roadside distractions

I have to hand it to Secret Caverns.  They went all out to sway us from Howe Caverns.  Giant hand-painted billboards, weird signs, promises of laser light shows and 100ft waterfalls.  One was even planted at the Howe Caverns entrance.  But we stuck with the plan and suffered through Joe the Mumbling Tour Guide, and they didn't even turn out the lights once.  Still fun but well.. Bah.

 

Curious about these "secret" caverns, I went to their website, where I found the story of cows falling to their death through a gaping chasm (the Howe cows simply enjoyed a cool breeze from a small opening in the ground), and that there is indeed a 100ft waterfall.  Unlike rival Howe, Secret definitely plays up the hokey.  Further investigation then led me to this gem: Roadside America

 

Whoa!  Hours of roadtrip fun await me.

 

Now if I could only work up the nerve to drive more than 5 blocks...

UNGHH

The sound made trying to hook my legs over a horizontal bar in mid-swing 23 ft off the ground.  The same sound heard while letting go and hanging upside-down.  And yet again flipping through the air, landing on my back and staring up through the ropes at the top of the tent wondering what the hell I was thinking, yet exhilarated.  Repeat 3 more times.

 

Had I brushed up on my physics beforehand, or stretched, or maybe taken some xanax, perhaps I could have avoided much of the pain I'm in.  For example how every time I cough (which was all day yesterday) it feels like I'm getting punched in the stomach.  Wince.

 

Was it worth it?  Of course, and I was in good company.  Would I do it again?  Probably...  Not this week though.

spinning & Spaten

I've taken up spinning again. I realize I don't have the discipline to do any sort of exercise on my own, and I need something besides seeing my beloved Ray twice a week, so happy to find a class I can (sort of) commit to. That and the women's locker room at the 16th St NYSC is practically a ghost town after work. Perfect.

After last night's class I braved the rain to meet Jesse at Lederhosen, a strange little Bavarian-style bierhaus whose website promises "Genuine German Goodness" - and I suppose delivered, though the American waitress seemed puzzled when Jesse requested she bring out her favorite schnitzel, as she had never tried any of them. Hmm.

They did however have a fine selection of vom fass, including the delicious Spaten. Fortunately for me (as I had to be at the gym by 7am today) they offer only the lager on tap, which at 5.2% alcohol is relatively strong but pales in comparison to the Spaten "Optimator," which weighs in at a staggering 7.2% (I'll save that one for balmy nights at the beer garden.)

I awoke to more rain and an overwhelming desire to stay in bed all day.

birthday in bermuda

Back in town after a long weekend of sun, sand, and Dark 'n Stormys, kicked off Thursday night with a fantastic birthday party thrown by my partner-in-crime complete with baked goodies, throwback candy (candy necklace = best party favor ever) shots galore (shudder) and the sorts of things that occur when you mix coworkers, booze and sugar. Good times.

Miraculously Eric and I made our 8am flight to Bermuda, where we continued the party at the Princess Hotel's infamous Friday night outdoor happy hour -- which goes on for 5 hours and is apparently the place to be. Lots of ogling of the attractive locals. Mmm...barristers...

Back to work tomorrow. Bah.