Noo Yawk

The greatest thing about visiting the east coast is that there is so much history within a road trips grasp. Mike and I just could not pass up an opportunity to a) visit my spermination destination b) reunite with long lost kin c) and sight see in the city of dreams. So we emailed my sister Emily, rented a car, and packed our bags. All of your typical road trip scenarios ensued: fast food pit stops, music jam sessions, and throw up. Lesson learned: don't let Mufasa chew the entire bone in five minutes it won't come out the right end. 

With the help of Brent's GPS (much thanks!) we made it to New York in.....later that night, it took a long time okay. Eric and Emily let us shack up at their place for the night. She's so effortlessly artsy fartsy it kills me. 

They had some big news to share.......HER EGGO IS PREGGO!!! 

People always told me New York could feel like home in five minutes or less. The NYPD's finest made a believer out of me. 

It's no secret that Mike and I are spontaneous. Inevitably though, there have been situations which we were unsure of, and when this happens we simply look at each other and say......'balls to the wall baby'. Crass, I know but it reflects our life's view of no regrets and no reservations. So, in our honor......balls on the bull. 

The Statue of Liberty has always been to me, the epicenter of New York. The symbol of hope and freedom to millions, whether their dreams saw reality or not. Naturally it was among the first things we saw. So, if you look reeaally hard, that small dot on the left of us is Lady Liberty herself. And really, given we only had one day in New York, and since we didn't want to wait in line for hours on end to get tickets, this is what we got. 

Eric and Emily were phenomenal. I mean really, every living relative that visits them in New York wants to see the same things...and they humor them. We wanted to visit some things they hadn't seen as well. The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States and upon completion , the longest suspension bridge in the world. 

You ever have one of those days when it feels like every five minutes your posing for another picture...side by side...one in front, one in back....arms around each....okay, give me something new. My budding genius is.so.creative. 

The calories were falling off of us and by block 20 we all agreed that lunch was a great idea. Emily found an amazing gyro joint. Ordering food from a stall had me reminiscing on Asia...but not for long because these things were DELISH! 

What would a trip to New York be without strolling through CHINATOWN! We showed them the markets with their herbal medicine and gutted fish, I busted out all five words of Chinese and had the Asians shaking their heads at the crazy tourist who tried to say 'fish' in Chinese. So in true Chinese fashion....Cheese!!

And no matter what anyone tells you, Teuscher Chocolatier is NOT family owned and operated because despite all our best efforts they refused to give us Eric and Emily a discount. Each and every bite of my $3 mini bar was savored.  

Below you'll find an excellent specimen of raw skill. Never mind what's popping in on the lower right hand corner. The Empire State building in all it's romance and glory. No, those aren't pinatas at a Mexican birthday bash....we're in little ITALY. You know, and I'm so glad we went here because we never made it there the first time around. Can you believe there was only ONE Gelato shop...isn't that some sort of rite of passage over there? 
Isn't this quintessential New York. Now, I realize that these aren't post card perfect...but they are seen through imperfect eyes, so cut me some slack. (take that Hallmark!) And can I just mention that 'the ball', you know, the one that's ginormous on T.V. every year was so miserably undersized I felt deflated when I realized what I seeing. So here we are, two crazy nut's on a day pass from the psych ward. Do we look excited?Do you ever soap off twice in the shower after returning from what you might deem a particularly 'dirty' day, because you just don't trust that the soap got off the first time whatever that guy on the subway sitting next to you had, so you do it again...just to be sure. I do.

Mainnerds

Mike and I have made our way north towards the frigid arctic. Not really, but coming from Florida...it certainly feels like it. I didn't quite know what to make of Maine before I left, but it didn't take me long to fall in love with New England. 

Brent and Kirsten are great hosts and jumped right in showing us around. Adopting the 'what's mine is yours' attitude....LOL(*cough*ahem*)...okay, I guess you have to be here to get that one. One of our first stops were to the lighthouses. The coast hovered in a heavy mist, shrouding the lighthouse in a grey light. We were all frigid and I managed to catch this cool picture of Brent and Mike making a mad dash for the car.

It's handy having a photographer around to give tips...and capture moments like this...you know, freezing your pants off. 

We've also made sure as bartenders, we know our trade. So of course it was only natural to make a stop at the local brewery: Shipyard. They have several good beers, their Summer ale and Pumpkin Head are to be rivaled. 

Mike and I have always said that if we could have kids as well behaved and balanced as these....we would start trying tonight. Unfortunately, life has yet to give us that guarantee, so we'll settle with Mufasa, who I am pretty sure will require a whole lot less counseling as an adult. Below, Kirsten and I took them to Home Depot and they made BIRD FEEDERS!!

Our flight up to Maine included a reeaallyy long lay-over in Baltimore, Maryland (And I'm not racist...but can I just say that I've never before been around so many blacks at one time in America). So we were asking our fellow seat-sharers what there was to do in Maine that would fuel the adrenaline, capture a memory, or at least steal our heart. They all said three things: chowdah (apparently you up for a whooping if you include the 'er'), Lighthouses, and L.L. Bean. So, for your viewing pleasure.  
L.L. Bean is a weird sub-culture of the east coast. I could never have guessed it was this big before my visit. I was a wiener and had to hold onto Mike's hands. Kirsten and Brent were all balls to the wall, and she proudly surrendered herself to the Brent's brute strength. 

 Sometimes, the ice thaws on the grass, the sun peaks it's rosy cheeks out from behind the clouds, and the outdoors becomes irresistible. So we pack up and head to beach, where we play man-sports...like football, catch, and Frisbee. 

On those days, there always seems to be a name that tugs at the guilt strings in our hearts. Kirsten is going to school full-time and working several days a week. That means that while we are at the beach having fun, she's at the hospital working. So we visit her for lunch every time she works. Cause were pretty much her possy. 

Not to make this post too much like recap vomit, but I have to include this. Because it was soo much fun! We took the ferry out to Peaks Island. Mike manned the boat. With a Captain as delicious as him, I'd sail the world round. 

Then we raided some locals shed, dug out two tandem bicycles, and cycled around the island. Kirsten weighs like two pounds and it was really funny to watch her pouncing up and down on the pedals trying to help them get up the hills.  We had a delicious lunch....and desert...

Blood and Water

Hookay. I had one task to accomplish today: post on my blog. I realize that like a corpse slowly decaying and returning to earth, my blog is slowly deteriorating and returning to the cyberworld I created it from (clearly a morbid analogy, but hey, it paints the picture right?). And I refuse to let that happen.

To make the transition less awkward, I'll start with the present (this would have worked a whole lot better if I posted this when it was written....like...a month ago) and just flash back on the highlights of the trip that my ambition has left unwritten.

 Mike and I have returned to responsibility...or America, either or. Mike's Dad is about to turn 60 and as if celebrating aging (hip hip hooray for the saggin and the baggin) wasn't enough to return to the states, a family reunion is. Mike's siblings hadn't been together in over f.i.f.t.e.e.n. y.e.a.r.s. So, we cancelled our tickets, bought new ones and headed west. 

I've had met all of Mike's family except Christina, Mike's older sister. So after six years and countless stories, I was able to put a personality to the name. What's wonderful about Mike's family is that no matter how longs it's been since you last saw each other, the conversation continues as if it were only yesterday. They make me feel so much at home, and I love them for that. From left to right, starting in the back is Scott, Brent, Mike, and Ken. Christina and Richard are in the front. Love em!

Brent, Mike's older brother is the family photographer (both professionally and personally) so with his permission, I've hijacked his talent. To see more of his work visit: 'flicker.com/brentdanley' or therhetoric.net  

We arrived in small town central Florida...St. Cloud. We kept our return a complete surprise and when Richard (Mike's dad) arrived at the airport, instead of his eldest flying in, his youngest trod out. Luckily, no AED was needed. Hokay, and I know I look like shiznat in this picture but if you'll cut a sister some slack, I had like two outfits and a brush to my name (not much has changed). Thank god my first stop home was to the salon, hence the newer darker do. LOVE it. Mike on the other hand could be naked and he'd look good. damn him. 

We were totally stoked to stay here after shacking up at low budget hostels for several months.

Most of the time we just hung out at the house, talking and eating amazing american food. 

We did venture out and go to Kennedy Space Center. But when we arrived and saw that tickets had been moved from free to forty....we decided it would just as cool to take some pictures of the rockets on the outside. I mean common...has anyone at the Space Center heard the news about the recession? I love being broke, lol. 

Did I mention that I'm dating a dare devil. He keeps me entertained, especially when he plays with the toys. These are the new ones that he declares are not nearly as fast as the XP he had in his glory days. Mike and Scott (oldest brother) still managed to make some waves though. 

Scott got married (big breath) again. But this time she's super cool, and they call her Kelly. She's a sweet-heart. 

So all I heard were these jokes about how Christina is not a cook. I mean, NOTTTTT a cook. I laughed and didn't really believe them, until I got up at the butt crack of dawn to make these cinnamon rolls with her. She's got this darling southern accent. Seriously, accents are so cool and I wish I could have one. But really, she can't cook. Pictured below are her husband, Trent and her two boys. 

I know your all holding your breath, but you can relax because Mufasa survived the trip and is happily enjoying his time....outside the house. That's right, no pets allowed inside and so he's chillin it poolside. He's even managed to snag some girl time with the local bitch Buffy. She plays hard to get.

Brent and Kirsten are lovers. Lovers make time for lovin no matter where you are.