sunday, take two: staunton

Tunes: coffee shop sounds

This morning I sounded like such a drip. I'm feeling better now- I think I just really needed to get up and do something. Making breakfast for myself and the roomies did the trick- I found a great recipe for low-fat pancakes made with applesauce, instant oatmeal and sour cream. I opted out of using sour cream (mainly because we don't have any in the fridge) and went with the only things I had that was comparable- cottage cheese. Believe it or not, that substitution worked really well. They were pretty heavy and filling, but not out of richness or fattiness. Delicious!
If you're interested in the recipe, just follow this link: pancakes!

I'm currently sitting and writing at a coffee shop in downtown Staunton, Virginia called The Daily Grind. It's a welcomed change of scenery from our normal coffee shop haunts in Harrisonburg. Really, just being in this town is a welcome change from the 'burg.

Staunton, Virginia is like Portsmouth in the middle of the Valley. It's where Woodrow Wilson was born, and is referred to as the "Queen City" of the Valley...not much like the Queen City I'm familiar with, it's still charming enough to warrant a 40 minute car ride down route 42 on a Sunday, when we know damn well not very many places are open. There's a fantastic Antiques shop that I went to once in April when Mum, Dad & Ty were down to celebrate my birthday. I found some great vintage fabric which I have since used to make a laptop sleeve for the macbook, and plan on making a dress with. We'll see if and when the motivation to do that strikes me.

While sitting in this coffee shop, Emily has registered to run her first marathon in January. I'm so excited for her! It's probably the best location for a marathon, too: Disney World. I was excited at the potential possibility to go root her on, but sadly I need to be on campus- it's the same weekend Winter break ends. The three of us are however talking about going to Memphis for Spring Break next March- which would be amazing. If you know me at all, you know that I have been wanting to go to Tennessee for years. Memphis intrigues me on so many levels- the music, the culture, the food. This trip would be fairly cheap, too, as we're looking into staying at a hostel in downtown which only charges $10 a night per person. It's an 11 hour drive from here, though- so we would probably stop after 6 hours of driving in Knoxville and stay with Emily's friend, Matt who goes to school there. I am totally getting ahead of myself here- who knows what'll be going on at that point in time next year, but it is fun to give myself something to look forward to.

In the meantime, I'm going to spend some time reading instead of clacking away on the internet. One last note, however- Recently my interest in Peter Gabriel has been rekindled. Coincidentally, there's a great rumor going around internet music blogs about how he may do a cover of a Vampire Weekend song, "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa." Such great news! If you like Mr. Gabriel as much as me, check out the Vampire Weekend song below so you can get a feel for what one of his upcoming projects will be!

http://www.mediafire.com/?eend9mjlmjd

Cheers!
-Leigh

recent reads

Tunes: "Bag of Bones"// Owen

I recently finished How to Be Good by Nick Hornby, who is one of my favorite authors. He's the same author who wrote Fever Pitch, High Fidelity, About a Boy and Long Way Down- all of which are fantastic, especially Long Way Down. How to be Good was interesting in that he wrote the book from a female main character's perspective- and quite well. What's more is that it touches upon the interesting perdicament that liberals find themselves in- how liberal is too liberal that you're just plain ridiculous. The story focuses on the post-modern family in a world where they are caught between deciding whether or not they should feel guilty for the advantages and accomplishments they have- and what this guilt will make some family members do. It's great.



Read it.

Today I finished Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees. Finally. I started it before school ended, but got caught up in end of the year stuff, and then new apartment stuff, and then I lent it to Alie while she went to Scotland, and Emily so she could read it at work. Anyways. It was just a great coming-of-age story based in the South (Tilborn, South Carolina)...2 of my favorite story elements, really. Best part was how it took place during the summer the Civil Rights Act was passed (1964), and I find myself drawn to anything that will give me more insight into that tumultuous time in our country (going to Alabama in April really helped spark that interest). Great story- made me want to eat honey more often.



One of these days I'm going to figure out how to post mp3's of the songs I'm listening to up here. In the meantime, pictures of books will have to do!

Much love!
-Leigh

coffee & internet

Tunes: Billie Holiday

I'm writing this from the outside seating at one of my favorite spots in the 'burg, The Artful Dodger. What's been pretty obnoxious about our subletting situation is that we don't have cable- or internet. It's something that is totally and completely manageable. We rent House M.D. on DVD or watch one of our many movies from our shared movie collection (aka: we watch "The Producers" over and over again). So, this predicament leaves me having to steal internet from our unassuming neighbors (it's what you get for not securing your wireless!), or having to hike downtown to use some complimentary wireless from any various establishment. Like right now.


The beauty of sitting at The Dodger is that it totally transcends coffee shop & internet cafe. It's a cocktail lounge, that also serves great food, offers a weekly salsa night and sells artwork from local artisans inside.
Truth be told, it is fabulous. Extremely reminiscent of Portsmouth's Friendly Toast, only with a more...earthy, worldly vibe, and with less punk-rock sassiness from the staff. Which is fantastic.

Anyways. It's Monday, and it seems like one hell of a weekend has just concluded. Between seeing The Reflex with Alie & Rachel on Friday and then Summer Freedom Fest in Richmond both Saturday & Sunday morning, I didn't get much rest. It was well worth it, though.

The Reflex is my best excuse to liberally apply eye makeup and wear some of my favorite out of style clothing (the stuff I would wear anyday, but probably shouldn't, as I look like a goon). Alie and I always get decked out and dance our pants off. How can you not when the music selections by this band range from Journey's timeless "Don't Stop Believing" to Cyndi Lauper's tongue-in-cheek "She Bop"? We didn't stay late as the bar they were playing at is lame and the crowd was pretty stupid. At least Al and I looked cute.



Summer Freedom Fest is this ridiculous 3 day celebration that my roommate Emily's brother, Matt, puts on every year at the beginning of summer. He's a school teacher in the Richmond area. Once the school year is done, he and his group of teacher friends spends Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday morning/ early afternoon relaxing, drinking, eating, laughing and being simply ridiculous. We participated as best we could, only joining the party around 6pm Saturday. Matt and his fiance live in this amazing apartment in Richmond in a neighborhood that resembles the French quarter in New Orleans. The houses all have great little front porches and yards with fences seperating them from the sidewalk. Their bathrooms still have the original sinks and faucets, along with claw-footed bathtubs. The floorboards are wide and creak when you walk across them. It's pretty much the kind of house I dream to own someday.

We finally decided to get to bed around 3:30- only after a good amount of debauchery, most of which Matt filmed. Which is great. We were up again and out the door by 10:30 for "recovery breakfast" at Penny & her partner's place. Alie, Emily & I had so much fun. I especially enjoyed making friends with the likes of Noelle, Brianne & Heather- who are all 30 something, and have settled into the teaching profession by being cynical and still 20 something at heart. We ate some incredible southern cooking, courtesy of Penny (biscuts and sausage gravy? yum) and enjoyed the humid air beneath this enormous tree in their backyard.

I also managed to finish the book I was reading this weekend. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's as fond of modern coming of age tales as I am. Not good for people with a low tolerance for cussing, or grotesque language use. If you're familiar with the Chicago youth counter-culture during the late 80's, or if you enjoy Ska, Hardcore and Oi- it might be right up your alley...





The macbook's battery is dying, so I suppose it's time to wrap it up. Before I do, though...



[another reason why I love the sox so much]


and lastly...



[may you rest in piece, mr. carlin]


Peace & Much Love!
-Leigh

Everybody's working for the weekend...

Tunes: "level one"// the governess

This past weekend was fantastic. Between a BBQ & leaving our mark on Reddish Knob to going up to Fairfax for Emily's graduation party, I came home Sunday pooped out...and with a new appreciation for acrostic poets and Jello molds.


The weather the last couple weeks has been absolutely oppressive. Normally back home, it's just plain summery at this point of the year, not dog-days-of-summery like it's been in the Valley. I think that the humidity has actually been good for our front stoop flowers, though. Which is a fair enough trade off for the sticky weather, if you ask me...

[beautiful, huh?]

In the meantime, I should get back to work. Seeing as I am at my job right now.
More Reddish Knob photos to come!
Much love,
Leigh

swimming holes: no. 1

Tunes: Neil Young

Since moving down here last August, all I have heard about is how great this nearby swimming spot called Blue Hole is. My RA's went there during training, a lot of my residents went there, too. Given that I am generally uncomfortable in my bathing suit in front of people I don't know, I wasn't exactly jumping at the opportunity to go down there and check it out myself. Last weekend however, the oppressive nature of the weather became so unbearable that I couldn't put off going any longer. I suggested it to Alie and Emily (my summer roommates and best friends down here), who were totally on board, and also got Seth- our favorite neighbor- to come along.

The drive out to Rawley Springs (which is actually where this Blue Hole place is) was beautiful. In about a year's time, you'd think the novelty of living in religious, farming community would wear off. No way. My appreciation for it has only grown since summer has descended into the Valley. There's something to be said about the comfort felt from the subtle smell of manure, and the warm glow of the green fields as you drive past them- even on the hottest and most humid of days. My windows stay down on days like these, and my sunglasses remain a constant fixture on my face. It's so great.

This Sunday the weather was perfect. Hot, humid air, blue sky, puffy clouds. Arriving at Rawley Springs, we parked along the edge of the road, and gathered only the bare necessities before hiking down to the river. All I could think of while making this treck was how my family would do something very similar to this when I was in middle and high school. We'd find a great spot to park up on the side of the Kancamagus Highway in northern New Hampshire. Like a classy Budweiser print ad, my mother and aunts on the river's edge would be in charge of tossing beers to my uncles who were wading in the river. Often times this would include dramatic retrevals of runaway beers and big splashes. My cousins and I were generally preoccupied with more important matters such as attempting to move boulders on the river bed so when we let the current take us down a slight incline, we wouldn't break our tail bones. Those were the days.

Anyways, back to Sunday. Blue Hole was pretty packed. Lots of people, lots of dogs, lots of noise. All of this really just made it more endearing to me. The sun was brutal, but the water was amazing- clear and cool. Had the enormous Golden Retriever hadn't been wandering around and rubbing up against me everytime I was on the banks of the river, it would have been perfect.

The best part about Blue Hole is that it completely lives up to the name. The main swimming spot is located where this enormous blue...hole is found in the water. It seems like the enormous boulder on the north edge of the river (where everyone jumps from) was pulled up by people at some point, leaving this massive deep spot in the water bseide it. Emily & Seth jumped hand in hand at one point, ha, and Alie and I played Mom's by sitting in the water on a nearby boulder holding their things.

We left fairly early as Emily needed to work. But after getting back to the apartment, the three of us who didn't have to work decided to go and find another swimming hole to beat the heat. The drive that followed was even more beautiful than the one earlier in the day- we drove through Mossy Creek and down this back road into the Geaorge Washington National Forest. Seth was determined to have us check out this cliff-jumping spot he's super fond of on Todd Lake out there. The roads we drove on were more like big, gravel trails and my Volvo was probably pretty annoyed with me for making her drive down there. We arrived at this dam in the middle of the woods and hiked up the side of the hill that meets the lake. It was unnerving- the trail was small and uphill- which meant the edge of the lake sunk further and further away from us and soon enough the hill we were on turned to a sort of ledge with trees. I forget how afraid of heights I am because I don't often put myself into situations to be up high. As we reached the platform Seth has jumped from, my legs and hands were shaking- and not just from the little hike we had done to get there. 60 feet seems a lot further down than it sounds. Thankfully, we opted to drive elsewhere to swim as the lower platforms to jump from were swarmed with a bunch of Ukranian people.

We ended up in the town of Stokesville right outside of the National Forest; under a one lane bridge and swimming along side this adorable Virginian family that had thick accents, floaties and the obligatory Budweisers in a foam cooler...

This is Seth & our new friend Amos. A fearless nine-year old, Amos didn't hesitate to strike up conversation with us- especially Seth. He even let him use the coveteted innertube- only to flip Seth over moments later. So great. His little brother, Mickey, was even more adorable.

Really, the most beautiful, relaxing and summery day thus far. More to come, for sure.

Now, it's off to Reddish Knob for dinner and the sunset and marshmellow roasting!

Here's to a great weekend.

Peace!

-Leigh

obligatory first entry to introduce myself...

Hey, all. The name's Leigh, and while I am new to this Blogger site for sure, I am by no means a newbie to the world of online journaling. After having kept a personal livejournal for 6 or 7 years, I figured I'd take a step away from divulging all of my inner angst and turmoil and adopted a public blog that I could send to my family as a means for them to keep up with me (cause I'm sure they're dying to know about my silly life as a graduate student). I also hope to use this as a means to voice my viewpoints on things that I notice down here in the Shenandoah Valley as the transplanted New Englander that I am. So this will be most comprable to a personal travel journal, although my traveling will be fairly limited to the Alleghany & Appalachian regions of Virginia & West Virginia. I will post pictures, thoughts and, of course, the music that is serving as the soundtrack to my (not-so)fabulous life down here.

There. That serves well as a first entry.
Lovely.

Until next time!











-Leigh