I Love New York Travel

I’m excited. I’m going to take a day trip up to the Adirondacks this weekend. I just can’t wait. I haven’t really explored them a great deal (I’ve always lived in Central and Western New York State), so it will be a great experience. We’ll be traveling up to Tupper Lake, a place I’ve never seen before. It’s a 3-hour drive, yikes, but it will be quite an adventure. I’m also renting a car for the occasion, which is really fun! We had our choice between a Honda, Chrysler, Toyota, and Subaru- guess which one we’re trying? It’s not a Honda, we can’t afford any Corolla short sales, Iacocca has nothing to do with it… yes it’s a Subaru! An Outback, oo lala. I have never driven one before. Never even ridden in one before! But it’s got all-wheel drive and therefore will manage the snowy roads of the Adirondacks suitably.

I can’t wait! I haven’t been on a trip in so long. We’ll have loads and loads of photos, so stay tuned!

Isn’t this a pretty picture? Taken in Paris, New York. It’s an old Episcopal church. I don’t remember how far back it dates; the neighboring Congregational church has “1791″ on its pediment. Yeah. Gimme that old time religion, you bet. There are very few “old time” religions around here anymore. So many churches have become mere social clubs or Bingo halls, where yoga, best hemorrhoid treatments, and town gossip rules the conversations. :-p I was never much of a team player, anyway.

I am not quite sure of this particular little church still holds services. There’s a very old graveyard in the back. The remains of Isaac Paris, for whom the town is named thanks to his starvation-saving heroism, is buried here. I wonder what those ancient folks would think of life as it has turned out in our modern times. It’s silly speculating, I know. But I wonder…

My daughter is always taking photos of the sky. Here’s another. The winter sunsets are so garish and blunt. No romantic haze or soft view with these. Not even the clouds can soften the sky. Ah well, soon we shall have red and pink and purple skies again.

I wrote a few good articles today, of which I am relieved. I handle topics from why concrete walls get blisters to how to hack into CDs to best seo software to describing various kinds of kitchen countertops. :S It’s a good job, but extremely time-consuming. Blogging is an outlet, a relief valve of sorts. Here I can rave and express myself without being (overly) concerned about past participles, passive voice, and cohesiveness. With blogging, who cares about cohesiveness!

The work is good, I can’t complain. On the contrary, bring it on! I have debts to pay and a kitchen to renovate!

Look at that sky. Does that look gloomy to you? It does to me. And this was one of our good days, where the sun barely peeked between the thick gauzy layers of fluff. So much for getting any Vitamin D these days… I’d better have the best vitamin supplements to make up for it.

Sunshine is healthy, did you know that? Not only does it contain Vitamin D, but the light and brightness and warmth improve our mood. I could never live in a cave as some have done. I’d be totally sun-starved!

When I lived in Manhattan, I missed he sun terribly. The dreadfully tall buildings block much of the rays. I remember looking for treeless parks, in search of my cheery yellow friend. Come back soon, Mr. Sun! We miss you!

I hate these things. Oh sure, they look so quaint in Currier&Ives prints, but I dislike them. For one, they are a horrible hazard to children and pets that get too close to the house. A falling sharp icicle…. *shudder* I don’t even want to think about it.

Secondly, they pose a danger to my poor old house. Their presence stimulates the growth of the dreaded ice dam. The thaw-freeze cycle of ice on the roof works its way under the shingles, dripping down into the interior walls of my rooms. What horrible damage this causes!

I know, I know! Spring is coming! It’s mid-February and we *only* have two more months of cold weather to endure! As I get older, I tolerate the cold less and less. I may be one of those snowbirds who will take off for Branson vacations every winter, at least, I wish!

Alack, for now, I must endure the icicles. I can’t wait til they are all gone!