Roadtrip: Days 5 & 6

There has been a change of plans. Day 5 of my roadtrip was supposed to consist of me driving back to Pittsburgh then flying to Chicago, Day 6 would have been filled with shopping at Woodfield Mall with a sorority sister from school and Day 7 was going to be going to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Last year's Cubs game turned into quite the adventure when a gigantic downpour started right after the ninth inning, nearly flooding the stadium. Since we were all being cheap after an expensive weekend in Chicago, my two girlfriends and I ran through the rain/took a cab for a little bit/ran some more to get from Wrigley Field to Union Station. I was really looking forward to more such adventures, but ended up in Pittsburgh for the weekend instead due to various circumstances. However, this is also good news as it means more time with my dad before I ship off in August.

Today (Day 6), we went to downtown Pittsburgh so I could do some shopping at H&M and get some lightweight dresses for work in Italy. The thought of voluntarily subjecting myself to more 100-degree temperatures after the week we've had is a little disconcerting, but I keep reminding myself that I've dreamed of this since I was little. (I try not to tell people that I've dreamed of it since watching some Mary Kate & Ashley movie where they go to Rome. Perhaps it was Hillary Duff? Either way, I'll make up a different story before I leave :))

We ate dinner at this very authentic German restaurant where the waitresses dressed in traditional costumes, live polka music was performed and the beer flowed freely. I got a chicken ceaser salad. Yes, I'm that girl. But I really wanted something fresh after all the eating out we've been doing.

Roadtrip: Day 4

The sun is still relentless in Ohio and I've become very weary of climbing onto the hot seats of the Jeep. However, we have found a cooler place to stay for the night. This morning we packed our things up at the B&B, deciding to forgo the second night's stay, and instead checked into a hotel. I am decidedly not a B&B person. Call me high maintenance if you must, but I like being able to come and go from a hotel without making small talk, I like the air conditioner on full blast, the simple no-frills rooms, and I especially like that hotel owners don't comment on your personal lives. The owner of the B&B kept commenting on how young my father looked and saying that we looked more like a couple than father and daughter. I really wish people would keep that thought in their heads when they have it.

After we found a hotel, we stopped at a Wal-Mart so my dad could buy swim trunks. I can't even count the amount of times we have gone kayaking, tubing and canoeing together and yet the man does not own swim trunks. When we got to the store he headed directly to some khaki cargo shorts and I had to steer him away to the actual waterproof shorts. After we had found ones that he didn't think were "too short" and had stocked up on sunscreen and Gatorade, we got in the car and drove to nearby Port Clinton.

From Port Clinton we took a Jet Express ferry. The Jet Express was much faster than a normal ferry and got up to speeds of 30-35 mph, so the wind was a nice relief from the heat and the view of Lake Eerie was gorgeous. The ferry took us to Put-In Bay, this little island with lots of resorts and touristy restaurants. Everywhere you turn there is a golf cart cruising down the road, as many people leave their cars in Port Clinton and take a ferry like we did.

We spent the afternoon on the island and rented a jet ski. My sister would probably have a fit if she knew the fastest we went was about 35 mph. She's a speed demon and likes to top the machines out as fast as they can go, whereas I've become a little nervous ever since last summer when I flew off of a jet ski, hit my head and was convinced I had a concussion. Then again, I'm often convinced I have some tragic ailment; last week I diagnosed myself with appendicitis three times.

Our night ended with dinner at Olive Garden, where shockingly my dad ate more than a side salad. I realize he's vegetarian, but I'm always shocked at how much more I eat than him in a given day. It's really not a pleasant experience now that I can't blame growth spurts. After dinner we went shopping and my dad bought a button-down and a casual blazer, asking me if his wife would "think I'm casual now". I couldn't stop laughing because this is a man who irons his jeans. When people ask me why I wear dresses and skirts everyday to class, I should just start bringing in my dad as a reference.

Roadtrip: Day 3 (The Rollercoaster Capital of the World)

The sun took everything I had yesterday: physically, emotionally, spiritually. This is not an exaggeration. Remember all those lovely, nostalgic things I said about riding in the Jeep? That all went out the window (the windows that we took off the car and stored in the backseat) when temperatures reached 100. Yes, the Midwest's heat wave has hit Ohio. Every time I set my legs down on the seat, a puddle of sweat quickly followed. Even the breeze from the windowless sides was too hot to be any good. Frequent stops at McDonald's for iced coffees and smoothies only went so far.

Once we made it to our destination, Sandusky, Ohio, we checked into the bed and breakfast we were going to be staying at for the following two nights. This place was Victorian to the max. While the outside was, yes, a Victorian style home, the inside was jam-packed with Victorian masks, jewelry, dolls, photos, etc. There was barely a spare tabletop to set my toothbrush on!

We had been planning to go to Cedar Point amusement park the following day, but when the owner told us that Thursday (today) was supposed to be even hotter, I think we both thought we would have to cross it off our list. Instead, to beat the heat we went and saw Harry Potter in 3D (when I say we I mean me, because my dad has never seen any of them and fell asleep shortly after I explained who Voldemort was). We also shopped around for a little Ohio t-shirt or sweatshirt for my five-month-old nephew, Caymen and I added another Chelsea Handler book to my stash.

After dinner we decided to drive by Cedar Point and check it out. The park has some of the longest roller coasters in the world and is pretty much surrounded by Lake Eerie. Helpful hint! If you ever go, go after 5 PM. We ended up not being able to turn around and actually went to the park. Not only were tickets discounted at this time ($29), but the lines were very short! We went on eight rides in three hours, which I think is a record for me.

My favorites are usually the old wooden rollercoasters, but this time mine was a log-ride style ride. The operator warned us that we would get soaked, but of course we took this advice with some eye-rolling and a "they all say that" kind of attitude. They weren't kidding! Once you hit the water, a six foot tall wave rises and falls down on you. My dad, who was dressed in his normal attire of khaki pants and a dress shirt—summer or winter, church or park—and I, who was in a very lightweight, should-not-get-wet in public, sundress, could not stop laughing. It literally looked as though we had jumped in a pool with our clothes on

As we drove back at 10 PM, with views of the lake on both sides and roller coasters in the background, I think we both forgot about the heatwave and were lost in thoughts of a day that turned out to be really fun and very bonding. It was a perfect ending to the day! (That andddd the ice cream from Steak and Shake ;) )

Roadtrip: Day 2

Today's roadtrip destination was all about rock'n'roll. Early this morning we loaded up our old Jeep Wrangler and made the three-hour drive from Pittsburgh to Cleveland. Nothing says 'summer' or 'roadtrip' more than driving around in the Jeep with the wind blowing through my hair. We bought the Jeep in 1995, after moving back to California from Australia and have had it ever since. The paint is barely still visible on the hood and the bumper is pretty much rusting away, but that Jeep holds the memories of my childhood. I can still picture my great-grandma Mildred using a step stool to climb into it when she was in her 90s. I remember pretending I was Laura Ingalls Wilder when I was little and playing around for hours in my "buggy." And our family used to love drive-in movies in the jeep, even though the only one I can remember vividly is "The Nutty Professor." It's nice knowing I can add this vacation to the memories I have of the Jeep.

We arrived at our hotel without any problems (my dad finally caved in and allowed us to use my GPS). We're spending the night at a Hampton Inn downtown and about a half mile from Lake Eerie and as luck would have it, we somehow got placed in really nice suite.

Our next stop was The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We both agreed that the building itself was by far the most interesting part about the place. All six levels of the museum are in this glass pyramid building that resembles The Lourve in Paris. I wasn't sure exactly how much I would enjoy the museum until....I SAW LADY GAGA'S MEAT DRESS! Let me tell you, I can die happy. We also saw Michael Jackson's studded glove, Ray Charles' sunglasses and the outfit Britney Spears first performed 'Oops I Did It Again' in. The museum of course had a ton of music videos playing, guitars and memorabilia, but I didn't realize how many outfits there would be! It was like a fashion lover and a music lover's passions all rolled into one and shoved into a work of beautiful architecture. Leave it to my dad to uncover something interesting to do in...Cleveland.

We ate lunch on the patio outside the museum and watched the planes fly into the waterfront airport. Then after lunch we wandered around and took pictures of downtown. I should explain that when I say we took pictures, I don't mean like normal tourist pictures. My dad likes to get photos of everything on his cell phone so that he can picture message them to the rest of the family, photos that I doubt other tourists took today. For example, he took a photo of me walking against a reflective building so that it looked like I was walking with his reflection. He also took a photo of me next to the yield sign we passed because, "They're so much bigger here!" People often describe me as quirky. Ladies and gentlemen, is there any wonder why? Hilarious; I love him.

Continuing with our rock'n'roll theme, we ate dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. I had only been to the one in Atlanta where my friends and I ended up rushing through our dinners when we realized our tickets to Lion King were earlier than we thought, and my dad had never been before. It's good food and it's fun to watch the music videos while you eat, but I don't think I'm really one for all the hype.

After dinner, in the classic style of my father, we didn't just walk back to the hotel, we rambled and stopped at almost every building along the way to stare and read the plagues. We took photos at some war memorial and a fountain near the Lake that is supposed to depict someone reaching for eternal peace. We also walked around the outside of a federal reserve bank and looked at the statues outside the ginormous public library. A lot of the buildings in downtown Cleveland are older, from the 1800s, and it really gives the city a character that some newer cities don't quite possess.

We are waking up early tomorrow to head to Sandusky, OH. I will post photos soon!

Roadtrip: Day 1 (or Top Ten Airport Annoyances)

My roadtrip began this morning the same way most of my trips do, with me scrambling to pack because God knows I have never packed more than six hours before I'm actually supposed to be out the door. My strategy mostly consists of throwing in as many dresses as possible because unlike tops and bottoms, I don't have to figure out what will match and be comfortable etc.

Day 1 of the trip doesn't actually involve anything fun, seeing as my day involved six hours of driving to get to O'hare and then the three-hour wait and flight to Pittsburgh where I am spending the night at my dad's house. Waiting, driving, flying and general lack of sleep are all things that make me very testy, so I decided that this is going to be a rant post. You may proceed to a) roll your eyes, you have your own annoyances (this choice is not rewarding), b) read on out of curiosity (getting warmer), or c) read, laugh hysterically because we can ALL relate to these occurrences (ding ding ding!).

Top Ten Things I Hate About Airports:

1) I realize that people who work in airports are doing their best to move things along in a timely manner, but when I ask a question I expect to be answered in a kind and friendly way because that is after all part of their job that they are being paid for.

2) Children on leashes. If a couple is carrying so much that they can't carry and/or supervise their child, they should probably either reconsider their packing strategy or should enlist the grandparents to babysit. The whole concept just seems cruel and unusual.

3) Sick people that don't cover their mouths or wash their hands! This one goes for anywhere, not just airports. Containing your own germs while sick is simply common courtesy and when I'm already in a confined space with recycled air, I expect fellow passengers to at least rain in the cloud of spit that emits from their sneezes with the crook of their elbow. This is not rocket science.

4)....but speaking of rocket science, I'm not one of those people that enjoys sitting in the emergency aisle. While the extra legroom is nice, I am always very aware that in a time of crisis or panic I don't think anyone wants the little sorority girl in charge of manhandling the 42-pound door. Also, I thoroughly looked over the how-to diagram and it's not a simple process.

5) People who bring stinky food onto the plane. See #3-recycled air people! You did just sit at the gate for 45 minutes doing nothing, in which you could have wolfed down that odorous food out of everyone else's nose range.

6) The fact that airlines are now too stingy to give out roasted peanuts. (Although Midwest Airlines does give chocolate chip cookies!)

7) The person that wants to know your life story. I don't even really like making small talk with people that I do know while on an airplane, let alone a stranger. I tend to conk out as soon as I hear the whirring sound of the plane, so if you are sitting next to me and trying to chat with me, not only am I fighting to stay awake but now I have to fight to look interested. However, I do always hold out the hope that I will miraculously be seated next to the editor-in-chief of a magazine who just so happens to have an editor position open, and in that case I will be witty and dazzling.

8) The definition of liquids when it comes to the 3-oz liquid rule. I am a woman. I have lots of products. And while I realize I need to pack lightly, some things are just not liquid that are banned. For instance, on a flight to Orlando I had a jar of peanut butter confiscated—not liquid! I have had to put up a fight to keep my Bare Minerals—not liquid! And one time I even got my highlighters thrown away—not liquid!

9) The person who needs to get something out of the overhead compartment every five minutes. If you need something so badly, stow it under the seat in front of you, because yes, I actually listened to the stewardess give her spiel.

10) The person who carries such a big bag that they don't notice they just knocked it into everyone's heads while walking down the aisle. (Confession: I think this person may be me..)

But all rants aside, I made it to Pittsburgh safe and sound and am ready to face Day 2 of the roadtrip. Especially because Day 2 doesn't involve airports.

Settling Down

I had an interesting conversation with a friend this weekend about settling down (nothing mind you, I need to worry about as a 20-year-old). After telling him that, once again, I am packing up my bags and going somewhere new (Italy!), he asked me if I ever got tired of moving around and told me that come five or six years from now I will probably want to settle down, that’s how life goes.

Well the conversation made me think. The thought of settling down, not having to constantly figure out cable rates and where the best place to get cardboard boxes is, sounds lovely but frightening. In my experience you get somewhere new, get comfortable, make friends and everything finally starts to feel right, but it is inevitable that some form of earthquake will come. Something will shake the very foundation you worked so hard to build. You have options: you can stay and desperately try to fill in the cracks that have formed, working towards the semblance of what was once there. However you can also run-find somewhere new, reinvent yourself and pretend that that earthquake never happened. This is the choice I usually make. Reinvention is my salvation.

If someone does manage to get really close to me, close enough to see those cracks, well then maybe they can fill them. But while the thought of someone being there to love me unconditionally, and the mental image of a house full of memories sounds ideal, I think I’ll always be looking over my shoulder, watching for another storm, another quake, another test of faith and personal strength.

I’ll settle down one day, but it will take someone who will hide my running shoes and weather the storm with me.

Do we take Freedom of Speech too far?

Anthony Lewis writes in “Freedom For the Thought That We Hate-A Biography of the First Amendment”, that we live in “an age of exposure” and discusses the “crushing of privacy in the name of [free speech]”. Lewis suggests that the balance between privacy and freedom has tipped too far toward freedom. I however, disagree.

In all matters of free speech that are being debated: the issue of privacy being invaded due to free speech, hate speech being protected by the first amendment, etc., it is important to look at how alternative rulings on the matter would affect the interpretation of the First Amendment. If the laws were changed it would be very difficult to set the criteria for matters such as privacy and hate speech. The definition of hate speech could be stretched to include any negative comments on our government, taking us back to colonial era struggles. Stricter privacy laws would greatly affect our news and how much the public is informed of. While yes, I don’t think photographers need to be sneaking around in the bushes of celebrities to publish embarrassing photos of them, I consider the flip side to be much worse. Imagine that due to privacy laws the names of sex offenders in your area could not be released for the general public to know. It would be difficult to define what could and could not be kept private.

In 2002 Lord Chief Justice Woolf set aside an injunction obtained by a football player to keep a tabloid from publishing details of his affairs with two women. Woolf later expressed the importance of judges not censoring information merely because it offends them. Commenting on his verdict Woolf said, “a man who indulges in multiple affairs cannot complain if one of the women kisses and tells.” This particular case reminds me that in many cases in which people are suing for publication of intimate or embarrassing facts, those facts are usually considered so due to a flaw in their moral character or an error in their judgment. Of course this is not the case in all privacy issues, such as the case of William Sidis or The Hill family, but when the matter is the fault of the plaintiff I feel no remorse in its publication.

Additionally the notion of privacy is an odd one in our society today. It takes me about ten seconds to log onto Facebook and find out what town a person is from, what schools they have been to, where they have worked, their family members’ names, where they vacation, etc. My Twitter feed is constantly updating me on where people are, what they are doing, and what they think. These social media channels aren’t only providing me with this information about my friends and peers, but also about people I may have only exchanged one conversation with, perhaps not even that. With our wired in society it is hard to believe that any matter could be kept private for long.

I can clearly see Lewis’s point about us living in an age of exposure, and cases similar to those of William Sidis or of the Hill family do still make me question how privacy cases are decided. However, considering the alternative stances that could be taken, the nature of many privacy cases today, and the copious amounts of personal information that our society chooses to share with the world, I cannot say I think that the balance has been tipped too far.