31/365

WEIRD AND WONDERFUL

I'm a stop on the side of the road kind of girl especially for anything weird... I think I've said it before - a 4 hour trip usually takes 6 or 7. We were never ones to take the shortest distance to somewhere. I planned on visiting at least one different place a month this year but the time escaped me and here we are on the last day of January already and I didn't go anywhere. I guess my plan failed. I'll have to try to do two in February.

I bought these books (PA and US) for D years ago and got the Weird PA for my Dad for Christmas so I've been flipping through it. Between that and Roadside America (one of my favorite apps) I've been getting anxious to go out.

I always wanted to start a road trip blurb book or something - just for myself. I feel like I'm starting to forget where I've been and I hate that. I don't have my pictures here or on my laptop so everything is kind of all going through my head. Then I go into my "Cindy Brady" alter ego and can't remember if it was really me or not that did something. One day at school (Penn State) I was telling a story about being on a seesaw and then I realized it was Cindy Brady and not me at all! I know of so many places that I don't know if I just THINK I was there or I actually was. There's some sort of medical condition for that, right? ;-)

Anyway, I can not remember for the life of me if we were here or I imagined it?!? The Shoe House in Hellam, PA (near York)

Some places I can't even think of what town they were in... like the big roller skate and apple and that round house - was that "Winchestertownville" maybe??? ;-) What about that big watering can when we were going on that hike? Where the heck was that??? I think that was close to home. I've been trying to start a list but I'm not getting very far...

Gravity Hill and The Coffee Pot in Bedford.

Lucy the Elephant in Margate, NJ

Neptune in Virginia Beach

The Bridge over the New River Gorge in Fayetteville, WV

Balto the Wonder Dog in Central Park

I've been here many times - you know what I mean.

We ran into this guy - The Pied Piper of Storyland - after seeing a little hand written sign for the Flight 93 Memorial.

Who hasn't been to Storybook Forest? And why oh why haven't I seen this or do I just not remember this??? It's like something out of my most wonderful dream!

The Concrete Ship in Cape May.

Looking for the Menz statue I came across this site... (scroll down and read about Mr. Menz now on the air conditioning unit!) I forgot about the Mr. Peanut guy in Atlantic City!

The Crayola Factory in Easton, PA and Chocolate World in Hershey many, many times. Though I don't remember seeing this in the Hershey Gardens!?!

The Hotel that looked like a ship on the Lincoln Highway.

That reminds me we never stayed here or here. ;-(

I ♥♥♥ roads and weird places and being in the car... at least I used to. There's so many more places and I just can't remember them all. Now I'm just sad so I better continue with this later.

30/365

I SCREAM - YOU SCREAM - WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE SCREAM

Truth is I don't really like ice cream very much. I mean not my favorite thing in the world. We were watching An Ice Cream Show while eating breakfast this morning... I had to leave the room because I was crying. There is obviously something wrong with me! They were talking about The Creamery and Rick Seback mentioned Death by Chocolate and a thousand images went rushing though my head like an old fashioned silent movie - being dropped off for my entrance exams when I transferred - milkshakes before class in the forum - circling what we wanted at that chinese restaurant - the book store - Bubba's delivery! I took one bite of food and had to leave the room. Penn State has been heavy on my mind these days and we were just talking yesterday about our next trip... Honestly, I'm not sure I'll make it through it.

I walked back in on the show when they were talking about Howard Johnson's - and had to walk right back out. ;-) When I think of all those summer trips to Wildwood when I was little I always think of stopping on the turnpike and those hot dogs and baked beans and boston brown bread!!! I would be so excited to get the tray and pick out my cake or boston cream pie and go along the cafeteria line.

Doumars didn't make the show (I don't know why) but we were just talking about it...

Norfolk has been another place that has been on my mind. I guess from this post. I forgot to add to my "places to move to list" yesterday so I guess I'll just wait until next week to add my next spot. Anyway, these places and things are all just that. I don't think any of this has to do with ice cream actually. All I know is I'm not sure how much more my heart can take.

FYI - favorite ice cream = King's Cinnamon - though I really want a Ringo from Doumars right now!

29/365

LONG LIVE THE LINGONBERRY

Chrissy, Katherine, Lizzie, Grace and I went to IKEA today and got swedish meatballs...

... and my favorite cake!

I love IKEA... it was packed and we were seriously there forever - like hours just on the top floor alone. I think we may have stopped and critiqued every single vignette in there. With the baby pink walls we called this the super sweet 16 and pregnant room - or maybe it's the 45, single and adopting room.

Yes, at times, I was teary eyed (yet again) walking through the store. I can't tell you how many times I've been there. Let's just say a lot. There's not one space that I don't have a memory or story about and by the time we got around here...

...I was a little overwhelmed. The panic attacks were coming a little too close for comfort because of the baby stuff, a little, and soooo much more.

After lunch and a marathon day there we didn't even make it out the door before we had to stop for a snack at the snack bar on the way out - coffee and cinnamon rolls...

Then we were off to tour the rest of Robinson and stop at Bakery Square... Free People opened yesterday so we had to pay the new store a visit as well as say hello to Anthropologie. Why can't we all just live in a world where tulle pom pom flowers "grow" on branches in the dirt outside?

Mediterranean Grill for dinner and we called it a night. I'm exhausted. Is it really only 10:00???

There's a zillion and one things I should be doing right now but I just can't bring myself to do anything. Time to snuggle with my puppy who couldn't stop wagging when she saw me come home. Thank God for this little thing.

Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail.

~Richard Friedman

28/365

BLESSED BE THE BURGERS

Went to Burgatory today... They just opened last week. I would definitely recommend it.

Extremely cute - couldn't have decorated it better myself - liked the trays the food was served on and the big fat straws in the shakes and the dark panels and art on the wall.

Got a little depressed though - just reminded me of what we wanted in our imaginary house. Loved the big garage door and they had some of my favorite chairs - I think they are the same at one of the Wolfgang Puck's maybe. Add the big open kitchen and it would be perfect.

Food should cheer me up but it's kind of been making me sad lately. So admittedly holding back tears at times I ate a somewhat too rare for my taste burger and surprisingly didn't complain about it. I guess it was that good.

Oh - and the caramel pretzel milkshake was really good too.

27/365

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

I'm really tired tonight and think it's best if I just go to bed so I don't have anything to say right now... Came across this photo, though. It always makes me smile... (Can't remember exactly where this was - somewhere near the Shenandoah Mountains.)

"...Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

~ Robert Frost.

(What is up with me and 9th grade english, lately?)

26/365

GOT SNOW?

Lily helped make a snowman. We finally used the snowman kit I bought. She kept trying to run away with the scarf but it kept sticking to the ground.

Are we ready for the pipe?

Uh Oh - nose fell off!

A carrot and some coal... to make a winter friend - add snow.

Lily and "Willy Melt."

25/365

TOT - Ten on Tuesday

1. I really thought this house would be nicer inside.

2. I found this video surprisingly funny. Google "fingers breakdance" for other videos - some with shoes.

3. I went to bed Saturday night and woke up in a panic thinking it was morning... it was only 2:16... fell back to sleep and woke up again at 6:21. Went to Wal-Mart Sunday and my bill was $22.61 and got behind a little mini school bus on monday numbered 162. Nothing today yet... 261 is my mother's "number."

4. I was watching tv (which means listening to it while I'm doing something else) - it was some snowboarding thing and this commercial came on... I only "saw" the last second of it but I had heart palpitations after. I had to google it to see what it was for... I seriously think I went into a-fib from it. ;-)

5. Mandy (the pug) was rushed into the emergency. She stopped breathing because the pups were putting too much pressure on her and her trachea collapsed. They did an emergency C section - 4 puppies were born alive, 1 stillborn... haven't heard anything more.

6. Did you see the big panoramic steeler picture from the last game? There's a lot of black and gold going on but if you know your seat numbers you can find yourself with a little searching... like's where's waldo. Speaking of black and gold - that black and yellow song is pretty damn catchy. I don't care if it's really about his cars and his diamonds but it does bother me because of the whole yellow thing... My dad said he knows that kid's mom.

7. My face and lips and chin are randomly going numb again. ;-(

8. I'm a little behind on some things... I forgot to document my blogaversary... I never really saw the significance when I would read others until I actually completed mine so maybe one day I'll talk about that... My Dear, 2010 blog post that most did in January simply states "Dear, 2010..." I never went any further with it. Hoping to get to that soon - along with my Christmas cards. Little behind on those too! I never claimed to be prompt - that's for sure.

9. With that said, I admittedly have a little too much on my plate and am finding it impossible to do everything. It's catching up with me and is getting out of control... half of it is what I need to do and the other half is that I need to talk to David. I've been asking but it's still not happening...so if anyone is reading this that can help me make that happen can you find it in your heart to help me out?

10. I'm too lazy to post any pictures but I better add one since this IS a photo a day blog - or something like that... This is what lily has been feeling like a lot of the time - reminds me of my migraines when I have to sleep on my head. Feel better pup.

24/365

HOME AGAIN

Lily had to go to the doctor today... We stopped at Dixon House to get the mail. She hasn't been there in months... She was so excited to go in and went straight for the mail!

No treat from Tom, though. ;-(

Hey I remember this place!

Let's go upstairs!

How do I get up here again - where's my basket?

sniff-sniff-sniff-sniff

Can we just take a nap - I'm sick.

Do we have to leave?

"The moon and the sun are eternal travelers. Even the years wander on. A lifetime adrift in a boat or in old age leading a tired horse into the years, every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home..."

Narrow Road to the Interior ~ Matsuo Basho

23/365

ABANDONED & ANNOYED
I have come across so many postings from different pug/dog rescues with poor dogs that were given up and abandoned... People that bit off more than they could chew by getting a dog in the first place... ones that just got bored or frustrated with them because they weren't what they expected they would be. I know there are lots of reasons to have to relinquish your animal but some of those reasons are disgusting and I'm annoyed.

Impound Number A4232161 (no name) - very sweet, around 8 years old - never neutered...

Pebbles - born with a crooked spine and probably won't live past puppyhood so given up because nobody wanted to be bothered with her.

Mandy - dumped at the shelter... pregnant and ready to have puppies soon.

Maybe I'm just a little sensitive because Lily isn't feeling good and she's under the blankets pushing me off the bed here trying to cuddle up as close as possible and these other dogs are probably alone in a cage. I'm annoyed by all these people just throwing these dogs away and thinking they are doing them a favor by giving them up to a good home - washing their hands clean because they changed their minds and don't want to keep their commitment as a dog owner. These dogs can't talk back and tell them how they feel so I guess that makes everything ok.

Or maybe I'm annoyed because, to be honest, I feel a little bit like a shelter dog at times too. ;-(

"The only animal without a chance is the animal whose chance is taken away."

------------------

Wouldn't life be great if you can just place an ad on craig's list and get rid of all your unwanted junk - no matter WHAT it is... your old couch, tools, your KIDS, whatever? This is a fictitious ad that goes around in rescue groups a lot - they have heard all the sob stories on how people try to rationalize their "I'm sick of this dog and need to get rid of it and everyone will be better off for it mentality." It's different if a dog is taken out of the house for being abused and I'm not claiming to be be better than anyone else - at times I feel like I can't take care of the dog I have but I know that and choose not to cast her aside because she's too hard to handle at times - even though it would make my life easier if I did. For others to just give up on these poor things because something better came up - it's disgusting and selfish.

***** Please Help!

After two long years of being on a waiting list for a dog, we have been notified by the breeder that, at long last, our number has come up and WE ARE HAVING A PUPPY!!!

We must IMMEDIATELY get rid of our children now, because we just KNOW how time consuming our new little puppy is going to be! Since our little puppy will be arriving on Monday we MUST place the children up for adoption this weekend!

One male - his name is Tommy. Caucasian (English/Irish mix) - light blonde hair, blue eyes. Four years old. Excellent disposition. He doesn't bite. Temperament tested. Does have problems with peeing directly in the toilet. Has had chicken pox and is current on all shots. Tonsils have already been removed. Tommy eats everything, is very clean and gets along well with others. Does not run with scissors and with a little training he should be able to read soon.

One female - her name is Lexie. Caucasian (English/Irish mix) - strawberry blonde hair, green eyes and quite freckled. Two years old. Can be surly at times. Non biter, thumb sucker. Has been temperament tested but needs a little attitude adjusting occasionally. She is current on all shots and is very healthy and can be affectionate. Gets along well with other little girls and boys but does not like to share her toys and therefore would do best in a one child household. She is a quick learner and is currently working on her house training. Shouldn't take long at all.

We REALLY do LOVE our children so much and want to do what is RIGHT for THEM. That is why we contacted a rescue group. We simply can no longer keep them. Also, we are afraid that they may hurt our new puppy.

I hope you understand that ours is a UNIQUE situation and we have a REAL emergency here! They MUST be placed into your rescue by Sunday night at the latest or we will be forced to drop them off at the orphanage or along some dark, country road. Our priority now has to be our new puppy!

22/365

UNDER (well, actually ON) THE TABLE AND DREAMING

I guess I'll do my Saturday morning where would I move to if I had to post...

Next stop: Charlottesville, VA

Where can you get God's best creation next to mashed potatoes - BISCUITS - that are as big as a baby's head and as soft as their blankets? The Bluegrass Grill! If that doesn't want to make you move there I don't know what will.

I like that is is close to Monticello and all those places and The Shenandoah Mountains...

It has one of the best walking malls with shops and restaurants and street vendors and different events...and a giant chalkboard celebrating the First Amendment.

;-)

I remember seeing lots of dog water bowls outside (not that I would let my dog drink from them but still - it's the thought that counts!) And it has the cutest outdoor seating for all the restaurants.

My life doesn't revolve around food - really, it doesn't.

Though, if I lived there, I do fear that I would overdose on mac and cheese from The Virginian!

(Top photo - "RoseBud" on the table at The Nook.)

Video of Charlottesville, VA

21/365

ALL OVER THE PLACE

I thought today was going to be the last day for the garage door but the workers got here and couldn't get their truck in the driveway because of the snow so I had to reschedule. The more I look at this picture of the old door the more it's creeping me out. It's kind of a little scary.

I can't seem to get with it the last few days... or has it been the last few months? There is stuff everywhere... papers, clothes, files, housewares, beads... everything you can think of - all over the place. I took pictures but I'm kind of embarrassed to post them. Let's just say my quicksand has dried up and turned into an avalanche.

I "woke up" this morning and ran downstairs (still dreaming) because I thought the kitchen door was open and the dog got out. The last several mornings have been complete panic again for some reason. I feel like I haven't slept in weeks. I spent most of the day cooking - beef stew, chicken tortilla soup... all the cold weather friendly foods. I've kind of been in a food trance and am having a hard time coming out of it. I feel like I'm running on empty and about to break down on the side of the road. And as I type it sounds like there is a UFO out back... did I ever talk about how I used to think UFO's were going to land in the back yard when I was kid? I'll save that for later.

I think I have to quit for tonight. It's supposed to be the coldest night of the year so far...Lily has been trying to drag me in to bed so I think I'm going to take her up on her offer. Poor little thing hasn't been feeling too good either.

Brrrrr.

20/365

YOU MAY SAY THAT I'M A DREAMER... BUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE...

If I had to pick an imaginary life...

I would like to be an astronaut's wife - mid 1960s or so.

If you can pick an era to live in what would it be?

(photo - Elliot See and Family.)

19/365

LET THE SUNSHINE IN

More often than not - when I go to the cemetery the sun comes out. Even on a yucky day. I don't know if that means any more than the sun was shining when I went there but I just thought I would mention it.

One of my 40 things to do this year is to spend the day at a cemetery and take pictures... pictures of the names, dates, stones, statues, items left on the grave, etc... I don't know yet where I want to do this and by day I mean a couple hours... just wandering around. I'm thinking I should wait until it's nicer out and more people are around (enter my fear of being killed in strange places) though I kind of want to do different seasons so the snow may be nice too.

I love the old pictures on the stones and wonder how they died and what their families were like...

These pictures were from a couple months ago. We always took care of this stone even though no one knew who he was...

From when I was a little girl I remember going up to the cemetery - sometimes with picnic lunches and coolers - to "take care" of the graves. The "Tedesco Boy" was next to my Grandmother's Father's stone - it was never taken care of so she always did it, then my mother after her and now me. I was always enchanted by that little lamb and I remember being so excited to tie palm around the lamb's neck and can still see myself doing that and skipping away.

All we know is that this boy was born in 1922 and died in 1925... he would have been 89 this year. There are a lot of babies in this section - all born in the 20s or 30s. I always wonder what he would have done or any of them for that matter - what their lives would have been like if they survived.

"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? - every, every minute?"

Our Town - Thornton Wilder

----------------------------

Since I was talking about The Raven, I thought I would add this article. Today is Edgar Allan Poe's Birthday - he would have been 202. ( I was confused by the dates on the tombstone and the fact that the article was dated tomorrow and thought maybe I was in an alternate universe a day ahead and then I realized it's from Australia.)

18/365

TOT - TEN ON TUESDAY (fun and games)

1. Am I going to have to get a PS3 because of this cute little thing?

2. Actually now that I think about it... we were out shopping before Christmas and I saw Naughty Bear... The little teddy gets left off the guest list for a birthday party so he gets mad and freaks out on all the other bears! I just looked it up and it didn't get that great of reviews but it still looks like my kind of game. Plus he looks just like PAUL - minus the bow tie! Not on Wii either. ;-(

3. I posted a little video on facebook last week... click here to watch it. You won't regret it. There's so many cute things in it... the sleepiness, the smile and nod at 1:03, the thinking it's time to whistle, the pretend guitar strumming and lip-sync whistling, and the little yawn and head on his shoulders at the end... "One day I'm gonna whistle?" Just adorable. I thought about this post when I saw it... To me, there is no better word ever than home. (Here's the original Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros video too.)

4. Kid... meet candy store. My art supplies arrived! All that money in a teeny box.

5. 100 things to watch in 2011: click here.

6. "I thought Eric gave you the creeps?" This commercial is funny.

7. So cute! I bought this at Divertido for myself for Christmas.

8. Does anyone want to play? I can probably get Lily to roll the dice but it may be hard to teach her to count the money.

9. Damn you auto correct post...

10. This year we have 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11 (my bday) and 11/11/11... now add the last two digits of the year you were born to the age you are turning this year and see what you get. Not hard to figure out why but still fun and kind of a game. ;-)

17/365

WRITE ON

At any given time I am "using"a multitude of pens. As we speak, including the one in my hand as I type = 7.

16/365

QUOTH THE RAVEN... NEVERMORE

The Steelers beat the Ravens yesterday. I took some pictures of Lily in her new Steeler Jersey... she grew out of her other one.

Little Pup: 2/09

Lily PUGamalu now: 1/11

I heard through the grapevine that it turns out a black bird came to visit Dixon House... I thought about Mr. Caugherty's project English class in high school. We were the smart kids and he was the drama coach so we always had to do some fancy dramatization of whatever we were reading... I loved Edgar Allan Poe. Who was it - me and Scott and Denise and I can't remember if Leslie and Mike were in it - but we did The Raven... and threw my Dad's plastic chicken across the room because we didn't have a black bird! Everyone was cracking up. ;-) I'm still wondering how this bird got in the house, though, and why he paid a visit... there's so many fun ways to interpret it.

This video and article was interesting on facial recognition and how smart they are and some of the comments are pretty good too. Katie Bennett's was my favorite. Full video here.

I can't believe I still remembered the poem - the beginning at least...

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore...

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door ~

Only this, and nothing more..."

15/365

DEJA BREW

I saw this sign yesterday while we were out shopping...

I used to love Saturday mornings at Dixon House... D would go for a walk and the dog and I would go sit on the couch with catalogs and magazines and coffee and watch all the home fix up shows...

I was a little lazy this morning and was going to just go buy coffee but decided to make it instead... I've been thinking about Norfolk a lot for some reason... and was reminded again with the Kiariz...

I'm trying to figure out where I would move to if I had to and started compiling a list... Here's one: Ghent. I love Texture there... among other things.

mmmm - now I want soup and chicken flautas! ;-)

Roadtrip, Lily??? Norfolk is dog friendly - trust me!

Video of Ghent - Norfolk, VA

14/365

TO BE YOUNG AGAIN!

Do you remember Love's Baby Soft? I completely forgot about it until I saw it in the store today and had to buy it... I have it on now. I feel like I'm in second grade again!

13/365

HOT POTATOES & SNOWY DOGS

I got up at 4:30 AM and couldn't go back to sleep... The Bud and I went out on the couch around 5:00 - shortly after I went to the kitchen and warmed up some milk which quickly turned into mashed potatoes (instant - my favorite) which I ate before the sun came up... I think that all the woes of the world may be solved with mashed potatoes - gravy optional.

Poor Lily is swimming in snow.

How would you like to have pee like this?

She doesn't like to stay on the shoveled path and prefers to hop around like a little bunny.

She loves catching snow balls!

On a side note - we have carrotcicles. ;-)