Wednesday, May 17, 2017

In the Land of the Empire State


Do you all remember a few weeks back when I said that I was going to post about my trip to New York?

"Life has been pretty crazy around here lately, but I fully intend to get in at least one post about New York while I'm here.  One.  I have so many ideas floating around in my head right now I just need to find a few minutes to write them down!  Please, bear with me, I think you'll like them :)"~April 26, 2017, Introducing.....

(Yes, I copy and pasted my exact words.  I strive for consistency despite lack of productivity.)

 i said yesterday i would do it tomorrow, when i woke up this morning it was today, i didn't say anything about doing it today.:

Anyway, clearly that is a promise I have not yet fulfilled, and I do so dislike broken promises.  So here we are.  This is my collection of  adventures, misadventures, and observances concerning the grand ol' state of New York. (oh, and be prepared for random facts throughout because facts are just cool.  They are.)


Map of New York 

Let's start with a quick geography lesson, shall we?  

That, that is not New York City. That is in fact New York State.  Let it be cleared up here and now that New York is a state, a state in which NYC just so happens to be located in, but they are not one in the same.  You see up in the Northwest corner by that unlabeled-body-of-water? *Good job whoever said Lake Ontario*  My sister whom I am visiting lives somewhere up there.  So I did not visit the aforementioned city, not even close.  We will not mention that place again.

If I'm going to do this correctly then we have to back up two months to the beginning of the adventure.

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 My adventure by train began here...

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 ...Union Station

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Fact: Union Station first opened its doors in 1911, servicing over 10,000 passengers daily, and is known as "the Beautiful Portal to the Heart of the Commonwealth".

The train ride from Worcester was uneventful but not disagreeable by any means.  That is up until...

Albany: a pleasant place?

What was supposed to be a 1-hour stopover in the state capitol quickly turned into more like upwards of 3 hours.  Stuck on a train.  A train that needed to restock its cafe car.  On the upside, it turned out to be a neat experience chatting with fellow stranded passengers and learning their destinations, getting to be a part of their story.  
  
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The brochure in front of my seat, I showed this to my dad (who was my traveling companion) and it quickly became our motto.  Well done, Amtrak, truer words have never been spoken.

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Eventually we did get moving again and I got a cool shot of the skyline.  I suppose all-in-all Albany wasn't too bad, considering we made it to our respective destinations before cannibalism became an immediate concern.

Fast forward from the end of March and here we are!  I am still in NY but will be returning home again next week, and I must say, it will be good to be home again!  

Lived: Buffalo, Corning, Elmira (Finger Lakes Region)  Been: Rochester, Syracuse, Oswego, Binghamton, Albany, New York, Adirondack Mountains:

In closing, here are a few observations I've made during my time here.  Wait, allow me to bullet them for you.

  • If I had to describe Syracuse in one word, that word would be rust.  
  •  There are seagulls haunting EVERY McDonald's parking lot. Literally.  It's a rare occurrence to turn onto the highway entrance ramp and not be bidden farewell from a seagull perched on those infamous golden arches!  
 Happier than a Seagull with a French Fry:

  • Friendly people.  They almost make me believe all those cliche lines about "cold, reserved New Englanders "!
  •  Nearly everywhere you look there are daffodils.  Like, absolutely everywhere, especially along the highway.  I was really surprised when I heard they weren't the state flower!
 Buttercup Field. Just like the fields at the family farm. Love you granddaddy.:
Fact: The state flower is the Rose.  (Of which I haven't seen one)

  • The Bagel vs. Bagel (bag-gle) controversy.  I personally subscribe to the former pronunciation and had never heard this strange alternative until recently.  Which do you use, I'm curious?
 Fact: Bagels did not originate in NY despite their popularity therein, the first bagels were made in Jewish communities in Poland as early as the 15th century :)


There, I think I've covered everything!  If you ever have the opportunity, New York is definitely a nice state to visit!  Have you ever been before/lived there?

~Emma



Monday, May 1, 2017

In Honor of St. Catherine

    
     Being one of my favorite saints, I wanted to make sure I got in a quick little post about Saint Catherine of Siena before too much time had gone by her feast day.  Only two days, I don't think I did too bad :)

St. Catherine of Siena. Philosopher, theologian, greatly respected for her spiritual writings and boldness to "speak truth to power," and a Doctor of the Church.:  
St. Catherine of Siena, 14th cen. philosopher and Doctor of the Church


     I apologize in advance because this post is less of me writing about this amazing saint and more my overwhelming you with a gazillion beautiful pictures and quotes.  Sorry about that ;) But I'll let her speak for herself, her writings are simply incredible and her life even more so!

 St. Catherine of Siena:  

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  St. Catherine of Siena quotes. Catholic Saints:
How important to remember, yet so easy to forget! 


St. Catherine of Siena Quote:  

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 St. Catherine of Siena / Catholic Saints:
Growth through temptation and trial... 

St. Catherine of Siena | http://www.saintnook.com/saints/catherineofsiena - A Beautiful Mystery: St. Catherine of Siena inspired outfit //:  
When St. Catherine was 14, her mother arranged a betrothal between herself and the son of local merchant.  Catherine, however, had no wish to be married as she had already promised herself to Our Lord as His bride, so she cut off her beautiful long hair with her mother's sewing scissors to make herself undesirable to her suitor.

 St. Catherine of Siena | Monday Morning with the Saints on The Catholic Wife | by Katie Sciba #mmwsTCW:

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 Spend time prayerfully reflecting on these words of St. Catherine of Siena. #ReflectwithMystics:

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saint catherine of siena quotes - Google Search:
Fear is understandable and silence is easy but it is only through truth and bravery that one will succeed.

Be who God meant you to be. ~St Catherine of Siena:
I'm sure we've all heard this one... 

     I hope you survived my wordy ramble!  If you still want to know more on the life St. Catherine of Siena, I recommend you take a look here, here, and here.  Enjoy!

 Always,
~Emma