SURPRISE!!

We've been scheming about something for a while...and we figured now is the time to come out and share! Time to go for it. And no better time than the present, right?

Thus... (drumroll please).... we're hitting the open road. Indefinitely. Quitting our jobs. Quitting the routine. Heck, we're quitting America for a while (North America that is) and traveling around the world.

First up: we're heading South and whipping out our Spanglish. Do you have any recs or dream spots we must hit up? Mexico, Bolivia, Panama, Peru, Columbia, Argentina, Brazil...the longtime coveted Patagonia... We figure Meg can continue her marathon training and not get bored exploring new trails, and I'll have all sorts of new dance cultures to dive into. What better way to embark on a new season? 

We may not be doing it all by bike, but we're ready for the open road (and water).

“I want to pursue wonder, appreciation, and adventure. I want to meet people and learn from them and write their stories and tell others. I want to become a man that pursues virtue and character and color and romance. It feels like the people in our lives who seem to have done that are the ones we love most. If I have a family some day, I want to give them a father full of stories and whimsy and love for being alive. I see too little of that. ”

— Jedidiah Jenkins

Hope you'll join us on at least one part of our journey!

And, NYC, we'll always love you. xoxo

Notes:

- itinerary: coming soon. 

- how to pack for a trip around the world: coming soon.

- how to finance a trip around the world: coming soon.

- what day is it? coming soon. 

APRIL FOOLS. we have been threatening to do this for years. still not happening quite yet. more thoughts on that soon...

trail running (mostly) in nyc

There's something special about the start of spring.  The whole rebirth/reawakening metaphor is not lost on me and I fully ascribe to it.  While I may not be one for New Year's resolutions, by the time spring rolls around I am all for setting goals and a healthy dose of self-discipline. 

I mentioned last week that I signed up for this doozy and as a result I have been attempting to stick to the running bandwagon.  I have even been (somewhat) following this handy dandy marathon training plan.  The thing is I still have absolutely no desire to run down city streets.  So I have spent the past few weeks scoping out the best places to get one’s feet off of pavement and I am sharing them here just in case someone else is in a similar predicament.  

Dirt Trails In and Around NYC:

Bridle Path in Prospect Park, Brooklyn - Here you can find 3.5 miles of pretty level trail in Brooklyn. It runs mostly parallel to the main loop so just go through any entrance and look for the dirt path.  I prefer to enter at Grand Army Plaza especially when the farmer's market is going so I can grab a snack on my way out.  

Bridle Path in Central Park, Manhattan - If you opt for all of the various loops, you can have a 4 mile trail run right in the heart of Manhattan.  Not too shabby.  Apparently you can also link this with the Ramble for an 8 mile run but I've never tried it.

Greenbelt Trails, Staten Island - These four woodland trails (their moniker not mine) offer a range of terrain from an easy 1 mile nature walk to a pretty hilly 8 mile path, one way mind you.  To access the greenbelt, take the Staten Island Ferry and then the S57 bus to Brielle and Rockland Ave. 

Old Croton Aqueduct, Yonkers to Tarrytown - This 9 mile dirt path is atop the old aqueduct that supplied water to NYC back in the day. I've only been on a small section of this trail but I’m excited to try it out after I work my way up to longer runs.  It's a short ride on Metro North in order to access the trail but the views of the river will make up for the extra schlep.  

Putnam Trail in Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx - While only 1.5 miles long, you could in theory connect to the previous trail on this list, the OCA, in Yonkers.  To access the trail take the 1 train to 242nd St, head south on Broadway, and the entrance will be on your left about a ¼ miles from the subway station

Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville - A wide variety of trails and carriage paths add up to over 20 miles of routes and lets you mix it up each time you go which is why this place is one of my favorites.  It also conveniently sites next to Stone Barns so I can hang out with some friendly locals and eat some good grub at the end of my run. To access the trails, hop on the Metro North to Tarrytown and then (unfortunately) take a quick cab ride to the park's visitor center.    

Harriman-Bear Mountain State Parks - Situated up in the Rockland/Orange County area of NY, this trail system is definitely more of a hike (pun is always intended) to get to. If taking public transit, you will need to take a bus out of Port Authority.  I know.  The worst. Do it though - it's only a 45 min ride and  you will not be disappointed.  Pack up your bag with all sorts of goodies and make a day of it.  There are 200+ miles of trails to be explored and I would check out what these guys have to say before deciding on a trail.  The paths are usually well marked with trail blazes but it can get very confusing at times when multiple trails meet up. I would really recommend downloading their map to your phone as it will link up to your GPS should you find yourself all turned around.  

There you have it - all the places I will be scurrying about this spring in an effort to get some miles on my legs without the monotony of macadam.  Happy feet are dirty feet.

notes:

- these pictures are from a trail run i took last week at this park.  while you are allowed to run there, it's really intended for mountain bikers.  once the trail is no longer mostly mud and snow, i’ll be moving my feet elsewhere in order to stay out of the way of the biker folk.

- on the bridle paths and in rockefeller state park, keep an eye out for horses as they still grace these paths from time to time and they have the right of way (no matter where you are, horses will always have the right of way). be kind - slow down and let the rider know you are approaching; this is  especially important if coming from behind.  

- if you are new to trail running and looking for some sturdy kicks, i love my brooks pure grit (i have both the second and third generation of them).  i have also heard good things about these, these, and these.

little house in the big woods

For the last of my whirlwind I-don’t-want-to-be-home-from-vacation-so-I’ll-pretend-I’m-still-on-vacation weekends, I snuck up to Connecticut to spend some quality time with my cousin Colin, his wife, and one of his close friends.  Armed with boxes of donuts, I braved the torrential downpour of rain and made the 3 or so hour drive to their house which to me is out in the middle of the woods (or you know a 15 minute drive from Hartford).  

I didn’t realize until I moved out of my parents’ place but it is rare to have people in your life that you can completely decompress around.  And that it is absolutely necessary to have an outlet for silliness.  At least it is for me (don't worry I am judging your lack of silly ways... I kid).  Colin and I are ten months apart and share a number of what I think are endearing quirks.  Case in point: you want to have an eating contest comprised of slices of pizza and holiday spice pepsi (there’s a reason only 85 people have signed that petition) and follow it up with a foot race?  Of course!  Even better we’ll go barefoot because it’s winter…?  Mind you we had consumed no alcohol.  Nada.  Zip.  This was pure, unadulterated genius.  Pretty much whatever half-brained idea one of us comes up with the other is game.  No questions asked.  

When I signed up for a marathon (against my better judgment), I knew the first person I wanted to share it with was Colin because he would understand.  You see it's not that signing up for a race, even this long of one, is that big of a deal per se, it's that I am by no means a runner.  I get bored easily and I find running to be extremely repetitive.  Also, I lack that part of the brain that works through pain - the moment running becomes even remotely uncomfortable I walk.  I even walked the mile for the Presidential Physical Fitness Test in 4 out of the 5 years I had to do it. (My gym teacher loved me.)  Oh and  I have only run farther than 3 miles (intentionally) once in my life.  Once.  And there I went and signed up to run 26.2 of them.  

But you know what?  He totally got it.  Because he's awesome.  And we're weird.  And maybe, just maybe, I can convince him to run it with me and then go run this a couple of weeks later because that's how we roll.  Minus the eating contests this time around.  Once was enough... or twice.  It was repeated with a mushroom theme several years later.  What can I say - we are slow learners.

Besides running through the still snowy woods (and getting lost and then found and then hills), the rest of the weekend consisted mostly of eating my weight in delicious food while chatting it up and playing games with some of my favorites in front of a roaring fire.  There may have been some 90s inspired dance parties as well (because really what weekend is complete without one?)  

I ended my getaway with a cruise on the Long Island Sound because sometimes the best way to reacquaint oneself with the day-to-day grind is to take the long way home.  For the next couple of weeks, I am keeping my travels limited to the five boroughs and dare I say I am looking forward to it.

notes:

- if you happen to be driving on a Saturday morning (or you’re just looking for a listening activity), tune in to car talk on npr.  these guys made my morning. 

- i made headway on taking pictures this past weekend… i just think my family would consider disowning me if i shared all of them on the interwebs.  besides which trees + snow +brooks are pretty.

- (apparently, i like parentheses.  a lot.)

mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys

Two weekends ago I took a last minute trip to Dallas. As I mentioned, the wanderlust does not mess around these days although I like to think this kind of travel precludes the anywhere but here mentality. 

There are few people in life that can hold you accountable the way a childhood friend can. They know your story, your personality, your tendencies to make the same sort of bad decisions. After all, most of the time they were right next to you doing the same thing. So on a bit of whim and on a bit of need, I made the trek to Texas and spent the weekend with my friend and her family. And everything was exactly the same and everything was completely different. 

We turn the music up to drown out the passing suburbia. The same sequence of stores line the streets as we make our way around the now familiar curves. We sing loud as if with purpose like so many times before. Each song with its own distinct set of memories attached. The good and the bad equally weighted with each track. Remember when becomes the oft-repeated refrain.

A little voice pipes up from the back seat "like this Mama?" And just as quickly as we melded into the past, we are forced forward into the present. Her little body bounces around as much as possible within the confines of a car seat in an effort to move to the music. She mimics our movements and sometimes sings-along to these songs she's grown up with. The same ones we grew up with. 

Eventually, we arrive at our intended destination and the scent of manure and muck greets us. Following the flurry of flailing limbs, we sidestep puddles making our way to the slightly soggy paddocks. It's too muddy to ride today but none of us care. The three of us take turns feeding scraps of hay and grass to the locals. With no where to be we mosey around the barn's grounds making sure to visit each of its inhabitants. 

I've known this friend for 15 years and despite living in different states for the last 10  it's easy to fall back into the familiar rhythms. Perhaps because those first 5 years feel at least twice as long as the last 10. Most of the time though I feel completely changed. I've moved on. I'm older. Supposedly wiser. At least I tell myself that. But the past creeps into the present and permeates into my everyday life in ways I fail to see until it can no longer be ignored, forcing me to reconcile the old and new me.

I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be. -- Joan Didion

notes:

- listen/watch here if the title to this post confuses you. actually click on it either way for ed bruce in all his glory, some great 80s fashion, and to reminisce about indoor smoking.

- as you may have guessed, some of these pictures are from a few months ago. some day i'll remember to use my camera consistently. 

friday the 13th, aura readings, and chinatown

Looking for a personalized Friday the 13th activity? I got you. 

Last month, well more like the last 6 weeks, I was serving on a jury for a murder trial. It's true- I was stuck in court while Meg was island hopping around Southeast Asia! (cue tiny violin pity party) While this unexpected civic duty kind of took over my life, I decided to see it as an opportunity to explore a neighborhood that I don't really choose to spend time in anymore: NYC's Chinatown. Who gets excited when a friend says: "Let's go shopping on CANAL STREET!!" No one.

One of my friends gave me a healing crystal for my birthday back in December - she really wanted to protect year #twentyGREAT for me. She told me all about her experience heading down to Chinatown, spending time picking out the right stone for me, and explained to me how to take care of it. It was all really thoughtful. While she was there, they told her after spending a certain amount of money, she could get a picture of her aura taken for just $8-- so why not! She had a fascinating image full of deep red covering her body like fire, and they related it to the strong passion she had in her life. 

Sooooo on a freezing afternoon in Chinatown that just so happened to be Friday, February the 13th, what should a curious girl on a break from court do? Get a picture of my aura of course. 

I headed to Magic Jewelry right around the corner (easily accessible via subway), which is supposed to give one of the best aura readings in the city. I walked into the small shop and was greeted immediately with two friendly faces. I expressed the desire to get a picture of my aura, and before I knew it I was sitting in a booth in the back of the store, staring into a big black box, and placing my hands on two metal plates. It felt like I was getting a portrait taken back in the olden days. 

It only took a few minutes for the photograph to develop, and over a cup of hot tea and a chakra chart, the nice man started reading my aura for me. 

As you can see from the arrows in the image below, there's a flow to the whole aura thing. The left side is your past few weeks, the top is your present, and the right side is your future. The blue on the left means that things are calm and smooth, and the white spots represent contemplation. The pinkish cloud hovering over my head says that I'm focused on a romantic or intimate relationship, and, again, the white spots represent that I'm thinking or over-thinking it all (geeez). The blue on my right is similar to that of the past- representing that the future is calm but brighter. And, yes, at this point, with more white clouds, I can admit that I think about things perhaps too much. (who doesn't?)  Blue on my body means that I'm calm on the inside and have a connection to spirituality, but my digestive system and/or womb may be a little weak. Overall, my aura is good, but it could be stronger. When you hear the phrase "you have a strong aura," that means that the image covers your whole body and face and you can't see the person through the strong color arrays. 

It was all kind of fascinating regardless of whether you believe it or not. It would be interesting to start a collection of pictures of your aura, right?! I say try something new, and we live in a city full of new things to try. You don't need to travel far for some #wanderlust...just Canal Street. So, if you find yourself in Chinatown... check out your aura. What do you think your aura looks like on this Friday the 13th? 

notes:

- $20 for a photograph of your aura, reading, and cup of tea. ($8 if you spend $25 or more in the store...)

- they say you can go back and get a new picture of your aura every few weeks. this could be a fun activity, or at least art activity. they haven't made an "aura" instagram filter... yet. 

- fun fact: meg and i used to live in a very itsy bitsy apartamento in chinatown. those good old days were filled with a single person fourth floor walk-up, non-consistent heat, mice, and lots of studying. oh, undergrad. 

the dust of snow

Within 48 hours of returning from Southeast Asia, I packed up my car and drove to DC.  I had just returned home yet I wanted to get away and explore some place different.  Despite plans for skiing, mother nature had a different idea which resulted in some forced rest and relaxation that I am sure my jet-lagged body appreciated.  To somewhat make up for last weekend, I'll run away again this afternoon to a new locale and I am attempting to hatch a plan for the end of this month as well.  I’ve already sent out emails to start solidifying some summer excursions - beach, mountains, repeat.  The wanderlust bug is real and not to be ignored but the intensity of it as of late (…and my dwindling travel budget) has led to some introspection.  What is it exactly that I am escaping from?  I mean I live in what some (very biased folk) dub the greatest city on earth.

In a few short months, I will start up school once again and my life will drastically change.  I am in an accelerated program which will require 20 credit hours a semester while maintaining my current full-time job.  I’ve known about this for quite some time but the reality of the situation has begun to sink in.  Add to it that I am another year older in a week or so and the need to be anywhere but here is amplified.  

I don’t want to be that person though who is completely focused on the proverbial next best thing while taking for granted what is right in front of my face.  In an effort to reclaim the present, I took a break from my computer screen and moseyed outdoors into the snowstorm du jour.  Because what better way to regain perspective than to make myself a little uncomfortable and get right in the midst of this place I call home.

With the snow blowing in my face, I made my way down to the waterfront and meandered along the mostly abandoned path.  The slipping and sliding of snow beneath my feet forced me to focus on my surroundings enough to quiet my usual nonstop inner dialogue.

I only encountered a handful of people who also wished to tread in the wintry wonderland: a fellow snow marveler/wannabe hermit who shared which paths have not yet been graced with footsteps or plows, a gentleman who persisted on inquiring where a bus was going despite my best efforts to explain that I had absolutely no idea, and a lady with seven of the same dog in varying shades of brown but all thoroughly wet from an afternoon of play.  Our brief interactions reminded me that we all have some place we're trying to get to, someone we want to become.  

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.

--Dust of Snow, Robert Frost

notes:

- brooklyn bridge park is a ghost town during a snowstorm.  there were robins flying and chirping about (see the above picture).  if you're in nyc and need to get a little away from it all during our next bout of never-ending snow, i highly recommend meandering these paths.

- i also recommend warming yourself up with some tea and sweets at one girl cookie. as i type this i am really regretting that i didn't pick up a whoopie pie.