Himalountain

Took a day trip up to Watkins Glen yesterday for a day hike. The original plan had been to camp but the weather forecast said rain (it didn’t) so we just went for the day. After starting out the day with lunch at the Glenwood Pines (I almost cheated on my no mammal diet for a Pinesburger) we drove up to Seneca Lake and the Watkins Glen State Park. It was a nice hike up to the top of the gorge and I took tons of pictures. Check it out:

We took the long way back, driving up and over Seneca Lake, across to Cayuga Lake, then down to Ithaca hitting up wineries along the way until the tasting rooms closed at 5 (Why do they all have to close at 5?). The wineries along Seneca are a bit more chill than the Cayuga counterparts. Most do not charge for tastings which is awesome. We picked up 3 bottles - it’s tough for me to go tasting without buying a bottle at each winery. Luckily they were all pretty decently priced.

Had deep dish pizza at the Nines for dinner. As a bonus, we got corn nuggets (breaded & fried creamed corn) at both the Pines and the Nines so I was able to do a side-by-side comparison. Conclusion: the Nines makes it’s corn nuggets a bit gooier but they are both f’ing delicious.

I’m in Ithaca now - it’s kind of perfect weather and I’m about to go swimming in a gorge but first I wanted to post some rad pictures I took of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges yesterday when visiting my friend’s office in DUMBO. This is is view:

Yes yes, I know I said that I would make shirts of 80’s movie stars, and I did. Unfortunately, that particular shirt apparently violates copyright… so only one was made before I got shut down by the man. It’s cool though, cause one is all I need.

But while I lay low until the heat is off, here is my new shirt. It’s origins lay in a dark, sordid tale of youthful rebellion, fatherly love, shadowy government agencies, and Cuba.

I considered many variations of this shirt, but in the end, this one was the cleanest and got the point across the best. For the two people who understand this, let me know your preferred size, and I’ll get some printed up.

I recently purchased a straight razor.

Now, it’s a widely known fact that I can’t grow a beard (… or any facial hair) to save my life (bonus points for anyone that can figure out how growing a beard can save your life). So it’s not like I really need to be spending a lot of money on shaving equipment (straight razors are, perhaps not surprisingly, a little pricey).

If you were to really press me as to why I bought one… well, I dunno, it just seemed like the thing to do. Guess I like the idea of it. You might be wondering if I feel a little more manly for endangering my life every time I shave (soooo close to that jugular…). The answer is yes. Yes I do.

And to answer your second question: Yes, I have cut myself more in the last few days than in my entire shaving career up to this point… But when all is said and done, they are small cuts and the shave itself is incredibly nice. There is no way I’m going back to ‘normal’ razors again, no matter how many blades they shove in those things.

First up, Lloyd Dobler. Who is Lloyd Dobler? Well, if you don’t know, this image should help:

And if you still don’t know, then I don’t want to know you. But this should help you out.

Also, there is apparently a band… they’re alright, but a little too pop-indie for me. Pindie, if you will.

I just spent 2 days outside of cell phone reception. That in and of itself was sadly a bit of an adventure for me.

Day 3

I picked up my sweet ride at the rental car agency and hit the open road, once again so happy I invested in that GPS receiver last year. On the radio they kept talking about a major storm headed east across Northern Vermont (crap crap crap) but I basically drove in front of the leading edge the whole trip so it didn’t catch up to me until I got to C’s apartment in Errol NH (pop. 300). When I got in C, who I haven’t seen in over 3 years, had just gotten back from the store to pick up a 12 pack of Labatt Blue (yes!) so we settled in for a night of beer drinking because it was starting to storm outside and we were in Errol NH where all the stores close at 7pm. I quickly learned that C loves Battlestar Galactica almost as much as I do and we watched that awesome boxing episode from Season 3. Rad.

Day 4

C had to go into work the next day (lame) but since it was raining like a mofo she left early (yay). C works for a logging company doing something that involves a lot of neon tape and hiking around the woods all year round. When it rains as much as it has this week, there’s really very little anyone in a logging town can do. Bonus for Juuulia. Plus it was C’s birthday so she deserved the damn day off. She took me to one of her sites so I could check it out. The isolation of living up there must be pretty tough. I’m pretty sure I’d react just like the Doctor in Northern Exposure.

and holy crap is it beautiful up there. So much green.

After the tour, C and I had the following conversation:

C “So… do you want to shoot some beer bottles in the gravel pit?”

J “OMG yes!”

So we brought a rifle and a box of empty beer bottles to a gravel pit (”Addie’s Gravel Pit” to be exact) just over the border in Maine and I shot a gun for the second time in my life. I was a significantly better shot this time - I think I hit like 5 or 6 bottles.

Actually it reminded me a bit of the driving range. Except I think I’m better at shooting.

Oh the gravel pit had pretty flowers too:

C and I returned to her place after first stopping the Inn in Errol which her friends own and we were fed delicious fish chowder (chowdah!). We made yummy salmon and home fries for dinner and settled in for more BSG and also American Gigolo - not my first choice but it was what C had Netflixed. Not a bad movie but you do see Richard Gere’s wang. And with that image burned into my retinas, I passed out only after going apeshit to kill all the mosquitoes I could find.

Day 5

Well and now I’ve made it back to Burlington. Tomorrow I head down to NY for part 2 of this vacation: “Wedding Fun!”

I was standing at the busstop in downtown Burlington today and I overheard this exchange between a young man and an old man (strangers) sitting on adjacent benches:

Young Man “What are you up to?”

Old Man “Are you talking to me? I can’t hear you.”

Young Man (louder) “What are you up to!?”

Young Man (shouting) “WHAT ARE YOU UP TO!?!?!?”

Old Man “Oh… about 5′ 7″ “

… which I’ve learned has the nickname “Girlington”. Seriously - I’ve met like 2 guys so far this trip. It’s quite refreshing to have the gender ratio so reversed from my usual social dynamic.

Day 1:

Juuulia arrives in Burlington to be picked up at the airport by everyone’s favorite Decepticon, Megatron. I got 4 hours of sleep on the red-eye but quite a bit of coffee so I’m good to go. Megatron has decided to show everything quintessentially Vermont to me in my short visit. We walk to the Farmer’s Market passing a twelve story apartment building for the elderly which I learn is the tallest building in Vermont. We also see this building:

The artist apparently uses his house to advertise his photography business. After going to a potluck for dinner, I unsuccessfully tried to serenade my hostesses on guitar (I have no songs memorized), Megatron rocked the house

and I contented myself with taking arty photos.

Day 2:

I woke up this morning to the sound of Megatron playing the fiddle. She’s very good. I make some coffee and grab a quick bite to eat before we head out to a strawberry farm to go berry picking. So much fun! I had a few spazzy moments (I need to get over my buzzing insect thing) but picked some luscious fruits.

After returning, we had a picnic on the front lawn, then loaded Megatron’s canoe onto her car and headed out to Indian Brook Reservoir for some boatin’ and swimmin’.

It was so tranquil and wonderful. I kind of envy Megatron’s life. Everything we’ve done this weekend so far is what she would have done if I weren’t there. We got back to the house in time for the bimonthly potluck she and her housemates have. This evening’s theme was “Roll Your Own Sushi”. I learned that sliced pear, avocado, cucumber and radish are a really good combination. Dessert was Strawberry Shortbread - homemade with the strawberries from this morning and some fresh whipped cream.

It’s kind of hard to believe that people are this wholesome. Or that I’ve been here for less than 2 days. Normally I feel like I’ve gotten something accomplished on the weekend if I leave my apartment. Tomorrow I pick up my rental car and head out to the middle of nowhere in NH to visit another friend who is a forest ranger. It’s like I’m not only on a geographical vacation but a mental one too. I’m digging it.

“It’s Not About Love”

Update - embedding doesn’t work so here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4LmJToyAEo

I have two things to say about this video:

1) I heart Zack Galifianakis. I’ve wanted to be his BFF ever since I saw Comedians of Comedy,

2) Fiona Apple looks fantastic. Seriously, how old is she?

At first when I noticed one of Jundt’s recent gReader shares, I was like “Why would anyone subscribe to a blog about cakes?”

Then I saw this entry

Read the background story by Scott Meyer of Basic Instructions here or here. I also laughed until I almost cried.