Crispie Edges 07/15/22 Issue no. 12 Travel Edition |
|
|
I am fresh off the plane and back in Ireland after a nearly three week stay in North Dakota. This trip felt clarifying — mainly that I have two places I call home. No matter what home I am heading towards when leaving I feel like a dog on a leash protesting to move an inch as their owner tugs the opposite way. That’s how I feel every time I go back home, and I refer to home as Ireland and as North Dakota. |
|
|
I held trepidation, and anxiety in going back to ND this time, worried about how I would encounter things after nearly two years. My trip to ND started off with some bumps: plane delays, bags gone missing and the acquisition of Covid. Then I passed Covid on to family members, and I had a root canal. By the time the whole family could be in the same room it was nearly time for me to go, so for a low cost I was able to extend one week and milked it to the max with family time (however, the new minion movie I saw will not be in my recs below — let that be a warning). When the time came to say goodbye, it was heart wrenching and difficult, full of tears (I really do resist change, even when it is self-propelled). Emotions of homesickness struck the first few hours back in Ireland, but by hour 24 of being here I was grateful for having two good places in my life, and people on both sides of the ocean I care deeply for. |
|
|
I was recently awarded an Arts Council Bursary; this financial boost has been and will be instrumental in helping me achieve some larger goals I have in the works. Over the last year I was working on a small pop-up show which is now on view at Bernbaum’s in Fargo. I was able to make this show possible with a grant from North Dakota Council on the Arts You can read more about the exhibition here, and if you’re in the area I highly recommend the vegetarian bagel plate. Lastly, I had a fun conversation with Anna O’Sullivan at the Butler Gallery in Kilkenny in June. This talk was recorded and now you can watch here. |
|
|
I don’t like flying. When I was a child I feared it, but the movie Airplane! did put my mind at ease, and for years I believed that the blow-up Autopilot was a real thing. Ironically, I do however adore airports. I love the sense of limbo, being in a state of almost. Last year I started making paintings of memorable flights I have been on. This series never took off (intended;), but a few images I believe are successful. This painting is from a flight in 2014, I was flying from Paris to Minneapolis and my flight soared through some beautifully crisp clear air above Greenland. The Pilot came on the loudspeaker letting us know we’d have some stellar views. Secretly I worried that the flight attendants with come by with a change box, demanding more money for the views. As we flew over Greenland, I made a few little drawings in a sketchbook, then took in the icy blues, and sharp contours of the land. Seeing features of our planet in its natural state can make me weak at the knees, however a city skyline I can give or take. This moment of seeing Greenland was an unexpected gift I will always treasure. |
|
|
Recommendations Being this is the travel edition I thought I’d offer my own personal travel tips, some knowns, some personal opinions. |
|
|
First. Pack a pair of undies in your hand luggage. Self-explanatory but this tip has saved me several times. Second. Yes, the beverage cart is free, but only drink caffeine if it’s time for you to stay awake. Third. Make a rule that if they offer water take it. HYDRATE, and pee with no shame, the joy of airports and planes is that they have lots of access to restrooms so no fears of getting stuck. Fourth. Pack headphones that are old school and use the traditional audio jack, I find the freebies handed out on the plane pop out of my ears. BUT if you get stuck youre in luck cause I have been working on another playlist for ye. I call this one ‘Round Two to Chew’. Spring is definitely danceable and I am really digging Japanese ambient music at the moment. Fifth. Pack your own darn food. Airport food is so flipping pricy, and often covered in layers of excessive plastic. While you can’t take liquid food you can take any solids. I’m telling you nothing tastes better than an orange in an airport, it’s a fresh burst amid the strange air quality in what feels like a human rat wheel. * For a meal to take with you I recommend this Baked Dhal by Anna Jones, which just so happens to be a featured recipe in this brilliant cookbook I received as a present in May. The beauty of this recipe is that it tastes delicious at room temp. It also freezes well, so make it a day or two before you leave, have one meal with it hot, pack up some to take on vacation, and throw the rest in the freezer so you have an easy meal to come home to. * In terms of a dessert a cookie packs up well...and I was recently gifted the book Cookies by Jesse Szweczyk. I have already made four recipes from the book, and all are on my remake list. A personal favorite was the caramelized pineapple skillet cookie, and I can’t wait to make the bananas foster chocolate chipper. |
|
|
Seasoned tomato juice with pretzels — Clearly not a recipe, rather a combination — As a kid I was notorious for having tomato juice when flying. On occasion I still indulge for my in-flight beverage of choice (I just think the amount of sodium can’t be good when trying hard to stay hydrated). Ingredients Directions 1. Pour the tomato juice over ice and sprinkle with pepper. 2. Bite a small piece of pretzel off and eat (this allows the shiny surface of the pretzel to be broken and juice penetrate the interior of the pretzel). 3. Take the remaining pretzel and dunk into the juice making sure some of the white interior of the pretzel is submerged in juice, let it wade for at least one minute. 4. Once it’s been soaked pop into your mouth and enjoy! |
|
|
Thank you for reading, and I appreciate you subscribing. Take care, see you in September! |
|
|
Did you stumble upon this and want to be a regular? |
|
|
|
|