August 2011

August 27, 2011 In News & Updates

text messages from an old friend…

…that make you laugh so hard your stomach hurts and when you keep laughing about it 4 hours later you decide you just have to share.

In prep to paint the scene:

This friend I have known since I was 4. We grew up in the same small town together in Vermont. You could say he has been a bit overprotective at times, but never in a smothering way, just that really loving I’ll kill someone if they ever hurt youÂ -way. I often think that he thinks any city is the devil and that no one that lives in one would ever be able to do something like build a fire, or put up a tent. (Even though he knows me.)Â He’s not a big “texter” so as my phone pinged tonight with 3 from him, I was surprised. My eyes rolled and heart filled simultaneously knowing that my long-time, sweet, generous friend was worried about me possibly being in this weekends Hurricane Irene path of destruction:

You are welcome to ride this thing out at our house if you are near. We have an automated generator so we never lose power. Â Whatever you do, get the f*ck out of the city and somewhere safer. Â Don’t be a raytard or an ediotÂ (inside joke from high school) and stay there if that is where you are now. I should know better right…you are a Vermonter.Â By the way, where the hell are you anyway?

Ok, I am laughing again reading this. He will laugh too when he reads it.

Dear J~

You never forget me. A girl sure feels extra loved when a grown man with a wife and 2 kids is worried about her too. You are a true and dear friend. You know I am fine and can take care of myself and get out of dodge when necessary. Admittedly, it will ever get old how regularly you worry about me, when you ask me “where the hell” I am, or mention something about a generator. I promise I am safe in Western New York, where there is absolutely no weather, Godzilla has not yet attacked, and I have food and water. You still crack me up after all these years and I hope that never changes. Thank you for always being so good to me you crazy fool! I’m off to go jump out of a plane with no parachute. (Kidding!) Talk to you soon 🙂

August 26, 2011 In De-lish, Food, Honda, Maine, News & Updates, September 2011 BLR Honda Adventure

why should cupcakes have all the fun?

More announcements:

Upcoming lessons and noshings on delicious Maine whoopie pies. Yeah!

I am excited to share that Marcia, owner of Whoopsies Gourmet Whoopie Pies will be hosting me in her sweet world of desserts for a day the week of 9/5!

(That’s Marica on the right with daughter and business partner Berkeley on left. Photo by Mary Amons.)

For a girl like me who craves chocolate in her everyday, this is going to be like a kid in a candy store and then some. I love getting the inside scoop on how companies like Whoopsies came about and meeting the people behind the product. Of course we all know that starting and running any type of business is seriously hard work, but I am thinking if your product is called something like a whoopie pie and upon delivery (just like flowers) no matter what- always makes people smile, that must feel like a party more often than not. I can’t wait to jump into the fiesta with Marcia and her crew, and experience the whoopie magic and fun as it happens. (And taste of course!) Here’s an image of the goodness:

Yummy.

***Um, anyone out there a personal trainer and want to come on a road trip? Votes from readers and desires from me center largely around exploring eats and treats on my travels. (There’s a big surprise!) Consuming and relaxing with good company and conversation in my opinion is one of the very best ways to spend time. I guess I’ll just have to add some mileage to my daily runs so my clothes fit by the end of all this! I’m up for the challenge. Maybe I can throw a 5 or 10k race into the bucket of to see and tops. Anyone know of a good race happening around the Northeast between 9/2 and 9/19?

Back to the fun stuff…

I’m looking forward to meeting you Marcia and all about having an extra Whoopsie to take the place of the “lob-stah” I don’t eat! Two desserts instead of dinner and dessert is Ok if I’m an adult- right? 🙂

August 25, 2011 In Honda, Maine, Million Mile Joe, News & Updates, People, Photos, September 2011 BLR Honda Adventure

well hello joe!

SURPRISE!!!

I told you there would be something good coming. (And this is only the beginning.)

Guess who I get to meet and hang out with in 2 weeks? The one and only Million Mile Joe!

Joe, like me clearly loves his Honda. His 1990 Accord that is soon to hit a million miles is the same exact year and model that was my very first Honda. How cool is that? Joe has logged his miles and miles in notebooks, (which I have done during various trips over the years) and taken countless photos of his odometer. (Me too!) I’m thinking Joe and I will have plenty of good stories to share when we meet. It’s as if we are kindred spirits in Honda love. Maybe it’s because we are both New Englanders?

I was thrilled weeks ago when Honda has mentioned a potential meeting, It’s been hard for me to hold my tongue, so naturally I am very excited to share the news here now.

There is aÂ lotÂ more to come in the way of surprises and tricks up my sleeve, so stay tuned and keep following! 7 days and counting until I pick up my loaned Hybrid Civic and officially kick off this next great adventure!

August 24, 2011 In Funny signs, New York, People, Photos, Videos

meet mike

Last week after a 2nd annual chocolate feast with friends at Max BrennerÂ in NYC, we walked out to the packed Union Square.

***(Omigosh! Check this out. Just found it when Googling Union Square to find a link to post here. So cool; The Say Something Nice videos. LOVE this. The podium was in the same spot that Mike above was giving away free hugs. Talk about a few feet of land with some seriously good mojo! My favorite part of the video is around minute 2.5 when the little boy screams “To infinity and beyond!” with Buzz Lightyear in tow while being hoisted up by his mother, and the group of ladies after that singing together inspiring the random guy walking behind them to clap along. This video gives me about 54 ideas for BLR projects I’d like to create, and reminds me why I fight to keep up with posting here every day; In a world that often seems crazy, sad, too busy for fun, stressed out, and unconscious- I continue to find a plethora of happy, inspiring and hopeful people, places and things like these that totally energize and motivate me to want to do more good.)

Ok, now back to Mike and free hugs…

Stuffed from our chocolate chunks pizza:

(Double chocolate melting chunks, with hazelnut bits, bananas, peanut butter and roasted marshmallows. Can you imagine the smile on my face? It makes me all giddy just typing those indulgent words!)

…we planned to walk our feast off for a while, but just a few steps in is where we ran into the Free Hugs crew. Just like we indulged in chocolate, we felt compelled to indulge in a hug too. My friend embracing away:

…and me too:

…plus photo of course!

Is it weird hugging a random hippie kid stranger who’s been on the streets of New York touching hundreds of people and sweating all day? Nah. I say life is short. When your feeling it- live in the moment. Hug hard and mean it.

I totally bought a t-shirt from Mike too. I never do that. I mean ever, but in that moment I felt the need for my very own “Free Hugs” tee. The money supposedly goes to a bunch of nonprofits the huggers raise money for. Who know where my 10 bucks will actually end up and who cares. All I know is I intend to have lots of fun wearing that shirt for years to come.

Thanks for the hug Mike!

Here’s to hugging it out and saying something nice too.

August 24, 2011 In News & Updates

the daily awesome

Have you ever checked out the Daily Awesome page above?

Sharing things on that page has become something I get excited about doing every morning while I sip my coffee.

What’s on your daily awesome list?

August 23, 2011 In De-lish, New Hampshire, September 2011 BLR Honda Adventure, Vermont

and the list grows…

I had a couple votes this morning to head to Portsmouth, NH for Labor day Weekend (Ahh…fall in New England) and check out The Friendly Toast for breakfast eats. (You know how much I love a diner.)

Also, in true serendipitous timing the 16th Annual Southern Vermont Garlic Festival is next weekend too, which happens to be the day after I pick up the Honda in NJ. How in the world this festival is in my hometown and I’ve never been before, when I love garlic and good eats, seems impossible. (Thankfully that farmer in NY told me about it last week!) This might have to be the year I go get my stinky breath on.

I have just learned of The Common Ground Country Fair in Maine that I will miss because I will have already returned the loaned car, but I am thinking this one is something I am going to have to hit up one year for sure.

Oh so many things to see and do, so many people to meet, so little time. Keep sending thoughts of places, eats, events, and characters! I am going to squeeze in every last ounce of it all I can!

August 23, 2011 In Funny signs, Honda, New York, Photos

weekday errands

Oh small town America how I love you. I love the characters who live in you, the quiet streets you have that I go for long runs on, and the seeming ease and overall relaxation way of life. I love the businesses that have bells on the doors to let the shopkeepers know I’m there there, and friendly “Hello!” greetings. I love hand written receipts covered in greasy fingerprints from those carbon-copy spiral-bound notebooks that your auto shop hands me after changing the BLR-Mobile oil. I love that restaurants are calledÂ Mr. Chicken:

…that have picnic tables,Â and painted signs with slightly creepy looking beach bum guys on them, making sure to let everyone know you have good eats:

I love that your volunteer ambulance garage has a sign outside that’s missing a letter:

(on both sides) but no one really wants to speak up and tell you because it’s the thought/thanks that counts anyway, not the spelling.

My intention yesterday was simple: Drive “into town” for an hour or so, get an oil change, go for a run and pick something up from the store. Regular ol’ get things done business-day chores turned into once again being presented with the lesson that if I keep my eyes and ears open, stay curious about my surroundings, engage with new people, and keep appreciating the simple, small things- whether I’m “there” for an hour or a year, and whether it’s a teeny town or big city, I will always have soul-filled days and great adventure.

Not bad for a Monday.

August 23, 2011 In Donations, Honda, News & Updates

thank you thank you!

The gratitude continues to awesome, generous (and funny) people who support Blue Lollipop Road:

*Huge thanks to Matt at DPI Inc. in Wilmington, NC who has made and donated BLR signage for the 2012 Hybrid Civic I will be driving. You rock Matt! Thanks for always being a fan and keeping me visible as I continue down the highways of life!

*To reader T, who had a good time teasing me yesterday about my “Ancient Old Lady” check book balancing from my office photo. You crack me up. Yes that new fangled online banking plus a good ol’ pen and calculator. I cover all my basis (and I am still laughing 🙂 I’ll take the teasing any day of the week. Thanks for being such a loyal reader!

August 22, 2011 In New York, Photos

today’s office

August 22, 2011 In De-lish, Food, New York, Photos

lunch at bryant park

I had lunch last week at Bryant ParkÂ in NYC. I had been there before, but not on a warm sunny summer day, and never to stay and eat under the canopy of trees and beautiful green:

It’s hard to believe you are smack dab in the middle of the gargantuan and bustling Big Apple when you are there, because there’s a quiet, calm, relaxation to those few acres with people reading, napping, noshing, wandering:

We ordered sandwiches from Tom Colicchio’s well-known ‘Wichcraft and discovered very quickly we made the right choice. Hello marinated zucchini pressed sandwich with roasted tomatoes, mozzarella and parmesan!

Mmm…

Lunch dates, annual meet-ups with old friends NYC, green space, yummy eats, and people watching. I’m a huge fan.