up, or a solid idea of where I'm going, but I will NOT be here after the end of May, so in my mind, that's a start.
Now normally, I'd be panicked without some sort of plan, even if it was just a back-up plan, but for some reason, I'm not. I'll be okay.
So I've been half-packed to move for over a month. That might have something to do with why I don't feel nervous about leaving-- I can't WAIT, so it's hard to think past move-out day.
As I've been sorting all my things and packing, I've discovered everything I own can be placed into one of four categories:
1) Necessities/Practicalities: Things like a toothbrush, food, pillow, towels, bike, REAL maple syrup, pocketknife, knee brace and the bare essentials of clothing.
2) Fluff: Things I WANT, that may make my life more interesting or fun, but I don't actually NEED to survive from day to day, like computer, dvds, pens, and most people would say books, but I list them in that first category.
3) Memorials: Pictures, trinkets I picked up in foreign locales, presents people have given me...
4) Everything else. I don't know why I have this stuff, I rarely use it, don't really want it, but can never seem to find it when I'm throwing stuff out or using things up.
My mission in life, for the end of this month, is to completely eradicate that fourth category, and severely weed out the second. Bailey's been helping by eating or otherwise destroying everything she doesn't think I really need (clothes, computer cords, headphones, cardboard boxes for packing things, my bike...)
Now normally, I'd be panicked without some sort of plan, even if it was just a back-up plan, but for some reason, I'm not. I'll be okay.
So I've been half-packed to move for over a month. That might have something to do with why I don't feel nervous about leaving-- I can't WAIT, so it's hard to think past move-out day.
As I've been sorting all my things and packing, I've discovered everything I own can be placed into one of four categories:
1) Necessities/Practicalities: Things like a toothbrush, food, pillow, towels, bike, REAL maple syrup, pocketknife, knee brace and the bare essentials of clothing.
2) Fluff: Things I WANT, that may make my life more interesting or fun, but I don't actually NEED to survive from day to day, like computer, dvds, pens, and most people would say books, but I list them in that first category.
3) Memorials: Pictures, trinkets I picked up in foreign locales, presents people have given me...
4) Everything else. I don't know why I have this stuff, I rarely use it, don't really want it, but can never seem to find it when I'm throwing stuff out or using things up.
My mission in life, for the end of this month, is to completely eradicate that fourth category, and severely weed out the second. Bailey's been helping by eating or otherwise destroying everything she doesn't think I really need (clothes, computer cords, headphones, cardboard boxes for packing things, my bike...)
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