oregon (and the northwest)

It's been a while! I've been totally slacking on my blog. I was out of town every single weekend in May and now all of a sudden it's June. It's going to be December before I know it. For a good part of May I was exploring the Northwest. I've been wanting to go to Portland, Seattle and Vancouver for a few years now and I finally planned a trip with a friend. We went under the premise to run the Portland half marathon but of course wanted to road trip and explore. 

old dirty bastard.

It was a lot of fun and jam-packed with activities. In Portland, we hung out at Powell's, chatted with Kara Goucher (an Olympian in case you don't run), ran a half marathon, saw Andy Grammar in concert and hung out with my cousins. On our way out of town, we hit up Voodoo Doughnut before we hiked to Mirror Lake and Tamanawas Falls on Mt. Hood. I couldn't quite finish the Old Dirty Bastard doughnut (oreos and peanut butter) that morning but after a couple of hikes, it eventually disappeared. 

mt. hood.

We had such a gorgeous day, and we were able to fully enjoy the scenery. Even driving around the mountain was really nice, admiring the views. After hiking about 7 miles, we had had to get some sustenance and stopped at The Gorge White House for some food, and wine and beer tastings. It was very hard to drag ourselves away, but we had to make our way into Washington to get to Vancouver. 

granville island brewery.

The first day in Vancouver was pretty rainy, so we walked around a bit, but mostly ate and drank. We hit up Granville Island Brewery and Yaletown Brewing Company. Even though it was rainy, we could tell the views were pretty amazing. The next day we worked off the beer by running in Stanley Park and doing the Stawamus Chief hike near Squamish. After a very active day, we  hung out in what turns out to be my favorite neighborhood in Vancouver—Gastown, where we had drinks and dinner, Salt and Rodney's Oyster House. Both very yummy. 

stawamus chief hike.

After a couple of days, we made our way to Seattle—very slowly. We hit up the original Lululemon store, made some stops to check out where Once Upon a Time is filmed (instead saw a Godzilla), and back in America, hit up the Lululemon outlet. We weren't in any rush, but fortunately we took our time since we avoided going into the Skagit River when the I-5 bridge collapsed in Mt. Vernon, WA. We missed it by an hour. Thankfully those who went in survived, but all the locals were on edge and we could only sympathize with them. 

After all that drama, we made our way to Seattle with no issues. I was excited to be in Washington, since that is where my parents got married and had me. I'm the only one in my immediate family not born in NYS, which is kind of cool and different. Except I don't remember a thing about it. I wanted to go see the town I was born in, but we didn't really have the time. On my next trip for sure. 

space needle & chihuly glass.

We spent the next couple of days sightseeing in Seattle—Pike Place, Olympic Sculpture Park, the Space Needle, the Chihuly Exhibit, a Mariners game, and the Comet Tavern. It was a nice mix of seeing the city, sports, music, and wandering around. 

mariners vs rangers.

The trip overall was a lot of fun, but there were still things I wanted to do and see in all the places. But I know I'll go back again. And I got to check off one more state and one more ballpark! 

south carolina

A week ago I got back from visiting my 26th state—South Carolina. Work was a little crazy in March and I hadn't left NYC in over 3 months, so was itching for a long weekend away. I was deliberating on where to go when a friend at work suggested the Charleston area. I figured it wouldn't be quite beach weather, but would be hopefully warmer than NYC. I just wanted a few days on my own, near the water, with drinks and a masseuse very accessible. I landed on Wild Dunes, about 20 minutes outside Charleston. 

southern sunset.

It was a very relaxing weekend. I pretty much hung outside as much as possible, whether I was reading and having a drink by the pool, or taking photos on my beach walks. I finished The Great Gatsby, did my long run (and some shorter ones), ate some good seafood, and got a little sun. It was quite nice (and I'm wishing I was back there as I write this). 

beach time.

On my last day, I spent the day walking around the lovely Charleston. I ate at Hyman's, walked through Charleston Place, and got some nice views of Battery Park and Rainbow Row. It was a nice quick trip away. Although when I checked my blackberry after I got home, I kind of wish it was a longer trip. I'd like to return and explore more of South Carolina, or even try to get to one of its neighbors North Carolina or Georgia soon. 

rainbow row.

we are runners

I woke up this morning and I had a lingering remnant of a bad dream. In my sleepy haze, people had gotten hurt and it had something to do with running. As I started to wake up, I came to the realization that it wasn't a dream.

After I checked my phone for updates, I put on my 2010 NYC marathon shirt and went running. I ran for Boston. I ran because I can. I ran because that is what runners do. 

I know that my solitary thoughts this morning were shared with the other runners in Central Park. We were all thinking of our families, our friends, and the residents of Boston. We were thinking of the 8-year old boy that lost his life. We were thinking of those that were injured. 

We were also thinking of all the good people out there. Those that ran to the explosion to help. The first responders who appeared immediately to take control of the situation. The people who've opened up their homes for displaced runners and friends. The communities around the country supporting Boston. 

Every time I see Boston Marathon Bombings in the media, I get a little teary-eyed. Then I get a little angry. How does something like this happen? How does an event where people of all races, genders, ages, and religions are pushing themselves physically, raising funds for various charities, and celebrating Boston and the American spirit end on such a tragic note? I was watching a live stream of Shalane and Kara battling for an American win. I was tracking my friends. I was waiting to hear all about the finishes. 

And then tragedy struck. I should have seen pictures of runners wrapped in foil with their medals, celebrating with their friends and family. I should not have seen a video of the bomb going off and pictures of spilled blood near the finish line. 

Over the last 24 hours, I've been emotional. I've tried hard to not break down. This was personal. My teammates and friends were there running and spectating. I was there in 2009 and 2011 with my family to watch my sisters run. Qualifying and running the Boston Marathon is one of my biggest running aspirations. I'm shocked, dismayed, sad, and angry. But runners are the strongest people I know. Everyone has dealt with their own personal tragedies and this horrific event is like any other senseless act. We will come out on top, all with the support of our spectators. Good people do outnumber the bad people. 

I will be in Boston next year. 

We will keep running and cheering. 

‘If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon’ - Kathrine Switzer

the opera

Last weekend I went to the opera, my first time ever. My friend Donna got me a ticket to see Parsifal at The Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center. Since I had the afternoon free, I decided why not. Even though it was over 5 1/2 hours long. Yikes. Given the lack of sleep, I was afraid of falling asleep during one of the three acts. Fortunately I didn't nod off on any of my neighbors.



parsifal.

 

I really want to give a synopsis of the story, but I feel like I wouldn't do it justice or even get it right. It takes place in Spain. There's a boy that makes bad decisions, who grows older and becomes wiser. There's a king and the holy grail. Women are seducing men. There are knights and people in disguise. If you want to read more: go here.

 

The opera was sung in German, which I don't understand at all. Unless you count guttentag. They did have subtitles, which I didn't realize right away. I was conflicted on whether I should put them on or not. I decided no. I wanted to listen and watch, not read. Although, I'm sure I would have gotten more of the story if I read them. But you know, they didn't have subtitles back in the day. Maybe I'll read them next time.

 

the met.

 

I would go again, maybe see something a bit more well-known, like Phantom. But it's pricey to go to the opera, so it's definitely a once in a long-time thing. Plus, I don't feel old or fancy enough to go on a regular basis.



pretty lights.

Lincoln Center is really beautiful though. It was nice to go again. I admired the space inside and out. So far, I've gone to the ballet and opera at Lincoln Center. Next up is the Philharmonic Orchestra. Maybe next year. Then I'll be officially cultured.
 

lincoln center.

 

books (2013 part 1)

I've totally been slacking and haven't blogged in almost 2 months. Whoops.

 

I'm kicking off 2013 with a similar reading goal as last year. This year my goal is to read 45 books. Last year I had read a total of 42, with a few very long books thrown in there. My goal is only 3 more than last year, but I do need be realistic. Especially since there are a few lengthy ones I want to read. You may have noticed I haven't provided a book update until now. I'm not going to the monthly update like I did last year. It was kind of fun to do, but also got a bit stressful. Intermittently throughout the year, I'll provide an update on notable books I've read. I won't write about every single book, but only the ones that I feel the need to write about. You can always follow me on goodreads.com to see all the books I'm reading and how I rate them. 

 

Although I did write about all the books so far. I had something to say about them all I guess.

 

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

This was the first book I finished this year. I have a few H. G. Wells books on my kindle and figured I should read one of them. The author is into sci-fi and many of his books were turned into blockbuster movies, some of which I've seen. Of course the main character is trying to make his friends believe that he has time traveled. The whole concept of time travel has always been interesting and it was nice to read the book that inspired the idea of the time machine. Although I'm glad the book was as short as it was. I was expecting it to be more exciting. On a related note, I was watching Back to the Future recently and do wish I could selectively go back in time (or even the future) to see certain things (without interfering of course), like the 70s or 20s. Or even when NYC was not a city at all.

 

One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

An unknown man walks into a school with a gun and the town waits anxiously for the outcome. Unfortunately there is also a snowstorm preventing assistance to and from the school.. It doesn't help the small town is far away from most things. The reader gets various view points from parents, cops, teachers and students to tell the story. There are a few suspects as to who the gunman is, but I was slightly shocked when I found out. I did think it was a bit of a stretch, but people get unhinged for a lot of different things. This was a quick read and I did enjoy reading it.

 

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell's 2nd book was as interesting as his first. He discusses the theory on how people or things become outliers. There are many successful people out there and there are certain things that are happening around the time they lived or the circumstances that had, that helped them become successful. For example, professional Canadian ice hockey players were lucky to be born during a certain time of year. They end up being the older and bigger kids, and therefore are groomed to be the best players. The whole idea is very interesting and Gladwell creates a strong argument as to how this works. Unfortunately, I need to get going on my 10,000 hours in order to be an expert at something. Whatever that may be.

 

Just Kids by Patti Smith

This was a memoir by Patti Smith, about her life in New York City and relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. I'm not too familiar with Patti Smith and her music (although it's highly likely that I've heard her music without realizing it), but it was a really interesting read. I'm always a fan of reading about people living in NYC in different time periods. She knew so many people that either were famous or became famous at some point. It was. I would recommend this to anyone that is a fan of either Patti Smith or Robert Mapplethorpe.

 

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf

I read another Heather Gudenkauf book, shortly after the last one. Allison is the perfect girl in high school--great athlete, perfect grades, pretty and popular. And then she commits a crime so terrible, that she is shunned by all who knew her. Years later, when she is out on parole, she tried to reconnect with her sister and you learn more about the circumstances of her crime. Like her last book, this also rotates from various character's point of view, so you learn a little bit more each time you switch characters. This was a good read. Quick and easy, but a page-turner.

 

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

In the sequel to The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, the story picks up after the seraphim have destroyed the chimaera. However Karou, one of the few remaining chimaera, is on a mission to avenge her people and fight against her true love. This actually took me about a day to read, even though it was somewhat lengthy. I do recommend reading the trilogy so far. Even though the last book in the series doesn't come out until next year sometime.

 

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Another disturbing book by Gillian Flynn, although it was hard to put down. Camille is asked to return to her small town to cover the story of a girl that has gone missing, the 2nd time this has happened. She has some issues of her own, which is apparent in the self-mutilation of her body. You learn that her family isn't very functional, especially her sister and mother. Of course, Camille is still dealing with the death of another sister from years previous. On top of this, she's trying to write an article about the missing girls. I don't want to ruin it, but it's definitely messed up and worth a read.

  

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

I had heard mixed reviews for this book. I thought the Harry Potter series was amazing. Way better than many series. I had slight withdrawal after re-reading them for the the 3rd when the movies came out. I know. It was hard. So of course I wanted to give this one a chance. I went into it, knowing that I can't reference Harry Potter at all. And it worked to some degree. In a small town in England, a councilman dies, and competing views over the "Fields", a local council estate, on whether it should stay within the town limits or be taken over by the nearby city of Yarvil. Barry's death impacts many townspeople and a range of themes, from drugs to rape and prostitution, adultery and class, and of course politics. It took me a little while to get into the book, but after a while, I did enjoy reading it as the characters developed and all the townspeople secrets came out.

Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal

I read practically every Sweet Valley High, Sweet Valley University and even Sweet Valley Kids when I was a pre-teen, so I had to read this as an adult. And yes, it was terribly written. I got sucked into the drama of the lives of Elizabeth and Jessica as 27-year olds. Like I said, the writing isn't great, but it had some good nostalgia. The characters I grew up with, have changed since high school.It was kind of amazing (not sure if this is a good or bad amazing) how close they are all still. And the drama. My goodness, I don't think as much drama occurs anywhere else, except in the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210 and Gossip Girl. It was a quick read and I'm glad I read it, but I probably won't be reading any more of these.

 

Onto the next set of books!

9/45 books in 2013.

december book update

2012 is over and I read a total of 42 books. I recently read an article (which I can’t find) that said that Americans read on average 6 books a year. Six! I really hope that average goes up in upcoming years, but in the meantime, I’ll help raise that average.

Broken Harbor by Tana French

Another Dublin crime squad thriller. I am a fan of these. This book was obviously meant to wrap up November, which I dubbed thriller month. Detective Kennedy is out to solve the murder of almost an entire family in an abandoned half-built housing development in the outskirts of Dublin. The mother is the sole survivor and in intensive care. The evidence isn’t quite lining up and Kennedy is also dealing with his sister who is ‘off the rails’. In combination with the location of the murders and his family issues, long ago memories of one particular family vacation in Broken Harbor come to the surface.

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

I could go on and on about this book. The timing of when I read this, devastatingly, aligned with another school shooting in Connecticut on December 14^th. In the book, Eva is writing letters to her estranged husband on what it was like to raise a son who ends up on a killing spree at his high school. Two years after the rampage, Eva is trying to explain to her husband how unlovable Kevin was as a baby and child, and now as a teenaged convicted felon.

This book, along with the events of the numerous school shootings around the country in the last 20 years, have spawned many debates—most prominently, gun control. I think there needs to be more focused attention on mental health and the media coverage. Yes, gun control needs to be way more limited. There are a lot of unnecessary weapons in this country. Honestly, who the hell needs an automatic weapon? There are also many kids (and adults) dealing with mental illness that aren’t getting the proper attention. And that needs to change. I recently heard on the radio that Lady Gaga has set up counseling for concert-goers. Which I think is a great move and I really hope many follow suit. Like I said I could go on about this, but this books give an interesting perspective on the unfortunate high number of mass killings out there.

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Marriage Plot centers on Madeleine and the 2 main boys in her life during her time at Brown and after. Mitchell is a friend of hers from throughout college that’s been in love with her the entire time. His love goes unrequited and Madeleine eventually falls in love with Leonard and follows him to Cape Cod after graduation. But not before he has a breakdown due to his manic depression. Mitchell on the other hand backpacks throughout Europe and India to forget about Madeleine. The year of ups and downs for this love triangle was told very well and I do recommend this book.

Ten Girls to Watch by Charity Shumway

This book was a switch from the last one, even though the main characters were around the same age. Dawn who is one year out of college, is living in NYC and trying to get a job as a writer, unsuccessfully. However, after a year of temping she falls into a researcher job for a magazine to track down their Ten Girls to Watch from the last 50 years. She is also having trouble in love. But what 23 year old isn’t? Of course there is an attraction to a 30 year old, which was a little annoying from my 31 year old self. Of course a 30 year old guy would be interested in a 23 year old. The book was a quick read and if you are looking for something light and easy, this does the trick. Parts of it I liked since I could relate to my early years in NYC. Most of the book was predictable though—like most romantic comedies.

So I wrote about all the books I read this year. It was fun, but also stressful. I decided for this year I will only write about those books that I really really like. And if anyone is interested in any books I read, be my friend on goodreads.com.

42/30 books in 2012.

Lastly, to recap, I read most of the books I initially had on my short list.

-       The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

-       The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

-       The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

-       The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet

-       Anthem by Ayn Rand

-       1984 by George Orwell

2012 in review

2012 has come and gone already. As with birthdays, every New Year’s Day, I’m amazed with the quickness of the last 12 months. I guess it’s true—when you get older, time goes that much faster.

Exactly a year ago I decided to do a sequel to my 30 Before 30 list and do 12 things in 2012. I didn’t quite cross everything off. It shouldn’t have been a problem since it was only 12 things versus 30 (and I had an extra month), but the year got away from me. The good thing is, I can keep checking them off—even if it’s in 2013 (or 2014, but hopefully it doesn’t take me that long).

See a quick snapshot of how the list went below. I technically only checked off half the items, but with #12 not too far from being done. Honestly I could have checked off some of the items off in the last week or so, but I was enjoying a week of laziness from work. So I didn’t get too far.

1. Go to 3 new states (27 left to go) and do something ‘local’ there (4/3)
2. Get a tarot card reading
3. Go to a music festival
4. Go on a blind date
5. Do a trivia night
6. Go to Atlantic City
7. Go to a spring training game
8. Take a cooking class
9. Go to the ballet
10. Go zip lining
11. Take a NYC bus tour
12. Send out 12 handwritten notes (8/12)

To recap 2012, I read 42 books, only traveled domestically and have now checked off 25 states, attempted to Boston Qualify yet again, started volunteering on a regular basis, went to the ballet (twice), ran the Philly ½ for the 6^th year in a row, and spent time with my great friends and family.

In 2013, I want to finish my 12 in 2012 list, try to read 45 books (I know, I’m a nerd), visit more states (a visit to Oregon is in the works), go to a new country, complete my 30 Before 30 scrapbook, start (probably not finish) a knitting project, complete some sort of running goal (not sure what yet thought),  and raise my credit score, amongst other things.