Hanging from a pine tree by my knees, sun is shining through the shade, nobody knows what is all about; it's too much man let it all hang out…

First I’d like to thank The Hombres for the lyrics used to create this week’s blog title.  I’d also like to warn you that this blog entry will be heavily, if not entirely, focused New Hampshire (it’ll be great). So this week was Thanksgiving week, an amazing week. I worked for a day and a half, it was wonderful. They were busy days full of various projects, but spending only a day and a half at my desk was definitely welcomed and appreciated. :)

After scanning surveys and working on literacy evaluations for curricula I left my office at 5:30 pm Tuesday evening and hit the road. My roommate Brittany

and our friend Monica prepared to make an epic journey north. It was supposed to take us only 8 hours to reach good ol’ Epping, NH...supposed to being the operative word. It ended up taking us an insanely ridiculous 12 hours!! We were going just fine until we entered Connecticut and realized that instead of getting on 90 north, we’d stayed on 95 forcing us to travel along the border of Connecticut rather than cut straight through. This wasn’t so bad. Did it suck? Yes. Was it annoying? You betcha, but things didn’t really start going south until just outside Providence. 95 was detoured and as I was roused awake I found that we had ended up on 495 east. Now I realize that these roads may be ones that you’re not familiar with. Basically we were headed to Cape Cod, to a peninsula far, far away from New Hampshire.

We spent several horror filled minutes driving through Old Lyme, a small, serial killer-esque type town in Connecticut in the desperate hope of finding a bathroom… we never found one. From there on out it became a desperate sprint to get home. We managed to get back on 95 and in the wee hours of the morning I sped towards home faster than I ever had before. Plowing down the road at 95 miles an hour I crossed my fingers that no police would be on the road and that I wouldn’t hit any strange burst of traffic. As the trip progress my friend Monica and I slowly began to lose our minds… literally. We began creating raps about our predicament trying to use Jay-Z and Kanye West for inspiration and we found ourselves laughing at things that in all honesty, weren’t at all funny. (This is what happens when you’ve been in a car for 10 hours and its 4 in the morning, your brain turns to mush and everything becomes a hazy, laugh filled nightmare).

The eventful drive made coming home all the more worthwhile. Once again I found myself relishing my time in New Hampshire. I can’t say enough about what an amazing state it is. It’s insanely beautiful and the few days I spent there were filled with good times with my family and friends. Thanksgiving was… Thanksgiving. There was turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and more, food as far as the eye could see. After indulging I felt the nauseous feeling overcome my stomach and instantly wished I hadn’t eaten so much (a typical holiday feeling). There were runs through the woods behind my house, black Friday shopping, breakfast at the local diner, and Portsmouth.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 

Just another wonderful reason visit my fine home state. Portsmouth is home to Four Tree Island, Prescott Park, The Friendly Toast, Bullmoose Music, Marco Polo, Strawberry Banke, The Gaslight Company, The Odd Showroom, live jazz festivals, cooking competitions, a killer library, a London style phone booth, a annual real life Pac Man game every summer, and dozens of other incredible things.  I spent my Saturday night with my roommate Brittany and our dear wonderful friend Lindsay relishing all the awesomeness Portsmouth has to offer. After a truly stellar dinner at The Friendly Toast and a coffee at Breaking New Grounds,  

we headed to Prescott Park.

Now it’s already been established that I have a love of parks. There’s something about a park that just captivates me. Prescott Park is the park that started my love of parks. I grew up going there as a kid, and as an adult I’ve learned to enjoy in a number of different ways. In the summer I head over with a book, a blanket, a homemade lunch, and I settle in on the grass for the annual jazz festival, I play Frisbee in the evenings with friends, and wander aimlessly through the gardens. I head to Four Tree Island to sit by the water and have cookouts. In the winter when snow covers everything I sit on the pier letting the snow fall on  me and the wind whip up from the water. I spend nights watching the lights on the river and listening to the buoys in the harbor. There’s no place like Prescott Park, it’s truly amazing.

Seeing my friends and family, spending time in New Hampshire, and getting out of the city for a while was a much needed experience. I’ve got only two and half weeks left here in our nation’s capital and while I’ll be sad to leave, I’m definitely ready to go home. I miss the cold, crisp wind of New Hampshire, the crunch of leaves beneath my feet, and the little pleasures that have always made it home to me.

Top Two Places to Visit This Week:

Due to a lack of time in the city this week my top two places are in New Hampshire. You should definitely go to NH to check them out, they’ll make your trek to the Live Free or Die state very worth while.

Prescott Park: This is by far one of the most beautiful parks you will ever step foot in. It sits on the banks of the beautiful Piscataqua River and is home to a whale statue,  

modern art installation, beautiful gardens with fountains, benches with chess boards, live theater and music festivals, and three piers that jut out into the water. During the winter when a blanket of snow covers the ground you can sit on the pier and listen to the water hit the rocks while lights from the bridge between Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, ME dance on the water. When spring and summer roll around the park comes alive. Flowers bloom everywhere, live jazz plays from the stage, kids run on the grass, boats sail past, and the sun bleeds through the think canopy of green leaves. There’s always something going on, always a show or performance to see, and it’s right in the heart of one of the coolest towns in NH. 

The Friendly Toast: If you ever find yourself starving in New Hampshire with only $10 in your pocket, do me a favor and head to The Friendly Toast. For $10 dollars you get the largest grilled cheese you’ve ever seen. If you’re not a grilled cheese fan, let your money buy you eggs, vegetarian sausage (or regular if you prefer) and two slices of thick toast bigger than your head. The walls of this fine establishment are a deep red color and are covered with random pieces of memorabilia including a flying nun, movie posters, old PBR adverts, and pieces of artwork. Your waiter will most likely be covered in a variety of interesting tattoos and they’ll be more than willing to talk to you about where they got them and what they mean.  You’ll eat some truly wonderful food and find yourself surrounded by a wide variety of people all while listening to a truly unique playlist showcasing the various styles and tastes of those who work there. Its cheap, its good, its fun, and its considered a necessity if you’re in Portsmouth.

Top 5 Songs of the Week:

1. Matt Pond PA: “New Hampshire”
2. Dropkick Murphy’s: “Shipping Up to Boston”
3. Samantha Ronson: “Built This Way”
4. White Stripes: “Hotel Yorba”
5. Snow Patrol: “Just Say Yes”