We're just different

Normally I make it a rule not to blog about my relationships. I do have some great dating stories, but those only come out after a few Henry Weinhards rootbeers. However, it has come time to make an exception to my rule. Mostly because all of my time is spent with this guy and I don't know what else to blog about. His name is Scott and he's not the typical guy I date. We're just different and here is why.

1. I grew up in Northern California. He grew up in Southern California.
2. He wants to take me to Singapore, Australia, Italy, etc. I want to take him to the Punkin Chunkin and the Hick Festival.
3. He thinks I should gain a few pounds. I think I should lose a few.
4. His idea of dinner always involves something that lived formerly in the water. My idea is something that grew or lived on land.
5. As a former MMA fighter and college football player he wants to beat everyone up. I run and/or drop to the ground in a fetal position at the first signs of danger.
6. I’ve rarely met a cheese or ice cream I didn’t like. He’s lactose intolerant.
7. He shops at places like Polo and Diesel. I shop at the Target store (as my niece calls it) and TJ Max.
8. My favorite concert was Dolly Parton. His favorite concert was Kanye West.
9. He’s a boy. I’m a girl.
10. He’s Asian. I’m white.

Punkin Chunkin

For the 3rd year in a row Carren and I went to the Punkin Chunkin. It was awesome. Carren gives a great report of the whole thing on her blog. Check it out and don't forget to catch the special on the Discovery Channel some time! http://mycket.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-love-smell-of-pneumatic-air-cannons.html

The DGM

Some times people come into our lives to give us remarkable gifts. To grant our most ardent wishes and make all our dreams come true. In Cinderella the Fairy Godmother grants Cinderella the chance to go to the ball, meet Prince Charming and start a new life. In Alexandria, Virginia the Dairy Godmother almost daily grants me the chance to escape from hectic city life into a world of tantalizing frozen custard and delectable baked goods. She's a culinary genius who has turned ice cream into an art form. Every 2 days she has a new flavor and I have taken it upon myself to sample each one. Some of my favorites have been chocolate orange shortbread, banana pudding and toasted almond. She even caters her flavors for the seasons and holidays. I'm looking forward to eggnog next week. With her shop just a few short blocks away I've become a regular and can't really imagine life without said Dairy Godmother. Cause let's face it, some days you just need a pint!

Wild and Wonderful

This year for Columbus Day weekend my roommate Janet, my buddy Brian and I went on an adventure to John Denver's "almost heaven" West Virginia. We took a little detour on our way out and stopped at the Graves Mountain Apple Festival. Where we sampled and picked our own apples before heading to WV. Our first stop in WV was the Biscuit World, where they serve biscuit sandwiches with names like Ron, Tootie, Thundering Herd and Duke. It was delicious! Once our bellies were full we headed over to Cooter's Cabins & Campin'. "Cooter" was exactly what you'd expect a West Virginian to be, except he had a full set of teeth, but he was not without the overalls, goofy laugh, and country manners. His house is on the property and the "office" is located in the old barn. In the office there are a variety of things for sale, including Cooter's Cabins & Campin t-shirts puffy painted, I'm sure, by the misses. He showed us our campsite and warned us not to leave our shoes lying around 'cause the neighbor's dog would chew 'em up. The neighbor's dogs showed up an hour later to play an endless game of fetch. Nothing could deter this dog from the game in fact she was waiting outside our tent the next morning with the same stick in her mouth ready to go. But we had other things to do. Mysterious things.


My roommate had tried to visit the Mystery Hole several years ago but sadly it was closed that day. After reading their website we were not gonna let that happen again. The website makes it perfectly unclear what the Mystery Hole is. My favorite quote is "Now that you've read and digested this story I believe you understand what you think I've said, but I am not quite sure you realize that what you've read is not what I meant." So even if you think you understand, you don't. Like the website says, "seeing is believing." So we came to see. When we pulled up what should be playing on the loud speakers but the Macarena. It was then that I knew this experience would be extraordinary. We purchased our $6 tickets and waited for our tour group to be called. It's hard to describe what happened on that 15 minute tour. The best I can do is tell you what I saw. Picture if you will psychedelic happy face book fair posters, plastic Halloween skeletons, drift wood creatures, abandoned hornets nests, 1970s mannequins, a black hall way with spatterings of neon paint glowing under a black-light, a wood paneled tilted room where a golf ball running along a track appears to roll up hill, a mustached Hawaiian-shirted tour guide cracking goofy jokes, fun house mirrors, and the comfort of a bench seat that formerly resided in an old ford pick-up. It was almost as if some one had raided Good Will or their 90 year old Grandma's basement for decorations. Really its something you must see for yourself. If you are ever in the New River Gorge area of West Virginia don't miss the Mystery Hole! In fact you probably won’t be able to resist the powers of the Mystery Hole drawing you near…


Along with the Mystery Hole, another legend of the New River Gorge area of West Virginia is “5 Dollar Frank.” We asked Cooter about Frank and he had all sorts of great things to say about the man. Frank passed away a few years back and when he died he was apparently the oldest licensed pilot in the US, couldn’t hear a thing and gave rides in his Cessna plane for $5. He built the Fayetteville airport with his own 2 hands and everyone knew Frank. While we missed the opportunity to meet 5 Dollar Frank we did wander over to the Fayetteville airport and for a lot more than $5 dollars took a ride in a WWII biplane. A biplane! It was incredible! Admittedly I was a little scared, but it was also a once in a lifetime opportunity. The weather was absolutely perfect for flying. The leaves were at peak fall colors, the sun was shining and the sky could not have been bluer. The flight was about 25 minutes with amazing views of the New River Gorge and beautiful WV hills. We cruised along leisurely through the sky with the open air blowing past us. After the scenic part of the flight came the fun part. The acrobatics! We did some barrel rolls and hammerheads and while the cockpit is open, you don’t feel like you’d come close to falling out. And I had a parachute on “just in case.” It was like a very mild roller coaster. Not scary, just fun! Sadly my time was up after the acrobatics and we had to land. All good things must come to an end and we had to return to our real lives. It’s true what they say. West Virginia wild and wonderful!

Why I love visiting Bean

One of the best things about visiting my sister is the greeting I get from the kids and dog. They know when I'm coming and are posted at the glass door ready to jump up and down and bang the door as soon as I'm within sight. I love it! I adore those 2 little girls and their momma too!

Nova Scotia Pictures

Nova Scotia

I have 3 of the greatest friends in the world. The 4 of us make up a group we like the call The Little Truckers. We went on our first trip together over 3 years ago and since then we have decreed that we will take an ATTS (annual trip to somewhere) until we die. DIE! This year we went to Nova Scotia, eh. Why you ask. Why not? It was absolutely beautiful! Picturesque if you will. We went over Labor Day weekend and it was a perfect time of year to be there. In preparation of our ATTS we usually try to read a novel that takes place where we will be vacationing. If you haven’t guessed what novel we read already you are either A. a dude or B. missing out on one of literatures greatest treasures: Anne of Green Gables.

On our first day in Nova Scotia we took a Ferry to PEI (Prince Edward Island) and spent the day enjoying the beauty of the island and the Anne sites. We went first to Green Gables, the house and land that inspired L.M. Montgomery to write her story. It was like walking into the novel; Haunted Woods, Lake of Shining Waters, Barry’s Pond and all. Next we visited Avonlea Village, again stepping into the story. The village was set up with a school, houses, church, gardens, farm yard, shops, etc. The characters from the book roamed the streets and at select times during the day acted out scenes from the book. It was so fun! There was even a pig race. I fell in love with Gilbert Blythe. He was adorable. Lucky Anne! After our Anne fun we enjoyed one of the island’s specialties: lobster. It was delicious. In fact I couldn’t get enough. I bought a live one in the airport and took it home to DC for dinner.

Day two of our trip took us on an amazing drive through Cape Breton, but not before stopping and taking pictures at a random house whose lawn was littered with painted wooden cut-outs of EVERY Simpsons character. The drive around Cape Breton was stunning. Alexander Graham Bell once said, "I have seen the Canadian and the American Rockies, the Andes and the Alps and the Highlands of Scotland; but for simple beauty, Cape Breton out rivals them all." We spent most of they day ooohhhhing and aaahhhhing and taking pictures at scenic stops along the road. It was beautiful!

The third day of our trip was spent in Fort Louisbourg in the year 1744, when the French had command of the fort. I loved this place! Everyone was in period costume and played their parts so well. Visitors are allowed to walk all over the village and explore the buildings, restored and original, without supervision. I love Canada! We even had a typical meal that would’ve been served in 1744. As a genealogist and history nerd, I love this kinda thing. Living history is awesome. One day I aspire to take part in some sort of historical reenactment. One day.

Day four was spent exploring Halifax. We visited the Titanic section of a cemetery and the Halifax Maritime Museum which houses the largest collection of Titanic artifacts. After which we were obligated to listen to Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." Then we shopped around for some Canadian goodies to take home. Little did we know that the grocery stores were closed for Labor Day. Yeah were definitely not in the US.

Overall the trip was fantastic. If you get the chance to go to Nova Scotia DO IT!