We officially have only 5 more days (including today) to get things accomplished for our trip. J did an insane amount of laundry yesterday and we started setting aside things that we potentially want to take with us. Our goal is to pack only two small bags (weekender-size) with everything that we'll need. Since we'll be lugging them around on trains and up small flights of stairs for most of our hotels, I want the luggage to be as manageable as possible. So, that means probably 2 pair of pants, 3-4 shirts, a jacket, light rain jacket, and toiletries.
Thursday night, we ran a few errands in the neighborhood. J got a couple of 50/50 t-shirts at American Apparel for their quick-dry and non-wrinkle properties. I won't even go into my feelings on the store and their products (I was totally not into being there, but they do make t-shirts that fit J really well). Then, we stopped by Powells to pick up a couple of used paperbacks. We want to bring books that we don't mind leaving behind when we're finished. Luckily, Powells has an awesome Mystery section and we got an entire series of George Pelecanos novels that revolve around Detective Derek Strange. We have listened to a few of Pelecanos's more recent novels on audiobook and really enjoyed his writing -- especially since most of his novels are set in D.C. I love Powells because they have every book you could ever want and we got all three used books for about $5 a piece -- some were only $2.50. That's like buying a magazine!
Also exciting news? My Mom sent a special care package from Louisiana (she and my sister drove out to pick up my grandmother for a visit to Florida). I was thrilled when J opened the box and found a package of Cajun Beef Jerky from Bourgeois Meat Market in Thibodeaux. This isn't your average beef jerky with ground, processed mystery meat full of chemicals (and god knows what else). It's delicious strips of beef that's house smoked and cured. It's up near the top of most amazing foods I've tasted. J and I first had it when we went to visit my grandparents in 2008 (the same day that we picked up three varieties of Boudin and had a feast for lunch). Since it's so fresh, it only lasts for 2 weeks after being opened, so J and I have just been staring at the package and trying our best not to rip into it before we leave. I'd probably take it with us for snacks on the road, but I'm afraid it'll get taken away at customs. I think I'll just leave it at home for a tasty treat when we return.
The other night I decided to put together a spreadsheet to track our travel budget, since I have been doing a lot of hotel, train, and airline reservations this week. Don't worry, we're right on track. Actually, we probably won't end up using all the money we have set aside. When filling out the "airline/train fare" column, I realized that I hadn't looked into how much it would cost to check our bags. Given the airlines' propensity for nickel and diming customers, and the fact that we're taking an international flight, I just assumed they would up the ante and we would have to cough up the equivalent of a domestic airline ticket for our two small bags.
I nearly went into shock when I found out the cost: Zero. What? As of this week, United Airlines does not charge you for checking up to two bags for international flights. That's the best news I've heard all day. It certainly has made me more upbeat during my somewhat arduous search for a place to stay in Regensburg. There must be some kind of crazy convention going on there on the Saturday night that we're stopping in, because every single room (hotels, guest houses, and hostels included) under €90 is booked. I'm now searching for apartments and flats that might have some space. It's my last ditch effort and then we'll have to go on to Plan B -- I have yet to figure that part out.
How on earth is it already August 24th? I'm seriously going to have to put my foot down and insist this month stop moving so quickly. That means that we're only 9 days away from stepping on that plane to Brussels! I'm so excited that I don't even know how I'm going to sleep at night as the week nears its end. Jesse has an intense work schedule the day before we leave (Wednesday, Sept. 2nd), so we've set a strict deadline for packing. Everything must be ready and in the suitcase by Sunday, Aug. 30th -- as in six days, oh crap!
As if we didn't have enough to do, a couple of months ago we signed on to take a rafting trip down the Deschutes river with a few of our kickball friends. I have to admit, I was a little leery of camping and rafting all weekend, however, I had to remind myself of how much fun I had tubing down the Shenandoah with our friends in D.C. I'm glad I got over my initial reservations, because I had a blast. We drove down on Friday night to a campground in Mt. Hood National Forrest, pitched our (borrowed) tent and unrolled our new self-inflating camping mats. When my parents were visiting they gave us an early anniversary gift, which in turn funded two wonderful nights of sleeping outdoors. The last time we went camping, we bought cheap foam mats from Target and after the first night of restless sleep (and aching hips) I was ready to go home. While the mats only inflate to about a 1/2 inch in height, they are pretty darn awesome. I slept like a log.
Saturday morning we got up, had a little breakfast, and shivered into our bathing suits (it was barely 60 degrees at the campsite). The drop-off point was about a 30 minute drive and not long after breaking through the canopy of the forest, the landscape turned into burnt hillsides dotted with a few trees and houses. It reminded us a lot more of California than the lush Oregon that we've gotten used to in Portland. Thankfully, the sun was out and the sky was crystal clear -- we wouldn't freeze to death on the river.
As for the river, it was absolutely beautiful. I didn't bring my camera, because I didn't want it to get wet, so these two images are borrowed from Google Maps. The Deschutes is a lovely blue-green color and rolls along (in the section where we were rafting) with a few small rapids. We got on the river about 1pm and floated along with oars in hand to direct the raft to the best rapid spots. Of course, with Jesse on the boat, he ensured that we got the best turbulence possible by bouncing the raft over rocky spots. Luckily, we never turned over. We reached our end destination around 4pm and had already decided that it was so much fun that we definitely need to do it again. The sun was extremely hot, but I'm pretty sure none of us got a sunburn (thanks to the liberal application of sunblock). We all had plans for a rockin' party back at the campground, but reality hit when we were starving and dead tired by 6pm. In an attempt to rally, a fire was built and we played games, but there was no rescuing the evening.
Next time? Party first, then raft. And yes, there will be a next time.
We will be on a plane to Belgium in fourteen days! I'm trying to plan out a few blog posts before we leave, so my blog isn't dead for a better part of September.*
My planning efforts for our September trip to Belgium and Germany were somewhat derailed this month because of summer school. Yesterday, I had our flight reservations changed,as the airline shifted things around and left us only 30 minutes to catch our connecting flight to Brussels in Dulles airport. Also, until today I hadn't really taken the time to work out some of the details that were left trailing since the end of July. While I had a pretty good idea about the first few days in Belgium, and the tail-end of our Germany excursion in Munich, I hadn't even picked up the guide book to explore Berlin. It seemed like an overwhelming venture and even though I really want to go, I didn't think it would be the most fun part of the trip. I think I may stand corrected.
I looked into a few places to stay in the central (Mitte) section of Berlin, but they didn't seem quite right. A lot of them had giant bars and techno clubs on the basement or first floor, which seems like it would attract the 18-20-somethings that I'm hoping to largely avoid while sleeping (no offense youngsters, but I took that trip already). I will bring along earplugs and noise-canceling headphones just in case.
After visualizing the potential hellish existence, I decided to look in areas adjacent to the Mitte and found Prenzlauer Berg, which seems to be a great compromise -- removed from the center, but not lacking active nightlife and cafes. Prenzlauer Berg is a borough that was part of the former GDR (East Germany) with its west boundary formed by the Berlin Wall. From an architectural historian's perspective, the area will be amazing with its 1950s and 60s communist/Stalinist housing blocks mingling with older tenements from earlier in the century. From the historian's perspective, it's a great part of recent world history to explore. After having Jesse read aloud sections from Stasiland, a compilation of true stories from the former East Germany, I can't wait to walk around the neighborhoods and areas that I didn't get to see very much of when I traveled to Berlin in high school and college.
Another exciting tidbit that I discovered is that most major streets in Berlin have bike lanes or tracks. Having become quite adapted to using a bike as one of my main modes of transportation here in Portland, I can't wait to see how they do it on the other side of the pond. To further my excitement, I also stumbled on an awesome website that allows you to enter any two streets in Berlin and Potsdam for the best route by bike. Given that our hostel rents bikes on site, I think it will be a large part of our three days in the city.
* If I get my act together, you'll be able to tentatively follow along with our travels (but don't hold your breath, as I'm not holding mine).
I had my hair cut today by an actual professional for the first time in about 4 years. While living in D.C., I had a hard time finding someone I could trust with a consistent cut. Then, I found someone, but had a hard time swallowing the $60 price tag. Being sort of broke and somewhat handy with a pair of shears and a razor, I started cutting my own hair. At first, it wasn't perfect, but over time I mastered it. I even cut my own hair before my wedding and was perfectly happy with the outcome.
Since moving to Portland, I've become less interested in keeping up the routine. Also, I met a perfectly wonderful person who also happens to cut and color hair. Prior to booking an appointment, I witnessed the transformation of a couple of friends and was quite impressed. On a whim (but not without a lot of contemplation), I called the salon this morning and found that she was free this afternoon. I hopped in the chair and she worked her magic. Tivra is also a very good sales person, as she convinced me that a few highlights would be delightful -- and they are. She styled it with a bit of a flip in the back, and showed me how to achieve "Texas hair" volume should I need to feel even sassier.
So there you have it, ladies and gents, my sweet new hair cut and the first time ever that I have sported my non-natural color (well except for that time Lauren and I dyed my hair and it turned out the shade of a bright new copper penny). To Tivra's credit, the highlights are very subtle and just give the hint that my hair has been sun kissed -- even though my glowing white shins tell an entirely different story.
Portland just keeps getting better and better!
Today was the first day of freedom after a very long two weeks. Summer school toward the end kind of kicked my butt. I forgot how tiring class can be and how insanely disruptive it is to the day to day schedule. Since mid-July, my life Monday-Thursday has consisted of getting up, eating breakfast, reading/note taking, class, and totally spacing out before bed. I learned a lot, but whooo doggies, I don't think I'll do summer school again. Class two days a week is much more my speed.
Maybe I wouldn't have minded as much, but my parents were in town last week, just as class was getting stressful. Their visit wasn't stressful to me, just the fact that I hated having to break up the day for school. I wish I could have suspended classes for a few days so I could maximize my time, but unfortunately I haven't perfected time travel. If I could warp time (Star Trek style), I would go back to Thursday afternoon when I skipped a trip to Multnomah Falls to study for the exam that turned out to be open book/notes. Whatever, I don't want to talk about it. I'm thinking happy thoughts.
The weather during my parents' visit was grey and rainy, which quite literally was the first time that happened in about two months. Mt. Hood stayed hidden behind the clouds their entire stay. However, the clouds kept things cool, which was really nice for walking around the city. This was my Mom's first time visiting Portland, and my Dad's second (his first was in the early 1980s) and he somehow remembered that Beaverton was a lot closer to Eugene. It's a good thing he came back to clear things up! While I am always happy to see my parents, this trip was particularly exciting, because this is the first time we were all together in our new city. It was great showing them around our neighborhood and introducing them to our favorite happy hour spots. We also toured around the east side of Portland quite a bit to show them the areas where we're interested in living someday. I think I have my Dad all but convinced that they need to retire here, but that's several years in the distance. They're playing into my nefarious plans to get all of our friends and family to relocate here. Watch out! You're next.
Anyway, with most of July and half of August consumed with school, I've had very little time to plan for our trip to Belgium and Germany. I looked at the calendar today and realized that it's just 17 days away! I have so many things to do to prepare, so I decided to head out to the dreaded mall and do a little shopping. First thing on the agenda was finding a bathing suit (not for Europe, but a rafting trip we're taking next weekend) and pair of comfortable walking shoes. I'm trying not to remember the bathing suit shopping. Why do department stores insist on putting such unflattering lights in the dressing rooms? I looked like myself in 15 years if I developed a gnarly case of jaundice. In bathing suit terms, that's just about the worst thing possible.
Luckily, my shoe mission was a lot more enjoyable. I did a little research online and found that comfortable no longer equals hideous (or sneakers). In addition to comfort and cuteness, I determined that I need a strap so I don't lose them when riding my bike (like the day that my ballet-style shoe flew off on a commute home from school and barely missed a moving vehicle). So, I stopped by a local shoe store with a great variety -- they even measured my feet and arches to determine just the right size. The perfect shoe, the Naot Primrose, turned out to be one of the most expensive in the store -- naturally. They feel like heaven, as they should, given that they cost more than our weekly grocery budget. However, Jesse reminded me that I wear through shoes much less frequently than he does and having comfortable (cute) shoes is important. I've been wearing them around the house this evening and can't wait to put them to the test on the town. I have quite a few more (non-car related) errands to run tomorrow.
My final is this afternoon! Lots of studying ensued last night (with the help of a Session study guide of course). I'm off with my Mom for a fabric shopping extravaganza at Fabric Depot, before pouring my brain onto a piece of paper.
I'll be back full time on the blog next week when life cools down a bit (for real this time).
Summers in Portland are jammed with exciting (and largely free or insanely cheap) things to do. Last Friday, before heading out to a concert, Jesse and I rode our bikes downtown to watch the Portland Twilight Criterium (krI'-tir-E-&m). Basically, a bike course was set up on the streets around five city blocks, which produced a highly-technical, six-turn course. The bikers raced around the 1-kilometer course for an entire hour, averaging just over one minute per lap (or a little over 30 miles per hour). It was insanely fast. My hair blew around as they whooshed by.
Today is insanely busy. My parents are in town and I want to spend as much free time as possible! Also, on the table for the next two days? Studying for my class final and finishing up my papers (which should have been done at the beginning of the week, but then Preshus arrived), and I volunteered to teach a course on house research and really, really need to go over my notes before Saturday. So, here's a video of the action -- it may be all you'll get from me for the rest of the week.
Preshus!* Arrived a day early and has since ruined all my plans of finishing my papers early.
* I mumble in my best Gollum voice as I pet the shiny aluminum case.
We have become Thursday night regulars at PGE Park when the Timbers are in town, but I was feeling a little run down last night after class. However, when I called home to let Jesse know that I was on my way home, he informed me that two of our friends were coming over for drinks before the soccer game (and that he had cleaned the apartment in preparation). Score! I immediately felt energized. I rode my bike to the grocery store and picked up all of the necessary ingredients for the "Triple B" (the meal formerly known as Bachelor Broccoli Burritos) so we could have a quick bite to eat before heading out. After a cocktail or two, we were set to go.
Timbers games are always more fun with a little fire in your belly. And if you're grouped with or near the Army, there's no sitting allowed or a quiet moment to pass. The Timbers played the Vancouver (a huge rival game), so the fans were overjoyed when we beat the Whitecats 1-0. We walked into the game a little late this time around, but made with only a minute to spare before the first (and only) goal was scored by the Timbers. It was a fast-paced game that put them in a two-way tie for first place in the league and added to their unbeaten streak of 19 games -- a new record.
This was the second win over Vancouver this season, which mandated that the Cascadia Cup (an entirely fan-based rivalry) be passed to Portland for the very first time. We stopped in at the Bitter End pub for a celebratory beer after the game and the team showed up for a victory lap -- at which point someone filled the Cascadia Cup with beer for every one to drink. Gross. I happily watched from the safety of my booth as the cup was passed around by the crowd. It was quite festive and fun. Timber Joey was even there, sans chainsaw of course.
The Timbers are playing again on Saturday against the Charleston Battery and we are definitely going to make that game. By then my voice should be back to normal for more raucous cheering and goading. God, I love soccer.
Be forewarned, it's Soapbox Thursday and I'm all fired up. No photos today. Just words.
Breaking news: The Justice Department is contemplating whether to bust up the gosh-darned monopoly Apple and AT&T have created with their iPhone deal. Members of Congress (their children) and staffers are strapped with Blackberries because D.C. is dominated by Verizon coverage. Blackberries were so 2008. Waaaah! The people demand iPump Pilates apps. Oh also, insured people are still having to pay $22,000 to birth children.
Just this month, Jesse and I went through the process of terminating my health insurance coverage with my former employer to put me under his plan. It's kind of been a pain in the butt; a necessary pain nonetheless. Because I worked for a small company (under 15 employees) my coverage was provided through a broker in the private market, with premiums paid in full by my employer until I terminated employment. For the past year, I have been able to reimburse my employer for those premiums and keep my old coverage. Maybe if I had read the fine print, I would have switched over sooner.
Today, I read a truly horrifying article about a freelance writer who recently had a baby. She and her partner shopped around for private insurance in Washington, D.C. and signed up for the exact same plan that I was provided by my former employer -- reportedly with the best maternity policy you could find on the private market in the area. To my surprise, I found out that maternity costs are not included in this standard policy, or very many privately purchased plans in the U.S. for that matter. With this plan, you pay an extra premium each month for the "Maternity Rider" or as I see it, the "Let's Dictate What You Do In Your Personal Life Rider."
Shockingly, only 14 states in the country require that maternity coverage be provided in the private market, whereas companies with more than 15 employees are mandated by federal law to include it in their benefits package. Effectively, it's a renegade, unregulated market for anyone who is un(der)employed, working for a small company, or in a non-traditional job and doesn't qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. I don't feel that I'd be incorrect in stating that this is the case for many people in Portland (including me, except I'm lucky enough to be married to someone with coverage). Now this maternity rider, under my former plan, must be purchased before you become pregnant, otherwise your fetus stands as an existing condition and you are ineligible -- some insurance providers even require a 2-year waiting period to be eligible for maternity coverage.
To me, that's akin to submitting a claim for a kidney transplant, and instead of getting approval for the surgery, you receive a form letter reminding you that you didn't sign up for the organ failure rider/your organs failed before the 2-year probationary period. (Kindly though, they provide a list of synagogues to contact in New Jersey. Heh. I kid.) Also, the idea of having to notify my employer (who would then notify my insurance provider) that I intend to get pregnant sometime in the future seems like a giant invasion of privacy, not to mention hedging on rather expensive future events that may not even happen. This is especially true of a small office, like mine, where the designated HR department also happened to be the office manager and the business owner.
Upon reading the article further, I found that the aforementioned maternity rider only covers pre-natal, delivery, and post-natal costs up to $3,000. Anyone who has been to the doctor recently knows that just a standard visit costs upwards of $300, and that merely involves peeing in a cup and wearing an uncomfortable, backless, rigid paper gown. Thankfully family planning, or rather ensuring that ours doesn't expand at the moment, has been a big part of my existence on our current shoestring budget. However, accidents happen. Two of our close friends were surprised (and overjoyed, may I add) with a third addition to their households this past year. Alright, getting to the conclusion:
Health care is a right, not an opportunity for profit. It's a right, not a privilege that has to be earned. It is a right, we should demand a system that works for everyone, not just those who can (or think they can) afford it. It's a right, because someday I, and you, may really need it.
Another piece to check out, if you are so inclined: Bill Moyers on the sneaky tactics of health insurance companies in America. It's shameful.
I'm playing hooky from class today. Before you yell at me, it's for a good reason. Every 1st Wednesday of the month, I have an education committee meeting for a preservation organization in town and it starts at 5:30. In order for me to get there in time, I'd have to leave class at 5:00, which means that I'd sit through an entire lecture, but miss out on our class project (which is the only reason I really go to class anyway). Rather than making my way down to campus for a rehash of Environmental Policy and Planning (that I know like the back of my hand from work in the preservation world), I decided to stay home and write the papers that are due at the end of the term -- only a week away. I sent notes to my group mates this morning to ease my conscience for missing out on our discussion session.
I'm writing three memos on the recent plans adopted for the Northwest neighborhood (where Jesse and I live). At two double-spaced pages each, it shouldn't take very long -- I used to do this sort of thing in my sleep! However, I'm having a hard time cracking down and just doing it already. There are so many things going on that are keeping me distracted, like my parents visiting next week, the nice cool weather outside, our trip in less than a month (!), and my new iPod Touch (soon to be followed by a new laptop) flying from Sacramento as we speak. Also, I can't help but think about the fall term and what glorious class I will take next. Perhaps something in Public Administration? Who knows, maybe I'll become an astronaut or a world-class biographer of some previously obscure historical figure. The options are endless when there are papers to be written!
In addition to my self-inflicted interruptions, my husband has decided that he wants to be best buds for the afternoon, attaching himself to my hip. I'm not sure if it's out of boredom or some more primal instinct that makes him involuntarily ask questions and give unsolicited commentary on the (rather terrible) oatmeal cookies that were made earlier in the week. He's not trying to be a pain (and I am sort of sitting in his workspace), but even the little 20 second interruptions totally throw off my train of thought. I finally had to go to the bedroom, shut the door and demand not to be bothered under pain of death (or unless he accidentally catches fire and needs critical medical assistance).
I will write three papers today....I will write three papers today.....I will write three papers today....
Brasilliant's Unorthodox All-Day Intervals Workout*:
Interval 1: "A" For Effort
Late morning running attempt: 10 min.
Walk home (sweaty and panting for no good reason): 10 min.
Stretch (and ponder defeat from aforementioned run): 10 min.
Interval 2: Guilt Toning Exercises
Lift hand weights (wonder how 5 pounds got to be so heavy): 15 min.
Crunches (abs groan and puff dust): 10 min.
Lie on floor under fan: 10 min.
Interval 3: Take 7-hour Break
Maintain rapid heart rate by engaging with ass-head in class. Continue to build muscle tone by forcefully sitting on hands (in effort not to choke ass-head as he dishes out a healthy serving of senselessness and condescension while chewing gum. Audibly. While. Talking.).
Interval 4: Speed Training
Sprint for one mile and seethe about ass-head from class: 8 min. 45 sec.
Lose dinner in stranger's bushes: 30 sec.
Walk off embarrassment: 5 min.
Interval 5: Cool Down
Pet the cutest dog ever: 2 min.
Contemplate dog-napping (tired legs disagree): 30 sec.
Jog to prevent muscles from turning to stone: 10 min.
Walk to recover from jog (again panting and sweaty): 10 min.
Stretch bewildered muscles (that haven't seen this much activity in a decade): 10 min.
*Brasilliant is not a licensed trainer. She just plays one on the internets.
Thankfully, the heat stayed at a manageable 90-95ยบ this weekend, so we were able to actually cook, ride bikes, and enjoy ourselves. That's not to say we didn't sweat quite a bit while doing these activities, but it certainly wasn't hot enough to make me want to die.
Friday afternoon, I decided that I needed a sundress. So, I made one just in time to go out for a date night. The fabric was cut from a free pattern by Heather Ross and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it fit with virtually no alteration. It's incredibly comfortable and perfect for these hot afternoons that we've been experiencing. Since it's really only 
held up by the elastic faux smocking that I created, I'm still playing around with some form of straps so I can ensure that it doesn't accidentally get pulled down, say when I ride my bike. With my summer dress on, we rode our bikes over to the Produce Row Cafe in east Portland, largely because Jesse read about their interesting beer and whiskey pairings in one of our local newspapers. I never would have thought to drink rye whiskey along with a cream stout, but it was delicious and they complimented each other quite nicely. While at the Cafe, I also had the best tuna melt that I've ever tasted. It had all kinds of herbs -- fresh parsley, dill, chives -- along with scallions, red onion, and celery on sourdough bread. MMM.
Saturday was not nearly as fun, we cleaned the apartment and scoped out laptops at the Apple store downtown, but nothing of great consequence. After we got back from the bike ride downtown, Jesse decided that it good afternoon for a nap. I wasn't very sleepy, so I walked over to the grocery store to pick up things for dinner. I decided to make a dish inspired by the Produce Row Cafe's pasta of the day -- chevre mac & cheese with peas and fresh parsley. It was perfect for a hot day, not too heavy and didn't require the stove to be on for a long time. After dinner, I cracked open a couple of travel guides and started really planning for our September trip to Belgium and Germany. (I'll post on that sometime this coming week.)
Today, Jesse and I had planned on going on a hike near Multnomah Falls, but we got so into planning for the trip that we decided to hang around the apartment to continue to fill in our tentative itinerary. We were so inspired by one of our tour books in particular, that we rode our bikes out to Belmont Station (the best beer store I've ever visited) and picked up a variety of Lambics to try. I'm getting really excited about the trip, which officially is now only one month away.
Thursday night, we ran a few errands in the neighborhood. J got a couple of 50/50 t-shirts at American Apparel for their quick-dry and non-wrinkle properties. I won't even go into my feelings on the store and their products (I was totally not into being there, but they do make t-shirts that fit J really well). Then, we stopped by Powells to pick up a couple of used paperbacks. We want to bring books that we don't mind leaving behind when we're finished. Luckily, Powells has an awesome Mystery section and we got an entire series of George Pelecanos novels that revolve around Detective Derek Strange. We have listened to a few of Pelecanos's more recent novels on audiobook and really enjoyed his writing -- especially since most of his novels are set in D.C. I love Powells because they have every book you could ever want and we got all three used books for about $5 a piece -- some were only $2.50. That's like buying a magazine!
Also exciting news? My Mom sent a special care package from Louisiana (she and my sister drove out to pick up my grandmother for a visit to Florida). I was thrilled when J opened the box and found a package of Cajun Beef Jerky from Bourgeois Meat Market in Thibodeaux. This isn't your average beef jerky with ground, processed mystery meat full of chemicals (and god knows what else). It's delicious strips of beef that's house smoked and cured. It's up near the top of most amazing foods I've tasted. J and I first had it when we went to visit my grandparents in 2008 (the same day that we picked up three varieties of Boudin and had a feast for lunch). Since it's so fresh, it only lasts for 2 weeks after being opened, so J and I have just been staring at the package and trying our best not to rip into it before we leave. I'd probably take it with us for snacks on the road, but I'm afraid it'll get taken away at customs. I think I'll just leave it at home for a tasty treat when we return.
