Temples in Thailand

I'm laughing to myself for coming to Chiang Mai, Thailand thinking I would come across maybe 2-3 temples if I went out searching for them.

If you've ever been to Chiang Mai, you will know that that is a very silly thought because there are actually hundreds of Buddhist temples in and around the city, and it would probably be impossible to see only 2 or 3 while spending a few days here.

My first hostel had free bicycles for borrowing, so I must have visited at least one hundred sites on the very first day. If you're not about bike riding, you should become about it because it's really one of the most wonderful ways to get to know a city.

I'm glad to have packed my zip-off shorts-to-pants and a shawl because you never know when you're going to need to be appropriately dressed for places of worship. And I took this picture of the Buddha, even though you're not really supposed to take pictures of the Buddha, because look at this incredible gigantic statue at the top of a mountain!

Singaporean Strolls

If you're looking for somewhere very clean, very efficient, and where nothing ever goes wrong because all preventative measures have been taken to ensure that nothing can ever go wrong, Singapore may be the place for you. It's an other-worldly city, nicer than any I've ever visited. It sort of makes you afraid to touch anything or mess anything up for fear of receiving a $500 fine or a public caning, but I didn't see anyone being fined or caned so it wasn't very scary walking around sightseeing and enjoying the cuisine in designated eating spaces.

This is a melting pot for sure, and I ended up spending most of my time in Chinatown and Little India before exploring any Singaporean culture. It's hard to pass up $3 meals in the Chinese food stalls, but you can find similarly priced delicacies from local hawker stands. After just a day, you may find yourself pointing and gesturing for mysterious ingredients, knowing you'll end up with phenomenal results. 

There's so much to see and do that I'm not sure three days was enough for fully uncovering this gem of a city. Fortunately, the public transportation system and flawless and will take you nearly everywhere you need to go. Unfortunately, the hostels and the people working in them are so nice that you might not ever want to leave. I'm glad I have a mini stopover on my way back to try more.

On Being an Independent Female Traveler

It's a Thursday evening in October, I'm typing on a laptop, and I'm drinking my second coffee of the day which, if history is any indication, will deliver enough caffeine to create a combination of stretching my eyeballs very wide in their sockets and making my body want to expel out of its skin.

All of this is happening on a plane upon which I am traveling alone. I'll be just as high in the air and alone again on Monday, on Tuesday, next Saturday, two weeks after that, and again at least three times in November when I make my way back to where I started. I don't know the exact number of times I have traveled by myself in my life, but it is somewhere between a lot and very many, and enough to cause certain people to make remarks. Such people refer to the act of being a woman and traveling on her own as brave, courageous, and/or bold. Some have even been so forward as to label me an Independent Female Traveler, an impressive title which I can only timidly inhabit and continue to try to live up to.

I actually don't consider myself to be very brave, courageous, or bold when it comes to getting on popular international airlines and visiting areas to which I know many other women have gone before. It simply tends to happen often because I live in a different place now from the one in which I was raised. And because my mom lives in two other altogether different places from that original one where my parents raised me. And because most of my friends from the places I have lived previously do not live in the one where I live now. And also because I'm not married or in any formal way attached to any traveling partners.

I remember the first time it happened. I was sixteen and on my way to attend a high-performance volleyball camp in North Carolina, which was an experience that made me feel not very high-performance at all since most of the other sixteen year olds there towered over 6-feet and had already been signed on as juniors to play at the university level no less than two years later. No one had yet thought of asking me to do anything two years in the future, and to this day still no one has. I don't remember any of the details of that flight, which maybe serves to show you how many unremarkable solo flying experiences have occurred for me since then. All of them happen in this way: you just take some sort of transportation to the airport, or if you have kind friends sometimes one of them will drive you, and then there is some waiting and perhaps drinking and/or snacking, then more waiting, and then you're in a seat in the air flying towards your goal, which could be visiting another one of these kind friends or maybe a family member or simply some new surroundings that you've been longing to see. And if you do all of this and happen to have identifying womanly features, you too might be labelled an Independent Female Traveler (IFT).

However, after some consideration, I have surmised that these rudimentary drive/wait/fly/wait/drive again steps are not all that needs to be done to earn the title. For example, the woman seated in the same row as me is traveling alone as well, but I would argue that it cannot be said that she is traveling independently. I think the difference between us can best be explained by providing a comparative description of our traveling styles.

But before getting into it, let me interject that she has been more than generous to me by first offering a stick of gum for myself plus an extra piece for the “cute guy sitting across the aisle from me” who is, in fact, very cute, but who will not be receiving this offering since I am not in the habit of chatting up dudes on planes and since any follow-up conversation might severely decrease the joys of traveling solo which include peaceful solitude and doing productive activities. Secondly, she has said that, if I get a cup with ice, I can enjoy the rest of her Coke. And thirdly, she has gotten two bags of chips (Popcorners and the Terra sweet potato kind) to allow me to try a variety of snacks on this three and a half hour flight, a gesture which I appreciate because for some reason the JetBlue snack baskets this evening are full of kettle corn so I accidentally grabbed one of those and am of the opinion that kettle corn is one of the absolute worst flavors of popcorn chips, second only to barbecue.

Niceties aside, I will admit that it was with a slight bit of dismay that I approached my seat and found this particular person in the spot next to me due to the fact that I had already experienced a separate encounter with her earlier in the airport bathroom. After stopping outside the ladies' room to fill my water bottle and then turning inside to search for an empty stall, I heard someone behind me calling out “Miss” over and over again. After confirming that the hollering was directed at me, and thinking that I had dropped something, I turned around to discover that she was wondering where I had filled up my water bottle and if they had any water available in the airport. Since I was feeling very understanding and working toward conjuring only positive thoughts about others in order to bring blessed fortune upon myself, I repressed a sizable eye roll and considered that perhaps this person does not travel very often because in almost all airports that I've visited, they do indeed have water fountains and these oases are nearly always located directly outside the restroom. So later when I found her seated next to me on the plane I thought, oh, here is the familiar face of someone who perhaps is unaccustomed to airline travel. Since that moment of discovery, our relationship has progressed in ways that I generally prefer relationships not to progress with strangers sitting next to me in public places. In our short time together, she has asked me to help her set her phone to airplane mode, direct her back to her music collection, turn on the volume of her in-flight entertainment, flag down the flight attendant to figure out said entertainment, and translate said flight attendant's non-New York accent when he patiently explained that the entertainment was not working for anyone on board right now after she exasperatedly exclaimed that “NOTHING WORKS FOR (her)!” on this flight. I have continued to hear grumpy oh-my-graciouses coming from her direction although I have since applied my headphones with iTunes at a hefty volume. I am expressing my own silent gratitude at having been able to manifest an empty aisle seat next to me which allowed me to move out of the middle and into it. A little space can work wonders in many of life's trying situations.

From this example I have gained the slightest bit of elitism at the IFT title since not all who are female and traveling on their own can fully fit into its definition. So, I assume it is because I tend to disengage with the world around me and avoid talking to others or asking questions in airports and would simply not consider pressing the call button on a plane for anything except a) being projectile vomited upon or b) facing imminent demise, that I have laid more claim to the haughty label of Independent Female Traveler. Brave. Courageous. Bold. It's really none of these things and more just something that you do if you a) enjoy traveling and b) don't have anyone to go with you because they either have real jobs or don't enjoy traveling or you believe they wouldn't be into your top hobbies of most of the time walking aimlessly and the rest of the time being lost and trying to figure out where you are.

All points considered, I do not even consider myself to be one of the most independent of the IFT's I know. I have participated in many guided group tours and retreats, which subtly provide a comfortable travel setting to give you the feel of being alone while actually being safely surrounded by a group. When I'm really on my own out in the world, I usually stay at very westernized hostels where I am sure to meet other English speakers and find reminders of safety and home. Compared to friends who have been on solo road trips or year-long backpacking adventures, I am a watered down version of a strong woman blazing a trail for other ladies and future ladies of the millennium. I am an amateur IFT on a trail that's been blazed for me, but an IFT nonetheless. I guess fitting in with the title comes down to a trust thing—you accept that you can only prepare so much and then you sort of trust yourself to make the right decisions within the universe's boundaries and then trust the universe to unfold the rest.

How to Pack for a Month in Asia

Really, this should be titled: How to Pack for a Month in Asia (after a wedding weekend in autumnal New York, along with another stint in wintry New York, plus also preparing your apartment for two months of subletting). And, actually, this is more of a cry for help than a list of recommendations!

1. Lay out some things

I like to display all the items I might possibly need and then narrow it down from there. This helps me visualize where everything is going to fit and lets me know if I have crazy expectations. 

2. Don't forget your dress!

This is only valid if you're a bridesmaid, but hang your dress in a place where you won't forget it.

3. Watch the live action Beauty and the Beast on Netflix

Take a break. Why not?

4. Narrow down the things

Make enough space for souvenirs and the many, many pairs of shoes that you will definitely need at all times during your journey.

5. Don't forget your dress!

Move the dress to a place where you can actually see it, and bring the shoes along with it. 

6. Pack the things

Self-explanatory. I like to perform a rolling method since my clothes are mostly yoga pants and partially yoga shirts. Fill all the extra spaces with underwear so at least your underclothes will be clean when everything else is dirty.

7. Bring a passport

And a wallet. And a phone. And don't forget your dress!

Sharing by the Sea

Last week, I visited the utopian land of San Diego to tan my buns and fill my belly with seafood tacos and burritos stuffed with french fries, because that is a thing that people are doing over there. My friend Sara brought me to her gym to show me how to climb rock walls, and I got to try slack-lining for the first time. Trying meant standing up for a few seconds and falling over without taking a step, but in my mind it seemed like something I might be able to do with practice. So, even if I never get another try, I guess I am already halfway to being able to do it. 

One night, I found myself standing alone at a bar when a kind person from the magical land of Maui offered to buy me a drink. Then, since socializing with strangers for long amounts of time sometimes calls for breaks, I went to watch the band play in the comfortable retreat that live music provides. When I returned to buy my own second drink, the bartender told me and the girl next to me about the $20 credit card requirement, because $10 per drink with a two drink minimum seems like a reasonable amount to charge when you're also offering the beaches, fish tacos, french fry burritos, tanned people, and whatnot. I decided that two drinks was a good limit for a solo lady romping around a new place, so I offered to buy the other girl's drink. The bartender thought that was very nice and gave me two complimentary shots to show her approval. What a predicament! Now I was $20 down and had three drinks to carry with me toward the magical land of standing by myself. I didn't really want to go down the path of drinking a vodka soda and two fancy tequila shots in rapid succession, so I walked over to a group of smiling faces and asked if any of them wanted to take a shot with me. They did! I discovered that they were from Australia and Switzerland, and our friendly drink exchange earned me some new acquaintances to hang out with for the rest of the night.

I found this whole series of interactions pretty magical since I had the fresh eyes of a traveler, or the blurry eyes of someone mixing vodka and tequila, and wanted to share that if you are nice and generous to people, you might get rewarded or at least meet some other nice, generous people in return.

Namaste.

When I Grow Up

Now that I don't have a job-job anymore, I've been making some money driving for rideshares. I enjoy it, since the people are friendly and the hours are very flexible. I get to converse with nice riders and drive around the city of my dreams pretty much whenever I feel like it. If it's a social ride, which it surprisingly almost always is, we get to talking about how our days are going, where everyone is from, and what my other job is besides doing this. This certainly must not be the only thing that I do, since I am not an elderly person or a non-English speaker. It would be hard to believe that driving could be a full-time choice. And, of course, there is something else I do, that allows the investigator to classify me and sit back to enjoy our ride to 6th Street or work or a BBQ restaurant or wherever it is they might be visiting that day.

After hearing about the driving thing and the teaching yoga thing, most people ask me about the future. I've heard variations of, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", sometimes word-for-word, on at about 75% of these cross-city journeys. But here I am, grown, and the answer seems to still be plotting its way out, whether I've explicitly decided what to call it or not.

For now, and hopefully when I grow up even more, I am not a thing that can be so easily defined. I am not a story that settles me into a single-termed box which has been pre-arranged in someone's mind. This is _______. She is a _____________.

I am (and you are) much more than a single ___________! 

"But what do you do? Like, for money? Like, to live?"

And so the ride goes.

I understand these questions. I'm never put-off by the forwardness or the conversations that follow. Can I see myself doing this long-term? Am I making enough money to live? Are there that many people interested in private yoga classes? Do I ever want to have a salary again? They're the same ones I ask myself on the regular. I am only interested in the abrupt jump to find a label for this person driving them from place to place. I must be a thing that can be categorized with a title. Is it just "Uber driver"? Something with more slashes and creative pursuits inside? An entrepreneur? What we do professionally is so much a part of who we are, or how we are viewed, by our world.

On my last night at the beach this summer, I did not sleep well. I slept barely, and woke up at 4:30am after tossing and turning for a while. I thought, "Well, it's my last day here so maybe if I wake up again in about an hour, I'll go for a run and watch the sunrise over the sea." And so, after staying awake for another hour, that's what I did. It was refreshing, private, and beautiful, and reminded me to always be glad to be where I am.

So assuredly, when I grow up, I want to be a person who has time an energy to watch the sunrise over the sea. And, for now, that's what I am.

Unique New York

I'm always proud to call New York my original home, and I can deliver some pretty haughty side-eyes when people assume I'm from Delaware or New Jersey. The Empire State was a wonderful area to sprout roots, learn, and grow. And now every visit leaves my heart feeling full and a little nostalgic.

Here are some photos from my recent visit to the Hudson Valley, including a yoga dad on his birthday and some meditative romps through the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. Enjoy!

Pace Yourself

It's starting to stay darker and cooler a little longer in the mornings, but that Texas-like ability to creep into the 90's by mid-day is still going strong enough to make you think twice about lighting cinnamon candles or ordering your various seasonal lattes. We'll be happily basking in the heat of summer until at least October around here.

In August, I was able to spend a lovely day here, and I kicked myself for letting over 4 years pass in Austin before finding the time to visit. Pace Bend Park has miles and miles of trails, exhilarating cliffs for jumping off into the water, countless campsites for overnight adventurers, and some swell trees for swinging your hammock. The shallow part of Lake Travis was feeling pretty bath-like that day, but it was all just fine.

If you're an Austin person looking for some sweaty hikes or your last swims of summer, or even a shoreline campground, I think it would really be worth your while. 

Home Stretch

It's kind of weird when your mom sells your childhood house and you don't know where to call home anymore, but if she decides to live half of the year on Long Beach Island and the other half in Savannah, GA, you learn to adjust pretty quickly.

It was nice to close out August by visiting a few of my eastern homes. Every year since I moved to Austin, I've had the good fortune to be able to visit the New York/New Jersey area for at least a week at a time. I'm back in Texas now, feeling fortunate to have seen so many wonderful friends and family members.

Let's do what we can to stretch this summer as far as it will go!

Intentions: Eclipse Edition

From a pretty young age, I realized that it didn't make much sense to ask for specific, little wishes from the universe, whether it was convincing middle school boys to like me or passing my driver's test on the first try. There were bigger things at play here. I've always had more than enough in my daily life, and I know now that sometimes what we want is far from what we need, so my requests have (not always selflessly) steered towards greater experiences, lasting talents, and a more global perspective.

I tried to keep to that theme when coming up with some eclipse intentions. It's always difficult to wrangle all my interests into a short list of three, but I realize the importance of harnessing this powerful shift and channeling energy toward what we find most important, even if it only happens in our heads. Here's a list of what I'll be focusing on this time around:

1. To live even more in the way. In other words, to go with the flow and to avoid letting big shifts throw me off my game. I'm learning to see the teacher in all experiences, even when they look like setbacks at first. I hope to continue this practice since we all know the big changes won't be stopping anytime soon.

2. To feel at home in myself. This one's usually tough! To be accepting of myself and my journey, without wanting it to look a different way or move along faster than it needs to. To feel comfortable with all my sameness and uniqueness that keeps me moving within my community, without comparing and competing along the way. 

3. To cultivate discipline. As an Aries and an Enneagram 7, I am a really great starter and not much of a follow through and finisher. I'm enthusiastic about a broad number of activities, and deep about very few. Most habits that begin with full force excitement get forgotten or left behind in a week or two. I've realized that most of my internal growth has happened when I'm able to stay in one place and put my heart into something or at least sit myself still for time enough to think and reflect, even when my wandering feet get bored.

So that's my list. I'd love to hear yours. Also, remember that on any old day it's alright to drop everything, get outside, and wonder at the sky! It seems like there's so little that we really understand about how this world is working.

On Leaving...

As you can see from the ABOUT section of this blog, I took a year off from work to pursue some traveling and community serving goals. And, as you can see from the date I started this blog, the end of that year has come, and the end of that year has gone. Here I am... stretching this "year" apart as good and far as I can.

I reluctantly chose not to return from my leave of absence, however unwise it may seem and however hard it may come back to bite me in the you-know-where. I remember the decision when it came to me, and I knew it was something I had to try. It happened on a night in early June, during a break in the informal class I was taking at UT. I opened an email from my dad (one of many on a similar topic), which linked to an article explaining how every job has parts that suck, and that there's no need to find a job that employs your passions, since you can do all that stuff in your free time outside of work. Although I agree with the main point, that every job has its downsides, and that you do have free time to amuse outside interests, the article was kind of bogus. The author spoke from a perspective in a career (as a writer) about which he is passionate. Where's the perspective of someone with a shitty job they care nothing about, telling us how they just sucked it up, dragging through 40+ hours of their week and finding it all not to be so bad?

I get it. Every job has negative qualities, and few people bound out of bed to jump into their passion-fueled work at 6am on a Monday. But from working at two completely different jobs over the past year, I can tell you that there is a difference in the things that suck about the job that aligns to your interests and the one that doesn't. Sure, as a spoiled, selfish millennial, I've found plenty to complain about in each of them, and the thought of making a difference in my community never brought a broad smile to my face when my alarm started going off in the morning, but I was willing to give so much more of myself and put up with the shittier shit (extra hours, low pay, cleaning up kindergartener drool, etc.) when I knew I was doing work that inspired me. In my earlier job, I sailed smoothly through each day accepting each and every perk, and yet it never felt like enough. There wasn't much to criticize-- big pay checks, vacation days, flexible time-- but boredom and a sense of disconnection were plentiful.

My dad is one person I'll take career advice from above anyone else, since he's had a long and mostly happy one and has managed a good many people through transitions of their own, but his job actually suits him very well. He's a successful manager, newly minted VP, and the people who work for him really enjoy it and feel a sense of purpose in doing so (or that's the story they tell to his daughter). He's a mathematician market researcher and an early adopter, so he gets to spend his days learning at conferences, exploring new technologies, and feeling like a part of something big. Sure, commuting and office life can be a drain, and he would rather be skiing, but he's been making more than the most of his work for a while.

So this post is not meant to write off the corporate world (it has a ton of upsides and can help the right person get a lot of things done), or any "type" of job-- none is inherently better than another. But something in me says that you've got to find the right one that matches with you. One that brings out the "you-ness" in you. A (if you're lucky) benefit-providing container for a little bit of the stuff that you like. The one that makes you stay up late and forget to eat sometimes, and not mind so much when the alarm clock rings or when you're treading through the shit that will inevitably pile up. I hope we all find something semi-permanent that we're wild about, or at least something with parts that light up the tiniest bit of wild passion in us. In the meantime, I'll welcome suggestions on what to call this page!

How to Pack for a Budget Airline

1. Get one of these:

If you think you need more than this, you don't! Resist your consumer lifestyle urges to pay extra for a carry-on or a checked bag. You chose this airline for a reason! Stuff your backpack to its brim, and bring a clutch for phone, wallet, and boarding pass-type essentials. Or, if you're a menswear wearing person, make the most of your large pocketed jeans and shorts. Maybe throw in a chapstick, if you're going to Denver.

2. Pick two to three bottoms only.

There is some strange, unwritten observance that, whenever we travel, we imagine we'll suddenly start wearing all of the outfits that have been hanging in our closets at home for months. In normal life, do you wear the same pair of jeans many times in a row without washing them? Bring those jeans! Why do we think that when we travel we are going to become miraculously cleaner, fresher versions of ourselves? Unless you're rolling in mud or are a very sweaty sweating machine, you can wear something more than once. Your friends are used to seeing you in the same five outfits, mix 'em, match 'em, and save your space.

3. Choose your shoes.

The heaviest ones go on your feet. If it's summer, pack sandals. If you need sneakers, get some flat folding ones like these. Let your footwear be comfortable and your walks will be plentiful.

4. Have a Kindle. 

Budget flying leaves not much room for books. Reading apps can fit hundreds of them. Choose your battles.

5. Only laptop if you really, REALLY need to.

You are escaping! Stop working! Save your computer activities for low-level days like Monday :( or Tuesday :/. A tiny personal item restriction is a great excuse to be freely traveling without your ties. If you really need it, your phone does many of the same things in a more portable way. If you're traveling a budget airline for a work trip, find a better job.

6. Unlimited underwear.

Have small underwear that can squeeze in any extra space. Remember what I said about sink-washed underwear before, and give yourself this simple luxury.

7. Respect the limits of Ziploc bags.

I don't know the point of toiletry bags other than making me look very put-together and grown up. Many of us are not those things on a regular day, so why choose now to pretend? You'll need the baggie for security, anyway, so fit your toiletries in one and call it a day.

7. Go somewhere cool.

So that you care more about what you're heading towards than what you're bringing with you. Try Colorado. They have a lot of good looking sights to see.

8. Bring some friends.

Maybe they'll share the stuff that you couldn't fit! Remember that all you really need is the unmatched license/passport, credit card, phone combination, and head on your way.

*Note: This process has served me well for 3 to 4, maybe 5-day trips if it's beach weather. If you are budget flying for longer, I respect you and await your tips for the packing.

Gone Outside

One day in July I sat here and meditated with the Oprah & Deepak 21-day meditation app and it was very nice, very hot, and very spiritual millennial of me. I am hearing a lot of people talk about summer coming to an end, and I hope that they will stop because there is a lot more ahead of us! 

Are you taking time to find some peaceful outside places near you?

Many Moves

Well hi! I'm here, writing from a new place. Forgive my absence. I moved. Again. I don't have a whole lot of feelings about this move since I recently had to fill out the five years of residences section on my Global Entry application, and my list was rivaling the number of entries they allow. I'm living in a temporary room for the next two weeks until I change again, and it's a wonder how the addition of our stuff quickly turns an empty space into our own.

In the meantime, these two tied the knot. Are you getting married soon? I recommend doing it in Asheville, if that's the case. They have loads of mountains, beer, and biscuits. All the essentials for a proper celebration.

On the afternoon of the wedding, about an hour before the ceremony was set to begin, it rained. Actually, it poured, and flooded just a little bit. Then, believe it or not, the clouds parted ways and opened up into one of the most gorgeous evenings I've ever seen. I believe it, since love has a magical way like that. Seeing Lainie and Warren was like a finding the sun after a long storm.

Love to all! Enjoy your weekend.

Live to Learn

Like I told you in the last post, I'm not the greatest of granddaughters, and before my recent trip to Buffalo, it had been quite a while since the last visit to upstate New York to see my grandma. This time, I took advantage of our stay together to convince her to share one of her most powerful areas of expertise: baking cinnamon rolls.

She has long been known throughout our family and her group of friends for her special touch with these tasty spiraled treats. My sister and I share antagonistic photos whenever one of us is lucky enough to get a full pan of her own in the mail. Despite my grandma's desires to spend the trip showing me around the Grand Island Golden Age center, she kindly agreed to spend a day in the kitchen walking me through all the mixing, rising, and rolling steps. And, even though the instructions have never been exact, the batch she guided me through came out pretty deliciously!

As the people we love grow older and begin to downsize in their living spaces, it's usually inevitable that we'll end up inheriting some of their precious possessions. Even better than the invaluable antique jewelry and multi-generational family heirlooms are the pieces of knowledge we can pick up along the way. A few years ago, my grandma taught me how to crochet, and now I think of her anytime I'm working on a project. And I've only made a few pierogi on my own, but I'll never forget holidays spent making them in a flour-filled kitchen with my aunt and uncle. It's a reward on two levels: you get to spend a special time together learning the craft, and then end up with lifelong memories that spring up whenever you decide to attempt it on your own. While I might not have perfected the kneading and measuring processes yet, it makes my heart happy that my grandma had the time to pass her unrivaled ability along to me. Hopefully I'll get to carry it with me for a long, long while, even if I'd rather not know how much powdered sugar ends up in the glaze.

Disclaimer: I did also come away with more than a few vintage skirts from the guest room closet, so don't go thinking that this post is wholly immaterial.

Shuffling Off

My grandmother lives in a place called Grand Island, New York where people wave often and talk to each other in the streets, children play and ride their bicycles without supervision, and neighbors know enough about each other to make passing comments like, "She has three sons, none of them are married, and they all have cats".

Her quiet neighborhood, idyllic in the months of June, July, and August, seems untouched by time. I can say that, since I spent the past 13 years not visiting, and, when I returned, so much of it remained recognizable and seemingly unchanged. Grand Island is right outside Buffalo, and, some might say, worlds outside the "New York" of stereotypes.

I was impressed by the amount of water in the trip, from the majesty of Niagara Falls to an impromptu Saturday ride on my uncle's boat. We went for a walk each morning, where it would rain sporadically, preparing to open up into afternoon sunshine. I was impressed that we saw sunshine at all. I even got to explore the downtown scene (at night, no pictures!) and people were out wearing shorts and dresses instead of the hats and gloves that I had imagined (and brought with me). Buffalo, I've given you a bad rap.

Hopefully, this time around it will take less than 13 years for me to go back.

Sweet Summer

If any past/present/future employers are reading this, please know that I am very dependable and dedicated, and this post is most definitely not about me. However, for some people who are surely not me, certain times of year require the skipping of work in exchange for the seeking out of fresh fruits.

If you're finding yourself in that seasonal position, and if peaches and blackberries are the objects of your sweet desires, here are some do's and don'ts to guide your quest:

• Do carry out your search in Fredericksburg.
• Do check the pick-your-own calendars before you go.
• Don't stop at the jam/salsa stores along the way or you might take pity on lonely little old ladies with lots of free samples and end up buying more jam/salsa than you had originally planned.
• Do stop in Dripping Springs for the very best pizza or pastries.
• Don't run out of time for sunning and swimming on your way.

Pick wisely and enjoy!

Found in Ft. Worth

Nowadays, my family looks a lot different than the mom, dad, sister, and me stick figure drawings I used to sketch out back in grade school. As the years have gone by, it's expanded to include many new faces-- related and non-- who spread far and wide across the country and, occasionally, around the world. Regardless of how untraditional our clan looks today, it's pretty cool that a few weeks ago I was able to drive to North Texas for a mini-family reunion. Sometimes you end up where you never could have expected, and it seems to make the most sense of all.

Side note to Austinites who understandably think it would be silly to venture out of Austin to visit another Texan city: It seems like the Ft. Worth part of DFW might have some cool stuff, too! There were lots of breweries, music, and apartment complexes that look eerily similar to the ones here. Come for the professional sports teams, stay for the beer and tattoos.

Oh yeah, and happy 4th of July y'all!

Waiting in Waco

In case anyone ever claims that I'm not an amazing sibling, let it be known that after months of receiving countless begs and pleas, I finally agreed to make a trip to Magnolia Market at my sister's request.

For people who don't spend their days watching HGTV, Magnolia Market is a Disney Land of brown, white, and green home decor with a lot of long lines and a fancy lawn. For people who know who Chip and Joanna Gaines are, it is the most magnificent place on earth and worth every drop of sweat lost while waiting outside in the Texan sun just to enter the store.

I don't have a house, or the ability to purchase and improve upon anyone else's house, so I was coming in as an outsider who had to Google to remember what shiplap was called. In the end, I  can say that I am glad I was able to visit on a weekday, that the striped lawn beanbag chairs looked very comfortable, and that the shadeless bakery line moves pretty efficiently. If you happen to be in Waco, where I'm pretty sure there is nothing else to do, you might as well stop by.

A City Sekrit

When you live in a rapidly growing city, it's hard to let a conversation pass you by without commenting on the changes that have occurred between the time you moved to that city and now. Usually, these observations include mention of things that used to be better: "There was hardly any traffic!" "We never waited in lines!" "Rainey Street!"

Even if you haven't lived in the new place for very long, you'll find yourself yearning for days gone by. Weren't things less expensive? Couldn't you find a parking spot in an area now covered by valet service? Though we accept change as inevitable, our grumpiness about it proves our worth. We've been here long enough to find something to complain about.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to visit a lesser-known Austin destination that is getting close to shutting its doors: the Sekrit Theatre. This lovely outdoor space features a giant backyard, lots of quirky details, and an outdoor theatre where movies are shown twice a week. The central greenhouse was the ideal location for a ladies yoga Summer Solstice celebration.

While I'm sad about the sale of this special secret, I'm so glad I was lucky enough to spend one perfect afternoon here.