When They Said “Happy Anniversary” and No One Clapped

On our anniversary (July 18), we went on a dinner sunset cruise here in Erie. It wasn’t fancy, but it was nice. They asked for people to share birthdays and anniversaries so I impulsively told them it was our 19th anniversary. Laura looked at me and sighed. She was right. I asked the server if […]

Baby, Don’t You Dare Sleep While I Drive

Missed exits

This morning after I dropped my wife at her office, I came home and dragged out the snowshovel with a beatup broom to the front street. One of the trash bags with our cat litter had broken open and the trash folx just left it there in the middle of the street. The edges of […]

Queering PA Wilds: Day Seven

Last full day of vacation. The night was rough. I felt suddenly nauseated so I was sipping ginger ale and using cool cloths to avoid a worse fate. Finally, I fell asleep, but a worse fate did happen. Not vomiting, but I woke up screaming holy blood terrified screams. Laura managed to wake me up, […]

Queering PA Wilds: Day Six

Awoke around 7:30, grabbed some clothes, and headed down to breakfast. One other couple were in residence so we had a lovely chat.Three days of scrambled eggs, coffee, and more prepared for me without having to wear shoes have been lovely especially given the lack of having to do the dishes. But today it ended […]

Queering the PA Wilds: Day Five

The B&B had other guests so breakfast was engaging.Coffee is okay, but I miss Starbucks so we headed to a local ccoffeehouse, the Creative Cup. Good prices, great coffee. We are heading back tomorrow on our way out of town to load our travel mugs and purchase their coffee.Note – it is a glaring omission […]

Queering the PA Wilds, Day Four

Oh, dear readers still with me in this travelogue, I am a tired correspondent. Some was due to adjusting to an unfamiliar bed, but most is due to the effects of taking a five + hour tour of the Clarion River towns. We were in a car and walking a bit. It was fascinating, but […]

Queering the PA Wilds, Day Three

This was a long one. We checked out of Erie, had a local breakfast, and hit the road traveling on US 60 and PA 59 through the Allegheny Forest into the region known as the PA Wilds.It was basically a long, winding two lane road. We listened to The History Chicks podcast. It took us […]

Queering the PA Wilds: Day Two

Technically, our first full day of vacation. This is my travelogue. You are welcome to read along.Our little camping cottage is super cute and efficient, but I don’t like the bed. It’s big, plumpy, and covered in a bamboo woven comforter. But my back hurts.The breakfast local recommended by our friends was closed today. So […]

Queering the PA Wilds, Day One

This is my travelogue, written to help me remember. You are welcome to read. We kicked off our tour of Northern Pennsylvania in Erie. We drove up in the afternoon, had dinner at a place called the Skunk & Goat, and then caught a lovely sunset over Lake Erie. We are staying at a little […]

Vacation. I Wish I’d Stayed (Not Really.)

Vacation Anxiety

It has been ten years since we took a vacation that is purely recreational. We’ve traveled, but it has always been tied to a conference or a work trip or so forth. That’s been fun and interesting, but not always restful or relaxing. Now that I’m away I wish I’d stayed This year, we made […]