Weekend Getaway, Day One

I'm a big traveler.  It was always something I wanted to do - yearning to head out on the open road, eat foods I never heard of, see things that no one else had seen - and then I lived in Mexico for four months with no agenda but to learn the language.  It really spoiled me for adventure because now I want more more more.  That is to say, I like to take trips.  This year, we've been a bit short on time and so haven't had the chance to take what seems to be our standard one-week trip somewhere. Oh sure, we went to Chicago and will make our standard Thanksgiving and Christmas treks to see the various in-laws and in-dnas, plus we're planning on a big road trip through Pennsylvania for our anniversary.  Still, I like to take just because trips.  Because I like to travel and that's what I want to spend my money on! So this weekend George and I headed off to Winchester, Virginia, which is only an hour and a half drive from Washington.  The main event was supposed to be a hot air balloon festival just down the road but Mother Nature was having none of it and blew gusty winds the entire trip.  No balloons were to be had, at all.  Instead, George and I just drove around, ate some great food, tasted some wine and generally gallivanted around - something we do particularly well. Before we set out, we had to get some Diet Coke.  This is completely standard driving-anywhere procedure for George.  Outside the 7-11: road trip in and around Winchester, Virginia Nothing of note happened after that.  It was dark and we made the mistake of taking 50 instead of I-66, probably adding an entire hour onto the trip.  When we got to the hotel, we were very pleasantly surprised by the ridiculously ingenious room design and general hipness of the Aloft Winchester.  I highly recommend to anyone headed out that way.  For instance, the room didn't get a newspaper in the morning, but there was a copy of Wired for our reading pleasure.  How awesome is that? road trip in and around Winchester, Virginia More goofiness in the mirror. road trip in and around Winchester, Virginia road trip in and around Winchester, Virginia It was late.  We were tired.  A few photos that George mostly handled with grace and then beautiful sleep. George, the most awesome husband a girl could want George, the most awesome husband a girl could want George, the most awesome husband a girl could want

Dania Beach, Florida

I work for an organization headquartered in the dumpy little town of Dania Beach, Florida.  Sandwiched between several towns of decidedly more fame and fortune (Hollywood, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami), Dania is a sort of left-behind little guy.  Still, to the photographer, there is much to see.  I found on my photo walk (which was unfortunately dictated by work schedules) that foliage is a major draw.  Also, the houses on this side of Federal Highway are far more interesting than the cookie-cutter, exquisite-lawn siblings on the beach side.  No, you won't be seeing any beach photos.  Unfortunately our headquarters are about three miles from the beach.  Not unwalkable, but hard to get in a good trip after 5 and before dark.  I've been coming here for a couple years now and have only made it to the beach once, and then just to put my feet in the sand before heading home. And now, Dania in photographs: Dania Beach, Florida - travel photography Dania Beach, Florida - travel photography Dania Beach, Florida - travel photography Dania Beach, Florida - travel photography Dania Beach, Florida - travel photography Dania Beach, Florida - travel photography Dania Beach, Florida - travel photography

Silver Bay, Minnesota

Aside from getting paid to do what I love (that is, take photographs and travel), one of the coolest parts of my 9-5 job is getting to go places and see things that very few people get to see.  How many of y'all have been on a 1,000 foot coal-carrying ship?  Thought so. Yesterday we drove an hour north to get to Silver Bay, Minnesota to see one of our boats.  Good people on the ship, as always.  But we also got to travel through a very impressive facility.  Up there in Silver Bay, they mine the iron ore, process it and deliver it to the ship - all in one facility.  Part of the plant, where they were doing god-knows-what, had these huge smoke stacks billowing steam into the air.  I was absolutely enamored with them and that's why you're about to view four different pictures of the same thing. Silver Bay, Wisconsin iron ore facility Silver Bay, Wisconsin iron ore facility Silver Bay, Wisconsin iron ore facility Silver Bay, Wisconsin iron ore facility This last thing... honestly, I have no idea what it is.  It probably helps load stuff onto the ships.  It might be an antiquated piece of equipment.  This was taken from the dock behind the boat we were visiting. Silver Bay, Wisconsin iron ore facility