Born in Washington D.C., Raised in Troy, NY

My weekend trip to D.C. was a blast, though a little to brief for my liking. That’s the nature of a vacation though and I’ll take it over the option of no vacation at all. I started on the Amtrak’s Empire Service train, which dropped me right where I needed to be to catch the Bolt Bus. I had a couple of hours to wander around New York City, but anyone who has been knows that a couple hours is like no hours. I sat in the Borders at Penn Station and watched everything go by for the most part.

The Bolt Bus is a great way to travel. Not only were all the passengers under thirty, but they had all their teeth. Don’t get me wrong, I like to travel with the characters you can usually find at Greyhound stations, but this was comfortable and cheap. It was filled with many handsome men in nice jackets. I slept most of the way there.

My cousin, her house mates and I went out to Sticky Rice for dinner. Sticky Rice serves giant buckets of tater tots and sushi and over-sized noodle bowls. Their menu features lyrics from the ever-popular Journey song, “Don’t Stop Believing.” The waitress was extremely friendly and the chef gave us free “jazzed up” edamame. I don’t think it gets better than that.

Washington D.C. via New York City

What an exciting header to write.

I push off with an Amtrak train full of suits this morning around 8 AM. I’m happy to at least pass through New York City for a couple of hours, since I won’t be able to give it the proper good bye it deserves before heading out to England. I’m going to try and visit the Chelsea Flea Market. Just because I feel like looking at stuff.

I will try to not slam my hands on the hood of a cab, but I admit that I will be tempted. I did it once before out of necessity. It was as fun as it looks.

Sometimes I feel like I will never love someone as much as I have loved cities and mountains. And vice versa, really.

This song has always made me think of England. In my mind, destiny is not predetermined. It is something you get to shape. Isn’t that exciting?

Poetry Post #2

Dry Cough

My cough comes
like the pages of a book,
rustling -
the story unread and
so, unsettled.

Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea

Christmas has come and gone, so has the New Year. The festivities feel different to me now, which I suppose is symptomatic of this thing we call “growing up.” I want to create my own family, filled with friends and other loved ones. I want to celebrate them all the time; sing their praises. I know marvelous, fantastic people.

I think about these fantastic people quite frequently.

One of my closest friends is already abroad in Denmark, learning that all you need to eat is bread, cheese and jam (but what you want to eat is something totally different after eating bread, cheese and jam for two weeks.)  I’m excited that we were able to travel during the same period of time, despite our chosen countries being quite different. He reports there are bikes everywhere in Copenhagen, which I think is delightful.

1.) My sisters car becomes my office for one day, as I handle my biometric and visa paperwork.

2.) Troy Public Library

3.) Sunset somewhere in Central Mass.

4.) We Sell Guns?

5.) Looming over Boston

6.) We look normal, for once.

7.) “We Stand Together” is an anti-terrorist propaganda bullshit sentiment, I know. But I got excited seeing the flags together. Nerd.

8.) Ticket in hand and still in a panic at Logan International.

9.) Lines and lights

I’m going to Washington D.C. in two days, to visit with my cousin and my sister once more before I am off. I have Friday completely open to me and the city. I’m going to the National Portrait Gallery, as it may be the only Smithsonian museum I haven’t been in. It’s free and right now they’re having this sweet little exhibit. Aside from that, I have no solid plans and long to wander city streets, as it has been far too long since I did that.

Late this summer, some of my girlfriends took me dancing in downtown Boston. By the end of the night, I yanked my shoes off and was dancing barefoot through the streets. Things like that need to happen more often.