Travel

Travel is oxygen. The collected experiences of new countries, cultures, and landscapes seems to linger in the mind with equal fervor forever after. It's been a year since my last international trip and I still think about it all the time.

Travel

Edna St. Vincent Millay, 1892 - 1950

The railroad track is miles away,
    And the day is loud with voices speaking,
Yet there isn’t a train goes by all day
    But I hear its whistle shrieking.

All night there isn’t a train goes by,
    Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming,
But I see its cinders red on the sky,
    And hear its engine steaming.

My heart is warm with friends I make,
    And better friends I’ll not be knowing;
Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take,
    No matter where it’s going.

The Sobieski Farm

“Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.”  - Apollinaire

I spent the holiday weekend in Wisconsin at my friend's glorious family farm (which is sort of like their cabin). It was a fun, fresh-air filled, holiday weekend with a bunch of good people. Life at it's best.

Make your choice, adventurous Stranger,
Strike the bell and bide the danger,
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.

C. S. Lewis

New Music

Local(ish) musician Jonathan Sunde (J.E. Sunde) is permanently on my radar. From fronting The Daredevil Christopher Wright to his new solo work, Jonathan's complex melodies and arrangements, philosophic lyrics, and timbre of voice is captivating, striking, and fresh.

The first video is an early release from Jonathan's solo album. The second is an older Daredevil favorite.


Presently and Lately

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO

This comes first because it's the most important. Mostly old stuff that's new to me. Some new stuff, too.

WHERE I'VE BEEN

I went to Chicago with my parents last week. They let me take them to some of my favorite spots. I will never ever turn down a trip to that town.

WHAT I'M ... DRINKING

I've taken over my sister's Cocktail Friday posts on her food blog which has been a learning experience.

One of my duties at work is to art direct food advertisements. I'm used to a world where I have loads of talented people at the ready to execute my whims and imaginings. Food blogging is different. I'm a perfectionist and these posts are far from perfect ... but no matter. My iPhone and I are Making It Work. Kinda.

The life lesson is that I like drinking cocktails so much more than blogging cocktails.

You can check my posts out at http://rachaelwhite.me.

WHAT I'M READING

Favorite book title ever? Reading it makes me want to have affairs in foreign countries because life is short and there are no rules.