tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215900244108716862024-02-20T06:16:05.957-08:00Keep The Car RunningAllison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-49984992448419137132009-06-05T12:47:00.000-07:002009-06-05T13:20:01.996-07:00A good day for a hike<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c3hDj_WlThwKYdru5f3OxZKWW5yp_KslQl41tTC5IjYW8tYoHh-SJ06LKyC2Dydy2AbpWjqNp6xnzp4XkzdDGqfZYQv4U90hB2zbdwgw4hc3RF1wF_SXETflw4LVTKC7GSGMuQU8p38/s1600-h/grizzly.jpg"></a>Let me begin by saying: I realize that the photos aren't showing up in my previous blog. Tech support is on its' way. Riiiight. Seriously though I will fix it as soon as I can steal Sarah's photos from her computer. Thanks for your patience. Who am I kidding, is anyone even still looking at this blog?<br /><br />Yesterday I went for a hike up Big Mountain with Sarah and Joel. Sarah is my roommate from Kansas, Joel is just some kid who tags along a lot... just kidding. He is originally from Michigan. They are both doing a Physical Therapy clinical here in Whitefish. They both are in a PhD program for PT in St. Louis and have quickly become some great friends and entertaining partners in crime.<br /><br />We dragged Tia's dog Kita along for the stroll. She loves being outside, and gets cross when she knows you are planning a trip out of the house without her. Besides, she gets into the bread left on the counter pretty often and we have taken a liking to giving her the nickname "Loaf."<br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dJX8HfO7pVizAp45nzy1ChL_p3pArA1GJMR2HhRFu4jXyBt2bEwNUmHgz83ROb03RPQyLgFh-JPRrCtHU2sD8tvYUjfa9S8RejxPYDx5xlW2QpdcsSjm3R31pAQ2MQG26JZ3FHcNGuw/s320/Big+Mountain+015.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343936426143851346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>When I came to Whitefish in February, I dabbled in some skiing here. One of the chairlifts is just a few paces from the front door of our house. When I rode the chairlift up the Mountain on a clear day, I was struck by how amazing the view is at the summit. You can see all the way to Glacier on the West, over the Flathead Valley and to Flathead Lake, and some days you can even see Blacktail Ski Resort.<br /><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUkYB-rgcufUvb-WZ0SfjlDuvullPOVrqsyrdkAx1WSlucNDAXNJZ0z_2ha10r0vd-86tDTTx_iiQLUjj0HSolW-BYk65M02FaByJ1eZi-_sDhOzmhCk0tLg52DsdNVZly0rDnxO4Gng/s1600-h/Big+Mountain+016.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUkYB-rgcufUvb-WZ0SfjlDuvullPOVrqsyrdkAx1WSlucNDAXNJZ0z_2ha10r0vd-86tDTTx_iiQLUjj0HSolW-BYk65M02FaByJ1eZi-_sDhOzmhCk0tLg52DsdNVZly0rDnxO4Gng/s320/Big+Mountain+016.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343936427422691858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjHhtHn5jEEJSXdfVUSE8dNrbQcepc27ef1kpzJaVN9qdHQrLmSsT4dYhJwk_9yR8KkplMi0K4npM44cn0ExgCSNX4nPtfV-G1r_NBYitADBccpZmcDQoGVWwUxoAE5kJOQnkDcVP5Ao/s1600-h/Big+Mountain+004.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjHhtHn5jEEJSXdfVUSE8dNrbQcepc27ef1kpzJaVN9qdHQrLmSsT4dYhJwk_9yR8KkplMi0K4npM44cn0ExgCSNX4nPtfV-G1r_NBYitADBccpZmcDQoGVWwUxoAE5kJOQnkDcVP5Ao/s320/Big+Mountain+004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343936416539412018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a>Luckily all three of us had the day off yesterday and were itching for a good hike. The trail starts off doubling as an access road and traverse and winds back and forth over the ski trails. Once you get about a mile into the hike, you get to snowy trails that have a steep pitch at about 60 degrees. I guess we should have worn snowshoes!<br /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhADmuKMC3jUxs7cnhBhsXlke-9RXuBcfYEcnYEoGF-mGDGtVktHUNnn6hKbvPUfDGgQzeNHB2_H9RizGn-hG_P8g31dKsQhkkEfu9CpBnOK3Kh-F_j-Bwe5w4cRXzz8cQpLqoyZISA74/s320/Big+Mountain+009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343936419905036002" style="text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span>The view is breathtaking at the top. We checked out the Summit House, sat and had a snack at Chair 1. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjng6Ri888TR_d4xL0XysReTKFIuCqtTR3teeoBth44lfEaLIERcOnWt9BJbZX0j5bv3jBt3CsKLAgqupj7504F_QOPPFjzE8dy9p1HYSQk5urjWz3FQciN_cC7Xhn5tR518lYhmVPr_MY/s1600-h/Big+Mountain+013.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjng6Ri888TR_d4xL0XysReTKFIuCqtTR3teeoBth44lfEaLIERcOnWt9BJbZX0j5bv3jBt3CsKLAgqupj7504F_QOPPFjzE8dy9p1HYSQk5urjWz3FQciN_cC7Xhn5tR518lYhmVPr_MY/s320/Big+Mountain+013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343937299433401010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div>Still no bear sightings. Probably not such a bad thing considering we didn't have the bear spray. We joked that maybe Kita would be the appetizer, but then realized that since she is a speedy dog, she would probably just lead bears straight to us and we would become the tasty Grizzly snack. Still considering hucking a slab of meat off the porch one night to see what comes for it...</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyck77r6e_Ir-czRoJ6xGA-zuXseXhOcGKAiFJSmLCd1UgI4HSITh8FbmRW3Ky5H-v_robXWpvcUqWQJHiZc7q_cxKh2EuDJ93anbZ5NuDYeD1qsbBtQRT5IVZc6OqdS-OFc5pgyzzn8/s1600-h/grizz+cub.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyck77r6e_Ir-czRoJ6xGA-zuXseXhOcGKAiFJSmLCd1UgI4HSITh8FbmRW3Ky5H-v_robXWpvcUqWQJHiZc7q_cxKh2EuDJ93anbZ5NuDYeD1qsbBtQRT5IVZc6OqdS-OFc5pgyzzn8/s320/grizz+cub.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343940364186192706" style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Yes, Please.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c3hDj_WlThwKYdru5f3OxZKWW5yp_KslQl41tTC5IjYW8tYoHh-SJ06LKyC2Dydy2AbpWjqNp6xnzp4XkzdDGqfZYQv4U90hB2zbdwgw4hc3RF1wF_SXETflw4LVTKC7GSGMuQU8p38/s1600-h/grizzly.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c3hDj_WlThwKYdru5f3OxZKWW5yp_KslQl41tTC5IjYW8tYoHh-SJ06LKyC2Dydy2AbpWjqNp6xnzp4XkzdDGqfZYQv4U90hB2zbdwgw4hc3RF1wF_SXETflw4LVTKC7GSGMuQU8p38/s320/grizzly.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343940369845387474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span>No, thanks.</div>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-15058124343384728762009-05-27T10:19:00.000-07:002009-05-27T10:47:09.567-07:00West Shore CampingMy roommates and I, along with a few others, decided to go camping at West Shore State Park last weekend. Then went to the Wild Mile Rafting Festival in Big Fork, MT.<br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img src="webkit-fake-url://50BD6DCC-B893-4BE8-ACB5-B97A6E26E96E/photo.php.jpg" alt="photo.php.jpg" /></p>West Shore State Park is on Flathead Lake, the largest lake in the coterminous United States. It is the cleanest in the world for its' size and type. From the campsite in May, you look across the turquoise water of the lake at the still snow dusted Mission Mountains.<div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img src="webkit-fake-url://ADC10327-EF67-4EFB-90D1-321593F38C85/photo.php.jpg" alt="photo.php.jpg" /></p>Felesha and I arrived in the afternoon and set up our campsites. Then scrambled down the cliffside to sit by the water and roam around the rocky shore.<br /><br />We stayed up late by the fire and had a few beers and laughs. We got a little crazy drawing pirate facial hair on our faces with charcoal... Don't ask, I don't think we even know. But we did laugh until our abs were sore. </div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img src="webkit-fake-url://ADF1DA28-AAF9-4748-8908-8C1BFD83B90A/photo.php.jpg" alt="photo.php.jpg" /></p></div><div>The next morning we made an epic pan of scrambled eggs and headed to Bigfork Whitewater Festival.<br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img src="webkit-fake-url://58F56666-2843-4A81-BB14-19AC6FB6AEFF/photo.php.jpg" alt="photo.php.jpg" /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img src="webkit-fake-url://AA3E151F-7E36-4C98-A47A-85AC6251ABEE/photo.php.jpg" alt="photo.php.jpg" /></p><p></p>There were SO many people there, and it was kind of hard to see the rafters. We ended up leaving after the "Expert Slalom" event because we were all pretty tired, thirsty and sunburned.</div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img src="webkit-fake-url://F1E81617-BE42-40A9-AE2E-C17F6E05D7D3/photo.php.jpg" alt="photo.php.jpg" /></p></div>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-23073731120742687712009-05-19T12:50:00.000-07:002009-05-19T17:49:43.144-07:00Another Great AdventureI drove all the way from Keene to Chicago in one long day of driving on Monday, May 11. I chose to do this because I wanted to spend Mother's Day with (obviously) my Mom. In the past few weeks while at home, I was struggling with some tough news of some friends and it had put me in a pretty sad place. My mom was the strongest person to help me deal with it and was constantly giving me hugs and trying to keep me upbeat. It was hard to say goodbye and thus why I prolonged my stay in Keene until the very last possible day.<div><br /></div><div>I also needed one last late night Keene State College Urban Assault, and to invent breakfast with Katie, Erik and Will. Long story, but it involved crashing KSC Graduation Parties, Searching for "Jacki" and ended with a ragingly hungover breakfast at the Stage that included one still intoxicated Shelby, a few delicious Bloody Marys, and then a hike to Goose Pond for some quality Jethro swim time. I pretty much packed most of my favorite Keene things into one lovely day.<br /><br />The drive to Chicago was 16 hours. Luckily I had beautiful weather as I crossed the Vermont hills early in the morning. I was in a pretty good mood, and welcoming a new change in my life that I have high hopes for. I also couldn't wait to see Manuel and Colt again in Chicago. I love spending time with them, they make me laugh and keep me on my toes.<br /><br />After a much needed two night stay in Chicago, and a visit with Mary Welch and her boyfriend, I picked up my new roommate Felesha and we headed out of town in the direction of Minneapolis, MN to meet up with Tia, my long time friend since high school whom I will be living with in Montana. Luckily she did her homework on things to do for the rest of the road trip because the next few days were filled with adventure and sight seeing as well as many laughs.<br />First we went to downtown Minneapolis and walked around the outdoor mall, and had some lunch at the Newsroom.<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKnE3sijo9GzPxx8eC5f3M2A5ejYqBf9tvk6nEN5-pr7Y72SdZqD4GwyKQf4qX29wXSEVPhN461ztGwEFcl8kQqGt9caJFrZ7qFa04NF1MoFhl-u_Ip68xUL7PuSG_LRiPFQYR7W7fVk/s320/P5130623.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337627798245209202" /><br />Then we went to the Frank Gehry designed <a href="http://www.weisman.umn.edu/">Weisman Art Museum</a>. It is located on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus and is free to the Public. They are currently holding an exhibit on a Vietnamese Women's Art Collection.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZRFGrnZ5VLjV5jAKXMox9XNF1IDAosuAmkTaTI00i4aVBDbCUv1RNCfApjzDhm2d8YeYtg7SvBNzm5MaVC_tkjqbXlglBILVuVq9m5LEPyB_LHF8fYeegiVSDA4ZbhkTI45IvNXfctE/s320/P5130584.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337629386792566210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzorT0V9GAhGA5obt-2xYnkaW6_vtgYQhWBNrpTE-xRN7u5Acrhk-8e2JEH9HAN1rqE1NEcbacEkEq_Y9QlKB6d3gG7FUEmE_gJaFZcYlOgFKmhADzSuDHaKbwVftlc6NR0FoVFtyG_k/s1600-h/P5130595.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzorT0V9GAhGA5obt-2xYnkaW6_vtgYQhWBNrpTE-xRN7u5Acrhk-8e2JEH9HAN1rqE1NEcbacEkEq_Y9QlKB6d3gG7FUEmE_gJaFZcYlOgFKmhADzSuDHaKbwVftlc6NR0FoVFtyG_k/s320/P5130595.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337629397030261810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56KsZSCnxSDqrVUhLIk7azH-ILQIai8U8NRlnvX6rGKIrLpKcZhOL_kewlYQodQdZNM5m1SDnVTGZiqEd2cqzrkBM-eGvScMu-YTxfVJcLGgOFhP_mAqOv7Q71UtwVlD1sIUW7snsWFs/s1600-h/P5130596.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56KsZSCnxSDqrVUhLIk7azH-ILQIai8U8NRlnvX6rGKIrLpKcZhOL_kewlYQodQdZNM5m1SDnVTGZiqEd2cqzrkBM-eGvScMu-YTxfVJcLGgOFhP_mAqOv7Q71UtwVlD1sIUW7snsWFs/s320/P5130596.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337629392846143970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZRFGrnZ5VLjV5jAKXMox9XNF1IDAosuAmkTaTI00i4aVBDbCUv1RNCfApjzDhm2d8YeYtg7SvBNzm5MaVC_tkjqbXlglBILVuVq9m5LEPyB_LHF8fYeegiVSDA4ZbhkTI45IvNXfctE/s1600-h/P5130584.jpg"></a>Next on the list was the stunning Cathedral of St. Paul. The interior of this space is breathtaking, the photographs do not do it justice and I truly feel that it is hard to capture the magnitude of it without experiencing it firsthand. I will be adding photos of this place once I get them up on my computer.<br /><br />I rode the first rollercoaster in many years at the Mall of America.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe-6Kit_tIicdSEhyaJamVZDAVzHErEvnHgXbSqo3uaSIjY12pDsyx2he1R4JcPRKGDrgHbMLGYJLUaE-_EANL4-SebHMT6WcKgM1ba-BRKZT29qzBx0GcYb_7xbydXDGv66X6CTQ8Oc/s1600-h/P5150722.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe-6Kit_tIicdSEhyaJamVZDAVzHErEvnHgXbSqo3uaSIjY12pDsyx2he1R4JcPRKGDrgHbMLGYJLUaE-_EANL4-SebHMT6WcKgM1ba-BRKZT29qzBx0GcYb_7xbydXDGv66X6CTQ8Oc/s320/P5150722.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337632230534899394" /></a><br />Early in the morning on Friday, we headed towards and across South Dakota. After a very long day of driving we finally reached the Badlands National Park. Badlands is located just east of Rapid City, SD and surprises you with its' sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires after a long and arduous drive through miles of prairies.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzpt_SlN19GIP4zQwuJe8XnGiQFOPGoerjzh1HGPXYmqhcUGAAsw5V0QV6-c9IqlpHF0hDu42Pnlu5bINXAh10M-HuP0_1t-Zp8rYvx3h0KtnTmzI6d_OmG1BDfiNFtVy4IeheIHpWp0/s1600-h/P5150803.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzpt_SlN19GIP4zQwuJe8XnGiQFOPGoerjzh1HGPXYmqhcUGAAsw5V0QV6-c9IqlpHF0hDu42Pnlu5bINXAh10M-HuP0_1t-Zp8rYvx3h0KtnTmzI6d_OmG1BDfiNFtVy4IeheIHpWp0/s320/P5150803.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337633304514155986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuM9Kx8HMMOnQZ_CdRnlkFJSRoaA68DKl-Uwfw6d_jm12pBcLHjkbSZgjkFkz_WMMoTzvRWT4NI-CgVO97wCFjWpcnuBR767KjUTenPZyJh0sm7h4-RV4gSGCsK2b0-n244paaiNDPSc/s1600-h/P5150751.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuM9Kx8HMMOnQZ_CdRnlkFJSRoaA68DKl-Uwfw6d_jm12pBcLHjkbSZgjkFkz_WMMoTzvRWT4NI-CgVO97wCFjWpcnuBR767KjUTenPZyJh0sm7h4-RV4gSGCsK2b0-n244paaiNDPSc/s320/P5150751.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337633294926728274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe0FU30HXZ283A9xngMET4WD7RGi4VLbki-1g8TQSe42OsFMcUyRWEdhv4sawgM5RQy0tvDk0C-AbasH6preucLgC4q0QFGfEzQdCr6toj5meK2umKbmWtJOVS8SrN2IK_PLmWim212I/s1600-h/P5150737.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe0FU30HXZ283A9xngMET4WD7RGi4VLbki-1g8TQSe42OsFMcUyRWEdhv4sawgM5RQy0tvDk0C-AbasH6preucLgC4q0QFGfEzQdCr6toj5meK2umKbmWtJOVS8SrN2IK_PLmWim212I/s320/P5150737.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337633287998734226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NPyrdCkX4PEYL6BhJukjwbYfGgsw-kBVW2g521CsT4zoqGpAS9we7lQ4eslU2vM1c9ZhPfRUDVJ8XzVvmkMmnC3p5L84Fig2K6lefDUxMfym01dQmWP3n-16MhBmPr0eb_ohcgygxxY/s1600-h/P5150727.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NPyrdCkX4PEYL6BhJukjwbYfGgsw-kBVW2g521CsT4zoqGpAS9we7lQ4eslU2vM1c9ZhPfRUDVJ8XzVvmkMmnC3p5L84Fig2K6lefDUxMfym01dQmWP3n-16MhBmPr0eb_ohcgygxxY/s320/P5150727.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337633290799959202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvPT6RBUdZOofOCX3h7X9doE23iiAjh0B1KQAIa6IopO5adaraAAjTw9FXWWPwRFBc8RMFfkqDbV-3R_dxCd_K1gBJLbbdDraIg4hiccuXkNuKkwi2GtATh_FEDBzZI0PbFOZgLkX85c/s1600-h/P5150723.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvPT6RBUdZOofOCX3h7X9doE23iiAjh0B1KQAIa6IopO5adaraAAjTw9FXWWPwRFBc8RMFfkqDbV-3R_dxCd_K1gBJLbbdDraIg4hiccuXkNuKkwi2GtATh_FEDBzZI0PbFOZgLkX85c/s320/P5150723.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337633285938147666" /></a><br />We decided to call it a night in a cabin just outside of Custer, SD. The next day would be filled with Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills in the morning, and then a long 14 more hours of driving to Whitefish, MT. If you ask me, Rushmore is cool, but don't waste your money on the park. Instead take a drive through Norbeck Scenic Byway, it loops through tunnels, over bridges through the Needles, and offers many of fascinating views of Mount Rushmore. I promise there is little to leave you disappointed here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq62qhPvpWr32Zy7C8-yJOoQ2QOPkl7ABB2Hk1HT344u6LGHyeZDJ_4mp8oDgcoQiFUwehlv_6S0WaRUd2OtcgwsRNvyfyBtkSoz1btwGFkKvvYXFO8LGNJUU_YiLY8S06lmE0VO_iFw8/s1600-h/road+trip!+062.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq62qhPvpWr32Zy7C8-yJOoQ2QOPkl7ABB2Hk1HT344u6LGHyeZDJ_4mp8oDgcoQiFUwehlv_6S0WaRUd2OtcgwsRNvyfyBtkSoz1btwGFkKvvYXFO8LGNJUU_YiLY8S06lmE0VO_iFw8/s320/road+trip!+062.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337636244780866162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEowgEWHVM7vGtZoag3Br1DfSjNPtZ_H-FuCxnf2sW3ijZU78NnbLwMCYUaIpbPx1iCtA0b30HphITJacv8D4gYUijGyGacqp_GgP2_-cVGpxTWz54rWlGLsf5qZo0Mu0bL3JMU6dOV0/s1600-h/road+trip!+065.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEowgEWHVM7vGtZoag3Br1DfSjNPtZ_H-FuCxnf2sW3ijZU78NnbLwMCYUaIpbPx1iCtA0b30HphITJacv8D4gYUijGyGacqp_GgP2_-cVGpxTWz54rWlGLsf5qZo0Mu0bL3JMU6dOV0/s320/road+trip!+065.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337636235473482162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0zgBEkDIXNKRqvcLuk6FWlyRlPG1A7WCyZRx7vCTyH57lc9-5bKg30nXXT9_rmQXeI3uDFGYjdunMl2CMnLo2kKi0WjGIdQaxAyufSp-e0TPHZbVEdXrKwYqODL8Lw3f5h5swdpV1Qs/s1600-h/road+trip!+058.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0zgBEkDIXNKRqvcLuk6FWlyRlPG1A7WCyZRx7vCTyH57lc9-5bKg30nXXT9_rmQXeI3uDFGYjdunMl2CMnLo2kKi0WjGIdQaxAyufSp-e0TPHZbVEdXrKwYqODL8Lw3f5h5swdpV1Qs/s320/road+trip!+058.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337636228915558690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnEW3yGPSPs5vlkZ0Whr2UewICQCURHob-4VwoOQuNRSmjkgJqhgNRMOLik5AaNOvKM7HfkRhuCcnODRWgDr8h9ylGg19j5xd0ov3VcMUM_pxCNYymaFgQGuiJB0ljX2baEWVsk9Xe_A/s1600-h/P5150842.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnEW3yGPSPs5vlkZ0Whr2UewICQCURHob-4VwoOQuNRSmjkgJqhgNRMOLik5AaNOvKM7HfkRhuCcnODRWgDr8h9ylGg19j5xd0ov3VcMUM_pxCNYymaFgQGuiJB0ljX2baEWVsk9Xe_A/s320/P5150842.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337636221874810242" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebI2LfznqAPsBrS8y-39NdYrkP_Bp3ZJvKvXUff4xiiBduO2D6LuhisKgxtaV2wQemDJ2F43WlCg_EemH4nvRMIznCzLf8XalweJXJJvkkvXnFaSFIo7oRK5UWmgVd9eDPT2RwaR5FE8/s1600-h/P5150832.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebI2LfznqAPsBrS8y-39NdYrkP_Bp3ZJvKvXUff4xiiBduO2D6LuhisKgxtaV2wQemDJ2F43WlCg_EemH4nvRMIznCzLf8XalweJXJJvkkvXnFaSFIo7oRK5UWmgVd9eDPT2RwaR5FE8/s320/P5150832.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337636223937944242" /></a><div>We made a quick stop to Devil's Tower, although we didn't get all the way to it because it was pretty far out of the way. What a strange yet intriguing place.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB65qtNfd7wZVlDa8ND_Zqnl80wS_zqNhBh0G8Jk_XLmqCc2Ya3obnevlGtEAQwgivA9Rj4HIqmuZ6wsP10HZNRqHfOD_54BhFZuD30FyiumHFZ1GhrVDupXycRv0xLUyDxqCHRwZqIE/s1600-h/DSC01286.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB65qtNfd7wZVlDa8ND_Zqnl80wS_zqNhBh0G8Jk_XLmqCc2Ya3obnevlGtEAQwgivA9Rj4HIqmuZ6wsP10HZNRqHfOD_54BhFZuD30FyiumHFZ1GhrVDupXycRv0xLUyDxqCHRwZqIE/s320/DSC01286.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337698938953550354" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkqPzj6PPicgJUTt7qbj465z7rHM3xLU2RpniwwiwUH137bhOePTTYQUweAuyl0Oytv0y6zIoSLLiIBOGQdq25R_9vuhJydDGCVUNyEFXoTts9IPtS7-Gjp3LVBbxlZ5xlQAcJsGArTY/s320/DSC01288.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337698941837515954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB65qtNfd7wZVlDa8ND_Zqnl80wS_zqNhBh0G8Jk_XLmqCc2Ya3obnevlGtEAQwgivA9Rj4HIqmuZ6wsP10HZNRqHfOD_54BhFZuD30FyiumHFZ1GhrVDupXycRv0xLUyDxqCHRwZqIE/s1600-h/DSC01286.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB65qtNfd7wZVlDa8ND_Zqnl80wS_zqNhBh0G8Jk_XLmqCc2Ya3obnevlGtEAQwgivA9Rj4HIqmuZ6wsP10HZNRqHfOD_54BhFZuD30FyiumHFZ1GhrVDupXycRv0xLUyDxqCHRwZqIE/s1600-h/DSC01286.jpg"></a><div>We got to Whitefish at 3:00a.m. all three of us thoroughly exhausted. I need a couple of days to recover before posting more on Montana, but good things to follow.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Forever Onward</span><br /><br /></div></div></div>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-57575232172802362652009-05-02T17:03:00.000-07:002009-05-02T17:24:45.940-07:00Where would you want to wake up tomorrow?<object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2834087&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2834087&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/2834087">Fifty People, One Question: London</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/askyourself">Fifty People, One Question</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />in the Caribbean.<br />with peace of mind.<br />under a blanket of stars.<br />in the arms of the one I love.<br />in a day where my father is still alive.<br />to fresh waffles.<br />with a cure for Leukemia.<br />to a world without toxic chemicals, pollution or cars.<br />courageous.<br />to a cool breeze blowing through summer heat.<br />on a boat.<br />laughing.<br />in the comfort of my home.<br />surrounded by the people that make me who I am.<br />without debt.<br />with limitless knowledge.<br />happy. healthy.<br />alive.Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-71670050383070982662009-05-02T11:06:00.000-07:002009-05-02T11:15:28.387-07:00coming soon...I am about to move westward again. Next weekend I will actually be moving to Whitefish, Montana. I had gone there in February 2008 to visit a friend and look for jobs. I never did get offered a job and came back to New Hampshire. One thing lead to another, I got laid off, I ended up in Boston and then ended up taking a road trip. When I was there this past February, I fell in love with it all over again. I am very excited about living close to Glacier National Park, and basically at the bottom of a ski resort and close to some beautiful lakes.<br /><br />I am driving through Chicago again, then on to Minneapolis where I will meet up with my future roommates and we will then embark on our road trip through South Dakota to see the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, and various other silly roadside attractions. <br /><br />More adventure photos and stories abound. Wish me luck and better, come visit me!Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-25487862418044291682009-03-24T21:55:00.001-07:002009-03-24T22:28:29.752-07:00Chicago, ILor more like "Chica-GOD I LOVE YA!"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUmZbQAk8SveYd2tofibpuWNm6hIHaAcwcu3n_PRBNDnFbl1wyGpzG6agHcot5pxpv5j27_bYpMfKRIGrkVwH2oxpegPx1gLbJmT_eGYULM9TOZO75TuaXzcMIjFNX93KoCljgbqxT4Y/s1600-h/100_2461.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUmZbQAk8SveYd2tofibpuWNm6hIHaAcwcu3n_PRBNDnFbl1wyGpzG6agHcot5pxpv5j27_bYpMfKRIGrkVwH2oxpegPx1gLbJmT_eGYULM9TOZO75TuaXzcMIjFNX93KoCljgbqxT4Y/s320/100_2461.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316985762026280386" /></a><br />Spent the day walking around searching for inspiration in unusual places with Manuel. He happens to be one of my most inspired and inspiring friends. Not only do I have the most fun, but I also feel like my creativity level is heightened on spelunking adventures. Go read his blog Dear Diary.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuttddJ2w1df6cNzSHOiiCxd_cIDHLPUtUBKCO3ixL4_WowgbAfJjqVkgKrxkTkHWroKFkn0Ai4Y_IJ7zNLzuDY17y9Gpx0p-D1_96t2mSo6AfwZnAfK2s8chmQ4ZDOrCcuBW6PLt5m7U/s1600-h/DSC01437.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuttddJ2w1df6cNzSHOiiCxd_cIDHLPUtUBKCO3ixL4_WowgbAfJjqVkgKrxkTkHWroKFkn0Ai4Y_IJ7zNLzuDY17y9Gpx0p-D1_96t2mSo6AfwZnAfK2s8chmQ4ZDOrCcuBW6PLt5m7U/s320/DSC01437.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316987970918115314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaScxd_-0hHhJGUMyM9xmyepwl5rlaw_XQSaW4-HtdQDL-9aNVK8fLHDkl3M-xCrREv_ghvGGRuoSfvPzoxyZ6zcXA1lL1P2ZXSJGNOM2ZcF2JWPMsx10_VBprqJNB8fZPlfN13-MZSk/s1600-h/DSC01449.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaScxd_-0hHhJGUMyM9xmyepwl5rlaw_XQSaW4-HtdQDL-9aNVK8fLHDkl3M-xCrREv_ghvGGRuoSfvPzoxyZ6zcXA1lL1P2ZXSJGNOM2ZcF2JWPMsx10_VBprqJNB8fZPlfN13-MZSk/s320/DSC01449.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316985358767890354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdJ80Og132nBMbgo4USUD8a6xyCrzYJEyJh9H90dzWvf8pLmi8CsxZs7lOJoobLvf8baBp7QXC3FfAOez0kRFjZIUKc9AqmqJVhKiNayKqM-1v_urIDV_Yf1Cm3_j6x1iuF0r3AR8Wxk/s1600-h/DSC01433.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdJ80Og132nBMbgo4USUD8a6xyCrzYJEyJh9H90dzWvf8pLmi8CsxZs7lOJoobLvf8baBp7QXC3FfAOez0kRFjZIUKc9AqmqJVhKiNayKqM-1v_urIDV_Yf1Cm3_j6x1iuF0r3AR8Wxk/s320/DSC01433.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316985024856799266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuk4WVBVVAOQJjXF-ab13KXw0WwgrEvAaaT0BU1yD1cgPYJJjq_JF8LrXevk5MM2jbVeFRAqHZ_6HSuxr3Id9JWeuj4L751oakJ8RoJVRoqAnzR8o-0BKjgPxg_4BLWsSjc1afZ2q4vfk/s1600-h/DSC01442.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuk4WVBVVAOQJjXF-ab13KXw0WwgrEvAaaT0BU1yD1cgPYJJjq_JF8LrXevk5MM2jbVeFRAqHZ_6HSuxr3Id9JWeuj4L751oakJ8RoJVRoqAnzR8o-0BKjgPxg_4BLWsSjc1afZ2q4vfk/s320/DSC01442.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316987434406644098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNQZ-ya3RWH1fQHQNGEfCPqn0HiaCNM6V20h2bW7M3GysOiis48-aECy6hwSqsYsUgCpf0MNGRTnDrDzJuy_W2mxs5NQbQBQ03pajCy923ruY54ghdCdkOV0fpmYtHq7SBY9oeaDW3Xg/s1600-h/DSC01436.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNQZ-ya3RWH1fQHQNGEfCPqn0HiaCNM6V20h2bW7M3GysOiis48-aECy6hwSqsYsUgCpf0MNGRTnDrDzJuy_W2mxs5NQbQBQ03pajCy923ruY54ghdCdkOV0fpmYtHq7SBY9oeaDW3Xg/s320/DSC01436.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316987426691430562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lfs1YDDYAmeso90m1xPXzoE53rOaM8s3kJvlVE06APZjtGAn8FTCZy5C1RSG2xb4hSN_iGJBwvslxK-HgmtW8eTuRSzNCoSmSqTJ0hLxnDCtFGpc00XYuhzBy_F4-zO3Gi3VUQJcVgw/s1600-h/DSC01434.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lfs1YDDYAmeso90m1xPXzoE53rOaM8s3kJvlVE06APZjtGAn8FTCZy5C1RSG2xb4hSN_iGJBwvslxK-HgmtW8eTuRSzNCoSmSqTJ0hLxnDCtFGpc00XYuhzBy_F4-zO3Gi3VUQJcVgw/s320/DSC01434.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316987426563454386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyntIortcsAcCKE2kh8zBRJbClXssx6fF7MMXIISKZ1dmqzfNQ5u_OobNF8b4bixg2prT7LtAhjIHAVYx5GsISUGGGDJpAmdS3nx_ub-iYt8E6CYTCWz1NcUM7eAOBeYhzF7NF0psDEvc/s1600-h/DSC01428.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyntIortcsAcCKE2kh8zBRJbClXssx6fF7MMXIISKZ1dmqzfNQ5u_OobNF8b4bixg2prT7LtAhjIHAVYx5GsISUGGGDJpAmdS3nx_ub-iYt8E6CYTCWz1NcUM7eAOBeYhzF7NF0psDEvc/s320/DSC01428.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316987423554511986" /></a><br />I also spent a day with Manuels significant other Colt. Went to Millenium Park and saw the sculputres.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaNWp6bAZQFOrwPkq50McJZOF8s7N_XuRhSeEwUADCQr2BXz5EPa9FJ55prip1Rz1VTDhAWix7jK4Hrqn2SxLE0X3o1QSm2TYH6q3syx3n7-XakUI2Y-EFlBehYQce7zVMSLPnL2TCzc/s1600-h/100_2475.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaNWp6bAZQFOrwPkq50McJZOF8s7N_XuRhSeEwUADCQr2BXz5EPa9FJ55prip1Rz1VTDhAWix7jK4Hrqn2SxLE0X3o1QSm2TYH6q3syx3n7-XakUI2Y-EFlBehYQce7zVMSLPnL2TCzc/s320/100_2475.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316988392056213458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6kXJ5hcCgxIyEYtvZwMDbyeFLkDeL1gl0kbxwOz1-uJuQ_SwIaL8zLQLiDknzX3S2FRTfKcUB7vKMplOAHSevWzFPiJLSX1S4LX5WXfuxLIUX_ssehRd4wYnbzH_PEhk4Hi9V2ufPFA/s1600-h/100_2479.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6kXJ5hcCgxIyEYtvZwMDbyeFLkDeL1gl0kbxwOz1-uJuQ_SwIaL8zLQLiDknzX3S2FRTfKcUB7vKMplOAHSevWzFPiJLSX1S4LX5WXfuxLIUX_ssehRd4wYnbzH_PEhk4Hi9V2ufPFA/s320/100_2479.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316988397175696274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYZpsVaPpbdRoJVwIz3KwYZiluylRgpeegXhpofubh9tHZJKHqYFTPEvJapztqljaxwsW3MzzdfokffSV4aFLo9wTZcMNNm2WdzfEx0eZZUtkMRly1LVxHn6ON2EgGyn17hJRlm7QZgc/s1600-h/100_2467.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYZpsVaPpbdRoJVwIz3KwYZiluylRgpeegXhpofubh9tHZJKHqYFTPEvJapztqljaxwsW3MzzdfokffSV4aFLo9wTZcMNNm2WdzfEx0eZZUtkMRly1LVxHn6ON2EgGyn17hJRlm7QZgc/s320/100_2467.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316988391778969874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCtSB5GRw8dQSEI4yKLg7NjyWh0T0ixHS4X9wTzJwv3m1s8BZ5SyQoGublWZTRJA7UeUGE5OL6soAFZkZPluIfr9zHmfeWj3D2fsz7jihv335gnir0AJb4I74PbjY2KnAK_vSBQr3tME/s1600-h/100_2465.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCtSB5GRw8dQSEI4yKLg7NjyWh0T0ixHS4X9wTzJwv3m1s8BZ5SyQoGublWZTRJA7UeUGE5OL6soAFZkZPluIfr9zHmfeWj3D2fsz7jihv335gnir0AJb4I74PbjY2KnAK_vSBQr3tME/s320/100_2465.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316988386687168210" /></a><br />If you know anything about me, you know the importance of this ravishing sports car.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEycHadV9_Hu52FSpygdTqvEIhJgYTznOw1vpolNF-RSddzMNOyxGoSaGZVMWnK4DA5aBu_P2A93O3hM2znPdJNCDsS6YE_EmgVafg_lRp1-xtpilbt8on7RR32p4xMh6gSmm-c_7qcHo/s1600-h/100_2464.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEycHadV9_Hu52FSpygdTqvEIhJgYTznOw1vpolNF-RSddzMNOyxGoSaGZVMWnK4DA5aBu_P2A93O3hM2znPdJNCDsS6YE_EmgVafg_lRp1-xtpilbt8on7RR32p4xMh6gSmm-c_7qcHo/s320/100_2464.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316988387467511794" /></a><br />And I chanced upon a young lady named <a href="http://www.lesliehall.com/">Leslie Hall</a>, a champion Gem Sweater Crafter and Spandex Enthusiast. This is not a joke, moreover it is rib-ticklingly amusing. Check her videos out on youtube, but this one is my favorite<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nWVzIfUfjGk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nWVzIfUfjGk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYtvhCXEUanRtGVMb9sQCQAZMUidN6-dSnXTUQPQ6MEOQUrUgWwoo17n7FFsBcKzf6VmSy7QnNrjH07eCWjt6CD5WDbtrHtt6V6Q0svIMubOpxa6AQHw8badWZx5rPA404mCbjLdv51A/s1600-h/DSC01423.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYtvhCXEUanRtGVMb9sQCQAZMUidN6-dSnXTUQPQ6MEOQUrUgWwoo17n7FFsBcKzf6VmSy7QnNrjH07eCWjt6CD5WDbtrHtt6V6Q0svIMubOpxa6AQHw8badWZx5rPA404mCbjLdv51A/s320/DSC01423.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316990907657539026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKO9IhRzzzZDKSeoKQ3kcVbFfe1e1UD8Z-mUS8Up8PntgstAcfwfCJxmCZRfWL5OT6-MZUXj5Z9qNQzM5_BeNhRxt74hKEC1ndr_sEVkojb8bCyzCLuK9ZsJoH3QQLT3fDbmNGlJBxAs/s1600-h/DSC01416.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKO9IhRzzzZDKSeoKQ3kcVbFfe1e1UD8Z-mUS8Up8PntgstAcfwfCJxmCZRfWL5OT6-MZUXj5Z9qNQzM5_BeNhRxt74hKEC1ndr_sEVkojb8bCyzCLuK9ZsJoH3QQLT3fDbmNGlJBxAs/s320/DSC01416.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316990906251421954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVGoJMy3gjdcLGs1N964MQMCFK9ztckF96z_zM14UPQEdhWdZcjBv1Hn6UMWCzwxcubPGytkyxhdrZygNK5ukigIkqDaWtM4pz2vSZjVUYQJboG5IyNfjQMOCyNaPzWgMFSgjNCqOTQ8/s1600-h/DSC01412.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVGoJMy3gjdcLGs1N964MQMCFK9ztckF96z_zM14UPQEdhWdZcjBv1Hn6UMWCzwxcubPGytkyxhdrZygNK5ukigIkqDaWtM4pz2vSZjVUYQJboG5IyNfjQMOCyNaPzWgMFSgjNCqOTQ8/s320/DSC01412.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316990903375567970" /></a>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-15278592935121271192009-03-24T21:52:00.000-07:002009-03-24T21:54:53.116-07:00Various Locations, Colorado<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VnJ8sNP-6YwJlCquG8akql-k14Tger5JsxiI4uBdX02fEJP1rr58LAxshoRfkeY8JZf3VTbUK_xNYUyGxLLXOC0cOVml5D4bb442x1OeA3269BpR4_Lr_AZPR9w1d8PKyGR76IpZQ-E/s1600-h/IMG_1472.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VnJ8sNP-6YwJlCquG8akql-k14Tger5JsxiI4uBdX02fEJP1rr58LAxshoRfkeY8JZf3VTbUK_xNYUyGxLLXOC0cOVml5D4bb442x1OeA3269BpR4_Lr_AZPR9w1d8PKyGR76IpZQ-E/s320/IMG_1472.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316984341088206434" /></a><br />I will come back to this later this week, but I need a place holder for sequence sake.Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-35602663691112526702009-03-18T11:42:00.001-07:002009-03-18T11:52:38.683-07:00Jackson, WYI drove south from Montana to Jackson, Wyoming where a handful of my friends from Colorado State live. It also just so happened to be my friend Kolby's birthday party on Saturday. I brought about 10-12" of fresh snow to Jackson and luckily got to borrow a pass and ski all day on Saturday with my favorite traveling companion, Cherene, who I went to the Caribbean with a few years ago.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42oy5UW8aMWJlWOm75ReqDGRG9NJUkskF7xl-rwlC4qsD8byjEbZzrjWQ8nJwC4rRDrB0Xt3D_gKqWJPFeHVwgd3ot3mQf8zoO7gZ9u4Q1NUlOcEGXhxQzog9Tgbrv0aWkZleRvXRDwE/s1600-h/tetons.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42oy5UW8aMWJlWOm75ReqDGRG9NJUkskF7xl-rwlC4qsD8byjEbZzrjWQ8nJwC4rRDrB0Xt3D_gKqWJPFeHVwgd3ot3mQf8zoO7gZ9u4Q1NUlOcEGXhxQzog9Tgbrv0aWkZleRvXRDwE/s320/tetons.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314600786794790946" /></a><br />Jackson Hole was quite possibly the best day of skiing I have ever had. in. my. life. But it is steep, with only 10% of the trails being beginner trails, so be ready to be challenged and have a blast. And yes, I did take a ride on the new tram. It holds 100 people and gets you to the blustery cold summit in 9 minutes. I've heard a rumor that it is the first tram built in 20 years.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVFqosybTrK2gQ1z8MmTtFggMDimguXw1o8qWWAV8vd2i7kQu11-e1sHSzCSnPtRdvBcmUDNKzzzL0kGlnin4UT128i4efwXYOREw88cy_COiVm-RPok6hXdw714TmZrGBdPllIY3QDY/s1600-h/jackson-hole-tram.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVFqosybTrK2gQ1z8MmTtFggMDimguXw1o8qWWAV8vd2i7kQu11-e1sHSzCSnPtRdvBcmUDNKzzzL0kGlnin4UT128i4efwXYOREw88cy_COiVm-RPok6hXdw714TmZrGBdPllIY3QDY/s320/jackson-hole-tram.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314601761184901698" /></a><br />I also met a kid who went on Semester at Sea with one of my oldest friends and his girlfriend. That was a trip.Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-16563580810292190632009-03-18T11:23:00.000-07:002009-03-18T11:36:34.915-07:00Whitefish, MTI spent a little over a week with my friend Tia in Montana. I got there just in time for her birthday, she probably would have murdered me if I didn't, but she also celebrated her birthday for about 2 weeks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2H6pHW3HSjCxt5-vHgr2-jxrqlBwt-AxCGV0bC3IYrPqzld1wks2cxzjpOF23xxykn97YplGzWKaM4kyoxxVVMNGzoFlECvdPAmgjwrtnG650mV4sd7sV17pzL0_6EwEc1q7JQYCNCg/s1600-h/P2230008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2H6pHW3HSjCxt5-vHgr2-jxrqlBwt-AxCGV0bC3IYrPqzld1wks2cxzjpOF23xxykn97YplGzWKaM4kyoxxVVMNGzoFlECvdPAmgjwrtnG650mV4sd7sV17pzL0_6EwEc1q7JQYCNCg/s320/P2230008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314596105953709602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCYtNKEBb0ANuMeSNTmauQe12PrOQUtdqFqw6XLEushLLjo5kuc6eKW5iifFR8UTBf71cmUHmoRIQk-cemhuaWOV5zeskZFXdndZz18fEsPQVt8uJptY-Y4RVzfLPkQsQF0B-7zC1bew/s1600-h/P2230006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCYtNKEBb0ANuMeSNTmauQe12PrOQUtdqFqw6XLEushLLjo5kuc6eKW5iifFR8UTBf71cmUHmoRIQk-cemhuaWOV5zeskZFXdndZz18fEsPQVt8uJptY-Y4RVzfLPkQsQF0B-7zC1bew/s320/P2230006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314596109017876498" /></a><br />I got in a few good days of skiing up there with some fresh snow on the trails. Usually Big Mountain is surrounded in fog, so getting good pictures is a little challenging. Thanks to google image I can basically get a decent photo of anything I want.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmzkHA_A5Kd6AaVbu9u7MIAvpsn7wAKHTVtuwV2W-QpGSVtbWBv60wCwadWyoBUeOgy-n3KKoWtWO8YTN0MzcPOSiRDsP6m1U1dEWuNMjYxE0BjYFtP0gS4X0Y4AxVpqbZRjJepA6ZbE/s1600-h/winterbigmtn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmzkHA_A5Kd6AaVbu9u7MIAvpsn7wAKHTVtuwV2W-QpGSVtbWBv60wCwadWyoBUeOgy-n3KKoWtWO8YTN0MzcPOSiRDsP6m1U1dEWuNMjYxE0BjYFtP0gS4X0Y4AxVpqbZRjJepA6ZbE/s320/winterbigmtn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314597341981627538" /></a><br />If you ever find yourself on Big Mountain on a Wednesday afternoon for a little apres ski action, go to the Bier Stube for "Freebird." A weekly event hosted by the Big Mountain Ski Patrol in which the most embarrassing stories and activities of the week are presented and a winner is chosen. Best of all, they give out free beer for about an hour.<br /><br />I love it there. I think I have decided that I am moving there this summer and hopefully will work doing trail crew or SOMETHING. There aren't any jobs available anywhere so I am not exactly looking for a design job right now. When I got to Whitefish I started to think about what I might do in the next couple of years and it seems like the perfect opportunity to join SCA or Americorps. I'm still contemplating all of this.Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-82840322042264280432009-03-18T11:05:00.001-07:002009-03-18T11:22:39.576-07:00More SeattleWow. I've been slacking. I checked out the Experience Music Project one morning. I think that this would be the kind of place to go to with friends so you can be silly and make music in the sound labs. There is a sculpture made out of instruments that actually plays.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z3m9RacfFlK13Li7gdWXmEURIUfPEyAmv2rF4Z0GKoxk55XfVdybF4goSyEXB2AdWnwawgsdAgiScyS1foZDJxt5HHOaTcG0bmOle0ah4IQMZGeTN6jC7IXvsO2lF2W_SUuowf7K8dw/s1600-h/emp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z3m9RacfFlK13Li7gdWXmEURIUfPEyAmv2rF4Z0GKoxk55XfVdybF4goSyEXB2AdWnwawgsdAgiScyS1foZDJxt5HHOaTcG0bmOle0ah4IQMZGeTN6jC7IXvsO2lF2W_SUuowf7K8dw/s320/emp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314591271989663794" /></a><br />But the building itself is something that you not only can't miss but also a must see. The colossal building, designed by Frank Ghery, sits adjacent to the space needle at the Seattle Center. It contains mostly rock memorabilia, mainly Jimi Hendrix, but not limited to other local area musicians like those of the Grunge wave and an impressive exhibit of the evolution of the electric guitar.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNizQiwNHDro155P4VRo_umo3EPt77biDL_0Luh3XUc0BEFngnWaApQhfXvPRt9Ye7f6fElLip1EW4POp-mkC0kgMShLKn2s648rua0wgtnmvk0MR1iEKnfg1PeLspvaohXaKvEozNlo/s1600-h/100_2422.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNizQiwNHDro155P4VRo_umo3EPt77biDL_0Luh3XUc0BEFngnWaApQhfXvPRt9Ye7f6fElLip1EW4POp-mkC0kgMShLKn2s648rua0wgtnmvk0MR1iEKnfg1PeLspvaohXaKvEozNlo/s320/100_2422.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314593802252013986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8r5j4jQKqhQqU9sNdTHNcP3a8NS0NxKgpEcnFKyJvELVVFqjKg0LsYImJtp8_hVStsskTiVLJ6aSTeA35GpsDKLp-m7IyBMA34iZM8pfQxdmaKR-PLpKqimBkzvYLRSzMXZUEaxQhUo/s1600-h/100_2418.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8r5j4jQKqhQqU9sNdTHNcP3a8NS0NxKgpEcnFKyJvELVVFqjKg0LsYImJtp8_hVStsskTiVLJ6aSTeA35GpsDKLp-m7IyBMA34iZM8pfQxdmaKR-PLpKqimBkzvYLRSzMXZUEaxQhUo/s320/100_2418.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314593803062258866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBFt98KLTsttuOs-rh4Om-QL3Xb-G8Kcs6HYhh2oTKhVX7ABhNFIHKrz6cK9LppZ_DqQ0WzI6tvbhpoXajlyU829MlYPMInVrqRmDxQzjf6iNedF_uNkZw9f15G4xMc6sQtx2NZjFjPs/s1600-h/100_2424.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBFt98KLTsttuOs-rh4Om-QL3Xb-G8Kcs6HYhh2oTKhVX7ABhNFIHKrz6cK9LppZ_DqQ0WzI6tvbhpoXajlyU829MlYPMInVrqRmDxQzjf6iNedF_uNkZw9f15G4xMc6sQtx2NZjFjPs/s320/100_2424.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314593798909492946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7sFDo6ADPLxyGmpa-_W23GBckbpFMRfdy3lVqdB85ohxwmQY-G4FXeh27apjnTxyxYwSFENnQzdqUpPUKic891YttpVQfDuSE40IK1E9Oiw_NoExBkMpE8enOGnrq5aegA8eVngETHQ/s1600-h/100_2420.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7sFDo6ADPLxyGmpa-_W23GBckbpFMRfdy3lVqdB85ohxwmQY-G4FXeh27apjnTxyxYwSFENnQzdqUpPUKic891YttpVQfDuSE40IK1E9Oiw_NoExBkMpE8enOGnrq5aegA8eVngETHQ/s320/100_2420.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314593791211580674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO1zWmwxqiL5yG9pOuP6NRHE58N82j-_twcroIZ_5KzNpP96m6FNTRB7L1APsULz_PBEt63PXG9f7rvrmGb6c3Jp2QT-TPFDdeCsYvHQEm4Jg-pK9icBCxiX45mjQEj2ENo_ZoAUMXZs/s1600-h/100_2414.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO1zWmwxqiL5yG9pOuP6NRHE58N82j-_twcroIZ_5KzNpP96m6FNTRB7L1APsULz_PBEt63PXG9f7rvrmGb6c3Jp2QT-TPFDdeCsYvHQEm4Jg-pK9icBCxiX45mjQEj2ENo_ZoAUMXZs/s320/100_2414.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314593791025642258" /></a><br />appropriately enough, it being a memorial to rock music and all, the design of the building is meant to resemble a smashed guitar.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDbGcUAUK55W6gRyV0r_Ao5pxgqSlffxfejLKuaPyzUlYy1-jiGhDN1LxRHNxg9HcfOSvJi-72QzDIu8ns7zPO59kK7gd7G0wRRbg4CSf9gxt1g8nJutcq7RwAUQfXDk1Pn2CTM2LER8/s1600-h/arial+emp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDbGcUAUK55W6gRyV0r_Ao5pxgqSlffxfejLKuaPyzUlYy1-jiGhDN1LxRHNxg9HcfOSvJi-72QzDIu8ns7zPO59kK7gd7G0wRRbg4CSf9gxt1g8nJutcq7RwAUQfXDk1Pn2CTM2LER8/s320/arial+emp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314594582403481010" /></a><br />what do you think??Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-30569696667104008002009-02-25T14:43:00.000-08:002009-02-25T15:06:48.348-08:00Seattle, WAI stopped by Portland, OR and Lacey, WA but didn't do much at either. Unfortunately I wish I could have spent more time in Portland, I was sick of driving and I just wanted to get where I needed to be. But, I did stop in to <a href="http://www.powells.com/">Powell's books</a>. <br /><br />I got to Seattle on Thursday morning and went to <a href="http://www.alexandersbeads.com/">Alexander's Bead Bazaar</a>. I went there years ago when I visited Marta for the first time. I got some really pretty peruvian blue opals that my mom requested. This bead store is fantastic, if you're into that kind of thing, and I am.<br /><br />Then I hit up the REI flagship store. They have a climbing wall, mountain bike trails, I believe there is a place to try out canoes and kayaks, and floors and rooms full of outdoor gear galore. I am a total gear whore, though fairly tame compared to other people I know, mostly because I am too poor.<br /><br />I met up with Marta later that evening and had some delicious Thai food.<br /><br />On Friday night Marta, Krista and I went out for an innocent drink. We walked into <a href="http://eatatjulias.com/home.php">Julia's</a> in Capitol Hill and were immediately asked if we had "tickets." We weren't really sure what this was about and just replied that we wanted to get a drink at the bar and that we weren't really interested in the show. Quickly we realized that it was a drag queen show and that we were sitting in a fantastic gay bar. Le Faux is a "female impersonator cabaret" and I was shocked by Cher costumes and a pretty elite and professional troupe of dancers and queens. If you ever find yourself in Seattle on a Friday night and are interested in a little bit of adventure and lots of laughs, go to Julia's. You will not be disappointed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VZoGoG_3Frpuojc_VJEYvItKP7WbM1FdWEfkJF4sWZAvAKiHvQVmfkA5HGeaxIVwrj5KadVbec9AkxTT2E7u7QAnpyu4UZeWx_XeMzNB8kzBv6g9MGiTwoBOPP6ey6teSC74rQVth6w/s1600-h/le+faux.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VZoGoG_3Frpuojc_VJEYvItKP7WbM1FdWEfkJF4sWZAvAKiHvQVmfkA5HGeaxIVwrj5KadVbec9AkxTT2E7u7QAnpyu4UZeWx_XeMzNB8kzBv6g9MGiTwoBOPP6ey6teSC74rQVth6w/s320/le+faux.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306875252621031602" /></a><br />If you are ever looking for some good thrift store shopping go to <a href="http://www.crossroadstrading.com/cm/Home.html">Crossroads Trading Co</a>. in the U-district. They have lots of good stuff, but my favorite was the very inexpensive designer denim.<br /><br />On Sunday morning I got up with Marta to participate in my first 5K. Marta assembled a small team called "Abe's and Babes" for the Run with Abe for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The "Abe" part was for Abraham Lincoln's Birthday and there were some well dressed Abe's out there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-25JsSzM2sCY75CSCftpmBGxmpf1iProVmJyKQ5Xn3wrzXSRbRl7QUGMR3QvNFNJH1qRJx-3lREp_1t3jxlX-5tXdHfRWm3V1d1FzPlyKopTq8CX2q00DSFj-Wz4YacylTHFaD8xNII/s1600-h/run+with+abe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-25JsSzM2sCY75CSCftpmBGxmpf1iProVmJyKQ5Xn3wrzXSRbRl7QUGMR3QvNFNJH1qRJx-3lREp_1t3jxlX-5tXdHfRWm3V1d1FzPlyKopTq8CX2q00DSFj-Wz4YacylTHFaD8xNII/s320/run+with+abe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306874462257208306" /></a><br />I thought that for my first 5K, off the couch, I did all right. Well, I finished, that is enough for me!Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-15786620101348318962009-02-25T14:28:00.000-08:002009-02-25T14:33:04.375-08:00French Gulch, CAIt is Gulchy. It reminded me of the part in Neverending Story when they are hiking through the swamp to find the giant turtle that is allergic to humans. But I had a nice visit with Mike, and we took a hike at Whiskeytown Lake and climbed around a few snowy/icy rocks to a waterfall in the rain.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZge_64bBQQjPfQYfVmR9-HhovOu_0dV36V4Wwxv4R-gsjca5uvy6C1pki01eT6my5UEDoiVQmuKMj68CRTtHXMn1UQIC9jTHVJlGoIgaZX6EZ2xVmHJU0Sx74fECtE6P0r8ADpBJwUU/s1600-h/DSC05263.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZge_64bBQQjPfQYfVmR9-HhovOu_0dV36V4Wwxv4R-gsjca5uvy6C1pki01eT6my5UEDoiVQmuKMj68CRTtHXMn1UQIC9jTHVJlGoIgaZX6EZ2xVmHJU0Sx74fECtE6P0r8ADpBJwUU/s320/DSC05263.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306866295750155170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGoNLaVL4q2kF3Jgg3QBHf2eNNyvWjW-l2SeKEVs8C_aAQ6Gbv2eXSuGa6qxRQ1C9ADaZnTy0S6ZdIIDn7sxiy7GEnhyWX9Rlu55buNmgg1PI6_31zSdkWsqyjz_B2-mQ0A4qsE1QkAA/s1600-h/DSC05265.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGoNLaVL4q2kF3Jgg3QBHf2eNNyvWjW-l2SeKEVs8C_aAQ6Gbv2eXSuGa6qxRQ1C9ADaZnTy0S6ZdIIDn7sxiy7GEnhyWX9Rlu55buNmgg1PI6_31zSdkWsqyjz_B2-mQ0A4qsE1QkAA/s320/DSC05265.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306866286268955602" /></a>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-42986410355366483192009-02-21T20:28:00.001-08:002009-03-02T09:29:11.126-08:00Where to start?It has been about a week since I put anything up. I apologize. I am crazy busy and enjoying every second of it. Here are some photos from LA.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SIjrwqI0o7ZZp9IbrgrJGDYoUIyM2Hys8dayUcy7n9hQWsBU5eSD-TlTppo4COJjEOQBNrP9imeRAqDFEm7npTcx456YJ9sm06M4xMinia8mbqvwUqbHisPL4NC-ezOKVGkZA9mQ-1w/s1600-h/100_2249.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SIjrwqI0o7ZZp9IbrgrJGDYoUIyM2Hys8dayUcy7n9hQWsBU5eSD-TlTppo4COJjEOQBNrP9imeRAqDFEm7npTcx456YJ9sm06M4xMinia8mbqvwUqbHisPL4NC-ezOKVGkZA9mQ-1w/s320/100_2249.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305474663383796066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZGU_wXHvza1xKAWxB5mqoUZqKWoo4wnOCNPvMLRFtWhmoME6sQCCBk5Y8KSqq_JhorvSB21mcsVz8dMs20mKqANlzgl622MXxW7F4arEQUj_1e1BJUJtOPv4ONZPIJlR0nUR0nv1MpY/s1600-h/100_2231.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZGU_wXHvza1xKAWxB5mqoUZqKWoo4wnOCNPvMLRFtWhmoME6sQCCBk5Y8KSqq_JhorvSB21mcsVz8dMs20mKqANlzgl622MXxW7F4arEQUj_1e1BJUJtOPv4ONZPIJlR0nUR0nv1MpY/s320/100_2231.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305474656829934658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIi-wUWMLdfR6pstdu2WXlyBQ8Cl3MKezIeLiqDZZulVMsR6bPyEdF3IeKiIU2VLp9EcL-6LInKI3YwnXWB76m4-00wH8ZO9xI1lxTe7yeQNvt6nOa3k3GuxBupPXCvOKwqcZRmQEXX0/s1600-h/100_2220.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIi-wUWMLdfR6pstdu2WXlyBQ8Cl3MKezIeLiqDZZulVMsR6bPyEdF3IeKiIU2VLp9EcL-6LInKI3YwnXWB76m4-00wH8ZO9xI1lxTe7yeQNvt6nOa3k3GuxBupPXCvOKwqcZRmQEXX0/s320/100_2220.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305474649455800514" /></a><br />And then I drove up the Pacific Coast<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvYHDp441gPueaVmXxmQy989IluBWoazKZJ6zzMZ6JMKfwKwSwzMv0LUIKZeN1fKVshVKxTbiTO7wF2vp_N0gBnb1n6WC6II7M5Lzx_w365hzA5NGjg7r4MOTr2ZGVR1Czh7yF9PPe1E/s1600-h/100_2356.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvYHDp441gPueaVmXxmQy989IluBWoazKZJ6zzMZ6JMKfwKwSwzMv0LUIKZeN1fKVshVKxTbiTO7wF2vp_N0gBnb1n6WC6II7M5Lzx_w365hzA5NGjg7r4MOTr2ZGVR1Czh7yF9PPe1E/s320/100_2356.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305475419308564370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGdklRWhpfaorTzjQnAwmEgZ4CGJ7a77IbgFZpndFk4u_dgav4UKrgSic8OvZwwTSkHj9F2Wt7RO5grOoJI6vPYNL25Y_x-gd5IcmZ_1pOAPuVjj86c8PJxzMOYYlNUSe4KtT16JgpvU/s1600-h/100_2344.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGdklRWhpfaorTzjQnAwmEgZ4CGJ7a77IbgFZpndFk4u_dgav4UKrgSic8OvZwwTSkHj9F2Wt7RO5grOoJI6vPYNL25Y_x-gd5IcmZ_1pOAPuVjj86c8PJxzMOYYlNUSe4KtT16JgpvU/s320/100_2344.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305475420128243554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiai27HA6FA0ro_zue0ecZVR-SYv-Vr6cD0Ch9oPmFfGbshN_9fi0J8OvypzaFgDm6wEnbMKSTJNOabCr3g28yPO-bVjH1845edrv4qmofrL_R0r4K6lh_yEisJg3KLip7EaiS6TIF7L7I/s1600-h/100_2341.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiai27HA6FA0ro_zue0ecZVR-SYv-Vr6cD0Ch9oPmFfGbshN_9fi0J8OvypzaFgDm6wEnbMKSTJNOabCr3g28yPO-bVjH1845edrv4qmofrL_R0r4K6lh_yEisJg3KLip7EaiS6TIF7L7I/s320/100_2341.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305475414626104114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtpTEK0wNcr-XYaCY2XtlHFdFYSQgr7hcLYcZ7SysM8opdN89WYjTysRukQdD4urd6wKg8O2VwES0nrz_V615pYfTDBc6kW9SsNTa__5lyeaAezW8n4YTflAQElyqNat5a4YEnoNqARE/s1600-h/100_2339.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtpTEK0wNcr-XYaCY2XtlHFdFYSQgr7hcLYcZ7SysM8opdN89WYjTysRukQdD4urd6wKg8O2VwES0nrz_V615pYfTDBc6kW9SsNTa__5lyeaAezW8n4YTflAQElyqNat5a4YEnoNqARE/s320/100_2339.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305475413868944962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIF6-KBw0XCkzwjuDEEdX3YFP2CGR5ZGoVeQe7PPx3BSVmx8393OM-a_O-7FjDSCbxJr1UVHKmIK7XIwruRBZAbs0Qhu2uTyfAH2H1vGfEHXXAFeM7_tCBLJUQcnmwWjTy2lKRdh4Efk/s1600-h/100_2328.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIF6-KBw0XCkzwjuDEEdX3YFP2CGR5ZGoVeQe7PPx3BSVmx8393OM-a_O-7FjDSCbxJr1UVHKmIK7XIwruRBZAbs0Qhu2uTyfAH2H1vGfEHXXAFeM7_tCBLJUQcnmwWjTy2lKRdh4Efk/s320/100_2328.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305475414309724018" /></a><br />There is this absolutely disgusting gum wall alley in San Luis Obispo, but fascinating no less.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIEr53-QlxAYYSTjr02rYgorXEkgvix9_PVhV7K2mvxQsVt_1nhvX0adSIdPUtXYssqmqmRPNp38zzMxoDypIa8XErKQtsasZUJ-qKAWolShLW9at2_vXrkGt4_E18fIpQqIHpUeE4Fo/s1600-h/100_2345.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIEr53-QlxAYYSTjr02rYgorXEkgvix9_PVhV7K2mvxQsVt_1nhvX0adSIdPUtXYssqmqmRPNp38zzMxoDypIa8XErKQtsasZUJ-qKAWolShLW9at2_vXrkGt4_E18fIpQqIHpUeE4Fo/s320/100_2345.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308643708343695186" /></a>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-36388875777720895172009-02-12T22:08:00.000-08:002009-02-13T13:25:12.854-08:00Los AngelesHere I am, in sunny California! Everyone keeps saying it is cold, but I think it feels great. I am visiting with my friend Rock (yes, that is his <span style="font-style:italic;">real</span> name) and his brother, Ryan. We went to Barney's Beanery which is a favorite dive of theirs.<br /><br />I also hung out with my friend, Dylan, from High School today. We went to the largest independent music store in the US of A, <a href="http://www.amoeba.com/">Amoeba Music</a>. This place can be a little daunting if you don't know what you are looking for. I suggest going with a list or having a sizable chunk of time to look around for stuff. There is just an unreal amount of used music.<br /><br />I was also turned on to an artist named <a href="http://www.arts.rpi.edu/~kagan/">Larry Kagan</a>, whose sculptures, when lit, cast shadows of everyday objects.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewdD7w_SEKiGu0rNssdPEf5CXIOULkaAyJ9S6X9ReTWQsL3FO5ai0KkKYjSSr9tBFd1jabqJQKmNpUzr8v1HWP3WSXUGd7w83oRSlFFcbUyv_y2Pthdej5r5ugcAtaDDRr52FuNPHDZk/s1600-h/pianokagan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewdD7w_SEKiGu0rNssdPEf5CXIOULkaAyJ9S6X9ReTWQsL3FO5ai0KkKYjSSr9tBFd1jabqJQKmNpUzr8v1HWP3WSXUGd7w83oRSlFFcbUyv_y2Pthdej5r5ugcAtaDDRr52FuNPHDZk/s320/pianokagan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302162213479743090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRn2a99CY-_bTeKHw9yXcMuSy61ATsytJ71Lxubjcp9i1XPe8PiXYKjOZqqgKIHrXbX7xIQC6GShZ_Y_FjMjBnxxnFq6D5xU-qsB1-cP0PTpbqyxBtRdWWKJeyS_hEoI1JJvnH1RbRRMA/s1600-h/kagan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRn2a99CY-_bTeKHw9yXcMuSy61ATsytJ71Lxubjcp9i1XPe8PiXYKjOZqqgKIHrXbX7xIQC6GShZ_Y_FjMjBnxxnFq6D5xU-qsB1-cP0PTpbqyxBtRdWWKJeyS_hEoI1JJvnH1RbRRMA/s320/kagan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302162211735299458" /></a>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-77958187577449546212009-02-11T11:24:00.001-08:002009-02-11T13:59:11.318-08:00Joshua TreeI drove through Joshua Tree National Park on the way to Los Angeles on Tuesday. I can confidently say that thus far in my life I think that this place is my favorite National Park. Don't get me wrong the Grand Canyon was monumental, but I was also a sixteen year old brat stuck in dirty clothes hiking it. Long story, I will tell another time.<br /><br />I drove in through the south entrance at Cottonwood Springs. I highly suggest if you plan to drive through the park with limited time, do it through the southern entrance. The views and landscape only get better as you progress through the north. I also suggest listening to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones "Live at the Quick" Album at full volume. If you don't necessarily like this type of music that is ok, but if you can handle about 5 minutes of it, listen to the song "Big Country." I turned this on and as I was driving through the areas with the largest rock formations I got goose bumps, and not because it was cold. This is going to sound very strange, but I really felt like my dad was giving me a huge high five.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadqpjjo10c3nI9g2QdTyGKMWEbo35uJqXwxQYP_GAwDCDRTzM1gsIUEQbzSdqAjLauti405uyz5tUowiRKQ0GFwhvkBPIWZeQS7UOgjc7tuMogjHWsXUwsHIAU7YKu_gyRr0uIShBiQQ/s1600-h/100_2153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadqpjjo10c3nI9g2QdTyGKMWEbo35uJqXwxQYP_GAwDCDRTzM1gsIUEQbzSdqAjLauti405uyz5tUowiRKQ0GFwhvkBPIWZeQS7UOgjc7tuMogjHWsXUwsHIAU7YKu_gyRr0uIShBiQQ/s320/100_2153.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301640450360973810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLRpgmNv6MxcOceYxE-LjAiZBt0Kx1HveT_Xr7G3fEmU1P3IyuNTNM7qf2NdV5dbd_M4TDFb4EJ0VWep9UjhmlwWSiG2vRS6TzJ0a6bpbzoEuAwJZuPpFfg4k8o7umkEwpbjw16fZFMs/s1600-h/100_2163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLRpgmNv6MxcOceYxE-LjAiZBt0Kx1HveT_Xr7G3fEmU1P3IyuNTNM7qf2NdV5dbd_M4TDFb4EJ0VWep9UjhmlwWSiG2vRS6TzJ0a6bpbzoEuAwJZuPpFfg4k8o7umkEwpbjw16fZFMs/s320/100_2163.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301640445565648450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-KINiiEp3slxtZx6X-FLEOhOmMTXNVHXYnotAsFj6QdQT9VUhoCjHezvUJWQvSviTC5G9X1axMvfYGmjnUN3Xv79QUupMM-0JFCtC96slapmQrMAtdNogVuZJA7s4zvjcTW56EJqPYo/s1600-h/100_2166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-KINiiEp3slxtZx6X-FLEOhOmMTXNVHXYnotAsFj6QdQT9VUhoCjHezvUJWQvSviTC5G9X1axMvfYGmjnUN3Xv79QUupMM-0JFCtC96slapmQrMAtdNogVuZJA7s4zvjcTW56EJqPYo/s320/100_2166.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301640440977971746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuhbDFdf63q09clXJY8aRDWyRai4skhsJN9X57x19Xw-Dy0SSc6dwVgb_NKQHsto3QAE0FOgFJXmdgOjCy8X60XleTtOjjzF-I2luLKD1ri67BkOlx_pLDSCTmY-ggRGbhzVAoOfvwXA/s1600-h/100_2180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuhbDFdf63q09clXJY8aRDWyRai4skhsJN9X57x19Xw-Dy0SSc6dwVgb_NKQHsto3QAE0FOgFJXmdgOjCy8X60XleTtOjjzF-I2luLKD1ri67BkOlx_pLDSCTmY-ggRGbhzVAoOfvwXA/s320/100_2180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301640439162359730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnVa4zo7xCFOILROv1OPAo5BOeHikQXmhwzNOvO2MWvuTtL4j45tzVA1AQeDfXhkHhYkU_cFRF-tc7CFbySKjsx2iYFXzxcYlg9avLiFiq-r7XGIRq01IujgkiXa8o7ifxSQ4YGk73Rk/s1600-h/100_2203.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnVa4zo7xCFOILROv1OPAo5BOeHikQXmhwzNOvO2MWvuTtL4j45tzVA1AQeDfXhkHhYkU_cFRF-tc7CFbySKjsx2iYFXzxcYlg9avLiFiq-r7XGIRq01IujgkiXa8o7ifxSQ4YGk73Rk/s320/100_2203.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301625761889006594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTI6dXsC9yBo6kwtSnjsVyqYh7IGoWYnfcHp8lyAATzsoBI3MlX1wmUvW8jDmtBoNMlpXbA9rInQ1lX4cmjXr2346fMHcfCDRvFroD5COmUmkpJV5fCmR-hi7fgZgWya67fvlrmlSqSQ4/s1600-h/100_2206.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTI6dXsC9yBo6kwtSnjsVyqYh7IGoWYnfcHp8lyAATzsoBI3MlX1wmUvW8jDmtBoNMlpXbA9rInQ1lX4cmjXr2346fMHcfCDRvFroD5COmUmkpJV5fCmR-hi7fgZgWya67fvlrmlSqSQ4/s320/100_2206.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301625761188437154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpDd7sTBgSnL4M9by1VWdH9inAx-CORPDPgR3tnnRHVrjMoFHDfdqOgXU55qa6CKJdC_N4q_bPoE7qCZIvxddbLwpSBV6U3wSsNeWkOrzUG2AwKRUPiTTTj8JQFJ2PPYZaEdwuyROUv4/s1600-h/100_2211.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpDd7sTBgSnL4M9by1VWdH9inAx-CORPDPgR3tnnRHVrjMoFHDfdqOgXU55qa6CKJdC_N4q_bPoE7qCZIvxddbLwpSBV6U3wSsNeWkOrzUG2AwKRUPiTTTj8JQFJ2PPYZaEdwuyROUv4/s320/100_2211.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301625759218976530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfK6Hmr9os5TfCr7Kp3mJ10-rcE_Nkaa0Xkfahd_WSFzyVjHfZ9m-ljVyJk2I67sjJkYZ4YAGZpd4a_4FxVy2dEoSdZCbTYQdZb1cBVLll0y1XCwJS0UeUqOJeWfRs33V3nKlbnIKBsM/s1600-h/100_2214.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfK6Hmr9os5TfCr7Kp3mJ10-rcE_Nkaa0Xkfahd_WSFzyVjHfZ9m-ljVyJk2I67sjJkYZ4YAGZpd4a_4FxVy2dEoSdZCbTYQdZb1cBVLll0y1XCwJS0UeUqOJeWfRs33V3nKlbnIKBsM/s320/100_2214.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301625755535307314" /></a><br />Legacy of Gram Parsons<br />Gram Parsons was a singer/songwriter who once became obsessed with Joshua Tree. He would disappear to the desert to get high on morphine or trip out on LSD for days searching for UFOs. On September 19,1973, before an upcoming tour, Parsons died of a lethal combination of alcohol and morphine. Though it was planned for his body to be sent back to his family in Louisiana, while en route, friends commandeered the corpse and took it back to the desert where they cremated it and scattered his ashes.Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-89353545201538381332009-02-11T09:51:00.000-08:002009-02-12T22:04:16.138-08:00I MARFAWhen I decided to drive south on my journey first, Luis suggested I stop in Marfa and stay with his family and see the town. My great friend Manuel has had the best things to say about it, and I have been pretty curious, so I agreed. Leaving Fort Worth, I was a little nervous about staying with a family I haven't met, especially from the disclaimer I was given by Luis about a half hour before arriving. He just told me to be myself, which; lets' face it, when not diluted at all, can be frightening to people who don't already know me.<br /><br />I vowed I would never want to go to Texas, but since I was already once slightly impressed with Fort Worth, I only had greater hopes for the place that Luis is proud to call home. The landscape of western Texas is underestimated. I was expecting to see flat land for as far as the eye could see, but I was grossly mistaken. There are mesas and hills and buttes that jut up from the harsh desert land. I drove through Alpine and past Paisano Peak as the sun was beginning to set, still with no view of a city beyond.<br /><br />When I got there, I instantly felt like I would be fine fitting in. I went to <a href="http://www.maiyasrestaurant.com/photos.html">Maiya's</a> restaurant with the middle of the three Madrid brothers, Ruben, and met other local friends. The young community of Marfa reminds me of a similar young bond of people in Walpole, NH, another oddity in small town variety.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8kAGfQUUkrZksSTg_y0VdgixC5nTuvQ7fqzKBpHWtXanbYEXQ0P99vYkqhhMUmWIKFFnMYUCYFJbod8Vl-5ZmaussQcdt_mfau3Qyub4TY1hQ2NPu6aG-Ogem0n_sLam5WoBXdwUKm4/s1600-h/building2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8kAGfQUUkrZksSTg_y0VdgixC5nTuvQ7fqzKBpHWtXanbYEXQ0P99vYkqhhMUmWIKFFnMYUCYFJbod8Vl-5ZmaussQcdt_mfau3Qyub4TY1hQ2NPu6aG-Ogem0n_sLam5WoBXdwUKm4/s320/building2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301697056863040114" /></a><br />but don't expect to find Raspberry Danger Water in Marfa...<br />On Saturday I borrowed a bike and rode around town. If you find yourself in Marfa, I believe that riding a bike is the only form of transportation, car not necessary. The town is too small to need to drive.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eYdLapmGpYxrzgV8_ZRXylY4chHsvEfYgTCiHx9DXmJelThEQLqEvbUZodFJjBkWSWuoy2JgPmMA6B926ewM2VCukqtAgJQZ54lUjklr_3qPm9qY7Ubz8rOdFuc-Et2HHPHdnoBvxK4/s1600-h/100_2002_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eYdLapmGpYxrzgV8_ZRXylY4chHsvEfYgTCiHx9DXmJelThEQLqEvbUZodFJjBkWSWuoy2JgPmMA6B926ewM2VCukqtAgJQZ54lUjklr_3qPm9qY7Ubz8rOdFuc-Et2HHPHdnoBvxK4/s320/100_2002_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301612242852381618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhaMwUBMq9CnasM5fR3w5ExGoquz8VOsmWHVeVB8O9rSKKCbBOhtknulq3LNDBsyLw5Q4VB02WkG4AJ3FFqsVSrnUuqJ-lzxUMWm78Yi-3sbqXAc_4zvuTLnnmPgHSrRD4e_j5sHEzhs/s1600-h/100_1996.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhaMwUBMq9CnasM5fR3w5ExGoquz8VOsmWHVeVB8O9rSKKCbBOhtknulq3LNDBsyLw5Q4VB02WkG4AJ3FFqsVSrnUuqJ-lzxUMWm78Yi-3sbqXAc_4zvuTLnnmPgHSrRD4e_j5sHEzhs/s320/100_1996.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301612241427455090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyrkHEllTer-pT2Ts4S78SngGUurM-ubBGRSDhBe8TADhp0vWTXB_iQCGQDarfFYmlaywK4k7sZgv637jL9Fk5PW4wQeaVw_F2FhKvC6z17uFE4sOQ2WTq797dmTfvOx3M2vySF2M4FQ/s1600-h/100_1994.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyrkHEllTer-pT2Ts4S78SngGUurM-ubBGRSDhBe8TADhp0vWTXB_iQCGQDarfFYmlaywK4k7sZgv637jL9Fk5PW4wQeaVw_F2FhKvC6z17uFE4sOQ2WTq797dmTfvOx3M2vySF2M4FQ/s320/100_1994.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301612242744295698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWJ57pUky9vp6jbRdtgD_ro-nije8SSD8_CuZL5EMyL96SzNrAxZWxTg5ZbD2TVe1MkO2ynk9RZFE-v-AMu8zNbs7TuDExjlkfAVgtVWmqcUzbxAwSMUsYhjQcKnvHJ0bSYDBHTCXqD8/s1600-h/100_1993_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWJ57pUky9vp6jbRdtgD_ro-nije8SSD8_CuZL5EMyL96SzNrAxZWxTg5ZbD2TVe1MkO2ynk9RZFE-v-AMu8zNbs7TuDExjlkfAVgtVWmqcUzbxAwSMUsYhjQcKnvHJ0bSYDBHTCXqD8/s320/100_1993_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301612240410323810" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.galleriurbane.com/">Galleri Urbane</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HyEUt78HPi2SRy0JlLMr55OFn2IuDcL0OBYa3AyH2Rg7no96KUv3Oj8vBWML8vCHG0t7wBj6VOE6L1dahyHhlHtN4-f2FF-WEXHBAhtmXGhHfnQvPTjDrGi5C9hwGOLYO15UYODtvwg/s1600-h/100_2003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HyEUt78HPi2SRy0JlLMr55OFn2IuDcL0OBYa3AyH2Rg7no96KUv3Oj8vBWML8vCHG0t7wBj6VOE6L1dahyHhlHtN4-f2FF-WEXHBAhtmXGhHfnQvPTjDrGi5C9hwGOLYO15UYODtvwg/s320/100_2003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301615000889428210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q3SHAbEcDzQTm1HG591ZBFn6T1sa2BSZ5rdCJWuNanI2btDliWPT8DtyHIHark7GuWs-6Eiw4TQf_qi-i469GQqtMKiTNV-2D_3jUZfsbAUDYEA9SubN-cQQ1VngNjNsQQU8zL4WguQ/s1600-h/100_2006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q3SHAbEcDzQTm1HG591ZBFn6T1sa2BSZ5rdCJWuNanI2btDliWPT8DtyHIHark7GuWs-6Eiw4TQf_qi-i469GQqtMKiTNV-2D_3jUZfsbAUDYEA9SubN-cQQ1VngNjNsQQU8zL4WguQ/s320/100_2006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301614997214215762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqKrWHLga_5EC7Ov6qmobalgYtlLEksU0bvPu-_KmsyDFuEtZRNLI0IMa68fO3w8Z0fwSMmDfiMyf3Jgdjs-fXGzZ91QeGzCg00bTFc-Ns0XHnH9Xm1CsU7LI0kzeXOjSMtyJDHexqKA/s1600-h/100_2009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqKrWHLga_5EC7Ov6qmobalgYtlLEksU0bvPu-_KmsyDFuEtZRNLI0IMa68fO3w8Z0fwSMmDfiMyf3Jgdjs-fXGzZ91QeGzCg00bTFc-Ns0XHnH9Xm1CsU7LI0kzeXOjSMtyJDHexqKA/s320/100_2009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301614997434844450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATItZvp5Xw3rID09vOIHYV7T0Uv1a1BpXHkT-N8qSkm-XC0m4fck8m6tkjFbMU455jWk2U_fVc6DI93u6PsNzoaGyRVIe-T1HYeHs2xjBwCmLyhxHc0icCqxahb2fSZvBHfA0efldsGI/s1600-h/100_2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATItZvp5Xw3rID09vOIHYV7T0Uv1a1BpXHkT-N8qSkm-XC0m4fck8m6tkjFbMU455jWk2U_fVc6DI93u6PsNzoaGyRVIe-T1HYeHs2xjBwCmLyhxHc0icCqxahb2fSZvBHfA0efldsGI/s320/100_2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301614999085440642" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.chinati.org/">CHINATI Foundation</a><br />The Chinati Foundation sits on 340 acres of land that was once the Fort D.A. Russell. It was purchased by Donald Judd, an arttist/architect known for his work with the minimalism genre, and turned into an Artist in Residence institution and opened to the public in 1986.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2nprQVrMAp86QhjJIqxjJihqQBSKLP3egjQWr_VFBwyvorg-stQjOo6ZoFyUhOooUA7d9tgQ3DtYq-UmxBKfeArzJFdkvtDLzckEMj-fuKjdzRQhDG9L-oRnSVoGyRYMxZk6Qf9XIYs/s1600-h/100_2074.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2nprQVrMAp86QhjJIqxjJihqQBSKLP3egjQWr_VFBwyvorg-stQjOo6ZoFyUhOooUA7d9tgQ3DtYq-UmxBKfeArzJFdkvtDLzckEMj-fuKjdzRQhDG9L-oRnSVoGyRYMxZk6Qf9XIYs/s320/100_2074.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301617055764954850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNpWb-mv3PFt_FT_jzNUkMvNl5bLl34HMi9brcriWNzVcDWJKIY58eq_yAtK_AQC_GixxEFzHFne1n8zV9Ocg1kuh4NsQNYJDXc9kOpWCyit76Xeq9oXYQolr9z1c4RF_DKqWHG0wimI/s1600-h/100_2059.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNpWb-mv3PFt_FT_jzNUkMvNl5bLl34HMi9brcriWNzVcDWJKIY58eq_yAtK_AQC_GixxEFzHFne1n8zV9Ocg1kuh4NsQNYJDXc9kOpWCyit76Xeq9oXYQolr9z1c4RF_DKqWHG0wimI/s320/100_2059.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301617049064662818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcvD1Sg6MWMJodwfEgXwLFWUJqagFPBvcjeARFduO0Sth6cValRwBlHYe7TV0roO7Xgdw1CZdE-6BVSnGmVOkv_5jLF4w-lmdhHXIoKe22AtYLPz6toLF-M3B8ddqERxDCYVtshRKNn0/s1600-h/100_2058.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcvD1Sg6MWMJodwfEgXwLFWUJqagFPBvcjeARFduO0Sth6cValRwBlHYe7TV0roO7Xgdw1CZdE-6BVSnGmVOkv_5jLF4w-lmdhHXIoKe22AtYLPz6toLF-M3B8ddqERxDCYVtshRKNn0/s320/100_2058.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301617040946271586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkLzz8eeBCgxb38vzwuZFe8rWa_rGLl4smVhh9CbISJPi_RLgV_Ycb4kHbT8on33sHxXk2YoGWv5wUhEHRvq_XQRSGn_CSwwE_WgQ8GuI5TIVS5MZiSUcx-Xtbyih3cr9cjRf41wRyOA/s1600-h/100_2053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkLzz8eeBCgxb38vzwuZFe8rWa_rGLl4smVhh9CbISJPi_RLgV_Ycb4kHbT8on33sHxXk2YoGWv5wUhEHRvq_XQRSGn_CSwwE_WgQ8GuI5TIVS5MZiSUcx-Xtbyih3cr9cjRf41wRyOA/s320/100_2053.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301617038310027394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuXDD6QrG3wXIQAqN5GDvhujlbyluJ-mpfIZrSkHjGEvqiZ8TWpBQZMbqlpTKo6bbovp0XaG-5IzFIzXNjUdsF-aVbkVTNRyEIWxEVPYp1zbHZJpnHM4d2TFbXmmP9_p2iRpyKjTJHY4/s1600-h/100_2087.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuXDD6QrG3wXIQAqN5GDvhujlbyluJ-mpfIZrSkHjGEvqiZ8TWpBQZMbqlpTKo6bbovp0XaG-5IzFIzXNjUdsF-aVbkVTNRyEIWxEVPYp1zbHZJpnHM4d2TFbXmmP9_p2iRpyKjTJHY4/s320/100_2087.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301618541650670690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZLC32Z6An-2WWOFpQ0gGWLKrNJnzVnAPGafGV53TKFhMhW7uKQ-VDjEu57EzV_rRhYI66R4zIyx_MSLeF8m6Qt3xVkVP5iaPu3xVydwa2qvYZY3MpTm7VsLQApFfgI7QAdkwN6Yg1E8/s1600-h/100_2085.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZLC32Z6An-2WWOFpQ0gGWLKrNJnzVnAPGafGV53TKFhMhW7uKQ-VDjEu57EzV_rRhYI66R4zIyx_MSLeF8m6Qt3xVkVP5iaPu3xVydwa2qvYZY3MpTm7VsLQApFfgI7QAdkwN6Yg1E8/s320/100_2085.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301618543159052002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi933JONKcFg7RENSDhH22nQAXe-ymZgsHe3ZfBK32OvmUppZsVYHjb_SC6APmqZa_VLaCSDFQw0hPg_SWXcQCLeDY_iP7Yq20nR6sjpCak-TGuJ0f2RETHT6sSAa0NDcqlWeKCBqw88oc/s1600-h/100_2083.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi933JONKcFg7RENSDhH22nQAXe-ymZgsHe3ZfBK32OvmUppZsVYHjb_SC6APmqZa_VLaCSDFQw0hPg_SWXcQCLeDY_iP7Yq20nR6sjpCak-TGuJ0f2RETHT6sSAa0NDcqlWeKCBqw88oc/s320/100_2083.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301618539129897122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtzwDEOPXCMjVlHJWx-mkyQyBpLkanhSiyYZtfd56uikW-CM6-i-3q6-aTMXm3lBy1TJwNsxulXNoO_PBHaQ_kMIuT0UzxHHpaVjAxdT9-2zHaQY8QTBp8NfUN_JvnX4ts8aNPbke_XQ/s1600-h/100_2076.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtzwDEOPXCMjVlHJWx-mkyQyBpLkanhSiyYZtfd56uikW-CM6-i-3q6-aTMXm3lBy1TJwNsxulXNoO_PBHaQ_kMIuT0UzxHHpaVjAxdT9-2zHaQY8QTBp8NfUN_JvnX4ts8aNPbke_XQ/s320/100_2076.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301618538032119442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHo1F0rjHW6I_z9Edjx8Xj4KmZqrczM2W-xe98HGjNmQFfazOvm9m7E7Ow5eDYUAGWcWnvmgrgExclOKcmuaLW6WgN-fUEPWGSGHR3-yzDfSICDKWZejeawW_rVIv3Gh3bDwEE2yzZIA/s1600-h/100_2117.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHo1F0rjHW6I_z9Edjx8Xj4KmZqrczM2W-xe98HGjNmQFfazOvm9m7E7Ow5eDYUAGWcWnvmgrgExclOKcmuaLW6WgN-fUEPWGSGHR3-yzDfSICDKWZejeawW_rVIv3Gh3bDwEE2yzZIA/s320/100_2117.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301620513560293186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnhNsTAG2BS9XsWXARQ_kgrr9xKKrNqXKDwvRLEI8yYPK8JKFB_B9jY9bn7YlPIRpHsp8pdaexjH2fE_fGWhQUiFd8CsCU-6Am817PfL02KTJ5pLYQxU4pRGaO5novbWdw9tBnnC_FEA/s1600-h/100_2107.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnhNsTAG2BS9XsWXARQ_kgrr9xKKrNqXKDwvRLEI8yYPK8JKFB_B9jY9bn7YlPIRpHsp8pdaexjH2fE_fGWhQUiFd8CsCU-6Am817PfL02KTJ5pLYQxU4pRGaO5novbWdw9tBnnC_FEA/s320/100_2107.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301620509115523330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeGIUNUUB6STUNO-jIk68QbynB6RMWjlBqQ9rxRAShAdhHj0qEBu954GjCRy-Gg7uZCHI983sM0WlOYDyOYqPq22lGWFBpBkyxoatVzRaP7NOjfiachURahHMdyvCdwLLIum1V-a24Rs/s1600-h/100_2103.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeGIUNUUB6STUNO-jIk68QbynB6RMWjlBqQ9rxRAShAdhHj0qEBu954GjCRy-Gg7uZCHI983sM0WlOYDyOYqPq22lGWFBpBkyxoatVzRaP7NOjfiachURahHMdyvCdwLLIum1V-a24Rs/s320/100_2103.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301620510386611874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WeAhvMCztvzimNHWiJUFPoJAHZL_R3uMftF0GWHZYyi1xXpbPo7AFb1Qj-z71iZ4faThJxuU-ZqA7aVbeJX8lU9oH1Ha0XnnalD9ygPlrl3s7RAqh98EzZGxAgM22vNSYzuZ6xU6AnU/s1600-h/100_2102.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WeAhvMCztvzimNHWiJUFPoJAHZL_R3uMftF0GWHZYyi1xXpbPo7AFb1Qj-z71iZ4faThJxuU-ZqA7aVbeJX8lU9oH1Ha0XnnalD9ygPlrl3s7RAqh98EzZGxAgM22vNSYzuZ6xU6AnU/s320/100_2102.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301620510322705410" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ballroommarfa.org/">Ballroom Marfa</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB6Mi7Z2AssD1EVk5nGKOv1aobPp33JW-le6wJpwmgRHoILeqFUDbBIFvSbdVqpHDdkOEBUu72bX1ho0yc4hQ_GDt7DXGyB-lHWplhJdCRJDdbb7X2-TPbSCCiVDCqW3vGtiJ6qeINKk/s1600-h/1244096644_7bf450fc17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB6Mi7Z2AssD1EVk5nGKOv1aobPp33JW-le6wJpwmgRHoILeqFUDbBIFvSbdVqpHDdkOEBUu72bX1ho0yc4hQ_GDt7DXGyB-lHWplhJdCRJDdbb7X2-TPbSCCiVDCqW3vGtiJ6qeINKk/s320/1244096644_7bf450fc17.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301648472402217618" /></a><br />At night I got the ten cent tour of some of the latest residential minimalist architecture and a visit to the Mystery Marfa Lights viewing center. The Mystery Marfa Lights are an unexplained phenomena not similar to others such as the Northern Lights.<br /><br />According to Wikipedia <blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">reports often describe brightly glowing basketball size spheres floating above the ground, or sometimes high in the air. Colors are usually described as white, yellow, orange or red, but green and blue are sometimes reported. The balls are said to hover at about shoulder height, or to move laterally at low speeds, or sometimes to shoot around rapidly in any direction. They often appear in pairs or groups, according to reports, to divide into pairs or merge together, to disappear and reappear, and sometimes to move in seemingly regular patterns. Their sizes are typically said to resemble soccer balls or basketballs.</span><blockquote></blockquote><br />Christy, Luis' mother, insisted I go out for drinks with one of the local gentlemen who works with her at the Marfa National Bank. Although I was knackered I agreed. We went to <a href="http://www.adobemoon.com/">Adobe Moon</a> for some local live music. I had already decided that an extra day in Marfa was necessary. That I had only made a feeble effort during the day's activities.<br /><br />That night as I lay down I wondered if I was going to wake up next to Luis's senile grandmother who had asked me several times in Spanish if she would be sleeping with me that night. I thought it would be ironic if it was something that ran in the family. <br /><br />For those of you who don't know how I "met" Luis, you are in for a comical story. I was in Boston for the weekend of my mutual birthday with Geoff and other friends before I actually moved there. A few friends of Amy, Kristine, Geoff and mine were in town visiting and we spent an afternoon exploring Salem, MA and having a few spiked beverages. Amy's roommate Beth was out of town on a camping trip, and I was neglected to be informed that someone may be staying in her room. After returning to Somerville, and a run in with a fantastic beard, we made it back to Banks St. Amy's bed was a little crowded with 3 people and I stumbled upstairs to sleep in Beth's empty room. <br /><br />I woke in the morning to Oscar the cat kneading my tummy and I went downstairs to see what the day had in store for us. What I found in the living room was Geoff sleeping in a sitting position drooling on the armrest and a random person I didn't recollect fast asleep on the couch. I knew I hadn't been intoxicated enough to blank an <span style="font-style:italic;">entire person</span>, so I figured maybe someone had wandered into the house in the night. <br /><br />When he didn't rouse, I inquired Amy as to his identity. After a long night of partaking, Amy has trouble making cohesive answers, especially at 8 in the morning. So the rest of us headed out to show Flan, Llyndsey and Nick the rest of Boston and celebrate birthdays. When I returned to Banks St. I was told this Luis character was slightly homeless (a feeling I was about to be very familiar with) had been staying at the house. He had come home late in the night, went up to Beth's room to fall asleep, and thought that maybe I was in fact Beth sleeping dead center in the bed. When he tried to wake me so I would move over, I didn't budge. After an hour of sleeping on about 6" of bed snuggled up next to me, he decided to go downstairs and sleep on the couch.<br /><br />When I returned to Banks St. on Monday evening, we recapped what had happened and filled in the blanks. I was completely unaware of him, as he wasn't at the house to meet at the time. We joked about how funny it would have been if he had carried out sleeping on the 6" of bedspace and I had woken up next to a complete stranger, and likewise.<br /><br />So when, the next weekend, I found myself back in Boston, unemployed and homeless, I acutally met the person I had unknowingly engaged in the act of snuggling with. We talked about how we were both seeking shelter in Boston, and thus is the beginning of our adventure of being roommates.<br /><br />So. Anyway. Marfa kind of rocks. I'm hoping that with my brew-ha-ha know how and John's intellectual property rights I can start up the Marfa Light Brewing Company. YEAH!Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-22442367454236047302009-02-11T08:27:00.000-08:002009-02-11T09:02:15.387-08:00FeeenixI stopped here for the night to visit my friends Mike and Stephanie from College. I really don't care too much for Phoenix, and its' urban sprawl, major roads, red lights at every quarter mile... But I hadn't seen Mike and Stephanie since the Fort Collins days when Conor O'neills was still an establishment in Old Town. I figured that while I was driving through the vicinity it would be nice to stop and sleep on their couch for a night and let Athena (their boxer) get a whiff of me... literally.<br /><br />I met Mike through a class I took on Sustainability in the Caribbean in the summer of 2005. He was, at the time, a Recreation and Tourism major I believe, but heard of the class while wandering the halls of the gym during his scuba diving class. The events to how he ended up there are a bit bizarre, but we all had a lot of fun memories from the trip.<br /><br />We went to Sushi Eye in Chandler, which is one of the many Phoenix suburbs that Mike and Stephanie so happen to live. I am not going to lie, it might have been some of the best sushi I have eaten.<br /><br />My parents lived in Tempe, about a stone's throw from Chandler, before I was born. My dad was teaching at Arizona State University while my mom was pregnant with my brother (mind you it was the middle of the summer, suckfest?). I wonder what it would have been like if I had <span style="font-style:italic;">grown up</span> in the greater Phoenix area. I am kind of glad that my parents decided to leave, New Hampshire was a good choice.<br /><br />Tucsan, AZ<br />I was trying to kill some time before getting to Phoenix because both Mike and Stephanie work until after 5, so I checked out a little bit of Tucsan. By a little bit, I basically mean I drove downtown and parked by the first colorful building that caught my attention and then wandered around even more aimlessly.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWbduxOsIClq9WpC0GV8V8L5S_1RADLSiWzRDYlTUY4SfPwVGXWrnGis_RSkPjV6ADnig4N1g623F8zQ48pJJ_g8vp90lPfICfxWd2AOmdzftgZr31Ew5aVyf5yLF4-BzJzg6JtSWn-E/s1600-h/100_2144.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWbduxOsIClq9WpC0GV8V8L5S_1RADLSiWzRDYlTUY4SfPwVGXWrnGis_RSkPjV6ADnig4N1g623F8zQ48pJJ_g8vp90lPfICfxWd2AOmdzftgZr31Ew5aVyf5yLF4-BzJzg6JtSWn-E/s320/100_2144.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301586028477506066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxWC9ZmCN27Xh16tu2hExqhExvUvXP47T4xRpvW9UI3tjLMyNgKnCG861m-Lo9TsV2-3gu9332Uigm_RoeS4fVX_Zq0fwXfAZ7VORAlEw0MEkxRaxzW_4PJZGCHoIBSSXPbvZiWSWj2I/s1600-h/100_2143.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxWC9ZmCN27Xh16tu2hExqhExvUvXP47T4xRpvW9UI3tjLMyNgKnCG861m-Lo9TsV2-3gu9332Uigm_RoeS4fVX_Zq0fwXfAZ7VORAlEw0MEkxRaxzW_4PJZGCHoIBSSXPbvZiWSWj2I/s320/100_2143.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301586029255924882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsks8gCc7JIvOYVgfZrWH-1yhBuNHwHQH7jlArpHtnhijSgFoi0c49RcseHiQjN9iIf7NVpNijkRVxrybMO6b6b5bmrZ9f_oQVydz28rfmSWFP1M4phxMvqljFGfI0wThUvizRBMuu5fg/s1600-h/100_2142.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsks8gCc7JIvOYVgfZrWH-1yhBuNHwHQH7jlArpHtnhijSgFoi0c49RcseHiQjN9iIf7NVpNijkRVxrybMO6b6b5bmrZ9f_oQVydz28rfmSWFP1M4phxMvqljFGfI0wThUvizRBMuu5fg/s320/100_2142.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301586028740671442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNpmofBdV2eVqb2qex6K3uLDcOew5q-pZc7s-nrWCIUIAvI6-t2VhuevVxXYM8IM74rUfugJfGR0kVwecmaES_8xr8DTpaKsGVQXKmIdalSoyOpVWhaEPW6qGA6WdLygYLfdAl4UlCH0/s1600-h/100_2141.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNpmofBdV2eVqb2qex6K3uLDcOew5q-pZc7s-nrWCIUIAvI6-t2VhuevVxXYM8IM74rUfugJfGR0kVwecmaES_8xr8DTpaKsGVQXKmIdalSoyOpVWhaEPW6qGA6WdLygYLfdAl4UlCH0/s320/100_2141.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301586023513273538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFUuGw-KRDyoT7bYRrrXk7ckPGAuMaw5Qbry6-xmwKsIoflJGMedzJ50j6nZ8F6m_lt-MyiUVG8bKIoimaRqhj-fTwBNpvBSjM8WbjV4T_xy_gsXqySEDhjUGMjFRvU72W7JakA_Rmi8/s1600-h/100_2140.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFUuGw-KRDyoT7bYRrrXk7ckPGAuMaw5Qbry6-xmwKsIoflJGMedzJ50j6nZ8F6m_lt-MyiUVG8bKIoimaRqhj-fTwBNpvBSjM8WbjV4T_xy_gsXqySEDhjUGMjFRvU72W7JakA_Rmi8/s320/100_2140.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301586023010598322" /></a>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-51288846638591492792009-02-08T12:06:00.000-08:002009-02-11T09:50:27.656-08:00Fort Worth, TXToday I dropped Jenny off at Louis Armstrong International Airport and headed through the rest of Louisiana en route to Fort Worth, TX. I found it amusing that driving north through Louisiana there are billboards for Emergency Rooms at a Hospital nearby, I hardly think that you need to advertise for an ER. It isn’t like someone decides “Oh, look, honey, there is an Emergency Room in 4.3 miles, feel like stopping and having an aneurism so we can go visit?!” As if an emergency room is a tourist destination. <br /><br />I crossed over the Mississippi, on a bridge very similar to the Tappan Zee. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3S5wmjXg_KBVvd2zBIS9QxEqZNdXuKZy7lBKRYbdY434j2DHLutC70iVsZDtGAVrBdr0OSO0g925kOTypYBScMSAzMgmqtr-GaffK74MrZ0BbdvSd_uqfEhOwgdz-GK33TKF_Ba7zkg/s1600-h/100_1952.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3S5wmjXg_KBVvd2zBIS9QxEqZNdXuKZy7lBKRYbdY434j2DHLutC70iVsZDtGAVrBdr0OSO0g925kOTypYBScMSAzMgmqtr-GaffK74MrZ0BbdvSd_uqfEhOwgdz-GK33TKF_Ba7zkg/s320/100_1952.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300523299878204402" /></a><br />I arrived in Fort Worth around 4:30 and went out for some delicious Tex-Mex at a restaurant that makes fresh flour tortillas. I don't remember the name of the place...<br /><br />Fort Worth is the 27th largest city in the US. It was established in 1849 as a protective Army outpost situated on a bluff overlooking the Trinity River, the city of Fort Worth today still embraces its western heritage and traditional architecture and design. The highrise buildings are all outlined with white lights and when lit at night are striking painted against the dark Texas sky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXRj_lVVXcaguh6uUrfSj1jzhzzn3o_pmLWfHOQBFVzdozBbtn14YWFmCQDAN8EGn1aSxRZgz7p4vESw3foNOHMdEKxM6FCiwms0ackKlXclcQKNZZ76xy7M4Yu5ifU8vQzba0GDVoEA/s1600-h/fort_worth_tx_local.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXRj_lVVXcaguh6uUrfSj1jzhzzn3o_pmLWfHOQBFVzdozBbtn14YWFmCQDAN8EGn1aSxRZgz7p4vESw3foNOHMdEKxM6FCiwms0ackKlXclcQKNZZ76xy7M4Yu5ifU8vQzba0GDVoEA/s320/fort_worth_tx_local.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301598309865853618" /></a><br /><br />Tiina and I visited the <a href="http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/">Fort Worth Stockyard</a>s on Thursday, very touristy thing to do. They parade the cattle through the streets very regularly and there are stores that sell various tokens that say "don't mess with Texas" and the Confederate Flag symbol.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmNrsftiwP_Mqg07KYUTIPU-46vEwptdXcnNWVDagS0eRDFnAT70Tvai10v0kH6GtN1j0FGfB19KZvoqi6kfmJ20809xxY5edqQSJCAVU8ftwdDbClRLsGKZip8aOyeUcCFjkaGsHORk/s1600-h/512px-Chicago_stockyards_cattle_pens_men_1909.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmNrsftiwP_Mqg07KYUTIPU-46vEwptdXcnNWVDagS0eRDFnAT70Tvai10v0kH6GtN1j0FGfB19KZvoqi6kfmJ20809xxY5edqQSJCAVU8ftwdDbClRLsGKZip8aOyeUcCFjkaGsHORk/s320/512px-Chicago_stockyards_cattle_pens_men_1909.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301590113268565362" /></a><br />I got in some good "bad influence" shopping with Tiina, which i hadn't done in a few years since we were in Fort Collins together. If you ever find yourself in Fort Worth and want to blow some money, go to the Jean Guru and the Shoe Gypsy on Park Hill Drive. I got these fancy shoes, which I love! I did not purchase any Hudson Jeans, being financially well behaved is a lot less fun. We chatted about how we have both felt the frustrations of the post graduate identity crisis and where we want to go with our lives now that we have finished design school.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbO7ciZL6nFTIUr-qKvF2zjzRVrceR8dN9_KPKSE49xVWzv3ClhfM-DrIz1goqfEG9OeiBSo4jWEA386eQ3P5bfV7n3dJQDDqdISPxKwGm0_KPUywI_Ii4N-iH-dS40t0bX5ciqpvHJ8/s1600-h/100_1992.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbO7ciZL6nFTIUr-qKvF2zjzRVrceR8dN9_KPKSE49xVWzv3ClhfM-DrIz1goqfEG9OeiBSo4jWEA386eQ3P5bfV7n3dJQDDqdISPxKwGm0_KPUywI_Ii4N-iH-dS40t0bX5ciqpvHJ8/s320/100_1992.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300523298241571522" /></a><br />On Thursday night we went to <a href="http://www.petesduelingpianobar.com/">Pete's Dueling Piano Bar</a>, which was very vulgar, just my style. <br /><br />I bid my farewells on Friday morning to head to Marfa, TX to see the Madrid Family. Please check back, I am being sort of vague because I am mostly trying to catch up from the stuff I have done the past week. I will be adding and editing a lot of this stuff soon.Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-44178826308767842722009-02-07T10:37:00.000-08:002009-02-08T12:06:16.186-08:00water always wins.Imagine you are struggling to get by (easy enough, most of us are). A class 5 hurricane is heading to your region and you are ushered to evacuate the city, neighborhood, and community you live. Not only are you evacuating, but so is the entire city. It is said to be the worst storm to hit in centuries. You pile your immediate posessions in what vehicle you have and start to leave your city, unsure of the next time you will be back. You are then immersed in a traffic jam that lasts for 8 hours only moving one mile. The storm begins. Thrashing your car, your family, and the life you knew.<br /><br />You finally make it to a hotel outside of town for the night. Only hours in the roof of the hotel is ripped off by gale storm winds. You have no electricity, no water, and now no shelter to keep you dry. You can't go home. You can't leave. The roads are flooded. After making it through the worst night, you learn that your home is submersed in 20 feet of water. You are told to find a place to stay, still not knowing when you might be able to go "home."<br /><br />You stay away from home for 5-8 months, the water doesn't drain from your neighborhood for a whole month. You stay in a bunk house that is 500 sq. ft. shared with 12 others who have been evacuated, with little privacy to call your own. <br /><br />You return to a deserted neighborhood. Your windows have been broken in from wind. Your house is no longer sitting on its' foundation. Your car has washed away. What belongings and valuables left behind are either washed away by water or looted and anything of sentiment or value has been stolen. There is 6 inches of dirt blanketing the floor you once had carpeting on. There is a large X spray painted on the front of your house. <br /><br />FEMA has decided the state of your home, the date determined, and whether any bodies have been found.<br /><br />You contact FEMA for assistance. You are informed that it will take as long as two months to get shelter. As soon as FEMA delivers your temporary trailer you are told that you can't habitate until they "check you in." This takes as long as a month. They slap your wrists for moving what you have left into the trailer you will be calling home on your front lawn for an undetermined amount of time. In Charlene's case, this was 2.5 years with 5 other people.<br /><br />You are finally given insurance money, but your jobs have all been long lost. You need to survive on the money given to you by the insurance company. If you are lucky, Habitat for Humanity or another charitable foundation helps you build a new home. <br /><br />Unfortunately, only a fraction of the residents of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans and other surrounding areas have even returned to their neighborhoods. Only a fraction have been lucky enough to get the insurance money, the adequate help from FEMA, and assistance from Habitat for Humanity. I was very grateful to have heard a first hand account of one woman's story of tragedy and loss in New Orleans during the past 5 years. When you drive around the Ninth Ward, and other areas such as Saint Bernard Parish, you are struck by how the area looks like the storm only happened a month ago.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEX-5wd737AOwwxclfjzo38j3xGUbylxykD0gCWobXX4FQBreBAO4PBtB4bdfP117LgPfDOVZJ5d-JNULkuN93JSm8WKaDkhCP0e_fijd4lBCG2oWDghwrLcLQmB1D0_lvmPzNGsdCP4/s1600-h/100_1919.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEX-5wd737AOwwxclfjzo38j3xGUbylxykD0gCWobXX4FQBreBAO4PBtB4bdfP117LgPfDOVZJ5d-JNULkuN93JSm8WKaDkhCP0e_fijd4lBCG2oWDghwrLcLQmB1D0_lvmPzNGsdCP4/s320/100_1919.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300520141269379490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRr_0s4JfV44K28gLg1Trif7NJWIvSiN3bnTLFWVG7sa1s3pQaAax1D22vNzbUE9XhQgXymvksefwmJr2mBCwrRrekYO58LeNCk0ERUpjIJISwwuoQ5ynLW5MnV4j23TJMIlrA7IN96wc/s1600-h/100_1917.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRr_0s4JfV44K28gLg1Trif7NJWIvSiN3bnTLFWVG7sa1s3pQaAax1D22vNzbUE9XhQgXymvksefwmJr2mBCwrRrekYO58LeNCk0ERUpjIJISwwuoQ5ynLW5MnV4j23TJMIlrA7IN96wc/s320/100_1917.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300520134236532610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilOIpWiAlX9kpIdlSRVpMOkuxNfzJgCHLsj-rL_4H2lOUDRFCNOZ7j10jToNqUYp9AxcnretkuS-xxDM3W6p1hd7ah2j-IKdmNkLmKX7S11BN_Hc2PruetiefXFm94mEjQOrV8rvwDU8/s1600-h/100_1916.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilOIpWiAlX9kpIdlSRVpMOkuxNfzJgCHLsj-rL_4H2lOUDRFCNOZ7j10jToNqUYp9AxcnretkuS-xxDM3W6p1hd7ah2j-IKdmNkLmKX7S11BN_Hc2PruetiefXFm94mEjQOrV8rvwDU8/s320/100_1916.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300520126394757986" /></a>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-5174516713304414672009-02-03T12:24:00.000-08:002009-02-13T08:23:28.766-08:00Part B New OrleansToday we went to breakfast at Cafe Du Monde. This place is in the French Market and is famous for its' beignets and coffee with chicory. It is also very inexpensive and quick if you are looking for a famous eatery that wont make you wait ages.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PCuR1mVPZWnmuROrGATiw6j7CGujQUhd8nBQZ0Sf_-7_aUt5A_Kgen1F31XLLxXl2ySV7Xc-MwwolSXgcQJkMLYkrqIV4Oqt1GCc7kxQZ6LYy9NswpqAK1fcrUOMIw1bCIAm650X_L4/s1600-h/100_1893.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PCuR1mVPZWnmuROrGATiw6j7CGujQUhd8nBQZ0Sf_-7_aUt5A_Kgen1F31XLLxXl2ySV7Xc-MwwolSXgcQJkMLYkrqIV4Oqt1GCc7kxQZ6LYy9NswpqAK1fcrUOMIw1bCIAm650X_L4/s320/100_1893.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298671312228422786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCi9lvLpLyJ3TywhoPOxcaFOOTU-IOLLCg3qwHNk1sje4Ym7kIeguMHruWgqu0ndCjUgcJ6O9M5nUS0FbpfKd32xrtGjjaRCsO4qbLlpTncBw6101wiPH-lMi9vqXdD3m7iBlOXE1fQc/s1600-h/100_1890.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCi9lvLpLyJ3TywhoPOxcaFOOTU-IOLLCg3qwHNk1sje4Ym7kIeguMHruWgqu0ndCjUgcJ6O9M5nUS0FbpfKd32xrtGjjaRCsO4qbLlpTncBw6101wiPH-lMi9vqXdD3m7iBlOXE1fQc/s320/100_1890.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298671311281254770" /></a><br />We then ate some Gumbo, but before we got our Alligator Sausage Appetizer, a huge rat ran behind my head, and then back by my feet. Oh well, it happens, so we stayed and ate there anyway. But I wont lie, I was a little worried that maybe they put rat in the gumbo to thicken up the meat.<br /><br />Next we took the Saint Charles Streetcar to the Garden District to walk around. The Garden District, historically, was subdivided into parcels and sold to the wealthy who did not want to live in the French Quarter with the Creoles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpOnMq63BMV7nsnLgQ7lHevwKzGtwDoJiVbJ7kJBodFvEUhYD38VS5tVJraSUZ1jFuKSUt7m1nYjLHv5vWlPP7PeDiQOX_8iqNmEnNOqDNRssrn7GpLbPRoWRPaNBMOLwxBlz3FdePCA/s1600-h/100_1914.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpOnMq63BMV7nsnLgQ7lHevwKzGtwDoJiVbJ7kJBodFvEUhYD38VS5tVJraSUZ1jFuKSUt7m1nYjLHv5vWlPP7PeDiQOX_8iqNmEnNOqDNRssrn7GpLbPRoWRPaNBMOLwxBlz3FdePCA/s320/100_1914.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298672830918984498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSC_Jhpw7vFnUv3ua6ULsIq_JtweXwedhL1Z26HEZTThRXQOuwE0oIviMD-SZpihDC11veR2dDzSJ33jaZK65Hj1UwsBgHUVlqhwQ3p8hhM1DM-1imSpyJW5AsaOiPQXKybfcKIxU1feg/s1600-h/100_1902.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSC_Jhpw7vFnUv3ua6ULsIq_JtweXwedhL1Z26HEZTThRXQOuwE0oIviMD-SZpihDC11veR2dDzSJ33jaZK65Hj1UwsBgHUVlqhwQ3p8hhM1DM-1imSpyJW5AsaOiPQXKybfcKIxU1feg/s320/100_1902.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298672826975327458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih77LtF0OVF1EizarHp-0Hxi-5upb_2V2bdEHtsJVBYL6OyM2HOiFwbKaTYgK7afwnytZJeFzlz8eDeWtXoTY4Y4aqZoFeB0uzdANrZA3vLvy-o-m2Z4gPcP7t1gXosf0L0nwgVQwphUU/s1600-h/100_1898.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih77LtF0OVF1EizarHp-0Hxi-5upb_2V2bdEHtsJVBYL6OyM2HOiFwbKaTYgK7afwnytZJeFzlz8eDeWtXoTY4Y4aqZoFeB0uzdANrZA3vLvy-o-m2Z4gPcP7t1gXosf0L0nwgVQwphUU/s320/100_1898.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298672818525841826" /></a><br />And Magazine St. has some cute shops.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJQKDLt98YDRdZffkeEedX7bn8XvTNwZeBprqrr2-OuyOaMzmlv5gFW65WuHEnvsXY5pKSFKbjG8tJMxTjI7GDIvmE8PYTXIcXMc8tf3WEjXJ-rq7wmKrpgJUrplpPM3ow-xKGvn_Iog/s1600-h/100_1910.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJQKDLt98YDRdZffkeEedX7bn8XvTNwZeBprqrr2-OuyOaMzmlv5gFW65WuHEnvsXY5pKSFKbjG8tJMxTjI7GDIvmE8PYTXIcXMc8tf3WEjXJ-rq7wmKrpgJUrplpPM3ow-xKGvn_Iog/s320/100_1910.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298674983388788306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-IOITvo-bKtp6Hqc4fK9UE049u3rdTcVbAbAvammuog4D5iQWhPnIjp0LdpcCUNa5g8tH2RAlBtckxIaSmjgDN2s3rU5b9b00ldb8eI-bGnxFfB5DPb6dpR3eV2aDWn7n0555uuMg4o/s1600-h/100_1908.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-IOITvo-bKtp6Hqc4fK9UE049u3rdTcVbAbAvammuog4D5iQWhPnIjp0LdpcCUNa5g8tH2RAlBtckxIaSmjgDN2s3rU5b9b00ldb8eI-bGnxFfB5DPb6dpR3eV2aDWn7n0555uuMg4o/s320/100_1908.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298674976444913106" /></a><br />We were so tired after all the walking around that we went back to the hotel and took a nap. Later that night we went to Acme Oyster house for some delicious seafood and to watch the Superbowl. Acme is a favorite oyster-house of many friends, so we decided to try it out. I have only eaten raw oysters once before, and Jen hadn't ever. They're all right, but I kind of think they are as good as what you put on them. Maybe it is an acquired taste.Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-2315688914185803372009-02-03T11:47:00.000-08:002009-02-13T08:18:06.792-08:00Part A New Orleans<span style="font-weight:bold;">Saturday, January 31, 2009</span><br />Arriving in New Orleans took longer than expected, but was well worth it. We drove over the I-10 Bridge, which I believe is a temporary bridge as the other one was washed out during Hurricane Katrina. It is an amazing feat that bridges can span that distance over Lake Pontchartain. Construction was under way for a new bridge.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNJQU-YPzHrXOMQjE-VyjdiITG4erl-l4fdHc8xg96QBdJ8h3K_bzPOS6sBhCjvGjMQTVvecVvGQv6rIFOzhPbdWicmCIyvruCJVxTdqIWQbzYpABJytb6wwLUXuHJR0Y1sti1ytxoBI/s1600-h/100_1843.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNJQU-YPzHrXOMQjE-VyjdiITG4erl-l4fdHc8xg96QBdJ8h3K_bzPOS6sBhCjvGjMQTVvecVvGQv6rIFOzhPbdWicmCIyvruCJVxTdqIWQbzYpABJytb6wwLUXuHJR0Y1sti1ytxoBI/s320/100_1843.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298661336000289682" /></a><br />After checking into the hotel room at the Royal Saint Charles, which is a block behind Canal St. on the opposite side of the French Quarter, we cleaned up and decided to head over the the French Quarter to check out some of the places that my Uncle Ben told me to visit. We wandered around, took some photos and watched some street performers. Pirate's Alley seemed like a place of interest, being that I love Pirates, Pirate jokes, and drinking Sailor Jerry and acting like a pirate. Some claim that Pirate's Alley was a place where wild shenanigans of yore took place, or that slaves were sold in the Saint Anthony's gardens adjacent to it, none of which are confirmed to be true, yet still a fascinating legend.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc7PVF556OYVfJaLjdE5sbC7A-3dlpvZKJzBF16zmLv-2StcdVvEeMw5agbwAZvoFXFBZNEkZir62PMeL4I9R9_i3SRlojR744dStPEJ7KD0CkChKiwTSMJGo1cH24kDEeX_2PQf_Y6I/s1600-h/100_1866.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc7PVF556OYVfJaLjdE5sbC7A-3dlpvZKJzBF16zmLv-2StcdVvEeMw5agbwAZvoFXFBZNEkZir62PMeL4I9R9_i3SRlojR744dStPEJ7KD0CkChKiwTSMJGo1cH24kDEeX_2PQf_Y6I/s320/100_1866.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298662649458330018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgG1Cc_4ACfJmc99qhzaYZnxzSrjfiqHxspc0XvITKNyCP3PTSw-BuOSzy2fpUuhNyFVUu3-zV6BzHwmVwTfYpofSNsgq12M3UvLWSYXvnuPb38xHLLQZsPTPNNTCxrQsLBNSq_vwcrR4/s1600-h/100_1862.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgG1Cc_4ACfJmc99qhzaYZnxzSrjfiqHxspc0XvITKNyCP3PTSw-BuOSzy2fpUuhNyFVUu3-zV6BzHwmVwTfYpofSNsgq12M3UvLWSYXvnuPb38xHLLQZsPTPNNTCxrQsLBNSq_vwcrR4/s320/100_1862.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298662648065814482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqZGB8CjP1UXDXLglss-c7wyq1gLiolIGtjBC9JgomJDMOOXfrnAT98DJ61q826r3s2o6zSaDLFkIt0mq7hjnbrPG5DwuCLVJTman5Kkyf8jFBCcqXUSj-Dub-GS7WsDOjPlkgRpPSlo/s1600-h/100_1858.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqZGB8CjP1UXDXLglss-c7wyq1gLiolIGtjBC9JgomJDMOOXfrnAT98DJ61q826r3s2o6zSaDLFkIt0mq7hjnbrPG5DwuCLVJTman5Kkyf8jFBCcqXUSj-Dub-GS7WsDOjPlkgRpPSlo/s320/100_1858.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298662638920403138" /></a><br />Since it is legal to walk (or stumble if you will) the streets of New Orleans with open containers of alcohol, we grabbed an Abita Ale to accompany us on a little touristy walk of the French Quarter. We then headed toward Bourbon St. On a Saturday afternoon in February, with the hint of upcoming Mardi Gras in the air, the French Quarter is a very happening place. Music fills the air from the myriad jazz clubs and bars lining the street. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTI0T_-clbanZVSGf8cDZwVKzxFzGPHCHrWlxdpNGP5mxC2WiHTYHUygNlTsQD1ObK0HjY9TM9JyVylfLnDkGwBPeHOTD__CPalDTujaTLLSlCEoOTOyEwC_hIPKW5zlmALDUlyQYtDs/s1600-h/100_1861.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTI0T_-clbanZVSGf8cDZwVKzxFzGPHCHrWlxdpNGP5mxC2WiHTYHUygNlTsQD1ObK0HjY9TM9JyVylfLnDkGwBPeHOTD__CPalDTujaTLLSlCEoOTOyEwC_hIPKW5zlmALDUlyQYtDs/s320/100_1861.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298668987961281794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cZb4gJ0ozpeXYmswF9eJBIEA-ywghBD9OfcWKqP4tqIgxJDON99wQ6Ww-Oy5Cv-mdsaJ1rBNLM76BR_wluAqRA8jLv8YTsGAHBS53wQE3627BKwxxAjUJx-_h2Q6lClJLyNJrkAsetg/s1600-h/100_1848.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cZb4gJ0ozpeXYmswF9eJBIEA-ywghBD9OfcWKqP4tqIgxJDON99wQ6Ww-Oy5Cv-mdsaJ1rBNLM76BR_wluAqRA8jLv8YTsGAHBS53wQE3627BKwxxAjUJx-_h2Q6lClJLyNJrkAsetg/s320/100_1848.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298668980577678066" /></a><br />We found one with a local Jazz band playing and ambled in. The Krazy Korner is on the corner of Bourbon and St. Peter Street. It had a wild band playing with a metal washboard and an accordian. We stayed a while, and continued to drink Abita until I started making friends with the bartender<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaP59Inf9AX-1dhPjCAzk88mzEZlTviuE-2ia97MympMsolvuFEeXvMxibhOX0utuQL1GSMFdzZupFn8Cw-7C_PsMIBn8pWj-OnHC2pnLi2SRWk0X2ytx5bLHnyrY0eU87VxbiP2kscc/s1600-h/100_1887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaP59Inf9AX-1dhPjCAzk88mzEZlTviuE-2ia97MympMsolvuFEeXvMxibhOX0utuQL1GSMFdzZupFn8Cw-7C_PsMIBn8pWj-OnHC2pnLi2SRWk0X2ytx5bLHnyrY0eU87VxbiP2kscc/s320/100_1887.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298666540817420978" /></a><br /> and Jen was making friends with the band members.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z9b-IbcvtnZVBbm01aklCl5J5ZHMQZhBN6rOdUhIIGpN2ZV99uApqPfAjNIDF2gQFfzlHD6kUJMvwVgyX7oP_da9Xq5c73fxPMCYOoSJQr8Uwl90fvDUDdH1cHzHANmAHDR7gQkdg_U/s1600-h/100_1875.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z9b-IbcvtnZVBbm01aklCl5J5ZHMQZhBN6rOdUhIIGpN2ZV99uApqPfAjNIDF2gQFfzlHD6kUJMvwVgyX7oP_da9Xq5c73fxPMCYOoSJQr8Uwl90fvDUDdH1cHzHANmAHDR7gQkdg_U/s320/100_1875.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298665661610752546" /></a><br />We wandered back to the hotel in the evening, back up Bourbon Street, past the brothels and strip clubs toward Canal Street. I already knew I thought New Orleans was "bomb."Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-50346125768719608052009-02-01T20:02:00.000-08:002009-02-01T20:08:44.102-08:00Artsy Fartsy New Orleans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8f0QnRi8_2iDXYr2QY9naxp3oHBSU2cJNbRw9p7QJvTjAv_RyNblcWwDKOVVQPG3KBarrgdUCnGvthU60coGL4M3e_SzapQpLUUCfsFMS_a1XmiVIR1YT_NinLyl4wBDrJHE1B98o6g/s1600-h/100_1907.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8f0QnRi8_2iDXYr2QY9naxp3oHBSU2cJNbRw9p7QJvTjAv_RyNblcWwDKOVVQPG3KBarrgdUCnGvthU60coGL4M3e_SzapQpLUUCfsFMS_a1XmiVIR1YT_NinLyl4wBDrJHE1B98o6g/s320/100_1907.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298047052865702594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibh6ruLrawNBXHmBdpi6C1usqOdR2cEFjP64-XVAhIyOO_loQcB_F64Lu1o-LuQFwY7qmGwsZLU1ASLqe6bbIZTBWoBvl5fC7S64TXMRU0dq346eIS2uJm4RR3ZjwzLGdGAnhRYuIbwW8/s1600-h/100_1895.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibh6ruLrawNBXHmBdpi6C1usqOdR2cEFjP64-XVAhIyOO_loQcB_F64Lu1o-LuQFwY7qmGwsZLU1ASLqe6bbIZTBWoBvl5fC7S64TXMRU0dq346eIS2uJm4RR3ZjwzLGdGAnhRYuIbwW8/s320/100_1895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298047048988018082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDUqTAWLqq-COYfX0CXfd8QtFqrt6Zm-rVDMreY5gVchCLdu5-BtftUaQcxcAL9eYcXIBwKdEgHE_0W3qgnu8TKAry8mRzqswUtgQBe756oezXEOo6RcDShSGBE5-1uWjP3af5Qwrw8A/s1600-h/100_1851.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDUqTAWLqq-COYfX0CXfd8QtFqrt6Zm-rVDMreY5gVchCLdu5-BtftUaQcxcAL9eYcXIBwKdEgHE_0W3qgnu8TKAry8mRzqswUtgQBe756oezXEOo6RcDShSGBE5-1uWjP3af5Qwrw8A/s320/100_1851.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298047045328861090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UmNEQyVcK7_upEYcRjVWcXcmIeIVrTre5P-z4YAPOQnti6Uo-kw-Lsj390nZCjrJSgYJbJDUa_naYGa_h0m93DaVtK6LynEgLh_JrI-LWjCnuJrKtRHKhP7U9THwnaPhAA2njfhjc5A/s1600-h/100_1849_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UmNEQyVcK7_upEYcRjVWcXcmIeIVrTre5P-z4YAPOQnti6Uo-kw-Lsj390nZCjrJSgYJbJDUa_naYGa_h0m93DaVtK6LynEgLh_JrI-LWjCnuJrKtRHKhP7U9THwnaPhAA2njfhjc5A/s320/100_1849_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298047041833480994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj36DjrCRnrN86awTMlPhu9D-pN8uNDX-bLHNPohKq_s6Zj7OkQ7c6KIME36qBs0pooDtsjMzP66LYv_DkNgJmejUeGpu3VY1fzIymhLKslmrOJ4stmFFKPAmeVRoRd8Mucxk59hyy0x8/s1600-h/100_1845.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj36DjrCRnrN86awTMlPhu9D-pN8uNDX-bLHNPohKq_s6Zj7OkQ7c6KIME36qBs0pooDtsjMzP66LYv_DkNgJmejUeGpu3VY1fzIymhLKslmrOJ4stmFFKPAmeVRoRd8Mucxk59hyy0x8/s320/100_1845.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298047035964103586" /></a>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-29879566614800278702009-02-01T13:43:00.000-08:002009-02-01T20:10:02.517-08:00Montgomery, AlabamaLeaving Charleston we didn't really anticipate that the drive would SUCK. Approximately 12 hours of driving on only a glimpse of sleep is not a good idea. We ended up stopping in Montgomery, Alabama for the night. We both needed a good night of sleep.<br /><br />This leg of the journey is pretty bland. There wasn't much noteworthy, so I will be brief and get to the goods of New Orleans.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2x75SvQqi_0j2AX-ssJyBcN4nrwJKblfQI2N67CEJMiaj0MIfttFhO0EmfNaCT5-1tLx2ZvJE8kxRvmHBnA0BC1-v8MkZgxpEvmIguj0a7hB2wH8nxZEmQ9XzsBo3FJEoKg5V21th6M/s1600-h/100_1833.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2x75SvQqi_0j2AX-ssJyBcN4nrwJKblfQI2N67CEJMiaj0MIfttFhO0EmfNaCT5-1tLx2ZvJE8kxRvmHBnA0BC1-v8MkZgxpEvmIguj0a7hB2wH8nxZEmQ9XzsBo3FJEoKg5V21th6M/s320/100_1833.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297949079514303058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo115pdcPmm4mDVw31lok0FTB9pGs2oxcnZMlCvgcLQCVc-nlxMYmiCcX81VlexQxq_HEne4LTMeYZVEG4wWY0rs_lWl_Y7ItlZHFC41KD9OflWFX7ohVuOFeiWCEGJMVsPfuSHbzo08/s1600-h/100_1832.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo115pdcPmm4mDVw31lok0FTB9pGs2oxcnZMlCvgcLQCVc-nlxMYmiCcX81VlexQxq_HEne4LTMeYZVEG4wWY0rs_lWl_Y7ItlZHFC41KD9OflWFX7ohVuOFeiWCEGJMVsPfuSHbzo08/s320/100_1832.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297949074880803170" /></a>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-32311302290619804982009-01-31T22:38:00.000-08:002009-02-01T13:33:02.246-08:00Y'all Come Back NowThursday, January 29, 2009<br />We arrived in Charleston, SC in the late afternoon. I planned to visit my friend Isaiah, a guy that lived with my family for one summer while doing an internship at Benson's. He easily became one of my best friends and I have shared a lot of laughs and good stories with him, and I knew that this visit wouldn't pass without a good time. We drove straight to his house, which according to him "looks like it is in the ghetto." and it did, I promptly locked the doors and turned the hip-hop down. His house, however was really quite nice, although we weren't staying the night there.<br /><br />We didn't have a lot of time to get to walk around Charleston, but we did do a ten cent tour of the place. As you will soon learn, I am slightly obsessed with bridges, and I am especially obsessed with cable stayed bridges, I find them somewhat fascinating in design and equally in engineering. They usually consist of two large pylons with cables running from their sides to support the deck of the bridge. The cable stayed bridge in Charleston, which recently replaced a very sketchy older bridge in 2005, also happens to be the longest in the US. It connects Charleston to Mount Pleasant over the Charleston Harbor.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxe7kYWOqWfh-NGcjo0_B1IakQY3sVA8ARy3TawIfk26gIC6rzzFaWZHSatHNRfdxLudxUGvYn6gAKFBfekmk9pNirBeAtUR-6jN7jU8nIGuTxD3xs4fzLaTmAvjlLQXOQG-QRb5ASgE/s1600-h/100_1792.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxe7kYWOqWfh-NGcjo0_B1IakQY3sVA8ARy3TawIfk26gIC6rzzFaWZHSatHNRfdxLudxUGvYn6gAKFBfekmk9pNirBeAtUR-6jN7jU8nIGuTxD3xs4fzLaTmAvjlLQXOQG-QRb5ASgE/s320/100_1792.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297720578225366306" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMP4nPLO5VaClqq8Vf7Xeb19nbw3pDSRMo2UR9BtAMzMHD7aGHAcX59ORULcQhZ-BftFvnbU6q_6vhKl-fBRzHxGzEHrcFet9SnxiFZetVaRW0FgaktURFLe-7nyi-M64QXX1SadgV3k/s1600-h/100_1796.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMP4nPLO5VaClqq8Vf7Xeb19nbw3pDSRMo2UR9BtAMzMHD7aGHAcX59ORULcQhZ-BftFvnbU6q_6vhKl-fBRzHxGzEHrcFet9SnxiFZetVaRW0FgaktURFLe-7nyi-M64QXX1SadgV3k/s320/100_1796.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297720585140217266" /></a><br /><br />Still trying to kill some time before we headed over to Kyle's house, another former Bensonwood intern who was housing Jen and I for the evening, we drove around King St. This area is pretty touristy with swanky shops flanking the streetscape. I was very surprised how narrow the street was, being a major thoroughfare in the city. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vbK-MTODlHblhta5riY4jNMZ-EVdmc0f4IuHivs48hAjnVIdxvxI60IfvsbXZy_Z2go4D3w5LVW9gZ4WQpyzQHw1KqQ2vxiI9Z3oFahnhYdN4qcgL1BlMv45oMo1F0z7qNINGwoepDk/s1600-h/100_1797_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vbK-MTODlHblhta5riY4jNMZ-EVdmc0f4IuHivs48hAjnVIdxvxI60IfvsbXZy_Z2go4D3w5LVW9gZ4WQpyzQHw1KqQ2vxiI9Z3oFahnhYdN4qcgL1BlMv45oMo1F0z7qNINGwoepDk/s320/100_1797_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297720582338417490" /></a><br /><br />The sidestreets off of King St. have some of the most impressively large and elegant southern estates, most commonly with intricate wrought iron gates, ginormous columns and balconies, and lush landscaping. If you live in this area, you are required to own a poodle, keep it well groomed, and take it for jogs along the waterway in your matching nike fitness attire. I am not impressed with the quality of this photo, and I really wish you could see the poodles, but I needed to get my point across.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCaliWgwqioocnPvU9mZYgeuYDXrZD4OxRV3wfF-ggP-OH2uXoBtQHGBHcm_aUCbZQyPE0kR2_HmtcMe7bZxQHTvt0dJcWtOKAMHegmkAgb0yMKGXda9GjGwimSHJhWm12cTHzZQg9EU/s1600-h/100_1821.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCaliWgwqioocnPvU9mZYgeuYDXrZD4OxRV3wfF-ggP-OH2uXoBtQHGBHcm_aUCbZQyPE0kR2_HmtcMe7bZxQHTvt0dJcWtOKAMHegmkAgb0yMKGXda9GjGwimSHJhWm12cTHzZQg9EU/s320/100_1821.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297934166557234594" /></a><br /><br />Next we watched the sun set on the Charleston Harbor. We saw a pelican, but it was too stealthy to be captured on film.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0cEN3Gt_8bMjfS4QZeZ-Pp8tQGjL5Tpv0hSilO3uPbxIn7RwDpOkL2VnZoK3JGFgAaGfF4MVAYrZevaS2Ee-_IA4_CtGBH1dnlNQoqYeyWc9n3aili53X3fOWfuwX7qdDzcP8FIvMkM/s1600-h/100_1817.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0cEN3Gt_8bMjfS4QZeZ-Pp8tQGjL5Tpv0hSilO3uPbxIn7RwDpOkL2VnZoK3JGFgAaGfF4MVAYrZevaS2Ee-_IA4_CtGBH1dnlNQoqYeyWc9n3aili53X3fOWfuwX7qdDzcP8FIvMkM/s320/100_1817.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297721172104472658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuml9nGaMf8jztKNgb4GhTQw6U-TnuRQ8R5d8zhyT9DTTKmvF6akjW9LsiOLMbGSd__-YEjGztv63HxSz8GwL3DjoPhNpk5h7688RDuFBXtI3KOB1yTDFoXOZCH9SkeePQwph4Up9uvL0/s1600-h/100_1813.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuml9nGaMf8jztKNgb4GhTQw6U-TnuRQ8R5d8zhyT9DTTKmvF6akjW9LsiOLMbGSd__-YEjGztv63HxSz8GwL3DjoPhNpk5h7688RDuFBXtI3KOB1yTDFoXOZCH9SkeePQwph4Up9uvL0/s320/100_1813.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297720583188589970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmIa-WOdB7aM_pEN8oySeHp_QvjE3NeqS9Fe4yFNqcUbCdBsuoELNXMx96a9vvasjfsuJcfxpMQtDuwwuLO4eLvtzdNqTKjWcLxUsPFRlWbRSoSfwWmKXjXkgE_MtWCIv3P-v4FsYka0/s1600-h/100_1808.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmIa-WOdB7aM_pEN8oySeHp_QvjE3NeqS9Fe4yFNqcUbCdBsuoELNXMx96a9vvasjfsuJcfxpMQtDuwwuLO4eLvtzdNqTKjWcLxUsPFRlWbRSoSfwWmKXjXkgE_MtWCIv3P-v4FsYka0/s320/100_1808.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297720584744790738" /></a><br /><br />We bought some local beer and headed over to Kyle's where we planned to stay the night, of course after we had some quick and dirty mexican food and checked out the bar scene. We went to a bar that was up on the 4th floor with a rooftop deck and introduced the bartender to Danger Water (if you don't know about this drink, I will probably eventually dedicate a whole blog to it so stay tuned). The boys introduced us to Sweet Tea infused Vodka. As delicious as it was, I am still trying to decide if I think that was a good judgement call. Next we hit up Raval, a smaller bar where we met up with some friends of Isaiah and Kyle. I drank a few sips of wine and then moved to water. Later, cartwheels in the street ensued, as well as Jen face planting on the sidewalk and getting a good hurrah horn toot from a fire truck passing by and a huge bruise on her elbow.<br /><br />Isaiah and Kyle have classes in a centuries old prison that is rumored to be haunted. Kyle and I took off to go check this place out, I may or may not have slightly chickened out here, but only because the flashlight died. It was pretty creepy, and for some "strange" reason (I really do believe that it is ghosts) the pictures I took of the prison came out completely black.<br /><br />I didn't get nearly enough sleep that night, and we had to get on the road reasonably early the next day to make it to New Orleans. I am not going to lie and tell you that a night out partying and trying to keep up with two hearty boys out on the town is an easy thing to wake up to, so Friday proved to be a difficult day for all of us. I ate my leftover "platter of old mexican food" (thanks Kyle), bought some cheesy postcards at the flea market that was once where slaves were bought and sold, and headed on our journey to New Orleans. <br /><br />"Y'all come back" said Kyle with his southern drawl as he bid us farewell. We all laughed at the cliche of it. Those southern boys....Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-421590024410871686.post-30350830622688781712009-01-31T06:53:00.000-08:002009-02-01T13:31:59.888-08:00Rest in PeaceThe last couple of days have been pretty hectic. I will be posting more on Charleston, SC when I have a little bit of time to collect my thoughts. The past few days have been covered with a blanket of sadness and shock for Jen and myself as we found out on the drive from North Carolina to South Carolina that a friend of ours from High School took his own life on Wednesday night. We have been pretty shocked by this news, and have been thinking a lot about Noah, and the time we had with him in this life. I hope that he has found peace and that he knows that he will be sorely missed by so many.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">South of the Border, Dillon, South Carolina</span><br />This place is just something you have to stop in at and awe in the disgust of once in your life. It is a roadside attraction off of I-95 just on the South Carolina and North Carolina borders. I remember as kid driving to Florida being so thrilled by the hundreds of billboards strategically place starting about 200 miles in anticipation of this place. They were sparkly, they were colorful, they knew how to rope the kids in... One billboard says "Keep Yelling, Kids! They'll Stop!" <span style="font-style:italic;">Yeah, they'll stop, about 50 miles before you get there and take off leaving you in a cloud of dust on the side of the highway.</span> I am only sort of speaking from experience.<br /><br />I have to admit that the last time I drove i-95 South, in about 2001, the signage was much more obnoxious and neon. They must have tamed down their billboards in the past few years and it wasn't quite as impressive. I don't suggest eating anything there unless you aren't afraid of tapeworms.<br /><br />So of course, we stopped.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMAhZdWJEIiwo9_Ib3yxnSPLl9eBKMUb_jLIpg0kN9ybcDlJKg186FGdAxJZP8BUNsKY-14brhHv5MTziNCTBL7QyuAynvZdCBFfaJak0imDMn3C5lcwciMJiflL_jfFw-vi3chsdTuk/s1600-h/100_1782_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMAhZdWJEIiwo9_Ib3yxnSPLl9eBKMUb_jLIpg0kN9ybcDlJKg186FGdAxJZP8BUNsKY-14brhHv5MTziNCTBL7QyuAynvZdCBFfaJak0imDMn3C5lcwciMJiflL_jfFw-vi3chsdTuk/s320/100_1782_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297944768534154978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0APnmaksSDiH7HCF7gpVV4xr7xx04UhhcGb79JMXFWxgDicW4FFvGxSouccrYwg2_n2H2lA1Wf5NnMHLe3E5Amb8MIG0vhel-tiQmL5oZLA0aKSa5GGwmxT_6oo8YqyqgHP7sFPE6ro/s1600-h/100_1779.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0APnmaksSDiH7HCF7gpVV4xr7xx04UhhcGb79JMXFWxgDicW4FFvGxSouccrYwg2_n2H2lA1Wf5NnMHLe3E5Amb8MIG0vhel-tiQmL5oZLA0aKSa5GGwmxT_6oo8YqyqgHP7sFPE6ro/s320/100_1779.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297944758455117266" /></a>Allison Smeltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915367276778812068noreply@blogger.com0