Back from Rhode Island

Fall travel begins. I have a relatively light schedule compared to previous years, because most of my destinations are within driving distance, with the exception of a trip to Texas.

This week I was off to Rhode Island -- a state I must sadly admit I had not visited until now. I think I'll make it a vacation destination someday, since it was easy to get to and the people were so nice. I was spitting distance from the ocean but needed to get home, so alas, I did not put my toes in water.

I did have a great time both at the Adoption Options held at The Potter League for Animals, and out on the town Thursday and Friday nights with our speakers.

One thing I try to do each time I travel with great people, is to buy one affordable but remarkable item that I can fit into my everyday life, to bring me a smile. Smiles are very important to people who live alone. Well, I suppose they are important to all people, but when you live alone, you rely pretty heavily on memories. So in my house I have a prayer flags I got in Virginia, a tiny bowl that holds my coffee spoon each morning, from a local artists' store in Augusta GA , toe-rings from Key West, shell wind-chimes from Jekyll Island--things that tend to cost around $20.

After dinner on Friday we were wandering around the shopping district in Newport, and stumbled into this little boot store. Pia loves her boots, so in we went. There was one affordable pair I would have been happy to wear to Texas, but unfortunately my toes objected. Paul and I wandered over by the door to wait for the others. Some rain boots in abstract colors adorned a rack. Paul is pretty tall and pulled down a short western plastic boot from the topmost shelf. He said, "What about this?"

OK, these were definitely boots that would make me smile, especially since Paul picked them out. Pia walked over. Luckily she has a smaller foot size than I do, because she fell in love as well.

We both walked out laughing with loud, artsy, fun, vinyl, western rain boots (soft and comfortable as can be) and gave all the credit to Paul.

When people's eyes fall to my feet in Ithaca (or in the airport when I travel), I will smile and smile and smile. Maybe I'll even wear them for the next AO.

Thank you Karen, Paul, Steve, and Pia for a wonderful workshop and a great time with friends.

Discovered a new place in Owego

The rooftop "beergarden" at Tioga Trails in Owego (photo from their web site)

A little brain-dead from two days of adoptions, I wandered down to Owego to meet Gretchen, but our usual watering hole was closed. The Parkview was also closed and dark, so Gretchen suggested Tioga Trails. When we got there, the proprietor started to seat us but then asked if we wanted to "visit the roof now or after" and since I'll take any opportunity to visit any roof at any time, I said "now."

We entered a street-side door that we had previously passed, and climbed up four stories of brand-new steel stairs to a new wooden fenced deck with a covered bar overlooking Owego. The woman behind the bar told us it had only been open two weeks.

It was a beautiful place to spend a September evening, sipping Mojitos ($4, or $2 for a half-sized drink--cute!). Dinner could be ordered from the restaurant below via cellphone (Order "to go" and they'll bring it up. Although you'll ended up eating out of stryofoam, at least your wonderful leftovers were already boxed. The food was excellent - $11.95 for the pasta dishes we had).

Then the crowning touch arrived -- "Ted" the dog, who played dead when you pointed your finger at him, would "shake," and also gave double-pawed "high-fives." Ted scored lots of sweet potato fries off me (I broke them into small pieces as treats) and I got my big-dog fix for the week.

So, all of my local readers, before the cold weather rolls in, I suggest you watch the sun set from the roof of Tioga Trails this month. They are open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Maybe you'll get to see Ted.

"Ted" at the Tioga Trails rooftop garden (Photo by Gretchen)