helen blog » Travel

Slammed into a storm

Helen — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:42:38 +0000

We drove straight into the front edge of a particularly nasty storm on our way back into Rochester. I actually kind of miss heavy thunderstorms, Southern summer style, but the way these storms have been so far this year, I’ll stick to hoping that everybody stays safe from now on and send good wishes to Tornado Alley and Western MA. Short video of one of the more spectacular flashes (sorry about the vertical):

Urban parking with my Prius

Helen — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:52:03 +0000

Eight years of living in and visiting places where I parallel park more often than not have given me mad car-parking-without-touching skills.

Reasons why I hate white businessmen on planes

Helen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:21:45 +0000

Actual quotes from a flight from PHL to ORF. I wrote them down in my Sudoku book and everything.

On their pending vacation/bachelor’s weekend/whatever in VB:

I’m gonna eat lobster. I eat whatever the fuck I want.

On some sort of business venture:

It’s gonna take off. I’m sitting on the fucking launchpad, man. Like a strong drink – I’m gonna stir it up.

On patriotism, from a man who probably calls the Chinese a bunch of dirty commies:

It’s AMERICA, you gotta share the gold!

On the aerial view of the dirty and polluted Elizabeth River:

Look at that beautiful sea!

Happy 14th No. 25-52

Helen — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:39:45 +0000

ye olde Union Oyster House

I should explain – I’m not actually very good with “important dates” in relationships, but in the course of making fun of myself for it, we started remembering and sometimes doing something for our “special day”. Of course, I didn’t remember what day it was until after dinner, so all of our awesome adventures were just a coincidence, but it’s the thought that counts!

This particular 14th, we happened to be in Boston, and decided that it just wouldn’t be a trip to Boston without eating seafood, specifically from the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the U.S. – the Union Oyster House. It was Adrian’s first time having oysters and it was a good time, even if I can’t eat more than a few before getting totally freaked out. Despite Kathy’s warnings about terrible driving conditions in Boston, we had an easy trip and got a parking spot right in front of the place, from which I snapped that picture. Awesome.

We also went to the amazing Museum of Fine Arts, walked around the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and did a little dining and shopping on Newbury Street. All this in addition to visiting my darling sister at Boston College. A successful trip, I’d say.

More to come later about our weekend jaunt. I promise.