tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33636622313970784972024-03-19T10:47:05.710+01:00buddymollysbuddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-35583293607037841042016-01-20T03:26:00.000+01:002016-01-20T03:26:05.991+01:00People in my Neighborhood <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHHqKAup8c_3OJ-3GFbXOzQb4Ddaxncp0OgnGzDPS2tiWIA25YN6xE8jCOnYszsR3IP-PBPlp2WcCodnzzwxWhQAxzaNCrJ-iJetlrN9eMVJkSMLF_c1fN7muCZyjfbEhAUMtEAwzATpW/s1600/tumblr_m6dr32ysWp1rodz1bo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHHqKAup8c_3OJ-3GFbXOzQb4Ddaxncp0OgnGzDPS2tiWIA25YN6xE8jCOnYszsR3IP-PBPlp2WcCodnzzwxWhQAxzaNCrJ-iJetlrN9eMVJkSMLF_c1fN7muCZyjfbEhAUMtEAwzATpW/s640/tumblr_m6dr32ysWp1rodz1bo1_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It’s been nearly a year since we landed in Savannah, leaving our Euro gypsy
feet behind. And while it took us awhile to find our groove (and a place to
live), it didn’t take long to meet the characters of this charming Southern town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first month we were here happened to be “music fest month” and
we volunteered with both Stopover and A-Town Get Down, sparking one of a
handful of <a href="http://www.southmag.com/savannah-music-scene-welcomes-newcomer/"><span style="color: blue;">articles</span></a> I wrote for South Magazine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With our first few months and experiences out of the way, and well
into my third trimester, I started writing for Do Savannah, the Thursday arts
and entertainment pull out section of the Savannah Morning News, and with it
words, photography and community collided. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That is where I met the People in my Neighborhood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN7Dk9kE80ph0CwILJXyjHdGQMYYvzP6AMjMc076e5__g8R_aCwcz4Kmv17EyaU39wsKQgzQ7dSmCCR71jz6tj8qb_cYLSrPDUY83whBHR5Axxh2PNUCdlM6VF0LYIPehBA2BU47DiU99/s1600/10406443_10152821156770896_746901730848683488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN7Dk9kE80ph0CwILJXyjHdGQMYYvzP6AMjMc076e5__g8R_aCwcz4Kmv17EyaU39wsKQgzQ7dSmCCR71jz6tj8qb_cYLSrPDUY83whBHR5Axxh2PNUCdlM6VF0LYIPehBA2BU47DiU99/s640/10406443_10152821156770896_746901730848683488_n.jpg" width="435" /></a></div>
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">People in my neighborhood: Act 1</span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.dosavannah.com/article/tue-05262015-2028/starlandia-art-supply-store-features-repurposed-items" target="_blank">Clinton</a> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">let me throw things at his
head during our shoot, and he opened a rad used art supply shop down the
street. 2 for 2, this guy.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vpDDpOffoqj5OOP-NybFA4F2uL6OMLdHR0l1Q1CIbB-dOZMLRlby8p5plUJLQ1pTnIw8h-1zoDMKtNHkFA6-vRotzmGOgllcTJNWZ3chJI38719ML2KYvU8mjhunZKmWdfx3JBWzr_5a/s1600/10462770_10152865878760896_3962923613862989318_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vpDDpOffoqj5OOP-NybFA4F2uL6OMLdHR0l1Q1CIbB-dOZMLRlby8p5plUJLQ1pTnIw8h-1zoDMKtNHkFA6-vRotzmGOgllcTJNWZ3chJI38719ML2KYvU8mjhunZKmWdfx3JBWzr_5a/s640/10462770_10152865878760896_3962923613862989318_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823;">People
in my neighborhood: Act 2</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.dosavannah.com/article/mon-06152015-1556/savannahs-occugardens-sows-seeds-community" target="_blank">Albert</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823;"> is one of the formidable forces behind
the Thomas Square Edible Park. And he’s damn quotable, too: “We have faith that
the seed knows just what to do. All we do is plant it.” (Get it?)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIDLqpMgtIAMLlV-jNEWvvm2Cdx7gVC5e5DooArvv2VgBfWAOgUnlKXY9VcpwKeXYX78xubPgNWYkCnYw0Nz1mx4Ggt8oM6xa2AfAYE2NHpME_uecgZS-qdF081zokZhG8n99et38Euql/s1600/10419574_10152881941740896_851647169772498467_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIDLqpMgtIAMLlV-jNEWvvm2Cdx7gVC5e5DooArvv2VgBfWAOgUnlKXY9VcpwKeXYX78xubPgNWYkCnYw0Nz1mx4Ggt8oM6xa2AfAYE2NHpME_uecgZS-qdF081zokZhG8n99et38Euql/s640/10419574_10152881941740896_851647169772498467_n.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823;">People
in my Neighborhood: Act 3</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="background: white;">Yoga, meditation and art - the trifecta of
<a href="http://www.dosavannah.com/article/wed-06242015-1906/yoga-workshops-and-art-exhibit-aimed-self-discovery" target="_blank">Maggie</a> Hayes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkYBjeDmReTPzp42KPwcDdSC5356zUL0UbAEid02mzH1MyWrhp8IaihvjcoVLyN2QmMzrSL8N_l0Ms6HCnixGXUmq-sq7gXwfCDm99bsLP9r2dfL9lVh4NiZ0eD_mCUYiC6jTY0A0kISn/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-01-14+at+7.52.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkYBjeDmReTPzp42KPwcDdSC5356zUL0UbAEid02mzH1MyWrhp8IaihvjcoVLyN2QmMzrSL8N_l0Ms6HCnixGXUmq-sq7gXwfCDm99bsLP9r2dfL9lVh4NiZ0eD_mCUYiC6jTY0A0kISn/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-01-14+at+7.52.47+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.1pt;">People in my Neighborhood: Act 4</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.1pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
I didn’t get to photograph <a href="http://www.dosavannah.com/article/tue-06302015-2008/savannah-artist-panhandle-slim-pays-tribute-emanuel-nine" target="_blank">Panhandle Slim</a>, </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">but was honored
to talk to him about his latest project painting tribute portraits of the
Emanuel Nine. I am grateful to be surrounded by a community of such talented
and loving folks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.1pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnWwiMkQnSCVKrqgPPFcWsv_QnWvn2HkCVJVCOR84X8OzoWdBI-VXJYmAtqV19bAjMwp6oy7FHHIAbpZPA9LkNrxab8WS0Hfj9m8SkZKatqZdBcFgY_psACSjteXrtPCKOCiYuifDDHOV/s1600/11667268_10152899689400896_7812249820770151154_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnWwiMkQnSCVKrqgPPFcWsv_QnWvn2HkCVJVCOR84X8OzoWdBI-VXJYmAtqV19bAjMwp6oy7FHHIAbpZPA9LkNrxab8WS0Hfj9m8SkZKatqZdBcFgY_psACSjteXrtPCKOCiYuifDDHOV/s640/11667268_10152899689400896_7812249820770151154_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.1pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">People
in my Neighborhood: Act 5</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.1pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.dosavannah.com/article/wed-07012015-1447/miggs-knife-continue-cultivate-savannah-hip-hop-scene" target="_blank">Miggs and KNife</a><span style="color: #141823;"> are just underground </span><span style="color: #141823;">of the underground scene.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA_LxrLwFyH5BcxuH5UPH-sTfGINF3Y2afj5Y89yFajNyNoTh7O9aiyt2qD5Bu9ldu6V55jLa2OhdYNKiRIvNl0cxckMpIoO3MGN80-oBGL_l_nleioQ2RjLM2YhWf27bzChymN5La6_s/s1600/11222357_10152912251350896_7763305581729271118_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA_LxrLwFyH5BcxuH5UPH-sTfGINF3Y2afj5Y89yFajNyNoTh7O9aiyt2qD5Bu9ldu6V55jLa2OhdYNKiRIvNl0cxckMpIoO3MGN80-oBGL_l_nleioQ2RjLM2YhWf27bzChymN5La6_s/s640/11222357_10152912251350896_7763305581729271118_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823;">People in my Neighborhood: Act 6</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span class="hascaption">Join in on the conversation with <a href="http://www.dosavannah.com/article/mon-07062015-1640/emergent-savannah-host-open-discussion-city-noise-ordinance" target="_blank">Emergent Savannah</a> - </span></span><span class="hascaption"><span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> because Monday means Community.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZi7d-Fb57mKvjW6yU-QybweuQwUGRHWcvEVIhWr14Xp7foLhk0SZNeyqlWhrMVe5s8poE8Ghy_1Tjc_5Z-58rdgiWPgMEXojG4PEYYY5PUyFVJLxiErxiybHeJaGgym_jKB9gmwl1lScp/s1600/11737853_10152921918130896_5064381112418460081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZi7d-Fb57mKvjW6yU-QybweuQwUGRHWcvEVIhWr14Xp7foLhk0SZNeyqlWhrMVe5s8poE8Ghy_1Tjc_5Z-58rdgiWPgMEXojG4PEYYY5PUyFVJLxiErxiybHeJaGgym_jKB9gmwl1lScp/s640/11737853_10152921918130896_5064381112418460081_n.jpg" width="465" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823;">People
in my Neighborhood: Act 7 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.dosavannah.com/article/mon-07132015-1706/manifest-2015-explore-power-sound" target="_blank">Matthew</a>,</span><span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the man in white, wants to move you will
sound. Let him.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgg1OahAGN4oymxnaUtXc313ii9U86C9jjlOScdLYOlAqQKH7YTCAOIAk5qkB0CgfH7wr9oQu-4HV1Mz-OvYD2flDxijfutFi-ICAS_uatO6Xu9rIciF-SnEF4WXT0dPsil8Y81bf6te8/s1600/11038987_10152922287755896_6085555316100424750_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgg1OahAGN4oymxnaUtXc313ii9U86C9jjlOScdLYOlAqQKH7YTCAOIAk5qkB0CgfH7wr9oQu-4HV1Mz-OvYD2flDxijfutFi-ICAS_uatO6Xu9rIciF-SnEF4WXT0dPsil8Y81bf6te8/s640/11038987_10152922287755896_6085555316100424750_n.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823;">People in my Neighborhood: Act 8</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="hascaption"><span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.dosavannah.com/article/mon-07132015-1713/dirty-dolls-get-down-and-nerdy-guild-hall-burlesque-show" target="_blank">Mary Contrary's</a>
garden grows with tasseled maidens all in a row.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzmAaMPPTEVfiNpjXCjLRjfcPrJdBacwjwVHFdUgktwUSrpk8ArW8AlCdYIkpaF3_qhJQc6Y0io1iBTvrwm3fsHUckrESReKWslRHCcOqP-rRg2JwdKSaO6HCSSk2y2Xwl3BX3N6UbVpJ/s1600/12096399_10153072129700896_429396495221699395_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzmAaMPPTEVfiNpjXCjLRjfcPrJdBacwjwVHFdUgktwUSrpk8ArW8AlCdYIkpaF3_qhJQc6Y0io1iBTvrwm3fsHUckrESReKWslRHCcOqP-rRg2JwdKSaO6HCSSk2y2Xwl3BX3N6UbVpJ/s640/12096399_10153072129700896_429396495221699395_n.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823;">People
in my Neighborhood: Act 9</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.dosavannah.com/article/wed-09302015-0121/river-street-hosts-32nd-annual-oktoberfest-wiener-dog-races" target="_blank">Sweet Caroline</a>:</span><span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You can take the girl out of Deutschland but you can’t take
Deutschland out of the girl. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4eAHm4GFEaVu9Bsx-kjiYE3ko7uX9O-DR-dsgp1MMXc2uZoVAaAaSmOLI5C8G_BgCb1-rH5acC88UAIrQXOx0h3lVpETJSnB_czQ25Zp-baJGE6A3UPSGoveH0057X8tHdXi8sxTzlmLq/s1600/DEEP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4eAHm4GFEaVu9Bsx-kjiYE3ko7uX9O-DR-dsgp1MMXc2uZoVAaAaSmOLI5C8G_BgCb1-rH5acC88UAIrQXOx0h3lVpETJSnB_czQ25Zp-baJGE6A3UPSGoveH0057X8tHdXi8sxTzlmLq/s640/DEEP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823;">People
in my neighborhood: Act 10: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The kids of DEEP</span><span style="color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="background: white;">I was fortunate to volunteer with
<a href="http://www.deepkids.com/" target="_blank">DEEP</a>, an amazingly creative after-school program encouraging the written word.
My job was minimal – taking “author” photos of the students at a few of the
schools around town. As a respite from pictures of my kiddo, and as a reminder
that I am, in fact, a photographer, here’s a few shots. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-72490631927071466652016-01-15T03:59:00.000+01:002016-01-15T03:59:09.661+01:00Bon voyage, skydog<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj37QgwC4wziCCg9ArtX0N_J2S5IntgTPgxspH-_YZ0FsnN8jn0zlTqcwikRP-ScZm2hs4RuOZ0F5aPH83jZVd-0as8YHOjQCIfnX-qjQUMDMCmZZN_WtdvD82J3SbEIZq3G9GV02PFaLl/s1600/543630_4881094738513_1737528202_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj37QgwC4wziCCg9ArtX0N_J2S5IntgTPgxspH-_YZ0FsnN8jn0zlTqcwikRP-ScZm2hs4RuOZ0F5aPH83jZVd-0as8YHOjQCIfnX-qjQUMDMCmZZN_WtdvD82J3SbEIZq3G9GV02PFaLl/s640/543630_4881094738513_1737528202_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A beloved companion who could light up a room with her smile
and instill fear in the same hot, ankle-biting breath, Skydog died peacefully
on Jan. 5, 2015, surrounded by her family. She was 13. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The spry Australian shepherd was known for her lightning
speed, high-flying Frisbee-catching acrobatics and signature swivel hips, which
she wagged in lieu of her missing tail. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Born “Sierra Skyy” in Ocala, Fla., Oct. 20, 2002, the feisty
runt of the litter quickly dropped the second ‘y’ in her name and went by
Skydog or just Sky-diggity. <br />
<br />
She spent her formative years frolicking in the shadow of the Tanner family’s (“Full
House”) house on San Francisco’s Alamo Square. And though disciplined enough to
stroll leash-less through the busy streets of the Lower Haight, her nose for
mischief landed her on Animal Planet’s “Animal Cops,” after she jumped out of a
second story window and was later captured & returned by animal control. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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She made that leap a second time – with the cast from the
first jump still fresh on her right leg – after a larger neighbor dog helped
her pry open the window. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These Houdini-like skills were tested and strengthened in
every place in which she lived, as she methodically defeated backyard fences,
bedrooms, kennels and basements in her insatiable quest to be free. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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With these epic escapes came an even more impressive list of
damages her family was obliged to pay. Experts estimate the total to be
somewhere in the ballpark of several thousand dollars, including most notably a
1,000 euro set of custom blinds, a Turkish cleaner’s faux designer jeans and
two metal crates that she systematically dismantled over the course of several
weeks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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These costs paled in comparison to the joy she brought her
family through her robust personality and indomitable will. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The memories she left behind, just like the bite marks,
tufts of fur, and scattered bits of cereal, are everywhere she was and will not
soon be forgotten.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqKN55y9IvQ85JzdsVKKPntL3j_SPT-ecfum-Edm-yFofApMpE_K_9t9Qnb_nkAsHzScGWxG678_4IVSTDgw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-3433967168882653502015-12-28T20:59:00.001+01:002015-12-28T20:59:24.575+01:00The evolution of the buddymollys' holiday card<br />
One of these things is not like the other ...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMDiWmgy1MgZEn4Ek0SB_PcW5SwRoJRPrn_iM4OtKt1KeUNWdRrRHaUsfVCTLvMslLbDxXv56qvpfdKtCNwmQao1L3ucj01E6Eh5qPfhZu-g2LsjTBAZBqiLzWvR4vgEU3LRlB9sBClug/s1600/2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMDiWmgy1MgZEn4Ek0SB_PcW5SwRoJRPrn_iM4OtKt1KeUNWdRrRHaUsfVCTLvMslLbDxXv56qvpfdKtCNwmQao1L3ucj01E6Eh5qPfhZu-g2LsjTBAZBqiLzWvR4vgEU3LRlB9sBClug/s640/2008.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq1C8jG4PLF8v3DPDc4nKYjFqjWpVD3PSXjH8DAUNihqlUGN1jimAmN_CGoQNFYF4kK_9B4TQdIKBh1MD15IpV0ualxYUSPmQ3faujsOdniOBiQAIwDLGsqqemFtWuxxaAVtB6bL7EnqD/s1600/2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq1C8jG4PLF8v3DPDc4nKYjFqjWpVD3PSXjH8DAUNihqlUGN1jimAmN_CGoQNFYF4kK_9B4TQdIKBh1MD15IpV0ualxYUSPmQ3faujsOdniOBiQAIwDLGsqqemFtWuxxaAVtB6bL7EnqD/s640/2009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0Bi8XE76kRp04_ZxVbh3H8GQce4ugemxrO77dDZJUPcTo19KGSicO3o7lIUMALx6ubjUFoOWeHtBbHfwgnX0lKZv8gJbm87E1Ui8rmGqQS0sTIZXEMVMDmIhvAn1QFFbSlHOu-PdQz_K/s1600/2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0Bi8XE76kRp04_ZxVbh3H8GQce4ugemxrO77dDZJUPcTo19KGSicO3o7lIUMALx6ubjUFoOWeHtBbHfwgnX0lKZv8gJbm87E1Ui8rmGqQS0sTIZXEMVMDmIhvAn1QFFbSlHOu-PdQz_K/s640/2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHSzwRWC8MjKqqxYA6lJxpAws-ejHAQ3sdo4IAmjjo3-D00mnBDfh0Ixl_XMIUPTXbZ3ax1kvfrqCtwh1ZQvolWvQV4zqcRyWgJpNdsWzuBqdVL2QcxBxITia5HEgYGoTuEITLUldTNIe/s1600/2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHSzwRWC8MjKqqxYA6lJxpAws-ejHAQ3sdo4IAmjjo3-D00mnBDfh0Ixl_XMIUPTXbZ3ax1kvfrqCtwh1ZQvolWvQV4zqcRyWgJpNdsWzuBqdVL2QcxBxITia5HEgYGoTuEITLUldTNIe/s640/2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-KgBhCMnHr5QloOWxrQYgo8gQfQHnXqjAFR5ScV6CtwEJUcixQTSMDof_cORxz0MQBfGQ3g9dEFn0qnOmtOEgeT_yY2fOph5tcP8mODJugn5UGUhYVGUPj9JmRcW_YIhPrYlOAoMYVFH/s1600/2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-KgBhCMnHr5QloOWxrQYgo8gQfQHnXqjAFR5ScV6CtwEJUcixQTSMDof_cORxz0MQBfGQ3g9dEFn0qnOmtOEgeT_yY2fOph5tcP8mODJugn5UGUhYVGUPj9JmRcW_YIhPrYlOAoMYVFH/s640/2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukhBZz1ALXUYDnmEuDhyz9lByX0r6vYxi4SmbLNMS93qGYgvLJwsfHMMSFN1AXsiQCABzBy5rZTN4lCaLHmGyRNLMowy-ClCSGSPtDFq8iKoIVqmhwSQ45a2dNRQiZ9LXonI4axEKWpox/s1600/2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukhBZz1ALXUYDnmEuDhyz9lByX0r6vYxi4SmbLNMS93qGYgvLJwsfHMMSFN1AXsiQCABzBy5rZTN4lCaLHmGyRNLMowy-ClCSGSPtDFq8iKoIVqmhwSQ45a2dNRQiZ9LXonI4axEKWpox/s640/2013.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gRhuOMAG7rxHMXuEocvKqGJ99LALPceB0h0FsFGVpRQ__N8sFdcA2MxcmCO-s5rBo1Hl-TAdzaneqA0oCHVUV5hiS0Td6fPxzkSzq74I9JRsRQB35aeF76Y-WCyQnWiNuIWi1xHZFjYG/s1600/2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gRhuOMAG7rxHMXuEocvKqGJ99LALPceB0h0FsFGVpRQ__N8sFdcA2MxcmCO-s5rBo1Hl-TAdzaneqA0oCHVUV5hiS0Td6fPxzkSzq74I9JRsRQB35aeF76Y-WCyQnWiNuIWi1xHZFjYG/s640/2014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAMjJ913iSY6EkK99AFXzIEd3M6VU7iifmV2eGw0gw6Oohkcr8dYxeIfM2Oc87bUlOLBDiKN42WvnjCUbzl26On9r43SI6b7l2v73gsXVRbzUDHOva4iJyNGYlFXAOFwHGi3qVHnO6MMO/s1600/2015new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAMjJ913iSY6EkK99AFXzIEd3M6VU7iifmV2eGw0gw6Oohkcr8dYxeIfM2Oc87bUlOLBDiKN42WvnjCUbzl26On9r43SI6b7l2v73gsXVRbzUDHOva4iJyNGYlFXAOFwHGi3qVHnO6MMO/s640/2015new.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-76703574837461833442015-10-08T01:18:00.000+02:002015-10-08T01:18:26.109+02:00You're my boy, Blu! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9_RJHMpTPzd4xmzryZoLq1Hpm1hSTzjxcrYlDRvrY4zzwld7aL1MriocFsspg9vh0muv15ee8dyUbo7wp8iH9Ty-BTMVR9U1zf1knCM5fW4wA3vKjhPw-In52F8_2Pbnq0DwZuqP5evb/s1600/OscarTHREE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9_RJHMpTPzd4xmzryZoLq1Hpm1hSTzjxcrYlDRvrY4zzwld7aL1MriocFsspg9vh0muv15ee8dyUbo7wp8iH9Ty-BTMVR9U1zf1knCM5fW4wA3vKjhPw-In52F8_2Pbnq0DwZuqP5evb/s640/OscarTHREE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, yeah, we had a baby, which is why this blog hasn’t been
updated in a few months. Babies are time consuming little humans. They keep you
up all night, pee in your face, throw up on your freshly laundered shirt (which
you had to wash prematurely because they threw up on it) and sleep the only
hours of the day you cannot. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then they lay their head on your shoulder or smile
at you unprovoked or do something so unbelievably cute that you just sigh and
whisper: “You little a-hole. I couldn’t love you more.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, here’s our Oscar Blu, born July 23<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">rd, </span>weighing in at a hefty 8’10, 21 inches long. In the 2 plus months he’s
been here, we’ve learned that he, like his parents, has some promising Gypsy feet.
He loves being out and about and gets bored easily. He’s not a sleeper, which
we attribute to his desire to make sure he doesn’t miss anything in this brand
new world. He’s been bright-eyed since birth. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yes, every cliché and stereotypical thing that new
parents say about falling in love at first sight is true – so let me just gush
for a moment. Jeremy and I are totally in love with our little dude. He’s
perfect, even when he’s not. Even when he’s a little a-hole. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sigh. <o:p></o:p></div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-67910586107892222072015-07-21T18:29:00.000+02:002015-07-21T18:29:53.000+02:00The Language of Pregnancy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pIRubYFnE_yGDaVx84XcUxvXMwB8LOOlAotGBavJT3ZzRU-Eddj9_tAKSdpLElCbeU495512398u7uEG95Wt81ygV4r4rOiQ0jy1LF2bwC_EvW5_YWde8bWhyphenhyphencOpPFrR25eA4GMEK0z-/s1600/belly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pIRubYFnE_yGDaVx84XcUxvXMwB8LOOlAotGBavJT3ZzRU-Eddj9_tAKSdpLElCbeU495512398u7uEG95Wt81ygV4r4rOiQ0jy1LF2bwC_EvW5_YWde8bWhyphenhyphencOpPFrR25eA4GMEK0z-/s640/belly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been awhile since we’ve penned a blog and while the
last five years have been dedicated to details of our Europe-wide travels (and
beyond), the blog may shift as we try to maneuver this upcoming parenting
thing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps, in time, it will shift back to travel – this time
with a rug rat in tow. Which begs the question – are children checked baggage
or carry on? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For now, as I’m currently 5 days past my due date, pregnancy
is on my mind big time. I’ve entered the waddling phase and after a near fall yesterday
when my pant leg got stuck in the spokes of my bike – I’m officially taking it
easy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been lucky during this pregnancy though, relatively
speaking. I consider my pregnancy a positive experience and I’ve been able to
remain active and still participate in activities I loved pre-pregnancy – but
that doesn’t mean it hasn’t had its negative moments. But to be honest, most of
those moments have come from third parties. So I dedicate these words to
explaining the language of pregnancy. Or better yet – what not to say to a
pregnant woman, ever. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZFvDqLtDyY4GVkzExGvz-CbURQeNVu3-ED8-xeJvoFF4U_HjlHOzo7zK93efhfPKxNkCAVhgfxEYdTLWuwX7M10pPAXwqgAqY0AamXFhxcUavInCDIzRHxWhNNLrq_LSK66FMCxRqzxR/s1600/mint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZFvDqLtDyY4GVkzExGvz-CbURQeNVu3-ED8-xeJvoFF4U_HjlHOzo7zK93efhfPKxNkCAVhgfxEYdTLWuwX7M10pPAXwqgAqY0AamXFhxcUavInCDIzRHxWhNNLrq_LSK66FMCxRqzxR/s200/mint.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Encourage mint <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being pregnant can be tough, even when pregnancy itself is
running smoothly. Your hormones are a bit out of whack, your body is constantly
changing and your I.Q. is cut in half. (Seriously, it’s a wonder I can still
type in full sentences as I’ve resorted to speaking like a cave man). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s during these times that encouragement goes a long way.
Here’s a list of appropriate affirmations that every pregnant woman would love
to hear:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’re doing great!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You look wonderful!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I know it’s tough, but you are handling it like a pro!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Pregnancy suits you!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Keep up the good work!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And when all else fails, “Congrats!” works every time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Weighing your options<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why yes, I am completely aware that I have packed on some
pounds in the last 41 weeks, no need to remind me! Please avoid phrases like:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’re huge!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Are you sure you’re not having twins?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That baby is going to be so big!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s focus on the latter for a moment. While I know that
the birthing experience doesn’t have to be frightful, the thought of pushing a
large object out of my nether regions brings a slight bit of anxiety. It’s
sometimes impossible for a doctor or midwife to accurately predict the size of
a baby in utero, so perhaps your estimation is off, too. But putting that
thought into a pregnant woman’s head can be very detrimental to her mental
state. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feel free to resort back to old faithful: “Congrats!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The name game<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBwCy3GdC_5puYo0TrebiFrQogpJ7Hlv9jamFWRYhUqdWOjKWVnysR_0psvnXfKmWYStA_8sWOkYXVLWsqZM02XIwfO9k2iFIAd490jqo9VU-heNeQtQOvjyXmH36afM7I8xjZOAKa0aq/s1600/name.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBwCy3GdC_5puYo0TrebiFrQogpJ7Hlv9jamFWRYhUqdWOjKWVnysR_0psvnXfKmWYStA_8sWOkYXVLWsqZM02XIwfO9k2iFIAd490jqo9VU-heNeQtQOvjyXmH36afM7I8xjZOAKa0aq/s200/name.jpg" width="200" /></a>After “how far along are you? the most common question I’m
asked is “do you have a name picked out?” And yes, I do, but I’ve stopped
telling people what it is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See, it doesn’t matter to me if you had a boyfriend with
that name that broke your heart, or you simply don’t like it. I don’t want to
hear it. None of your name issues matter to me. It’s unnecessary negativity and
the likelihood of me changing it to suit you is slim. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again, when you hear it and don’t like it, say
“Congrats!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Touch and go <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Never, ever, is it appropriate to touch a woman’s belly if
she is a stranger. Ever. I can’t imagine anyone who would do that to a
non-pregnant stranger, so think of it the same way. Even if you’re familiar
with the person, it’s nice to ask. I honestly don’t mind folks rubbing the Buddah,
but when strangers do it – it makes me feel creepy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So don’t touch, instead, just say “Congrats!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX908NWi4Jll7qpENi9ZoIB86iQamH8_5MG0rIaek1QYB56f3Cs_RAJEAJwV3gepMTRXp3vWtKUnyHWVNykC5j92IL7WrUrfcztckhpjHL37iHMDSjBy_n7Bkx6T-XP6_lt5-L93SexW4/s1600/paddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX908NWi4Jll7qpENi9ZoIB86iQamH8_5MG0rIaek1QYB56f3Cs_RAJEAJwV3gepMTRXp3vWtKUnyHWVNykC5j92IL7WrUrfcztckhpjHL37iHMDSjBy_n7Bkx6T-XP6_lt5-L93SexW4/s400/paddle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>You shouldn’t</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you ever have the urge to begin a sentence directed toward
pregnant women with these two words, stop. Instead say “Congrats!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The unflattering
birth story <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few months ago Jeremy and I were eating at a restaurant
when our waitress decided to go into great detail about her horrific birth
experience. To make matters worse, we were eating Indian food. We have yet to
return to this place as the food was as bad at the service, but we still can’t
figure out why she thought it was a good idea to scare to the shit out of me
with her personal tale. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everyone’s experience is different. Sure, my birth could be
horrific or it could be the most beautiful and uplifting experience of my life.
But it’s mine. Keep it light and keep those horror stories to yourself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead, say “Congrats!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Seriously, works every time. <o:p></o:p></div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-3418841596099020372015-02-26T00:05:00.000+01:002015-02-26T00:05:33.674+01:00Germany on my mind <div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been a whirlwind three weeks in Savannah, a place
Jeremy and I now consider home. And while we have been looking toward the future
in anticipation of creating our new lives here in the South, today we glance in
our rearview mirror and reflect on the past five years spent in Germany. Germany
will forever be in on our minds, in our hearts and now memorialized on our blog
in the form of a song, because, you know. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Watch the video below to hear the buddymollys latest tune “Sesame
Street.” We love the people in our neighborhood … <o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxy7IwhWqTOU4j_y0oN5Dx79tTV45wVGGoa6ThJB-VE0YRrMOY7NPCBSOyf628oWgPM0DGcCnP_yzRvxEf0-Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-91010081564576573712014-11-21T23:01:00.000+01:002014-11-21T23:01:18.504+01:00Picture Sky rollin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDZqfpP8vc4I7cgKCxdxIBLc2llkyEzXqxHASpjxz6vfJU_PaG3EK9bk7BskYXPDoDopd-CbCNqn_xwdc0ZSIAjIrFedDwSME3PCJxjNAmfgLwwgvrRrx9w_irpxkpwPyUxDfPE_j82kX/s1600/skyMirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDZqfpP8vc4I7cgKCxdxIBLc2llkyEzXqxHASpjxz6vfJU_PaG3EK9bk7BskYXPDoDopd-CbCNqn_xwdc0ZSIAjIrFedDwSME3PCJxjNAmfgLwwgvrRrx9w_irpxkpwPyUxDfPE_j82kX/s1600/skyMirror.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
Last month Skydog turned 12. And although she's not the high-flying, Frisbee-catching, ankle biter she once was, she is living proof that having four functional legs is just a state of mind. <br /><br />Watch the video <a href="http://vimeo.com/112520270" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-16949299698083202592014-10-26T23:15:00.000+01:002014-10-26T23:15:07.330+01:00Conquering Cognac<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpEAZd9ZUx2SqE6MD2ueuLqDrtps-1gRzACIVarXSM9z8xLwBHvr_6YaQYVh_FtPxf9U-ozlPAr3DYGznalAzK4Efkh0vGlnZXRe63BohEg4I-_6QQ4PpSw8fKLk_3OtI_PibaeMrBvH2/s1600/3muskets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpEAZd9ZUx2SqE6MD2ueuLqDrtps-1gRzACIVarXSM9z8xLwBHvr_6YaQYVh_FtPxf9U-ozlPAr3DYGznalAzK4Efkh0vGlnZXRe63BohEg4I-_6QQ4PpSw8fKLk_3OtI_PibaeMrBvH2/s1600/3muskets.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt;">After
spending the last two years sampling Scotland’s finest spirits for our annual
man-trip, this year we dusted off our berets and set out for the south of
France. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Despite
Rick Steves’ warning,* we chose Bordeaux as our base camp for exploring three
different cognac distilleries (in one day) and the adorable St. Emilion, whose
vineyards date back to the second century. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Before
we arrived, most of us didn’t know anything about cognac, which, like
champagne, is named for the region from which it comes. (The same spirit
produced just outside this area is called brandy; champagne produced outside of
the Champagne region is still called champagne.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt;">We
discovered that although cognac and whisky are produced in a similar manner
(distillation of an alcohol - wine and beer, respectively), the semblance stops
there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt;">As
opposed to whisky distilleries, which start with raw materials like malts (some
even grow their own), most of the major cognac producers just buy the spirit
directly from the farmers and simply age and blend them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQN34gfVXln-pWEXXbHQTxzQVlWltBsJLniDH-25RCLmYP_EGlg4TMPTfDkZMDxm1eUjGdaKC32YiEgEEmgfxBbOzxnrTaGjpnk2FBDQeN2pXqVHW8vwFse8EkpYlRTBEkVXufzuqOh5O/s1600/bluebarrels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQN34gfVXln-pWEXXbHQTxzQVlWltBsJLniDH-25RCLmYP_EGlg4TMPTfDkZMDxm1eUjGdaKC32YiEgEEmgfxBbOzxnrTaGjpnk2FBDQeN2pXqVHW8vwFse8EkpYlRTBEkVXufzuqOh5O/s1600/bluebarrels.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
disparity between the tours themselves was also evident: At the Lagavulin
distillery on Isla, we learned about the process from Ewan, who had worked
there for 40 years and got his start as a cooper, whereas most of the cognac
tour guides were contractors not necessarily employed by the parent company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
cognac guides definitely knew their stuff, but we still didn’t get an answer
for JR’s infamous methanol question, although one did actually come close). And
despite the differences, we came away with an appreciation for some booze that
was definitely out of our price range. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt;">When
we weren’t sipping on the region’s sweet eau de vie (water of life), we passed
the time by taking turns choosing tracks from our airbnb host’s extensive vinyl
collection, which included everything from Eminem to Bob James (no relation to
Rick), and watching Joseph and Jason perform burpies in their underwear to
AC/DC – pretty much your standard weekend in the French countryside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2012: <a href="http://buddymollys.blogspot.de/2012/09/escape-to-whisky-island.html" target="_blank">Isla</a>; 2013: <a href="http://buddymollys.blogspot.de/2013/11/distilling-perfect-adventure.html" target="_blank">Speyside</a>; 2014: Cognac; Next
up: the Bourbon Trail?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt;">(*In
a rant on the best and worst of Europe, Rick Steves said the following about
Bordeaux: “</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bordeaux must mean boredom in some ancient
language. If I were offered a free trip to that town, I’d stay home and clean
the fridge. Connoisseurs visit for the wine, and there’s a wine-tourist
information bureau in Bordeaux, which, for a price, will bus you out of town
into the more interesting wine country nearby.” Ouch. I think he might have
changed his mind had he rolled with us.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-83674287769087587922014-10-06T19:19:00.001+02:002014-10-06T19:21:34.992+02:00Celebrating the best of both worlds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25b6OfHQmAfFZD4SHpoOYrDywNM4SKODGnZTJWL7F4yCVuBjt4h4JNnrWDKqlxRMhFu_7tESUZz5Ol7z-ooSzWd4xkC126KpniYkGjOMVT9vaLcY93aMcOjfM3WHJhzRyiJ2-pL9nuvwx/s1600/river1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25b6OfHQmAfFZD4SHpoOYrDywNM4SKODGnZTJWL7F4yCVuBjt4h4JNnrWDKqlxRMhFu_7tESUZz5Ol7z-ooSzWd4xkC126KpniYkGjOMVT9vaLcY93aMcOjfM3WHJhzRyiJ2-pL9nuvwx/s1600/river1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last week I turned 38. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s one of those awkward ages where you either have to constantly
remind yourself how old you are or do the math when people ask. <o:p></o:p></div>
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(In my experience, it makes you look even older when you
have to pause to calculate in the air with your finger). <o:p></o:p></div>
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This year, I decided to combine some Bavarian traditions
with some best practices I picked up in Hawaii. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Instead of being fawned over by your friends and family on
your birthday, it’s German tradition to host the party yourself and provide
everything, to include baking your own cake. <br />
<br />
It’s like you’re giving folks a reason to celebrate you and I think it stops
just short of actually buying them gifts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6mXUOlNW5dhj7ITfsBp_WShoF4cH1nRk47aoYoXvGEVVKsNF5MPCti5QeTMPth1th9RF1Y2FlvPn_x0i5JDU5SpWrphLSiDRsTp3wcTOvpgP1h_CPZcUpRgEIWgIbiGEvGd4k-3VTQ8i/s1600/beer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6mXUOlNW5dhj7ITfsBp_WShoF4cH1nRk47aoYoXvGEVVKsNF5MPCti5QeTMPth1th9RF1Y2FlvPn_x0i5JDU5SpWrphLSiDRsTp3wcTOvpgP1h_CPZcUpRgEIWgIbiGEvGd4k-3VTQ8i/s1600/beer1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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In addition, some Germans actually avoid coming into work on
their birthday so they don’t feel obligated to provide refreshments for their
co-workers – now that’s commitment. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When we lived in Hawaii, my former boss, Aiko, who, for the
record is the hardest working supervisor I’ve had the pleasure of working with,
introduced me to the idea of taking “mental health” days. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The idea is to take a pre-emptive “sick” day to relax and
get a break from work before you decide to bring in that AK-47. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Mental health days are particularly helpful when used midweek
or on, say, a Thursday, which my birthday just happened to fall this
year. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So combining these ideas, I struck out for Bamberg, a sleepy
little Franconian town I didn’t even realize was my favorite until I arrived
that morning. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With nine breweries in the city center, which is also a
UNESCO world heritage site, Bamberg has the medieval charm of Nuremberg with
the elegance of Wuerzburg or Dresden. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Bamberg is also famous for its rauchbier, a smoky beer with
an almost bacon-y aftertaste (I know). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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My plan was simple: bop around Bamberg, provide quality
control for its breweries, and catch up on some correspondence at each stop. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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For the record, I caught up with at least 6 of you, but you
won’t know who you are until next week. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My mental health day culminated with a fantastic sushi
dinner with my frau.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, this past weekend, Molly and I hosted a brunch (German
style), where I got my brefuss bake on and she made some killer green onion and
carrot French toast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all gorged
ourselves and took a leisurely Sunday walk through the woods – even Sky got in
on the off-road action. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In all, it made for a weekend more memorable than my age,
which I have already forgotten.<o:p></o:p></div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-83195572193985125092014-08-29T11:15:00.000+02:002014-08-29T11:16:38.450+02:00Singing in the rain <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx4zhUysQN50ptqZ2h54WhDrQ-SpCG30lVbZq5oO0zkmaj6I4y59SE8jU7TY5rfWKx1RrwTTQZLD_-oTBfO0SIBQ5E5iP6wcPXJpcvShNE-TztzP0G3hiAAmi1zIgvkd-ES8kIUjc9BHl/s1600/pointing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx4zhUysQN50ptqZ2h54WhDrQ-SpCG30lVbZq5oO0zkmaj6I4y59SE8jU7TY5rfWKx1RrwTTQZLD_-oTBfO0SIBQ5E5iP6wcPXJpcvShNE-TztzP0G3hiAAmi1zIgvkd-ES8kIUjc9BHl/s1600/pointing.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Molly staggered for a few steps, laughing, before eventually catching her footing. By the time I reached her, the same thing happened to me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The wind, which was gusting at more than 100 miles per hour, was blowing us over.<br /><br />Just 30 minutes into our three-day slog through the backcountry of Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, we were beginning to think we had bitten off more than we could chew. It didn’t help that our trip coincided with Hurricane Bertha’s visit to the United Kingdom …</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSWCS1EH3kATC4nwuEO-JKTO0wxBs0I9xyZTp5FPj5c4kb99g1FR3KyEokE9cwvNCz3b-FOVVlDVJln8IcRPiPyq8UwxPjUAgE-KLxQTsuOoyraBE73UNJNJqLZ6VMOTWqOoOyse9qORX/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSWCS1EH3kATC4nwuEO-JKTO0wxBs0I9xyZTp5FPj5c4kb99g1FR3KyEokE9cwvNCz3b-FOVVlDVJln8IcRPiPyq8UwxPjUAgE-KLxQTsuOoyraBE73UNJNJqLZ6VMOTWqOoOyse9qORX/s1600/shoes.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The rest of the first day didn’t get any better, but our spirits did.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the rain continued to fall, we clambered over man-size boulders and scurried around swollen lakes, trying not to let the wind or our 40-pound rucksacks topple us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The only benefit of the wind was that when the rain finally stopped, we were dry in no time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After about seven hours, we stopped for the first night in a “bothy,” one of a handful of rudimentary concrete huts where travelers can grab a break from the elements.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A pair of hikers, a younger Lithuanian and a middle-age Czech man, both of whom worked in a casino in Aberdeen, joined us. The rains had washed away a bridge – the only crossing for one of the rivers – forcing them to double back.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At 9 p.m. the fading daylight still lit a third of the hut through the only window. We sat sipping tea, discussing U.S. foreign policy while our wet clothes hung on makeshift lines above us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">When we awoke the next day, the winds had died down, but the rain persisted.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It’s a bit midgy out here,” said Tim, our guide, as he stepped out of the bothy. The midges – these swarming, biting gnats – were out in force today after taking yesterday off.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tim was a former IT specialist for almost three decades who started his own hiking business in the last five years. Though he’d been hiking near Cairngorms for more than 20 years, he said he’d never seen the rivers so high.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTV-crZ5YQ_3ayuY4lMuGjEjXqwWekDOndze_xGzw4CpW5CzCkHhQuD19CHe0nczi-qeRfB52ERjm0kFW6xHrP90aPTXKyhfBvBKpJ-ICtCkaHaz4T8Em-Q3BXii6zj5_lbCaWRMQo3nkL/s1600/rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTV-crZ5YQ_3ayuY4lMuGjEjXqwWekDOndze_xGzw4CpW5CzCkHhQuD19CHe0nczi-qeRfB52ERjm0kFW6xHrP90aPTXKyhfBvBKpJ-ICtCkaHaz4T8Em-Q3BXii6zj5_lbCaWRMQo3nkL/s1600/rocks.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The area had received so much water that the hiking paths were now mini streams and the streams were rushing rivers. So even when it wasn’t raining our feet were usually submerged in 60 degree water.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Throughout the wet trek we learned that rocks and clumps of grass are your friends, as they both indicate somewhat solid ground.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We wound our way up the valley and made several river crossings where I was sure someone was going to end up in the drink. Perhaps we were too scared to fall. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next morning we packed up and resigned ourselves again to the futility of fresh, dry socks. We hiked up the backside of Ben McDui, the UK’s second tallest peak, crossing our fingers that the winds would die down.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An hour later, Tim huddled us up and yelled over the wind, “I don’t think this plan is going to work!” We were already on Plan D, so we skipped to Plan E and kept moving. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The alternate route added several hours of boggy trekking but ended up being the most scenic of the trip. The last hour we skipped down blocky, rocky stairs, our packs feeling lighter with every step.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Later that night as we unpacked at the hostel, I took out my sunglasses and smiled. They never had a chance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In addition to the hike, we caught up with old friends: two who were boondoggling at a science conference, another who was balancing adorable twins in Dublin, and a handful of ladies we met four years ago on a yoga retreat in Turkey. The people are still the best part about the UK.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Looking back on our hike from the relative calm of Glasgow, I realized why Scottish people are so friendly and upbeat despite enduring the worst weather in Europe: After you accept your wet, windy fate – it really can only get better after that.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNc0xLJgxcZUUEjBB81qZyxiKqG4KJj4bqVn66jiaeoYlfxwL2yHZwe9lkcQpDcdHeIANAf77rtb1SJYxcy910sUGwFaFmyKbU8AjUDOZD5gYHJwd4stHFFaGa7AHbh55xQ_ll64C2W3M/s1600/wet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNc0xLJgxcZUUEjBB81qZyxiKqG4KJj4bqVn66jiaeoYlfxwL2yHZwe9lkcQpDcdHeIANAf77rtb1SJYxcy910sUGwFaFmyKbU8AjUDOZD5gYHJwd4stHFFaGa7AHbh55xQ_ll64C2W3M/s1600/wet.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-5599795050189371982014-07-30T17:08:00.000+02:002014-07-30T17:34:31.989+02:00How Molly got her freckle back <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qqdW5z9xxKEI6YjprPh4tYHX4bbOxWg6X2LJs1NVksxs0tVm4sEXOvxDMGf6gGGbVTv0WSa7fvpFTA32zXN96OyrzbLBv8-WJ6L9ZeFWCX-kYY2LaciHbkw4TDl33vAS5EwD7LE4JbSJ/s1600/aDomLAgos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qqdW5z9xxKEI6YjprPh4tYHX4bbOxWg6X2LJs1NVksxs0tVm4sEXOvxDMGf6gGGbVTv0WSa7fvpFTA32zXN96OyrzbLBv8-WJ6L9ZeFWCX-kYY2LaciHbkw4TDl33vAS5EwD7LE4JbSJ/s1600/aDomLAgos.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The much anticipated Dona beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It’s no secret I’m white. And not simply white, but <i>white.</i> A pasty-porcelain-lucent kinda
white. Despite this, I was able to survive living in Hawaii for three years
without jeopardous pause. In fact, during my tenure, I created a seminal bond
with the sun. I thanked her every day for not burning me to a crisp; she gave
me a pacifying freckle base as to not stick out so much. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Don’t get me wrong, I was still <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">white. </i>I came to this realization while full moon surfing in Waikiki.
I watched my incandescent leg circling in the water and imagined it looked
similar to a mahi mahi swimming in the water.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Shark food,” I thought. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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That was the first and last time I ever went full moon
surfing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3U4xvYf1czg6EG0jd1vGTTHAvl5OhTNNMwQhxUTIiJ18RXpYvYqpLeHCvpc-mQUtGTNE8OUaWkHxEyBQUU9wj_u1TmVZZvI65urlMNXRrqVf0IQ6yHYQ_b4XC-bzVrCrunysBJ8AyMck/s1600/amoSUP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3U4xvYf1czg6EG0jd1vGTTHAvl5OhTNNMwQhxUTIiJ18RXpYvYqpLeHCvpc-mQUtGTNE8OUaWkHxEyBQUU9wj_u1TmVZZvI65urlMNXRrqVf0IQ6yHYQ_b4XC-bzVrCrunysBJ8AyMck/s1600/amoSUP.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SUPing in the Atlantic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Germany was a ginger-friendly move. For the most part, I’ve
been away from my dear friend sun for majority of the past five years. And in
that time, I’ve watched my freckles slowly fade away.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Germany is the where freckles go to die. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSDBD1V3CETBVIH9Vb0g3fYDf7U_yHb1zMQA0E2nRUlfZn9RyaufWPBaSlPbeu_JA5PCkKAkMydGMOuwYc3NnverkmHvLaLFoTqqt6kQeoGZCklxc6ItQMPTIy2Tq56kQMhZLjck7EHW1/s1600/aSURFles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSDBD1V3CETBVIH9Vb0g3fYDf7U_yHb1zMQA0E2nRUlfZn9RyaufWPBaSlPbeu_JA5PCkKAkMydGMOuwYc3NnverkmHvLaLFoTqqt6kQeoGZCklxc6ItQMPTIy2Tq56kQMhZLjck7EHW1/s1600/aSURFles.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">obligatory surf shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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But if there is one thing Jeremy and I have missed more than
our freckles these last five years – it’s surfing. So when our friend Leslauuuugh
asked if we wanted to take a surf trip in Lagos, Portugal, Jeremy and I jumped
up and down like kids in a candy store and answered with a resounding “Jawohl!”
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Our first time in Portugal was a humbling experience. It
wasn’t easy – but still an <a href="http://buddymollys.blogspot.de/2011/09/lady-lisbon-and-papa-surf.html" target="_blank">adventure</a>. Despite a rocky start with Goldcar rental car company trying
to nickel and dime us upon arrival, this trip was easy like Sunday morning. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For a whole week, Jeremy and I joined Leslauuuugh and our
<o:p></o:p></div>
new friend Mikeguever in embracing the “aina” and soaking up the sun. We
surfed, swam, climbed rocks, SUPed, lounged on the beach, and buried ourselves
in sand. We ate copious amounts of delicious fish and drank even more Sangria.
We became locals at a bar called “Dona” and hiked up a huge hill every night to
our home with a view. <br />
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvQqqhuE2zrr_tU1kbThzfqi6qbAgDshJlma5SUE6qqOUSLHLS92WODfQY9BQdeInCkHgAaeVTSFQ2tAx_XEEDnKk7Uq3IExQ9t2slZcnh7o9nfxZJIZSQaUAq9iQv8turKCSe54qr_NE/s1600/aSangria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvQqqhuE2zrr_tU1kbThzfqi6qbAgDshJlma5SUE6qqOUSLHLS92WODfQY9BQdeInCkHgAaeVTSFQ2tAx_XEEDnKk7Uq3IExQ9t2slZcnh7o9nfxZJIZSQaUAq9iQv8turKCSe54qr_NE/s1600/aSangria.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sangria!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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While our Leslauuuugh turned a pleasant shade of brown during
the week, the rest of us freckling-faring souls watched as our skin speckled in
the moonlight. We matched freckle against freckle, knowing by the end of the
week one of us would be crowned a dotted victory.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There is no doubt Mikeguever won by clear majority of
freckle real estate, but I claim a close second as freckles I haven’t seen for
years came out of hibernation. At this rate, my childhood dream of all of my
freckles banding tougher to create a glistening flawless tan is not too far
off.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IqZhDPCDvT2ydIJkEt1LFEJm2IN5r2dz_64WLZvaje1BHN0nEqEVwpnJLfNUtGG2UwjyfErD6EhOVEKLEFqvp9j7nULjR65-gpb2WxJFcLrzaErbWLCgnbUpXPqwaD2aqZzYU-jxJZnf/s1600/aJeromeSurf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IqZhDPCDvT2ydIJkEt1LFEJm2IN5r2dz_64WLZvaje1BHN0nEqEVwpnJLfNUtGG2UwjyfErD6EhOVEKLEFqvp9j7nULjR65-gpb2WxJFcLrzaErbWLCgnbUpXPqwaD2aqZzYU-jxJZnf/s1600/aJeromeSurf.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one happy jerome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All I need is just a few hundred or so trips back to the
Portuguese coast. Easy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-13720166485323843522014-07-20T22:47:00.001+02:002014-07-20T22:47:28.370+02:00Almost Famous <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIl3dXJ8hUFIONrzLGXJcSl0gT5v4g9-qe6OW6riz2D1BfQl8AvcjGO2OIzVSPdFaBUVykJfSeNZKnPVRyfwM09hlEWaU13pNMGxuWU9mbKuhueYs40s59gVbME5kO1R92dAtqozilNAUM/s1600/Band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIl3dXJ8hUFIONrzLGXJcSl0gT5v4g9-qe6OW6riz2D1BfQl8AvcjGO2OIzVSPdFaBUVykJfSeNZKnPVRyfwM09hlEWaU13pNMGxuWU9mbKuhueYs40s59gVbME5kO1R92dAtqozilNAUM/s1600/Band.jpg" height="640" width="576" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the buddymollys or molly and the others or molly and the enders or ... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It might be music that actually brought Jeremy and I together. Exactly one year prior to our wedding date, a random conversation
went like this:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: I just wrote words to a song, but I don’t have any music
yet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeremy: That’s crazy, I just wrote a tune, but don’t have
any words yet. Come over tonight, we’ll put them together. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll spare you the details of how that never actually
happened, (we made another kind of music that night - wink). In fact, the
buddymollys moniker was more about our relationship than an actual band – but
we still liked to rock the ukes at random talent shows, camp-outs, bbqs and ski
trips. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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It was the latter where we picked up Michael Kreis - a
fellow uker - to complete our trifecta of mediocrity. (Note: he’s way better
than us). <o:p></o:p></div>
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At the advice of a friendly restaurant owner in town, we
sent in an audition tape for acceptance into the Weiden Traümt. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Weiden Traümt is a yearly festival where the pedestrian
zone of our little town is overrun with 15 or so musical performances, and even
more stalls with food and drink. Stores stay open late and herds of people
partake in the hoopla. It's a happening Friday night in downtown Weiden. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our band photo and “ukulelenmusik” description managed to
make a few advertisement spreads in neighboring German newspapers, as well as
the centerfold of the program. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; text-align: left;">Spaß!</span></td></tr>
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We practiced for a few weeks leading up to the performance, and narrowed down our set to 18 songs, which we then played over
and over again during our six-hour gig.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had three ukes of varying degrees, me on the baritone, Mike
on the bass uke and Jerome holding down tradition on his tenor. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We didn’t expect much, but managed to gather quite a crowd.
At one point about 100 folks were standing around clapping offbeat to our jam,
and two people even asked if we had cds. (We, of course, do not). The lady
running the fest said we were one of her favorite acts. She used the word "pleasant" to describe us. Win. </div>
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Now, I’m not being modest when I say we’re not that great.
Because, really, we’re not. But we are somewhat of a novelty here in Germany.
And we’ll take it because we really have so much fun playing together. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It also doesn’t hurt that we have our own “Mel” of Flight of
the Conchords fame in one Pat Kummerererererer. He is, no doubt, our most
dedicated fan. And hearing him cheer “Way to go Molly!” after every song, never gets old. Ever. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lxL09bAQbp7yd8xWxTQR8yfVRJ3SH_rCu1beWtjCPIxojvLwEg5-J5ziqRYOuKVVbvUtXACNwiTqqK0L_5patDhP72-yJIAbcFpVcLSp7UkxMZBNfLXCUmD25Wwl0z8XpeJglVeBIfru/s1600/mollyenders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lxL09bAQbp7yd8xWxTQR8yfVRJ3SH_rCu1beWtjCPIxojvLwEg5-J5ziqRYOuKVVbvUtXACNwiTqqK0L_5patDhP72-yJIAbcFpVcLSp7UkxMZBNfLXCUmD25Wwl0z8XpeJglVeBIfru/s1600/mollyenders.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowd shot with super fan Pat Kummererererer bottom right. </td></tr>
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It was Pat that coined the term “Molly and the Others” which
is what we refer to ourselves at times. That also transitioned into “Molly and
the Enders” because while the beginning and middle of our songs are just OK, we
always end well. Always. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On that same note, our night ended just as well. We had 52 euros
in tips lining our uke case as we yelled “Prost!” to random passersby and
congratulated each other for managing to pull this night off. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As our glasses clinked together, Pat was in the background
yelling “Way to go Molly!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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It never gets old. Ever.</div>
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Below are a few musical samplings (mixed with random german conversations) via video from the evening - 1. a bit of Patsy; 2. who doesn't love Elvis, even if sang poorly; 3. for those who aren't sick of Wagon Wheel.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-37326968279219090932014-07-15T09:44:00.000+02:002014-07-15T09:44:37.379+02:00Braving the biergartens once more<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd4n-tSOzKKUhH20KViFngDrwe5-iA7iZMNrARh6tEKRwkpja5Mzvk0WVP0cWiABRdCNa-2LCT_Owm9VRlpXmiPxfk2rjJ52-wPieoJ8s57cXH83NW0izT3Gr3yADCBC4YHsgj27JVGyG/s1600/alles_early.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd4n-tSOzKKUhH20KViFngDrwe5-iA7iZMNrARh6tEKRwkpja5Mzvk0WVP0cWiABRdCNa-2LCT_Owm9VRlpXmiPxfk2rjJ52-wPieoJ8s57cXH83NW0izT3Gr3yADCBC4YHsgj27JVGyG/s1600/alles_early.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Editor's note: We have some major catching up to do, so we’ll just dive right in and tell it like a Quentin Tarantino movie except without all the gore. Below begins the update in order particular no.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have been preparing for this past Saturday for several months. So much so, that the only thing listed on my calendar for the following day was “recover.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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And for the past four years the premise has always been simple: Cull a handful of the best locales from “Larry Hawthorne’s Beer Drinker’s Guide to Munich,” and stitch together a cohesive route that is easy for people who are becoming progressively more drunk to follow throughout the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q5WM3mCw-3h1JPfI2QEjm7i25fWLVdm9o4q70b30BiYMQjl5N801w3cLqjWBgDV5xH7YCzfLco7yaoyR0R_FDzt0nwYy4XHRlWm1XnyS3lLoqYXPctPnkKC6EjJKFWEFxru6VGCN6Lw5/s1600/aHomies1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q5WM3mCw-3h1JPfI2QEjm7i25fWLVdm9o4q70b30BiYMQjl5N801w3cLqjWBgDV5xH7YCzfLco7yaoyR0R_FDzt0nwYy4XHRlWm1XnyS3lLoqYXPctPnkKC6EjJKFWEFxru6VGCN6Lw5/s1600/aHomies1.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pouring some out for our homies who couldn't make it ...</td></tr>
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Having learned from past three years, I chose not only the most scenic biergartens, but also grouped them by proximity, and booked a hostel right in the middle. The results slurred for themselves.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">but let's not be wasteful, folks. </td></tr>
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In several cases the pictures filmmaker R. Eric Davis captured provided evidence for events that few could recall. A few things are for certain though:<o:p></o:p></div>
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We were entertained and oogled by a barkeep named Baki,<br />
and tried our luck playing homemade bocci.<br />
We sipped and slaked till our hearts’ content,<br />
but spent little time questioning where the day went.<br />
We bounced between buses, S-bahns and trams, but never got lost (well, …)<br />
And Lord Michael Kreis still reigns over Munich from atop the A&O hostel.</div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-5706194004188447222014-05-15T04:41:00.000+02:002014-05-15T04:41:14.356+02:00the pentagon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqFOljFuxkqBBmwUWTxQBIanEl_WM58Q_hHOhjqh9JXQvjObiHibY3FB6b4zISO9CGUl6KQwZQkhn8lzwvr0hiAgpfSNBIFcqj0NcuDLJ0SRutl3y9Y0-oNbHPO_xVTUtHt0joqS9NH7Q/s1600/DSC_0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqFOljFuxkqBBmwUWTxQBIanEl_WM58Q_hHOhjqh9JXQvjObiHibY3FB6b4zISO9CGUl6KQwZQkhn8lzwvr0hiAgpfSNBIFcqj0NcuDLJ0SRutl3y9Y0-oNbHPO_xVTUtHt0joqS9NH7Q/s1600/DSC_0235.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(i visited the pentagon last week and after a quick press brief, delivered this)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a lumbering beast with divers teets</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">stoops down to take a drink</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and troglodytes on the surface wait </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to flood the alluvial plain</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">crying more to eat!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or at least a dedicated teet</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as they suck the beast to sleep</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">leaving nothing to chance</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it’s a delicate dance</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">between feast and </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">keeping food alive.</span>buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-33859741218219879652014-05-03T19:36:00.001+02:002014-05-03T19:36:48.555+02:00Soaking up the South<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">(Editor’s note: I’ve been taking a public affairs course at Fort Meade since mid-March and have been out of the loop, so here’s my stab at regaining some momentum, in reverse chronological order.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Last weekend our class had Thursday and Friday off, so I took to the skies to visit some old friends (and recent newlyweds), Maria and Kyle, in HOT-lanta. (I only use this term only because it pisses off Atlanta residents, like ‘frisco for SF folks.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">What I didn’t realize was that weeks of pent-up stress would turn into an all-night booze-fest leading up to my 6:30 a.m. flight.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">I can’t remember the last time I stayed up all night, but felt surprisingly alert as I shooed 5-6 people out of my room at 4:15 a.m. so I could pack and catch my ride to the airport in the next 15 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">I made it to the departure gate and everything was fine – until it wasn’t.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Somehow I dozed off at the gate -- right in front of the flight attendants, mind you – and woke up just in time to watch my plane slowly backing away from the jet bridge. (I have now lost my ability to make fun of JR for doing the same thing. Damn.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">The flight attendants seemed nonplussed, though one said, “Oh, I saw you sleeping but didn’t think to wake you!” Really?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">They put me on another flight and I only missed out on a few hours of ATL fun. </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">The rest of the weekend was much smoother. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">I caught up with Maria & Kyle over beers and breakfast (at separate times, usually) on their porch; we feasted on a vegan smorgasbord around a backyard campfire, and I definitely got my southern barbecue fill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKups0rm1onCmOyvU_3xCD467qUmjkjTcTXPFv6_gUr9Lxdbm1EOBqYUY_LO3TeKotqphIXEN0ekD4l_PBKxz6gJyMp5C-heBGInP-jP3Yyr0uwdNjsw2WkXsTcSpqVL9VaUTQM4MtoeF/s1600/kylepaints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKups0rm1onCmOyvU_3xCD467qUmjkjTcTXPFv6_gUr9Lxdbm1EOBqYUY_LO3TeKotqphIXEN0ekD4l_PBKxz6gJyMp5C-heBGInP-jP3Yyr0uwdNjsw2WkXsTcSpqVL9VaUTQM4MtoeF/s1600/kylepaints.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">On Saturday, we strolled through an Inman Park street fair and soaked up the 80-degree weather.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
The day before, Kyle was interviewed for a documentary on his artwork for about 3 hours. (Check out some of his art <a href="http://www.blackcattips.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.)<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
Maria and I sat back with a few beers enjoying the show and occasionally asking questions of our own.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">It was enlightening to hear Kyle talk about his life </span>and<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> reflect on the dialogue he's trying to establish between motorists and the street-style folk art he installs on the roadside. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">For one question about being a full-time artist, he responded off the cuff with " ... it's about taking a crazy obsession and turning into a life." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
I think anyone who loves what they do can identify with that. </div>
</div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-78549429939229005672014-04-07T14:24:00.001+02:002014-04-07T14:24:42.309+02:00Haikus of an American tour<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-JvkKd_wXcHUrrq0cu52a1gIrMWR6qLZDgs_gCgTtrp7AfXqutQhEuMEGLNKwL9eeIjr8uJo1RZDDxEctsKYQZDrJ_rCAv6O64BtHRjwZHhF0BhzwuIex_96NIhiTTosmo_9a1qLbts1/s1600/10007451_10152002195675896_466340785_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-JvkKd_wXcHUrrq0cu52a1gIrMWR6qLZDgs_gCgTtrp7AfXqutQhEuMEGLNKwL9eeIjr8uJo1RZDDxEctsKYQZDrJ_rCAv6O64BtHRjwZHhF0BhzwuIex_96NIhiTTosmo_9a1qLbts1/s1600/10007451_10152002195675896_466340785_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
Colorado jaunt</div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
higher than the mountain top</div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
frostbite memories.</div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryJkV97FIJ3B8J89qLJ_zQPEQ_ZwPEECNCMELKuXC5k7MlcxI_6LB0RY5JL-SoBplbpYdO_3cbDzoB3vp8RtB-96QhQpepAI0zy9q3T3Mu6_PqbMMBWQDFOPz-VN4o_b5z-Sto1gIZ2sz/s1600/delmarSTLweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryJkV97FIJ3B8J89qLJ_zQPEQ_ZwPEECNCMELKuXC5k7MlcxI_6LB0RY5JL-SoBplbpYdO_3cbDzoB3vp8RtB-96QhQpepAI0zy9q3T3Mu6_PqbMMBWQDFOPz-VN4o_b5z-Sto1gIZ2sz/s1600/delmarSTLweb.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
Relive what was once</div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
evolution S.T.L.</div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
my heart beats in time. </div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-9AzHb76qJ579fsuj-2FHtg0k8Lo1QAE1C1gm9sg6WjwCnV49PZOszPTmYQVrjv3MadrYaxg_R9hU2hClRyNa8JztGnCY3Z-RgBopb7SoBpP91Tcl424d5G1Z50uD_or9jX2VCoG4HGe/s1600/Blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-9AzHb76qJ579fsuj-2FHtg0k8Lo1QAE1C1gm9sg6WjwCnV49PZOszPTmYQVrjv3MadrYaxg_R9hU2hClRyNa8JztGnCY3Z-RgBopb7SoBpP91Tcl424d5G1Z50uD_or9jX2VCoG4HGe/s1600/Blossom.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
a grand reunion</div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
D.C. to blossom again </div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
home is where we are. </div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_bDKqSYbVK8Zdc1vwNzUHc828BubGQnnf2vzdHxBsinSWEy8WywxAju4BGapmKYrZ9lfyKSJNcPgy-gH_GYnbHSu3xx2Xtv8vRjI-hqUiUuH7TBjNjAniWJPDZw_KHz9kALzWFKrVCdF/s1600/1512464_10152294488660071_882878260_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_bDKqSYbVK8Zdc1vwNzUHc828BubGQnnf2vzdHxBsinSWEy8WywxAju4BGapmKYrZ9lfyKSJNcPgy-gH_GYnbHSu3xx2Xtv8vRjI-hqUiUuH7TBjNjAniWJPDZw_KHz9kALzWFKrVCdF/s1600/1512464_10152294488660071_882878260_n.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
the buddymollys</div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
five years old still young, on the</div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
verge of something great. </div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-73565640209942355182014-03-29T05:04:00.000+01:002014-03-29T05:04:03.132+01:00have mermaid, will travel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2z2kIwM0ZOchgLk0MqgV5OKoByuCVSuWYUUGeF-uU9W6Zh-mLM7cQhvg1xDmUDWamC0bbzngFdoJVvc6ZrwSa4AkEETcaWPfY5ZsJ10rCXNCsMSpVhsGKWzsQRkBkM_JaCp6zQgC8HGM/s1600/Oahu1wed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2z2kIwM0ZOchgLk0MqgV5OKoByuCVSuWYUUGeF-uU9W6Zh-mLM7cQhvg1xDmUDWamC0bbzngFdoJVvc6ZrwSa4AkEETcaWPfY5ZsJ10rCXNCsMSpVhsGKWzsQRkBkM_JaCp6zQgC8HGM/s1600/Oahu1wed.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sending out a long-distance dedication to my lovely frau, mollsworth, on this our five-year anniversary. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
life is so much sweeter with you. </div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-27879748019362819992014-02-20T22:23:00.000+01:002014-02-21T08:15:55.039+01:00The luxuries of a nomad<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bClF1o9BHpRURQXE0fHiX677siwbTdoc0DPayp53cbPx3K4x3oTcY-8SB7dwGDUI8cg5qBK98sJG-iC66A6Lmv7QMRRJhTT5jINeOZeNDTXokg3STed0Ord2wmCoHX1qPlgoGgG2IVIt/s1600/Walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bClF1o9BHpRURQXE0fHiX677siwbTdoc0DPayp53cbPx3K4x3oTcY-8SB7dwGDUI8cg5qBK98sJG-iC66A6Lmv7QMRRJhTT5jINeOZeNDTXokg3STed0Ord2wmCoHX1qPlgoGgG2IVIt/s1600/Walk.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wandering. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was not without great effort that I found myself in the
middle of the Sahara desert recently, skirting the Moroccan-Algerian border.
The dunes waved under the sunlight and the clear sky was a pastel shade of
blue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of two camel companions on the trek, who we lent the
moniker Jazz, stooped down to pick up the orange peels I tossed on the ground
moments before. Roger, camel number two, sauntered over to join in. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The journey had begun two days before with a hectic 12 hours
in Marrakesh. Arriving late in the evening, we roamed the dizzying back streets
as we located our riad and wandered through the chaos of the Jemaa el Fna, the
town square. The Jemaa, famous for beheadings of the past, was now laden with
drum circles, snake charmers, henna artists and orange juice vendors, all vying
for the attention of potential customers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOYsiwDR4NNssM8XgfYZL5bOmxuPPQNdHmDcSol2m0xP7q1Tzdag2TTjusWD84ICiZ5bZ_H5R7YDAFMcNkE6c-pGyvoe5-OcfPL9wtOp7YG8ARzwPeJRXCZhzReNXg5LrKMtQiA0BsanX/s1600/packedUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOYsiwDR4NNssM8XgfYZL5bOmxuPPQNdHmDcSol2m0xP7q1Tzdag2TTjusWD84ICiZ5bZ_H5R7YDAFMcNkE6c-pGyvoe5-OcfPL9wtOp7YG8ARzwPeJRXCZhzReNXg5LrKMtQiA0BsanX/s1600/packedUp.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isa poses as Said fixes his shoes. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following 12 hours we journeyed over the Atlas Mountains
by bus, with frequent stops in ramshackle villages in route to M’Hamid – an
arid desert town in the deep south. A half bottle of Dramamine rested in our
stomachs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I stared at the dunes, Jeremy walked over and patted Jazz
on the nose. He replied in protest, which made Jeremy laugh. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few meters away, our two desert guides, Isa and Said, set
up the kitchen tent. They were both nomads of the Berber tribe in their early
20s. They knew the desert well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It is our home,” Isa explained. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With camels for transport, living off of the land, with more
than a few carried amenities, was seamless. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every morning they served up coffee and tea, hard-boiled
eggs, fruits, bread and jam. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQIc3pb70XE-kCj126JjQAkM44SDcTtf-g4CkmzmGhtnhbXky0N3eZfd0Uid4M6TP0syig_Z0lXD5KwwzvcPIs7HkRWJd3BriInBC-RKlNGfBHUXU1UIEMLErSCXteSdf0R0pM7ZUnYau/s1600/Lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQIc3pb70XE-kCj126JjQAkM44SDcTtf-g4CkmzmGhtnhbXky0N3eZfd0Uid4M6TP0syig_Z0lXD5KwwzvcPIs7HkRWJd3BriInBC-RKlNGfBHUXU1UIEMLErSCXteSdf0R0pM7ZUnYau/s1600/Lunch.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lunch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mint tea was made throughout the day and lunch was more fresh
food than any two persons could ever eat. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isa, a name that is an Arabic form of Jesus, told us that in
the desert you always make more food than you need because you never know what
other nomads you may encounter. The life in the desert is a life shared. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isa spoke English relatively well, although he had never
studied it, he said. He learned simply through conversation. He had met many
tourists over the years and it was sense of pride to show them the desert as he
saw it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our small caravan walked 20 kilometers a day, with both the
weather and landscape changing rapidly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Said, whose birth name means “happy” but often went by the nickname
Sawadee, was more reserved and shy. He prayed several times everyday, sang
songs of Allah and greeted us in the morning hours with “allahu akbar,” which
means God is great. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZ6USafjsKeIcHyujzvPMTn4lX-1kfYYUgr_dqNC0P9rA-iDvo6Qg_z_SXjZowJDABn0xb5Uk6-8PSBeIDMQUFJBamXtAUZyaLU7EO14-A2KIhZ79yb6MPLlD8WaPHCTH2a3-qBv-fNeC/s1600/duneH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZ6USafjsKeIcHyujzvPMTn4lX-1kfYYUgr_dqNC0P9rA-iDvo6Qg_z_SXjZowJDABn0xb5Uk6-8PSBeIDMQUFJBamXtAUZyaLU7EO14-A2KIhZ79yb6MPLlD8WaPHCTH2a3-qBv-fNeC/s1600/duneH.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the dunes. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He knew a few words in English and although he wore a turban
most of the time, when the cloth fell below is mouth, it revealed an infectious
smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__A6Apbse8BCWtH35ioL23p-9BZrmZU60OoB5M236qrnRpB1Y5hSIUH4KxxSBmMQ9EuRYfxfsDJwQQNW0hWuDNjvFKTnkg_KY8471Pz7MmtykXT2n_A16yKFUCXKkre8B00XuW4SFbtKG/s1600/RogJer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__A6Apbse8BCWtH35ioL23p-9BZrmZU60OoB5M236qrnRpB1Y5hSIUH4KxxSBmMQ9EuRYfxfsDJwQQNW0hWuDNjvFKTnkg_KY8471Pz7MmtykXT2n_A16yKFUCXKkre8B00XuW4SFbtKG/s1600/RogJer.jpg" height="200" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeremy and Roger. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As he poured us tea one day, ceremoniously holding the pot a
foot in the air above the cup to create bubbles (used to aerate and filter out both
leaves and sand), in perfect English he said, “Tea without bubbles is like a
nomad without a turban.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeremy and I fell into desert life easily with our new
companions. They shared their lives with us and we wished to do the same. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isa tossed his shoes after the first day, saying they were
too small and gave him blisters. He was the same size as me, so I gave him my
tennis shoes and put on my Chacos. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He took the gift, nodded and said thank you, and continued
to walk barefoot for the remaining two days. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On our final night together, Isa and Said sang Moroccan
folks songs while beating on empty water containers; I serenaded them with a
Bill Monroe tune. The full moon created a romantic backdrop for our intimate
gathering. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFWJnJiro7odmvBQCrELeGu9d5GcciwwFk_97330GQ-z_s6ZaYSAYmf4GDpzgWoORn_evgCL8BQF5BHqd-BU-gaGGoTAKzEqtt6xevlG0JY6rLzAfrHy1xI36rxa_GAnV5jo4uv5V8mj8/s1600/Turban.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFWJnJiro7odmvBQCrELeGu9d5GcciwwFk_97330GQ-z_s6ZaYSAYmf4GDpzgWoORn_evgCL8BQF5BHqd-BU-gaGGoTAKzEqtt6xevlG0JY6rLzAfrHy1xI36rxa_GAnV5jo4uv5V8mj8/s1600/Turban.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the wind picked up on the third day. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dinner was walloping once again and we explained the
colloquialism “fat and happy,” which Isa reiterated on our final day, adding
more English to his lexicon gained from interactions with tourists.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we parted, Isa said he hoped he had made us comfortable,
happy and adequately shared life in the desert with us. We assured him he had. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Good,” he smiled, adding “I wish to make you fat.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He waved and walked back into the nomadic life he lives
every day. Perhaps one day when Isa is walking, it’ll be in my shoes –I just hope
he’s as comfortable as I was walking in his.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-46110971144537029492014-01-16T20:29:00.001+01:002014-01-16T20:29:52.963+01:00Bonne Annee avec mes amis<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtVfAlfOx0KHKv5c_c8kwDNatlqXpXtcM8qS2DFos2ZwiLLyCCBTkqblDwAHryvDoaC921Bk_5tYS5VgfzHUYguWSQnbwoTrpp9ivyLftNwwmK1Gl7oKOt-uGIbYnW6678rBejSE4rcbA/s1600/chamDom.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtVfAlfOx0KHKv5c_c8kwDNatlqXpXtcM8qS2DFos2ZwiLLyCCBTkqblDwAHryvDoaC921Bk_5tYS5VgfzHUYguWSQnbwoTrpp9ivyLftNwwmK1Gl7oKOt-uGIbYnW6678rBejSE4rcbA/s1600/chamDom.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best thing about France is Italy. Courmayeur is just 30 minutes from Chamonix and lived up to its reputation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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To ring in 2014, Molly and I decided to trade a proper New Year’s celebration for a weeklong trip to Chamonix with a motley mix of eight ski bums. We were not disappointed.</div>
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As the herds of skiers packed their cars and headed back to work, we rolled into town with fresh legs and awoke to some of the choicest snow I’ve ever face-planted in.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRmHkfn7cuM6HbrC0NdGHIz34IPtYTC5a3VMa5IgQFmt4q_cUVOR4-KLpbCHk6eew4t7s3C956T0YuCLAI2j0BpO46sUQqgxeH9vzzrJDHxJ1mPWJCD71yuSqUaR8nRCW68xXo3gTg9rv/s1600/MikeK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRmHkfn7cuM6HbrC0NdGHIz34IPtYTC5a3VMa5IgQFmt4q_cUVOR4-KLpbCHk6eew4t7s3C956T0YuCLAI2j0BpO46sUQqgxeH9vzzrJDHxJ1mPWJCD71yuSqUaR8nRCW68xXo3gTg9rv/s1600/MikeK.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skiers are so graceful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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More than a half dozen ski areas dot the valley of this adorable ski town, which is intricately connected by frequent, free buses. In addition, Switzerland’s Verbier and Italy’s Courmayeur ski resorts are within easy reach.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Had they banned all skiers, it would have been this snowboarder’s perfect, fresh powder dream.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We set up shop in a little chalet on the outskirts of town complete with a sauna and fireplace, and spent our evenings sampling each other’s cooking and nursing our ski-related wounds.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Each day a different pair prepared the meal.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Team Awesome took us south of the border; Molly and I broke da mouth with a Hawaii-inspired meal; Jeb and R. Eric brought the heat with a low country boil; Angela and Dave made magic Italian style; and Mike and Sonya delivered a savory Paddy’s Day delight. (We’re still waiting for Steve’s night.)</div>
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<br /></div>
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By the end of the week we were racing to find creative uses for all the leftovers, and somehow we left with more food than we brought. No toilet was safe and no toilet paper was left behind.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Friendships were forged, memories made, and we even traded one friend for a wily, piss-and-vinegar grandma (not to mention Jeb’s horizons were broadened when he was introduced to Rebecca Black’s “Friday” for the first time).</div>
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<br /></div>
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I don’t know what this year will bring, but if our first day on the slopes in Chamonix is any indication, I’m looking forward to a little slice of heaven.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO2-Z7MJLjY_s06C-HwS0wHth60mDYPWFPX5SwGRWCP1OJEdMuWa6tKB_V_melyyytqPCZ320SlB8loRRpvRAOVpZwy5mvavK2zqXrTY4WfecQALSU1IkC_IgEzobLvzmdOFtX3qf-h5g/s1600/scene1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO2-Z7MJLjY_s06C-HwS0wHth60mDYPWFPX5SwGRWCP1OJEdMuWa6tKB_V_melyyytqPCZ320SlB8loRRpvRAOVpZwy5mvavK2zqXrTY4WfecQALSU1IkC_IgEzobLvzmdOFtX3qf-h5g/s1600/scene1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staring into the Vallee Blanche from the top of Flegere. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-19736929107096929082013-12-25T11:58:00.000+01:002013-12-25T15:58:29.027+01:00Through the yearsJeremy and I celebrated our sixth Christmas together this year, which was surprising as we both thought it was five until we glanced into the rearview mirror that is the buddymollys' holiday cards.<br />
<br />
What began in Hawaii turned heavenly as it shifted to Bavaria; it was monumental, but never a drag (well ...) and was always served with a healthy dose of love.<br />
<br />
Happy holidays from the buddymollys.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1TrazVw2T3enwsDDlTJOrOEpR11UmOZ_uXdNLGa7tBBaMZ9DXPV0dwq4bmqLc6wjGOd0GqkhFSH22XelYHeoZNbVhPqwRn2THVQHst904cAzmXPbcgUrE56wwaHBW4kAaDCfvGzC-jov/s1600/2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1TrazVw2T3enwsDDlTJOrOEpR11UmOZ_uXdNLGa7tBBaMZ9DXPV0dwq4bmqLc6wjGOd0GqkhFSH22XelYHeoZNbVhPqwRn2THVQHst904cAzmXPbcgUrE56wwaHBW4kAaDCfvGzC-jov/s1600/2008.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_69l2RgYYKz5wgC5T47ooGrdcAOdOq0QN7dKy6dZtiW0CNwiBE1T8qnBnCG3fEEhFy6HJaTkooo0yxLnTWsp6kgi-ya6vjSWZRruySB9bLKJkzbYrRL-RJcYjZ-IM3RdAdxvRBOcCW4S/s1600/2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_69l2RgYYKz5wgC5T47ooGrdcAOdOq0QN7dKy6dZtiW0CNwiBE1T8qnBnCG3fEEhFy6HJaTkooo0yxLnTWsp6kgi-ya6vjSWZRruySB9bLKJkzbYrRL-RJcYjZ-IM3RdAdxvRBOcCW4S/s1600/2009.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIonCWpftXdudhK_Lb4iP7nNBQG_ih_Bqs2rV5q0lZkCVWJ5GGls2itTtMCf7qif3jHQuz0aTi3nNKgELWykjx79QyHLoq1tk12Yjdxp9MKUFkuzvdqC_9C-cuIWs1mBDX64JvahCBwB4/s1600/2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIonCWpftXdudhK_Lb4iP7nNBQG_ih_Bqs2rV5q0lZkCVWJ5GGls2itTtMCf7qif3jHQuz0aTi3nNKgELWykjx79QyHLoq1tk12Yjdxp9MKUFkuzvdqC_9C-cuIWs1mBDX64JvahCBwB4/s1600/2010.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9fnoMmCTQyxQQ6qNU3YWZvQdmyvwrEiP30LKI60MrEOf_3qHS6UgR6hgaLGXXCFI9QGNo25KWhby7_ZSVwzg7GwYSpcElpljVz5zll_uqC8hIjP_emx5gy4z1rw1A-Iai5K76Lk6BzSk/s1600/2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9fnoMmCTQyxQQ6qNU3YWZvQdmyvwrEiP30LKI60MrEOf_3qHS6UgR6hgaLGXXCFI9QGNo25KWhby7_ZSVwzg7GwYSpcElpljVz5zll_uqC8hIjP_emx5gy4z1rw1A-Iai5K76Lk6BzSk/s1600/2011.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVZgR32Jnrx0kgG_rimndD32hqRdhpfLCRvCIjj_Ii00ZAnh6j0MueIwg2IbE2CdmGU9UfctQD38ogDl7EeP4JaihgnYyPjgQl0MJKgLcil6cYyPaG1FIqWNl_b3o0DqYdvMVjhkX9Vfc/s1600/2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVZgR32Jnrx0kgG_rimndD32hqRdhpfLCRvCIjj_Ii00ZAnh6j0MueIwg2IbE2CdmGU9UfctQD38ogDl7EeP4JaihgnYyPjgQl0MJKgLcil6cYyPaG1FIqWNl_b3o0DqYdvMVjhkX9Vfc/s1600/2012.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6YchiPyrpCxR_te3DFEmb0i1cFaYNGN0iUM-o3bSxbggaDWDzH1CsGMuwfuCc1nEITDKoZhyphenhyphentx-wiFj7LO0SEG3blVoxRE4idpXaQMdQZsXlrrby9DD7P92xWryGVkKWRf2s4zDTKUM6/s1600/2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6YchiPyrpCxR_te3DFEmb0i1cFaYNGN0iUM-o3bSxbggaDWDzH1CsGMuwfuCc1nEITDKoZhyphenhyphentx-wiFj7LO0SEG3blVoxRE4idpXaQMdQZsXlrrby9DD7P92xWryGVkKWRf2s4zDTKUM6/s1600/2013.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_143450319"></span><span id="goog_143450320"></span><br />
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<br />buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-38860335903446753652013-12-16T12:04:00.000+01:002013-12-16T12:19:54.000+01:00The arts have it <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x3ALdVicvlMpur3Z5VGEy-DLjgjc2qcdPArlqvNN0tJCLnAdx-H4bY9J1xpVb3zkahipYVw40ZVaruO8fHrk0EG8fHt1u8zjK4J2O_Uql2NWAIWy4nHLGNGaDe7eIzeibGY52NqpCxcX/s1600/shit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x3ALdVicvlMpur3Z5VGEy-DLjgjc2qcdPArlqvNN0tJCLnAdx-H4bY9J1xpVb3zkahipYVw40ZVaruO8fHrk0EG8fHt1u8zjK4J2O_Uql2NWAIWy4nHLGNGaDe7eIzeibGY52NqpCxcX/s1600/shit.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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It’s been nearly a year since a simple facebook post ignited
a surge of creative endeavors. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It read like this: The first five people to comment on this
status will receive a homemade gift from me throughout the year. They must
repost this status and too make five homemade gifts for the first five people
to comment on their status. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s pay it forward, art-style. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The five folks who signed up were as unique as they were
distantly located – so I needed some extra time to process proper gifts. I was
a bit unprepared, so I created the simple above-pictured mixed media painting
to air my apprehensions before getting down to business.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The first handmade items completed were for my friend
Lauren, a Northern Ireland resident who was about to get married. I made an
espresso body scrub to be used on her wedding day. It provided both soft skin
and a boost of energy needed for special day exhaustion. I also threw in a
homemade candle, red and white to symbolize lovely-dovey stuff. </div>
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<br /></div>
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(As an aside, I tested out the body scrub product before
sending it, stupidly at 9 p.m. I was up until nearly 6 a.m. Conclusion: I found
the gift to be effective). </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHNl4j1zNRDe9ycTaUd-UT8jJBEJtDby2Qr4oU8V3w1kMyA9Dfmn-iqcPuHeba5ikn22mh-tNwp65PzIKFefOl8VdXEMmZUg5vuHXWb-9arfCI5Ze-6vK7Inb7xpA6Kts2f0Hj7oF8W_K/s1600/corki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHNl4j1zNRDe9ycTaUd-UT8jJBEJtDby2Qr4oU8V3w1kMyA9Dfmn-iqcPuHeba5ikn22mh-tNwp65PzIKFefOl8VdXEMmZUg5vuHXWb-9arfCI5Ze-6vK7Inb7xpA6Kts2f0Hj7oF8W_K/s1600/corki.jpg" height="365" width="400" /></a></div>
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My second attempt at art was a painting made for my friend
Corki – a serpent for a serpent. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuLQbzFczCjOjxmd2coDIK6zg6-uEgLJ_Ji8Xy_Xf_kWtYXfHxRrQ5G0jApe5Hw4Rcp-bMWJjUMkHvyY3ZiwvjgH9JL-hDclPCaMKwMRX26Gv0c0vYEeWi1ZW-FNdXk7NFSIIRotqfaIu/s1600/Jaleh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuLQbzFczCjOjxmd2coDIK6zg6-uEgLJ_Ji8Xy_Xf_kWtYXfHxRrQ5G0jApe5Hw4Rcp-bMWJjUMkHvyY3ZiwvjgH9JL-hDclPCaMKwMRX26Gv0c0vYEeWi1ZW-FNdXk7NFSIIRotqfaIu/s1600/Jaleh.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The third gift soon followed, and I must admit, I had help on this one.
For Jaleh, a librarian and fellow book nerd, I commissioned Jeremy’s help in making
her an invisible bookshelf, courtesy of <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Invisible-Book-Shelf/" target="_blank">instructables</a>.</span><!--EndFragment-->
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The fourth gift was a new attempt for me. Finding a strange looking
toy at the thrift store, I turned it into a snow globe. It’s weird, so am I,
and so is my friend Tom, so it seemed like a good fit. The use of glitter
proved troublesome though. It’s been said that glitter is the herpes of craft
supplies and five months later, I’m still finding it in places I simply
shouldn’t.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCDE8BuVdBrC9nkfiMD4fUXbE7m8SbjdeiRzR3Y4gBn3Bu8HUMjZOlxynipdaInZ182yjbMNS46FXuByfhAnX8jhHdrv2fayJq2L6EVSEG3zJLyXfsHuP-zm6y5os-u2yJENpYoQl2TD8/s1600/Crystal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCDE8BuVdBrC9nkfiMD4fUXbE7m8SbjdeiRzR3Y4gBn3Bu8HUMjZOlxynipdaInZ182yjbMNS46FXuByfhAnX8jhHdrv2fayJq2L6EVSEG3zJLyXfsHuP-zm6y5os-u2yJENpYoQl2TD8/s1600/Crystal.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></div>
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For my final art attempt, I collected sticks for a few weeks
on my daily walks with Skydog to create a flower vase for my BFF and bona fide
earth goddess, Crystal. After she received it, she commented that she’d like to
live in house like that someday. It will take a few more walks, but I’ll see if
I can make it happen dear friend. Perhaps that will be next year’s art
endeavor. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I received a special piece of art from STL’s own Jeff Miller
well before I started my projects. And Jeremy, who also signed up to create
five homemade gifts, has yet to finish his. But, the year’s not quite over, and
sliding in minutes before deadline is par for the course with a house full of
journalists. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Deadlines are kind of our thing; art, however, is everyone’s
thing. </div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment-->buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-34943052841020394662013-11-11T21:05:00.001+01:002013-11-11T21:17:06.012+01:00Distilling the perfect adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOll5MI1EzxLfxZ1hNXItY8ky3RwGgp7LJIZkdH4bhxmr0Rmsel6EREtkMNOm0uc29c1X521-bo_EbbyomFwsl_q8m2JqKlbc9uHHxuOPrMLjYXXo8KzJHY5B5q9yZ6gfWUu0pL3P7TQS/s1600/stillyo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOll5MI1EzxLfxZ1hNXItY8ky3RwGgp7LJIZkdH4bhxmr0Rmsel6EREtkMNOm0uc29c1X521-bo_EbbyomFwsl_q8m2JqKlbc9uHHxuOPrMLjYXXo8KzJHY5B5q9yZ6gfWUu0pL3P7TQS/s400/stillyo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every time I visit Scotland I wish I could stay longer.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though it’s always cold (the average temperature in the height of summer is just under 60 degrees), Scotland’s gregarious people more than make up for the chill in the air -- and after a few whisky tastings you might not even need your jacket anyway. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The key to any visit, like adding those critical drops of water to a dram, is finding the right balance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Building on last year’s five-day, whirlwind <a href="http://buddymollys.blogspot.de/2012/09/escape-to-whisky-island.html" target="_blank">man-trip</a> to sample Islay’s finest (and peatiest) whiskies, we decided to shift gears to the lighter, sweeter Speyside spirits of Moray County, which sits about three hours north of Edinburgh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Speyside region boasts nearly half of all the whisky distilleries in Scotland, and a majority of those lie within a 20-mile radius of each other.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We had our work cut out for us, but could have done a better job planning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Scant public transportation and figuring out ways to not drive while intoxicated proved to be formidable obstacles, but could not compete with 4 science brains and 4 of average Trivial Pursuit intelligence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though many of the distilleries weren’t open on the weekends (a fact that remained obscured until a few days before we flew out), and one distillery closed for the summer for the first time in its 188-year history just two days before we arrived, we still managed to visit eight distilleries in six days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXRb2TOjrG2-BDu96uzTaBNtYF5JT3BazgvwFpcv2nJgBsI6A02h8zgoyDPlR-ukAa9h5ZogosXx4-FHJ1KIxsJxj1b6_eH7QKvaqjdtEoSQaPhz7iNgz_HbhLS56t4I5b4C_qo0HGQFZ/s1600/all-robin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXRb2TOjrG2-BDu96uzTaBNtYF5JT3BazgvwFpcv2nJgBsI6A02h8zgoyDPlR-ukAa9h5ZogosXx4-FHJ1KIxsJxj1b6_eH7QKvaqjdtEoSQaPhz7iNgz_HbhLS56t4I5b4C_qo0HGQFZ/s320/all-robin.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Note: The number of tastings we sampled in the Edinburgh airport while waiting to depart could have bumped that number to 12).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And although the process is almost exactly the same from distillery to distillery, we learned to pick up on the nuances and appreciate the subtle effects each factor, like the shape of still or the barrel’s composition, contributed to making an impression on our taste buds.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Other than that, nothing exciting happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We didn’t cross paths with the world's only blue-haired Asian bartender with a Scottish accent; there were no near-death collisions caused by a driver starring at sheep; we never figured out what possessed our car radio; none of the tour guides ever answered JR’s infamous “methanol” question to his satisfaction; and a Chinese man definitely did not fart on one of us (ahem, Michael Kreis) in the passport line.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There’s always next year.</span></div>
<br />buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-77487731150088777032013-10-08T22:08:00.000+02:002013-10-08T22:08:47.044+02:00Belgian Blitz<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87_JELwP5vWzdz20pNWWN5iqTD1gJqGUpVFGa25PLKdupmGoJ89OCREuUK6RTe7si14fL8pAjz4a9IojhyphenhyphenIviz1CQe8xrVQZo8Is5zYLO1LsIX8W2LjaomZKmoTGbPnHVN8fxCMAGQm4s/s1600/abooty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87_JELwP5vWzdz20pNWWN5iqTD1gJqGUpVFGa25PLKdupmGoJ89OCREuUK6RTe7si14fL8pAjz4a9IojhyphenhyphenIviz1CQe8xrVQZo8Is5zYLO1LsIX8W2LjaomZKmoTGbPnHVN8fxCMAGQm4s/s640/abooty.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">booty.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">As
part of my mid-30s birthday celebration this weekend, we hopped a train bound
for Belgium, the land famous for its delicious beer and out-of-this-world
fries. Apparently they have chocolate, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">As
opposed to German beer, which honors the simplicity of making the most out of
four ingredients, Belgian beer celebrates various styles from light and fruity
to dark and make-you-forget-your name, along with every permutation in-between.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">We
blazed through Brussels, Bruges and Ghent over a long weekend but never felt
like we were rushing. Between the museums, architecture and historic sites, there
were plenty of distractions, but, as you can see by Molly’s photo essay below,
we maintained our focus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbE-Y9jQr9uXvEKiHBGudm8P7yL6erf9B_NF9OsRDkOPU3RUMszkBUAHXDWO4sRzQ5JcMF9Gb8NCXOMkg9mRheRgHIxXYvF37JjM1W7CUqRVb9OnamzmKqZcKiMkBdYrSURtLHcX4sjXqp/s1600/Beer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbE-Y9jQr9uXvEKiHBGudm8P7yL6erf9B_NF9OsRDkOPU3RUMszkBUAHXDWO4sRzQ5JcMF9Gb8NCXOMkg9mRheRgHIxXYvF37JjM1W7CUqRVb9OnamzmKqZcKiMkBdYrSURtLHcX4sjXqp/s640/Beer1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">round one: cafe in Brussels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWdaTOVhFPZr4BEpj3lVLTSfB-bjFSgQM0pUg_V9n6ARjaJBWAotiyNxqKovvQtINIr9x4HseZJyv_MJU-gpskNvVJA2gsleodDe7kcnTOlrAKzDHKIGvoSwFQnIXhTeWyhDYtSM_GbhH/s1600/Beer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWdaTOVhFPZr4BEpj3lVLTSfB-bjFSgQM0pUg_V9n6ARjaJBWAotiyNxqKovvQtINIr9x4HseZJyv_MJU-gpskNvVJA2gsleodDe7kcnTOlrAKzDHKIGvoSwFQnIXhTeWyhDYtSM_GbhH/s640/Beer2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">round two: pouring like a pro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cXxAoekBzN0HOWWhDBhjIR5JNx60jhjUEnGdehrWH6l8hJuZh3UqYud_Cb1XDYslQd-BU1NKTokBxnIMXnu6Yb61VIh0HBc3pb1dGRbwX8IO022KR-zjlK4yVee5B7ejWDpzuhBdNXyt/s1600/Beer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cXxAoekBzN0HOWWhDBhjIR5JNx60jhjUEnGdehrWH6l8hJuZh3UqYud_Cb1XDYslQd-BU1NKTokBxnIMXnu6Yb61VIh0HBc3pb1dGRbwX8IO022KR-zjlK4yVee5B7ejWDpzuhBdNXyt/s640/Beer3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">round three: dinner in Bruges</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhBoDs0nKD_gfynFqjuhUGjVeDiSo6q-jr4tGXQAxT1x4qH-RxNOzBlMvhHj89_tkFyFdGUEVau3RTc9PDfP7SByNSFahNPStQj342lPTC-dtu-4x92n72q_k_C1JJuBqN5YvOs_viz6R/s1600/Beer4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhBoDs0nKD_gfynFqjuhUGjVeDiSo6q-jr4tGXQAxT1x4qH-RxNOzBlMvhHj89_tkFyFdGUEVau3RTc9PDfP7SByNSFahNPStQj342lPTC-dtu-4x92n72q_k_C1JJuBqN5YvOs_viz6R/s640/Beer4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">round four: bike ride to Damme</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SptSJzXwW_v9S5eVi4JX6x6yKq6nvj2lSOgDbyncQt5XLgFkOvu5RYP0F1gaGRIpzjVIKupzX9YqzTdW7HvHxBbkb57sjPeL-LUNvE3L3MJH1CWrBMYu48xktUnVIRuOkAVx1BR3J2CS/s1600/Beer5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SptSJzXwW_v9S5eVi4JX6x6yKq6nvj2lSOgDbyncQt5XLgFkOvu5RYP0F1gaGRIpzjVIKupzX9YqzTdW7HvHxBbkb57sjPeL-LUNvE3L3MJH1CWrBMYu48xktUnVIRuOkAVx1BR3J2CS/s640/Beer5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">round five: kwak and a Bruges tripel<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0wdONouzM83lSCXp58RT1THswUdHKEnYRBTFO1ZoeH8sb5kRK95k2iZURg8LswzTyNUsmuxZirOJLj6twBFEWjTXGB1No95eLSTKsR-SGiLQo5cwAPeabZFPzhFlLnUz4wRlZ8uP22nb/s1600/Beer6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0wdONouzM83lSCXp58RT1THswUdHKEnYRBTFO1ZoeH8sb5kRK95k2iZURg8LswzTyNUsmuxZirOJLj6twBFEWjTXGB1No95eLSTKsR-SGiLQo5cwAPeabZFPzhFlLnUz4wRlZ8uP22nb/s640/Beer6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">round six: put your leffe in, put your leffe out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp4RB7jjyX6HxS8D4KSa35gxwgoPQAUNrkZkyL4A3JcWu0gEnJ5zJGuY6WBCMXVLq-0-W5v6FqIEq9fOil8BO4L91EcbJ1cZnEjkxwvn6iaYdyWIh4IdfQFYyYZf2b2XvBTP4bULAw-R4/s1600/Beer7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp4RB7jjyX6HxS8D4KSa35gxwgoPQAUNrkZkyL4A3JcWu0gEnJ5zJGuY6WBCMXVLq-0-W5v6FqIEq9fOil8BO4L91EcbJ1cZnEjkxwvn6iaYdyWIh4IdfQFYyYZf2b2XvBTP4bULAw-R4/s640/Beer7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white;">round seven: mussels in beer (and beer) in Bruges</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilzJQPqE8MWpXlviri7dhrrPaMUQRpBZsM8foL5yb1WBWt5T0YtaESDLJxb1PHH9L-_nwNdgiTBfwxGBTr6oI-Eg3bEGWzr2UqK3jGt2fJQ8QNne6WTu9XosH2WSb9mgbmg9a7b5joqrB/s1600/Beer8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilzJQPqE8MWpXlviri7dhrrPaMUQRpBZsM8foL5yb1WBWt5T0YtaESDLJxb1PHH9L-_nwNdgiTBfwxGBTr6oI-Eg3bEGWzr2UqK3jGt2fJQ8QNne6WTu9XosH2WSb9mgbmg9a7b5joqrB/s640/Beer8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">round 8: cold chillin' at the train station<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr></tr>
<tr></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOe2EFobc9MXORpzDPbDhF-r31eCeLIpU_sYAEKIIEQlfiJVWfvbx_T1vk64S9pmztHFIPJGqe_tV7XrGcM3tGN8UeZ4GMPlleai8hSsLr6w-oIQsgSDTcdzD-6_NqyzZrR939pSbvZKY/s1600/Beer9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOe2EFobc9MXORpzDPbDhF-r31eCeLIpU_sYAEKIIEQlfiJVWfvbx_T1vk64S9pmztHFIPJGqe_tV7XrGcM3tGN8UeZ4GMPlleai8hSsLr6w-oIQsgSDTcdzD-6_NqyzZrR939pSbvZKY/s640/Beer9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">round 9: a day in the life in Ghent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfAQtp0bfsOG_96ETTsQ2FftovLcMMsZ2t8sMnnuO6UV9K3ZEFaNaTGmBX49nO8IrwkGB9xBoVsFwUeiyr-Otxc-6_UygokxsnYqYMq6zqz_xJUwkBwr0pRBE7897nFQ0D4H4rQWJnRCH/s1600/Beer10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfAQtp0bfsOG_96ETTsQ2FftovLcMMsZ2t8sMnnuO6UV9K3ZEFaNaTGmBX49nO8IrwkGB9xBoVsFwUeiyr-Otxc-6_UygokxsnYqYMq6zqz_xJUwkBwr0pRBE7897nFQ0D4H4rQWJnRCH/s640/Beer10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white;">round 10: sidewalk sale</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPhQqPgQLdfmR143qTsqhC5VK9hEYW9Sj5WG4LX3qO4RHxnzy__GOxHnVpdxn3tIfcmmd_cxK5sbIZ_4ZxHIv79NccHtYTAugi5VyiZOVa4VT5bOe3_o4-NFX6is-mi3cUAzud7Kjnu7f/s1600/Beer11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPhQqPgQLdfmR143qTsqhC5VK9hEYW9Sj5WG4LX3qO4RHxnzy__GOxHnVpdxn3tIfcmmd_cxK5sbIZ_4ZxHIv79NccHtYTAugi5VyiZOVa4VT5bOe3_o4-NFX6is-mi3cUAzud7Kjnu7f/s640/Beer11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">r<span style="background-color: white;">ound 11: back in Brussels</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ImJdWBc1wyyWe4HaLZOd-MYxtWyF3UW3HpBUlB7aZEsPCK9snhkeFpwITus1NH2kN9vAKQz1gJTzo9JHdBNrsTUvaui2kgcfULZUYQQvV0zWTjY-X0tplnibeSfJpP5FBsS5j-0WbtKD/s1600/Beer12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ImJdWBc1wyyWe4HaLZOd-MYxtWyF3UW3HpBUlB7aZEsPCK9snhkeFpwITus1NH2kN9vAKQz1gJTzo9JHdBNrsTUvaui2kgcfULZUYQQvV0zWTjY-X0tplnibeSfJpP5FBsS5j-0WbtKD/s640/Beer12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">round 12: still thirsty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIi6i7rrgl2A3UqGYqX9SeipArSqmRiwFQHLRYJCvFSwfMFLMzynN0r6OMZZ7x9wZ1CjAv9RdxbLpLTE_32lY-p5s-uHdYPKk1dAVq_U_81pKhcJnwQclth14AOlBdojlkr5v8swUuBn2/s1600/Beer13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIi6i7rrgl2A3UqGYqX9SeipArSqmRiwFQHLRYJCvFSwfMFLMzynN0r6OMZZ7x9wZ1CjAv9RdxbLpLTE_32lY-p5s-uHdYPKk1dAVq_U_81pKhcJnwQclth14AOlBdojlkr5v8swUuBn2/s640/Beer13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">round 13: it's getting darker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EdEmta1uShzRJSHE-ThONY0qFAPJSkmQj8Qh2iwGxE1zfs_I61XRAVHLceCw4Q2-DHQqrhVhMiYTFOHZ-3ECvmV7YJWdqicXtGmWXah7ts90wXtNX3NBCk0i2zqDydolIbaz1dWlb4bV/s1600/Beer14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EdEmta1uShzRJSHE-ThONY0qFAPJSkmQj8Qh2iwGxE1zfs_I61XRAVHLceCw4Q2-DHQqrhVhMiYTFOHZ-3ECvmV7YJWdqicXtGmWXah7ts90wXtNX3NBCk0i2zqDydolIbaz1dWlb4bV/s640/Beer14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">round 14: Brussels bar, repeated</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilL7ensignWI1dv0SOPZIbzw4iN5uH9TkN51FwJyXjU1VnaNhvsX_0UxGVVY0P4X7CR0Yx7Y4uq73iAEzujSiEVqg4o3XWY_c1YxFJwU8NOS9aT0F6rdy8ZdWUGVxVdwNXJ0cuoNFtg7s/s1600/Beer15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilL7ensignWI1dv0SOPZIbzw4iN5uH9TkN51FwJyXjU1VnaNhvsX_0UxGVVY0P4X7CR0Yx7Y4uq73iAEzujSiEVqg4o3XWY_c1YxFJwU8NOS9aT0F6rdy8ZdWUGVxVdwNXJ0cuoNFtg7s/s640/Beer15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">round 15: designated "regulars"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB_1NVXKzWjih8Onq5s-RRvDWO8J2XNfP3qSiUXRe5HPue_PmVpBgCp4YVNTj7POsKfNq-jJQM09SkVnkOFghxYxJKDhanCeFSsbXxCgKzhkeTkGJ-KR27DjTu6_l9YYlpPRhP3Jo6zKp/s1600/Beer16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB_1NVXKzWjih8Onq5s-RRvDWO8J2XNfP3qSiUXRe5HPue_PmVpBgCp4YVNTj7POsKfNq-jJQM09SkVnkOFghxYxJKDhanCeFSsbXxCgKzhkeTkGJ-KR27DjTu6_l9YYlpPRhP3Jo6zKp/s640/Beer16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">round 16: unpack, move in<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-42147040284615671142013-10-01T11:58:00.000+02:002013-10-01T11:58:06.143+02:00Another trip to Dresden; So it goes ...
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAWbaCeO3SnHLsRKxcy6q_m8amTEHlix2C7Cj7N7aSobxnm33ERtXWnJbrtrFYNsV5Oj76i7jcDIlM-IdMt05F0uxqQ-4g8B-Gxxnde4y7NGfxHG2aRWEYeFAaj3vVCLN7QI-4vXZpFCK/s1600/BlogNewTown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAWbaCeO3SnHLsRKxcy6q_m8amTEHlix2C7Cj7N7aSobxnm33ERtXWnJbrtrFYNsV5Oj76i7jcDIlM-IdMt05F0uxqQ-4g8B-Gxxnde4y7NGfxHG2aRWEYeFAaj3vVCLN7QI-4vXZpFCK/s640/BlogNewTown.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The New Town, in all its hip glory.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went to Dresden. Again. Last weekend was my 6<sup>th</sup>
trip in the past four years to the Vonnegut-famed city, including a two-week stint for a
German course in February highlighted by a monumental, albeit brief, run in
with <a href="http://buddymollys.blogspot.de/2013/02/bill-murray-likes-our-dog.html" target="_blank">Bill Murray</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I still went. Again. I grabbed my friend Caroline, left
Jeremy to hone is hausfrau skills, and went. <a href="http://buddymollys.blogspot.de/2012/07/twisted-sisters.html" target="_blank">Again</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graffiti dances over the New Town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our time in Europe is coming to an end; and we wrestle with
trying something new versus revisiting our favorite places. We have so much
earth in Europe we haven’t walked on, new cultures (and food!) to experience. So
why visit somewhere you’ve been many times before?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s simple. When you revisit a city, your surroundings
become more vivid. It’s like watching a movie more than once – your understanding
of the plot deepens, you notice secondary nuances. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Likewise, with a city, you begin to learn the culture outside
of museums and tourist-packed walkways. The city becomes more familiar and you
become more familiar in it - people stop to ask you for directions; glances and
friendly smiles from passersby on the backstreets become commonplace. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are in it. And Dresden in one of favorite places to be “in
it.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevUYot0zHmVekhBU2DGL1IrIMxjJXHwRBHUSM9xmUPKyii_OUTRQ72MRqf9pToJ8FK4tL0InYOMkT8cSlOl7Ui8NvGLRdm5zdef4yumg37mlxdL4Q7vCsqy2SgGIq2zXUAKt1KAqw2Zhp/s1600/blogmore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevUYot0zHmVekhBU2DGL1IrIMxjJXHwRBHUSM9xmUPKyii_OUTRQ72MRqf9pToJ8FK4tL0InYOMkT8cSlOl7Ui8NvGLRdm5zdef4yumg37mlxdL4Q7vCsqy2SgGIq2zXUAKt1KAqw2Zhp/s400/blogmore.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A glimpse at the Old Town from the Elbe River.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The city was completely destroyed during World War II, and
until the ‘90s, remained in a somewhat state of devastation. Now, it is a
rebuilt version of its historic self. The baroque architecture is peppered with
new innovative structures creating a unique mix of old and new. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vonnegut's protector.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Elbe River separates the New and Old towns. The New Town
is actually the eldest, as it endured the least bit of destruction and was
rebuilt first. But it appears newer with its gridlocked rows of concrete
communist-era buildings, tagged with elaborate works of graffiti. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Old Town was
built with new materials masked by the rubble of its former self to give that
old town feel. The Frauenkirchen, a beautiful church in the center of the Old
Town, was rebuilt meticulously using original pieces placed in the exact same
spot as it stood in the former structure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it works. It all works. The city is inviting. The New Town is hip and fresh, full of artists and hippies, bars and vintage clothing store. The locals of the New Town refer to their side of the river as "the dark side." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Old Town is refined with quiet restaurants and quaint shops lining cobble-stoned streets, flushed with churches, monuments of yesteryear, and an impressive castle once belonging to Augustus the Strong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nightlife.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is without a doubt worth a visit to Dresden if you find yourself in
Germany. For me, it may even warrant a move. Because like St. Louis and Honolulu,
Dresden feels like home - not just “a” home, but home. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And sometimes it feels
good to just go home. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363662231397078497.post-63215968652009430072013-09-26T23:03:00.002+02:002013-09-26T23:03:37.821+02:00O’zapft is? Yeah, we tapped it.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr-pfRN0dWAJ9RKRYXOa8lhSyIU7KtOyvd9-R2juBAWBPCIZtzTPkAH5nYCksM4HMtwZ4p4Ea5GEZ7INQyMHbiGAS_WMT_5eCGIPJDmsnJeak8kdxSaMEtjFE7PMAljBHwKXGfJQwubvm/s1600/IMG_4916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr-pfRN0dWAJ9RKRYXOa8lhSyIU7KtOyvd9-R2juBAWBPCIZtzTPkAH5nYCksM4HMtwZ4p4Ea5GEZ7INQyMHbiGAS_WMT_5eCGIPJDmsnJeak8kdxSaMEtjFE7PMAljBHwKXGfJQwubvm/s400/IMG_4916.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first mass of the morning is always the best. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Over time, after
you’ve lived in a place for a while, you become in tune with the rhythm of the
seasons. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">So as fall
approached and the warm sun began to succumb to the inevitable nip in the air,
we knew it was time to break out the dirndl and lederhosen, and practice
heaving those maß beers high in the air. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGoh1RwfnbAT-_ix1cvI0ITmv-4blsEPiK_PRYNZ0aB2Mjrwi_YXqDk5Tyu1VTit90km-FYzWt7eBwbmVLesk23Ne5EcxNIHu0fTQEADyW7qO0OCQwc4qh9XjB3m40elv8iOzbbN_3_9k/s1600/IMG_5057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGoh1RwfnbAT-_ix1cvI0ITmv-4blsEPiK_PRYNZ0aB2Mjrwi_YXqDk5Tyu1VTit90km-FYzWt7eBwbmVLesk23Ne5EcxNIHu0fTQEADyW7qO0OCQwc4qh9XjB3m40elv8iOzbbN_3_9k/s200/IMG_5057.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Three years ago
when we were just learning the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Oktoberfest </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">ropes, it wasn’t pretty: Out of
the four in our group, three threw up and one was forcibly divested of his
underwear – all before noon.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not about to
repeat our inaugural performance, this year we set about to plan a dignified, respectable
day at Oktoberfest, where 6 million people consume nearly 7.5 million liters of
bier, 500,000 chickens, 58,000 pork knuckles and countless pretzels over the
course of 16 days.* <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The dignified
plan included several “nice to haves” we never considered in years past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For instance,
rather than crashing in the Turkish hotel (an unusually tall 1980s-era VW bus),
we booked a hotel. We left all keys and unnecessary but easily misplaceable
objects in the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFdiuNj-a_4oZw74AT_7RcNz6SfUYfJXTbIWaZ0OdTGOjGGuyZr_JIsXjhyphenhyphenL0QHUEB-6Fo74MuvqgbH-dyevXTmt7mK0j0nykhhlyC1AjhD3OMhUCkJh8b81d241IKwxxFs0PfP6RkMFp/s1600/IMG_5006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFdiuNj-a_4oZw74AT_7RcNz6SfUYfJXTbIWaZ0OdTGOjGGuyZr_JIsXjhyphenhyphenL0QHUEB-6Fo74MuvqgbH-dyevXTmt7mK0j0nykhhlyC1AjhD3OMhUCkJh8b81d241IKwxxFs0PfP6RkMFp/s320/IMG_5006.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stellar example of dignified prosting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We established a
game plan at the outset for where to meet if we lost each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">And since we
arrived just after 9:30 a.m. and didn’t leave till about midnight, a comfortable
“maß consumption” pace interspersed with water served us well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks in part
to our mental preparation, Molly also conquered an arch-nemesis – the
cantankerous, 80-year-old Toboggan Rutschbahn – which left her limping two
years ago, and I even left with every article of clothing I brought (although
the next day I was still removing glass shards from my lederhosen, a byproduct
of some overzealous prosting). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All in all, we
opened and closed Oktoberfest on the opening weekend with a sophisticated level
of intoxication, and that’s more than we can say for the rest of the fest’s 6
million people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">* From the
<a href="http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/home_en/Tourist-Office/Press/Pressetexte_engl/Oktoberfest_engl" target="_blank">Munich Tourist Office website</a>. Additional interesting fun facts included the
number of vendors (Germans actually refer one group as “carneys”) and the
following lost items of 2012, which were listed under “curiosities”: leg
warmers (a pair of dress pants and two pairs of “unusual” traditional pants),
two wedding rings, five notebook computers, two license plates, sheet music,
two French horns, a hearing aid, a handicraft box, eyeglasses with Swarovski
crystals, a pair of leg cuffs, a baby phone, a ping-pong racket, a Playboy
magazine (with a personal autograph from the current Wies’n playmate) and a
dog. The delivery rate was 19 per cent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->buddymollyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06987282318053658441noreply@blogger.com0