In the Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods is a national natural landmark and public park outside of Colorado Springs. It is free and open to the public; visitors and local families alike come to walk on a gentle slope through gorgeous red sandstone formations up to 300 feet high. When I visited, I met a couple of friendly blue Western Scrub Jays, too.  

According to the park website, the name was given to the park in 1859 by two surveyors. One remarked that it would be "a capitol place for a beer garden," to which the other replied: "Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods." 

We're still waiting for the beer garden... 

Dog Days of Summer

Why did I choose to spend the dog days of summer in hot and humid central Florida?

POOLS NEXT TO LAKES AT ROLLINS COLLEGE

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO

MARGARITAVILLE

SCRABBLE?

SPEEDBOATS

DOWNTOWN DISNEY

Oh, yeah... That's why. 

And apparently I got out in the nick of time (yesterday). To those in the path of Tropical Storm Isaac, my thoughts are with you. My heart goes out to my fellow Americans who are acutely aware of the devastation these natural disasters may bring. My thoughts are with you. For what it's worth. 

Berthillon on Île Saint-Louis

This is a flashback to a sunny afternoon in Paris and the refreshingness of lime sorbet, cold and tart.

Strawberry and lime sorbet from Berthillon

This photo is from a wonderful warm trip to Paris in May of 2010 with my close friend Marc. The City of Lights in late spring cast its spell, and by the end of our first full day we were carefree and happy. In the evening we had desert for dinner - a nutella banane crêpe for Marc and sorbet from Berthillon on the Île Saint-Louis for me. 

With Marc in Montmartre

I wish it were warm enough for sorbet, but after that heat spell where it was 75 degrees every day in March, the temperature has cooled down quite a bit in the 'Burgh. High today of only 48! I'm also longing for those carefree days - according to the Pitt News, which counts bomb threats by building (even when they come in sets of 3 or 4, which I have been counting as one threat), the total is 57. 

All of these numbers are making my head hurt, it's off to Political Philosophy class for me. Yes, I prefer Thomas Hobbes and John Locke to counting to fifty-seven. Just between you and me. 

Working Vacation

This has been an extraordinarily busy summer. Compared to last summer, which was packed with the usual trips to the beach and the standard summer job, this summer has been double the workload. But not necessarily half the fun!

In addition to acing two summer classes at West Chester University (social psychology and psychopathology) I worked multiple summer jobs to save money for London. In between these commitments, and occasionally during, I’ve had some great times.

I’ve had plenty of opportunities to go into Philadelphia. On father’s day, I saw the Marc Chagall exhibit at the Art Museum, and more recently, Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus. At the Ritz East Theater, I saw Incendies, a foreign film in my second language – French.

In May, I attended the Radnor Hunt horse races for the first time; this year’s theme was the Great American Novel. I donned rain boots to wade into the stream at the Great Valley Nature Center, looking for bugs with my six-year-old neighbor. I spent several weekends in Ventnor, where I ran the Fireman’s 5K, learned how to crack open lobsters, and biked the boardwalk to Atlantic City.

I have also stretched my gourmet muscles quite a few times. I tasted my first chicken wings at Adobe Café in south Philly (crispy, spicy, and sweet). I also tried a ‘Lhasa Apso’ chicken sandwich and a ‘Whippett’ turkey burger at Doghouse Gourmet Burgers in Downingtown – and enjoyed both so much that I hardly came up for air between (gigantic) bites. I found a new obsession at Starbucks: the soy latte with toffee nut syrup.

Overall, I’m glad that I can look back and honestly say that I enjoyed myself. I worked hard and played hard… and I think I’ve earned a few adventures :)