Category: travel

travel

role models

abby mumford

traveling gives you a fresh perspective on yourself, your likes, your dislikes, your neighborhood, your family, your friends, your habits, your life. basically, it will flip your notions upside down. the farther you travel away from home, the knowledge you learn will increase exponentially.*

i was in denver this past weekend. i had the good fortune to be able to swing a last minute visit, which meant i had two and a half days with my mom and maga (my grandmother). amidst the flights and food and christmas cards and conversations and quiet moments, i learned about these people i call my family.

for instance, there is MAGA. she is 89 years and 8 months old. what a trooper she is. she is dealing with the aches, pain, and confusion of getting older, but she manages to put a smile on her face and get out there in the world despite the fact that every morning she wakes up without jobo (my grandfather), she does so with a broken heart. her advanced age means she can’t continue the globe trotting ways of her youth, and so, she brings the globe to her. egypt and india are the only two places she and jobo never visited, so when the king tut exhibit set up shop in the denver art museum, she got tickets for herself and mom and me and we all walked like egyptians.

thanks, maga, for showing me how to retain my sassiness for 89+ years. and for showing me how to bring the world to my doorstep.

for instance, my DAD is a sly guy. he’s not upfront with his emotions, so you have to listen for his declarations of love. i’m glad i now know how to do that. this time, it took the form of him looking up my (ridiculously small windowed) connection in philly. he let me know which gate i’d be arriving at (B14) and which gate i had to get to (C18) in 15 minutes. (i originally had 40 whole minutes, but de-icing a plane + waiting while the pilots shoo a fly out of the cockpit cuts into that.) he gave me specific directions on how to get from one gate to the next (because i am amazingly adept at getting lost). he even emailed and texted me this information because he wasn’t sure which i’d get to first. (side note, i LOVE my smartphone.)

too bad i didn’t turn on my phone until after i landed in boston.

thanks, dad, for giving me a reason to practice letting someone take care of me. i’d kind of forgotten.

for instance, there is my MOM. i had the opportunity to witness my mother as a mother but not while mothering me, which (still with me?) means i was able to objectively watch and appreciate her parenting skills. observing her taking care of her mother was something phenomenal. i felt like i had put on a pair of super-scientific-x-ray-night-vision-high-tech-not-yet-created-but-probably-will-be-soon* goggles and instead of seeing bones or guts or body heat, i could see her patience, her intelligence, her frustration, her sense of humor, her nerves of steel, her love.

growing up, it’s hard to see your mother for all of her sacrifices because, well, you can’t see past yourself. (those teen years are tough on everyone involved.) and even now, it’s still a bit hard to see her objectively because she’s either doing something for me or for one of my siblings and i’m too close to view the situation with any clarity. but denver enlightened me. my mom’s relationship with her mother is (not so) surprisingly a lot like hers and mine. they laugh, bicker, listen, talk, direct, clash, roll their eyes, are grateful for one another. another key fact: they still possess the ability to embarrass each other.

for instance, maga came down wearing a silk scarf tied around her head to keep her ear warm. i thought she looked adorable, however mom couldn’t stop laughing at how maga looked like a babushka. later that night, we were all at the neighbors (maga was sans scarf) when my mom announces to the group, “do you have any grandsons? abby’s available.” yup. thanks, mom.

but you know what? if having them as my role models means i’m going to grow up to be like them, i am ready to grow up.

any day now…..

in the meantime, thank you, mom, for being there for these first (almost, but not quite yet) 30 years. i wouldn’t be who i am today without your guidance, your expectations, your love.

*so says me, the scientific expert.

travel

travel-o-city

abby mumford

i’ve found myself in more planes, trains, buses, cabs, and cars in september/october than i have over the course of the entire rest of the year. i suppose this is why my summer was so slow. it was the calm before the frenzy of fall travel. as i sit here, in my apartment, sandwiched between two weekends away, i can’t help but think about the art of traveling.

AIR TRAVEL. this route allows you to go the further the fastest. great for international and cross country travel. however, with all of the security measures at airports, you have to make sure your shoes are easy to slip on/off, that your carry on bag can in fact fit into the overhead compartment, that your jewelry/accessories/coat/sweater are easy to take off so you don’t send that metal detector into a beeping fit, and that all your toiletries are 3 oz or less and fit into one minuscule zip lock bag. your ipod (or cd player and stack of cd’s, if that’s how you roll) is a must to drown out the crying babies OR seat mate who can’t take the hint that you’d rather sleep (or watch tv or pull out your own fingernails) than hear about their aunt linda’s nephew’s twin sister’s daughter who wrote a really awesome book about napkins that should totally be published by the company you work for.

ROAD TRAVEL. this option allows you the most control. you drive the car. you pick the route. you can see what’s going on ahead, behind, and next to you at all times. you can pack as much as you want. in no particular shape or form or container. however, there are other cars (with idiot drivers) in them that you have to contend with. and bathrooms aren’t readily accessible. and radio stations come and go. and traffic. you never know exactly when or where or how long you’ll be stuck there. and those cops sure know how to show up just when you press the accelerator.

RAIL TRAVEL. this option deletes the traffic on the road problem, but it’s about as expensive as a flight, without the quickness factor. it takes about the same time as driving (well, if you drove on roads without other cars or construction). it’s got almost the same (must fit into the overhead compartment) packing issues as the plane, but it does not have the whole security thing. which means, oh yeah, liquids in a container larger than 3 ounces. party! of course, all of this applies to US trains. if you’re in, say, italy, YOU SHOULD TAKE THE TRAIN. the system is practically flawless. the destinations are endless. and, well, you’ve probably already got your tiny suitcase packed from the plane ride over.

BUS TRAVEL. this is by far the most economical. the most expensive ticket i’ve ever purchased was $13. and that one i giggled at because, really, $13. i can totally afford that. (i should have paid more attention to the evil sounding 13. it was just the start of a horrid bus ride home. let’s just say that megabus has the worst customer service ever. both rides (to and from NYC) were beyond ridiculous. i got there in one piece, so yes, that was good, but no, i’ll never take them again. i’ll cough up $4 more to take the bolt bus.) you can pack a bag with no size restrictions because the undercarriage of the bus can hold a lot of luggage. and there are no security measures, so again, party on with your big bottles. (of course, you must keep in mind that you still have to take public transportation to and from the bus, so you’ll have to drag/carry whatever you packed. think of your back! and the uneven brick sidewalks! pack light.) there is that road traffic to contend with, so keep that in mind while planning the trip, especially if you’re going into Manhattan around rush hour. eesh. bad idea.

and now that you have my travel breakdown, let’s hope your (or my) plane, train, car, or bus doesn’t break down on your next trip away from home.

travel

perspective

abby mumford

it can be found through the twist of a camera lens. or the turn of the age dial. or the easy childhood you had. or the difficult time you went through. or if you’re employed. or if you’re a man. or if you’re a teenager. or if you’re lonely. or if you’re in love. or if you ran there. or if you took the first left instead of right.

for whatever reasons got us to this point, it’s given us all a unique perspective. we can experience the same event and come away with different conclusions. we can taste the same meal and simultaneously shudder in delight and disgust. we can smell the same flower and want to sniff again or sneeze and pull back. we can hear the same song and laugh or cry. we can touch the same water and either dive in or run away laughing. we can see the same mountain and be comforted or challenged.

that last one actually happened. kristen saw that mountain in lake como and thought this.

i saw it and felt comforted.

why?

because it was always there. every morning. strong. solid. sturdy. stunning. it was waiting for me to walk out onto the porch so it could make me smile. every afternoon. the houses bordering the base, tempting the mountain, urging it to disagree with the civilization. the trees still grew, filling in the picture, outlining its vast size. the rocks reflected the sunshine making the white spots gleam like a hollywood startlet’s mouth. every night. giving the setting sun a backdrop. providing an audience for the twinkling stars.

i was introduced to that mountain at a time where i felt lost (directionally and emotionally) and confused and homesick. but every morning, noon, and night, there it was. unchanging except for the shadows that danced in the revolving sunlight. i would see that mountain and know i was near home. a temporary home. but one that was safe and modern and new and filled with two girls who opened their vacation and let me slip into their hugs hello.

that mountain shows how steady mother nature is. and when you’re feeling lost, isn’t it just like a mother to send a source of comfort?

travel

italian lessons

abby mumford

buongiorno!

so i’ve successfully traveled to italy and back. alone. (i can’t say i did it with confidence. and i can’t say i did it without tears and homesickness. but i can say that technology never ceases to amaze me. i had a few people step up to the plate and despite the time difference, email with me or reassure me or talk me off the ledge. and while i’m sure that i won’t be traveling abroad alone again, i can say i am a different person because of this trip.)

i’m still suffering from jet lag and because i have blog readers who aren’t on twitter and because i’m taking the easy way out and because i want to memorialize the trip and because (for me) a large part of traveling is sharing the experience, i’m going to cut and paste my #ItalianLessons from twitter.

(note to those NOT on twitter: a hashtag #, in its most general use, is a way of labeling a tweet. because i was on this crazy work/personal holiday trip, i decided to give my italian tweets a label. it made them easier to locate, plus it gave the readers a point of reference.) also, take note that, for whatever reason, the blackberry i rented from verizon was consistently on east coast time. it never switched over to italian time, so the timing of my tweets is going to look a bit bizarre. (if you really care, italy’s +6 hours ahead).

i’ve already unpacked my suitcase, let’s unpack the memories too. and away we go:

This is beyond bizarre. I’m here at the airport at my gate. I’m doing this. I’m going to italy alone. *butterflies flutter wildly* 7:32 PM Sep 4th via mobile web

TWITTER, I’m so glad you fit into my carry on bag. But now I must leave you. When you wake, ciao verona! 7:43 PM Sep 4th via mobile web

Locked in and loaded. See you on the other side, TWITTER. 8:06 PM Sep 4th via mobile web

Ciao, verona! You look beautiful even through my fuzzy, 2 hours of sleep eyes. 6:42 AM Sep 5th via mobile web

I’ve had my first italian espresso, met a bilingual dog named eva, and was dropped off in saint zeno with no clue where to go next. Ciao. 9:18 AM Sep 5th via mobile web

I totally stumbled upon juliet’s balcony by accident. Totally touristy yet completely irresistible. Ah, l’amoure! Sunday, September 05, 2010 11:57:10 AM via mobile web

Buongiorno, TWITTER. Sun isn’t up yet, but I am. While all you munchkins celebrate Labor Day. I’ll be working. Granted, I’m in italy… Monday, September 06, 2010 12:33:58 AM via mobile web

I thought I had the jet lag beat. HA says my delirious brain. NOT SO. Monday, September 06, 2010 1:47:16 AM via mobile web

Just when you thought the day was ending, you find out they’re starting the other volume RIGHT NOW. #HowDoYouSayLongDayInItalian Monday, September 06, 2010 11:14:49 AM via mobile web

In case anyone’s keeping track besides me, yes, I’m still at the plant, still okaying press sheets. #twelvehoursandcounting Monday, September 06, 2010 3:06:50 PM via mobile web

Actually, it’s 14 hours and counting. Apparently my math skills aren’t any better over here. Monday, September 06, 2010 3:21:29 PM via mobile web

(editor’s note: i was at the plant until 12:30am. i had gotten there at 7:30am. yeah. happy labor day.)

And those little hairs on my forehead still stick up. Come on, italian air, can’t you help a girl out? Monday, September 06, 2010 3:22:50 PM via mobile web

(see above. me = delirious. that is also the point at which the blackberry stopped working. and i had to call in reinforcements. for future reference, if you have computer problems, restarting the computer will fix the problem. usually. but if you have cell phone connectivity problems, turning it off isn’t enough. you have to TAKE THE BATTERY OUT. don’t ever forget that. fortunately, it [first] crapped out while i was at the plant, so i had access to a computer. there is a lot of down time while on press. in case you were curious.)

TWITTER, my blackberry is not liking the italian air. i cannot connect to email or to YOU. how do you say lonely in italian? Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:28:49 AM via web

if you work for VZW, send help. my blackberry world is internet deficient and i have no way to call to troubleshoot. Tuesday, September 07, 2010 4:25:49 AM via web

so does my blackberry, per favore. @veschwab Twitter, I need good juju for this week. Tuesday, September 07, 2010 4:46:55 AM via web

OMG. i was a muse. and it’s better than i ever imagined. @kmcriddle http://bit.ly/9wATcy Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:33:06 AM via web

(no, that tweet is NOT italian related, but come on. i was a muse. it still makes me giggle in wonder.)

being a muse, that’s totally italian. maybe italy is agreeing with me…? now, if only my blackberry would work… Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:35:08 AM via web

uh oh. i signed into google and all instructions are in italian. not sure if i’m signing out or signing over my 1st born. *clicks* Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:45:57 AM via web

OMG. What a whirlwind of time, emotions, and logic. I’m back in action thanks to G. #GratefulToG Tuesday, September 07, 2010 9:56:05 AM via mobile web

(see the mobile web tag? that’s how you know the blackberry was back in action.)

I’m learning that the timing of a statement is as effective as the words spoken. #IUnderstoodItalian Tuesday, September 07, 2010 10:17:44 AM via mobile web

(ha. that’s a story for another time.)

Strigoli is a type of pasta. Strigori is a type of vampire from VAMPIRE ACADEMY series. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:42:42 PM via mobile web

(and that was the first tweet i labeled as an #italianlesson. i guess you could say my creative mojo had been jet lagged until that point.)

You won’t say “non capisco” as much as you thought but you will have it said TO you. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:44:24 PM via mobile web

Lacrosse is not popular in italy, but drinking vino is. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:47:31 PM via mobile web

Travel packs of nutella are as amazing as they seem and should go everywhere with you. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:59:23 AM via mobile web

Infomercials are as ludicrous and outlandish as they are in the States. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 3:25:16 AM via mobile web

Thunder cracks and rolls with an accent. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 5:38:40 AM via mobile web

RT @aquinnm If you’re going to get caught in the rain, it might as well be in Italy. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 5:40:47 AM via mobile web

(that was allison. she is friends with kristen, who is a friend of mine. they were randomly in italy at the same time as me. they were so kind as to allow me to join up with them and their vacation. they had just arrived in milan. i was still doing the work thing in verona…)

When visiting L’Arena other tourists will try out the natural acoustics by yelling TEXAS or CHRISTINE or BUONGIORNO. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 8:21:48 AM via mobile web

The sun will break through the storm clouds, temp will raise by 15 degrees, and you’ll wish you weren’t wearing a sweater. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 9:16:13 AM via mobile web

Don’t buy the 300 euro sunglasses even if they look really really cute on. #unexpectedsunshine #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 9:32:27 AM via mobile web

(i didn’t buy them. though it did instill a craving for a nice pair of sunglasses. i do wear sunglasses a lot. perhaps it’s time to invest in something other than $12 pairs from aldo.)

A glass of Amarone vino is a happy hour indeed. And yes, it is 5pm here. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 11:04:19 AM via mobile web

(amarone is a wine that’s made locally and man alive, delicious! if you ever have the opportunity, you should order some. it basically pulls up a chair and sits down with you. that’s how full bodied it is.)

Rush hour is at 9am, so I’m guessing they are all fashionably late to work. #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 3:43:35 AM via mobile web

You’re supposed to buy souveniers not leave them behind. Goodbye trench coat belt. #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 4:33:00 AM via mobile web

(yes, sadly enough, the fabric belt to my trench coat is gone. i had it on the plane to italy, but i didn’t have it when i left the hotel room.)

Does constant anxiety burn a crapton of calories like breastfeeding? #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 6:18:17 AM via mobile web

Have reached lake como. The sun is finally shining, both literally and metaphorically and emotionally. Thursday, September 09, 2010 8:11:17 AM via mobile web

See @aquinnm for pics because this blackberry is sans camera. Grazie. #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 10:00:40 AM via mobile web

San Franciso doesn’t get rainstorms. #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 10:04:02 AM via mobile web

(isn’t that weird? both kristen and alison were LOVING the crazy thunderstorms because they don’t get such eclectic weather there. me, on the other hand, i was a bit more hesitant in liking the storms. the rain came down in buckets and the thunder was wicked. though, if you asked them, it was like an opera.)

Seriously, the thunder here is intense. Deeper. Louder. Clearer. Accented. #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 12:30:53 PM via mobile web

They do two things fast: driving and drinking espresso. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 1:25:13 AM via mobile web

Bellaggio and Menaggio are molto bene. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 7:37:06 AM via mobile web

The lake on the shore is more of a lapping than a wave crashing. So soothing. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 7:49:55 AM via mobile web

Mini golf is called crazy golf. And it’s played on a hard and fast surface, not turf. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 8:11:19 AM via mobile web

I think @kbreakey‘s bad boy MC drives a motorcycle like an Italian – fast, furious, semi-reckless. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 8:49:45 AM via mobile web

Italy brings out the technological side of you…cameras, smartphones, iPads. #ItalianLessons (@kbreakey) Friday, September 10, 2010 9:01:59 AM via mobile web

Have two scoops of gelato and call me in the morning. #fauxdoctorsorders #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 9:06:03 AM via mobile web

Skipping stones on the lake is a great pre-dinner activity. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 1:09:37 PM via mobile web

They won’t bring you the check, even if they are closing the whole restaurant around you. You must ask for that bill. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 5:43:56 PM via mobile web

(it was totally unintentional. i promise! we were just giggling and enjoying one another’s company. we realized our mistake, though, when our waiter [no longer in his work clothes] zoomed out the door. the manager happily stayed until we were ready. in fact, we had a bit of a difficult time trying to get her attention to get her to bring us the “il conto, per favore.”)

To quote Kristen: “The stars! They effing twinkle!” (And she didn’t say effing). #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 6:07:21 PM via mobile web

It’s true, they are sparkling up a storm for us tonight. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 6:13:33 PM via mobile web

Texts and phone calls are not cheap on a rented global plan. Good thing late night chats with Kristen are free. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 7:05:31 PM via mobile web

Adventures await today. Not sure of the specifics, just that they are going to be grand. #ItalianLessons Saturday, September 11, 2010 2:31:59 AM via mobile web

(and by adventure, i mean to the emergency room. kristen had chest pains, which, you know, you don’t mess around with. the x-rays revealed: pneumonia.)

Food always tastes better outside, but when you add italian air, perfecto! #italianlessons Saturday, September 11, 2010 6:11:40 AM via mobile web

Tipping in restaurants is different, not done, really. Service reflects that… #ItalianLessons Saturday, September 11, 2010 7:11:27 AM via mobile web

X-rays are a unique souvenir of your time abroad. Just ask Kristen. #pneumonia #ItalianLessons Saturday, September 11, 2010 12:50:04 PM via mobile web

The moon fell out of the sky. This is not an #ItalianLesson, this is merely an observation. The MOON fell out of the SKY. Saturday, September 11, 2010 5:03:26 PM via mobile web

(seriously. that was so weird.)

You can get on a train or boat and GO ANYWHERE. Adventures are abound. #ItalianLessons Sunday, September 12, 2010 3:23:43 AM via mobile web

Spending the majority of the day on a boat on the lake will leave your body rockin’ hours after you’ve landed ashore. #ItalianLessons Sunday, September 12, 2010 12:55:16 PM via mobile web

Everybody eats gelato. Everybody. Me? I taste test the chocolate at each separate store. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 2:36:09 AM via mobile web

If they like what they see, the men will slow their cars to 85mph so they can honk and holler. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 4:17:11 AM via mobile web

It sure can. #ItalianLessons RT @maureenjohnson “The work can wait,” I said, quoting our business motto. Monday, September 13, 2010 5:38:31 AM via mobile web

The ferry is the best form of public transportation ever. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 9:33:47 AM via mobile web

Prego is an all purpose word, like the British English version of Cheers. #italianlessons Monday, September 13, 2010 11:29:57 AM via mobile web

The natural lighting that occurs in the 5-6pm time frame is stunning. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 12:25:29 PM via mobile web

Lemoncello. I had it. I feel italian. I probably won’t have it ever again, but I can cross it off my #ItalianLessons list. Monday, September 13, 2010 4:01:36 PM via mobile web

The temperature swings wildly based on the position of the sun. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 4:05:54 PM via mobile web

And THAT was a proper Italian sendoff: gnocchi, amarone vino, convos in italian, giggles in english. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 4:13:46 PM via mobile web

AND lemoncello AND tiramsu AND procuitto + melon AND sunset over bellaggio. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 4:15:51 PM via mobile web

My last lakeside morning. Sunrises are really gorgeous in Italy. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 1:11:47 AM via mobile web

The sun does everything fast here: rises, sets, heats up, cools. I’m going to miss that Italian way. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 1:28:20 AM via mobile web

Traveling back east means my day will be 30 hours long. But my suitcase is filled w/memories. All worth it. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 3:08:59 AM via mobile web

When the 1st portion of a flight is delayed, panic attacks ensue while waiting to see if you’ll make the connecting flight. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 8:17:07 AM via mobile web

(i did make it. with 2 minutes to spare before boarding began.)

I have never been so happy to board an 8 hour flight before. It means I made my connecting flight in frankfurt to boston. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 11:29:52 AM via mobile web

I am on board. For the next 8+ hours. You behave, twitter. And this is me signing off for #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 11:41:08 AM via mobile web

(and then we sat on the plane for an hour. and then the pilot came on and said (first in german, than in english), “we’ve received word that the french air traffic controllers are on strike. we have to sit here for 2 more hours until we can get a new route.” WTF? before the shock had time to settle in, the pilot came back on and said, “we are cleared for take off.” umm, AWESOME, but what the heck was that? an elaborate practical joke?)

Home Sweet Bed. about 14 hours ago via twidroid

Woke up disoriented and wondering why which hotel room I was in. So much to do to re-integrate back to life… about 6 hours ago via twidroid

and that’s a wrap. more thoughts and stories to come. i’m sure.

oh wait, if you’ve made it this far, click here for pictorial documentation of the trip.

UPDATE: and here’s a link to allison’s photos.  and here’s one to kristen’s. more dreaminess!

travel

flight [home] of the conchords

abby mumford

today’s the 14th and before we go any further at all, i want to say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. carrie.

with that on the table, can you guess where in the world i am? anyone? bueller? bueller?

you probably guessed italy. and you’d be WRONG because by the time you’re reading this, it’s approximately, oh i don’t know, afternoon time in europe which means i am currently winging my way back to the US with a quick stop over in frankfurt. and by quick stop, i mean a 2 hour layover. that should give me enough time to see all the germanic sights. or well, give me plenty of time to work my way through the terminal to the plane that will deliver me back to boston.

speaking of flights, here’s a little treat to distract you from how much you miss me.

classy, no? (side note to TB, thank you for introducing that to me).

speaking of thank you’s, the reason you’re even able to read this is because i am now privy to the “scheduling” capabilities of wordpress. and how do i know about it? that’d be because of patty blount (she of twitter and book hungry fame). all together now, kids, THANKS, PATTY.

and all of this means that i can wish one of my besties a happy birthday, since i can’t do that from italy or germany or an airplane. also, i wished her a happy day now because there’s a large chance that when i touch down in boston, i’ll be so delirious, i won’t know what day it is, what time it is, or who i am, much less that i’m supposed to be wishing people happy birthdays and many mores.

did somone say s’more?

yum. go get one! and save some for me.