Well, true to my journaling track record, I experienced a steep decline in posts starting in August. And by steep, I mean that I haven’t posted anything since August. As you may have guessed a lot has happened in that time. Summer turned into fall, which rapidly turned into winter. I’ve taken up archery, Warren’s gotten a new job and we’ve both gotten into our routines/grooves. We’ve gone through Labor Day, the Bloomsburg Fair (it’s a holiday out here), Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and began a new year! Let’s explore some of these unfamiliar events in more detail, shall we?
Archery
My friend, Joanne, and I decided we would take up archery together. We’ve both always thought it would be fun, and given that it’s quite popular around here, we decided there was no time like the present. We each bought a re-curve bow (think “Katnis Everdeen” from ‘The Hunger Games’) and three arrows, from a shop in Middleburg, PA. The shop owners, a husband and wife, have some of the best customer service skills of any retail shop I’ve been to. They not only take the time to help with your current retail wants, but they will have your name and needs memorized from that point forward. It may not sound like a big deal, but how many stores do you go into on a regular basis, see the same clerk and it takes months before you feel like they know you by name (let alone what you’re in there for)? Joanne and I made one visit, and promptly ordered bows and arrows. When I went to pick up the orders, Judy (who had originally helped me and Joanne) was busy with another customer, but with just a glance toward me and the freshly closed front door, she was able to tell her husband, “Kristen is here to pick up both her re-curve and Joanne’s.” I thought maybe it was a fluke, because two non-camo wearing, females without male companionship in an archery shop is quite a unique sight. However, every time I've been in since, I’ve observed Keith and Judy greet their other customers in this manner too.
I'm ok with the bow, I generally manage to hit the target Warren got from Wally-Mart. But, it is very difficult to aim with a traditional bow. It's not so much aiming as it is getting a feel for the bow and hoping it hits near where you'd like. There are no sights, it's just repetition. To the point that you have to breath the same with every draw and release. It's not a sport you can excel at if you're not able to get calm and focused. Good thing a yoga studio opened up in town around the same time I took up the bow and arrow ;-)
The Bloomsburg Fair
This is an annual, state-fair style event that is coveted by both the locals and carney folk, alike. People drive from several states away, just to experience this fair. There are carnival rides and boardwalk games, agricultural competitions (giant produce, anyone?), concerts, rodeo performances, trinket vendors and of course, copious amounts of food; primarily of the fried variety. Most stands offer your typical deep-fried fare (potatoes, random veggies, oreos, twinkies, etc). Some have more exotic offerings such as deep-fried, bacon-wrapped, Snicker’s bars. There’s even a stand that will deep-fry any food-item you bring to them. So, chances are that if it’s edible and been deep fried before (say at the Texas state fair), someone will offer it at the Bloomsburg Fair too. And this, the sheer selection of (fried, junk) food, is the main draw to the fair. Every year there is a heart attack or two on the grounds, and this year was no different. Although, I think someone has yet to die at the fair from their heart attack. My cardiology office-mates like to joke that they need to have a Geisinger cardiology stand at the fair, just in case someone needs a coronary cathed or stented emergently.
The Bloomsburg fair has its own permanent grounds, located at the west end of the town of Bloomsburg (normally a cute, quiet college town.) Throughout the year, various small events can rent out space on the grounds, but otherwise it’s deserted most of the year. However, for the week of the fair, the whole area turns into a place of grid-lock and pandemonium. The local schools get the week off, people set up parking lots in their yards (apparently a very lucrative endeavor), and some (who are dis-enchanted by the whole thing) just leave town until the fair has cleared out. Hundreds of thousands of people attend annually.
View from the sky ride.
A people mover to easily get from one end of the fair to another.
Luiz and Joanne
I'm on the left.
We spent Thanksgiving here in Pennsylvania with Luiz, Joanne and another couple Jared and Amy (he's a urology resident). We had a wonderful holiday with them, and learned a delicious new way to cook turkey. Warren and I even managed to get through our Kale salads; the dressing was very yummy!
Christmas and New Year were spent in Colorado. It was Warren's first trip back home since moving out here in April! (I'd made it home in late August for a few days) We both had a wonderful time, and were sad to leave the bluebird skies of CO for the freezing temps and whipping snows of PA.
And if you're still with me on this post, you'll (hopefully) be as delighted as I am, to hear that Warren and I got engaged on New Year's Eve. We'll technically very early on 1/1/14, but you get what I'm saying. We have no date, venue or any details really, but we do know it will be in Colorado. Probably the mountains. Probably this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment