One of these things is not like the others. And that’s ok. Dare to be different, not for the sake of being different, but for the sake of being you.
Embrace your true self. Be authentic and appreciate your quirks. There will never be another you and there’s no need to pretend you’re something you are not.
So join in the gang or the gaggle as the case might be. Just don’t pretend to be something you’re not to fit in when clearly standing out as your fabulous self is way better.
I was on vacation last week. It was unseasonably warm as I day tripped across the region looking at waterfalls and wind turbines, pumpkins and forest giants and all manner of things in between. I even saw an outdoor drama about Dracula as real life bats circled overhead.
I didn’t love the weather since it felt more like August than October but it was awfully nice wandering this earth and doing as I pleased for a few days. Since I work remotely most of the time, it felt especially nice leaving my house and seeing the outside world.
But I also spent some time at home doing a few chores and lounging with a book in my hand and a cat at my feet.
Fall finally found us on Saturday as temperatures dipped into the forties at night and about sixty during the day. The sky was blue and the clouds awe inspiring when I walked on the bike path at a local park. I should have been working up a sweat since I was there for exercise.
Instead, I chose a moderate clip that allowed me to appreciate my surroundings like the smell of campfire smoke and the feel of fallen leaves beneath my feet. I also liked the way a steady breeze carried a smattering of leaves as they drifted from the trees toward the ground to aid in creating Mother Nature’s patchwork quilt for the earth and creatures below.
I like my job and will be happy enough once I’ve caught up on the emails and stepped back into my routine. I do have many memories of this week to keep me warm and the knowledge that more adventures lie ahead!
This is what vacation is all about. Find the thing that makes you happy, the thing you wished you got paid to do and go do that. Just be sure to work in some rest and relaxation at some point so you’re capable of returning to work in a positive state of mind.
Happy Monday, y’all. Let’s make this one count.
I spent a morning this week wandering around Franklin Park Conservatory. They are ready for fall – including their annual Pumpkins Aglow event which takes place evenings this month.
It was a gorgeous, unseasonably warm blue sky day and was perfect for examining pumpkin displays, fall mums and even their outdoor model railroad collection.
Here are a few pictures from this magnificent day. There are a handful of displays with skeletons in action.
Then there are the trains in a magnificent outdoor model railroad that celebrates miniatures, trains and nature.
Are there any Thomas fans in the house? They even have a Thomas engine for the littles to enjoy.
And a black cat or two mixed in for good measure.
But my favorite things here are the pumpkin houses. This one is especially nice.
I doubt I make it back for Pumpkins Aglow this season but would encourage you to go check it out! Get your information here.
The groundbreaking television show I Love Lucy premiered on this day in 1951. Seventy years ago. It was the first tv show to air in ten million homes and has aired in over seventy countries since then.
I visited Lucille Ball’s hometown this spring and have written about things to see and do there as well as how the show changed television history. Their influence during these early years of television is remarkable. Lucy’s on-screen parter was also her real life husband and business partner Desi Arnaz. Together, they built an empire that gave us the studio audience, multiple cameras, syndication and even shows like Star Trek and Andy Griffith.
You can read about the impact that Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had on television history here.
My Jamestown visit was loads of fun. The National Comedy Museum is located here and there’s a wonderful local history museum in addition to the Lucy attractions. Lake Chautauqua provides great opportunities for outdoor recreation and you’re close to Lake Erie.
I highly recommend staying at the Doubletree in downtown Jamestown because that puts you within walking distance of most attractions. You get free parking and it’s a good neighborhood. The Lucytown Tour takes you past Lucy murals, statues and landmarks including her childhood home. For me, the best part was seeing the recreated TV sets and watching their old home videos at the Lucy- Desi Museum.
Before you go, be sure to spend some time watching a few episodes of the show! I watched the entire series this winter and had a great connection to the sets, props and other artifacts on display at the Lucy Desi Museum.
The highest state park in West Virginia is Blackwater Falls State Park. It’s situated between Thomas and Davis and is worth the drive. In fact, I have found a new favorite place.
With miles of trails for hiking, there’s much opportunity to get your boots muddy. There are year round activities including boating, geocaching , fishing and plenty of snow sports. Plus there are cabins and lodge rooms to extend your stay.
The lodge is being renovated now and I am dying to go stay there. It appears to be a massive overhaul of the mid century facility. They call it “The Lodge In The Sky” because of the elevation and I think that’s the best name for it.
I spent an afternoon wandering around on foot and in the car, exploring the park. The views are stupendous, the trails are in great condition and the place is easy to navigate. While there is picturesque beauty everywhere you go, the star of the show here is a 57 foot waterfall.
It reminded me a little of the Hocking Hills State Park near my home. The rock outcroppings, foliage and trails attracts large crowds of sightseers every year as well.
At Blackwater, the amount of visitors caused them to build a system of wooden steps and landings, presumably to protect the ecosystem from so much foot traffic and to make it easier for people who don’t really hike to access the views.
It isn’t exactly a hike but it would be challenging if you aren’t typically active or in good shape. Round trip it isn’t even a half mile but it’s important to remember that what goes down must come up in this instance. You’ll walk down a wide trail and a bunch of steps on the way to the view. Then you have to walk back up.
It’s a gorgeous view but there are many other pretty views in the park and I would like to see more of them.
Want to learn more? Visit their website here!
Last Columbus Day weekend took me to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. On the way home, I arrived at an intersection with a sign pointing toward Thomas, West Virginia. My friend Mike had advised me many times that I needed to visit Thomas and since I had no schedule, I took the exit and went in search of this place.
I didn’t even look at the map. I just followed the signs and had a great time doing it. You can read some about that visit here.
One of the beautiful things about traveling alone is that there was no one freaking out in the passenger seat because you don’t know how long it will take to get there, what there is to do once you arrive or the minor detail that you don’t even know how you’ll get to your actual destination from this mountain village.
I really liked it there but many businesses were closed either because of the holiday, the fact that some small tourist businesses are simply closed on Mondays, or because of Covid. So I swore I would go back some day.
I considered spending last weekend down there until I realized there was nowhere to stay. Every cabin and Airbnb was booked and probably had been for months. With literally no room at the inn, I made it a whirlwind day trip.
First of all, town was busy and every establishment seemed to be hopping. Truth be told, it was too busy for my tastes but I still enjoyed the atmosphere and the hippy vibes that emanate from this place. People are friendly, there’s a terrific historic walking tour and you feel welcome everywhere you go. I was also glad to see them bouncing back after the pandemic had been so damaging to their economy.
Luckily, I had a couple of other things on my radar that took me out of town. This is another benefit of traveling alone. No one was disappointed because we had to switch to Plan B because the original destination was crawling with people.
One place I visited was Blackwater State Park. The other activity involved a closer look at some of those giant wind turbines that are popping up in wind farms across the country.
I saw these last year but didn’t stop for a closer look or for pictures and have kicked myself ever since. My pictures aren’t great but you get the gist. You’re really high up on a mountain and close to some of these monstrosities.
To be perfectly honest, these things give me the creeps. The sheer size and design remind me of some kind of futuristic end of the world movie plot. They are oddly quiet with just a gentle whirring noise and a gearbox the size of a compact car. The blades are about a hundred feet long and I can’t help but wonder what might happen to them in a tornado.
Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale comes to mind.
Anyway, when you leave Thomas and start heading north, you find yourself climbing a mountain and almost at eye level with one of these bad boys. There are places where you can pull over for pictures.
Tomorrow we visit Blackwater State Park where the foliage is changing and the views are stunning.