I am having a serious case of those wistful, end-of-summer blues. Fortunately, there are a few sunny days left on the calendar to keep them at bay, a few trips to sunny locales that will help me forget that soon Seattle will be back to its old gray tricks. And there are things to smile about. Silly things. Wonderful things.

And a few things to think about, too, because I read somewhere that we ought to try and do that every now and then, even when we’re screwing around on the internet.

Oh, and some inane stuff, too, of course. Enjoy.

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A Pop-Tarts restaurant is opening in Times Square. Just looking at the footage makes my blood sugar spike. We’re clearly taking steps to make sure Britain doesn’t inch anywhere closer to our title of World’s Most Obese Country. (via Vagabondish)

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Continuing on the junkfood theme, this comparison of fast food items as they appear in ads versus real life is pretty darn interesting. Unsurprising, but interesting. (Thanks to my bro, Edward, for the link)

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Rand and I just flew into Seattle last night (boy are our arms etc., etc.) after a few days in San Francisco. It was a brief, crazy, somewhat exhausting trip (adjectives which could have been avoided,  but, like all our travels, our discomfort is self-inflicted). It was, nevertheless wonderful, and you will hear all about it next week.

In the meantime, enjoy things I found on the internet.

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Apparently Muhammad Ali had an exchange with a flight attendant back in his heyday. She told him to put on his seatbelt, to which he replied, “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” Her answer?

“Superman don’t need no airplane, either.”

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I just wrote that it was 2007 in the title of this post. I changed it, but seriously, WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I do this all the time.

Also, if someone wants to discuss how it isn’t really mid-August, and this is just some weird conspiracy, I would be totally okay with that. I spent the morning looking at winter boots. WINTER BOOTS. Gah. Nevermind. Let’s talk about cool stuff I found on the internet instead of my own mortality …

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Apparently Han Solo wasn’t supposed to die halfway through Jedi. But after his action figure sold like mad, Lucas decided not to axe any of the principals. Thank god. (via @mobilelawyer)

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Dude, it’s been a week.

I’m been running around and fighting off a cold simultaneously, and after a few days, I knew something was bound to give. So when I woke up this morning with a wicked sore throat and no earthly clue what day it was (no, really), I wasn’t really that shocked. Except when I found out it was Friday. I had figured that it was Wednesday or maybe Thursday. But Friday? Really? It’s Friday? I am shocked.

I was lucky enough to catch up with an old friend from middle school, and meet a few new ones (including the amazing Deanna of Traveling Monkeys and her family) – but you’ll have to wait until next week to hear about all that awesomeness. In the meantime, I’m feeling too crappy to do anything but browse the internet. Enjoy …

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I realize it isn’t anywhere close to Halloween, but it’s August, and in Seattle that means that fall is already on its way. Check out photographer Amy Stein’s series, Halloween in Harlem. It’s haunting and sweet, and reminds me of Sesame Street in the days of yore.

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I can think of soooo many applications for these.

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Some brilliant soul put summed up all of Chewbacca’s dialogue from Star Wars in comic form.

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Everything has been a little off this week.

I suspect the full-moon was partially to blame. Or maybe it’s that summer just doesn’t seem to be coming to Seattle this year, and we’re a little upset about it. Or perhaps it’s that every single person I know (myself included) just hasn’t been getting enough sleep and is a little cranky. This would certainly explain the behavior of my friend’s two year-old-daughter, who I babysat this week. She alternated between laughing, crying, and running around like a child possessed for four hours.

I knew exactly how she felt.

Why are things so off? Why are we so cranky? And how is it that my links for the round-up reflect this, even though I didn’t mean for them to? It’s clearly a mystery. Read on, while I go get a snack.

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Only the dead have seen the end of war. Hee hee. I am clearly warped for finding that as funny as I do. (via reddit.com)

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I tried to figure out where this week went, and then I realized that two days of it were spent in Los Angeles. I’ll be posting about that trip next week, but let’s just say that few things can make a day more surreal than being in Los Angeles. There’s an abundance of face boobs and fake noses, and NOBODY GOES TO THE BEACH. I just don’t understand.

And the weirdness doesn’t end there …

At Cranium, the editorial team joked that they had to do this all the time … but I didn’t realize it was actually possible. The guys from Mythbusters take on the task of polishing a turd. Watch the video to see if they succeeded. (Note: “success”, in this instance, is a relative term.)

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Because we are a well-meaning, if occasionally misguided, town, Seattle is considering banning the Bodies exhibit (you know – the one that features real, preserved bodies in a bunch of weird poses). While the folks behind the exhibit claim that they’ve used people who’ve died of natural causes whose next of kin could not be contacted, there’s rumors that they might be the bodies of murdered political dissidents. So … that’s creepy.

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Don’t complain about the food on RyanAir. Because however bad it is, it’s better than what you’ll be eating in jail. SEE WHAT I DID THERE? Jail is where they send you if you complain about the food. Yeah. I’m clever. (via Gadling)

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“My iPad got fishy smell. You need to be careful.” Sigh. Once again, GADGETS AND FOOD DON’T MIX. I don’t know how many times I have to explain this to you folks.  (via reddit.com)

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Am I strange for finding this photo to be downright haunting? Probably. But still, I do.

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I read this four times before I understood it. Apparently the copywriters behind the ad didn’t realize that in some parts of the U.S., we refer to ecstasy as “E”.

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In less bizarre and significantly more awesome news …

Mad Men is back on this weekend. I’m freaking out with excitement. If, like me, you’re having trouble waiting until Sunday, The Simpsons parody of the Mad Men intro might help. Still not enough for you? Tom and Lorenzo (the geniuses behind Project Rungay) have a run-down of nearly every important outfit ever worn by the women of Mad Men. No, I’m not kidding. It’s fantastic. Their sartorial analysis ties into plot and character development perfectly. It is, without hyperbole, one of the best things I’ve read in ages.

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I got downright teary after reading blogger/photographer Peter West Carey’s post about why he loves traveling with his daughter. I suggest you grab a tissue and give it a gander.

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If I actually spent more time in my home, I would want it to look like this.

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I’m entranced by Seattle Times’ illustrator Gabriel Campanario’s sketches of Seattle and its inhabitants.

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And I’ve decided to close with a quote from my brother with whom I was lucky/cursed enough to hang out this week. If you aren’t following him on Twitter, you should.

“I’m like the anti-Logan’s Run: Everyone under 30 should die.”

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Sigh. A fine thing to say to your 29-year-old sister. Anyway, that’s all for this week, folks! Enjoy the weirdness.

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P.S. – Do you have an article, post, or picture that you’d like considered for The Week in Travel? Send your links to contact-at-everywhereist.com. Please, no inappropriate or NSFW content.

You know that song by The Black Eyed Peas that goes, “Tonight’s gonna be a good, good night?” Well, I’ve had that song in my head all week. Because it has been a good, good week. Summer finally came to Seattle, and with it sunshine and butterflies and ice cream cones and dreams.

Too much? Tough. How often am I optimistic, unsarcastic, and blissfully in love with everything? Enjoy it while it lasts, kids. Next week, I suspect the vitriol and spite will be back with a vengeance.

But today? Today brings a world of wonder. Behold:

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The Old Spice Guy has take the internet by storm. In a round of viral advertising (that I suspect kids will study in mass media history classes for years to come), Old Spice unleashed a slew of videos featuring Isaiah Mustafa (a.k.a., the Perfect Man in the towel) responding to Tweets, proposing on behalf of a fan, and hitting on Alyssa Milano. The result? 6 million views in 24 hours, and lots of shots of chiseled abs. And for that, we say thank you.

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It’s not a permanent fix, but for the first time in 3 months, oil is no longer rushing into the Gulf. It’s not a lot (after all, there’s still a hell of a lot of clean-up and seemingly permanent environmental damage), but for right now, I’ll take it.

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Internet shorthand as if written by a proper Englishman.

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I recently saw this video, in which Jewel dons a disguise and heads out to a Karaoke bar, and kind of freaked out. It’s adorable.  AND I CAN’T STAND JEWEL (via Funny or Die).

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And speaking of adorable, Rand and I went to see Despicable Me last weekend. The whole movie is so-so, but it had a few winning moments. In particular, this one. There. I just saved you ten bucks on a movie ticket.

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Crisco + Sharpie + 3 pigs = Best. Prank. Ever.

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Did I gush about how I was published on Gadling? I WAS PUBLISHED ON GADLING!! Check out my 7 Travel Rules You Should Break. I am so excited, I am having trouble keeping my corn flakes down. It is that awesome.

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I hate resorting to LOLcats, but damn it, this is funny. “Turtle is not angry …” (via @Jennita)

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And I’ll close this week with a quote from my friend Skye, who’s leaving town, like, tomorrow. Ahem:

“Adults are weird about dessert. I have not lost my youthful enthusiasm for sugar.”

Right on, sister.

It may be on account of the 95-degree heat (which, for us Seattlites, is enough to cook our brains) but I am knackered. Honestly and truly beat. I can’t even figure out what I did this week to knock me so sufficiently on my ass, but needless to say, this week’s round-up is more than a little sleepy. I sincerely hope you will forgive me, since, let’s face it: most days, I’m awesome. Plus, I blog every single day! Can I get a “what-what”?
Note: I don’t actually know what “what-what” means.

Anywho, on to the week that was …

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My aunt loves to send me forwards, usually consisting of photos of animals hugging one another. I’m not saying I mind, but I was delightfully surprised when she sent me this video of Italian kids giving away free hugs.

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Cough-cough. Excuse me. I’m just a little hoarse. (via reddit.com)

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Sabina Lohr of Solo Female Traveler encounters “squeaky sand.” No, really. It squeaks. (My theory: it’s possessed by the souls of a thousand deceased mice.)

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Do you take pictures of your food because you worry you’ll miss it after it’s been eaten? No. Me, neither (looks around nervously). For those of you who enjoy taking pictures of food for entirely different reasons, check out Gadling’s new photo contest, which ends on Monday. You could win some nifty camera-type accessories.

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One writer explains why soccer fans should be cheering for Spain and against Holland in the World Cup final. Considering my Dutch last name, and my lingering belief that “if you ain’t Dutch you ain’t much”, despite, you know, not being Dutch at all, I am conflicted at best. (via Slate.com)

Oh, and they also have a weird, hysterical collection of slow-motion videos clips from the World Cup. Everyone looks dorky at 1/20th speed.

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A Chinese airport was shut down for an hour due to … A UFO?! No, seriously. It was unidentified, it was flying, and it was an object.

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I am super psyched about my guest for Boots ‘n All: 10 Tips for Joining Your Spouse on a Business Trip. (Also, did I just say “psyched”? Apparently, yes. “Bitchin” is soon to follow, I am sure.)

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It is clearly too hot for attire like this. Seriously. Dress coolly, and don’t forget to stay hydrated.

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And with that, I’m out folks. I need to go take an ice bath or eat a penguin or something.

It’s 56 degrees! And raining! Yesterday, I made soup for dinner. Hooray for summer in Seattle (in all seriousness, if I don’t get some sunshine, soon, I’m moving to California. And I hate California).

As for this past week, I’m not gonna lie: it’s been a mixed bag for seemingly everyone but me (my week was downright delightful). Some people have amazing news (new jobs! New apartments! New babies!) while others I’ve talked to have had a rough time of it (some big uncomfortable changes and nasty breaks). Accordingly, this week’s posts are a bittersweet mix of sentimental, silly, and at times even snake-y. Hopefully they’ll either sustain the good mood you’re in, or cure what ails ya. Enjoy.

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The blogatrix behind Brooke vs. the World has written a great piece about the strange, lonely melancholy that occasionally accompanies us on our travels. It’s incredibly easy to relate to, and will have you wondering, “Is travel all sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows?” (My answer: No. But it’s still worth it).

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An illustration of the never-ending struggle … between donut and bagel.

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This warmed the brittle lump of coal that is my heart. (Via Slog)

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Keith Savage, of The Traveling Savage, has a great post up entitled “The Goodbye Traveler“. He notes that when a vacation comes to an end, not only should we say goodbye to friends and family members, but also to the places we visited. We should take a moment to reflect, to express gratitude, and to close the book on our travels (at least for now).

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Apparently eating airline food can get you sick. How this is news? We’ve all learned this lesson (and painfully), I’m sure.

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I have not read the Twilight books nor seen the movies (and I don’t intend to). Nevertheless, this made me giggle like a little girl. Professor Snape, FTW.

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Kristin, the blogatrix behind Camels and Chocolate, shares her harrowing tale of encountering a black spitting cobra while on honeymoon in Borneo (don’t worry: she comes out unscathed)

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This picture collage shows the amount of food families in different countries eat over a week (note: it’s depressing, but fascinating). (via reddit.com)

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EU 261 is a new law protecting travelers heading to Europe. The airlines are doing all they can to work around it, and consequently don’t want you to be too informed about the intricacies of the law. So, naturally, you should commit the whole damn thing to memory.

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Hurry! Only a few more weeks to enter The Washington Post’s Travel Photo Contest!

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And one last thing of note – and it’s an important one. My brilliant friend Mimi started a blog (apparently several months ago, but I was drunk at the time, and didn’t pick up on it until now) about what it’s like to be bi-cultural in the U.S. (she moved to the states from Japan while in high school). It’s called Don’t Put Chopsticks in Your Hair. And it’s awesome.

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That’s it – have a safe and happy Fourth!

Summer has taken her sweet time to arrive in my fair city, and all of use here in Seattle have been anxiously waiting her arrival. She’s like the popular girl who RSVP’d “yes” to your party. You doubt she’ll show up at all. And if she does? It will only be for a few minutes, max. But still, you hope you’ll see her.

For those of you who’ve forgotten what sunsets look like in our fair city, here you go.  I promise we’ll get another one. Really.

In the meantime, let’s take a look at the week that was …

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If you’ve been paying attention, Italy got knocked out of the World Cup. I’m not going to lie: I haven’t been (last week was a fluke). And apparently the U.S. is still in the running. So … that’s weird.

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Ladies, lock up your mothers – My brother is now on Twitter.

And speaking of Twitter, this week I hit 1,000 followers. But I didn’t hit them hard. (Ha ha ha ha ha – see what I did there?) Why is this significant? My goal, when I started this whole crazy travel project, was to have 500 followers.

My new goal? Win a staring contest against a Muppet.

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Deanna, the brilliant blogatrix over at Traveling Monkeys, has created a travel playlist to rule them all. It is an opus to all things 90s, and just reading her post brought me back to my halcyon days … spent listening to The Wallflowers and wearing a corduroy jacket acquired from the thrift store (for the record, it was this exact jacket. When I first saw that movie, I freaked.)

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Budget Travel has a great list of 100 places you’ve never heard of – but will want to visit.

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I cracked up after only reading the headline to this Onion article.

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Check out the extensive devastation of the 5.0 Toronto earthquake. (via reddit.com)

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My friend Giselle sent me this video of a beach in Destin, Florida, on which oil has washed up to the shore. Kids are playing it, not really realizing what’s going on. It’s truly depressing. I remember finding tar balls on the beach as a kid (presumably from boat leaks) and it was terrible. This is infinitely worse. On to happier news …

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Attention travel bloggers: Zach Anner is going to put us all out of business (though, since I’m unpaid, it’s not really a business). Thankfully, he’s funny as hell. (Take the time to watch the video. You won’t regret it).

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Baby moose! Playing in a sprinkler! (Ignore the music. It’s awful.)

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And that’s it for this week, folks … hopefully the next week will bring more sun and fewer gallons of spilled oil.