My most recent escape....

As I sit here on the flight back to Oklahoma after a glorious week in New York and Boston I have to admit to suffering a little ‘Sunday-itis’! Following a week of fantastic meals, family time and then a stimulating conference that renewed my enthusiasm for research, I can’t help but give a little inner sigh at the prospect of returning to limp produce and the endless screaming neon signs of the multitude of fast food establishments that populate Stillwater. But, on the positive side, I ate so much in the past week I will have no need to consume either fast food or rotting vegetables!

The Little Rascal (not Fe...)

It is not often you go on a trip and fail to eat a bad meal. Every place we ended up eating in NY, either through careful research and planning or simple convenience, was fantastic. The only possible exception was a NY ‘institution’ that may have finally succumbed to the tourist dollar and taken the ‘New York attitude’ a touch too far. Luckily, you can’t go too far wrong with pizza and salad.

Jacques in Soho

It is amazing how much you can achieve in 5 days. Both Mum and Fe were new to NY so had free reign over choosing the activities. Day one involved Times Square, a few cathedrals, 5^th Ave (numerous famous building sighted), lunch at the Shake Shack, Staten Is ferry and the green lady, 9/11 memorial and a great Mediterranean dinner (naturally with champagne). I think poor Mum was wondering if she should have packed a scooter after all that walking. Each day was similarly filled with NY wonders and I hope they both felt they have seen a good chunk of the city. For me it was an opportunity to go back and re-do some of my favourite things and also have some new experiences. In particular, looking down into the depths of the 2 large square foundations of the WTC was definitely a different experience to craning my neck skywards to glimpse the tops of the buildings 12 years ago. The Met was a firm favourite of ours and was flanked by the best French toast of all time (not in the museum but on the upper east side) and Central Park in the rain.

 



View from Brooklyn Heights Esplanade

From NY I flew to Boston for an equine endocrinology summit that was in a gorgeous luxury hotel in the Beacon Hill area of the city. The summit program was fairly packed but I did get out a few times for a cycle along the river and a couple of walks through the city and gardens. I think I could definitely live there – an inviting and easy to negotiate city. Yet more amazing food and wine was consumed. Poor me!!

Well, as I wing my way closer to the mid (wild) west I am grateful for the disparate experiences that this time in the US is giving me. Lots of interesting people to meet and places to see. And another reason to be excited about heading back to OK – the summer heat wave (that lasted 4 months!) must be declining and fall is arriving. Cooler temps and pretty colours will be a seasonal experience unique to this part of the world. I just have to survive a brief return to tornado season first.......

The wedding

A few weekends ago now I made a return trip to SF for the wedding of Julia and DJ. Having never been to an American wedding I didn’t quite know what to expect. When Jules and I lived in the UK she often waxed lyrical about this wedding (not that she knew DJ at this stage). There was to be an entrance in a pink Cadillac, an orchestra (possibly that was an embellishment from my mind) and a giant white meringue style gown. I was slightly trepidatious about the formality of it all. For a start I only brought one dress over to the US with me that would be suitable for a wedding, and not a hugely formal one at that. Oh well, thats the beauty of existing out of 2 suitcases worth, I didn’t have to spend any energy deciding what to wear. I also only have one pair of heels here and in a moment of uncharacteristic foresight I must have considered the remote possibility of needing to tart up (I didn’t know about the wedding before I left) because they matched! However, my concerns about pink cars and pavlova style gowns abated as soon as I arrived in SF and realised this was to be one very cool wedding.

Events kicked off on the Thursday night with an evening of distilled spirit tasting for the out of towners. It was fantastic to catch up with my mate from the UK, Simon, whom Jules and I met while travelling through Africa and some of Julia and DJ’s friends who had flown in from far more glamorous corners of the US than Oklahoma. My current address drew many responses of “oh, I’m sorry, how is that going?” or “Hmm, I’ve never been there”. Ah, the easy assurance of knowing that California is not a bad place to be!

Anyway, back to the spirit tasting. Not something I had attempted before. Prepaid, so no chickening out.  15 spirits in a row, starting with vodkas, then gin, then something I had never heard of, can’t now remember the name of but thoroughly enjoyed, then whisky, bourbon and finishing with absinthe. See just like wine tasting – starting light and easy (sav blanc – frankly I think sav blanc and vodka are equally nasty) and finishing dark and alcoholic (port) with everyone buying bottles of things they wouldn’t necessarily like the next day! Luckily for me I was doing carry-on luggage for the weekend so the 100ml rule saved my wallet and liver.

Next day Simon and I hauled ourselves into the city and cycled along the waterfront and over the Golden Gate which was fantastic. Such a better way to see the bridge than what Jude and I did years ago which was walk from Union Square over the bridge to Sausalito (yes many hours and blisters worth). Well, we were younger then so maybe it didn’t seem like such a trek at the time, I can’t remember. That evening was the rehearsal dinner which we were kindly invited to. Fantastic Vietnamese at a restaurant owned by a friend of theirs right on the water. And another opportunity to meet more of their many lovely friends.

Next day, the wedding – such fun. Not a meringue or pink car in sight. Stunning location on the bay looking at the sun setting over the SF city skyline, one of their oldest friends as their celebrant (yes he became a reverend online thanks to a church in Utah), beautiful speeches during the service and a sunny day. They are a couple who have so many people who care deeply about them. Getting to the reception involved turning around and walking into a aircraft hangar turned winery bedecked with lanterns, a trapeze (yes supper club came to the wedding...) and a sterling dancefloor. Soon we were stood about with our personalised pitchers filled with their signature cocktails munching on sliders, watching the sun set over the city before eating the most unusual but ideal wedding meal ever. Make your own burgers and fries from a food van parked in the doorway of the hangar. Capped off with ice cream sandwiches for dessert. Heaven!

I feel really lucky to have been over here at the time of their wedding and to have been lucky enough to be invited. Thank you Jules and DJ!

PS This is me and Simon with the bride (groom was the unfortunate focus of some kegging (head first into a keg) at this stage)!

Getting around town

America – the land of the great road trip. From the moment I arrived it became abundantly clear that there was no other option for getting around town but to get a car. However, due to not having a car, that proved to be quite difficult… Here is the story of my 14 week endeavour to get hold of one.

My first apartment was on campus. I arrived at the start of Spring so weather was variable but not horrific, perfectly reasonable for the 15 min walk from the apartment to my office building (most days). However, the idea that I walked to work (and god forbid, home again for lunch) was met with abject horror by my admin person. ‘But you can’t’ she wailed. There is a bus (yes one that went to the other side of campus before going anywhere near the vet building). Still, she insisted on trying to get me a temporary staff card so I could ride the bus (my staff card took 6 weeks to materialize – without it I couldn’t get into the building, ride the bus or use any facilities – but that is another story). She was devastated when she couldn’t arrange it and asked me daily if I was coping ok with the walk!!

 

Imagine her absolute devastation when I moved off campus and the bus dropped me even further away - a 20 min walk to the office. ‘But you could change to another cross campus bus’ (yes after waiting up to half an hour – the maths just didn’t add up) she bemoaned. I needed to get a car just to reduce her blood pressure. I also needed to get a car so I could do stuff before 8am and after 6pm. People tell me I should be grateful there is even a bus. And, I suppose, in a way I am. But seriously, what kind of bus system stops running at 6pm and doesn’t even go at all on the weekends? The need for alternative transport was pressing…

However, on the up-side I did see a side of Stillwater on the bus I would never have otherwise experienced. The fellow who was already on the first bus each morning with his pants around his knees. The Mon-Wed-Fri driver who yelled at everyone and once told me off for asking him to stop when he drove right past my stop (yes I had pushed the bell). The Tues-Thus driver who was sweet but deaf – “HOW YOU DOIN TODAY LADY?” The nurse who couldn’t get out of the two seats she needed to occupy – mostly because she wouldn’t let go of the supersize chip packet.

 

So back to my problem with getting a car – the dealerships were all out on the highway into town so I needed to get the bus there. Only problem being when I was free to go, there was no bus. Frustrating. I was saved from this annoying dilemma by a very sweet fellow equine researcher who gave up her Saturday morning to tote me around to the dealerships. Our experience was awful but had the bonus of making us great friends. Dealer one – busily shifting from one foot to the other, drooping lip, trying to sell me an SUV (shortly after being told I wanted a small efficient sedan/coupe). Dealer two – well, I just wanted to have a shower afterwards. Dealer three – refreshingly honest, ‘no we have nothing for you’. Dealer four – ‘what you lookin for don’t exist luvey, now you just need to buy that good ol wagon over there (I kid you not the thing was from the 1800s). Dealer five – fuel efficient? Cheap? Well I’ve the perfect thing (it had done 348,000 miles). We gave up.

Enter Huffy. My sweet, trusty cruiser bike. Some birthday money and a long Saturday morning walk to Walmart bought the two of us together and me a new lease of life. She is a bit like riding a couch and has introduced me to a new way of cycling – slowly (which merges into inertia with a decent headwind) and meanderingly. Lovely. Until I met with a small tractor and shortly after, the pavement. She now has a bent pedal shaft, a split tyre and a distinct screaming noise with each tyre rotation. Sigh.

Princess Huffy

Fortuitously, shortly after Huffy’s demise I was lucky enough to come across the perfect opportunity to get a car I could afford. Again, the kindness of strangers. A local owner, one family (admittedly over 20 years including 2 sons) and a situation of one too many cars… So, $1500 later I am zooming around town (occasionally on the wrong side of the road – but only momentarily) and promising myself I will take Huffy to the infirmary.

Do I miss the bus? Yes and no, but mostly no…

A dwarf amongst the utes...

Tinted windows - very 90s like the car

Snippets from last week.....

I found myself saying the words 'Yes, we have cars in Australia'  !!!

On the morning news feed of a major television channel Julian Assange was labelled as 'a 40 year old Austrian'  !!!

One morning on my way to work I had to stop to let an armadillo finish crossing the road ( crazy little armoured ceatures, makes a nice change from the possums)

Is it ok to put photos of a lawyer on the internet without asking them first?? Whoops! Sorry, Robbie, hope you enjoy looking at the photos!  Was great catching up with you in NYC - hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip and get home in one piece. Albeit possibly unable to eat pie ever again for fear of it paling into insignificance...

As much as I am bemused by Stillwater, it is great to escape every now and again! My first 2 trips out of state have been to 2 great locations - San Francisco on the Memorial day weekend at the end of May and then mighty NYC early June.

My trip to SF was absolutely fantastic. The reason for the visit was to catch up with crazy Miss Julia Melissa Stevens whom, although I love and adore, hadn't managed to see for nearly 8 years due to a rather large ocean. So upon arival in the US one of the first things I did was organsie to hook up with her and DJ. We ate and drank our way shamelessly through the long weekend. In fact, I was so busy eating, drinking and talking this is the only photo I took....

See, I am still blown away by the simplest things. How does one drive a car that long? Where do you park it? In this instance it was parked outside the Supper Club in downtown SF. Ahh the Supper Club. How to sum up such a strange experience? Jules informed me it was a 'bit crazy' but a good place to take tousists in town. After being directed to a large bed that doubled as our dinner table and ordering possibly the strongest cocktail on earth I was subject to first course entertainment - a contortionist on a hanging hoop - intruiging if a little uncomfortable to watch. Proceed to main course (which was delicious) where the entertainment took the form of a dance off that degenerated into a strip show. No, not the good kind. The clothes should have stayed on. Even DJ (as a hot blooded male) agreed. This debacle was followed shortly by a skit involving a vibrator (not a description is not necessary but at least the clothes were on for this round). Dessert followed and a final round of 'entertainment' which was actually back to the contortionist idea, this time involving ribbons hanging from the ceiling, and, thankfully, some skill! Yes Julia, Supper Club is definitiely a 'bit crazy'!!!

But, I shouldn't give you the wrong impression. My fabulous hosts also provided me with a wine tour, endless great breakfasts and coffees and an unbeatable Italian meal replete with gin and homemade tonic (oh to know what they put in it!) which finished with the best ice-cream in SF. Bring on my next visit and their wedding in July. Can't wait.

The trip to NYC was also planned entirely around the food and drink. I will let the photos tell the story...

Roof bar at Gaansevoort - great people watching

Momofuku pork belly buns - yum (hello cholesterol)

And my absolute favourite meal replete with margaritas...

Tequileria and Mexican restaurant in West Village. Location to remain secret due to awesomeness of meal

Oh and I can't forget my absolute favourite dessert - yes they gave us a whole pie.
And yes we ate every last morsel....

Peach pie, no more words

But in case you are wondering we did also do some sight-seeing....

Cloisters, part of the Met. Tranquil, worth the trek.

Right, a picture tells a thousand words so that is it for the NYC story. I am also back there later in the year for more eating and drinking, this time with Mum and Fe - hooray! Can't wait.

No photos of the 'executive place' but this is my current lounge room...

And the kitchen...