tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61810603916839708352024-02-20T02:38:54.582-08:00catch that shiny rhombus in the sky!Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-82320503748164812432008-06-11T11:59:00.000-07:002008-06-11T13:05:38.241-07:00ode to craving constant motionHello my name is Stephanie and I have a problem.<br /><br />I'm addicted to being anywhere but here.<br /><br />In recent months, I have begun to think that I may have been suffering from some kind of brutal, unrelenting infection that has taken over my brain and made me feverishly mad. I fantasize of beaches, cities, and mountains, often fixating on these images over and over in a feverish state of mind. I will taken often brakes at work to check my kayak.com account to see if I could manage to squeeze in another quick weekend jaunt to friends or family scattered around the country.<br /><br />After running or taking walks around the same neighborhood streets that I have been living in since I was an infant, I check for ticks, or perhaps traces of West Nile-any rational, tan gable piece of evidence to attribute my wildly advancing case of wanderlust.<br /><br />I suppose someday I will tire of traveling. But not this year, not this age, not now. I am very proud to be upwardly mobile and thrilled that I have the means to pick up and just go (translation: I still live at home) where ever and whenever I please.<br /><br />It's a cycle that thrills me to no end, the planning, the packing, the discovering of far away codes and customs, the sound of me describe where in New Jersey I'm from, and why I'm there, the sampling of different food and drink, and just the feeling so much more empowered because of the experience of "going there and doing that."<br /><br />In a very "lie-on-the-leather-sofa-and-tell-me-your-problems" type of psycho-analytical exploration, I will hash into my lack of travel past that I think has directly effected my all-consuming travel present and future.<br /><br />I would say that my willingness to explore has been in direct correlation to the rise in cost of a gallon of gasoline (that i have thusfar seen in my life).<br /><br />I remember taking glimpses up at the signs when I was very young and a backseat passenger in my parent's Chrysler Plymouth van, seeing figures like .78 or .79 up atop a high sign while I whiffed the toxic fumes (which, by the way, to me always smelled good. What can i say, i've always been a very olfactory-oriented person)<br /><br />Unfortunately, those trips were usually just around town or to the local shopping mall, and never really anywhere exotic. My first taste of long distance travel (that I can remember) came about in the summer between third and fourth grade and my family and I drove to Williams burg, VA. All I remember is a really long bridge, (maybe it spanned the Chesapeake?) and alot of fighting with my younger brother to keep the clunky car phone my dad insisted on carting everywhere with him on his side of the backseat.<br /><br />Fast forward to college. Having not been outside of the time zone, and only been as far west as Shippensburg as a freshman,(tragic, i know) I guess it was fate that I would meet friends who were just as wander lustful as I soon became. There may not have been jet setting (hello public state school budgets!), but there were many a roadtrip, with some favorites including Vermont, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Washington D.C., and Upstate NY.<br /><br />Still, upon graduation from college, many friends of mine were dismayed to know that I had not been outside of the EST time zone. To remedy that, eight of my college friends and myself trekked off to Ireland last summer (see aforementioned posts for the break-down of that trip) and I can honestly tell you, ever since then, I have been going non-stop.<br /><br />In an approximate 13 month time frame I have been to the following cities/places:<br />New York, NY (at least six time this year)<br />Toronto, Canada<br />Pittsburgh, PA<br />Buffalo, NY (once last May once this May)<br />Philadelphia, PA (alot of times too)<br />Washington D.C. (alot)<br />Dublin,Ireland<br />Miami, FL<br />Los Angeles, CA<br />San Diego, CA<br />Atlanta, GA (okay it was on a layover, but still it was HOTLANTA!!!)<br />Ft. Lauder dale, FL<br />Niagara Falls, NY (canada's side too)<br />Harrisburg, PA (not exactly glamorous i know, but still)<br />Burlington, VT (love love love)<br />Saratoga Springs, NY<br /><br />And now, with a stretch of summer unfolded in front of me, (not to mention my economic stimulus check burning a hole in my wallet) I am at a crux: where to go next?<br /><br />While my co-workers have their summer '08 plans set out for international cruises, trips to the Cape, and other exotic Island destinations, I sit in front of the weekly Sherman Travel Deals newsletter giddy with anticipation.<br /><br />See the only bad thing about having this overwhelming sense of wanting to be anywhere but here is the doubt that creeps into my mind and manifests itself every time I plunk down my credit card for that flight, or that hotel, rental car, or whatever...perhaps i'm being too liberal with my goings and comings, maybe i should be focusing my mind and money and efforts on moving out of my parents house, on donating cash to a charity or instead be steadfast on focusing on where i'm at (who i am, all that psycho-babble bullshiest) in the present moment.<br /><br />Yeah, all that, or I could go to Italy this summer with one of my best friends.<br /><br />Which would you choose?<br /><br />That's what i thought.<br /><br />Ciao!Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-71626598340279215802008-05-08T11:39:00.000-07:002008-05-08T12:18:38.552-07:00i want to name my child bretOkay, no worries, there's no plan of children in my eminent future (although after this past weekend I wouldn't be surprised---JK!) but I came to a recent realization that I LOVE BRET MICHAELs. As in the blonde-locked, 80s hairband frontman of Poison. Ahhhh. And the best thing about my crush is that my co-worker Jess is right there with me! (P.S.-We think that Posion is coming to town late summer. We're so there!)<br /><br />So this recent crush I've been nursing on the Pittsburgh native (Steel City Hiyaaa!) comes right on the heels of an AWESOME weekend spent in Central PA hashing, camping, and just being generally crazy with some great people!<br /><br />Now if your eyes blinked a little wider when you glossed over the word "hashing" don't be alarmed: I promise there were no illicit substances (at least not to my knowledge) present. <br /><br />Even though the hashing motto is "A drinking club with a running problem," I tend to gravitate towards "a running club that doesn't take itself too seriously and likes to carve out really cool trails in the woods for sport." This past weekend was my second time hashing, and although I enjoy running anyway, the whole concept is something that I am just getting acclimated to. <br /><br />Another really cool thing about the club is the whole subculture that comes with it. Now I don't want to risk divulging too much detail, dear reader, but I do want you to understand that most hashers seem to be pretty Type A-9-5-buttoned-up types who are all about partying just as hard as they work. Most are over the age of 25, with a vast majority of them above that, so I'm assuming that it's only appropriate to keep the debaoucherouness (sp?) to an ambigious mininmum. For the sake of identity protection, as well as just pure fun, tag names are given to each hasher-they tend to err on the side of inappropriate, (re: crude sexual humor) or serve as constant reminders for an embarrashing occurrance.<br /><br />So getting back to this weekend...you know it was a good one when it's the Thursday after and you're still trying to piece it together with the assistance of photos, a dozen people's testimony, and scrapes/bruises.<br /><br />Until next time....Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-65623431214419311782008-03-19T21:20:00.001-07:002008-03-19T21:21:23.383-07:00yay for booze and freelancing (not both at once)Trying to make good on one of my New Year’s resolutions, I dipped my big toe into the proverbial pool that is freelancing tonight, by taking a seminar course that was titled “Breaking into the beer, wine, and spirits niche.”<br /><br />Throwing caution to the wind (as well as my sobriety-the course included a wine tasting which did leave me a bit flush) I decided yesterday that March 19th would be the date; I’m seriously going to get serious about cracking the shell and pitching myself as a brand-work skills that will no doubt supplement my career and just looks like a lot of fun.<br /><br /><br />First things first: besides my career interest, I knew this was course was going to be right up my ally: I mean, hello! What (normal) 20-something doesn’t like the prospective thought of getting paid to drink!<br /><br />Okay, okay, so it’s not that simple: we’re not talking about just picking your old haunt and getting hammered on cheap pink well drinks. Instead, the course focused on the extreme and relatively untapped (no pun intended, haha!) market that lies out there for writers that would love nothing more than to revel and write all about the culture of drink.<br /><br />The instructor Kara, was an accomplished freelance who said she stumbled into the booze niche by complete accident. Honestly I think that’s great; and while the exact details escape me (forgive me it’s been a long day) I couldn’t help but wonder if she “stumbled” into the market because she was drunkenly babbling with a bartender, asking him about he pretty colored bottles at an off-the-wall-yet-still-retardedly-expensive uptown bar.<br /><br />Anywho, the class began with a brief syllabus overview, and she explained quickly that she intended to basically inform the class of 10-person class that she hoped they would come away from the discussion with a fast and dirty knowledge of the appropriate avenues to both conduct research, and places in the alcoholic beverage market to pitch ideas to.<br /><br />See that’s the very thing about freelancing, it seems so obvious that the market is just some great fuzzy entity that has it’s arms forever outreaching and attracting writers. It can be, but it’s a bit more tricky then thinking that you can simply write, la,- la- lance freely, and just get paid for it. <br /><br />So back to the seminar that I was at. It was very informative, although the focus was on wine. Wines cool and all, but I prefer the beer and spirits end.<br /> (And now I’m going to interrupt this posting for a shot-out: thank you, to all of my guy friends-you guys know who you are- for taking me [and Pam, Laura, Holly, Abbie, Flo, etc.] on endless microbrewery tours in PA/VT/NY/pretty much every state we’ve visited. I seriously accredit my love of the brewed beverage to all of you.) <br /><br />A really EXCELLENT point that the instructor brought up is the fact that even in the recent meh-economy-stuff that’s been going on, there is pretty much always going to be a hearty market for the hard stuff. Think of the serious dough that those glossy mags charge for the prime real estate for the back cover advertisements. And besides when you’ve had one of those days that just straight up suck-we’re talking dog throwing up on the carpet-which makes you miss the bus which makes you late for your promotional presentation day, what are you likely to reach for? A drink.<br /><br />In total, it was a very positive and encouraging entryway into the freelancing sphere. I even made a few friends, (yay for networking) including some random guy who wants me to do some pro-bono review-style writing for a beer-oriented Web site he is launching in the early summer.<br /><br />All in all, the experience was extremely positive, and I would recommend mediabistro.com’s seminars to anyone; the instructors are accredited, (meaning they are EXPERIENCED and they know what they are talking about) the atmosphere is casual (lots of time to talk, openly ask questions) and the wine was a-flowin (we had an informal writing exercise which focused on doing the whole taste-texture-smell-color of two different Argentinean wines).<br /><br />And with that, I’m off to go have a nightcap.<br />Until next time!Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-21931313019711215172008-02-22T13:35:00.001-08:002008-02-22T13:59:23.347-08:00If the movie Office Space was real, this would be their job app:WANTED:<br /><br />Some general agency that doesn't really matter anyway is seeking someone who will fill another banal cubicle. The ideal candidate will have 10-plus years of experience of not really doing anything, as well as possessing a real "fire in their belly" which really translates into someone who has no problem adding inches to their mid-section due to hours of sitting on your ass, then this is the position for you!<br /><br />Tasks of the position will include, but are not limited to, slow-but- steady insanity by means of checking your office invoices 239,983 times a day, dealing with a bunch of burerocratic agencies that won't call you back anyway, as well as making copius cups of coffee for everyone else to drink. Now, I know you specialized in coffeee brewing in college, so if you minored in the art of the filter change then please send us your resume!<br /><br />Of course, like every other job on the planet, we expect you to have excellent communication skills, duh! These will come in real handy when you have to use your words and become a master linguist to defend yourself when you didn't file your TPS reports on time. You also have to know a shit load about Microsoft Excel just cuz it's so badass.<br /><br />If the above specs sound like your dream job, please send us your resume to Brainisnevergonnareadit.org, and don't forget to post your salary requirements in your cover letter. Due to a recent recession in the economy, we cannot actually afford to pay you in US dollars. We hope you speak fluent Spanish, because pesos are the way to go!<br /><br />-----<br />Bitter much? Me, nah. I just am looking forward to a vaca.<br />Leaving for California in 4 days= one very happy Stefania.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-45894158043732358102008-02-12T16:43:00.000-08:002008-02-12T17:13:19.073-08:00online stalking....the mistake that makes you feel stupid time and time againword of advice: don't do it.<br />It's not cool.<br />Especially when you run into that person in the work sphere.<br />yikes.<br /><br /><br />The end.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-90262709579369692892007-12-28T20:37:00.000-08:002007-12-28T20:52:02.675-08:00Happy new year, happy new life...a note on saving dough"I like money. I'd like to have more of it. I keep it in a jar on top of my refrigerator."<br /><br />Mad props to you if you can quote which beloved movie the above sentences are from. But in all seriousness, last New Year's I made a promise to myself: that every January I would do something a little more fiscally responsible than opening a GAP charge card to save 15 percent on that really cool sweater.<br /><br />Anywho, I digress into a more serious note on investing. Now, I'm no Diamond Jim Brady, but, I do believe in the power of time. And the power of being disciplined with saving as much money as you can based upon your income. (Seriously even if it's just $20 a month.) <br /><br />Last year in January I opened up an ING account. (Which, by the way I highly recommend to anyone and everyone who is looking to make the same "cents" when it comes to savings...the interest rate is so appealing, why wouldn't you have one?) <br />Over the course of the last 11 and a half months, I have been cultivated (and sometimes taking from) my account here and there, and I must say that while catching a great sale makes me smile, taking a look monthly at my interest paid (literally free money--or at least the closest thing to it) is even cooler.<br /><br />The coolest thing (in my opinion anyway) about my online savings account is that money is there if I really do need a bit of a safety net, but just inaccessible enough that I'm not tempted to dig into it all of the time.<br /><br />So my big fiscal decision for '08? As I sit here on Dec 28 I'm still not sure. Perhaps a Roth IRA, (never too young to start!) but probably on the for-front of my priorities is to find a job with a higher income. In a city that could be described as "the seat of the western world." Those who know me know what I'm talking about. Those who don't, well f$%& off. <br /><br />Just kidding. Happy New Year!Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-36616518894997628582007-12-10T18:09:00.000-08:002007-12-10T18:18:34.960-08:00gnocchi doesn't opt for plastic bags, so neither should you!Alright, so the title has nothing to do with the actual content of this post. But, in my recent obsession with all foods of the Italian decent, (and bazaar-o pronunciations)I decided it would be fun.<br /><br />In light of keeping with the character of my third-to-last blog entry (the ranting one about the end of civilization as we know it) I have been proud to say that I have been plastic bag free for one week precisely.<br /><br />And how, do you wonder, have I been able to achieve such a feat? By simply taking a canvas bag to do some grocery shopping (paper is cool sometimes too, I don't know if what degree of earth-pilaging goes into creating one, but I know that they are far more bio-degradable than plastics) and re-using small plastic sandwich baggies.<br /><br />I'm convinced that being more earth friendly is like how you would look to get into shape--by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, by parking further and walking, or by opting for the apple instead of the fast-food apple pie.<br />I guess MTV was really hitting their mark dead on when they came up with the PSA "Decrease your daily impact, improve your life" campaign.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-52897883961378341372007-12-03T20:42:00.001-08:002007-12-03T20:43:47.760-08:00oopsI meant to say in that last post that it IS cool to be asked questions. <br /><br /><br />Sorry. Either I have grown far too accustomed to the copy editor's extra pair of eyes, of I'm just le tired.<br /><br />AdiosStefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-43394745242534803632007-12-03T20:29:00.001-08:002007-12-03T20:37:25.687-08:00and how does that make you feel...So in light of recent events, (which shall not be mentioned on this public forum for sake of protecting everyone's privacy) I'm seriously convinced that I should have become a psychology major. Laura, if you read this, then yay for you, you're on a life track that is incredibly valuable in our ever-increasing emotionally screwed up society. <br /><br />But, it's not all negativity (far from it actually!) because this makes me feel incredibly happy that my friends (let's not forget co-workers) come to me for sage advice. Which I start by saying "Young grasshopper" in my best sage-elderly Japanese mastery voice. Just kidding.<br /><br />So yeah, suffice it to say that being asked questions (when normally I'm the one doing the asking) isn't groovy with me. And I think it comes full circle right about here because I'm telling the all the blogsphere the way I'm feeling about people asking me to talk them throught certain emotions to get to how they're ultimately feeling....crazy ain't it?<br /><br />Alright, enough of the psycho-bable bullshit, I'm buying a plane ticket to California in 5, 4, 3, 2, .........Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-44517243978912780072007-11-28T15:46:00.000-08:002007-11-28T15:49:33.408-08:00well, okI think I may have been a little too harsh with last night's feverish and emotional post. But hey, sometimes you gotta just capitalize on the creativity that springs from anger, passion, happiness. <br />I still need to get out of suburbia.<br />That is all.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-6431772557619993722007-11-27T19:03:00.000-08:002007-11-27T20:02:00.640-08:00catastrophic calamity, world wars, or just too much red bull?Okay so. I promised myself when I first created this blog that I wouldn't use it as a soapbox for means of proto-typical non-conformist policital purposes, but I think that having my own blog, by right, enables me to break this guideline.<br />So here goes.<br />Tonight, I went to cover an environmental commission meeting for one of the towns that I cover. The meeting was actually going to be a viewing of the documentary "The End of Suburbia: the demise of oil and the collapse of the American dream" by Jeffrey Greene, followed by a discussion. YAY. As I headed into the community center where the film was to take place, I first made a quick detour to the store to grab a sans-sugar Red Bull. I wasn't quite sure how engaging this was going to be, and after a deadline day at the office ridden with last minute state Supreme Court decisions (turned into an article in record time I'll have you know) I wasn't about to be messin.'<br /><br />So into the community center I head. Mystified all the while by the television-less end of the room that lay beforth us. (I<br /> seriously sat there for like 5 minutes trying to figure out where we were going to watch the movie without a television until I saw the projector sitting on a desk in front of the blank, white wall.)<br /><br />But I digress, and the documentary started. And from the moment that it did, I was transfixed. In case you couldn't guess, the basic premise was pretty much about the end of life as we know it, (because we are so deeply and horribly addicted to oil and natural gas, and the likes) and what that's going to mean for life as we know it in the future. <br />And let me tell you, I really think that viewing this documentary could make a pessimist out of the most optomisitic of the glass-half-full people out there. And with just cause. This is seriously alarming. I mean, pretty much in 20, hell, 15, hell maybe even 10 years life as we know it will not be the same. <br /><br />The film asked the average consumer to imagine a day when the mass suburbs of America become slums-and there is massive regression of the human race. The film projected that there will be such massive regression that it is not your choice to do so, but this is rather dependent on our survival. <br />Which, within itself is a very interesting thought. We, as 21st-century humans really don't have a good grasp on what survival entails, which is quite frightening to me. I'll admit, if I couldn't get into my car (okay, or get on my bicycle) and go to the local supermarket in the middle of the winter in Central NJ I wouldn't know how to get food. Think about that for a second: what if the commodity chain was virtually haulted to a stop indefinetly? Think of the competition, the violence, the scramble that would ensue over a quart of milk or a loaf of bread? Scary to think. Even scarier to think that that may be something that I will have to worry about over the next 50 years of my life. What's even worse is that at this point, my parents, pretty much the entire Baby-Boomer generation that basically has feed off of this suburbia model all of their lives stand to lose alot-if not all of the capital that have worked so hard for all of their lives for, and perhaps too feable to acquiesce. <br /><br />What really worries me the most over this whole thought of the end of suburbia (not that I was really enjoying all that much to begin with-though my current economic state doesn't really permit me to live in a city on my own--but I am working very hard to change that situation shortly) is that people-myself included-like to believe that there is no immediate problem. Or that if there is, there is a highly-organized team of professionals with doctorate degrees toiling away in some laboratory somewhere combating the problem while I comfortably sleep each night. Or that people of an older generation actually DO realize the calamity-and that my generation is too busy being obsessed with what kind of sleek and sexy gadget Apple is spitting out to really grasp the issue at hand. (And I am one of these people too!!!) <br /><br />One thing was crystal clear after viewing this documentary tonight: that being dramatic and deploying desperate attempts such as shocking the American public with information that makes them uncomfortable is, in my opinion, necessary. <br />I know that it's currently trendy to be "green," but I think that this mass-distribution of ideas needs to expodentially increase with a depth that undercuts the current constant desire for what's bigger, shinier, and faster. <br />It's weird because growing up I'd heard people say to me that they wanted to move out of the United States when they grew old enough, and that they couldn't be associated with a system that just seems to be built on a retro-fantasy of post WWII utopia. <br />I wish I could say that Canada, hell, even Europe has the answer, but unfortunatley, I don't think it's that simple.....<br /><br />So am I totally hating on America, or our economy, or in going to the mall on Saturday afternoons? Certainly not. I happen to love New Jersey, (okay you out-of-staters, hold your jokes) this area of the country is where I live and where my loved ones live. I happen to stimulate the economy alot, (once again, slow your roll on the jokes here too please) whether it be shopping locally or going to a chain store. I also agree with the documentary that with times of great stress comes great inguinuity. Maybe we'll get through the peak and fall of fossil fuels just fine.<br /><br />What I do know for sure is that this documentary has inspired me to want to be, myself, faster, stronger, and more educated about not misleading ourselves to negligent means to an end. To keep one eye fixated ahead on the future, while being mindful of what you're doing right this second to conserve and protect. And to involve others in simple local inniciatives to develop a stronger local economy, and most of all to foster a healthy social environment that I feel we are in DESPERATE need of in America.<br /><br />And what now know with absolute certainty? <br />I am moving out of the suburbs as soon as I possibly can.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-81686433382650185022007-11-10T20:21:00.000-08:002007-11-10T20:43:11.610-08:00LAST walking tour day!!!So we started out the last walking tour day with a little round-about excusion around to the other side of the bay that we had spent the previous night on. <br />The last day was alot of road walking, which I'm not going to lie, was okay with me. Although, we did get very efficient at our "CAR!" chant which would send us marching like soilders single file along side of the road every few minutes.<br /><br />Sometime around lunch we decided that we would stop for a quick "map check" stop which turned into a very impromptu lunch that Pam, Kyle, Tim, Sarah and I shared, which I may add was very enjoyable.<br /><br />Back on the road again, we talked of many things. Often times mundane, the conversation would turn to a gossip session, which would morph into a debate, which would yield to varying degrees of heavier topics. Honestly, the content of the conversations wasn't really what mattered. I mean, we could have been talking about beef jerky for pete's sake.<br /> (Okay, editoral note: I'm just warning you, I'm going to get sappy for a second.) <br /><br />Walking with these people that (for some of them have been my friends since freshman year of college) it gave me a very strong, positive feeling. This little jaunt that we went on wasn't for the light hearted. It wasn't for the pampered. It was for people who are into creating their own, positive and active experiences with one another, all while taking in the breathtaking scenery that Ireland had to offer. It was such a feeling of total acceptance, (and yes, after a week of being out on the road and peeing in some very bazaar places may have fostered all of the bonding) and knowing that this was something that we will truely remember for the rest of our lives. <br /><br />Okay, so no more cheese. But as we climbed that last ascent that we had climbed the very first night (to go down to take a peek at Tralee Bay) and as the pub loomed closer and closer, I knew one thing for sure....that there was a Bulmers (possible with a shot of Jameson?) with my name on it inside. <br /><br />As I retired to the bedroom of the Finglas House Bed and Breakfast, (the one that we had stayed in a week prior when we began the tour, I had a dream of Dublin in my mind, and a taste of the whiskey from our victory shot on my breath.....Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-22164140033561730412007-11-10T19:56:00.000-08:002007-11-10T20:21:30.356-08:00Cloghane, if i'm spelling that rightSo we just got to Cloghane and all I can say is cool deal. Although I think today we traversed the most ground, in terms of ascent and all that, (I believe it was 2,450 feet) and had a fairly memorable decent, which was the probably the coolest thing I've done in the last 10 years of my life. <br /><br />There we were, staring down at a mountain's clevage getting a serious high from the feeling of climbing the thing when we soon realized, (after a few steps down) that this was going to be a bit more tricky than we thought. Aside from the steep steeping down, (let's just say my quadracepts still burn) there was mud, well, not just mud, but bogs. Yes, bogs! A word that quickly entered our venacular via curses, screams, and the occasional call of "I lost my shoe to it!" <br /><br />But I suppose I should back track a bit. The acsent was a bit slow going at times, but Kevin, the ever patient leader was really cool with helping out Melissa, Pam, Sarah and I (Tim took a really long solo tract and Beth, Jenn and Kyle got a taxi ride to the next village) up the mountain, always offering words of encouragement, and willing to keep up with our pace. <br /><br />At certain points, the cloud cover was rolling in above us, and it mad a very dense like fog, which made it hard to see a literal 5 feet in front of your face. This looked particularly hardcore if you turned around to see if the person behind you was still with you, and for a second, you couldn't see them. They were lost in the dense, cloud-like fog. I spun around once, to see if Pam heard what I had said, and I couldn't see her. Quickly I turned around again, and Kevin and Melissa had gone too far and were too out of my visibility. <br /><br />When we reached the top peak, we were in awe the view (see aformentioned mountain clevage) and went right ahead on down with our descent.<br /><br />After we got to sealevel, (or something like that) we still had a bit of ground to travel over. But that was all good, as now the sun was out, and it was pretty warm. We rolled into Cloghane tired and VERY thirsty, muddy (mud literally was sloshing in my hiking boots for the last 5 miles) and dehydrated (okay I may have been a little confused when the owner of our B&B asked me a simple question,) but satisfied. <br /><br />Although, I have to say...I did feel a perceptive shift in everyone's attitude that night at dinner. Everyone's nerves seemed to be a bit shorter, and little jokes weren't as quickly met with a laugh, and more often an exasperated expletative. (Okay we weren't totally hating on one another, but still) It was apparent that the proximity that we all had been inhabiting over the past week was getting a little too close for comfort. Now I love all of my friends dearly, (and enjoyed Jenn, Sarah, and Beth) but everyone needs their alone time.<br />So that night I stayed in, and the B&B we stayed at that night had a really awesome sitting room, were Sarah and I brought one another up to speed on our lives.<br /><br />Then, it was to bed I head (ed.)Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-30288932183731668572007-11-10T19:55:00.000-08:002007-11-10T19:56:43.695-08:00pause on the mountain daySo we paused for a bit for a bit of fruit, cheese, and tublerone on the side of the big-butt mountain that we're about the climb. Kinda cool. All you can see in front of you (well, that is when you crane your neck up) is a diminishing line of posted arrow signs. <br />See ya at the topStefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-22873696408276618692007-11-10T19:41:00.000-08:002007-11-10T19:55:01.117-08:00woah there ballydavidTHEY CLOSED THE TOWN BECAUSE THEY RAN OUT OF FOOD??!!!!<br /><br />Starting to learn some of subtle differences between the sticks of America and the sticks of the Irish countryside. That first sentence is definetely an absoulte that we were not only in a small town, but that after a very rainy hike along the shore (which honestly, I kind of enjoyed) that we were going to have to be crafty getting to a pub of some kind.<br /><br />Today was the shortest day of our trek, with an estimated 12K down (I think), although the weather did get rainy. Walking along the shoreline in the constant rain was rather enjoyable, actually, and I think that I may do it soon in the states shortly after returning.<br /><br />And oh, I should probably take this moment to interject taht the town that we are staying in tonight, which is called Ballydavid, is not actually out of food, but according to our (superbly nice) hostess, that's what happenned last week here.<br /><br />So Pam and I were drying out our skivies, (amoung our sweatshirts, socks and shoes) when our hostess said that the nearest pub was about 4 miles down the road. Now, normally, this wouldn't be a huge deal, (and lord knows the walk back would be much, much easier after a few libiations) but...not necessarily the thing you want to hear on day 5 of a walking trek. You kinda want to just be able to meander a few blocks at most and drink and eat to the heart's content. <br /><br />Currently, I am sitting in the (very red) sitting room of our bed and breakfast sipping on tea and listening to another guest, talk about how he's been around the world. He told us lively tales of getting in fights in Toronto and stealing formula's and then going to Spain with them. Sounds kinda cool, and I was really digging it until Pam told me to take a shower. Alright. <br /><br />So our wonderfully super-gracious hostess agreed to drive us to the pub, (and the guys, who were staying in a B&B down the road also did the same) and we joined up for some pub grub and some drinky drinks.<br /><br />Reader, it is time for me to tell you about the ever-bazaar experience of riding in a car that operates in the exact opposite way that you expect it to. Taking tight turns at like 50km/h....35mph may not seem like an incredible feat, but when it's on the opposite side of your expectations, it's bound to make anyone squirm while rounding a hairpin curve.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-57721132251343721822007-11-10T19:10:00.001-08:002007-11-10T19:41:15.353-08:00PARADISE: VENTRY BEACHAhh the water. The very COLD water. Hilarity ensued after some amusing (and I should say very "European") pictures were taken.<br />And for all you prudes out there, that means that several (male) friends decided to show their respective rear ends to the camera!<br /><br />After the beach we treked through a laberynth of foliage, and then came across the first vertical choice..either take a shorter route or take a longer path and climb into the clouds of a mountain option. <br /><br />Melissa, Pam, Sarah, and I all elected to take the shorter route, while the boys and Jenn (yeah Jenn!) decided that no incline would be too great, no climb on-top of a climb would be too steep for them. So, we parted ways, and the former group took a rather gradual incline while the latter group took on a big grade of land.<br /><br />Now I should insert the scenic asthetics, just so you, the reader, can get a sense of the crazy beauty. First off, we were hiking on the most soft green, green grass, (you know, the emerald color that people living in suburbs spend like $500 a month pumping god-knows what kind of toxic fertilizers to keep up with the Jones') and my was it soft! I would have totally taken off my hiking boots if there had not been tons of shit...literally, sheep shit was everywhere. Oh well....<br /><br />A glance to the left revealed nothing but miles and miles of sapphire Atlantic waters that were a probably a good quarter mile below us. Seaward, jagged boulders casually lay in the ocean, as though they were pebbles dropped in a dark shallow puddle. (Only you know the water was a wee bit deeper.)<br />Seriously incredible. Audibly, it all was quiet, and if you were the first person in the single-file line in which we were hiking, you had to strain to hear the person who was (loudly) speaking either directly in front of in back of you.<br /><br />At one point, we hiked around the half-perimeter of a land mass that can best be described as a crater (and appropriatly so, because Ireland was indeed formed by volcanic activity some millenia ago) and saw a hodge-podge of little stone masses on the side of the hill. According to our tour literature, they were the remains of an (8th?) (7th?) (old as hell?) monk territory that demarked their properties.<br /><br />I was feeling pretty zen-like when suddenly my allergies decided to flare up. Now, normally I don't necessarily worry too much about a little sneeze here and there, but suddently my nose went from a little sniffle to a full-fledged faucet. Now I know that some of you that know me know that I can talk about my nasal excrements for hours, but I'll spare you the full details-let me just summarize by saying it was BAD. And then, to add insult to injury, my eyes started watering up and itching, and I ran out of water a little too early.<br /><br />The four of us finally decended a VERY STEEP hill to a road way, and found ourselves coming into a little town of a handful of colorful buildings built into the afformentioned part of the crater we had just hiked down. Ah!! I thought, we must be nearing our lodging, and we pushed on. <br /><br />Soon though, the little village was sinking smaller behind us, and rather in front was...a road. A rather long road, with not a whole heck of a lot of room to hike on the edge of. So, we pressed on. And according to our tour literature, we had 5K to go. 5k! No biggie! 3.1 miles, cool deal. <br /><br />Then....we crossed the ocean. <br />Well, okay, not literally, but this is where my travel journal has a crude drawling of what I can only describe as some sort of tide eddy, (sp?) or something like that. So, we crossed. And then, a hill lie ahead of us. So we followed the little hiking man upwards. (okay, editorial note: I was NOT hallucinating, yet anyway. All along the self-guided tour we took, there were posts every few miles of so, detailing where our next twist or turn was. The symbol was a little hiking man with hiking polls, below an arrow).<br /><br />Then, we really just kinda bottomed out. I'm not trying to sound dramatic here, but this was by far, in my opinion the most extreme day for moi. Running out of water sucks, being attacked by a 5-hour perpetual allergy attack is worse, but being at the foot of one, final, steep hill just plain old SUCKED at this particular moment. But what are you going to do besides keep going? And that's what we did, until we hiked up the mountain about a mile and realized that we were lost. So we did what any normal hiking caravan would do when lost in another country...we knocked, okay, pounded, alright, seriously prayed with everything left in us that someone would be home to guide us in the right direction back to our bed and breakfast.<br /><br />A half an hour later I was in the shower, and taking lots and lots of anti-histomines. <br />We went to dinner. <br />And then bed.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-81204404991344331132007-11-10T19:06:00.000-08:002007-11-10T19:10:07.907-08:00Getting Prepped for Day 3Currently we are preparing for Day 3. Slumber came easily last night, which is a good thing, considering my body is like, all "wtf mate? Running 3 miles at a time on flat NJ land did not prepare me for this" but it's all gravy.<br /><br />Standing first thing in the morning was a bit difficult, but the sun's a shining, so it's apt to be a brillant day. I believe there's an optional mountain bit this morning, but I think our group is pretty much ambivilent right now as to if we're actually going to do that part. <br /><br />Yours until Donegal...Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-16913212676419269402007-08-16T18:23:00.000-07:002007-08-16T18:38:01.930-07:00Top of the morning, MondayWe are about to set out for our second day of walking. Admittedly, we are not as chipper as we were yesterday morning, but that will change shortly after we step out into the morning air. <br />Slept well last night, although I did awake some time around 4a.m., ready to go, thinking it was already 8a.m. Today we will hike 19K, with our destination being Dingle Village. <br /><br />Monday, later that day.<br /><br />Welcome to the harbor town of Dingle. And please, hold your jokes and chuckles. Okay, don't. Haha, yeah, it's kinda funny. But not to this town, apparently it's one of the most populated places we will see along this walking tour. <br />As we made our final descent into the village, we very happy to see our Bed and Breakfast (up on a hill again.) I don't know about everyone else, but my dogs are barking. We've walked about 19 miles between yesterday and today, (guestimate) and I have blisters the size of my head. Luckily, there's a few pubs within throwing distance.<br /><br />So a side note, or rather a main note or highlight on the hike today: we went off the beaten path to a steep ascent. When we got to the top, all of both Dingle Bay and the Atlantic was visible. Felt like the kind of the world, post-op anyway, as Kyle noted. <br /><br />We even took a Ship picture proudly displaying the Maxies t-shirt so it can be mailed to our beloved bartender, Craig. <br /><br />Many beautiful views were around us today, and it is very interesting to note that from the tops of the hills there are visable divides between properties, that make the landscape look as though it is a patch-work style quilt of differing shades of green. <br /><br />There have also been alot of dogs that pop up along the road and in the two villages that we have been to. Jesse, the black lab doggie from Annescaul, lead us nearly two miles outside of the town. We finally alluded him by Kevin screaming "JESSE GO HOME!!!!" at the top of his lungs, and the dog took one last longing look at us, and trotted back to meet the next crop of walkers coming into town that evening.<br /><br />Oh and there were Jack Russells too!! So freaking cute, although all of my friends hate them and call them "footballs." Haters.<br /><br />Sarah and I shared a fantabulous Bailey Ice Cream for dessert--by far a thing straight from the heavens. After a slow meander through the town, we headed back-not before a halarious trip to the bathroom that consisted of the river runneth through the room. Ugh. <br /><br />Sarah also told me of a halarious incident in which some woman was trying to buy underware at the grocery. She seemed shocked when she couldn't tell the woman at the counter what she wanted, and looked straight at Sarah and asked her if the clerk spoke English. UM????!!!!! Wow--I really hope she wasn't from the US. No wonder the world hates us-some of us come off damn ignorant.<br /><br />Tommrrow we're set to do 22K, which is approximately 2 miles more than today. Doesn't sound too bad, although there is a knarly blister on my toe that is fixin to be popped.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-62031782653589584432007-08-16T18:16:00.000-07:002007-08-16T18:23:41.816-07:00irish time is sneakyA note on how deceptive time in Ireland is...<br /><br />Been feeling a bit jet-lagged still, and it seriously stays dusky outside until 10:30p.m. How crazy! <br />Went for dinner at a pub called South Pole in, had a lovely meaty meal for under 10 euro. Salt and vinegar chips rock, as do burgers after a day of hiking. <br />After dinner we went down to a pub called the "Randy Leprochan," and it may have well be the Wibs of Annescaul. Leave it to us to find bars like that accidently. (For those who don't know, Wibs is a Ship bar that is always choc full of metro-sexuals and crazy ditzy people. It is really expensive, but it's one of those places that you always end up ending up at.)<br /><br />After drinking the most delicious drink ever (BULMERS) we headed out and went to a smaller pub. Had a Bailey's on the rocks, and ordered an Irish coffee. (which, ps. does NOT have Bailey's in it. A true Irish coffee consists of Jameson, coffee, cream and brown sugar) <br /><br />So while it's interesting to learn that we indeed do have accents (two words out of our mouths and it's all "where from the states are you all from?") we do try and maintain some decorum, for example NOT ordering a carbomb. <br /><br />Jen told us that ordering a carbomb in Ireland would be like going to Manhattan and ordering a "flaming tower" at a bar. Touche.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-17740984965350689482007-08-16T18:11:00.000-07:002007-08-16T18:16:35.646-07:00Sunday, after day 1 of hikingCurrently Pam, Melissa and I are sitting in the breakfast area of our bed and breakfast where we will be staying for the night, called the Four Winds. And they weren't lying, the place is up on a (very steep) hill and it certainly is breezy up here. <br /><br />A side note on temperature: it ranges between 60 degrees and 75 at the highest, and did it feel good when we stepped off that plane in Dublin. Like the fragrant mist of a thousand mini Irish springs hitting my nose--okay back to the Four Winds.<br /><br />Kevin went down into Annescal (the town we're in tonight) to find the owner, as we are locked out. I guess this is where I reiterate that we had a bit of a climb to get to this accommodation. Now, normally I'm all about the hills, but after the first day of hiking behind us, yeah...<br /><br />Yay, host just arrived, hot shower is top priority.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-74782212463575851912007-08-16T18:01:00.001-07:002007-08-16T18:11:29.661-07:00Day 1 of hiking, lunchtimeSitting on the shore of the Atlantic with Melissa and Pam at a picnic table at a cafe. Drinking a Bulmers, which, ps is the best beverage ever (right next to Guinness of course). Tim is currently sitting to the left of me, holding a wool sock next to his shorts exclaiming how he looks like a sheep.<br /><br />May I just interject that the morning hike was BEAUTIFUL.<br /><br />We started out with an ascent that really wasn't all that bad-we soon came to a flat part that took us through a gravel road. We were in a valley, and all around us, was green lushness. There was no bad view, I don't care if you were only 3 inches tall. From certain angles we could see the ocean-very small of course, and that is presently where we are. There was no shortage of wildlife, with sheep all around. <br /><br />The last stretch of the hike before our lunch break was through a moist area of vegetation that featured alot of horse poop. Beth took the inaugural first spill, and on a more halarious note, Kevin and Tim did step right into two large piles. Oh well, I suppose worse things have happenned. <br /><br />Right in front of me is the Atlantic-visable through two peaks off in the distance. There is a very 1970s-looking van sitting in front of us advertising surf lessons, but I gather the water is a wee bit chilly, since there is an assortment of wet suits hanging outside of the van.<br /><br />The sand on the beach is def darker than it is on the Jersey shore...perhaps after lunch we will waddle down to the water-until then, we will continue with conversations about our dad's names and how to dry pants.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-65762218551138946122007-08-16T17:39:00.000-07:002007-08-16T18:00:58.902-07:00details, details, etcTons of traveling has been going on. I thank god that we are actually walking tommorrow, by now i feel as though I have forgotten how to. <br />So a few things to note:<br />1.) I must learn the fine art that is packing light. Or rather, I should invest in some arm weights and start bulking up, because my suitcase is darn heavy.<br />2.) I can hardly believe my eyes! The country side of Ireland is best described as what a country should be...rolling hills of white clapboard cottage homes. There are no "McMansions" to speak of and I haven't seen so much as one mention of a strip mall. True, we did spot a Burger King in Dublin, but Melissa and I had said aloud that there will be no patronage of chain stores while we are here! <br />3.) I need to remember to bring my wristwatch. Since not having my cell on (and oh what a sweet, sweet thing that is) I really have been all ADD when it comes to knowing about the time. Not that I really need to be super conscious of the time, as seeing that we are vacation, but hey, it would be cool to know.<br />4.) Alright, I know that I said I was only going to list a few points, but they are my rules and they're meant to be broken. The young lad that is sitting next to me REAKS of whiskey. Hell yeah!Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-61752287819689730772007-08-15T19:32:00.000-07:002007-08-15T19:39:30.882-07:00Trains, Planes and AutomobilesSaturday (still)<br /><br />Trains, planes, and automobiles is the name of the game right at this second, and it has been for the past two million seconds before this one.<br /><br />Yikes! I just caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of the glass...my ghastly white parlour indicates it's been quite a while since I've slept, washed up, or even brushed my teeth. Eww.<br /><br />Pam, Sarah, Beth, Jen, Tim, Kevin, Kyle, Melissa and I can hardly believe that yes, WE ARE IN IRELAND!!!! I think the delerium that I am experiencing from lack of sleep has actually kept me in check from not singing at the top of my lungs on this train!!!! <br /><br />Then again, I feel as though I could live here my whole life and never get enough of the crazy beautiful scenery.<br /><br />After Pam and I carefully said we should be sure to be conscious of our hydration levels on the hike (that we're doing the first part of the vaca) Kevin, Kyle, and Tim came walking down the train to tell us they were heading to the dining car to grab a beer. <br /><br />--And now we are too. Heck, when in Rome!Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-70685692870951415672007-08-15T19:28:00.000-07:002007-08-15T19:32:55.056-07:00A note on air travelSaturday, July 7 2007 2 am est, 7:30 am Dublin time<br /><br />So for my first plane ride in quite some time, I'd say this one, so far has gone well. Minimal turbulance, decent food and a little vodka to help get me through have also been great.<br />What I do find objectionable though is the shameless ad plug on the flop down trays, for Verizon "World Phone" no less. I suppose the silver lining is that the picture on the ad is in the Great Pyramids-def on my top 10 list of places to go before 2010.<br />Definetly before this passport expires, which means that I have exactly 9 years, 10 months and 21 days to do so...Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181060391683970835.post-22557913686382498072007-08-15T19:19:00.000-07:002007-08-15T19:28:23.936-07:00A note on insomniaLet me set the stage. It's 1:15 A.M. EST and we're (my guess?) flying somewhere over the North Atlantic. The neoproxin (sp?) that my co-worker Cara had given to me is suiting my bruised coccyx just delightfully, and it is also aiding the rest of my body quite nicely.<br /><br />To the left of me I can see a crazy gradient of color-we are flying into morning. Flying towards light. So wild. People all around are asleep, but I really don't know how they can be, this plane is certainly one of the teeniest I've ever been on--and my seat is not going back AT ALL. <br />Although I have tried multiple times to get some rest, nothing is really helping me. My only complaint thus far is that they keep playing this inane "Sky Mall" advertisement on the television set that is right above my head, and the constant light makes me want to go insaine in the membrane.<br /><br />According to Kevin's wrist watch, we have a few more hours until we land. <br /><br />And reader can I just take this opportunity to exclaim numerous times on how beautiful the sunrise looks from this angle--sensationalistic, true, but it's a great introduction to be what I'm sure will be a fabulous trip.Stefaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036336206704504059noreply@blogger.com1