Going where my feet take me...

So it turns out that I have this fascination with taking photos of where my feet have been... Sort of my way of saying that I was HERE...

Recently I discovered Picasa (Along with Flickr, Photbucket and Slide, but I like Picasa best...)

The result of my footwork photography can be found at the link below... (Or you can just view the slideshow...)

Going Wherever My Feet Take Me...

Yes baby, you certainly are...

I love how his shirt reads "am I here yet?" in one photo and "am I there yet?" in the other...

Either way...
He's hot...
Either way...
The answer is YES!

What moves me...

I love art...
I love looking at the creations and works of the masters and artists on the verge of making it...
I love the thoughts and emotions that the different pieces evoke...
Here are some of my current favorites...


"Afternoon in Studio" by Juarez Machado


"At Peace With God" by Nico


"Cafe Caffe" by Isaac Maimon


"City Lights" by Natasha Wescote


"Coffee Girl" bu Irene Kotinsky

Some flowers for you...

If you are in the mood for whimsy and are looking for springtime flowers, try this link:

http://www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.swf

It actually ended up being rather addictive after I had a dozen or so "planted". Then it became a game of seeing just how full and diverse I could get the screen... (Thanks Mom for sending this to me...)

So if you are in the mood for a quick diversion, give the link a click and try it out... I know it seems silly, but you'll like it, trust me. Easy smiles are on the way...

Kisses,
Happy Spring!

Weekly Weigh In... A New Accountability...

So my sister has different weekly post to hold different aspects of her life accountable. Answering to yourself by public announcement, or something along those lines...

Since I have a goal that I have been tossing about with my closest friends for some time, and I have made little progress in the past few months, (Drat the candy bowl, double drat that I really do love it so...) I figured that perhaps I would try jumping on the bandwagon of accountability...

So here it is...

As of Sunday I totally FELT fat. I weighed in at 136.5, and burned 1,000 calories on the new elliptical at the gym. (Thanks again C.C. for all your support and rear kicking. I do adore you so...)

As of Tuesday night I FELT a little less bloated (Could it result from all the sweating I have been doing in the past couple of days?) I weighed in at 138, (Gotta love PMS... Grrr...) and burned just over 500 calories on what is now my new favorite machine. (We'll call it 500 just to keep things even, even though it was more like 512 and every calorie counter will tell you that every calorie counts...) And I finally did my BMI, a whopping 26%! (I put the exclamation point in there for you, I was a lot higher, even when I was thinner, go figure. Thin really is the new fat.)

As of last night I burned another 500 calories on that lovely elliptical from hell, giving my best rodent impression until my legs felt like Jello and I had to pry my hands from the heart monitor bars. (Thanks C.C. for inspiring me to up the level to the next one higher. I can feel the ache hitting already. Tomorrow I am going to pay for this big time. Not that the level I was at was all that high. Isn't level 1 high enough? Yeah, yeah, bite me... I hurt, I am beat, I am sweaty, and I am seriously feisty. Watch out world, I will take you on! Just as soon as I have a good long nap... actually, I am so tired that you better make that a nibble... I don't think I could handle a bite right now...)

I won't step on a scale until this weekend. I will not grab for the tape measure to look for progress until I have run the weekly virus scans on my computer. (Talk about a sick reward system. So what if I am lazy about my computer and obsessive about my weight... So sue me. I can be an average female too sometimes... At least I found a way likely to get me to run those pesky scans that take FOREVER and always want to run just as I am hitting a hot Google stride...)

I am sure at some point in the near distant future I will be adding on goals like a certain amount of calories burned each week... For now, I am just happy on this cool machine that does not hurt my knee, and sweating myself past the desire to get of said machine and do something that is not boring. (If I stay on past 400 calories the endorphins kick in and then all I want to do is STAY on that nutty contraption until my legs fall off... Well except for tonight. Tonight I thought I was going to throw up. I probably drank too much water. I know, ME drink too much water. I can hear the laughter from here...)

But for now, here are my goals... (To be reached by labor day weekend. And yes I already know that it is not likely, or realistic, but this is something to ASPIRE to, to aim for. I promise I will not slip into bad habits, or kill myself trying to reach them. I will only focus and work hard in a healthy manner... Really.)

Goals:

Weight: under 120 (Even if it is 119.9999999, I want that scale back where it belongs. Which is actually between 114 and 118, but I am not going to quibble about those last few pounds... And Yes, the doctor said it was a healthy weight, so please no comments telling me about how that is really too thin...)

Body Fat: 16-18% (This is the big one for me. I was chasing after 12%, but was discouraged by the same doctor that approved of my weight goals... Something about not good for someone who is considering conception, but we are going to move right past that for now. For now I want those sculpted arms and legs back. How I did not appreciate them when I had them. I want my tush smaller and about two inches higher than it currently is. I want to sport those elusive six pack abs that I have been gunning for and never quite getting. I would love to decrease my bust size. Dreaming here on this one, but it would be so great to be able to buy something from Victoria's Secret or to have a bra that costs less than $150.00 that does not require alterations. I am not about to increase the girth of my ribs from a 28, just so that I can wear a frilly lacy pretty things, and an F is just ridiculous. I seriously considered using duct tape to bind myself before hitting the gym. Talk about pain. This is starting to remind me of all the comments about what it must be for a guy to ride a runaway horse sans underwear... Ouch!... To be smaller... That would be incredible... Can you imagine... Real bathing suits that come as a set...)

Activity: More. (I know, this sounds silly to just put more as the goal, but with my ears and the headaches, this is the only reachable goal I can really have. Just more. So that I can have a good heart rate and not be winded trekking up the cliffs from the beach, climbing hills and stairs in the city, or so that I can keep up with the hyper-active loves in my life... So this is really probably the best goal of the bunch to have. I know, vanity always seems to win out over health in the end though... I can't help it, this summer I want to wear shorts. And I want to look not just good, but FABULOUS doing it. See... Vanity is a strong motivator...)

Size: Slightly smaller than what I am now. I want to wear the same clothes that I do now, I just want them to feel better on my body when I zip them up or sit down. I want my worn out, worn to death, favorite pair of jeans to be baggy on me, but not so much that they stop doing that sexy but thing. (I want to waffle between a 2 and a 3, not a 3 and a 5. And I am speaking in generalities here. We all know how wonky designers and manufactures are with sizing. Really, I know I can pull something off a rack and have anything from a 2 to a 9 fit... But for what is in my closet, what is typical of what I wear, I am sticking to a body skimming, not in the least bit tight, size 3 thank you very much. And again with the clause for those that think a 3 is too small. Please keep in mind that I happen to have a minuscule frame. As in I import my favorite bras from China kind of small. As in I am scared to think about passing a baby through hips as narrow as a ten year old boy's... And yes I used to steal and hoard my younger brother's jeans when they had outgrown them, so I really do know what I talking about. And I still typically shop the racks in the children's department first.)

And if you are wondering at all of the defensiveness about being too small, just chalk it up to some of those that go waaaay back with me will recall certain behaviors that we shared and somewhere along the way we grew past them. It's just that now, even a decade later, we still check up on one another to make sure that things are all right in the world and everything is under control and as it should be. Red flags are a bad thing, precaution and foresight are good. Friends that love you enough to be concerned are wonderful and should not be worried without real cause. So it is just better to head off all of the questions that are bound to come in when my accountability goes public...

So there you have it. I'll fess up again next week after I have had some time to make some progress and not have to be compulsive with the tools of accountability. (And no, I have not yet figured out how many weeks that is, even though C.C. did the math and it was something like 14 or 15, but not really sure. And I have it as being about 100 days... But again, not really sure. So I am sure all of that will be in the next update. After all, what else does a hamster in the gym have to think about as the calories add up on the screen and the minutes tick by like tiny beads of sweat? Yeah... It's that good...)

Here in 100 Clicks...

So... We started a Photo Scavenger Hunt... By "we" I mean Chocolate Cake and I... I also mean "we" as in, "we" talked about it, and then "I" took the idea and ran with it. I'm still not sure if he really thought that we would actually do it, he was rather surprised by the completed list...

But all in all, I think it went rather well. I bonded with my Mom in NY over the creation of the list and then C.C. and I spent a day in Providence having fun with it and celebrating his birthday. (We also took the train, a first for him, and that went over very well. We have adventuring in common, he and I.)

I am calling my list "Here in 100 Clicks". (And I say my list as C.C. has decided that he prefers to have his list arranged another way with some alterations made. So that list will be his list. And to be fair, I am sure his list will be a fantastic list, I just have yet to see it. And I will happily try out his list in San Diego on my next trip there to see how it goes. Yes folks, you heard it here. You can hold me accountable. I will try out the list with a smile on my face and happiness in my heart when he e-mails me a copy... I mean, what sort of a girlfriend would I be if I did not give it a real try. And since I adore him and the way he thinks, I am bound to adore the list...)

Anyway...

Here in 100 Clicks...

I have completed the Catskills and Providence. I am working on Boston/Cambridge, it should be posted up shortly... And it is really cool to see C.C.'s photos of Providence in comparison to my own. Talk about the same and yet different. I love it! (And if C.C. e-mails me the link to his photos, I'll add them to mine below... *HINT HINT*)

I invite you all to try out my list for your own destinations, travels, adventures, or even where you live... You will be surprised how completely a place can be summed up and expressed with your take stamped heavily upon it, in 100 clicks of the camera. (And if you do, please drop me a line with the link to your photos. I would love to add them to what I hope becomes a growing collection on my page so that they can easily be compared and enjoyed together.)

Here in 100 Clicks: Providence 2007

Here in 100 Clicks Providence 2007

Here in 100 Clicks: Catskills 2007

Here in 100 Clicks: Catskills 2007

My List, for your pleasure...

Here in 100 Clicks:

1. angle
2. art
3. attire
4. beautiful/ beauty
5. birds eye view
6. black
7. blue
8. broken
9. brown
10. bugs eye view
11. caught your fancy
12. celebrate/ rejoice
13. change
14. color
15. culture
16. curvaceous
17. dance
18. dark
19. direction
20. door
21. dwelling
22. emotion
23. famous
24. flora/ plant life
25. food
26. found/discovery
27. framed
28. fresh
29. front page
30. fun/ enjoyment
31. graffiti
32. grand
33. gray
34. green
35. ground
36. group
37. hallway/corridor
38. harmony
39. historical
40. in two’s
41. just because
42. landmark
43. large
44. light
45. lines
46. liquid
47. local color
48. lost
49. love
50. makes you laugh
51. man-made/ artificial
52. mechanical
53. monument
54. motion/ movement
55. multi-colored
56. natural
57. noise/sound
58. not found in a guidebook
59. odd/ peculiar
60. on the road
61. orange
62. out of place
63. pastime
64. path
65. picture perfect
66. pile of
67. purple
68. reality
69. red
70. reflection
71. shadow
72. shapes
73. sharp
74. signage
75. sky
76. skyline
77. small
78. smell/ fragrance
79. soft
80. something the area is known for
81. sparkle
82. stairs
83. strong
84. structure
85. symmetry
86. tangle
87. texture
88. that thing that made you go hmmm
89. thought provoking
90. transportation/ traffic
91. unusual
92. view through a window
93. weather
94. what the ?
95. white
96. why not
97. wildlife
98. worth writing home about
99. yellow
100. your feet/proof that you were there


Take a photograph to represent each item on the list.

Label each picture with the item for identification and comparison continuity.

Place entire collection into album labeled: Here in 100 Clicks Location Name Date, and post link.

Clinging to fairytales…

Is it such a bad thing to cling to a fairy tale? If you see things as they are but allow for the sheen of the enamored to be glossed on the surface, does that make your view become inaccurate?

If there is no such thing as perfect, then why is it our vocabulary? Is it something intangible or idealistic, like heaven or utopia? And if it is, then why is such are such words and concepts bandied about? Are so many people truly unaware, or is it a way to sugarcoat the ugliness? And if that is the case, then why have an un-attainable goal as what we all are striving for? Why not reach for stars you can at least possibly touch if you work and strive hard and long enough?

We stamp our feet and say live green, love thy fellow man and dream of a utopian planet. But is this really effective? Would it not be better to acknowledge that after so many centuries of mankind living on this planet, we will never love our fellow men? What if we strove to tolerate them instead? Live next to one another accepting that we will forever be different and alone? Who knows, but the fighting continues generation after countless generation all for some ideal. And the bigger question is this; are they really happy living this way? And if they are, then is that living in heaven? I hope not.

We live in a society where we bind ourselves to one another legally in a form of a contract, and somewhere down the line, we confused this with love. Are the two really compatible? And if they are, then why do we offer this arrangement to some, yet not to others? And who are we to decide what love is for everyone and who can make use of which binding agreements? And how can I get a contract that promises me love and actually delivers it? And if they are separate, then what is the big deal all about then? I don’t want to settle, and I certainly don’t want someone settling by choosing to be with me. Is there such an arrangement in existence that actually has individuals linking their lives together because they cannot dream of doing anything else and still being happy rather than staying together out of familiarity and comfort or for the children?

And if you think that this is me on a soapbox, you are incorrect. This is me really asking these questions. I really want to know. After last night’s conversation, the one where my barn burnt down, I need to find out, at the very least, what those answers are for me.

(My particular “barn” being the ideal of a romantic love where one person can be right for another, by way of being a perfect connection or match, by means of being perfect in their imperfections. That there is really such a thing as an unending love affair of the heart, and that you can be happy with one person without settling. Because after last night, I am ready to scrap this whole thing and I really do not want to do that. My heart and my mind are at war and they are not living with tolerance at the current moment in time. And if I cannot keep peace within myself, how can I be so innocent as to suggest that we could reach some sort of peace as a whole? I fear I am an incurable romantic. I know, crazy or stupid are also possibilities, but I like those even less…)

Honesty is best…

Long conversation last night…
Slept on it…
Think I need to sleep on it for a few more nights…
Hate when things roll about inside my brain like lost marbles…
It’s not bad, it just is…
-sigh-
Restless…
Scattered…
I do not want to do any of the things that I should be doing right now…
Just want to run on the elliptical like a habitrail hamster…
Or pull the covers over my head to keep warm and snuggled…
I really liked my “barn”…
But it’s true, at least I can see the moon…

Hack Job Holly...

So it turns out that I am a cutter... Of hair, rather than skin...

I have always been one to play inside the box... (as my hairdresser friends like to tease) But as it turns out, when I get really fed up with how my reflection is staring back at me, I reach for the nearest pair of scissors and start snipping away...

Like I did this morning.

I did the usual... Took shower dried hair, tried on what seemed to be like half of my closet (I have more than 36 feet of closet space that is crammed so tightly that I fear the rods may split in the middle...) and then decided what I could do to change what was staring back at me right then and there was to tweak my haircut. (again)

This is not the first time that I have done this. I am sure it will not be the last. But it is certainly the fastest way to gain that release the cutting brings with it. Like I am in control and can change things right now. (A total laugh, I know...) And I would say that I can't help it, but I could. If I really wanted to that is. Which, really, I don't. It hurts no one and I feel better afterwards. (I am sure that there are all sorts of psychological problems that you could say that I have for feeling the need to snip away at my hair from time to time, but if you are going to do that, I am sure you would find all sorts of other random idiosyncrasies that are far more entertaining to examine under a microscope. Like my obsession with silly socks, my habit of keeping clean panties in my glove box for emergencies, or the way I can get excited about going anyplace and turning it into a grand adventure full of excitement and wonder. Or hey, how about my choice in friends or Blog readers... You get the idea right? You still feel the love right? You should, I love you all...)

Anyway...

So I have a few more uneven layers in my hair again... (But that is in style right now, so I am off the hook on that.) And I have a bit of bangs... (Which are not in fashion, but I don't really care...) And I have come to terms that I will suffer along with the greater masses at Burning Man proudly displaying my hideous playa hair... I will overcome, I will wear the dust with pride. I will, I will, I will...

And if my current hairdresser (who is also one of my bestest friends) is reading this... I never wrote these words... You dreamed this whole Blog up... My hair just naturally grows out this way... Really, it does...

Worth a thousand words...

If what they say is true…
That a PICTURE is worth a thousand words…
And I am verbose by nature…
Then today…
This should suffice…

So I have been given 3 more months...

The appointment went as well as one could hope. I have been given 3 more months to keep up the good work. (That makes me laugh... Good work... Good progress perhaps, but is giving up caffeine and taking vitamins really doing good work?)

So... I am celebrating with sushi, sans the green tea. (Since I can't be sure that there is no caffeine lurking about... And don't even mention that sorely missed jasmine tea, how I long for a deeply steeped cup of that amber-orange liquid.)

And if anyone has any rich, decadent, chocolate and sugar free desserts, send them my way... Giving up sugar is going to be even more challenging than caffeine...

Total truth...

Okay sister, you want honesty? Here it goes...

I am scared.

Tomorrow I go in to the doctor to go through what is just the start of a series of appointments and tests to see if now is the time I have to face that dreaded phrase: "You have breast cancer". There I put it in writing. I have spent the past month doing exactly as I was directed. Only once did I slip, and that was on purpose. Because if I have to go through life being that strict, then it is not worth it. If one slip makes the difference, then it won't matter in the end... And I am not ready for the end.

I think I am tired. Actually, I know that I am.

Tired of putting on a good face.
Tired of filling in the world about my personal medical information. (Though somehow Blogging about it is different...)
Tired of answering questions.
Tired of being poked and prodded and of sitting on yet another cold table in yet another cold examining room.
Tired of loved ones concerned and non-demanding inquiries about when and what.
Tired of running around doing things for people I care about because I don't know if there will be another time.
Tired of running around when I would just rather be sleeping.
Tired of thinking of the million what ifs.
Tired of thinking positively.
Tired of being the strong one when all I really want to do is find a shoulder to cry on.
Tired of pushing back the tears, and the anger, and the sadness.
Tired of being tired.

I am not ready for this. This is not the time. I accept that this may be something that I will have to face. I know that the odds are against me thanks to genetic testing. But now is NOT the time. Now is when I am supposed to be supportive to my Mother and helping her take care of things with her father. Helping out one of my closest friends when she is bed ridden and pregnant. Being supportive to my boyfriend as he continues his search for a new job and figures out what it is that he wants to do with his life. Bonding with my sister-in-laws. Getting to be the cool Aunt LaLa. Taking care of all the loose ends that I still have not managed to complete.

But I think that is what life is all about. Having things thrust upon you, or taking on more things than you can possibly handle, while you are racing to finish what you already leaving behind.

And since the night has passed and I am minutes away from that dreaded appointment, there is no more time to sleep on things. Now is time to face things.

Are you going to be seen at the Masquerade Ball?

Dear Friends;

I can’t believe how excited I am getting over this thing, this stellar event… This MASQUERADE!!! Every time I see the mailman pass by now I am going to be jumping up and running to look into the box to see if my tickets have arrived.

Last year I was so excited to attend. I gabbed on and on about it endlessly to all of my friends and family. I begged those adventurous enough to get tickets… I drew up sketches for the most elaborate ball gown and took on my most elaborate costume creation to date. I had a mold of my head cast (not at all a pleasant experience, even for someone not claustrophobic) and begged the artist to cast a custom mask off of the result to go with my gown. I could hardly sleep for the mounting excitement…

And then I was not able to go.

So I put the gown into storage in it’s nearly completed state, and later viewed the exquisite pictures of my friends all dressed in their finery having a blast at the ball.

But this year it will be different!

I have my tickets for both nights of the Labyrinth Ball. I am not sure if I can make it out for both, but I have them just in case. I have pulled the gown back out of storage to air it out before taking on the challenge of completing the masterpiece of my makings… (I have even taken on the added delight of dressing up the boyfriend for the occasion. A Gentleman for one night, a satyr on bouncy stilts for the other. And I am even doctoring up a fairy costume just in case I really do make it to both evenings festivities…)

And the excitement is mounting. I fear I may not sleep again. (For as we all know, that after Labyrinth comes Burning Man, and that leaves no room for anything but joyful glee that keeps the eyelids in a constant state of openness…)

Just in case you have no idea what I am talking about… That you might actually have not heard of the Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade Ball, I am including below the latest message delivered to me via e-mail. In it you will find links to the official site, to the sites of the wonderful performers, and all sorts of tantalizing information. And to top all of the warm fuzzies that are keeping me tingling at the moment, LUCENT DOSSIER is now scheduled to perform! I adore them, I even admit, I am a bit of a groupie… (If I could run off and join the circus, I would…) …) Not to mention that Cristina McAllister is the very talented artist behind the artwork that you see on the website and tickets! (If her fantasy creations don’t draw you in, then nothing will… And if they do, and you want to see more of her lovelies, go to her page at: CristinaMcAllister.com

So there you have it; my latest interest and current passion… Only 50 or so more days to go until I get to don a mask and gown and dance amongst the fairies… I hope to see you all there!




LABYRINTH OF JARETH X
The Tenth Annual Fantasy Masquerade Ball
July 13th & 14th, 2007
www.labyrinthmasquerade.com

To celebrate our Tenth Annual Masquerade Ball, we're offering
Two Enchanting Nights within the Court
at the historic Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
On the Hollywood Walk of Fame
6126 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA

Doors open at 8pm - introduction at 9pm
Costumes or Masks are Mandatory!
Imaginative costumes fitting the Court are highly recommended.

Tickets available now at:
http://www.labyrinthmasquerade.com/masquerade2007/tickets.html

In this update: May 2007

More New Acts upon the Royal Stage:
Lucent Dossier: Stilt Circus: Orbis Lazuli

LOJ 2007 Tickets are now shipping | Limited Edition Coins Minted
As we begin shipping the coins and ticket orders, we realize that this year is the largest turnout to date. For those who have already ordered tickets and Grande Packages, expect to see your tickets arriving this Month.

LOJ Pre-Show Tickets: (more information).
ONLY a few tickets remain for FRIDAY - Tickets for the Pre-Show are EXTREMELY limited and every year they go FAST. Saturday Pre-Show tickets sold out in record time, so don't wait, Friday tickets won't last much longer. Purchase your Pre-show ticket now.

2007 LoJ Hotel: (more information)
The Marriott Renaissance Hollywood Hotel is hosting the official LOJ Room Blocks and filling up fast. For more information, and to reserve your room, go here:( LOJ Renaissance Room Blocks)

ABOUT the LoJ Masquerade: (more information)
The Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade is a fantasy event of unique character and inspiration. Costumes or formal wear and mask are required to enter the event. Costumes range from faeries and goblins to beautiful Victorian garb, elaborate armors, and period attire along with a host of fantasy creatures and characters. We encourage imagination and diverse interaction. Each year, Sypher Art Studios hosts the Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade to pay homage to our inspirations and submerge our patrons in a special event of art, music, dance and enchantment

LIVE PERFORMANCES / GUESTS & EVENTS:
http://www.labyrinthmasquerade.com

New Areas: We're expanding into a new secret areas within our labyrinthine court. . . The spirits of elvish waters and forgotten trees whisper along the edge of faerie glades with three stages of live music and performances, a host of actors and musicians including:

Lucent Dossier: Our new friends from the wild uncharted expanse of distant dreams and Vaudeville callings are bringing their exotic performance and music to the Labyrinthian Court for the first time.

Desert Sin: The Realms of Faerie are explored within the passion of dance by the hauntingly beautiful dance troop, Desert Sin. Performing live at the masquerade, Desert Sin is a stunning addition to the beauty and flare of our court.

Sylphirance: The artistic hands and orchestrations of Sylphirance are placed upon the stage to whisper stories and glimpses of surrealistic glades and noble creations under enchanted twilight.

Stilt Circus: Acrobatic antics blend with Sylphirance's stylings to create a new dimension of entertainment within the court.

Tresk: The ambient and orchestral surroundings so carefully crafted to set the stage for Sylphirance's elaborate weavings.

Drop Black Sky: The musical dreamscapes of Drop Black Sky under the flutter of gossamer wings.

Orbis Lazuli: An intimate performance of music and dance from the new fae creatures of Orbis Lazuli, where songs and tides blend in the Royal Court.

High Priestess: Harp and drum under moonlit skies within the hidden Temple.

Sypher Art Studios: Your hosts and creators of Sypher's Noble Court are setting their chisels upon new art and sculpture for hands to touch and eyes to behold.
-
Go to the Labyrinth of Jareth Website for more information
http://www.labyrinthmasquerade.com

Sypher update – May 15th, 2007.

Train Ride: Priceless

As my internet connections are sketchy, I am (finally) posting that which have been sitting in “draft” waiting to be sent out into the Blogosphere… Oh, how I have missed the zinging sensation of clicking on that little orange “publish” button… Yes, I am a junkie of the worst kind…


Dear Friends;

I am currently experiencing my very first real train ride. From Boston to Albany. And I have to say, I love it.

The ride is surprisingly smooth and quiet. The seats are larger than any I have ever seen in first class on a plane, with enough legroom even a basketball player could stretch out. I was able to have both pieces of my luggage fashion as carry-ons and the overhead compartment was more like an opened trunk of any mid-size family car. Even the people who travel on the train seem to be of a different sort. Quieter, more introspective and observant. Most everyone is conversational and softly chatty… (Which, after my experience in Boston and the outlying areas, I am grateful for. Never have I received such a cold shoulder before… Kind of makes a person wonder what makes a whole city so grim and unsocial…)

But the best part is being able to take it all in. To travel in an un-hurried pace. To enjoy all the sights as they pass by the huge windows. No other mode of travel would have exposed me to so many of the things that I have seen cascading by as we propel ever onward down the tracks… I have seen tiny towns and little burroughs, rock walls and bridges with moss and lichen growing on them, a lone fly fisherman in waders in a whirling river. A small waterfall, countless lakes, old churches, forlorn and all but forgotten industry cities that have a population that is less than the college that I attended. And trees. Trees for days… Still all skeletal from the winter with the evergreens pushing up against them, almost as it they were all huddled together for warmth. Giant outcroppings of rocks that just beg to be climbed, even though you just know that they must be slick with wet and slime from the rains. Barns and old Victorian houses, animals, both wild and domesticated… It just goes on and on, like the quiet clicking of the track beneath the wheels of the train.

So there it is… Nostalgic bliss. Almost unused in today’s blustering fast pace. No time to settle in and enjoy the journey… It is all about how fast you get to the destination. Faster, quicker, sooner, now… But doesn’t that leave us wanting in the end? Is that not a part of why we are so dis-satisfied as a social whole? We cheat ourselves out of the little things in pursuit of something great. Did we never stop to think that perhaps having a drink in the dining car with a stranger might lead to a grand adventure or at the very least, a new potential friend? (And yes, I did have a drink in the dining car. And the attendant was a hoot and a half…)

And if all of that was not enough of a push to slow things down from time to time, then you could always think about this:

For me to fly from Boston to Albany I would have to take the Charlie (similar to BART) to the airport. Arrive at the airport 1-2 hours before my flight. Attempt to self check in, in a long, long line. Transfer to a counter with an agent so that I can wait some more to check my bags before I wade through the security maze that is the normal procedure now. Then I would have to wait to board the plane in a craze of cranky people, all grouchy from the rush and bustle. Fight for overhead compartment space and squeeze into my tiny seat. After sitting cramped for 2 hours, I would have to endure being elbowed and jostled to remove my carry-on from overhead and exit the plane to the crowded and noisy airport. Wait another 30 minutes for my luggage, and then make the trek to the far side of the parking lot or wait for what seems like forever, for a shuttle or cab. (Sounds like a blast right? And it only took me about 5 hours… And a couple hundred bucks for the joy of speedy travels…)

For me to take the train from Boston to Albany, I would still need to take the Charlie. But the Train station is closer than the airport. It is also un-crowded and quiet compared to the airport, or even a shopping mall. I go right up to the self-check in stand that has no line. I bypass having to check bags because the requirements are different, but if I did there are fewer than ten people in line and I can check three bags on top of my two carry-ons and laptop case. I have a cup of coffee in the 20 minutes that I needed to arrive early. I sit at a bistro table while I sip my beverage WITH my loved one, who then walks me halfway down the platform when I am called to board. I savor one last hug before I walk on the train car. I select a huge seat by a window and have enough space to stow all of those checked bags that I did not have. More than enough for everyone to be greedy. I ride in virtual quiet and have a meal in the dining car. I note that there are outlets to plug in my laptop at the tables, and several passengers have done just that. No more worries about battery lifespan… I wash my hands in the restroom and observe that it is big enough for 3 or 4 people to have sex in. The water is hot, there is a real mirror. I exit the train in peace because the isles are large and there are numerous exits. I quickly pass though another quiet train station and then make the trek to the far side of the parking lot or wait for what seems like forever, for a shuttle or cab. (And surprisingly, this trip only took 5 hours… Go figure… It was scheduled for 6, but we made up time along the way. Oh, and the ticket price? 25 dollars…)


(picture credit: Trans America II by Ethan Harper)

Back in the Catskills...

I know that I have been MIA...

I have been visiting my Mom in the Catskills... (Twice a year I get to be spoiled with late night chats, early morning talks, organic produce to die for, and NO INTERNET...)

I hope that everything is right in the rest of the world...
That everyone is having a wonderful life...
And that bliss abounds...

I'll be back in the real world in another week or so...