My Journey to the Last Frontier

Now that I’m back from Alaska I am humbled by the images I saw everywhere you look was like a picture everywhere you looked you saw these gorgeous mountains that I miss the most about being there. Some people wouldn’t think that Alaska would be a great place to go, or it is too far but I will say this, it was so worth it. After the  10 long hours in the plane, we greeted with this.

 and then I realized that is trip was going to be different.

With a 4 hour time difference from home I fell asleep the minuete I got there. The weirdest thing about Alaska however is that it never got dark there. The sun would set and then never go down.

This is from 11:00 pm granted the flash was on but you can see that you really didn’t need the flash at all. It was beautiful there and I really can’t even describe it because it was just breathtaking. Truly, enough with me talking about it. I think the pictures speak for themselves.

 

 

 

but there is one thing I need  to talk about, you all know I ate during my trip, but I did find the French Toast I’ve ever had.

 

 It was a stuffed French toast with a orange cream with raspberry butter. It was a place called the Snow City Café. It is voted the best Breakfast in Anchorage and I couldn’t agree more. So fabulous.

 

My trip to Alaska was really grand but I am glad to be home. Won’t be going on a plane for a while.

But it was so worth the trip

 

Sarah

Traveling around the Country for Poetry

 

Next Trip: Massachusetts Poetry Festival in Salem! 

http://masspoetry.org/

AWP was such a wonderful time! If anyone gets the opportunity to go, GO it’s such an experience.

 

My fellow writers, has anyone gone to any festivals or conferences? and if you have what one was your favorite?

Eager to hear your responses

sarah.

Our Trip to the Vineyard.

So before the storm, I went to Martha’s Vineyard for a little weekend vacation. It wasn’t like any vacation I’ve gone on before. Even though the beginning was a little rough, I’ve realized that after this vacation that things were going to be not the same when we came back home. As my mom and I watched as Sandy was preparing her land fall on our precious home. We had a great time when we weren’t looking at the Tv. My Dad was running a marathon there, hence why we were going. All I can say, that Cape Cod/Martha’s Vineyard is all dogs and mattress stores. We stayed in Falmouth in this really cute hotel. The door was sliding glass door which overlooked a large lake. It would of been awesome in the summer but we went in October and it was anything but summer like out. For the first day we were there we went shopping around the town of Falmouth and then went over to Martha’s Vineyard. While we were there, we were trying to find the best restaurants to go to, then my  mom decided to get a to go menu from the restaurants and then put them in a scrapbook. For breakfast we went to a place called Betsey’s Diner. Before leaving people were telling us to check it out, they said it was great. With an anticipated mind and stomach we walked in the little tin diner filled with many hungry people. Just as we sat down a bus full of kids came in so we were happy we came when we did. I ordered cranberry walnut pancakes.

Here’s a picture:

I was actually disappointed because they weren’t as good as they looked. My dad had apple and cinnamon pancakes and that was a different story. They were very good. Since my trip to Chicago I’ve been on the look out for the best things I’ve eaten in every state I visit. This was not the best thing I ate in Cape Cod, I unfortunately didn’t take a picture of what was the best, but all I can say is that when you go on the Vineyard, you must must must get chowder.. it will be the best chowder you will ever have ever.

Next, we walked around the town of Falmouth where there were many little shops and stuff where I found this chair.. it is the coolest chair ever and if I could have bought it, I would have.

There was this little bookstore there and it was very cute. It was like an old fashioned one but it was cute and I felt like I was in a children’s book. It was cute.

After our morning of shopping in Falmouth, we went to the Vineyard, I thought walking to the shuttle would be a good idea, but after the 6th block, I was regretting it. Atleast it was nice out. On our travels we found this bike shop. My dad likes bikes so he was in his element.

when we got there, the views were beautiful..we went on a ferry to get there and I was very happy I didn’t get sick on the boat. I’m not very good with ferries but this one was good.

-My mom and I

When we got to the Vineyard, the roads were tiny and we were happy we didn’t take the car.

Then we went to the Black Dog Tavern where we were overlooking the water while eating chowder and fish sandwiches. It was really nice. It was such a nautical town, I understand why the rich go there.

The next day was the Marathon and when arriving we were greeting by this:

On the chilly Sunday morning, we waved to my dad as he ran for 26.3 miles around Falmouth. While my dad was into his run, my mom and I went for Breakfast at this place called pop kitchen. It was the cutest restaurant I’ve ever been to and we had corn beef and eggs and biscuits. It was so fun spending time with my mom and splurging a little.

When my dad came in, we packed our things and prepared ourselves to race Sandy home. She was not going to land before we were home and safe. I don’t think I will go back to Falmouth, but I had a really nice time in the Vineyard and Falmouth and I would like to see the towns around there like Nantucket and Hyannis.

As we said Goodbye to Martha’s Vineyard we were anxious about getting home and riding out the horrendous storm that was awaiting us.

I would recommend going to Martha’s Vineyard atleast once in your life. It was very nice, and relaxing.

Sarah.

Turning off Real Life.

Over the weekend, I went upstate NY  to visit some friends. I don’t know what it is about being up there around the farms and wide open spaces that opens my mind and helps the creative inspiration and energy flowing again. As we were driving, outside every window was another breath taking image. They almost looked like pictures, thats how perfect it was there. You are in the country side where is green and the air is fresher and cleaner and the bugs are the majority, not people.When I was up there , I walked  around alot. I was always wondering deep into thought because everything I was seeing around me was so beautiful and peaceful. In my head it was like my brain was being drained and seeping into the soft fertile earth. When I go there, I tend to forget what its like at home. When I am there, I hear coyotes instead of honking horns, and when I look up,I see stars. They aren’t like ordinary stars, these stars look like they are going to fall on your face. I also got to go on a tractor, I didn’t turn it on, but it was awesome. I love everything about the country, the music,the people,the atmosphere . I really can’t stand this fast pace moving shit. Everyone is in a rush to get somewhere. In the country its all about patience. It may take you a half hour to get to the food store, but once you get there, its worth it.

I had an awesome vacation. It may have only been 3 days, but it felt like a week.I can’t wait to go back!

Sarah.

A Weekend with Daddy.

Over the weekend I went Upstate NY with my Dad for Fathers Day. His friends live up there. I consider them my family that’s how much I love them and how much they love my mom and especially my dad. I’ve been going up since I was 6 months old, but this was the first trip when it was just my Dad and I. I actually it enjoyed it alot more than I thought.

We shockingly didn’t fight like we usually do on long car rides. Everytime my mom would call she would ask me “are you fighting yet?” I think she was as surprised as I was.I saw so many cool animals, espically the four deer I almost hit on the way up. It’s like they wanted to die, but I was not going to be a murderer.

It’s funny how even with a GPS you can get lost. I got lost going shopping, which was fine. I went to this really cool store called Peebles, which is like Kohls. I got this dress that looks like an indian blanket. I knew my mother would hate it but I bought it anyway. I’m trying to match my new style with this bipolarish confidence. I am trying to dress like I am not 50… its a difficult process.. But Anyway, I got lost getting there too. That time it sucked because it was like 11:30 at night and I was exhausted. I also got lost and ended up on a dirt road. It was cool because I was blasting country but it would a perfect place to hide a dead body because it was a dead end into more woods. It was really cool, kids DEFIANTLY were smoking pot there, I was getting a contact high while driving.

After finally getting back, we had a small fire by the pond. we had smores and listened to country music and took pictures. I also went on their paddle boat. It’s like a defiant work out. I wish I had one. It’s like an elliptical sitting.

The next day we went on one of our friend’s boat in a lake in Lebanon. It was awesome. We got to go tubing and weight boarding and water skiing. It was really cool, it was the perfect weather too. I only went tubing but it was awesome.

For the first time in a long time, I actually spent time with my Dad and didn’t talk about school and shit we actually hung out together. It was one of nicest trips I’ve been on in a long time. I was only gone 2 days but it feels like a week. I will miss the view of the farms and the mountains, but I missed my mom alot more and I’ll be back up for Labor Day weekend.

To everyone up there in the hills of Upstate NY, Thank you all.

And Happy Fathers Day Dad!

Love, Sarah.

Finally Finding the Light.

So yesterday, I have officially found the University I want to go to after Brookdale.Since High School, I had been searching for  countless hours for writing schools. I went to AWP and met writing schools but I didn’t really feel a connection with any of them. This College wasnt even at AWP but I love it anyway.

Before I tell you what college I picked (I want to give it some suspense) I want to tell you a backstory of why I picked this area to even think about going to school.

Last summer for my graduation, my mom surprised me with a trip to Disney. I hadn’t gone to disney since I was 6 yrs old. Alot of rides had opened within that 12 years I wasnt there. They also created a Harry Potter theme park, and me being a some what Harry Potter fan, I wanted to go and see what it was all about. But to my surprise, Florida was the least most enjoyable part of the trip. Besides going to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry on the way there, the trip was a roller coaster of emotions and for a while it wasn’t much fun.On our way home, we stopped in Savannah Georgia. My mom and I have been watching the Food Network together for as long as I could remember. I’ve always wanted to jump into the Tv and taste Paula Deen’s Food. Paula Deen  coincidentally, is from Savannah Georgia. I wanted to see the Lady in Sons ( her restaurant) in person because I had heard about it on the show.

Once we got into the town of Savannah, I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere. The roads in downtown Savannah were small, but it was okay. It reminded me a little bit of Red Bank, which made me feel comfortable so far away from home. When we walked into The Lady and Sons I felt like I had finally jumped into the Tv, I could smell the sweet smell of southern comfort food, it was something I had NEVER smelt before in my life. The earliest time we could get a table would have been late so we didn’t eat there but we did buy a piece of Paula Deen’s Pecan Pie and let me tell you, it was the best pecan pie I have ever had in my entire life. As I was eating I was telling my mom I wanted it at my wedding. Before leaving Savannah we went to Paula’s brothers restaurant. It was called Bubbas.It was a seafood restaurant that sat right on the bayou.As we were driving to the restaurant, I kept staring out the window in amazement. The moss that was hanging from the trees was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Once we pulled into the restaurant, I heard the crickets begin to chirp. It wasn’t like New Jersey crickets, these were much louder.

When we walked into the restaurant, I was seated by one of the most attractive men I had ever seen in my life. Sitting down I was shell shock, I had walked into the cowboy Macy’s and I was going to enjoy the good food and the nice view. If I thought the mater de was hott, my waiter was even hotter. His name was mitchell and he sounded like Blake Shelton. He was telling us that New Jersey’s rep was ruined and he was happy we weren’t all guidos. Damn Snookie, ruining our rep.

Anyway, as I sat and ate the best corn bread I’ve ever had, I listened to our waiter talk about the grits,seafood and his life in Georgia. He was really nice, our waiters here are  nicer than in New Jersey, so it was a surprise to me. He even let us take a picture with him at the end. My friends wouldn’t believe how hott he was otherwise.

As I was leaving Savannah, I was stuffed, satisfied,and disappointed all at the same time. Savannah itself didn’t disappoint me, leaving Savannah itself did. I didn’t want to leave. I wish I could have spent a week there. Savannah felt like home. Everyone was so nice, and kind it was a BIG difference compared to New Jersey.

So when looking for a school, I decided that a school in Savannah would be the perfect choice. I love the south, I love country music, and finding a writing school in Savannah put the icing on the cake of love and passion. I was talking to this one girl in my English class a few months ago about colleges, she told me she  wanted to go to Savannah College. I had never heard of Savannah College. She didn’t tell me at the time it was a university for the arts. So yesterday as I looked up Savannah College for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised that it was a school for the arts. It has my major, it isn’t that expensive, and it is in a good area of Savannah.

I have decided I want to go there for my bachelors instead of my masters. I was going to do a NJ BFA and then a Savannah MFA, but after talking to my friend about it, I have decided that I am too, done with New Jersey. New Jersey is my home, My family, but Savannah and SCAD are my future and I cannot wait to jump into it.

I am not going for another year and a half, but getting all the information was exciting and I thought I would share my excitment with you!

Sarah.