Rochester

Photo credit to Ms. Jamie Shea

Just got back from an awesome trip to Rochester. "Why Rochester?" you ask? Because my friends are there. And the best part of being friends with someone is hanging out together. I'm super lucky that so many of my friends from 'Cuse live in NYC. But there are a few that don't. And that calls for visits. 

Hangin. Porch style.

In college, there is a kind of hanging out that you can't recapture. You live with your friends in a big house (for better or worse), pick out outfits together, make dinner together (when someone has money for groceries), play games together, hit the bars together. In the morning, you roll over, bellow someone's name (whoever you feel most like hanging out with the moment you wake up) and then watch 5 episodes of some terrible reality TV show until someone has a better idea. Like going to Wegman's. Or playing outside. Both genius ideas. 

Going to the pool: excellent idea 

When you leave college, everyone goes their separate ways, gets jobs and apartments and is on different schedules. Grad school, night shifts, entertaining clients, whatever. (Shout out to my friends: Good job on being contributing members of society!). As a result, no more laying on the floor first thing in the morning and watching TV with your friends while still in PJs. Except when you do friend visits. 

Making dinner with friends is way better 5 years out of college.
More money + Skilled cooks = Deliciousness 

Before this trip, I had only been to Rochester in February. Winter fun is very different from Summer fun. Mostly because you can walk outside without the risk of slipping on ice and busting your face. I had heard of the good times to be had at Park Ave Fest, which happens every August, but never been until this trip. Park Ave Fest is a magnet. It draws people from all over for live music, neighborhood lawn parties, handmade leather fanny packs, funky jewelry, kettle corn, you name it, they sell it. 

Delicious restaurant where Leslie works

Midday Rose at Cibon

Need some barn art? Yeah, me neither.
Provides a great background for a picture though!

80's cover band. Perfect way to cap off a great day.  

I had a blast. Thanks Dods, Pearson, Leslie & Jamie for putting me up all week and Jana for making that insanely long trek from Maine. 

Visit your friends. It's lots of fun :D

Lessons Learned

In a previous post, I said that I had wanted to learn something new this summer, but was not sure what exactly that would be. I learned a lot about being comfortable with different kinds of people and what I like to do. There were also many "now you know" kind of lessons, like when I tried to start a fire with pine needles that seemed "dry enough." Here are a few highlights:

• You don't have to keep in touch with people to call them up out of the blue and have a great time, though that great time is often a source of inspiration to keep in touch.
• Having friends all over the country makes traveling much easier (no hotels and the best tour guides!)
• Pittsburgh has personality, who knew?
• Hiking is one of my favorite things to do. I forgot this. I especially love strenuous hikes that resemble obstacle courses (crossing rivers, traversing tree bridges, swinging on vines tarzan style).
• Don't wear rings while using a machete, unless of course you want blood blisters.
• If you put peanut butter on both sides of your pb&j and the jelly in the middle, the bread will not get soggy.
• When weeding, get them all or it is a total waste of time.
• Playing in the ocean is the fastest and most effective way to get dirt out from under your fingernails.
• I love soft boiled eggs (thanks Uncle Keith!) and eating vegetables with breakfast makes me feel like I've already accomplished something.
  
• Thermarests don't look like much, but make a huge difference when camping. In other words, camping without a thermarest sucks.
• I am physically capable of much more than I thought before this trip. I was incredibly active this summer without really noticing it. It doesn't have to be yoga OR running unless I want it to be. I certainly didn't skip swimming in the ocean just because I had already gone hiking.
• It's much easier to decide what to wear when you only have three tshirts and a pair of jeans.
• As much as I love New York, I also love being a big fish in a small pond :)