Moving Day! August 20, 2008
Posted by NettyD in From the blogger, Travel.1 comment so far
In less than 8 hours I will be driving myself to New Hampshire! I’m so incredibly excited. For those of you who have my number, you should definitely call me while I’m driving (Wednesday, August 20th). I might need some extra company on the long solo drive up there!
Yippeee!
Road trip to Virginia Beach for the weekend! August 7, 2008
Posted by NettyD in From the blogger, Lifestyle, Travel.add a comment
Hey all! Just wanted to let you all know that I’ll be heading to Virginia Beach this weekend for Cody’s baptism. Seems strange to be going back there already! Mike, Brenda, Cody and I are driving 12 hours through the night from New Hampshire. Yay for road trips!!
Then on Monday, it’s back up to Northern VA for a week to organize my stuff, pack it in a car, and drive it all back up to NH! I love the idea of a solo road trip. Crankin’ the music and thinkin’ happy thoughts about what my new life will be like!
I have more pictures to post from my last week or so of vacation too, so stay tuned!
HAPPINESS!
Goofing off, chilling out and appreciating what you’ve got. August 1, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Environment, Family, Lifestyle, Sociology, Travel.2 comments
When I started my travel journey this summer, I knew that at the end of it I would have to eventually find a place to land for awhile. For the most part, I was going to let it be revealed to me by paying attention to signs and symbols. You know, not trying to control it. In the back of my mind though, I secretly knew that I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I decided to just re-plot myself in a place where I’d lived before. While I’ve been spending time in New Hampshire, I’ve discovered a place like none other I’ve lived, or maybe have even visited.
Most notable about my time here is the sense of community and family I’ve felt a part of, especially in just a few short weeks. I hadn’t consciously realized it, but suddenly I was a aware that what I’ve really been searching for is a community to belong in. I get that here. And it’s in abundance.
So, I’m going to ride this wave for awhile and see what happens. Yay!
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Fun Friday night house party. Brenda was in rare form!
She is going off about something here. Apparently really funny.
Reunited with her son at the end of the night. “Wait kid, I need me some brownies”
I spent the next day out on this boat. This is the Blackwater River. So beautiful!
CAUTION: The following is a random selection of photos taken among the not so sober.
We take no responsibility for the way we look or behave 
Kelsey and Tyler – a pair of really good people.
Oh, boys and their wrestling. Here is Mike with his brother Matt. At first it looked like Matt, the younger brother, was going to win it.
But then, Mike ended it all in one swoop. haha!
This was the billiard room I woke up in the next morning. This view is from the couch I slept on.
It really was a beautiful room.
A couple of nights later, I went on a 2.25 mile hike and ended up at the base of a water tower. I climbed the water tower, and got some of these views of the Concord area at sunset.
76 very steep and narrow steps up the water tower. But totally worth it
The natural New Hampshire! July 25, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Environment, Family, Health and Well-Being, Travel.3 comments
Fun times in New Hampshire! July 20, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Family, Lifestyle, Travel.2 comments
Friday was an eventful day! Brenda, Cody and I strolled to downtown Concord for “Market Days.” Basically, Main St. is converted into a street market full of food, retail and activity booths. We decided to make a pit stop in an Italian bistro for some fruit salad. Afterwards, we roamed a couple of stores and I was happily surprised to find some really good metaphysical, hippie spots. New Hampshire definitely has its own California vibe for sure!
Concord’s “Market Days”
Concord’s capitol building
We found a baby snow hat and decked the little man out. He’s such a good, happy baby! What a ham!
After strolling Main St., we dropped off Cody with his grandmother and decided to meet Mike, Brenda’s husband, for drinks downtown. On the way back home, we were invited to a house party, so grandma agreed to take the kid for the night! We made a pit-stop at her house to fill her up on food and diapers. While we were there, Mike let the dogs out and a skunk decided to spray them (more like soak them) with its funk! When they came running back into the house, the smell was so intense, I had to leave and sit in the car.
Mama finally gets a night out for fun!
NettyD cruisin’!
A rare moment of rest for a working daddy.
New York Pics: Days Two and Three July 16, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Arts & Entertainment, Lifestyle, Millennials, Travel.2 comments
Alright folks, it’s time to see loads of pictures from my weekend in NYC. (Scroll down for Day One pics). First off, I just want to thank my home skillets Joy and Jeff for hosting me and showing me a good time. Never a dull moment in the city that never sleeps…
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DAY TWO
Joy works in the advertising industry and it just so happened that Latina Magazine invited her to an event at the Westin Hotel in Times Square while I was visiting. It was a free day of beauty services open to the public and hosted by the magazine and other sponsors. Because of Joy’s hook-ups, we were able to cut in front of HUNDREDS of crazy latina women and be one of the first to get our pretty on! On our way out, we were given a bag of swag. Yeah, I know, I’m cool.
Publicity, Publicity, Publicity!!
The nail technicians were only allowed 10 minutes to do each woman’s nails!! Yikes!
The contents of the swag bag! I love that the hair products were all about “anti-frizz.” Ha!
After the Latina Magazine event, we hopped on the subway uptown to the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art). The top floor was a Dali exhibit, but they didn’t allow pictures, so I just took a picture of the entrance. After that, we worked our way down the six floors of years of art. This was the only thing I wanted to do while I was in NYC. I had the time of my life.
Dali and his ’stache – now that’s art people!
Magritte’s “The Menaced Assasin”
Jasper Johns’ “Target with Four Faces”
Monet! I couldn’t get the whole thing in the shot. It was divided into three panels and extended over an entire wall. AMAZING!
Joy and Picasso’s “Woman’s Head”
(Notice the “security guard” in the background. Is he working or people watching? You decide.)
More Picasso! I love how the teenage boy got in the shot. Art within art, no?
Yes, that’s Picasso’s “Three Musicians” LOVE IT!
What’s up, Warhol?
This piece was titled, “Little Girl.” It’s hanging on a barbed wire from the ceiling. Anyone care to interpret?
A piece by the feminist, Ree Morton.
A general view of one of the strangest rooms in the media gallery. Notice the mannequin standing in the left corner. That piece was titled, “Stand in the corner and be ashamed of yourself.” It doesn’t get more American than that folks!
I like big butts and I cannot lie…
This piece was titled, “Wrist Corsage.” It’s hard to see, but there is a picture of a little girl in the top left corner. It’s a juxtaposition between innocence and sexuality. This was my favorite piece. Many critical thoughts about my role as a woman came up while looking at this.
After getting all nerdy on art, we decided to meet Joy’s cousin Viviene and their friend Patrick for dinner and drinks at the “Boat Basin Cafe.” On the way there, we happened upon Bhangra dancing in Central Park!! The redhead in the green shorts and white top was waaaaaaay into it. I couldn’t believe she was barefoot in the Park. I hope she got a good foot scrubbing after this!
“The Boast Basin Cafe” is an outdoor restaurant located at the very end of 79th street with a view of the Hudson. The wait to be seated by the water was over an hour and a half! Because we were tired, and were in need of ice cold pina coladas, we decided to settle for the more interior seating. Everyone there was in the 25-35 age group. I observed the scene heavily and began to think about what it must be like as a wealthy, young urbanite. I won’t bore you here with my thoughts on the matter. Maybe another day.
NettyD and Joy oi oi !
Joy and her cousin Viviene, who is a dentist.
And now, DAY THREE
I woke up Sunday morning and after a quick chit-chat with Joy and her BF Jeff, I took the subway from Brooklyn to Times Square – again. This time I was meeting my aunt and my two cousins. It was great to catch up after so many years. They didn’t let me take pictures, so that’s all I have to say about that.
On my return to Brooklyn, Joy, Jeff, his cousin and I made it to the Brooklyn Museum of Art to see the last day of the Murakami exhibit. Murakami is an amazing Japanese artist. Some of his stuff impressed me more than exhibits at the MOMA the day before. Check out the madness!
This craziness greeted us in the lobby while we waited about a half hour to get tickets.
These two sculptures were facing each other. On the opposite walls were large pink and blue canvases with white splatter all over them. The room was titled, “Milk.”
The beauty of Murakami…
Jeff, Joy and Murakami
I stole these next three from Joy. (Thanks for that oi oi !)
Outside of the museum there was a really cool urban lawn. Sundays in New York
We headed back to Brooklyn Heights after that, and decided to enjoy the festivities of Bastille Day! Technically this French holiday is celebrated on the 14th (which was the day after), but I guess Sunday worked better for everyone since they didn’t have to work! Smith St. was turned into an outdoor festival full of French food stands and merchandise. A piece of the street was even sectioned off and covered in sand so that attendees could play petanque (sort of like Bocce Ball). Culture, Culture, Culture!
We happened upon a skateboarding competition. Really exciting!
Playing petanque!
Roof deck party overlooking the madness on the street!
Happy Bastille Day!
One last shot of the Brooklyn Bridge. (oh, and Joy looking very tired and hungry). I love New York. I can’t believe it took me so long to go back, but now I plan on spending many weekends up there over the next year or so. Happiness!
I love New York! July 12, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Lifestyle, Millennials, Travel.2 comments
Hello all! I just woke up from my first night in Brooklyn, and I feel so excited. There is truly nothing like NYC. Nothing.
Yesterday I took an early train out of D.C. and landed at Penn Station around 10:45a.m. Then I jumped on the express train to Brooklyn, and met my dear friend Joy. She was waiting in line for an iPhone and by the time I reached her, they had all sold out. She had been waiting in line for four hours!! But even though the people around her in line were pissed off, and the sun was blazing hot, Joy took it in stride with a gentle shrug of the shoulders, and an “okay, let’s get out of here.” This is what I’ve always loved about my friend.
I’ve known Joy since we were freshmen in high school. We’ve been together through lots of things, good and bad. We were senior editors together on our high school yearbook and raised hell when we decided to change the Senior Superlative categories. We were tired of the boring ones like, “Best Looking” and opted for titles more like, “Most Likely to be in the Cast of Seinfeld.” We didn’t end up having it our way. All of the snobby popular kids would have been left out of the new categories and so they protested wildly.
Joy and I also traveled together to Europe the summer after high school graduation. We learned a lot about each other on that trip, including the fact that we both were unafraid of roaming big cities by ourselves and that we each had a talent for reading subway maps. One night while having dinner in Paris, Joy and our other friends couldn’t finish their red wine. So of course I drank all the glasses for them. Afterward, I remember floating down the streets of Paris drunk off my ass for the first time in my life. I can’t believe that was almost 10 years ago.
After graduation, Joy was accepted into NYU and she’s been living in the city ever since. Now that she’s older and more established, she’s living in the most expensive neighborhood in Brooklyn: Brooklyn Heights. Arriving into these parts yesterday, I was instantly reminded of The Cosby Show. There REALLY are rows of brownstones that house doctor’s offices below, and their living quarters above. So beautiful! Joy explained to me that Manhattan has become a bit too gentrified for most of the artists and young people of the city, so Brooklyn has become the new hip place to be.
After dropping my stuff off at her apartment, we headed for lunch at a yummy Thai restaurant and then walked around her part of the neighborhood. She lives three blocks away from the river and there is an amazing view of lower Manhattan from the park that resides there.
After a brief nap, we got dressed and headed to a sushi dinner. Then it was on to the old industrial neighborhood of DUMBO. On the way there, we passed through the Brooklyn Bridge Park. What amazing views of the bridge and the new man-made waterfalls they’ve created!!
Once in DUMBO, we hit up a bar and got a few drinks. This guy at the bar started asking us a million questions about where we were from, etc. I ended up talking a lot about California. It’s always hard for me to explain to someone where I’m from. Yes, I was raised in Virginia Beach, but since my life has taken so many routes since then, I never feel like it’s a suffice answer. Anyway, this guy was really drunk and I doubt he was even listening to what I was saying. So I guess my verbal vomit was more for my sake than anyone else.
After DUMBO, we headed back into Brooklyn Heights and stopped by the bar, KAMP. The theme of the bar is “The Great Outdoors,” and all the tables and chairs were situated as if you were sitting around a campfire. I ordered an espresso martini (with vanilla vodka) and Joy and I split a “S’mores for Two.” A waiter brought a platter of chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers to our table. Fire and all! We ate like pigs over girly chit-chat and such. It was great.
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Brooklyn Bridge at sunset
Lower Manhattan at sunset
Blurry, but cool view of the Brooklyn Bridge and one of the man-made falls
My camera wasn’t cooperating, but still a cool view.
Joy, intently roasting the ‘mallow.
I’m home! (i.e. The 757, Tidewater, Hampton Roads, Vaaaa Beach) July 3, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Lifestyle, Travel.5 comments
(Image courtesy of idcide.com)
I survived the 7 1/2 hour overnight train ride from Charleston, SC to Richmond, VA! All in all it was a fun ride, although I did have a hard time sleeping. Towards the end of the ride, an Asian gangster boarded who was obviously high on something. He was really nice, but he didn’t know where the hell he was. Every time the train stopped, he would pace the cars asking, “Is this Alexandria?” Alexandria, for those who don’t know, is a city in Northern Virginia. He had like four hours to go! Everyone on board kept rolling their eyes at each other. It was actually really funny.
After arriving in Richmond at 5:30 in the morning, we had to wait until 8:00 for the rental car office to open. We waited at an upscale McDonald’s that had CNN-HD. I thought a large coffee would get things going for me, but somehow I woke up in a daze realizing that I had passed out on a Mickey D’s table for an unknown amount of time. I went to the bathroom to try and pull myself together and the reflection in the mirror prompted a loud, “Yowza!” out of me. Craziness.
Anyway, we got the car and drove an hour and half to our hometown – Virginia Beach! My sense of direction came back to me immediately. Even though I’ve been gone for years, I navigated through town like I had never left. It felt so natural. I’m so excited to see people I haven’t seen in years. There are about 3-4 different circles of friends I have here. Some overlap. I feel anxious and strange. Butterflies are living inside of my tummy.
I’m about to shower, eat and take a nap. The plans are already forming for tonight, so I’ll need my strength. NettyD is back y’all!
One night in Chucktown July 2, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Arts & Entertainment, Lifestyle, Travel.4 comments
Last night we went back downtown to peruse the bar scene on East Bay Street. We had a great time.
When we fist arrived downtown, we parked near the Ashley River and it was high tide. I couldn’t believe how much the water had risen since earlier that day. It made me think that if a Category 2+ hurricane decided to hit Charleston, there would be severe flooding. While we were walking down the side of the river towards the bars, we noticed a homeless man hanging off the side of the railing. There was a police officer talking him out of jumping. The officer asked him if he was okay, and the guy said he was not. We kept walking and didn’t want to be disrespectful spectators, so we didn’t see what happened. It wouldn’t have been a far jump, so I think he just wanted some attention. Poor guy.
Anyway, the first bar we went to was “Wet Willie’s” and it was karaoke night! The bar basically serves alcohol slushys. Behind the bar there were about 15 slushy machines and some had cute names. These drinks were served with either Bacardi Rum, Tequila Souza, or 190 degree grain alcohol! Yikes! I decided to get a margarita. My brother got the “Shock Treatment.” Gnarly stuff…
We then went into “Squeeze,” which was a perfect name considering the size of the bar. Luckily, it wasn’t too packed.
Our last stop was “Brick.” It’s a huge bar with dart boards, pool tables, and even a Wii screen!! I had never seen that before, but I thought that was a great idea. What’s more hysterical than drunk people trying to work their hand/eye coordination skills?
The walk back to the truck was fun. I decided that it was time for a random photo shoot! Enjoy!
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See what I mean about the water?
Wet Willie’s !
Why, yes I am!
A total Squeeze!
Wii!
Tried to get Andrew in the shot, but he resisted at first.
Then, success! Sort of
Then he took off when I tried to get a better one!
I want to live here.
Yay for having fun!
Charleston’s Historic Downtown July 1, 2008
Posted by NettyD in Travel.2 comments
Today my brother and I decided to stroll through downtown Charleston. We did lots of walking and sightseeing. The city is full of beautiful historic houses and neighborhoods. My favorite part of the homes are all the porches and balconies. I imagined myself owning one of them and chillin’ on a second floor porch with a glass of iced tea or lemonade.
Along Market Street is a strip of open-air markets, surrounded by two rows of stores and restaurants. Market Street’s brick and mortar originated in the late 18th century, though the buildings were created in the 1840’s. (Associated Content.com) Its original construction was meant to house and sell slaves immediately as they came down from the harbor. Eventually, it changed to selling groceries and other products until it became the tourist attraction it is today. It’s been the basis for painters like John Booth, a Charleston favorite, and for the writings of Alexandra Ripley, where Market Street is a center location for Scarlet, the sequel to Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. (Associated Content.com)
We also decided to eat lunch at Bubba Gump’s! Like many people, “Forrest Gump” is one of my favorite movies of all time. I was totally stoked to eat here, although it is a tourist trap. It worked on me though! Our food was taking a little while to come out, so to pass the time our waiter decided to quiz us on our Forrest Gump trivia. My brother kicked my ass! He even knew the name of the football coach Forrest had at Alabama! I always knew he was the real nerd of the family.
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These basket weavers are all over Market St. They make their product right there in front of you. So cool.
Charleston’s nickname. It’s all my brother calls it.
Statue/Monument dedicated to the Confederate Army. It faces Fort Sumter on the opposite side of the harbor.
Fort Sumter is the little island in the distance to the right.
Kids fishing.
My brother loves it when I take random pictures.
Cool tree!
Statue of President George Washington
In the French Quarter
I’ll be 80 years old when this gets opened. Kind of weird to think about
This is how we communicated with our waiter. If the blue side was up, then it meant we didn’t need service.
If the red side was up, then it meant we needed service. Don’t you wish every restaurant had this?
The drink flip menu was attached to a ping-pong paddle!
