Turnpike

I'm convinced that I live too far inland. With that said, tomorrow morning I am embarking on a 3 1/2 hour drive to spend a few days along the Massachusetts coast. I have always been drawn to the splendor of the seaside with its salt-saturated air and soul-soothing rhythm of crashing waves. To make my mini-vacation even better, I'll be staying with one of my oldest and dearest friends. Erin and I have been friends since we were young girls, but not long after our budding friendship began her family packed up and moved out of state. For nine years we corresponded through letters, phone calls, and e-mails until she and her family relocated back east. This will be our 5th summer of enjoying each others company with coastal New England as our playground. Our previous summer fun has included visits to local beaches, strolling along the waterfront in Plymouth, quick jaunts to Cape Cod, day trips to Providence and Boston, and an endless array of coffee, Mexican food, manga, and shopping. This year we'll be heading to Boston again, but instead of hanging out in neighboring Cambridge (as we did last year and in 2007), we'll be wandering around Back Bay. I've been seething with excitement for weeks!

July 2005, July 2007

Cape Cod July 2007

As I bid upstate New York adieu and trek across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I've compiled some mixed CD's to keep me company. Here are my personal summer soundtracks for this year:

"Cruise Control"

1. Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love - Coldplay
2. Sacred Vision - Iron and Wine
3. I Became Awake - Great Lake Swimmers
4. Secret Heart - Feist
5. Sunny Road - Emiliana Torrini
6. White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
7. Friday I'm In Love - The Cure
8. Flint (For The Unemployed And Underpaid) - Sufjan Stevens
9. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
10. Luv - Travis
11. Go Ahead - Rilo Kiley
12. Firecracker - Ryan Adams
13. Our Swords - Band of Horses
14. My Slumbering Heart - Rilo Kiley
15. Whither, I'm A Flower - Whiskeytown
16. The Pilgriming Vine - Basia Bulat
17. Kingdom of the Animals - Iron and Wine
18. Bowl of Oranges - Bright Eyes

"80's Conglomeration"

1. Just What I Needed - The Cars
2. Take On Me - a-Ha
3. I Melt With You - Modern English
4. Lovesong - The Cure
5. Sunglasses At Night - Corey Hart
6. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
7. Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
   
8. I Love Rock 'N Roll - Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
   
9. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
10. The Promise - When In Rome
11. I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
    
12. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) - Phil Collins
13. The Longest Time - Billy Joel
14. With or Without You - U2

Have a great week! :)