August 2011

August 16, 2011 In TTAA

ttaa

An overflow of the Daily Awesome:

17 year old t-shirts. Big brothers that make you laugh. Nephews that call you Poppy. Actual phone calls on your birthday. Upstate, NY. Dinners with incredibly interesting, loving and generous people. Surprise birthday packages that come in the mail from friends that have things inside that make you cry. Ice cream cake. “Large” pancakes. Movie marathons that include Along Came Polly and Bed of Roses with lots of laughs and eye rolls. Windows open on summer nights. Falling asleep listening to rain. Independence. Prosecco. Taking things for face value. Reiki sessions. Boat rides. People who are always smiling. Letting yourself dream. Turning 33. Annual voicemails with people singing an screaming in the background. Homemade veggie pizza. Waking up on a lake.

August 15, 2011 In De-lish, Food, Funny signs, Honda, New York, Photos

33

Today is my birthday and the beginning of 5 weeks of mega-adventure. You could say that I am feeling like a million bucks. YIPPEE!!!

I woke up from the best sleep I have had in weeks and in a most special spot after 12 hours on the road yesterday. In birthday tradition when I am here, we love finding the local diner breakfast spots, which we did this morning:

We had stuffed ourselves silly, but couldn’t resist an offered on the house birthday treat hot out of the oven from the super sweet staff:

I was so full they packed this to go for me, but the test bite I took was so good, and the staff was so nice, I had to stay for a 3rd cup of coffee and to finish off this red raspberry crumb cake deliciousness. How could I not after the owner came out to sing to me with the manager? (Thanks for everything Matt!)

We stopped at Finger Lakes Distilling on the way home:

A little tasting of Vintner’s Wild Berry Vodka:

…and some Blackcurrant/Cassis:

…was fun just because you can do that at 1pm on a Monday when it’s your birthday and not feel guilty about it.

They even had a Canine Tasting Bar- how funny!

Off for a run and patio dinner and wine with good friends. Thank you everyone for all the Birthday messages, calls, cards, packages, wishes and love. I am one lucky woman!

Coming up this week:
*The Big Apple. (Rooftop decks, exploring, old friend reunions, celebrations of life, chocolate restaurant revisit, and more.)
*Catching up here on the BLR, as I sit on the dock. (What a great office!)
*Honda trip mania. (Voting tally, a few announcements, and some surprises.)

Year 33- here I come!

August 14, 2011 In News & Updates

car is packed…

…again. (I think this is time #6,742.)

Goodbyes are said. (For now.)

Bring it next 5 weeks.Â IT’S ON!Â

Here’s to following what you love.

August 12, 2011 In News & Updates

did you know?

…that if you click on the “i” in the rolling header above with the photos you can read information on where and when I took each photo?

After I posted about Garrett’s Popcorn a couple days ago, someone from the company posted a comment complimenting that feature (Thanks Tammy!) I wanted to make sure you all knew to click there. It was all the idea andÂ fabulous work of my good design friend Bobby. (His last name is Holiday, how great is that? No wonder why he is so cool and creative!)

Look for some changing/added photos soon along with lots of video. The pre-road trip, road trip starts this weekend when I head east. I can’t lie, I have been a bit stressed, stretched and busy, lately- but now that today is my last day of work in Chicago for a while and I am about to pack it up and hit the open road, those uber-energizing, overly-excited, free-spirited butterflies in my stomach are starting to flutter and that can mean only one thing:

I’ll make you check back to see what 🙂

August 11, 2011 In New York, People, Photos

my sweet dock

Today in particular, I cannot wait to be in this chair again busted by someone snapping a photo of me doing absolutely nothing besides refueling, relaxing and breathing:

4 days until I am fortunate enough to have my most cherished and much needed birthday gift again.

August 10, 2011 In De-lish, Food, Honda, Illinois

never stop exploring

Yesterday was a short work day for me. As I have on most of those short days, I exited, looked left, right and just started walking. I think one of the best treats about living in a city (especially in summer) is the ability to to be able to walk everywhere. To me this provides continuous, fantastic free entertainment, and a great way to get extra exercise too! People watching, talking to strangers, wandering in and out of shops, taking photos, sitting on a random bench to write or daydream for a while, stopping for a treat like Garrett’s Popcorn because you can’t resist the enticing fresh-popped smell:

…accompanied by truthful napkins:

I nibbled and walked and nibbled and walked and still had this much left when I got home:

(and that was the smallest size they had!)

…ahhh. A perfect afternoon.

I have put some serious miles on my flip flops these past few months. In 4 days I take off to start putting some more serious miles on the BLR-Mobile, and my loaned 2012 Hybrid Civic for a while. I can’t wait! By foot or by car, exploring is what gets my heart racing, especially when there is no plan. That’s always when the best stuff happens.

I wonder if I will go left or right (north, south, east, west?) on this trip. Which way do you think I should go?

August 9, 2011 In De-lish, Food, Photos, Wisconsin

a delicious loop around

***(Continued from can you believe i didn’t get the nutella one…)

After our Bradbury’s crepes, we continued up the hill to the packed Capital Square of Madison and made out way through the crowd. There were all kinds of fruits, veggies, flowers and baked goods to be bought. My favorite; Fresh corn:

…pretty flowers making me wish I had my own cute little apartment, so I could buy them and have them on my cute little dreamed of balcony table:

…cherries at their peak of perfection:

…and of course we had to do a repeat visit to get the Stella’s fresh, warm, spicy cheese bread:

(The only way to do it is buy, take a seat on the Capital steps, tear, and eat as the cheese oozes out. Mmmm…)

The Gord Man was having fun freaking the kids out:

…and I couldn’t resist one of the huge cinnamon buns at one of the bakery tents:

I ate the whole thing. Yes, alone and did not feel very good after. The portion size could’ve fed 6 people, but it was so good I kept eating and eating! Lets just say my run later that afternoon was shorter than usual and a bit painful. What can I say?- I get excited when there are delectable treats around. I’m an easy sell on sugar, and clearly I was trying to make up for not getting that Nutella crepe. (Laughing at myself as I type this.)

Wouldn’t it be great if every town could have a Saturday market as large and as accessible as the one in Madison? I’m already looking forward to my promised annual visit back to my friends there next summer!

August 9, 2011 In De-lish, Food, Photos, Wisconsin

can you believe i didn’t get the nutella one?

I know right? I can’t believe it either. It probably won’t ever happen again. The thing is, I had some life-changing fresh peaches last week when I made some red sangria, so when I saw the option for a peach and blackberry crepe:

…at Bradbury’s:

…on Saturday morning, I just had to have it. I made a good choice:

I gobbled this thing up in a second. It was the perfect fresh and all-organic breakfast to fuel me for the mac-daddy of all farmer’s markets; the Dane Country Farmers MarketÂ on Capital Square in Madison.

***(To be continued in part 2…)

August 9, 2011 In Illinois, People

my crash buddy found me

Remember Sam from a few weeks ago? I am happy to report that he sent me a note and that he is Ok. (Didn’t I just write earlier today about running into strangers and that everyone has a story?) It turns out that Sam not only is a speedy Bike Messenger, but an Artist/Photographer as well. Check out his website here. Pretty cool eh?

Thanks for writing Sam! Watch those buses out there…

August 8, 2011 In Alaska, Live the life you want to live, Wisconsin

welcomed interruptions

Scene; Sitting at Starbucks in Wisconsin this morning typing away on the patio with my coffee.Â Gentleman walks up to me:

“Sorry to bother you, but I’ve gotta ask you- What’s Blue Lollipop Road? I drove in behind you.”

A conversation ensues and in a few short minutes I share that Blue Lollipop Road is my blog, that I have traveled for years, and actually today was the day 1 year ago I crossed the Alaska border, hitting my 50th state in Skagway. He has been too. He grew up in Maine, and right near one of the towns I will hopefully be going to, so I can meet up a very interesting guy on my Honda Adventure in September. (Working on a few things, still TBA.) I share where I am from in Vermont, he has been there as well, and is now currently living in the Midwest like me too. Our conversation quickly wraps as he apologizes for bothering me again (which clearly he is not) and I go back to my head down typing away.

Moments like the one that just happened are fairly regular for me and I absolutely love them. Small worlds, unexpected and welcomed interactions with people I would have never otherwise met. I’m sure I could have talked to that gentleman for hours. Blue Lollipop Road has offered me such a great platform to open conversation on all subjects, and to prove that everyone has a story and something in common.

I can’t wait for my next random stranger interruption.