What a Long Strange Trip.............

Today I have a guest blogger!
My buddy Joe ( a member of Eastern Elite - which you should all check out and join! - It is Free! - http://www.easternelite.net/) just went on a super cool adventure!
Below he explains what he did, the planning and the highlights of his trip. It is pretty awesome! Defintiely something I would like to do someday!

Enjoy! and Thanks Joe!

(p.s. I really enjoyed reading the trip highlights!)

(p.p.s. - there is a map that Joe sent me to go with it but I am not gifted enough to figure how to make this stupid site post it! - but I am adding an "Adventure" page on the Eastern Elite site in the next day or so and you will be able to find it there!)

From: 

Joseph N. Forte

Topic:  CAPE COD BIKING-CAMPING-EATING-EXPLORING TRIP

Summary:  I rode my dope mountain bike (a Trek 6000) from my house in Norwood to Provincetown, then took a ferry to Boston and then back to Norwood.  The trip lasted 3 days and all items needed to camp two nights along the way were brought on bike.  I was fortunate to have spectacular weather and this was a great trip at perfect time (warm but without summer crowds).  There are all sorts of great trips like this out there just waiting to happen.

Route Planning:

I have the Eastern Mass and North Shore/Cape Cod  Rubel Bike Maps.  I reviewed possible routes all sorts of different ways via different mediums and maps and then highlighted the planned route on my two maps.  I really liked the fact that this was a “loop” but you can do just as well with a trip where you double back on a train (or some other public transportation). 

The total distance was about 130 miles.  I wanted to get a good bit of that done the first day so that on Sat and Sun I could “explore” when I came across anything interesting and not be rushed by the need to log miles. 

Leg 1:  Norwood to Sandwich :  64 miles

Leg 2:  Sandwich to Brewster :  25 + miles.  Did another 10 riding around Brewster.

Leg 3:  Brewster to Provincetown   32

Equipment:

Mountain  bike equipped with a rack and two good sized panniers

Stuff sack sleeping bag and crash pad

Small tent

Food (with get more into this aspect later) and water

Cooking stove, cups, one pan, utensils

Extra clothes and toiletries

Reading material/music

Head lamp

Extra bike tube and pump (got a flat and will bring two spares next time)

Food:  A highlight of the trip.  I had planned (and brought food) to cook a couple more meals than I did.  The next time I do a trip of this kind through an area with as much good food easily available I will bring no food that needs to be prepared.  Given the choice between flavored rice mixed with canned chicken and peas versus a lobster roll – what would you do?  Also, since there are no real costs to this trip, food was an area that I chose to splurge in.  When you are riding long distances, your appetite becomes voracious!

Packed and eaten:

Leftover spaghetti and a softball sized meatball

Hummus and tomatoes wrap

Apple

Beef jerky

Huge bone in chicken breast. 

Also eaten:  Snickers bar, steak tip dinner, omelet, stuffed clam, a jam packed lobster roll, bagel, huge coffee roll, swordfish and scallops dinner and a calamari salad.  Chomp!

Brought and not eaten:

A bunch of stuff that needed cooking.  If this was a back country, then this would have been great food.  I packed stuff that would be good, healthy, somewhat easy to cook and easy to transport but there were just too many good local meals to eat any of this stuff. 

Site selection:

My plan was to ride as far as I could on day one, so I had no fixed destination.  This meant I would just have to “find” a place to pitch a tent.  In Sandwich after about 7 hours of riding it was 4:30 I spotted a BBC (food, beer and a band) so immediately began considering where to stealthily pitch my tent.  There are lots of places this is easy, but the closer you are to civilization, the harder it becomes.  I found a patch of woods surrounded by businesses and full of thick brush, prickers, very hilly and with a dry stream.  A place no one would ever wander into- perfect.  I was pretty well hidden but so close to the road I took the additional measure of covering my tent with cut down branches of leaves. 

For the second night, I had intended to camp at Nickerson State Park but it was full.  A friend of mine (John DePalma) has a summer residence very close to where the park is located.  He graciously allowed me to pitch a tent in his backyard and make use of this outdoor shower (very needed) and gas grill.  After where I had been the night before, it was “living large”!  One of the biggest highlights of this trip was walking into his backyard and spotting a hammock.  I think I did a cartwheel?  Twice that day I climbed onto the hammock got in my sleeping bag and had a fantastic nap. 

Clothing/toiletries:

It was a 3 day trip but the plan was just one shower so that meant I needed one change of clothes.  I did bring extra socks (and used them to keep the feet from smelling to badly). The forecast was cool sunny days and chilly nights so I also brought a hat, gloves, a jacket and sweat pants.  Also packed where shaving supplies, soap, toothbrush and paste, and deodorant.  I forgot to bring a towel but just drip dried after my shower. 

Journey Highlghts:

-You are doing what?!?!  Half the fun of doing these trips is the people you meet.  When you tell strangers about these trips mid-stream, the news is greeted with a mix of shock and a weird envy.  This sentiment is best expressed by one strangers comment “wow, good for you, I wish I could do it, but I am too (choose your reason- I have heard old, out of shape and my wife would not like it)”.  I understand we all have our “things” but people impose too many limitations on themselves and how they live and have fun.    Lots of people look at the bike and stuff on it and cannot help but ask.

-I know I have already mentioned this but the food was a pretty awesome part of the trip.  I was near the ocean and so I ordered sea food every chance I got.  The Cape (most areas) is full of “one of kind” (non-chain) restaurants- which makes the food even better. 

-The views.  The Cape is full of places you just stop and stare at for long periods of time.  I brought a camera but did not take a single picture as they just never seem to translate.  I should try a littler harder though.  Pictures with people are better.

-This was a trip I needed!  I have done other trips like this and biked this area a lot but never in a biking/camping mode.  I felt like summer was slipping away on me and I wanted at least one more summer weekend.  The weather definitely cooperated!

-Truro.  It was “Truro day” (not sure if that is what they call it).  They had all sorts of local crafts and jewelry for sale along with some “good” yard sale stuff.  No new or old junk.  I was on bike so not really there to shop but I did enjoy the “dog show” put on by about 30 local dogs and owners.  There was a good vibe and a lot of well founded civic pride in the air, it was nice to witness. 

-Being a drifter.  A lot of people have a strong reaction to the concept of “finding” places to stay to sleep.  It should be done with discretion (who wants to explain themselves to the police at 3am?).  It really opens up things so that you are not bound by your next stopping point.  Sometimes you find places that are pretty amazing.  Plus it removes one of the biggest costs of travelling.  My cost for a 3 day trip to Cape Cod?  About $200 (150 for food and 50 for a ferry ticket).  For me, the key thing to keep in mind is to find a place that no one will ever find while out “just for a walk”.  Pick places off the beaten path with natural obstacles. 

Conclusion:

If you like to wander, breathe fresh air, have interesting conversations, get lots of sun, always be hungry but eat heartily, and see things/experience a place in slow motion then the biking/camping trip is one for you

Chronicles Of A Poop Filled Diaper...

HELLO ALL!!! I AM STILL ALIVE!!!!!!!

I know it has been quite a while since my last post ....too long actually - so please accept my apologies!
The truth is, I went and had a baby and got a little tied up in his awesomeness for a few months...oops!

Anyway, I have a lot to catch up on and hopefully can find the time to get it all down and out to you! So be sure and check back often in the coming weeks for all the fabulous things I have to say!

Also, super sorry for any typos above or below...I am working on a strict deadline ( he is going to wake up any second....) and no time to proof read.

Now on to the topic of the day:
My new son Jackson and The Interesting Things That Happen To Me When He Poops....
(See Image 1, 2 and 3 - Jax)

                                         

Now I understand that most new mothers would initially write about all the cute stuff that comes with having a new baby and they would included paragraphs on how much they love them and include details on every super cute thing that they do every single day....Well - I assure you Jax has my heart and (I know I am biased) no other baby is as cute as him BUT... let's get real! I can't make some of the stuff up that has happened to me over the past few weeks...and some if it (actually - most of it) is centered around his poopy diaper! (See Image 2)

The first episode was pretty intense....My mother, Sister and I took Jax into Boston for the day....it was beautiful out and we were having a blast when all of a sudden the sky turned grey....the thunder started...lightening bolts surrounded us and the monsoon produced hail the size of baseballs!

We ran for cover immediately...and where (of all places in Boston) do us three - rather loud - Italian ladies and new born baby end up - A LIBRARY - Seriously!

Once we realized where we were it was too late to retreat. We were stuck. Everyone was staring. So we take a seat and try to be quiet...Jax did not understand the concept of being quiet...so he was getting fussy...
I picked him up from this car seat/stroller and he starts to FART - LOUDLY! I thought this was pretty embarrassing...and then I realized he smelled - really. really, really bad...so he obviously pooped.

I send my mother to the desk to get the key to the handicap bathroom so I can change him - I am still calm at this point.

So my mom gets the key and instead of coming back and giving it to me for some reason (which I still do not understand) she decides to start roaming around the library - why would she do this? seriously - why?
At precisely the same time I pick Jax up off my lap and - you will never believe what happened - it was then that I realized his poop OOZED! EVERYWHERE! (See Image 4) It was coming out from his legs, up his back and out the collar of his shirt, even seeping THROUGH his clothes....and as if this isn't bad enough I then noticed it was ALL OVER ME!!!! MY PANTS - MY SHIRT - MY ARMS!  gross...just gross. I will spare all of you the details of the texture.....

Anyway, So as I realize this - my mom is wondering around the library with the bathroom key - I start to panic....I am trying to get her attention without making a scene...I failed.

Once I realized my failure I just yelled across the library and told her to bring me the key....

Of course, I planned well for Jax - I had smelly bags for the diaper and his dirty clothes and a spare outfit - HE was all set! ME on the other hand....not so lucky...I finished the day walking around Boston smelling like poop with green stains all over my clothes - Awesome! Welcome to Motherhood Nancy!

**********************************************************************************
Two days later....
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I take Jax to his doctor appointment... and of course as we are leaving he  Poops! Why wouldn't he?
So I go to the public bathroom and as I am changing him I get completely creeped out...not by him but by the weirdo in the stall next to us!

So i am totally minding my own business when a voice calls over from the next stall....and asks how old my baby is. It is at this moment that I realize this random person is taking a dump in the stall next to me!

First of all...ewwww. Second of all....gross.

So, I try to be polite and I answer....meanwhile in my head I am cursing my precious little baby.
Then this lady keeps going telling me how cute he sounds...What? I mean the only thing going through my head is whether or not this lady is for real.

Then She Finishes! and I think I am in the clear...I am sure she will wash and leave....SURPRISE....SURPRISE - I AM NOT SO LUCKY.

Instead,  she does not wash and does not leave BUT STANDS OUTSIDE MY STALL AND ASKS IF SHE CAN HOLD MY BABY WHEN I COME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WTF?

Honestly, what is wrong with people....

I was freaking....big time....so I just said NO! 

Was I rude? YES! But oh, well....

And - as a side note- after  I said no... the lady left the bathroom WITHOUT washing her hands.

I have experienced many more exploding, poopy diapers over the last few weeks....but now it is more the norm then the exception... I am sure many a Mom has had similar experiences and can relate....for those of you who have not I hope you just got a good laugh at my expense....

Until Next Time....

Mardi Gras Madness!

So, Valentine's Day weekend I took a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana (aka NOLA) with my husband, Sean, and a couple of friends.

The Mission: was for everyone to participate in the Rock and Roll Mardi Gras 1/2 Marathon and 1/2 Marathon Relay to benefit the American Cancer Society....that's atleast how we justified the trip anyway!

Arriving on Friday afternoon, not running until Sunday morning and leaving on Monday we had plenty of time to explore all that this lively Louisiana town had to offer....and explore we did...sort of.

Disclaimer: This trip was planned back in October before I was pregnant.

It turns out that the last place a pregnant lady should ever visit is probably this very place, known as NOLA  I must say, however, that as a result of the entertainment provided by my travel companions in conjunction with the locals and other tourists on Bourbon Street I did manage to have an amazing time.

Let me elaborate. When people think of NEW ORLEANS the first thought is often MARDI GRAS. When people think of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, BOURBON STREET often comes to mind. And when Bourbon Street comes to mind the BALCONIES  above the BARS lining the street are imagined and....well.... let's just say that most of the BEADS that people EARN are THROWN from those balconies that line this street as a show of  both appreciation and adulation!

To be clear ----> Although we were not in New Orleans at the time of the official Mardi Gras celebration I assure you this town celebrates Mardi Gras 365 days a year, 24 hours a day! It is unlike anything I have ever experienced...and I was completely sober the entire time!

Now, please note, we did ask several people what our main priorities should be throughout the weekend and from all of them we received the same exact list.

List of Things You Must Do in New Orleans:

1. Go to Pat O's and have a Hurricane (reference picture #1 above)
2. Go to Jackson Square... to visit the Crescent City Brewery (of course )
3. Go to the Port of Call (a bar) and try the Monsoon (see bottom picture above)
4. Go to the Tropical Isle and try the Hand Grenade (the name is relevant because they taste like nothing
     so people tend to think there is no alcohol in them...then bomb they explode like a grenade and you are
     pretty much done for the night --- I did not believe this, that was of course until I witnessed it first hand!)
     (note this is dipicted in picture #4 above - notice our group started as four...the other two did not
      make it long after the hand grenade - not judging, just sayin')
5. Make sure and try the 3 for 1 beer. (as seen in picture #2 above)

That's it. As far as attractions go.

So you are probably asking...how the hell did the pregnant chick actually have fun?
Well, I will tell you...

How To Have Fun In New Orleans When You Are Pregnant:

1. You are the company you keep so make sure:
     A. You like the people
     B. They have the ability to not only drink...but drink a few for you as well!
     C. They are co-operative drunks that let you lead the way.
2. Bring Your Appetite - They food is different from what I usually eat and it was amazing! (see picture #3  
    above)
3. Learn the Secrets to Reading the Map (FYI - the names of the roads on the left side of the road are not   
    the same as those on the right side of the road) and make sure an honest local is nice enough to mark your
    map with the parts of town you do not want to go to!
4. Bring a Camera - you will want to document your tour around the town because those DRINKS 
    are NO JOKE whatever they put in them I saw some pretty tolerant people crumble after drinking only
   HALF of a drink in some cases... TRUST ME ON THIS!
 5. Make time to people watch... I swear the people there are as sloppy at 7PM as people are in Boston at
     3AM and they go all night long...literally! Definitely makes some excellent entertainment!
     i.e. the waitress at the bar (notice I said bar not strip club) not only gave all out lap dances but she
    did things with test tube shots that were honestly disturbing and let's be honest if I get disturbed then it
    must have been pretty drastic, right? right.

Seriously. The views of the Mississippi are amazing. The entertainment is beyond fabulous. I am sure the alligator swamps are cool (we were going to go on a tour but they are in hibernation this time of year - figures!), the market is cook to check out and make sure and try the baignettes (OMG! Double YUM!). There is also Plantation Tours to try if you're into that sort or thing, which -  surprise, surprise - I'm not. Cemetery Ghost tours - I'm too much of a baby for that, no desire whatsoever to see dead people. Lastly, Mardi Gras world, we tried but they were having some technical difficulties when we were there - as you can tell luck was not necessarily on our side when it came to tourist attractions.

Now to fast forward to the actual reason we were there...the race. This was a big deal for me. I was 19 weeks pregnant on the time and was participating in the half marathon relay with my friend, DT. THANK GOD she took the 8.5 mile leg so I only had to run 4.5 (thanks again D - you the best!). Make no mistake about it...what was an "easy day" for me 5 months prior is definitely now the "super hard day." Nonetheless, I took the drumstick baton and I ran. It was a great course with good entertainment performing at every mile and I only had to stop and pee once! Although the post race activities were great the best part was the fact that my Husband finished his first half marathon ever!

Please note: Four months ago he ...umm.... well...he didn't run and we will just leave it at that and say this is a HUMONGOUS deal! Not to mention I kind of teared up because it was definitely the first run of many to come that my husband, baby and myself all participate in (sort of - I mean so what it isn't born yet)! Yay! GO TEAM BELL... and DT!

SIDE NOTE: I always wanted to go to the real Mardi Gras, especially when I was in college. However, I can honestly say I am really happy that wish never panned out. Why? you ask. Honestly, because this place is insane on a daily basis not to mention the scene on a Friday or Saturday night - i can state with complete confidence (and I believe anyone that has known me for a while - especially during college will back me up on this statement) that given my history it is fair to say I probably wouldn't have made it back.....and if I did I don't know if my brain function would have recovered - ever!
Reading this side note I end this blog doubting my previous abilities I was so proud of and naturally wondering.......am I really this old already?



So that's pretty much it, I hope if you visit New Orleans (pregnant or not) you go with a group of people as awesome as those I went with because it most certainly adds to the entire experience.

"WINGS" and A Prayer....

** I am sorry for any grammatical issues I didn't catch - it is early and I am tired**

So, I want to emphasize that I have never claimed that my family is what most would consider normal and I certainly have never claimed to be anywhere near normal myself, in fact, I would venture to say that I have always been proud that all of my family members are pretty much the exact opposite of normal in our own way! The events that occurred last night only further prove and solidify this belief. Furthermore, I think my family has officially succeeded in mastering how to convince our friends that our insanity is cool and that they should come along for the ride.

Most families and friends get all decked out in matching team shirts... pile into their cars on a weeknight...to drive an hour plus away to cheer on their loved in a "big" game, like football or basketball or to go ease the nerves of their first time on stage for a dance recital. Well...I guess this was technically a competition, which is like a game....and it was a pretty big event...and it was my brothers first time preforming on stage... and it was in front of his entire family and all of his friends. I guess technically this is like the "big" game and a dance recital all in one, aren't we a lucky?

You are probably all wondering and asking out loud at this point..."Where the hell were these freaks?"


Wait for it....Wait for it...


The 3rd Annual 98.5 Sports Radio WING BOWL...as in chicken wings people...specifically chicken wing eating competition. That's right Big Steve came to town to completely devour (literally) his competition and make all of us so proud by eating messy chicken wings!

Surprisingly, there were a lot of competitors that had won semi-final events to qualify for this big finale. Now these were not men (yes, they were all men - surprise - surprise) that I would necessarily want to be eating chicken wings in chair..table...room..or even a building near me. They were fierce, scary, crazy looking, really, really big dudes! No thank you!..........But to my big bro they were peons who didn't deserve to be called men, never mind having any business in this competition.

Steve gets in the "zone."

The contestants are escorted to their seats...by a stripper of course...of course. They have 10 minutes to eat as many chicken wings as possible.

Let the competition begin!

All of big Steve's 30+ person cavalry rush to the floor sporting their "Chicken Mafia" shirts (yes, he created a team name and shirts for himself - come on people - go big! or go home!) and we start chanting Ru -sci - o!....Ru -sci-o! over and over and over. Steve's sister-in-law, Tricia, and I am snapping pictures like crazy. I look next to me and some retired Patriots player has joined our group and is now chanting with us! And THEN... I see the unthinkable....

BIG STEVE HITS A WALL! (see picture)

I thought the competition was now going to go from gross and messy to disgusting and dirty nad that the Steve would be disqualified - this would be UNACCEPTABLE!

ENTER SISTER (that's me)....

PLEASE NOTE - this portion of the story is very important.
I push my big, fat, pregnant behind up to the stage, right in front of him...and I yell some not so nice verbiage along the lines of ..."you piece of $hi^! you $u(k! get your @ss in gear and hurry the F&*$% up!" etc. etc. etc. I hope my unborn babies little ears didn't hear what I was saying and if they did the understand the circumstances! I mean, everyone knows these are not words I would ever normally use but desperate times call for desperate measures!

The ten minutes are up, they look nasty with wing sauce all over the face and chicken bits hanging off their clothes. I almost vomited myself. yuk. (see picture)

So what happened............
Are you seriously asking me this...............
People. Come On!

....Big Steve is a Ruscio. Ruscio's thrive on competition. Ruscio's do not like to lose.

Of course he WON!

...and of course his equally as crazy friends must rush up on stage and cause a big scene! (see picture)
49 wings in 10 minutes the next closest guy was 5 wings behind - which isn't really close in the world of wing eating apparently.

The Pride and Joy of Our Family!

So why am I important in this story you wonder? In winning this contest Steve won $3000! Amazing right? For eating CHICKEN WINGS! I could not make this stuff up if I tried...now being the DEVOTED and LOYAL sister that I am, I obviously voted for him to win. Since he won they picked a name out of the people that voted for him to win a prize. I believe it must have been some sort of divine power that saw my desperate attempts to not only help him win with my unbelievable words of wisdom (see section above) but to also catch all the suspenseful moments on camera that allowed my name to be picked from the box. That is right my friends, I show up to support my brother and I some how end up walking away clean, not about to vomit from eating to many chicken wings and with an extra $1000 then what I showed up with! Yee Haw!

The morals of the story:
Ultimately, your normal may not be my normal and that is really OK- to each his own - but my normal is clearly better, and obviously way more fun, not to mention much more financially rewarding!

You can all go about your days cursing me and being jealous now....

The Journey

I look back and think about all the life changing experiences I have had, especially those in the recent past and then I think about all those people who have helped me along the way both in good times and bad.

I also tend to stop and think about all the things I have kept bottled up and dealt with on my own. For me, being able to talk to people has proven to be more beneficial to me mentally and physically and most importantly emotionally.

 I then go on to think about all the other people who must have similar thoughts and experiences and who want to be able to talk to someone and like me need/want advice, help, someone who can relate, and shoulder to cry one or someone to laugh with and don't really know where to turn.

This blog is my attempt at forming and army to help me face the rest of whatever life feels the need to throw at me and for me to help, listen and advise others through their experiences....or at the very least I hope provide a good laugh once in while that will get you through your days.

Essentially, this will be a place to share joy and excitement, fear and loss, anger, frustration and triumph. Life is a highway and i hope you come along for this journey.

- WW