P-Town

Last weekend I spent some time in Provincetown (aka P-town), a town on the very tip of Cape Cod. Almost everyone I had talked to said to make sure I checked out this area when I mentioned I wanted to do some traveling around the Cape. It is definitely a free-spirited town- very friendly to alternative lifestyles and lots of local art. During the kayak tour, I made friends with a group of people my age that were also visiting the area for the weekend. I met up with Brett, Faith, J.J., and Luke in Truro (rhymes with "churro") for dinner. (Luke's parents have a house in North Truro- thank goodness I had my GPS, or I may never have found it... very peaceful wooded area.) After kayaking they had picked up seafood to make a boil- corn, sausage, shrimp. They also had lobster (cooked separately). Luke was trying to kill the lobster before putting them into the water (I've been told that they make a noise that sounds like screaming) by cutting part of their head, but the knife was pretty dull and wasn't doing the greatest job. Yuck.

After some bocce ball and more cooking, we sat down for dinner. I didn't give them too many details about my picky habits, but they knew I wasn't huge on seafood. However, I did manage to try a piece of lobster. Luke gave me a piece of the claw, which I think is supposed to be one of the best parts. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan.

Sweet corn is in season somewhere around here (much earlier than Indiana)

J.J. attacking the lobster

The aftermath

After dinner (and some serious clean-up), we headed into Provincetown to hang out with the locals. We decided that we'd play a game of cards...I don't think we ever really finished what we started. Luke was trying to teach us cribbage, but we weren't very focused students.

Okay, so I couldn't get everyone to pose for the camera... sometimes candid photos are the best

How about these poker faces?

On Sunday, I met back up with them so we could see more of the town. Our first stop was one of the most interesting stores I've been in over the years. The artist uses old metal scraps to create sculptures, but these aren't just any old run-of-the mill pieces. I mean, I've seen birds made of shovels and metal flowers, but nothing compares to this man's talent. He had spiders that were bigger than me! Below are a few of his pieces... (If anyone can remember the name of this place, please let me know! I'm not sure that I even saw a sign...)

A lighthouse that doubles as a birdhouse

There were lots of metal flowers and lawn ornaments (where else would you put a giant bird, fish, or spider?). A restaurant in the middle of town had a custom fence made of his flowers and grasses.

The ship weather vane was my favorite by far

Like many small East Coast towns, there was a lot of unique (at least to me) architecture and landscaping. You'd never know that there were gardens tucked away behind people's homes unless you looked. I really liked that the town was walking and bike-friendly. We stopped on the main "strip" for a bite to eat at Spiritus Pizza, a must if you are in P-town. It was a *wonderful* place to people (and dog) watch- everyone seems to congregate in this area when the weather is nice, and they bring along all kinds of dogs.

I liked the gated entrance to the door of this house. You can't see it in the picture, but the portico overlooks into the ocean.

Charming, isn't it?

How about this view while you're eating dinner outside on your deck?

I absolutely loved this- I'm sure people thought I was crazy when I stopped to take a picture. The sign reads and I quote: "Burn fat, not gas- walk/bike"

Thanks for a fun weekend, P-town!

Do What You Love and Love What You Do

During the middle of last week, I decided that I should take advantage of the positive forecast for the weekend and spend some time outside. After a bit of research online, I learned about Maritime Days, a month-long series of events designed to celebrate Cape Cod's rich maritime history. I was especially intrigued by a listing that featured an opportunity to kayak the lower waterways of Nasuet Marsh in the Cape Cod National Seashore led by Dick Hilmer who runs Explore Cape Cod.

Explore the maritime past by paddling Cape Cod’s storied coastal waterways with local science teacher and longtime kayak guide, Dick Hilmer. Kayak instruction is included during these natural history tours. Paddle through sheltered creeks, into bays and marshes, and towards islands rich in cultural history. No experience is necessary. Perfect for novice or experienced paddlers. All equipment is provided including kayak, paddle, life jacket and instruction – just bring a smile and a bottle of water, and $30 per person.

I mean, anyone who says "just bring a smile" has got to be someone I'd get along with pretty easily. I didn't really know what to expect, but I e-mailed the trip coordinator and was surprised when I received a phone call shortly thereafter. As soon as I started talking to Dick on the phone, I knew that this was going to be an amazing experience. (He's one of the few people whose enthusiasm is even contagious over the phone!) (FYI--the title of this blog post is his motto.)

Thanks to my new, handy GPS, I was able to find the location fairly easily. I met Dick and his wife Linda, our kayaking guides, near Eastham, Massachusetts. When I had talked to Dick earlier in the week, it sounded like it was going to be a small group of 6 participants, but I was happy to learn that some additional people had signed up at the last minute. There was a range of age and experience, but most of the other attendees had never kayaked before. I had never been, but it was always something I've wanted to do. When I normally think of kayaking, I think of going down a raging river and wearing a helmet, struggling every foot of the way to keep upright. This was much different.

We were kayaking in Nasuet Marsh, an area that our guides knew very well (they have been doing this for some 12-15 years). Their experience was definitely an advantage- we were able to base our route and timing to go along with the tide and weather. Dick and Linda helped to get us fitted into our boats (my model was called the Avatar!), and after some dry land instruction, we entered the water to do some simple practice before heading out into the water.

Our meeting spot... I guess this would be a public access point to the marsh, but no one else was there.

A close-up of the natural grasses on the mud flats in Nasuet Marsh

A lobster boat headed out to set their traps

Another lobster boat... they travel in pairs (but I'm not exactly sure why)

Part of our kayak group, with two of the friends I made in the tandem (2-person) kayak

A part of land with sand dunes that stretches out into the Cape gave us a place to pull up our kayaks and take a break.

Dick taught us everything you could ever want to know about the area, from wildlife to changes in the tide

The Atlantic Ocean from land...

... and from the sea. I was only 30 yards or so from entering the Atlantic Ocean

After a brief break near the entrance to the Atlantic, we headed to another area of the marsh, where Dick said he had a surprise for us. I was a little confused as to why we were stopping a second time, but I was getting hot and needed to take my jacket off (I didn't dare risk taking it off while kayaking--that is asking to fall into the water). We pulled our boats onto a sandbar, and Linda showed us how to go clamming! I had never seen or done this before- I was amazed at how fast the clams dive down into the ground. You first look for holes in the sand. When you think you've found a fresh hole, you start digging like crazy! (Picture your dog digging dirt in your backyard... Izzie would be a very good clammer.) When you start making your hole, the clam somehow goes deeper into the ground, so you have to chase after them.

Linda giving us instructions on clamming

Well, there's a first time for everything... I decided to dive right in. (I can't believe someone took this picture and actually kept it!)

I caught one on my first try! Guess what I said after I caught it? "I'm as happy as a clam!" (No joke, what a nerd.)

Although these clams are edible, it wasn't safe for us to eat them. When the water temperatures are below 60 degrees, a red algae (I forget the exact name) produce a toxic chemical. This is referred to as the "Red Tide." You can harvest and eat the clams in July and August when the water is warmer. (Too bad I'll be gone by then!) Linda said her favorite way to serve them was steamed with a side of butter.

Our kayaks waiting for us while we clam

The kayak tour stands out as a highlight of my entire year out East. Thanks to Dick and Linda for an amazing experience. If you are going to be in the Cape Cod area, this has to be a must on your list.

Arts, Culture, and Exploration

I've been a very busy bee lately... I'm trying to fit in as many sites/attractions before my time in Rhode Island is up. We have had gorgeous weather the past two weekends, so I was able to do some exploring. I'll start with telling you about my Saturday in Providence and Boston (two weekends ago).

After a breakfast of fresh orange juice and Mini Spooners (the generic version of Frosted Mini Wheats... I actually think they are better than the brand... the cereal is much crunchier and has more frosting), I headed down to Providence to do some exploring. Both Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) are in downtown Providence in the College Hill district. Thanks to Rhode Island Monthly's weekly communication about upcoming events in the area, I learned that RISD was having several free activities on Saturday to compliment a new exhibit in the RISD Museum.

The Carrie Tower on Brown's campus reminds me of the clock tower at Purdue (When I was an RA on the eighth floor at Shreve, I had an amazing view of the tower... so many great memories from Purdue!). On the bottom of the tower is an inscription that reads, "Love is strong as death." (Kind of creepy if you ask me!)

The Van Winkle gates mark the entrance to Brown University. According to Mitchell in the Brown Encyclopedia, "They are opened inward to admit students at the beginning of the college year and at the beginning of the second semester and on Commencement Day are opened outward to allow the procession to pass through, at which time the graduates traditionally doff their caps."

The students frequently have art fairs to showcase and/or sell their work... I bought a pair of dangly, gold earrings that are made from aluminum cans.

This is a picture of the featured exhibit at the museum. Maybe it's just me, but I don't get it. I drew things like this in kindergarten, and no one called it art, framed it, or paid money for it. (If you can't tell, the drawing is made up of cross-hatches and scribbles. There was another piece of "art" where the artist had drawn a square and filled it repeatedly with the alphabet. (It's a good thing I waited until the museum was free to attend; otherwise I think I might have felt ripped off.)

How about this for an admissions building?

I climbed the fire escape (don't worry... it had stairs and was somewhat sturdy) and took this picture of the city skyline. (Okay, so the trees are blocking most of the buildings, but I thought it was an interesting point of view.)

A church sits at the bottom of College Hill- doesn't this look like it belongs on a postcard?

I thought this was a charming old building... I love the name--"What Cheer Garage"

After RISD experience, I headed into Boston for another cultural experience. A couple of weeks ago I finally broke down and purchased a GPS (tax return + amazing deal at Target = can't miss opportunity), which made it MUCH easier to a) navigate through the city and b) find parking. I can't believe I didn't own one of these earlier this year, but there are two sides to every story. I did get lost quite a bit, but without a GPS, you really get to know your way around an area. After a quick dinner (and changing in Uno's bathroom), I went to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. About a month ago I received a notice (I am on so many list serves- you wouldn't believe it) that they were having a sale on tickets this spring. If you were under 40 years old, you could buy 2 tickets for $20 each (that tells you what the crowd is like), as long as you could show identification when you picked up the tickets. I didn't find out my seat location until I picked them up (they don't tell you), but I was in the fifth row!!! I loved being at the symphony... the music was beautiful and the backdrop was breathtaking (plus, who doesn't love to get dressed up?). The original featured violinist was unable to make the performance (he was stuck in Europe because of the ash cloud), but I was delighted to learn that there was a French horn soloist instead. For those of you who don't know, I played the French horn for 5 years (middle and high school). Learning to play a musical instrument is something I believe every child should have the opportunity to try- it teaches discipline, hard work, responsibility, teamwork, and an appreciation of the arts.

Here is a picture of the inside of the symphony hall... I wasn't allowed to take pictures, but I'm not sure my camera would even have the capacity or I would have had the angle for you to appreciate it. (Photo from the BSO website)

I did manage to sneak a picture of the light fixtures on the ceiling....

...And another one of my view of the stage (no zoom involved!)

I'm going to do my best to make a Boston Pops concert before I move back home, too--I'm just going to miss their July 4 show (I leave the day before), but I'm sure they are just as good any other weekend (and probably less expensive!).

Doing Something for Those with Nothing

Last Friday my department spent half of our day performing community service at the Rhode Island Food Bank. They have a new marketing campaign they'll be launching at the beginning of May, and they needed assistance assembling displays that will be distributed to Dunkin' Donuts and Whole Foods stores in the area. Before we began, there was a short talk by the director- did you know that a $2.99 donation can provide 10 lbs of food to a family in need? It just goes to show that a little can go a long way.

I really enjoyed interacting with my co-workers outside of the office environment- I am lucky to have such a great team. (No, I'm not just saying that- most of them don't know I have a blog or know and don't read it.) Even though I'm excited about moving home, it will be hard for me to leave my RI work family.

Here are a few pictures from our department outing...

Our group picture--the lighting was not the greatest in the warehouse where we were working. Naturally, I'm on the left side right in the streak of sunlight and can't be seen.

Deb and I taking a break for a photo op

Here are the cans that we had to stack on the displays. Jim, Amy, and I raced Bill, Kevin, and Lauren to see who could stack the cans the fastest (we're not competitive at all!). The cardboard display was made of two parts, a top and a bottom, both of which had to be socked with empty tin cans (labels out, Dan!). After assembly, the team had to place a cardboard cover over the display without disrupting the cans! You'll be happy to know that my team came out on top.

Doesn't Lorna have a great smile?

Glenda (left) and Jeanne make building boxes look easy

Don't mess with Jim!

Deb! In the office (and outside of work, I guess) I always call Debbie by her first and last name together, so it feels a little incomplete to just type her first name.

Look for more pictures to come- I'm having some difficulty loading the rest of them onto my blog.

And speaking of volunteering, I'll tell you about the clinic I've been volunteering at in Providence later this week.

It's Not You, It's Me

I was going through my magazines, cutting out my favorite pictures and articles, when I came across an article I dog-eared from the January 2010 issue of Marie Claire (I got a free subscription!).


You're Not Lazy, Just Normal

Ever wonder who those people are, streaming out of the gym at 6 a.m., all finished that early-bird Spin class and raring to tackle the day? They're mutants--at least according to a recent article in Science. A variation of the DEC2 gene--known as the insomnia gene-- allows some humans to feel refreshed and energetic after just six hours of sleep. Mice with the mutant gene spend an hour-and-a-half longer each day on the running wheel compared to their counterparts. Humans born with the gene just make the rest of us feel bad.


Even if it's not 100% accurate, it does make me feel a little better though.

Spring in Indy Part II

On April 9, I drove from Novi, MI to my parents' house to stay while I was in town for work. (It feels weird to say that it's my parents' house, not my house, but I guess it's kind of true.) It was so nice to be at home- it's not every day that you have someone else offer to make you dinner or do your laundry when you're an adult. [Note: We have this joke in my family that comes from a line in the movie Ghostbusters. When they are on the top of the building with Gozer, she asks Ray if he is a god, and he says no, to which she replies, "Then you must die!" He and the rest of his crew and almost flung off the building by lightening out of her fingers. Winston then tells him, "Ray, the next time someone asks you if you are a god, say yes!" So, long short somewhat shortened, if someone asks you something e.g. do you need money?, say yes!]

Click here to see the clip from the movie (it's towards the end)

Other great quotes from this movie that are often referenced by my family include:

-Where do these stairs go? They go up!

-Does this pole still work?

-We can stay there tonight! You know, try it out!

-I collect spores, molds, and fungus.

-Ray has gone bye-bye, Egon... what've you got left?

-Whoa! Nice shootin', Tex!

We had gorgeous weather, which allowed for my Mom and I to take Izzie on lots of walks. It was the perfect time of year for spotting wildflowers- we saw purple, white, and yellow violets! I can't remember the last time I saw white violets, and I don't ever recall having seen yellow violets, except in pictures. Izzie is so funny- whenever I'm home and I put on my tennis shoes, she thinks I am going to take her for a walk! My Dad takes her for a walk every Saturday and Sunday morning in Cool Creek Park, a small park near our house that has trails through a wooded area. I love that spoiled dog.

I taught four classes the following week with Susan, a pharmacist from Ohio. She has been giving immunizations for 5 years now, so her field experience was very valuable and added a great deal to our presentation. Since she had more practical knowledge, we split up the day, and I took the clinical section, which is basically the first few hours or so. I talk about all of the infectious, vaccine-preventable diseases that the pharmacists already reviewed in their self-study prior to coming to class. It's a miracle I haven't had anyone fall asleep on me. I try to keep things interactive, and by that, I mean I pass around a sign-up sheet (pretending like I need it) that I then use to call on the pharmacists to read questions (I'm so sneaky!).

Monday's class was in Bloomington, home of Indiana University. I haven't really spent any time in Bloomington, except for the grad orientation meeting several years ago at Lake Monroe. Nick went to school at IU (absolutely loved it) and often raves about how wonderful Bloomington is. I'm looking forward to getting a personal tour someday. We had class on Tuesday and Wednesday at a company office in Indianapolis, which is where I saw many people that I previously worked with while I was in Indy.

Wednesday night I ate dinner with my pharmacy supervisor, Amy, at P.F. Chang's. I worked for her as an intern for five years before graduating from pharmacy school and will be working in her district when I move back to Indy this July. We spent a lot of time catching up, then talking details about my transition from RI to IN. I found out that I am going to be a pharmacy manager when I move back! I couldn't be more excited about having a home pharmacy, developing a team, and getting to know my patients, one thing I've definitely missed this year. (I only work in the pharmacy one day per week, so it's hard to become really close to any of the customers unless they come in every Thursday or Friday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.) Amy is a wonderful mentor, and I feel so lucky to be able to move back to her district. Indy is full of what I call "my people"--after working in the same area for a while, I've been able to get to know other professionals and develop a support network. (I also have also developed a support network in RI, all of whom I will miss dearly.)

On Wednesday night, I drove to South Bend in preparation for a class early Thursday morning. I'm glad that I chose to drive up the night before. If I didn't, I would have had to get up before 5 a.m.! Let's face it, I'm much more of a night owl than an early bird (although that is slowly changing- I've gone down from 4 alarms to only 3! I'm sure my neighbors hate me, but let them. If I told you what it was like living next to my new neighbors, let's just say that you wouldn't feel so sorry for them.).

I had a blast working with Susie- I was sad to see her go back to Ohio! Susie is high-energy, flexible, and always up for an adventure, all the things you want in a traveling work partner. Even though we were busy, we did have time to talk a lot about work, family, pharmacy, etc. She has a condo on Sanibel Island and if I ever have the chance, I'm going down there to visit. (Nick's parents and grandparents also have condos on Sanibel- sounds like the place to be!)

Other exciting news- I finally signed the lease for my new apartment! It is the first apartment I posted pictures of on my blog- click here to see them (it's the first apartment). My Mom and I went downtown on Friday afternoon so that I could sign the lease and show her the apartment. (She took a few hours of vacation to spend some time with me, isn't that nice?) She really liked the apartment- although not necessary, it's never a bad thing to have a Mom's seal of approval. After the apartment, we did a bit of shopping at Circle Center before driving back to Carmel.

Friday night, our family friends, Jim and Linda, were in town, and the entire family went out to dinner with them at Barcelona Tapas. I first discovered this restaurant through my brother, and I haven't been able to get enough of it since! I recommended it to Susie while she was in town, and she raved about it the whole next day. My favorite is their baked goat cheese with marinara sauce and warm garlic bread.

On Saturday, I met Nick's family for lunch at Clay Terrace. Andrew, his nephew, was given the release to be in public (he was born prematurely and had precautions about being in public due to the potential for catching RSV, which can be very serious for babies with underdeveloped lungs), so it was nice to see him out and about. After lunch, I headed down to Lisa's house in Speedway. There are very few places where I feel just as "at home" as I do at my own home, and Lisa's house and her parents' house (two different places) are definitely on the list. It's hard to believe I've been going there since the fall of 2003! (We met our freshman year in college at Purdue.)

Saturday afternoon Lisa took me to the Twist 'n Pup, a new local (you guessed it) hot dog and ice cream place. They have lots more than just those two items, but since those are their namesake, Lisa and I both tried hot dogs and butterscotch-dipped vanilla cones (amazing!!). Later that day, Junie came over, and we traded stories. Since I had been raving about Barcelona Tapas and neither of them had been there, the three of us went there for dinner with Lisa's brother, Sam. (Just as good the second night! My new favorite: the caramel and supposedly strawberry churros!).

Sunday morning was spent going to church with Lisa, followed by quick visits with her dad and mom. I had an early afternoon flight, so I went back to the airport after lunch. It was definitely a busy trip, but I was energized by the idea of moving back home in less than 3 months.

I didn't do a very good job taking pictures (Sorry Julie, Lisa, and June!), but here are a few I took around by parents' house.

These daffodils are lilacs are from my parents' backyard. I wish I could arrange flowers half as well as my Mom can.

I loved the crab apple blossoms in the spring. It looks like snow when the petals are blown down by the wind.

I was trying to take pictures of Izzie- I think she must have heard something when I was taking this picture. After this she got distracted and decided that she'd rather lick my camera than have her picture taken.

Izzie sleeping on her designated part of the couch.

Mr. Rocky! I can hardly believe he will be 19 years old this October. I've got lots to say about him, but I'll save that for another blog post.

It was great to be at home for a week! A little pampering, plus time with family and friends goes a long way. If I didn't get to see you when I was home, I'm sorry! Not much longer, and you won't be able to get rid of me!