I just finished counting the number of states I have visited, landed in, or driven through, and I am up to 26/50. I feel proud of having been to more than 50% of the US, but I'm certainly not content, and can't wait until I am able to explore more. Plus, there's all of Europe to think about.
A company called Canada Dry makes club soda. Strangely, it is bottled in Plano, Texas. I can't think of a more liberal country contrasting with a more conservative city. Relatedly, is club soda healthy? Some top ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sulfate, Disodium Phosphate.
I very much enjoyed my recent trip to Philadelphia. The city seems something like New York, except there's more space, and people seem in general friendlier. Perhaps it was because the weekend in which I visited there was no rain, despite the past few having seen downpours.
The reason I was in Philadelphia was for the 2003 Skate Jam. This, in addition to the Philadelphia Inline Cup (a set of 5k and 20k races), and the chance to see friends from all over the country, served as a good enough reason to take a weekend away from Austin. It felt good to connect with my fellow skaters, and I offer a shout out to: Vicki, Walter, and Carloyn from Detroit, Mark from Atlanta, Blake and Elizabeth from North Carolina, Wendy from Pittsburgh, Mag and Claudia from DC, Lynn and a lot of other skaters whose names I forget from NYC, Laurel, Alan and Freddie from the Boston area, Kimmi from Philly, the full group of Rochester skaters (Orlando, John, Alice, Michelle, Greg, Joel, and others) and Carl and Joe from somewhere, USA.
Downsides to the event:
1) Laurel spending a night with Alice, Greg, and myself, and her purse being taken from the room and her reaction following the incident.
2) Not so much Alice conversation time.
3) Greg's present unhappiness, causing him to be a bit more critical these days.
Overall, I already miss it. I wish every day could be like this past weekend was. I'll take the step forward and admit that I am a community skate junkie.