Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Day Two: 23 Miles and it's National Second Hand Clothes Day!

I'm a 1 Percenter (of the way there)!

With the addition of today's miles, I've biked/walked 37 miles so far.  Now that I'm doing the blog thing, I found that I wanted to go even farther today while I exercised.

What motivates you?

Second Hand Rose

Who doesn't love saving money?  I know I do!  During the current pandemic, one thing I have to admit I miss is being able to go to the local Goodwill.  Sometimes I just like to walk through to see what crazy stuff they have for sale.

I've gotten some amazing things second hand.  Years ago I bought a beautiful mohair duster-like sweater for $5.00.  I bought a real fur coat for $35.  

While I biked today, I wore a sweat jacket that used to be my mom's and a pair of earrings with necklace (didn't show up in the picture like I wanted) from my aunt.  And I'm reading a second hand book.  A favorite website of mine is Paperback Swap.  You list books you don't want anymore and someone requests it from you.  You get credits for those books that you turn around to get books mailed to you that you want.  

If you're interested, go give Paperback Swap a look!



Monday, August 24, 2020

Day One- 14 Miles Down on National Waffle Day (and the Waffle Wars)!

Day 1 Progress

Today I biked and walked a total of 14 miles. While eating a waffle at one point.  Eleven from Stranger Things would be proud.

Only 3006 more miles to go!

Waffle Wars

 So, I had originally planned to begin my first post on my "journey" with sharing a few weird facts about waffles.  You know, like how waffles in some form or another have been around for thousands of years or when and how the waffle became popular in the USA.


Then I read a few lines in Wikipedia and I knew I had to share this bizarre fact with the world: there was a Waffle War in the 16th century.


OK, not a real Waffle War.  But apparently in the mid 1500's in France, waffles became so popular it led to a rise in the number of oublieurs (what waffle maker/sellers were called then) that there were "quarrels and fights" breaking out between these waffle sellers.  There were a reported 29 oublieurs in Paris alone. King Charles IX of France had to create the first waffle legislation in 1560- he decreed that these waffle sellers could be no closer than 4 meters (approximately 12 feet) to each other.


This raises a few questions:

    1. First waffle legislation?  Were these waffle fights breaking out frequently?  I'm totally imagining waffle gangs roaming the streets.  Watch out, here come the Belgian Bowery Blueberry Boys.  They're getting ready to throw down with Order of oublieurs!

                                              

   2.  Where is my Michael Bay/Tom Hooper/Zachary Snyder team up epic movie musical (loosely) based on the Waffle Wars- La Guerre des Gaufres?  Imagine Hugh Jackman and Russel Crowe music battling it out over their respective waffle shops?

                                        

We  must begin a campaign to get Hollywood's attention to demand our Waffle War movie!  If people can successfully demand for the Snyder cut of Justice League to be released, then we can get our #WaffleWarMovieNow!

Bibliography (and more waffle history!)

Wikipedia. "Waffle". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffle Accessed on 8/25/20.

Lifestyle Direct, Inc. "Waffle History". https://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/cereals/waffle-history.asp Accessed on 8/25/20.

Vinaigrette. "Wafla, oublie, nieule: the filled waffle and other little sweet histories".



Day Eleven: I'm (Virtually) in New York (and some thoughts on American History)

 It took me eleven days, but I've finally made it across Massachusetts. I'm a few miles into New York state.  In my super realistic ...