Damn Inflation!

This is Willy's Variety. They used to have an entire wall of penny candy and other old school treats like Lemonheads, Fireballs, Lotsafizz, etc. when I was growing up. I thought for old times sake I'd take a stroll in there today. I know it hasn't been too many years since my last visit but looks like prices have gone up and selection is down. Bummer. Still a fun spot to get your sugar high for the day though.

Who knows where you can get penny candy these days? Maybe I'll go on the great penny candy hunt across America...

Watch This

Point Blank. 

Here is The Story of Stuff. 

Every time I think I am "doing my part" or consciously living on our precious planet, I come across things like this video. I have to welcome the slap in the face reality. Who am I kidding? I could be doing so much more. We all could. Please try with me. Step one; Encouraging everyone to keep spreading the word on information like this video. Two; Being really aware of ways we can produce less waste/trash. The average American produces 4.5 pounds of trash a day. Yikes. That is insane and awful.

It's so much more than trash but that's at least a start. We all have the power to make positive change. Now lets stop talking about it to be trendy and start doing it to save the place we'd all like to live in 30 years.

Still Working On #6 For You

Clearing out old emails, I just saw this one. Got it a while back after a break-up. Before I hit delete I thought I'd share. 

Glad I kept showing up for those 6am runs Neil. Who says you need to actually see or talk to a person regularly to know you have a real friend. Thanks for the love and for making me laugh!

From Neil, for when feeling blue:

1) listen to happy music

2) when you think of him/relationship, find a replacement to think about (for me, it's australia!)

3) write a little bit, but not too much

4) find someone else to go on some dates with, a total distraction. someone that you won't be tempted to talk about your relationship with at all

5) find a friend or someone to talk to, and tell them that you need them to NOT talk about the relationship for a while, and then just have conversations about nothing. and, have them be available when you need them 24/7 as much as possible. whenever you get blue, call them and talk about anything other than the relationship.

6) find sophia bush for me!!! (okay, that probably won't help you, but damn that would be awesome for me!!!)

7) know that you are loved by many, many people!

8) visit me in SF soon!

Meet Don And Doc

Don is on the left, Doc on the right. They're volunteers at the fire department in Trout Run, PA. 

I cruised by them last weekend and had to turn around. As soon as I got out of the car they asked me if I was lost. I laughed and told them of course not! I just wanted to talk to them and take their picture. Like a lot of people I photograph, they seemed a bit surprised. They joked with each other that "If she is taking our picture, we should charge her! HA!" 

They asked where I was going because of my out of state plates. Doc told me he had traveled all over working as a traffic controller for years. He was a riot. Just that jolly, I'm chillin' in my teeny little town watching the world go by and I can do that now because I have worked my ass off and been some places and done some things. Don didn't say a word. I think he thought I was a little nuts. I can't say I'm surprised. After all I was the chatty stranger who popped in out of nowhere. Hope I didn't scare you Don. Thanks for letting me take your picture. As promised, I will come find you and the Trout Run Fire Department someday and share my fortune with you when/if I make it. Until then, happy chair sitting and relaxing on those perfect summer nights gents.

Here's to everyday folks and all walks of life.

Phew! I'm Glad They Make Treat Sticks

I've been on a wild goose chase to find a place that did.

So, in case you were looking for a place to do your deer processing.

Here you go!

Yep, looks like they will cut, "rap" and freeze it for you. That's awesome. Musical and processing talent. It's like a one stop shop for all your needs.

(The best part of this photo is that I didn't even notice the "rap" until posting it right now. I thought it was funny enough as a sign in general. The "rap" just blows it off the charts.)

What's that I say? Oh yeah...

God I love this stuff.

Chop Chop

I walked by this old school barber shop in tiny Montour Falls, NY. a couple days ago. The barber pole was spinning at this place just like one did outside Al's Barber Shop that my grandpa used to take us to when we were in elementary school. My brothers would get the cuts, and Al would feed me Tootsie Rolls out of his candy drawer while I waited impatiently for the boys to be done. I had a nostalgic moment and thought why not snap a photo. Here's some interesting info. on the origin of the barber pole.

Can't say it enough. Love, love, love these small towns and their Main Streets. After the barber shop I ran into Judy; Square Dancer Extraordinaire. Good story on her soon.

I'm Sorry-How Many?!

Walked by a poster for Food, Inc. today and the friend I was with told me a bit about the movie.That of course got me intrigued to look up some more info. Yeah. Wow. Talk about a movie I am going to make sure I see as soon as I can. 

Just watching the trailer alone makes me scared to ever eat anything again that's not tree bark I pick off myself. That and hearing that the modern supermarket has an average of 47,000 items in it. What?! Fourty seven thousand??!! Ew. Talk about the ultimate in gluttony.

Comparing myself to others, I think I eat fairly healthily. I do always like yummy treats of chocolate and wine and that will probably never change- but yikes! That number of supermarket items along with thoughts of what we consume as Americans on a daily basis makes me want to rethink a lot when it comes to my own eating habits. God knows what this movie will make me want to do after watching it.

What Is That? -A Raspberry?

I rolled on the ground laughing today when a friend asked me that as I pulled my Blackberry out from my purse. And he was dead serious.

You've gotta love someone who is one of the smartest, well traveled and aware people you have ever known, but at the same time could give a flip about certain modern trends and technologies.

This Ain't No Napa Wine Tasting

Where else in the world do you go to a wine festival with things like NASCAR and vineyards that chant things like "Red Cat, Red Cat- it's an aphrodisiac, Red Cat Red Cat- it'll get you in the sack!"

???

The one and only Watkins Glen International. Oh yeah.

In between our sips of Ice Wine and 1,000 sweet Reislings, there was a pace car ride around the track at 100mph, stickers being put on us from wineries such as Hickory Hollow that said "spit or swallow" and of course perusing booths of ridiculous wine fest shwag to purchase such as tshirts that said things like "I go both ways" and the pictured redneck wine glasses.

Pish-posh to you fancy wineries. This is how we roll in upstate NY with the locals. Absolutely freaking hilarious. Once again I will have to leave you with a "and that's only the beginning." 

So that's only the beginning. If my fingers could type faster, my camera could take more photos and there were 24 more hours in the day to devote to all the funny stories, things, people. I've got more coming about hammered attendees, some great tshirts and other bits of divine insanity that would make those wine connoisseurs who swirl too much gasp in shock.

Boy do I love that I can hang with fancies and black tie this and that and then partake in smashing beer cans on my head and riding around race tracks. I believe that makes me well rounded- right? Or confused and bipolar? Ether way I'm happy, laughing and having a great time so I'll keep rolling with it. Thanks to you out there who tell me it puts a little entertainment in your day. I love that. 

This Is Where I Woke Up Today

In this little boathouse apartment. Can you say pinch me, lucky, heaven, is that the sound of water crashing against the shore as I am still laying in bed after I just fell asleep to a pure sky of darkness and stars?

Yes. Somebody pinch me. 

Do I say that a lot? 

I know I say things like pinch be and best ever a lot. Most of the time I'd like to have video or audio here so I could giggle, screech, dance around and clapping my hands like I do and possibly better share the moment. (I am working on it) Sometimes words can't do justice to moments and I'd like to have all the world sitting next to me just to breathe it all in... 

You'll just have to trust that even with all the rest of the crap, struggles and "stuff" that go on in typical daily life- I still fully feel like a kid in a candy store on most days. I wrote to someone last night that I am convinced that if I could take any person on the road with me and have them explore around like I do- I feel like it could open doors and eyes that never would open otherwise. I just feel like there are endless amounts of things to do and see. I'm so very thankful for people in my life who encouraged me to start exploring and continue to as years pass. They're the reason I get to wake up here today.

Onto other fun stuff. I am off to the Finger Lakes Wine Festival in a bit with a couple of the most incredible humans on the planet. 80 wineries, music, food, summer, lakes, crisp fresh air and the best company anyone could ask for? Now that's my religious Sunday!

184,871-185,696

825 miles.

That is how many miles I drove today. It was friggin' awesome. (That is my latest favorite thing to say/write by the way when I think something is completely and totally amazingly, fantastic, stupendous and great.)

Here's a teeny taste of what I saw/heard/experienced besides this sign on the side of the road:

*Eric, the McDonald's employee in Harrisonburg, VA that was the nicest and most fun I have ever fast food employee I have ever encountered. (No, I do not eat fast food much ever- but are you kidding? A girl has to have her french fries on a 14 hour road trip!)

*A McDonald's in Pennsylvania that claimed to have a "Victorian Dining Room." Huh?

*A man walking down the highway shirtless in acid washed denim cut-off shorts and boots. (They're called "shit-kickers" where I am from. Hot.) I just Googled shit-kickers by the way and found this site for an interesting sounding "banjo-pluckin' jamboree. Niiiice. Please don't anyone ever tell me that you are bored or there is "nothing to do" in this world. Did ya click on that link? Holy entertainment everywhere you look Batman

*That song that has the line "I wanna take a ride on your disco stick" 422 times. Yes, each time I had a full-on-dance-athon in the drivers seat

*About 67 billboards with things like "Adult entertainment" and "Clean viewing booths ahead" and then some actual locations. Not sure how much I believe the word "clean" in any of that

*About 67 billboards that informed me that "Jesus Saves"

*A town called Shamokin Dam

*A town called White Deer

*A road called Grumpy Mountain Road

*A billboard that said every 20 minutes a child is diagnosed with Autism. (Ugh. Sad and a reality I was unaware of.)

*The song from Tag Team; Whoop There It is. Note the amazing lyrics such as "Slam dunk it, stick it, whip it and ride that B double O-T-Y- oh my" and "Here's a shovel can you dig it fool?" Oh Yeah. You wanna talk dance party in my drivers seat? It was on. I have no shame. You will so totally be dancing when you click on the link above. You love it

Oh and that's only 2% of it all people. I'd need years to write the rest.

Dear Honda,

The above title is the beginning mileage when I left my home in my super sweet 2000 Civic LX with tape deck today- and then ending mileage when I arrived at my destination. She drove like I just took her off the lot brand new. I love you Honda. I'm volunteering myself as a spokesperson for how amazing your little cars are. You can wrap my car with Honda logos or whatever you think works or give me a new little car to drive. I will go on the road, meet lots of people and tell them how amazing your product is.  Adventure ON! In return you pay for my expenses and I get to have the coolest life ever. I am not asking for much. I get excited over taking photos of old barns and eating dollar menu french fries. I'm a cheap date. I have no doubt I can sell hundreds of cars for you. You can find me here. Leave me your phone number and I will give you a call when I'm done enjoying my time at the lake. This could be your best marketing move ever. Hit me up. 

Me Too

This was on the wall in the bathroom where I ate dinner last night. Of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a pic.

Wouldn't it be nice if this was possible?

ROAD TRIP!

Hold tight.

I am about to embark on a road trip. Gas tank is full and I have my old school paper maps. It's on. I'm going to have LOTS of crazy, fun, cool and likely nutty things to share here over the next little bit so keep checking back!

If I disappear at any point and don't post like 3 times a day, know that I am loving life dancing in a field with a bunch of hippies, drinking too much at whatever local wine festival is going on, broken down on the side of road chillin' with tow truck drivers (I am good at that) feasting with family, friends or strangers, and a million other things that happen on the open road in summer time.

God I love this stuff.

Sat tuned...

What About Bob?

(Couldn't help thinking of Bill Murray hanging off the front of the boat screaming "I'm SAAAIIILING!" That movie cracks me up.)

I Just found this site and these neat bags by Ella Vickers. How cool. They are made from old yacht sails. She saves 20 thousands yards of sailcloth from landfills each year by producing these. (I'm sure preserving some awesome memories for people as well. Good stuff all around.)

Rocking out recycled materials in a totally creative way backed by Ella's great story of how it all came to be. Now that's what I call fashionable!

Dear Ella,

I'd be happy to sport one of your bags for you if you'd like to send me one. I love talking to strangers and I find it very easy to get people excited about things like checking out bags on websites and buying them:)

Reverse Retirement

My friend sent me this email two weeks ago:

I just found that I have 2 pages in my address book assigned to you and mailing addresses.. 5 addresses in total but I am sure there should be more J

My Grandma told me a few years back "Honey- I just use a pencil for you at this point."

Both times I just had to giggle and respond with "How the heck do you think I got all these good stories?!"

I have been thinking about all my crazy moves and adventures lately because of some conversations with young college girls I worked with a bit this spring. The kind that have all the potential in the world, life at their fingertips and are between the ages of 18 and 22. Questioning whether they should jump or not, they'd say things like; "I have always wanted to move here, or try this, or do that but I'm not sure..." I tell them:

GO!

Do it.

Jump.

There's no time like now, it only gets harder as you get older. Listen to yourself. Go wander around, screw around, explore around, study around- whatever you have always wanted to do. Pay for it all yourself. Every penny. When anyone wants to give you any negative feedback/thoughts/opinions/ "noise",  you can tell them to go screw themselves. Why? Because you are supporting yourself, yes you have health insurance, AAA, a cell phone and all those other "safety and responsibility" things in line thank you very much and you have earned and paid for them all yourself. You'll know when it's time for you to slow down or start the next phase of your life. It's a different time for everyone and no one else can decide that for you. The time you spend traveling or studying or doing that "thing" you have always wanted to- will offer you lessons for your life like nothing else can. It is now time for your reverse retirement. Enjoy it. Be smart, keep your eyes open for opportunity (take it if it feels right), but for god's sakes don't ever worry about where you "should"or "shouldn't" be. I've done enough worrying about that for you and I can promise the worry has been a waste. Trust me.

I hope they listen and take some of that advice.

I'm thankful I got that advice from other people and can pass it on to the next "generation."

Not everyone would agree that it's the best and smartest choice for whatever successful future if you step off the beaten path and move around a bunch. Sure you might get behind the eight ball on a few things if you don't follow a certain schedule. Yes, you have to have some kind of game plan. I still think jumping is the best way to go. I'm no genius. I don't know any big secret, I just know jumping has given me lessons I would've never found otherwise. Most importantly I think jumping teaches us the ability to appreciate and understand things/life/people better and more. Now that's something I am all about encouraging. 

Go get em' girls! The world is your oyster!