The Travels 2004 2/5 - 2/6: Boston, MA. Rode Amtrak with my suitcase entirely full of prints to be judged for the NJPA photography contest and a backpack with my overnight essentials. This was my first, albeit brief trip to Beantown. I stayed at the Omni Parker House. In the morning, a snow began to fall. It was lovely looking out onto the old courthouse. Ate scrod-twice. Met some fantastic photographers and editors who were so incredibly kind to come out and be judges for the day. Returned home with an empty valise and a list of winners. 3/7: Day trip to Philadelphia Flower Show. Orchid-tastic! Had my photo taken with a Oscar the Grouch topiary. 3/25-3/29: Jacksonville, FL. My step-grandparents' 50th anniversary party. Showed up with my own vintage apron and took over in the kitchen. Hand dipped 250 strawberries in chocolate with white chocolate embellishments. Ate at my favorite place in JAX- Clark's Fish Camp. It's full of taxidermied animals and served gator, hushpuppies, grits and all my other Southern weaknesses. Never did get my step-mother's punch recipe. 5/14 - 5/23: Portland, OR. I took a survey online that indicated Portland would be the ideal place for me to live. Convinced that Seattle is the answer, I decided to check out it's smaller, cheaper neighbor. Cyndemouse and I were graciously hosted in Vancouver, WA by my uncle and at Dope's house in Portland. We drove out to the coast. Stopping to climb the Astoria column, look for rocks at Agate Beach, rock hop the tide pools around Haystack Rock, sample cheese at the Tillamook Cheddar factory. In Portland, we shopped the Saturday Market, the chic Pearl District and funky Alberta St., listened to the Fiery Furnaces play a show from the street, sniffed nearly every blossom in the International Rose Test Garden, took in the view from the Grotto, talked to birders in the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens and toured the fantastic Pittock Mansion. Possibly the highlight was Voodoo Donuts. I'm not kidding. This joint is only open at night. It's like punk rock and donuts perfectly blended. I coaxed the cleaning boy into selling me donuts out the window in the afternoon and then returned later during business hours for more dirty snowballs, maple with bacon and other decadant donut delights. This babe breaks for donuts, ya hear? 6/11 -6/13: Washington D.C. There was this guy... with a voice like warm maple syrup over hot waffles on Sunday morning. We drank sake and arived at the zoo after they put the animals away. Listened to records for hours in "the sweet spot." He asked me to go home a day early. That was okay. While sitting on his couch, I suddenly realized I liked someone else better anyway. 7/17: Coney Island, NY for Siren Festival. Torrential rain prevented me from riding the Wonder Wheel but a good time was had by all. Followed by an Ambulance LTD show at The Hook that was perfection. 8/14: Randalls Island, NY for Little Steven�s Underground Garage Festival 8/22: New Hope, PA. Day trips keep me sane. 9/30 -10/10: California. Check the Oct archive for all the dirt on why I didn't leave my heart in San Francisco. 11/18-11/19: Catskills, NY. Woodstock is one of my favorite places to Christmas shop. Stops in Tinker Toys, the Golden Notebook and Candlestock are a must. We had pomegranate martinis, the antioxidant intoxicant, at Bear Cafe. Lunched at the cutest place in Phoenica and stumbled into the town pharmacy that time forgot and left full of goodies like vintage buttons and greeting cards (at their original prices). Finally made it to the Kaatskill Kaleidoscope, the largest in the world. The adjoining shop was full of hand crafted examples. A helpful salesperson showed us scope after scope, explaining the differences in two mirror and three mirror designs. I splurged and bought a teleidoscope which shows you what's actually in front of you, not a lense of colored bits. I want to be driven around looking at Christmas lights with it.