Guest Post – Page 2 – It Is Trish

Let’s Talk About … Tom Hiddleston as James Bond

April 8, 2016April 19, 2016Trish2 Comments

with Elizabeth

I have used snippets of my Messenger conversations with Elizabeth twice now on my blog. I am convinced that we are hilarious, pathetic, and witty, which are three of the things most necessary to creating a blog series. Presented occasionally: “Let’s Talk About…” with Elizabeth!

Elizabeth: A reporter in DC is interviewing Tom Hiddleston on TV right now and it is not me. Life is unfair.

Tricia: Whoa, there’s so much going on here! First, obviously, how dare he dance with and/or touch anyone but you or me!? But also, is he going to be the next James Bond??? I don’t know how I feel about that!
Elizabeth: Yeah, there are rumors, apparently, but I’m not necessarily down with that. Mostly because I want him to do comedy, but also because I’m not a huge James Bond fan.
Tricia: The role just seems like everything he is not. Whether he’s playing villains or heroes, he’s always very emotional, and that’s why I love him. James Bond is always emotionless.
Elizabeth: And a misogynist. You can’t redeem Bond.
Tricia: Unless he REMAKES James Bond.

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Elizabeth: Remember all the furor over “blond Bond” Daniel Craig?
I’m so glad we’ve moved into an era of acceptance where Bond can be a blond chiseled and sexy white guy instead of a brunette chiseled and sexy white guy.
Tricia: I see your sarcasm, but I really liked Daniel Craig’s Bond. HOWEVER, I feel it is important to say that although I want Tom Hiddleston to be in everything, I actually think Idris Elba is the best Bond choice. We need some racial diversity while maintaining the Bulky Man Box aesthetic.
Elizabeth: Idris Elba! Continue reading →

Sam Gamgee the Loyal and Me (Guest Post)

August 14, 2015August 13, 2015TrishLeave a comment

by Mallory Huber

In 2014 as a naive 26 year old, I took on the task of reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time in my life; and my world was rocked. I knew immediately that I had to marathon the movies and that I had to research and that I had to learn Elvish and that I had to figure out the personality types of each character. I imagine that people read The Lord of the Rings, and they spend years of their life thinking about which character they would be if transported into the story. They enter the world in their mind and frolick to and fro throughout Middle Earth as a part of the Fellowship, striking down Balrogs or dropping rings in flaming pits. Surprisingly I’ve actually spent zero time thinking about it. I know exactly who I would be.

Sam Gamgee, my friends. I am Sam Gamgee.

I’m not a crier. I understand some people are and that they can’t make it through Hallmark commercials without balling their eyes out. I tend to keep my tears tucked away for a rainy day. And I was rather proud of myself for making it through my first LOTR marathon without crying. That is until the very last part. (If you haven’t seen the movies, you may just want to stop now because I will be ruining it for you.) The very last scene of The Return of the King is where Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin escort Bilbo to the shores because he has been offered invitation to the Grey Havens to be with the elves. They say their goodbyes as our four hobbits all stand by in sorrow and sadness. Gandalf says, “Here at the last on the shores of the sea comes the end of our friendship. I will not say, ‘Do not weep’ for not all tears are an evil.” (Oh my gosh. Stop. So beautiful.) As he turns to leave, he looks back once more to say, “It is time, Frodo.”

Continue reading →

Iceland: What You Need to Know (Guest Post)

August 6, 2015August 6, 2015TrishLeave a comment

by Michal Ann Morrison

Iceland is one of the most bizarrely beautiful, arrestingly empty, and quirkily minded countries I have ever been to and you should go there.

Ok so now that we have that out of the way, some things to know for when you decide to go (because I know you will)!

If you are going to go explore the Ring Road, you must rent a car. It’s undoable by bus, and incredibly dangerous to do it by bike, and when you rent your car, for godsake get a jeep. Don’t scrimp here and try to save money by getting a small car, get the biggest, baddest, four-wheel drive monster truck they got. A lot of the places off the main highway that you will want to go see require miles of unpaved trekking that at some points of the year are actually impassable because of what their insane weather has done to the roads. You don’t want to come all this way to Iceland and get stuck in frozen mud in your little inexpensive Honda Accord now do you?
Speaking of getting to Iceland at all, check out Wow Airlines. That’s right, it’s not some terrible English translation gone wrong, it’s actually called Wow. It’s sort of like the Ryan Air of Iceland, only way more reliable. Even locals take flights with them. You can get a flight from Boston or DC for $175 round trip, and no, you are not reading that wrong. Price doesn’t have to keep you from going on this trip! Plus it’s just fun to say.
Speaking of arriving on Wow airlines, you will fly into Reykjavik. Oh wait, no, sorry, you think you will, but then you’ll land in Keflavik and be confused, like I was. Keflavik is where the airport is and it’s a 45-minute bus ride into Reykjavik, so just know that so you don’t freak out, like this one did. DO NOT take a taxi. No one does because it will cost you a month’s rent to take a taxi from Keflavik airport into downtown Reykjavik. Everyone zips around on a bus, and you should too. It’s like $7, you will most likely sit next to a brooding Nordic musician coming back from his vacation in Spain and you will fall in love for the first of many times on this trip. Take the bus.
Reykjavik has the best/craziest nightlife I’ve ever seen. You can check out what is going on in the city at all times of the day through a free and very entertaining publication called The Grapevine. It has listed, by day, all the bands playing, all the shows showing, all the DJ’s spinning, all the artshowsrestaurantopenings
tourshappeningbooksreleasingpartiespartying that you could want to know about. And if you go during the summertime, even if you are not a night owl, you will find yourself at a bar at 1 am and it will not be dark yet, and you will be, curiously, not tired. Just keep an eye out for all the inevitable bachelor parties from London that just arrived.
Naturally you will want to make the most of your trip while you are there, so as an upstanding citizen of the world, you will bring a guide book with you. I brought Lonely Planet’s guide to Iceland, and my companions and I regretted it several times. We found at least 5 mistakes, and then we just sort of stopped believing the book. And that’s not what you want when that book is your lifeline to understanding how to get out of The Middle of Nowhere, Iceland, where you find yourself at least once a day. Unfortunately there isn’t a great alternative, as Rick Steves has said he is not going to make a book for Iceland. I cannot tell you how much that breaks my heart, as my heart belongs to Rick Steves and every travel tip he’s ever given. The point is, do your research before you go, and consult multiple sources when making your travel plans.
Speaking of The Middle of Nowhere Iceland, that is nowhere you want to be when you have run out of gas. A good general rule of thumb is when you see a gas station, stop and fill up, even if you did it only an hour ago. There were times we drove literally all day and didn’t see a gas station. It’s terrifying, yes, but there’s no point in them installing them when there are so few people who go out to these remote places, much less live in them. Also be aware that half the gas stations you will see will just be a solitary pump in the ground, no store to go into with a bathroom, and no person manning a cash register should you not be able to figure out how to pay for the gas or put it in your car. Buy the little plastic gas cards that come preloaded with money on them, and figure out how they work while you are still in Reykjavik where there are people to ask.
Bring hiking boots with you. It is actually impossible to see Iceland without them. Sneakers are not an acceptable substitute. If you are the kind of person who either hasn’t seen the need for hiking boots thus far in your life, or turns up your nose at the thought of them, seriously. Iceland is not for you. If I could have packed any differently I would have probably just brought two pairs of shoes, my hiking boots and some cute booties to walk around Reykjavik in so the aggressively fashionable models who all live there wouldn’t judge me. Tennis shoes are obsolete, and any kind of sandal won’t protect your tootsies from the shocking weather. Even my sturdy Birkenstocks felt flimsy, and that is the last word any person who has seen a Birkenstock would normally associate with them.
Given a week or so, you will feel that you are the sort of person who could pull off those big wool sweaters all the burly, adorable fishermen/poets wear, like Gunnar, who you recently fell in love with, and you will find yourself wanting to buy one of those sweaters. Be forewarned that the cheap ones run about $180. Yes they are cool, yes they transform you into an intellectual looking farmer, and who doesn’t want that, just be prepared for what it will cost you and for the fact that it is probably hot where you live at home, and those sweaters are so intense it is said that a fisherman wearing one can fall in the water and not even get wet. You, on the other hand, will drown in it at home. Maybe buying woolen socks is a good alternative.
A cheap beer in Reykjavik costs $9. And that’s their equivalent of Bud Light. Anything imported, and they have to import a lot of stuff, is going to be expensive. So be smart and get little liquor bottles in duty free to take with you on your way in.
See the puffins in Vik, and the black beaches.
Take a picture with a lamb.
Ask a local where the nearest ‘hot pot’ is, and go find it.
The Blue Lagoon is worth it, even if its touristy, and you can easily fit it into your trip by taking your visit a few hours before you get on your plane home, as its very close to the airport. You will be all refreshed and relaxed for the trek ahead of you, zenning you out for your transition back to life in America, where there are no puffins or hot springs or cool beaches.

Wait, none of that last part is true. There are puffins in Maine and hot springs in Colorado and cool beaches in Florida…go to Iceland and have the time of your life, and then go back to wherever it is you live and make it a point to enjoy where you are! The world is beautiful wherever you go. Iceland just happens to be one of the prettiest places out there.

Michal Ann Morrison is a traveler, writer, and lover of books and restaurants that serve cheese plates. When she is not in her home base of Austin, Texas, she is traveling the Mediterranean working in archaeological research. You can follow her adventures on instagram at @michalann!

D.C. for Book Lovers (Guest Post)

May 12, 2015May 5, 2015Trish1 Comment

Elizabeth Waibel works in communications in the D.C. area. Her laptop has been broken for months, so she gets a lot of reading done. She once did an internship located mostly in the basement of the Folger library.

Washington, D.C., may be better known for Supreme Court briefs than its literary hangouts, but the District is also home to many universities, flourishing independent bookstores, and the largest library in the world. Julia Child lived in Washington’s Georgetown neighborhood, both before and after a stint in France that inspired her work on the revolutionary cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” Its museums and archives are home to the founding documents of America and some of its most iconic movie memorabilia.

When Tricia visited me in the D.C. suburbs in 2013, short on time, we decided on a literary theme to narrow down our options of places to visit and to indulge our mutual love of books. Whenever we had trouble deciding what to do, we picked the activity that involved the most books — problem solved. As an indecisive person, I loved delegating decisions to a pre-determined theme, and I also loved having an excuse to watch a Shakespeare episode of “Doctor Who” when we got tired of exploring.

Here, in no particular order, are a few of the places we visited, plus a few I’ve discovered since then. Continue reading →

Oishii! Japanese Food for the Sushi Averse (Guest Post)

January 14, 2015January 21, 2015Trish1 Comment

Elizabeth Waibel is a friend from college who became even closer after we graduated. We share a love of literary analysis, snarky humor, and now, the country and culture of Japan. She currently works as a journalist for The Gazette in Maryland.

I did not particularly want to go to Japan. My limited experience in sushi restaurants that smelled like seaweed did not earn it the same place on my travel priorities list as those countries famous for crisp baguettes or cappuccino, and I have never been a fan of rice.

“They eat tepid fish!” I complained to my sister in between looking for plane tickets, which were unjustly more expensive to Japan than to places known for pasta and cheese.

My best friend has lived in Japan since 2011. For about a year, ever since I realized she wasn’t coming back, I had been promising to visit. So, prodded by the thought that few are so lucky to have a friend in such an interesting place and reassured by the thought that, if necessary, I could live off tempura (breaded and deep-fried shrimp or vegetables) for a week, I brushed up my chopsticks skills and booked a knee-numbing flight to Tokyo.

In retrospect, it was horribly unfair to judge an entire country on which of its dishes had happened to make their way to suburban America. There is so much more to Japanese food than sushi, and I could have happily spent at least two more weeks exploring the flavors and ingredients of a cuisine almost entirely new to me.

So, whether you are planning a trip to Japan or are tired of faking a fish allergy to avoid sushi restaurants with friends, here area few Japanese food recommendations that do not involve raw fish:

1. Tonkatsu – A breaded and fried slice of pork often served with rice, cabbage, and a delicious sauce that (to this American) tastes similar to teriyaki. Recommended for fans of cornflake chicken or schnitzel.

2. Ramen – This is NOT the same as the 20-cent instant noodles you ate in your dorm room, although you can buy things like that in Japan too. One of my favorite things I ate in Japan, ramen is a soup of wheat noodles in a savory broth topped with things like pork, bean sprouts, onions, and a boiled egg. It was oishii (delicious)!

3. Okonomiyaki – Cabbage is mixed with a simple, smoky-flavored egg and flour batter and fried into a thick, savory pancake. Then, it is brushed with a sweet and smoky sauce and topped with bits of dried, smoked fish that seem to be Japan’s answer to bacon bits. Okonomiyaki often has other ingredients mixed in, such as shrimp and noodles. Some restaurants in Tokyo also serve monjayaki, which resembles a goopy stir-fry and tastes like a comfort-food casserole. I recommend trying the kind with cheese.

4. Kakigori – This is basically a gourmet sno-cone. Kakigori is shaved ice that can be topped with strawberry (ichigo) syrup and condensed milk or, for those seeking more uniquely Japanese flavors, green tea syrup, red beans and mochi (rice paste). Ichigo kakigori with milk served with hojicha (green tea whose leaves have been smoked) might have been the best thing I ate in Japan.

If you ever do make it to Japan, be sure to get food at one of the many conbinis, or convenience stores. Food at the 7-Eleven in Japan is wildly better than food at the 7-Eleven in America. You can get a wide selection of refrigerated lunches, drinks and fun snacks. I also recommend visiting a place that sells sushi (preferably the cooked kind) on conveyor belts that run past all the tables, delivering a steady line of food. This is the future of dining.

So yes, there is more to Japanese food than sashimi, and it is possible to visit there for a week or more without eating tepid fish. Enjoy!

Me (right) and my friend enjoying iced coffee from a cobini on the shinkansen, or bullet train.

The culinary genius behind my first Japanese ramen experience.

Keep up with Elizabeth via her Twitter account, @lizwaibel. I suggest you also look into Ishinomaki Christian Center if you’d like to donate to an organization that supports community rebuilding efforts after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Michal’s Puerto Rico Experience (Guest Post)

December 29, 2014January 21, 2015TrishLeave a comment

Michal is an ideal travel partner–adventurous but laid back, thrifty but generous, and funny but thoughtful. She is a kindred spirit, and we share many passions, including a love for both traveling and writing. Here is her take on our vacation to Puerto Rico in December 2014.

I’m an experienced traveler.

Self-indulgent as that sounds, it’s true! I’ve lived in France, Greece, Turkey and Italy and have learned the painful lessons that come from overeager and excessive packing, trusting the cute gypsy child in the metro and cringe-worthy conversations elevated to trainwreck status by crippling language barriers. I have spent the night in an airport with rioters setting taxis on fire just outside, been proposed to by a traveling musician and an olive oil merchant and survived the horror story that is a socialist hospital late at night. I own almost every Rick Steves book and I Duolingo three languages a day at work while I surreptitiously check for good flight deals.

Somehow, for some inexplicable reason, Puerto Rico caught me unawares and unprepared.

I’m going to go ahead and blame the holiday season and my decision to go on too many Tinder dates for my distracted state prior to our departure.

Tricia is the most fun in the world, so I was in good company for the wacky adventures this island brought our way. Despite the extent to which I have traveled all over the world, this trip opened my eyes to the reality that travel is a lifelong learning experience, and that every trip you take makes you better prepared for the next one! So with sheepish chagrin I bring you my top three Puerto Rico takeaways:

It should be mind-numbingly obvious that you should plan around rainy days, and also that it, ahem, rains quite often in the rainforest, but of course I didn’t think to make a Plan B or Plan C in case of a torrential downpour. Our original plan was to take a tour of both the El Yunque Rainforest and see a bioluminescent bay that night, but with the rain that occurred on day 2, our hike was canceled, leaving us incredibly mad and also, unsure what to do with a four hour block of time. The Caribbean has temperamental weather, come to find out, and if you’re going to visit Puerto Rico, it’s best to have several plans set out beforehand for each day so you can make the most of your time instead of having to panic, almost cry over some terrible coffee and regroup while you try desperately to find some wifi. Most of the trips I go on last several weeks, so the times I’ve run into inclement weather, I’ve always had more time and flexibility to see what I wanted to at a later date. With this being a much shorter trip, I didn’t even think to plan ahead more thoroughly to maximize our time.
People don’t pick up the phone in Puerto Rico. Kind of like Europe, people here are on their own timeline. They can’t be bothered that you are bothered about something and need information, so again, getting as much planned before you go is crucial. In our haste to redeem the time we lost on day 2 of our trip, we spoke to at least 6 different people about whether or not they thought the Camuy Caves would be open after the rain, and every single person had a different opinion. “Of course it will be open, it’s only a little rain.” “Don’t waste your time, it will be closed because our island was practically flooded last night.” And despite phone numbers being listed on different sites for things like Camuy Caves, we never got anyone on the phone to actually ask the only people who could tell us for sure whether it was worth our time to rent a car and drive out there. We almost decided not to risk it, but in the end we did because we talked to several locals who are familiar with a variety of tour companies with the inside scoop. Getting a variety of opinions paid off because the park was indeed open! So just because you get a no from one person doesn’t mean that’s the end of the story. Keep on asking, and utilize the network that the hotel staff have. They know people in high and low places, all of which could give you the information you need.
Before you give up, use the 2 More Minutes Rule. There were several times that in our tiredness and desperation, we almost gave up and turned around. But we said, “okay, we’ll drive a little further, maybe it’s just up ahead” and sure enough it was! At one point we almost turned around because we were only using a map instead of our iPhones (adventurous, I know) and felt for sure we had passed the town we were looking for. But given a little faith and a few more minutes, we found it. Had we not given up after driving the wrong way down one road and tried the other way, we wouldn’t have had to trespass on someone’s land to see the ocean, but instead would have found the luxuriously enormous parking lot, bathrooms and pristine beach that were just over the hill in the opposite direction. And the night we arrived we almost just slept in the airport out of exhaustion but we reached out to that one last hotel and sure enough, someone picked up the phone. When you feel like quitting, try one more time, because fortune favors the tenacious.

All this sounds so Negative Nancy….go to Puerto Rico!!! It’s beautiful, and in December no one is there so it’s the perfect time to go. It’s cheap, easily accessible to all our Texan friends and a refreshing change of pace. We drank the best mojitos I’ve ever tasted, met incredibly friendly people everywhere and kayaking at the Bio Bay is going to go on my list of Favorite Travel Experiences. If you like being stunned into silence by the beauty of the natural world and also scaring outdoor-activity newbies with your kayaking paddle, that excursion is for you. You can rent a car for, not kidding, $6 a day, and why would you not go eat at the restaurant that brought the world the pina colada? Hilarity of our slight misfortunes and all, it was a stellar trip, and one I would highly recommend.

For more of Michal’s intelligence and wit, check out her Christian feminist blog, From Eve to Me.