I got sand in my pocket

Magnet #38 - Hawaii

Here's weird. I hate the beach. I hate the sun. I hate the sand. It's also weird that I hate all three things given that my peoples are from the Philippine Islands.

So, it's weird that I would have so many magnets from Hawaii. No, really! Everyone I know who goes to Hawaii ends up bringing me back a magnet - which of course, I love, (thank you) but it makes me giggle whenever I see them. This lizard I had to make sure was from Hawaii, and I got it confirmed when my friend who brought it back for me said she wasn't totally sure that's where it's from, but she thinks of Hawaii every time she sees it, so it must be from Hawaii. Right?

But, I digress. It should be known that I place the beach-hatred blame on the weekend getaways to the beach down in North Carolina. Actually, I use the term weekend loosely. Mainly, it would be a random Friday night, where my parents would come home from the office and say, pack up, we're going to the beach.

And at 3 or 4 in the morning, we'd be rousted from our beds, piled into the van, and would arrive at the beach about 4 hours or so later. We'd basically spend the morning and afternoon on the beach, and tis true - it was fun. Until the ride home on Saturday night. Where we'd have to change back into our quite sandy civvies, and sit in the van - damp and sand-ridden all the way home. Ugh. Sand in our underwear - not fun.

So, beaches = nofunjoy.

I heard a rumor

Magnet #37 - Gossip, by Norman Rockwell

On a random roadtrip, we stumbled upon Stockbridge, MA, home of the Norman Rockwell Museum. Of course, we stopped, because that's what we do.

They had several of his famous works, such as the Four Freedoms, or Stockbridge at Christmas. But the one that spoke to me and gave me a laugh was this one. Gossip. It's basically the illustration of how a story gets related from one person to another, from the old lady at the top left of the painting, boomeranging back to the same lady at the bottom right of the painting.

So awesome, and so true to life. Especially small-town life. Case in point, my friends and I spent the day in Mayberry, NC, and by the time we got to the tour guide's place, they already knew we were from New York, and coming on the tour. I was freaked out that they somehow knew, but they put my mind at ease, by confessing that it was actually the caller ID on my cell. Whew.

Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain

Magnet #36 - Oklahoma

So, I've been to Oklahoma, only once - Elk City. Where our motor home engine exploded during a cross-country trip when I was young.

I totally want to go back - there's a Route 66 museum in Elk City, and there's a ton of things to do in Oklahoma City.

Though, one word of advice for the Oklahoma City visitors' website - they should probably not list their attractions in alpha order. People might get turned off by the first listing being the Bass Pro Fishing Shop. Ha!

This magnet was actually given to me by a friend of mine who went to Oklahoma for a new business pitch. We didn't win, but dudes, I got a magnet, anyway!

Dr. Seuss, and you can, too!

Magnet #35 - Dr. Seuss

So...today's our company offsite meeting. What is it about these things that make me become the biggest kool-aid drinker ever?

It's quite the stuff and nonsense that I happen to love - when the company gets together and everyone's all onelove and happy. It's like all the bad stuff throughout the year fades away. *sips more kool-aid*

This magnet was from the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Garden in Springfield, MA. I love, love, love this place, and I'm not even the biggest Seuss fan out there. But, they have these giant bronze sculptures of Horton, and the Lorax and the Cat in the Hat and a giant, giant!, book. It's just the coolest place ever.

And, as only Dr. Seuss can, it totally teaches us what matters between the stuff and nonsense of our everyday lives.

Coffee and moonstones

Magnet #34 - Cambria, CA

Cambria was one of my stops during my Woman on her Own Roadtrip up the California coast a few years ago.

It's six miles away from Hearst Castle, and the only reason I even headed that way was because I was in desperate search for coffee. The only reason I decided on Cambria was because there was a sign for Moonstone Beach.

And how lovely does that sound?

So, off I went, visiting the myriad shops (very few of which were open very early). It's everything you'd think a small California tourist town would be - mainly gift shops and quaint hotels and resorts. And magnets. They had tons of magnets.

I never did get to actually see Moonstone Beach.

Come to think, I never actually got my coffee, either.

Vatican memories...or not, actually

Magnet #33 - Vatican City

Well, since I forgot to use this for Easter, but I figure some will appreciate my using the Vatican for my 33rd magnet.

I’ve never been to Vatican City, but feel so much as though I have.

The earliest memory I have is a picture of my mother’s best friend, Uncle Oscar, with Pope John Paul II. At the time, Uncle was a young priest assigned to the Vatican.

In the mid-80s, my mother went to visit Uncle Oscar, and came back with a rosewood rosary, presumably blessed by the pope. What I’ve never been able to tell is whether or not rosewood actually smells of roses, or if it was just magically, overly infused with the scent of roses. Because man, talk about an olfactory memory – I can still smell the roses that wafted out of the souvenir plastic casing.

Oh, and let's not forget the The Thorn Birds - there were several scenes set there, though I'd bet my bottom dollar it wasn't allowed to film on location.

This dimensional magnet was from my sister's visit to Italy during her Peace Corps stint. I love my dimensional magnets - they're always superpretty and interesting to look at. And, no, I have not a clue if that's what they're really called...I'm makin' up my own magnet nomenclature until some other magnet collector sets me straight.

*crickets*

Z like Zebra!

Magnet #32 - Perfecto Pizza

What? Like I said, all my magnets aren't equally cool. Equal time for the common ordinary fridge magnet.

This is the pizza place right around the corner from me at home. The guys all know me by sight, and between them and my mom's frozen cooking, they keep my plate full of good food.

Ironically, I don't end up getting pizza as much - why? Because their chicken marsala's to die for, and their hamburgers are arguably the best within a 5-block range.

And bonus - when I call in an order, they also know that my apartment is 6Z, as in Zebra or Ziti. Not Z as in 6Victor. Not Z as in 6Gyro. Or Z as in 6City. Or Z as in 6Sixty. Oh, my poor neighbors in 6C, 6G, 6S and 6V.


(And, yep, blurred to hide the address. Can't be too careful.)