Hopscotch

Switching It Up

2010-08-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

I think this is one of my longest lags between posts. It's been a busy week and I have some more great discoveries to share. But before I get to that, I want to share with you what I am currently working on.

As some of you already know, I've hung up my teaching hat (for now, not forever) and have launched myself full-on into writing. Living life as a gypsy, moving every 2-4 years, finding consistent teaching jobs has been a challenge and so I find myself moved this summer to take action. No more countless hours spent searching school web sites, or tiresome interviews in which I have to explain why it is I move around so much. I am a woman taking the steps towards fulfilling my dream, and that means no more waiting around for life to happen.

This past week I signed up with media bistro to take their online Stiletto Boot Camp, an intensive, crash-course in how to write effectively and engagingly for women's magazines such as ELLE, Self, W etc. I am totally excited about this course as it has been a lifelong goal of mine to write as we live and travel the world, sharing my experiences with others. Freelance writing is something I can do from anywhere.

In addition to sharpening my skills, I've begun posting short stories on ThingsAsian, a web site offering up a variety of articles, facts, photographs, maps - anything to do with living and traveling in Asia. Check out my post on one our favorite restaurant finds while living in Tokyo titled, Yummy Yakitori.

I am also working on making this blog more beautiful and will eventually be adding in advertisements related to the content. I am scheduled to take a blogging class and hope to also connect with writers at Boston's local writing hub, Grub Street.

September is a month for new beginnings, new projects, and for me, a new attitude. I have a stack of reading to catch up on (see photo left), which I know will give me the inspiration I need to get busy and get writing.

Decisions Decisions

2010-08-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

As autumn approaches, so does my love for all things leather, suede and cozy. I am obsessed with two fabulous options from J.Crew - the Walker ankle boot and the MacAlister wedge boot are topping my list of favorite footwear finds. Decisions decisions.

Back to Boston - Back to Reality

2010-08-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

After four-and-a-half weeks on the road, we finally drove into our driveway last night. But it was not without a fight - we first stopped for dinner in town at our favorite restaurant, Pad Thai Cafe, before heading home. Above is a sample of the Starbucks Collector mugs (thanks Mike!) I collected on our journey west and then back east. It's a fantastic and functional way to display my hopscotch travels.

Hometown & a Haircut

2010-08-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

For the past four years I have managed to schedule my visits back to Ottawa with a hair appointment. After several mishaps with stylists and colorists both in Japan and Boston, I've decided that for now, I will continue to be a committed client to Saab Salon in Ottawa, Canada. It is a family-run operation with a wonderful staff of professionals. In the ten-plus years I've been going there, I've had seven stylists, who have all done an amazing job with my thick, long hair. I highly recommend this salon to anyone looking for the ultimate hair experience. Thank you Frank & Nina:)

Down & Out in Detroit

2010-08-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

We were told to avoid 8 mile while driving thru Detroit, Michigan. Ironically, we HAD to stop in 8 mile for a bathroom break as there was construction everywhere else. But to my surprise, I found the people here to be much more pleasant than those I encountered at our hotel in Ann Arbor the night before. The city is clearly in a time of major recession - abandoned properties line the highway, closed signs on stores- but I believe the people of Detroit will pull through.

Chicago- Smiles & Tall Buildings

2010-08-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

When in Chicago, it is imperative that you do the Chicago Architecture Foundation boat tour. It is a wonderful way to see the spectacular and diverse architecture of the windy city. Also a must, is a walk through Millennium Park. Located in the heart of downtown, it serves as the city's playground for people of all ages and interests.

I couldn't resist snapping a photo of this man (see photo right) sitting on the sidewalk. His sign made me laugh. Instead of money, I gave him a bottle of water.

More from Minneapolis

2010-08-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

We just had to stop and marvel at the amazing pieces at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. A must-see when visiting the Twin Cities.

Marvelous Minneapolis

2010-08-12T19:59:00.000-07:00

I didn’t know what to expect of this mid-west city. I had heard wonderful things but was apprehensive to totally embrace the idea of Minneapolis as a bustling metropolis. My introduction to the city was a Wal-Mart, a so-so lodging and the Mall of America (crazy!) But once inside the city center, I was instantly hooked. People looked happy and healthy – walking, biking, and running along one of the city’s many beautiful parks. At noontime, café patios were filled with workers taking a break. My husband found a pizza place uptown called Pizza Lucé that served GF pizza. For the first time in years, I ordered bruschetta. Together, we munched our way through an entire half loaf of GF French bread, smothered in olive oil and fresh cut tomatoes. The entire meal was divine. Fresh, local produce is everywhere in this state, and the idea of eating local has really taking off. After a brief detour to Minnehaha Falls Park, we sadly said goodbye to one of our favorite stops on this cross-country tour.

Demolition Derby

2010-08-10T23:58:00.000-07:00

Tonight we happened to be driving thru Glasgow, Montana on the night of the county fair. Not only did we get to experience small-town charm first-hand, we also witnessed our first demolition derby. Awesome.

Getting Down & Dirty in Glasgow, Montana

2010-08-10T23:07:00.000-07:00

The best way to get a feel for a town is to attend a local going on, which is exactly what we did in Glasgow, Montana this evening. On our way into town we saw that the county fair was THE place to be with a wide selection of carnival-type rides, and a demolition derby. There was no admission fee, so we went directly to the bleachers and sat down beside Jo from Texas who had relocated here to, “get away from the hustle and bustle of Texas.” After witnessing fifteen minutes of full-on demolition we took in our surroundings, who were getting progressively more and more inebriated as the evening passed on. It was a rowdy but friendly crowd, and I am sure the night would get more interesting with each beer consumed, however, we were on a mission to get out of northern Montana by morning so we said our goodbyes to Jo and headed east.

The Saddest Little Mall in America

2010-08-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

Traveling thru northern Montana is a little like driving thru the desert – lots of wide-open spaces, endless sky, deserted, dry, and not densely populated. After breakfasting at a picnic table at the local elementary school in Conrad, MT and endless pit stops at towns too small to warrant a place on the map, we arrived in Havre. Our goal was to get to a museum on the famous dinosaur trail that runs thru the sate of Montana. Imagine our dismay when we drive up to a shopping mall – the address matching that of the museum (see photo left). We parked the car and entered what can only be described as the saddest mall in America, which was home to a dollar store, an army-recruiting center, a natural/Wicca shop, a Sears, an army surplus-type store, and the beloved museum, which was closed. The museum was a small room located in the far back corner of the mall. Basically, someone decided to rent out the space to store his or her oddball artifacts. Not a great find.

Finding Beauty on the Road

2010-08-10T21:50:00.000-07:00

I snapped these photos south of Lethbridge, Alberta.

Yikes!

2010-08-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

This sign posted somewhere in Montana frightened both of us - in fact, we did NOT enter the store.

Pot of Gold

2010-08-09T23:48:00.000-07:00

We drove right into this beautiful rainbow while leaving Lake Louise after a flash rainstorm. Cars were lined up along the shoulder to capture this amazing burst of colour. It looks like that pot of gold is hiding in the hills on Rt. 1 between Lake Louise and Banff.

Smells Like Snow

2010-08-09T22:43:00.000-07:00

Today we drove thru the Columbia Icefields between Jasper and Banff. It was cold - very cold- so be sure to bring a toque and jacket. What amazed me most about this natural wonder is the rate at which the icefields are receding.

Cross-Country & Wedding Bells

2010-08-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

After 27 days of travel, we've arrived at our destination - Smithers, British Columbia, where my good friend D is getting married on Saturday. We've basically done a diagonal drive from the east coast to the northwest corner of Canada. Not only am I excited to be a part of her special day, but it is also an opportunity to visit with friends I have not seen in what feels like forever. With all of us living and traveling the globe, a mini-reunion is long overdue.

Reduced Visibility

2010-08-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

With 400 forest fires burning in interior British Columbia, we are lucky that today is the first day that we encounter smoke on our drive northwest to Smithers. Most of the fires are burning in the backcountry, away from the main highway, but as the photo above shows, our visibility on the road today was greatly reduced by billows of smoke lingering in the valleys.

Nice Truck

2010-08-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

Stopping for a quick break on our way north to Smithers I spotted this funky chevy parked in a DQ parking lot.

The Best Place on Earth

2010-07-29T17:15:00.001-07:00

I couldn't agree more with the new B.C. license plate (see photo above). We are now in Vancouver, a city that offers its residents spectacular mountain views; stretches of beaches; access to year-round outdoor activities; an assortment of cuisines and restaurants; fashionable finds on the well-known Robson Street, and an eclectic group of neighbourhoods. If ever we are to settle down, Vancouver would be the place to do so. With great weather, minus the months of rain of course, this city has it all. Go discover Beautiful British Columbia. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Pike Place Market

2010-07-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning we walked down to Seattle's infamous Pike Place Market. Around since 1907, and famous for having the first Starbucks, Pike Place Market is a great place to grab a morning coffee while browsing stands with everything from organic produce to beaded jewelry. By noon the place is packed, so get there early to experience the market in its finest hours.

A Stopover in Seattle

2010-07-24T22:20:00.000-07:00

Hitting the west coast always brings about a sense of "ahhh" for me. One must-see stop while in Seattle is Kerry Park at sunset. We were lucky enough to capture the perfect shot above during a full moon. There was quite a crowd - both locals and tourists- gathered at this well-known photo-op in the Queen Anne neighborhood. Be sure to get there early as parking is sparse, but know that it is legal to park facing any and all directions on either side of the road.

A Scrumptious Find in Spokane

2010-07-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

For those of us who are GF (gluten free), finding a good, tasty burger is near impossible. While stopping over in Spokane for a night, we stumbled upon Wild Sage American Bistro just a few blocks from the historic Davenport Hotel. Not only does this upscale, hip restaurant have an entire menu of GF items - appetizers, mains and desserts- they also offer up an assortment of delicious GF mini breads while waiting for your order. It was the first time in years that I ate a burger with a BUN! In addition to serving up local produce, an on-site baker provides the restaurant with a variety of GF baked good options.

Coffee Shack

2010-07-22T23:45:00.000-07:00

It's hard to find a Starbucks in Montana. Between Big Sky and Missoula we discovered Coffee Shack - an excellent alternative to our morning ritual. Situated on the side of the road at heavily-trafficked intersections, these tiny shack structures have gained popularity in Montana - for both locals and tourists alike.

Big Sky, Montana

2010-07-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist trying on a Stetson cowboy hat and western-style shirt at this funky second-hand shop in Western Yellowstone. But really, where does one wear a Stetson in Boston? And at $95.00, the shirt sadly had to stay put.

Stunning Geysers in Yellowstone National Park

2010-07-22T20:01:00.000-07:00