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Go wings, eat your big apples June 13, 2009

I arrived in Detroit on the day of game 7 of hockey playoffs 6/12/09. The Pittsburgh penguins won but my dads neighbor still shot off some loud firework that sounded like a cannon being fired in front of the house. It was good to be home. Breakfast for 3 for $10 and dinner for 4 for $20. Nice when compared to California prices.

When traveling bean and cheese burritos are key. Why do we live in a culture in which parents have to buy name brand cereal? I love how parents do the big switch out, buy no name and switch boxes and kids don’t know. I typed this as I grocery shopped with my mom. I heart my new iPhone

It seems this little website blog is becoming some sort of travel log and gratitude journal. So it goes.

Below are from my trip to the dirty D and the big apple. I spent about a week in midtown Manhattan hosting another training & consulting event for clients of the MINDBODY software system. I really enjoy teaching large groups of people, it’s so fun, engaging, and challenging in just the right amount. Not that I don’t enjoy working with people in a one-on-one basis, it’s just a little more energy, that dance of teaching a group that I love. This group we worked with had a great dynamic and energy, everyone was really excited and positive about what they can do to grow their wellness businesses during uncertain economic times. Go yogis!

I stopped in Detroit to visit family before heading to New York. It was a tiring 9 days of travel, but I practiced yoga and meditated a fair amount and it’s amazing how much better it made me feel. I spent time with loved ones who’ve had rough times and experienced a lot of pain lately and I realized how blessed I am to have such great people who love me, even if I live so far from them and don’t get to see them often. I enjoyed greek food and saganaki (oopa!), live music, old friends, driving around my old hood, hearing old stories, great food in nyc, everything nyc, visiting ellis island and brooklyn, and finally just chillaxing in my hotel room.

november travels November 25, 2008

Lunch in a cup!

I spent 4 days in Hollywood, Florida working and taking yoga classes. It was 80 degrees and sunny although I didn’t get to spend much time enjoying it. Since I was traveling so much for work I wanted to cook at least one meal in my room to prevent eating out too much. Yes, eating out gets old when you do it every meal. I brought a hot plate and some beans and rice to cook, but forgot utensils. Oops. I had to eat my meal out of a starbucks cup.

typical nyc elevator

I spent 5 days in NYC working and eating. Oh, and of course shopping. I work at this great old building downtown at 28th & Broadway with the smallest little rickety elevator. It’s scary the first time you ride in it, but walking the stairs to the 10th floor is a little much (even for a yogi). Last year a group of people were stuck in it for an hour. Those little signs that say “Capacity = 6, We’re not kidding” were really not kidding.
During this visit I noticed how many trees exist in Manhattan. It’s amazing really, they did a great job planting them well below the pavement because they are thriving throughout the city, without cracking the side walk, and they hardly get any sunlight! They’re so pretty and make the city feel comfortable. This is different than my hometown of the dirty-d…when the trees started breaking up my front sidewalk they cut them all down. I remember how sad I was when they did. It’s not surprising that soon thereafter my neighborhood went to shit. Keep the trees next time pretty please!

back in nyc June 20, 2008

back in nyc

Originally uploaded by roxbanta

Another fabulous trip to NYC. My fourth time here for work. Things I love: private room karaoke, people watching, I don’t get lost anymore, new friends, (too much) great food, madison square park, walking everywhere, how you have to ask for “new york’s finest” just to get tap water at many of the restaurants, the attitude reminds me of the D …Things I miss: the grass, my bike, friends, yoga, my voice, space, alone time, my kitty. If you’ve never been to NYC, it’s definitely a place you should visit. I can’t believe how many people are in such a small space. It makes you feel comforted, yet overwhelmed at the same time. It’s amazing how many different lifestyles are intersecting here. More photos here.

my mom finally made it to cali… March 15, 2008

Yes, that’s right. Laurie finally left the ball busting winter of Michigan for a few days of sun and fun in SLO, CA. We had a great time and I kicked her butt quickly with all the walking in my hilly little town. She can never remember how to pronounce places we went so I am writing it here to make up for her lack of memory.

We went to Pismo Beach, walked around and ate fish tacos.
We tasted wines at Edna Valley Winery.
We cruised our year-round, weekly farmers market and had dinner at California Pizza Kitchen with my friends.
We hit the night life a bit and hung out at my favorite Irish Bar, McCarthy’s.
We toured Hearst Castle.
We ate sushi and the restaurant made my mom a little pair of beginner’s chopsticks.
We shopped around town.
We are going to a St. Patty’s Day party tonight.

All in all she was quite the trooper. It was great to have her here! Below is a photo album of our trip to Hearst Castle.

Fun driving through tahoe January 4, 2008

Fun driving through tahoe

Originally uploaded by roxbanta

Mike, Bruce, and I left Boise around 9am yesterday to move from Boise, Idaho to San Francisco, California after less than a year in Boise. We made it to the bay area late last night after 13 1/2 hours of driving for a total of 650 miles. The first half of the drive was truly in the middle of nowhere. The mountains were amazing, the rock formations intriguing, and I loved the pretty little black and white birds with red beaks. We saw a sign that said “No gas stations for 100 miles.” While driving down a two lane freeway we saw a coyote waiting for traffic to clear so he could cross the street. The weather started with a wind storm in Reno, Nevada where Mike saw a semi truck tip to 45 degrees. During one gust of wind I got blown into another lane, luckily there wasn’t a car next to me. It took 2 1/2 hours to drive through the Tahoe National Forest, in first and second gear only, and we were forced to put chains on my car, which I had never done before. My bikes were on the back of my car getting whipped around the whole time. The rain started last night and hasn’t stopped in the bay area since.

We made it though! Another big move road trip completed. Mike took good care of me and the bruceage.

NYC November 23, 2007

I just spent a week in NYC for work. I really love NYC more and more each time I visit, yet at the end of each trip I am more than happy to go home. It reminds me of Michigan, that tough love kind of street attitude everyone has. I love walking everywhere, old pubs, street vendors, private room karaoke, the food, getting hit on by models. Great city. You can see more photos here.