American Pastimes

Independence Day is one of the best holidays to celebrate in the northeast. The weather is balmy, barbecue smoke fills the air, everyone wears their crispest reds, whites, and blues, and as fireworks thunder across the sky we take a moment to remind ourselves that, dang, this country is beautiful and it's ours. At least, that's my take on things. 

Unlike last summer when I was on a rooftop in China's capital haggling for over-priced Pabst Blue Ribbon, this year I visited my teammate and good friend Eric at his family's cottage on Keuka Lake. There was no shortage of clear blue skies and warm water (and PBR, haha). I watched the local Fourth of July Parade with his family and other kids, cheering for the volunteer fire departments, antique tractors and fire trucks, and local residents tossing candy-- a quintessential rural America celebration. It was a nice moment to appreciate these small-town traditions that I seemingly try to escape.

Some other St. Lawrence and Habitat friends came as well, which was fantastic. We cruised down the lake to Hammondsport, swam near the bluff where the lake branches meet (Keuka Lake is shaped like a Y), sailed in Eric's little laser (which capsized at one point!), indulged in barbecue and salads, and played in the front yard until the sun went down for fireworks. Then we stayed up even longer at his friend Bobby's house up in the hills to have a bonfire next to a small wooded lake. The Milky Way was the clearest I've ever seen, and all in all, it was a glorious day.

Hammondsport, at the south end of Keuka Lake.

The Bluff 

Playing Spud with guests of all ages, and their golden doodle, Gracie!

The best lake cottages are those that have been passed down generations, like with Eric's family. They have prime front lake property with their wide, flat front yard and sizeable docks.

 Saturday morning while Eric and Phil went fishing, Eric's mom took McKenzie and I blueberry picking up the road. The patches are situated up a hill among equally long rows of vineyards. I may have mentioned in the past that Keuka Lake, hands down, has my favorite wineries of the Finger Lakes. Obviously I'm biased because of what my parents purchased, but it turns out the blueberries there are equally delicious. It was the opening day of picking season, so a lot of berries have a way to go to ripen, but I was thrilled to spend another weekend harvesting fresh fruit. Although the guys came home without a catch, we picked nearly four pounds of blueberries that generously joined our pancake breakfast.

And finally, our house is for sale (anyone looking to move to the Western Finger Lakes?) so my parents have been tackling every room to clean, renovate, and restore for potential buyers. The other day my dad took down the recessed vanity mirror of the master bathroom, revealing a pleasant message from nearly twenty years ago that reads "whole house remodeled." Looks like we have these previous owners to thank for the beautiful living space we've inhabited. I love thinking of houses as physical frameworks for memories and life, with predisposed characters based on their architecture, cultural significance, and general design. Yet the soul, that truly breathes through its inhabitants. I remember doing something similar when we replaced the kitchen counters of our former house in Brockport. I hope whoever finds it next smiles at the handwritten momento of the seven-year old girl who used to live there.

Listening: "Tempest" by Lucius from their 2013 album, Wildewoman

January Sunshine

Florida is a 65+ paradise of 3 PM happy hours, vintage sports cars, and lazy days at the beach. Before returning to my current ice box of a school, I had the fortune of spending a week with my snow bird parents on the Gulf Coast. I feel like Florida is in limbo as the landing point of transient winter visitors, the playground of coastal millionaires, yet there are still visible signs of struggle.  Between oceanfront villas you can also easily find ramshackle and incomplete properties.  At least people are relaxed here; the lack of sunshine or an unplowed driveway are never excuses for a bad day.

Murals on the side of a Baptist church.

If houses had souls.

The El Jobean Depot Cafe was established in 1922, when the community was envisioned to be the next Boston of the south. It was a post office, train station, and prison, but now is a small museum, meeting space, and bar.

Interior views of the depot.

A bar with a LOT of character.

Afternoon beers with my dad!

Right around the corner from those tropical-colored homes, you'd find places like this.

On a boat to visit an island restaurant with my Aunt and Uncle, who migrate south from Ohio.

DOLPHINS!

Searching for shells at Boca Grande Beach, one of the most beautiful in Florida, if not the world.

Sarasota Bay Park

A visit to the Tiki Bar!

Florida isn't quite for me, but it was a glorious week to end my winter break.  I undoubtedly miss the fresh seafood and abundant fruit, though having distinct seasons makes you appreciate warm days all the more!

Listening: "X-Ray" by Xylos

Scenes from the Start of 2014

I ended 2013 and started 2014 with my favorite ladies from home, Caitlan and Kristen.

 Kristen lives around the fields and woodlands of Bristol.  On my way out I stopped to take photos of leftover hay bales and her neighboring alpacas.  I wished them a Happy New Year.

What a pleasant surprise it was to return home with two letters from France!  One, from my host family in the countryside of Normandy, and the other from my friend Nutta.  She is from Thailand but I met her through tennis lessons at the University of Rouen.  It's been two years now since I've traveled to France, and I would love to go back and ride the trains through the country side again, pick up fresh baguettes each morning, and play soccer with my host brothers who are growing up so quickly.

I'm spending this week more or less on the road for career fairs in Boston and New York City.  However, aviation transport is terribly unreliable this time of year-- cancellations throughout the country because of snow storms on the east coast.  So here I was, trying to fly to Boston from Rochester and they send me to Detroit, and then my flight was cancelled.  I spent a frustrating few hours talking in circles with flight representatives, and vying for a spot on flights.  The Detroit Wayne County Airport, at least, is well-designed with psychedelic transit tunnels and in concourse A there's a raised express monorail that brings you from one end to the other.

After a going back and forth in the airport all day I finally booked a flight to Boston, took a bus to Newbury Port, and Kat picked me up and brought me to her house in Amesbury.  She is one of my classmates from St. Lawrence and we studied together in Shanghai last spring -- I don't know what I would have done without her.  New England is freezing right now, but so idyllic.  It's my launching point into Boston for the job interviews Monday, then NYC on Thursday.

And finally, a visual guide of not only 2014, but general life resolutions:

I hope your 2014 is off to a fantastic start!
Listening: Explosions in the Sky radio on Pandora

2013 in Review

Perhaps I revisit my photos too often, but 2013 will be etched in my mind for a while.  Just when I think thing can't get any better, I had another tumultuous year of adventure, incredible sights, fascinating people, learning more about the world and myself everyday.

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January, February: Maine, New Hampshire, St. Lawrence, Florida 

March, April, May, June: Shanghai, Huangshan, Suzhou, Yunnan, Thailand, & everywhere in between

 

 

  

 

June, July: Beijing, Hong Kong, life as an intern in the hutongs

  

August: Home in the Finger Lakes, then back to the North Country

September, October, November, December: In and around the Adirondacks, school, Montreal, just trying to dance and stay sane the whole way.

 

 

And most recently, post-Christmas: Rubblebucket in Rochester!
The finest, most exuberant, and genuine.  This is their third year they've done a NYE tour, and I love meeting up with my friends and acting like a fool and having the best time, while smeared in glitter.

Shamelessly fan-girling because Kalmia is a dream and such a strong, talented woman.  She was diagnosed with cancer this summer, went through her treatments and was on the road again by September.  SO MUCH LOVE FOR THIS LADY.

My housemates also stayed for the weekend, so they helped me shop for new interview attire and we went to a local micro-brewery after!  Flights of beer and burgers.  We also baked homemade brownies for my Dad's birthday on Sunday.

67 years of Paul, pictured here with my mom and his navy portrait c. 1967.  He's sniggering and trying to make himself extra taller than her!

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I'm in that outrageously fun/terrifying stage where I can't envision more than 4 months ahead in my life.  It keeps me on my toes and sometimes induces more anxiety than I'd like, but my greatest hope for 2014 is that I can flow with the tide and make the best of whatever happens.  I acknowledge how vague and esoteric this notion is versus the reality of practice, yet I think that I can have a good time while accomplishing what I need to do (paying back loans would be great, too).  That's all I'll say--

I wish you a fantastic end to 2013, and see you in the new year! xo,
Nicole