"You may ask yourself, 'Where does that highway go?!'" -Talking Heads (also covered by Josh Ritter)
I ask myself that all the time. When I drove home from Virginia last week, I wandered off the beaten path a little bit, trying out some county and state roads rather than the same old I-295. I had some time on my hands and needed a change of scenery. My original plan was to wind my way home whimsically through the Pine Barrens but then I realized I really, really needed to stop and use a bathroom and wasn't going to find one going that way, which is what brought me eventually to Cherry Hill and the western terminus of the road I usually take, Route 70. It was nice to see some farmland, barren as it is in February, and also to see that chunk of Route 70 that I'd never seen before.
However, tomorrow will probably not be one of those days in which I stray from the direct path, as I have a lot of travels to do. This is roughly my trajectory, although I'm already planning on taking sweet peaceful county roads to Princeton (it'll be 7.30 in the morning, I don't foresee that being a poor choice) and something more creative than the Turnpike to get to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I like the way that route looks though, kind of like a fun roller coaster. Also, the first three stops are for camp related things, so that should be fun, especially since the third stop invited me to stay for dinner. I love the hospitality of the extended Johnsonburg family!
Why back to Virginia so soon? Because my amazing college roommate Brittany and I always said that if Josh Ritter and Joe Pug played a show together in one of our areas, we'd go. It was really just poor planning on my part that I'm going to see him twice in three weeks, but I enjoy Josh's music and I love love love Brittany's company. I have more crazy travels next weekend so decided to extend my trip into the days before the show, which will include catching up with some friends and also some sort of hiking adventure with the incredible Becky Trytten. All of this also serves as a good excuse to see that nice boy again. This week is going to be pretty awesome... assuming I finish this draft of that long paper today so I don't have to think about it... so I'm going to get back to that...
26 February 2011
15 February 2011
real (not-so) long distance
Hello from Hyperion! I love this place. I am having the best day ever in Fredericksburg, the town where I once decided that I should at least try to have the best day ever every day. About three years ago, during my final semester of college, I dropped Chinese 102, took History of Jazz pass/fail with some friends, and just generally enjoyed my life a lot more than the previous seven semesters in which I took 18 credits. I don't think I was ever super negative, but I've definitely been a much sunnier person since then.
Anyway! Why is today the best day ever? It really began last night when I went to see Josh Ritter in D.C.. Well, maybe a little earlier hanging out with Luke. He's cool, despite some of the funny things he says sometimes. But Josh put on an excellent show, as always. He's kind of a sunny, happy person, which is probably at least half of why I like him and his music so darn much.
I was also amused by a brief contemplation of space. Yeah, I'm a dorky geographer. Before heading to Virginia on Sunday afternoon, I stopped by the hospital at home to visit my pastor, who was in for a little re-hydration following a bout with the flu the previous week. We had a good conversation about the greater Presbyterian church and how it's functioning (or not). He believes the future may hold Presbyteries that are less geographically-restrained, since we have the technology to overcome such differences more effectively than in the past. This is true of many things-- I mean, my thesis is about how we've broken down geographic barriers and allowed plants to grow in places that aren't always convenient. This idea was also evident at Josh Ritter's show. A few weeks ago, he invited those attending his "Valentine's Day Brawl" shows this week to submit dedications to people they were going with. It was actually a pretty cute concept-- lots of people professing their love and crap, one dude even had Josh propose to his girlfriend for him. I was really touched by one message from a soldier in Afghanistan who sent a message to his brother who was in the crowd. It's amazing how we have these ways of being connected from so far away, kind of blurring the entire concept of distance. (And yes, if you're wondering, I am a totally awesome and super romantic girlfriend and Josh Ritter totally read my dedication.)
So, back to the best day ever. Today I went to Fredericksburg to visit with my beloved undergrad advisor, who I had lunch with at the awesome Soup and Taco. I had somehow never been there before despite my love of downtown Fredericksburg. It was really great to catch up with her and get some ideas about moving forward with the thesis and job hunt. After visiting with some other professors in the geography department and my old boss at the auditorium, I parked myself here in the coffee shop to do a little work until my good friend Jeremy gets off work. We'll get dinner somewhere downtown before I head north again. It's a lovely sunny day and I am totally delighted.
(This entry's title comes from this fun song by Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band.)
Anyway! Why is today the best day ever? It really began last night when I went to see Josh Ritter in D.C.. Well, maybe a little earlier hanging out with Luke. He's cool, despite some of the funny things he says sometimes. But Josh put on an excellent show, as always. He's kind of a sunny, happy person, which is probably at least half of why I like him and his music so darn much.
I was also amused by a brief contemplation of space. Yeah, I'm a dorky geographer. Before heading to Virginia on Sunday afternoon, I stopped by the hospital at home to visit my pastor, who was in for a little re-hydration following a bout with the flu the previous week. We had a good conversation about the greater Presbyterian church and how it's functioning (or not). He believes the future may hold Presbyteries that are less geographically-restrained, since we have the technology to overcome such differences more effectively than in the past. This is true of many things-- I mean, my thesis is about how we've broken down geographic barriers and allowed plants to grow in places that aren't always convenient. This idea was also evident at Josh Ritter's show. A few weeks ago, he invited those attending his "Valentine's Day Brawl" shows this week to submit dedications to people they were going with. It was actually a pretty cute concept-- lots of people professing their love and crap, one dude even had Josh propose to his girlfriend for him. I was really touched by one message from a soldier in Afghanistan who sent a message to his brother who was in the crowd. It's amazing how we have these ways of being connected from so far away, kind of blurring the entire concept of distance. (And yes, if you're wondering, I am a totally awesome and super romantic girlfriend and Josh Ritter totally read my dedication.)
So, back to the best day ever. Today I went to Fredericksburg to visit with my beloved undergrad advisor, who I had lunch with at the awesome Soup and Taco. I had somehow never been there before despite my love of downtown Fredericksburg. It was really great to catch up with her and get some ideas about moving forward with the thesis and job hunt. After visiting with some other professors in the geography department and my old boss at the auditorium, I parked myself here in the coffee shop to do a little work until my good friend Jeremy gets off work. We'll get dinner somewhere downtown before I head north again. It's a lovely sunny day and I am totally delighted.
(This entry's title comes from this fun song by Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band.)
13 February 2011
about to head to VA for a few days...
"VA is excited that you're heading home!"
That Becky Trytten is such an instigator... but I enjoy her encouragement.
That Becky Trytten is such an instigator... but I enjoy her encouragement.
11 February 2011
around the Garden State
Today I made a trip to Freehold to visit the nearest brew shop. I needed to buy a case of empties so I could bottle my beer tonight. I should have planned better and just saved my bottles since Christmas... oh well.
I wasn't in any sort of hurry so I welcomed the trip up Route 9, which is normally a pretty trafficky, annoying road. Today was no exception but it was sunny and all I really have planned for this evening is bottling my homebrew. Route 9 wasn't what really inspired this entry though.
To get to the brew shop, I had to take a few county roads just a few miles to get to the business district of Freehold. Along one of those roads, I saw a sign for one of the NJ Agriculture Experiment Stations. I regret not stopping to take a picture. It was really serene, just a large stretch of space covered in snow. I wonder what they'll be growing there this spring, summer and fall.
This was interesting to me because there have been a few articles in the news this week about the potential imminent close of the NJ Museum of Agriculture. This might not seem like a big deal to those of you reading this who are not food/agriculture nerds, but then there's me, who worked on the campus of Rutgers that had the farm and the Ag Experiment Station, whose faculty email address was on the Ag Experiment Station server... but it is a little more relevant than that. I understand funds have to be cut from somewhere but can't help but wonder if there's some sort of volunteer-based solution, or if they will maintain the building until they can open again. Every state has an agricultural museum, and come on, New Jersey is called the Garden State! While farming has declined since WWII for all sorts of reasons-- suburbanization, shift in agriculture around the country, issues with government subsidies (now I'm getting into stuff I actually taught in that class on Cook Campus), it is still very present all over the place. I love stumbling upon little farms in places where I might not expect them. I love our farmers' markets. It does still exist here, even if most people believe that New Jersey is best represented by the part of the Turnpike up around Elizabeth and Newark. Yes, we have urban spaces. But, we're a diverse state. That's why I love it.
Like I said, I wasn't in a rush, so going home I decided to just take roads south and east sort of whimsically. It's hard to get lost when you live at the shore. A little further along my drive I ended up here (give it a second to load):
View Larger Map
If you can't read that sign, it says, "SITE OF THE VERDSLOFF FAMILY FARM 1943-2006". This is where Business Route 33 rejoins the rest of Route 33. It's sad that small family farms struggle to sustain themselves and compete in the greater market, but I was amused by one more sign (literally) of our heritage as a super agricultural state.
Eventually, I stopped seeing little farms and found myself driving along the coast. It was a beautiful day and there were very few cars on the road once I got into Bay Head. I cracked the window on this cold day to enjoy a little bit of salty air before getting home and sanitizing all of my bottles and bottling equipment.
Also, my car is almost to 150,500 miles, which would be about 2000 since the start of the year... and I'm heading to Virginia this week for a short visit.
EDITED TO ADD: This article... it looks like the museum is definitely going to close unless some drastic intervention happens... sad.
I wasn't in any sort of hurry so I welcomed the trip up Route 9, which is normally a pretty trafficky, annoying road. Today was no exception but it was sunny and all I really have planned for this evening is bottling my homebrew. Route 9 wasn't what really inspired this entry though.
To get to the brew shop, I had to take a few county roads just a few miles to get to the business district of Freehold. Along one of those roads, I saw a sign for one of the NJ Agriculture Experiment Stations. I regret not stopping to take a picture. It was really serene, just a large stretch of space covered in snow. I wonder what they'll be growing there this spring, summer and fall.
This was interesting to me because there have been a few articles in the news this week about the potential imminent close of the NJ Museum of Agriculture. This might not seem like a big deal to those of you reading this who are not food/agriculture nerds, but then there's me, who worked on the campus of Rutgers that had the farm and the Ag Experiment Station, whose faculty email address was on the Ag Experiment Station server... but it is a little more relevant than that. I understand funds have to be cut from somewhere but can't help but wonder if there's some sort of volunteer-based solution, or if they will maintain the building until they can open again. Every state has an agricultural museum, and come on, New Jersey is called the Garden State! While farming has declined since WWII for all sorts of reasons-- suburbanization, shift in agriculture around the country, issues with government subsidies (now I'm getting into stuff I actually taught in that class on Cook Campus), it is still very present all over the place. I love stumbling upon little farms in places where I might not expect them. I love our farmers' markets. It does still exist here, even if most people believe that New Jersey is best represented by the part of the Turnpike up around Elizabeth and Newark. Yes, we have urban spaces. But, we're a diverse state. That's why I love it.
Like I said, I wasn't in a rush, so going home I decided to just take roads south and east sort of whimsically. It's hard to get lost when you live at the shore. A little further along my drive I ended up here (give it a second to load):
View Larger Map
If you can't read that sign, it says, "SITE OF THE VERDSLOFF FAMILY FARM 1943-2006". This is where Business Route 33 rejoins the rest of Route 33. It's sad that small family farms struggle to sustain themselves and compete in the greater market, but I was amused by one more sign (literally) of our heritage as a super agricultural state.
Eventually, I stopped seeing little farms and found myself driving along the coast. It was a beautiful day and there were very few cars on the road once I got into Bay Head. I cracked the window on this cold day to enjoy a little bit of salty air before getting home and sanitizing all of my bottles and bottling equipment.
Also, my car is almost to 150,500 miles, which would be about 2000 since the start of the year... and I'm heading to Virginia this week for a short visit.
EDITED TO ADD: This article... it looks like the museum is definitely going to close unless some drastic intervention happens... sad.
09 February 2011
Colleen Makes (the trip to Hamilton), Rush Hour Takes (a long freaking time)
I haven't been sitting still since last I wrote, I promise. I just haven't been moving as far at one time.
Last night I stopped by New Brunswick Presbytery's meeting in Hamilton, which is the homeland of my dear sister-in-law. My boss took one route and I took another to see which was more efficient. He took the same route I took from camp to I-95 last summer for the mission trip, down Route 31 through cornfields and small towns. I took 206 South for a loooooonnnng time. It probably would have been fairly evenly matched but it turns out that it was a terrible rush hour on 206 and I arrived late. Oh well.
I traveled further on 206 than I'd been before. I always like charting new territory. Usually I take that road between 287 and I-80, sometimes maybe a little further north when I'm "going to town" up near camp. Just past where I'd usually reconnect with 287 was the little town of Pluckemin, quite darling. After that, it was just lame rush hour off and apart from the cute sections of the towns I was passing through until I hit Princeton, which is totally lovely. After that it was just a few minutes on a few interstates and state roads till I got to the church.
Hamilton was fine by me. Right off the interstate. Diner. Wawa. The church itself is really pretty, built in the early 1920s. Needed some work, but quite lovely. New Brunswick Presbytery is pretty much the smallest in the state, with less than 50 churches, and many of those churches are really small, too, with less than 100 members. It's interesting because some towns have several Presbyterian churches with low membership, but it seems no one wants to part with their building or pastor to consolidate.
On the way home I took a short jaunt to Trenton to see the Trenton Makes bridge lit up. I can't explain my love for this bridge. It's just one of those random things about New Jersey that I just find absolutely charming. I was also sort of stalling hoping to hear back from a friend who lives nearby, but alas, his phone was on silent and he missed my message. Another time, perhaps. Goodness knows I'll find some reason to end up back in that part of the state before too long, if not just to visit a friend then for something else interesting...
Last night I stopped by New Brunswick Presbytery's meeting in Hamilton, which is the homeland of my dear sister-in-law. My boss took one route and I took another to see which was more efficient. He took the same route I took from camp to I-95 last summer for the mission trip, down Route 31 through cornfields and small towns. I took 206 South for a loooooonnnng time. It probably would have been fairly evenly matched but it turns out that it was a terrible rush hour on 206 and I arrived late. Oh well.
I traveled further on 206 than I'd been before. I always like charting new territory. Usually I take that road between 287 and I-80, sometimes maybe a little further north when I'm "going to town" up near camp. Just past where I'd usually reconnect with 287 was the little town of Pluckemin, quite darling. After that, it was just lame rush hour off and apart from the cute sections of the towns I was passing through until I hit Princeton, which is totally lovely. After that it was just a few minutes on a few interstates and state roads till I got to the church.
Hamilton was fine by me. Right off the interstate. Diner. Wawa. The church itself is really pretty, built in the early 1920s. Needed some work, but quite lovely. New Brunswick Presbytery is pretty much the smallest in the state, with less than 50 churches, and many of those churches are really small, too, with less than 100 members. It's interesting because some towns have several Presbyterian churches with low membership, but it seems no one wants to part with their building or pastor to consolidate.
On the way home I took a short jaunt to Trenton to see the Trenton Makes bridge lit up. I can't explain my love for this bridge. It's just one of those random things about New Jersey that I just find absolutely charming. I was also sort of stalling hoping to hear back from a friend who lives nearby, but alas, his phone was on silent and he missed my message. Another time, perhaps. Goodness knows I'll find some reason to end up back in that part of the state before too long, if not just to visit a friend then for something else interesting...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
