Northeast Travel Week 2

8/8/09 Saturday – Day 9

We left Gorham this morning and found a cute café for breakfast. Then we headed south to Conway and stopped at Pinkham Notch Visitor center. The hike to the top of Mt. Washington along Tuckerman’s Ravine was about 12 miles round trip so we decided not to do it. We haven’t done much hiking lately and didn’t feel we were in good enough shape. This mountain was the highest in NH. This morning it was 30 degrees at the summit with 30 mph winds causing the wind chill temperature to be about 18. After leaving there we hiked to Glen Ellis Falls which was pretty. Then in Conway we got on the Kancamagus Highway across to Lincoln. We saw three different covered bridges as well as some waterfalls. It took us all day to do the whole highway. When we reached Lincoln, all of the hotels we tried were full so we drove on to Franconia. We found one in my coupon book called Hillwinds Lodge. When I called the man said he only had 2 rooms left. When we got there, the outside looked a little rugged, not bad, just isolated but we decided to check it out. I’m so glad we did. The man who owned it was so nice and pleasant to talk to and his wife really put in a lot of work planting beautiful flower gardens around. There was a clean big pool in the middle and one of the buildings overlooks the river. We chose the room with the king bed overlooking the pool for only $79. When we filled our ice bucket, we were able to visit with the owner and had a nice time talking to him. This motel even lets you fill your ice chest with ice from their machine which is very unusual.

8/9/09 Sunday – Day 10
We left the hotel at 5:30am but we never did see a moose. Then we went back to Lincoln, NH for breakfast. After that we hiked in Franconia Notch State Park. We went to the Basin, Kinsman Falls, and Rocky Glen Falls. Then we hiked on the Appalachian Trail for a little while. We saw where the Man in the Mountain used to be (the state symbol of NH) and read about its story. After that we stopped at the Tramway to look around. We stopped in Littleton, NH for lunch and then headed to Vermont. The skies were beautiful all morning and when we headed out, the skies got overcast. Most of the places we wanted to stop were not open on Sunday so we ended up at a Hampton Inn in Burlington, VT. Downtown was an artsy hippie kind of place.

8/10/09 Monday – Day 11
We took a 90 minute narrated cruise on Lake Champlain on the Spirit of Ethan Allen III ($18pp). It was really nice and the weather was perfect. It was overcast so it didn’t get too hot and luckily it wasn’t raining even though the weather forecast said it would rain. After that we headed to Lake Placid, NY. We arrived around 4:30pm and got a room at the North Woods Inn (with coupon only $79) which was right downtown. Then we walked around downtown before heading to the Olympic Center. We saw the three different ice skating rinks and watched some people practice their figure skating in the 1932 rink. We also saw the 1980 rink where the US Olympic hockey team won the gold medal. Then we ate at a Chinese restaurant for dinner before getting ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s. It was a really nice day.

8/11/09 Tuesday – Day 12
We left Lake Placid and drove to Saranac Lake. Then we came back to Lake Placid to see the Olympic Training Center and the Ski Jump area. Finally we decided to go to Fort Ticonderoga. When we found out that it was not part of the national park service and was privately owned, we decided not to pay to go into the fort. After that, we drove around the north side of Lake George and went back to Vermont to the Maple Syrup Museum. While we were there, it began to pour down rain but later it stopped. After the museum, we drove down around the bottom of Lake George around Rutland, VT and stopped in Whitehall, NY. We saw the remaining hull of the USS Ticonderoga from 1812. We arrived in Lake George around 5pm and found a motel off the main highway. I called Diane Cordell and arranged to meet her and her husband Tim after dinner. It was so wonderful that the four of us got along so well. We sat and talked until almost 10pm. I felt like we had known them forever.

8/12/09 Wednesday – Day 13
We ate breakfast and then got on the Mohican for a boat ride on Lake George. It left at 10:30am and returned around 1:30. Then we left and headed to Utica. It was a very pleasant drive. We stopped at Union Station to ask about the train ride tomorrow and the lady was extremely friendly. We got a reasonable price for a room at the Red Roof Inn (King bed for 59.99). I am looking forward to the day trip tomorrow on the train. We will be taking the Adirondack Scenic Railroad which leaves at 9:15am and returns at 6:30pm.

8/13/09 Thursday – Day 14
We had a glorious day on a train ride from Utica to Old Forge on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. We left around 9:15am and arrived in Old Forge around noon. We left at 4:30pm and returned to Utica at 7pm. It cost us $36 each and we had a four hour layover in Old Forge. We ate lunch in Old Forge after the school bus shuttle dropped us off. Then we did a little shopping around the town before finding a place to get ice cream. We decided to walk the mile back to the train station rather than wait for two hours for the bus to come back. We enjoyed hanging around the train station talking to the volunteers on the train.

8/14/09 Friday – Day 15
We left Utica and headed towards Hyde Park. As I looked in the AAA tour guide, I saw that the Remington Company gave free tours. So, Don pulled on the side of the road and I put the town of Ilion in the GPs and found out that it was on our way to Hyde Park. We took the free 2 hour tour and it was so interesting. They make about 1000 shotguns and 1000 rifles each day and about half a million each year are sold. After we left there we ended up in an antique store in Richfield Springs. I met a man who was shopping from Lake Lure, NC who was there for a big show in Bouckville, NY. When we arrived in Hyde Park it was too late to do anything but tomorrow we will go to the FDR Presidential Library.

8/15/09 Saturday – Day 16
We went to the FDR historic site today to find out it was a free weekend in the National Parks so we only had to pay $7 each for the presidential library and everything else was free. We started out with a tour of FDR’s home at 9:30. This is where he was born, lived as a child, and also during his presidency. After that, at 11:30, a bus took us to Top Cottage which was FDR’s getaway. By this time, it was lunch so we ran up to McDonalds and then came back to do the Presidential Library. At 3pm, we drove to the Vanderbilt Mansion only to be told the tours were “sold out”. Meanwhile there were three national park rangers just hanging out doing nothing. They called over to Val-Kill and was told that it was open house so we drove over there only to be told that it was all “sold out.” This was really frustrating! I feel like since it was a national park and we were told it us open until 4:30, they should keep doing tours until then, not stop at 3pm. We wandered around the grounds at Val-Kill and then went back to the Vanderbilt Mansion to see the gardens there. This was nothing like the Biltmore House in Asheville. We will try to tour the Vanderbilt Mansion and Val-Kill tomorrow.

If you would like to see more pictures of week 2, click on this link: Northeast Adventure Week 2

Dreams

Blog Prompt - Today is Dream Day. Tell me about your dreams.

I don’t usually dream or if I dream, I usually don’t remember them. I sleep pretty soundly or maybe I sound loudly but either way, I can’t remember any of my dreams. I am an early riser and I go to sleep around 10 or 11pm so I hope I make good use of the hours I sleep. I fall asleep quickly and I awaken quickly so I don’t lie in bed thinking about my dreams either. I think the days that I wake up tired that I must have had busy dreams but I just don’t remember them.

Original image: 'Symphony of Colours' http://www.flickr.com/photos/31533886@N00/3343188281 by: Garry

Marshmallows

Blog Prompt - Today is National Toasted Marshmallow day. Do you enjoy Sam-ores or toasted marshmallow's over a fire?

I really like toasting marshmallows over a fire but since it is just the 2 of us, we don’t usually have them anymore. After a couple of them, we are too full and then we waste a whole bag of marshmallows. I love to put one on the end of a stick and let it catch on fire. When most of it is blistered, I blow out the fire and eat the outer layer of blistered marshmallow (sometimes burning my tongue in the process.) Then I will brown the inside part over the fire and then eat it. It doesn’t usually catch on fire. This is the way I feel like I’m getting two for one. I don’t eat s’mores much because they seem messy to me and I hate touching messy food. (I think it is a weird food paranoia that I have but I can’t help myself.)

Original image: 'Oooey gooey' http://www.flickr.com/photos/28340490@N03/3105676180 by: Cortney Martin

Brownie Troop

Blog Prompt - Today is when the first Scout Camp was opened. Were you a Girl Scout or did you go to a Scout Camp?

When I was a little girl, I was in the brownies. I loved my little brown dress with my brown cap. I remember having to bring money for something each week and I know that I felt uncomfortable with this because even as a little girl, I knew that we didn’t have money to spare. I also had a brown tie that I couldn’t ever tie right. To this day, I can’t tie a tie. The only craft that I remember doing is spreading peanut butter on pine cones for the birds in the winter. I’m not sure I even finished going the rest of the school year but I never went back again.

I found a picture on google of an outfit like I wore. I wish I had one of me in the uniform and maybe someday I will come across it.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_B1WAddU7SqA/RdvQ-I6mIkI/AAAAAAAAIH8/1RQWKdN5A2U/DSC_0080.jpg

Ice Cream

Blog Prompt - Today is National Banana Split Day. What is your favorite ice cream treat?

I really like soft serve chocolate ice cream in a cake cone. I love the texture and the taste. My husband likes the hand dipped ice creams better and even banana splits but I usually choose my favorite over them if it is one of my choices.

Original image: 'primal cream' http://www.flickr.com/photos/19232773@N00/40513670 by: Martin Sharman

Apple Pie

Blog Prompt - Today is National Peach Pie Day. What is your favorite pie?

My favorite pie is Apple Pie. It is one of the few things my husband remembers about my likes and dislikes. And even more weird than that, I really like the apples more than the pie. I will dig out the apple slices and not eat the crust. Then my hubby gets to eat my crust so he is happy. Instead of pie, in the fall I make apple crisp with brown sugar so there is no crust.

Original image: 'Apple Pie' http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035569931@N01/2053950521 by: Brian

Northeast Adventure Week 1

(We are finally back at home but I'm not sure for how long. Since my notes were so extensive, I decided to break them up into weekly segments so you don't fall asleep as you read my adventures. Here are notes from week 1.)

7/31/09 Friday – Day 1
We arrived at the Hampton Inn in Hazleton, PA around 9:15pm. The weather was overcast or rainy most of the day but about the time we hit Pennsylvania, it cleared up. There was only one major accident along the way that caused a lot of traffic. It seems that an 18 wheeler was heading south and crossed the grass median, went up the hill, and crashed into a James Madison Univ. dorm building (but luckily no one was there at the time). Spent the night at a Hampton Inn in Hazleton, PA.

8/1/09 Saturday – Day 2
Got up early and headed to the Pocono Raceway. We had no trouble buying tickets for the ARCA race ($25 pp). The day was sunny and in the 80s. We sat around really nice people and enjoyed the race. Our seats were right in front of the entrance to the pits. After the race, we headed to Stroudsburg and spent the night at a Hampton Inn there. For dinner we ate at a Thai restaurant. While looking for the restaurant, we accidentally crossed into NJ at the Delaware Water Gap and had to pay a .75 toll to get back into PA. On the way back, the low tire pressure light came on.

8/2/09 Sunday – Day 3
As we got ready to leave, we found that our car had a flat tire. After a call to AAA, a tow truck arrived and put air in the tire. Then we drove to the only place open to fix a flat tire, Sears which didn’t open until 11am and it cost $20. Finally we were on our way. We drove north on Hwy 209 through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. We stopped at Dingman’s Falls visitor center and hiked to 2 waterfalls. We ended up in Hartford, CT for the night at a Hampton Inn.

8/3/09 Monday – Day 4
We really enjoyed the Hampton Inn and had a nice breakfast. After breakfast we headed up the road. Since we put “avoid tolls” in our GPS, we wandered around small towns in MA. We went through Webster and Worcester. We stopped in Lowell, MA at a national historical park that I never heard of but it was well worth the stop. We paid to take the canal ride and learn how this town was important to the Industrial Revolution. On the way to the boat ride, we even rode the trolley. We also took a tour of the Bootts Museum which was nice. It was amazing that we found a parking space right behind the visitor center which normally charges for parking but since the power was out on the ticket machines, parking was free. We didn’t stop in NH but we weren’t there for a long time. Then we ended up on Rte. 1 when we hit Maine. There was so much congestion and the traffic kind of irritated Don. We looked for a hotel in Kennebunkport but the prices were outrageous at any place that had a vacancy. I finally called a hotel from my coupon book and they had a vacancy for only $79 so we headed to the Lodge at Kennebunk and got a room. The room was big with a microwave and fridge and the desk clerk was super friendly and nice. After checking in, we went to Pilot House for dinner where we got a whole lobster for $10 and then an ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s.

8/4/09 Tuesday – Day 5
We ate breakfast at the Golden Rooster in Saco, ME. Then we headed to Freeport, ME. First we stopped in Bath, ME and saw the naval shipyard. We walked across the street from the visitor center to Halcyon Yarn and I spent some time touching and looking at all the fascinating textures and colors. When we arrived in Freeport, we went to the LL Bean store and then the factory outlet to look for some bird window clings for my sister. We never could find any. When we left there we went up to Boothbay Harbor and found this neat motel called Midtown Motel. The man’s father opened this in 1955. The rest of the day we spent wandering around Boothbay Harbor as the fog rolled in. We ate clam chowder for dinner at this little roadside stand called Dunston’s Dog House and it was really tasty and filling.

8/5/09 Wednesday – Day 6
Today was a wonderful day. We ate breakfast in Damaricotta, ME but the breakfast wasn’t very good. It was a breakfast/bakery place and they were out of wheat, rye, and some other kind of bread. Then we headed to Acadia National Park and got there around 11am. We found a great room at the Robbins Motel for only $58. For lunch we went to Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound where Don ate a whole lobster and I had 2 dozen steamers for about $30. Then we drove the loop road around the park. We hiked around Cadillac Mountain and stopped at places along the road. For dinner we went to Bar Harbor and ate at Poor Boy’s Gourmet Restaurant and had the early bird specials. After dinner we drove to Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor before returning to our motel.

8/6/09 Thursday – Day 7
We left Bar Harbor, ME and headed to Calais, ME where the border crossing into Canada was located. We stopped at the St. Croix International Historic Site which honors an island in the middle of the river that you cannot go to. It was the first place the French settled. There were bronze statues along a short trail to the river and they cover these statues with crates in the winter to protect them from the snow. Then we at lunch at this cute take out shack called The Ice Cream Patch.

Apparently they arrest tons of drugs smugglers at this border crossing each day (which we didn’t know about) and apparently we look like drug smugglers. We were with the border patrol for hours while they interrogated us and practically strip searched us. Our car was strip searched though and everything removed and x-rayed. Every bag was hand searched also. They separated us and asked questions like how many beers were in the cooler, name the states I had lived in, exactly how much money did I have, the exact date when Don became a judge, where were we heading, how long were we going to be there and it was bad because we didn’t know the answers to all the questions. Finally hours later, when they couldn’t think of anything else to ask us, they told us we could leave and have a good time in Canada. Then we had to repack the whole car. By this time, we were so irritated that we decided we didn’t want to spend a dime in Canada so we turned around and came back across the border. I don’t think we want to go back to Canada anytime soon.

Then we headed to Millinocket, ME and hope to hike some of the Appalachian Trail tomorrow. We found a room at the Econolodge for only $49! After dinner at Ruthie’s Hotel Terrace, we did a load of laundry back at our hotel.

8/7/09 Friday – Day 8
We left Millinocket and headed to Baxter State Park. We decided not to pay the $13 to enter and then find out that there was no parking. People had to reserve parking at trailheads in advance or be at the gate by 5am (which we were not). Instead we went to The Golden Road to look for moose. We spent most of the day looking for moose but we never did find any. Instead, we came across the B-52 crash site in Greenville, ME. This plane crashed on Elephant Mountain in 1963. It gave me an eerie feeling like there were ghosts there among the wreckage that was all around. We ate lunch in Greenville and it poured down rain but stopped when we left. After we left there, we headed to Gorham, NH. Before we left Maine, we found a covered bridge in Newry, ME. Shortly after that we got to Gorham which was really crowded so I’m glad we got a hotel room easily. After dinner at Burger King, we drove west on Hwy 2 to Lancaster and back.

That’s the end of week 1. For more pictures, click on my Flicker Set: Northeast Adventures Week 1

Houseplants

Blog Prompt - Do you have a house plant that you really love growing? Is there a plant you would love to have? Or do you have a "brown thumb"?

Right now that we are traveling alot, I really don’t have a favorite house plant. I have a few houseplants that I hope survive when we travel but none that I’m deeply attached to. I had 2 orchid plants that my parents gave me that lived for years and I really babied them. Unfortunately this spring they both died. I don’t know if it got too cold for them when I put them outside or if the little boy I paid to water them, didn’t water them enough. Either way, they are now dead. I loved those orchids and they would have tons of blooms on them that lasted for months. Now my hubby just sees it as less for me to worry about now that we travel.

Original image: 'The Orchid Arch' http://www.flickr.com/photos/79477324@N00/404031166

Potatoes

Blog Prompt - Today is National Potato Day. How do you like your potatoes?

Lately I have been eating French fries if we are in a restaurant so I can get vinegar to pour on them. I love the taste of vinegar! I don’t care if they only have white or red vinegar, balsamic vinegar or the wonderful malted vinegar! At home when I am cooking, I love to eat garlic mashed potatoes. Yummm!

Original image: 'The Chips Are Down...' http://www.flickr.com/photos/57557325@N00/244584446 by: Gary

Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Blog Prompt - Seventy years ago today the Wizard of Oz premiered. What is your favorite children's movie?

I really like Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I don’t mean the new one with Johnny Depp but the 1971 one with Gene Wilder and Jack Albertson. I think the story has such great messages and color and excitement. I used to show my class this movie every year and we would discuss the different children.

Here are my two favorite quotes from the movie:

Willy Wonka: [singing] There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be.

Willy Wonka: We are the music makers, we are the dreamers of dreams.

White Tailed Deer

Blog Prompt - "What kind of animal are you underneath your human skin?"

White tailed Deer – According to Wikipedia,

1. they are medium sized (Yes, this definitely sounds like me. I have always wanted to be tall because I had friends who were twins and both were 6 ft. tall in junior high. They could reach anything, do practically anything, and no one ever picked on them. If I couldn’t be tall, I wanted to be petite and cute but no, I had to keep growing up and outward. So, I guess I’m medium sized.)

2. are generalists and can adapt to a wide variety of habitats and are most common east of the Rocky Mountains (I love to travel so I guess I can adapt to anywhere. I grew up on Long Island, NY where I graduated from high school. Then I moved to SC and have loved it ever since. Of course I have loved the different places that I have visited and could picture myself living practically anywhere as long as I’m with my husband.)

3. most often thought of as forest animals (I love the forest more than the beach and I love hiking.)

4. eat large varieties of food (I definitely love to eat and love to eat different things.)

Original image: 'Mini Me...:O)' http://www.flickr.com/photos/66164549@N00/2035317702 by: Keven Law

Legs

Blog Prompt - Today is Joke Day. Talk about something that makes you laugh.

This isn’t a joke but it does make me laugh. My husband and I wear these hiking pants where the legs unzip to convert into shorts. These pants make us feel like we have 2 pairs of pants in one when we travel. They are also nylon so they are lightweight and easy to wash. The other day we took a scenic train ride and we were in our shorts. While we waited to board the train, we were going through a mental checklist to make sure we had everything we wanted to take with us. I mentioned that I had his legs in my pack. Half a dozen people snapped their heads to look at us and down at my husband’s legs. They didn’t know that I meant the legs to his pants and not his real legs!

Original image: 'Cleaning services 8' http://www.flickr.com/photos/46425925@N00/477483944 by: Polo

Relaxation

Blog Prompt - Today is Relaxation Day. What would you do on a day where you could completely relax?

I know this doesn’t surprise my friends but I would go hiking! I love to hike and be outdoors. I am always amazed at the world around me and how lucky I am to be alive to experience this. In fact, it makes me feel so good that it truly relaxes me. I am not stressing about the little things in my life because when I’m hiking in a beautiful place, all I can think about is that if God can make and take care of all of this, why do I think he won’t take care of me too? Why do I worry about all the little things I can’t control. I can only try to be a better person and do what is right. If I do this, I know God will take care of me. Maybe I have a simplistic view of my life (my husband says I’m too naïve because I constantly think everything will always turn out the right or the way it should turn it out). But it works for me.

Original image: 'The Grand Tetons' http://www.flickr.com/photos/95572727@N00/611311642 by: Trey Ratcliff

Breakfast

Blog Prompt - Today is National Waffle Day. Tell me what you love to have for breakfast.

I am not a big breakfast eater but my husband is. I’m happy with a donut, or a bagel, or a big breakfast. It really doesn’t matter to me because I just want it out of the way so we can get on with the day. I usually get up to garden as soon as it is light outside and then when my hubby wakes up, we eat breakfast together either at home or in a restaurant. Sometimes I hate to have to stop what I’m doing to go eat breakfast. If we are at home I usually have a bagel, or a bowl of cereal, or a hardboiled egg. If we go out I usually have eggs (over medium), bacon, hash browns, and toast. I’m don’t really like pancakes or waffles except maybe once a year and if they have lots of pecans on them.

Original image: 'Miniature food - American Breakfast' http://www.flickr.com/photos/24257141@N05/2894738860 by: Stéphanie Kilgast

At the Beach

Blog Prompt - Summer is almost over and the kids are either back in school or on their way. Today is Play in the Sand Day and tell me about a day at the beach.

I’m not really a beach person but when I am at the beach, I like to lay out and read a book. I usually get hot fast so then I dip in the water to get cool and I’m out again. I don’t like to get too far in the water ever since we almost was eaten by sharks. I can’t remember if I’ve told this story or not but if I have, please forgive me.

We were newly married and in love and of course poor. We splurged on one of those long floats to lay on when we got in the water. Both of us were just hanging on it as we floated and talked. We were so far out that people looked like miniature doll people. Then my hubby started to hum the Jaws movie theme and jumps off and starts to swim away. Back then I wore really thick glasses so I could barely see except up close. I asked him where he was going and he said something that sounded like Shark! I glanced around me and there were shark fins circling me on the float. The next thing I remember is being up on the beach with the float still under my arm looking at the water as my husband arrived on the shore.

A crowd surrounded us and let us know that the lifeguard had been blowing his whistle forever at us but he couldn’t get our attention. The sharks had been circling us for a very long time and we didn’t notice them either (I guess we were in love!) Then they said, that with one arm (the float was under the other arm), I swam past my husband to get to the beach. I bet I looked pretty funny! I guess I wasn’t leaving that float behind either because at the time it was a luxury we really couldn’t afford. The lifeguard was really mad at us but I was so grateful to be alive that I didn’t care. I guess the sharks weren’t in the mood for Chinese food or southern fried chicken and left us alone!

Original image: 'comin' right at us' http://www.flickr.com/photos/90569898@N00/1206482105 by: gina

Patio Furniture

Blog Prompt - Is there something in your home that you use for something other than what you are suppose to use it for?

When I retired from teaching two years ago, our formal dining room became a storage room. When we first moved here, I had special window treatments made for the bow window in this dining room. I also bought an antique pedestal dining room table and chairs that seats twelve people. In fact, it was very hard finding a linen table cloth to cover this table. I have a beautiful antique china cabinet filled with antique china from China. We also have an heirloom grandfather clock from my in-laws here. Needless to say, I love my formal dining room. Then when I retired, we had nowhere to place all my boxes until I can sort through what I want to keep and what I want to throw away. Until I stay home long enough to sort and toss, the boxes will just hang out in my dining room aka storage room.

Wiggle Your Toes

Blog Prompt - Today is Wiggler Your Toes Day. Where do you like to wiggle your toes?

I am not much of a toe wiggler. I hate to walk barefoot but I was brought up that way. My parents never let me walk barefeet. I do walk barefoot in the sand but when we leave the beach, I have to find a place to wash the sand off my feet. Now, after hiking in the mountains, if we come to a river, I love to put my feet into the cold river. It always feels so good.

Original image: 'While waiting for the train Sarah broke into toe stretches to get ready for the day of walking barefoot. My pedometer averaged 8 miles plus per day. My feet hurt just typing that.' http://www.flickr.com/photos/45842803@N00/2718224302 by: Christopher

Plums and the Moon Walk

Tuesday’s Blog Prompt - Today is Watermelon Day. Do you have a favorite fruit you enjoy to eat?

My favorite fruit is black plums. They are sweet and small. I don’t have to cut it like cantaloupe (my second favorite fruit).

Wednesday’s Blog Prompt - Today is Neil Armstrong's birthday and do any of you remember the day we landed on the moon back in 1969? What are your views about space travel?

I was 9 years old and it was an exciting time in our lives. I remember my teacher and my parents making a big thing about it. We watched it on our black and white TV. I have no problems with others traveling into space as long as it isn’t me. Of course, I can barely ride in a plane and haven’t in about 3 years.

Original image: 'Plum Crazy' http://www.flickr.com/photos/82278008@N00/148825254 by: Graham

Sports

Blog Prompt - Today is Sports Day and I know I can't wait for football season to start. Are you a sports fan and do you enjoy participating in sports or just watching on the sidelines?

I am more of a cheerleader than a participant. I don’t like competing against others because I hate the stress and the anxiety. I remember having to be in an accordion competition and the stress of trying to be perfect made me feel awful. I ended up 5th in the state for my age group but I hated every minute of it! If I play team sports and mess up, I feel like I have let the whole team down and they will hate me. I guess it is because I was never good at sports. Since I always wore thick glasses and was very near sighted, I did not have good eye-hand coordination and peripheral vision so I was always missing the ball whether it was basketball, softball, or tennis. When I began to teach on the high school level, I have enjoyed going to the girl’s softball and basketball games to cheer them on. I always think that girl’s sports does not get the recognition or support that boy’s sports do.

Original image: 'At Bat' http://www.flickr.com/photos/8136496@N05/2443934851 by: Terren