The Everywhereist

Phil shows us how it’s done.

-

Remember episode of The Simpsons where Marge decides to take a vacation by herself and ends up at Rancho Relaxo?

Most of you are probably nodding enthusiastically. Others might have vague recollections of it. And a select few might be shaking your heads and saying, “I’ve never really watched The Simpsons.”

That latter group, of course, belongs under glass, so we can inspect and examine them, because they are the modern day equivalent of children being raised by wolves. I mean, we’ve heard rumors of it happening, we suspected it was possible, but … really? Never seen The Simpsons? I … I just can’t right now. It’s too early.

(more…)

Rand and I are on the road this week, which means that I put this roundup together last week.

So if something major happened in the last five days, the Geraldine of last Sunday (who is currently writing this post) doesn’t know about it yet. Hopefully, nothing I say will be too offensive in the context of recent events, which I presently know nothing about.

But just to be on the safe side, here’s template. Please fill it in accordingly:

I feel very __________ about _____________.

And with that, here are the links:

—————

A single mom explains why we all need to stop lying in our Facebook posts.

—————

I may be totally biased, but I highly recommend that you donate to the Veronica Mars Movie Kickstarter.

—————

NPR explains that the first encounter between humans and neanderthals went, well … let’s just say better than expected.

(more…)

Our most recent trip to Madrid was our first visit to the city in four years. The last time we were there – in 2008 – Rand and I were still engaged; I’d just been laid off, and idea of starting a blog hadn’t even entered my mind. I finally went through the photos I took from that trip, and starting thing about how much we – and the circumstances around us – had changed in that time.

Apparently, I used to be camera-shy.

(more…)

I am officially phoning this one in. I know, I know – it’s completely and utterly lame of me, but let’s be fair: no one is really working this week, unless eating Christmas cookies and shopping can somehow constitute work  (it sadly does not, otherwise I’d be making overtime). So rather than post something brand spanking new, I’d like to highlight some old posts from Decembers past.

“But Geraldine,” you cry, “I’ve read all of your archives numerous times! I’ve memorized everything you’ve ever written.” And in reply I will simply smile and ride off on a winged pony.

Yeah, I know. I don’t have a winged pony. But no one’s read all my archives, either.

Anyway, please enjoy. I’ll be back tomorrow with an all new round-up, and reflections on the year that was. After that I’ll be offline until January 2nd, working on a secret project codenamed “Eating Cookies.” (Spoiler: the project consists mostly of eating cookies. Also, drinking milk.)

• On a freezing cold night last December, Rand and I strolled through Chicago’s Millennium Park.
• While visiting my aunt and uncle for the holidays, I decide to clean out their medicine cabinet. Two words: Corn Salve.
• Twilight board games, drunk dancing, and the magic of last Christmas.
• In case you needed definitive proof that my family is crazier than yours.
• 10 photos from Seattle’s 2010 SnOMG snow storm (yes, we called it that. Forgive us.)
• I found last year’s holiday decorations in San Francisco’s Union Square to be baffling, at best.

I know, I know: you’re probably thinking that Threadless‘s star has waned from it’s glittering height of popularity several years ago (by the way – that, dear friends, is how you mix a metaphor). Gone too are the days when I could actually get away with wearing logo t-shirts without looking like I robbed a college student on laundry day. I’ve come to terms with the fact that, at the ripe old age of 29, I’m a good decade older than Urban Outfitters’ target demographic, and now appear to be the creepy old lady who is shopping there, you hope, for some younger relative’s birthday present and NOT herself.

But none of this changes the fact Threadless has some absolutely adorable t-shirts out there. And since they’re now not as en vogue as they were, say, 4 or 5 years ago, it is now officially cool to wear their clothing again. Hell, one could probably get away with wearing their tees even if she’s pushing 30 … or pulling 25, as it were.

So even those these aren’t technically travel items, they are tangentially related to travel. And let’s face it: so is my blog. (more…)

The first time I landed in LAX, I was 14. I was spending a few days with my brother, who was a freshman in college at USC. I remember gawking at the layer of smog and the sprawling, bleached-out landscape. When I got off the plane, my brother, for possibly the first and last time in his life, looked happy to see me.

“This place is a shithole,” were the first words out of my mouth.

“I know!” he replied happily. “Isn’t it great?”

And I suppose for him, it really was. He was away from home for the first time, living in L.A., and trying, truly trying, to become a movie star. (more…)

A few months ago, we flew back from Boston (and boy were our arms tired! No … seriously. My bag was kinda heavy). During the flight, I noticed the woman in the window seat across the aisle from us looking frantically for something after the crew had come to pick up trash. She was upset, picking things up and looking around. At this point, I hadn’t realized what she had lost, but she enlisted the crew in helping her, who starting going through piles and piles of trash, looking for her lost item. (more…)

Not very long ago, my husband and I went to Chicago. It was at Oprah’s request, though we can’t really talk about it. Truth be told, we were iffy about going, and in the end, it came down to one question: Will we have time to go to the Chicago Art Musuem and see A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte? And they said yes. And so we went. (more…)