Errors and Omissions, OH MY!!!

Much more daunting to me than lions, tigers and bears are simple mistakes and I’ve just discovered I made a doozy! My very first post on California counties was WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! Palo Alto is in Santa Clara County, not San Mateo County. Yes, I do my best to verify something as simple as where I was and yes I am embarrassed. So… please disregard my geographical gaffe. I will be visiting both counties anew and will post appropriately. You can be assured that I will quadruple check all county lines from now on.

My omission is considerably less mortifying: I’m adding the Azores Islands to my list of “A” destinations. The archipelago sits in the Atlantic Ocean and is an Autonomous Region of the Portuguese Republic. Hopefully I’ll be visiting soon!

You can expect a flood of posts in the near future. The last few weeks have been a blur of travel. I was in Ireland, Chicago and am now waiting boarding for my Germany bound flights. Yes, I do realize that none of these destinations are on my 2009 game plan but I want to go EVERYWHERE! Also, in February my 50 States in ’08 Redux will begin after a month hiatus.

Happy travels…

San Francisco County, California

The City and County of San Francisco is the only consolidated city-county in the State of California, meaning the city council governs both city and county. The 824,000 residents (of which I am one) live in the second most densely populated city in the United States. San Francisco is known to tourists for its steep rolling hills, Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz Island, Chinatown and fog. Numerous films and TV shows have been set in Baghdad by the Bay.

What better way to spend a Sunday than to linger over brunch and see a movie? That’s how I devoted my official San Francisco visit. I started at Chou Chou with a bloody mary (crafted with sake by Chef Nick) & house-made croissants and moved on to a decadent bowl of mussels. Oh la la!! This French bistro is just blocks from my house but this was my first visit for brunch. Given the opportunity I’d do it again in a flash.

Too full to do much else but waddle to the theater, we purchased a ticket for the bargain matinee showing of Milk. It’s an excellent movie that speaks to the heart and soul of San Francisco. Regardless of one’s sexual orientation or age or race it is impossible to live in this town without having been profoundly touched by the 1978 assassination of Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk. I wonder how the film is received by an audience more removed from the events depicted. I though it was terrific

The Roger Ebert review states:


“Milk" tells Harvey Milk's story as one of a transformed life, a victory for individual freedom over state persecution, and a political and social cause. There is a remarkable shot near the end, showing a candlelight march reaching as far as the eyes can see. This is actual footage. It is emotionally devastating. And it comes as the result of one man's decisions in life.”…

San Mateo County, California

(Editors Note: In the category of "What was I thinking!" Palo Alto is not in San Mateo County, it is in Santa Clara County. Separate correct posts will appear for both California counties.)

When California was drawn as one of my feature states of 2009 I experienced a flash of disappointment. Maybe I was secretly hoping for Alaska or Maine, not my backyard. That’s not to say that I am short of opportunities to venture into new territory in the Golden State.

I contemplated various options: The high of the Sierra Nevada’s bookended with the low of Death Valley? Hiking the John Muir Trail? Hop-scotching from beach to beach surfboard in tow? Panning for gold? All would give me an incredible “California” experience but none felt quite right. I settled on all of the above. Echoing my quest of the previous year, I opted to visit the 58 counties in the state. Like my 50 States in ‘08 project; I’ll spend a minimum of one hour in each county and engage in some activity or commerce. I’m especially interested in California history, so expect a few historical society visits. We Californians live a great deal of our lives outdoors, so I’ll slather on the sunscreen & engage in several activities, maybe even the surfing lessons.

More than a third of the counties in my state are within a 2 hour drive of my San Francisco home and I’m looking forward to a leisurely exploration. The nether regions of Modoc and Inyo counties require some planning.

My first official California county visit was San Mateo. This peninsula is home to 712,000 ethnically diverse and predominantly Democratic residents. Stanford University is in Palo Alto, where Hewlett Packard, the symbolic if not actual founders for high tech’s Silicon Valley began in a garage. Redwood City is the county seat. My most frequented airport, San Francisco International, lies in San Mateo County.



Wedged between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay, the peninsula of San Mateo County is capped by the City of San Francisco, with Santa Clara County to the south.

My sister-in-law and I had lunch at Café Sophia in Palo Alto. This Afghani restaurant and coffee roastery is also a stop on my virtual tour of Afghanistan. I’ll write more about Afghan food in a future post. Our meal was delicious; we enjoyed the décor and had a great time chatting with each other. Luckily we had a great deal to talk about because the service was abysmal and we sat there forever. Oh well, maybe that’s the Afghan way?

Check out the Brave New Traveler post on virtual travel: http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/01/09/virtual-travelling-for-the-rooted-hobo/ I agree 100 percent with his approach of utilizing Wikipedia and Google Maps but personally include a greater focus on the literature, music and movies of a destination.

50 States Redux

In 2008 I devoted myself to visiting every state in the U.S.A. in a year. It was terrific, it was frustrating, it was educational, it was all consuming and it was all too brief. You can read all about it at www.50statesin08.blogspot.com. I embraced the challenge on a whim and harbor no true regrets. There were times when I was convinced that I was truly losing my mind but looking back I feel so enriched by the experience despite the scope of the undertaking. I lingered in some states but there were a few in which I only made a brief foray. I have a much greater appreciation for my home country and embrace the peculiarities along with the homogenization. Every single state tempted me with opportunities of future exploration. I’ve decided to post a weekly update of where I’d like to go next time along with whatever state odds and ends that cross my path.

On January 1, 2009 my husband pulled five states randomly out of a hat for me to delve into more deeply. Ideally we would take a week or two to tour each of these states. Reality will most likely squelch that plan but I can at least work out a fantasy itinerary for each.

My focus states of 2009 are:
California
New Mexico
North Dakota
Pennsylvania
Texas

Finally, I have a confession to make. I’ve already broken my “I will use the public library and purchase no more books” pledge. I knew it was destined to fall but I only made it until Jan. 5! But I have a really good reason. The book I couldn’t refrain from purchasing is State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey. It’s the perfect 50 state book; a compilation of 50 writers inspired by the W.P.A. American Guide Series of the 1930’s and 1940’s. (Oh – How I’d love to get my hands on some of those!) I've only read the forward and introduction and have decided to mete chapters out to myself throughout the year. I’m not the most patient person so no guarantees this plan with hold. It sounds good though, doesn’t it?

A January Sunday on the Bay

Yesterday we took the Jo-Fran out on the San Francisco Bay for a quick cruise. The objective was just to run the engines, take the boat out and see who else was crazy enough to brave the chill. Well, it was chilly for us. Fairbanks, Alaska is one of weather forecasts I receive on my phone. While I was shivering in 47 degrees about zero they were, well,I 'm not quite sure what one does in an amazing 47 degrees BELOW ZERO! I promise never to complain again!

Here are a few pictures of our day on the bay: If you look closely you'll even see some water skiers!

A is for...

You’re wondering what I mean when I say “A Countries”? Am I referring to a country’s credit rating or obscure economic code? Of course not. It as simple as a destination that begins with the letter A.

As everyone who reads this discovers: I WANT TO GO EVERYWHERE! Here is my wish list of A destinations for the year:

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa (territory of the US)
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla (territory of the UK)
Antigua & Barbuda
Antarctica
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan

I’m not in the income bracket where I can simply hop from continent to continent (and never will be if I keep this gallivanting up) and some destinations are irritatingly off limits due to war or political upheaval so some of my travels will be of the armchair variety. Hopefully I will visit at least a few on my list. For now I’m investigating the ways and means and will post my findings here.

Books, Books, Books

Last year I read at least 57 books. I say “at least” because I know there were a few that didn’t make it on my list and I, of course, can’t remember the titles. My 2008 selections were predominantly fiction, and generally had some sort of reference to a U.S. State. There were several quire easy reads along those which were more challenging.

My Top Three of 2008 were:

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
It was a little freaky sometimes, but well-crafted and riveting. The only one of my Top Three which was not a state read but this would have been a better Michigan choice the Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Impossible to go wrong with this classic. My Alabama read.

In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O’Brien
A mystery that kept me very ill at ease and haunted for days after reading. I can’t say I loved it but O’Brien definitely wrote something with staying power and a sense of place. My Minnesota read.


I’ll continue to list what I’m reading in a sidebar on this blog, as I did last year. I’ve got a brand new library card in my pocket and have requested my first books from the San Francisco Library. When traveling I hesitate to bring a library book along for fear it might go astray, plus I prefer to tote along paperbacks rather than larger, heavier hard covers so I’m certain I’ll still be purchasing plenty of new and used books this year. I want to utilize the Public Library because it’s such a tremendous resource which is on precariously funded ground and my love for reading began at the Public Library. We used go every week and I would cart home an armload of books to devour at my leisure. Great times that everyone should get to experience!

I’m starting off the year with The Soprano’s Family Cookbook by Allen Rucker. OK – I realize we aren't talking great literature but there’s a time and place for everything and I’m really enjoying it! The book is a fun look back of the fabulous HBO series filled with great recipes. I haven’t sat down to read a cookbook straight through in a long time; what a terrific way to acquaint yourself with a cuisine, region, food style or in this case fictional mob family. Thanks for the loan G!

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What are your favorite books of the year?

2009 RESOLUTIONS

Hopefully everyone is settling into 2009. Many New Year’s Resolutions have been made and already broken by now. Last year I resolved to do my best to travel to all Fifty of the United States of America. There were times that I seriously regretted the impulse but I was obsessed. As I was closing in on my goal nothing was going to stop me!

One of my favorite quotes comes from Mark Twain:

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness…and many of our people need it solely on those accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one’s lifetime.”

Sometimes one can’t actually step foot in a destination. The journey must be within the mind. Exploring the books, music and film of an area contributes dramatically to one’s understanding. This exploration must suffice in some occasions and always supplements actual travel.

Blogging details of my travels, along with ancillary subjects, on www.50statesin08.blogspot.com was always interesting, sometimes frustrating. I tried to continually attempt new methods of posting and incorporated new concepts along the way. Many were transparent to the reader but some were all too obvious. I’ll continue my amateur efforts in this forum.

In 2009:
I resolve to continue my exploration of my home country and share my thoughts with you.
I resolve to branch out in my exploration of the planet venturing into the A countries.
I resolve to utilize my local library’s resources as I discover the world in which I live.

This all sounds rather highfalutin’ but the bottom line is I’m not going to be staying home much yet again this year. Sorry kitty Rusalka!

Please join me back here: details will be revealed in the next few days.

What travel resolutions do you have?