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?
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!
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 called Mr. Chicken:
…that have picnic tables, 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.
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!
I had lunch last week at Bryant Park 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.
Are you as thrilled as I am?!
Exciting stuff brewing behind the scenes…
Currently on repeat, repeat, repeat…
Favorite line:Â
When you’re happy like a fool, let it take you over
When everything is out, you gotta take it in
I’m thinking I might have to make this one the official BLR theme song…
My meeting with Dub Infinity the NYC street vendor yesterday is a perfect segue to an announcement about my upcoming BLR Honda Adventure!
On this trip I will be looking for people to interview. Characters from all walks of life and every color of the rainbow. No rules, but that they will have to be around New England/Northeast as that’s where I will spend the 17 days touring. I’ll be posting daily details and feedback I am sent, but for now put your thinking caps on and send me your ideas!
Who do you think is super interesting, insightful, hilarious or off the wall that I just must meet?
One teaser so far for a road character on the list so far? Someone who makes some very sweet treats in Maine. Yeah! A woman after my own heart.
Click on the Facebook, and Twitter icons above and submit/see votes there, or drop a comment here.
Oh this is going to be so much fun.
Meet Dub Infinity:
(Yep, that’s his real name.)
I met him selling his wares when I came out of the train near Wall Street yesterday. When I asked him a question he sassed something really funny back and of course with that I was instantly sold. Mr. Infinity is a musician, a poet, a scholar, a salesman and I can only imagine whatever else. What an interesting guy who has been all over the earth. Stories galore and never a dull moment with this gent. As the world moves fast, especially in a place like Wall Street in New York city, I love that there are people like this who help keep relaxed around and perspective clear.
***If you are in the NYC area on Labor Day Weekend and want to check out a free and what I think would be a fascinating “World Muzzikkal” concert festival including this character- head to Eastern Parkway between Underhill and Washington Avenues (and send me pictures!)
Nice to meet you sir. Keep that creative spirit and sass rolling.
