Lost and Translations

since we last spoke, i have been driving much more and learning my way around somewhat. i still need the navigation system and mapquest...for those frequent times when i get lost, but at least i can get to several major places around greenwich and stamford.
however, in my adventures of east-coast driving, i have found that east-coast drivers have alot to tell other east-coast drivers about their driving. just as in the far side cartoon, i will now translate some of the east-coast driving language:


honk!
"i really hated it when you pulled out in front me...don't do it again, or else!"
honk!
"i really wish you would have ran that red light, so i could get to my mani/pedi on time!"
honk!
"why can't you go any faster? i'm only going 28 miles over the speed limit!"
HONK!
"i can tell from your driving that you're from the midwest, and i HATE that about you!"
honk!
"why did you let that person in? now there's another person in front of me!"
honk!
"don't you dare hesitate at this intersection, or i will be mad!" (this one is preemptive)
honk!
"you're in the lane that i want to be in!"

i've honked twice at people, and here are the translations:
honk!
"when the light turned green, you should have gone! now it's red, and i didn't get a chance to go!"
honk!
"it was your turn to stop and my turn to go! please be more conscientious next time!"
i am much more polite than other east-coast drivers.

aslo, connectians (my own word; pronounced co-NE-shins) care much more about their beautiful foliage (it IS amazing) than they do useful, or even safe, roadways. but really, i mean who wants to be able to know which road to turn on? wouldn't you rather see a rare, blooming tree from sri-lanka or an oak tree that was planted during the revolutionary war than the silly old road sign? and who really wants to know if there's a car coming from the other direction as you're pulling out of a zero-visiblity driveway? i guess they prefer it this way.

i have to keep in mind that most connectians are ex-new yorkers looking for a more peaceful life in the "country." being from the ACTUAL country, i must say that peaceful must have a different definitition from what i know.

even with all the differences, i am loving the east coast and all the different modes of transportation. the train is my favorite, because it takes me to a whole different world called manhattan. i believe my next post will be a compare and contrast essay on the similarities and differences of the great darke county fair and manhattan.
tune in next time: same bat-time, same bat-channel.

your friendly neighborhood nanny,
lauren faith

Lauren's List

so instead of writing a long essay about all the fun times and amazing blessings that i'm enjoying here in connecticut, i've decided to just post a long list of things to update you all. i hope you enjoy!

the pictures, top to bottom:

1: partial front view of the home where i live

2: back view, my suite is on the far, far left

3: the view from the pool area

4: landon and erin came to visit me!! this is at my favorite diner.

the events, in no particular order:

1: i went to manhattan last saturday! i walked all around central park and a freelancer photographed me playing in the bethesda fountain.

2: i have already made some AMAZING friends and found a church home....PRAISE GOD.

3: i know how to get MANY places around town, and i can even navigate myself to the mall in stamford...very necessary.

4: i finally got a new computer! an adorable little macbook.

5: landon and erin came to visit me and we had a fabulous time!!

6: i was introduced to "high school musical" which is now a favorite.

7: OH YEAH, the family is amazing, but they have been on vacation for two weeks, so i am lonely at night in the big house.

8: my MOM is coming to visit me in october....yay!

9: i MIGHT get to see beth moore in rhode island at the end of the month...

10: another freelance photographer took me on a photoshoot the other day. people, i am not photogenic.

11: there are two baby deer (and perhaps their mother) trapped on the property. it is fully fenced in and they can not get out. they are very cute and i have named them jim and pam.

12: unfortunately, there might also be a coyote on the property. i saw him last week, but i've only heard him at night since then. i have not named him, because i do not like him.

13: thirteen is unlucky, so i will stop here.

well, there it is. i know it doesn't seem like a lot, but it's been an action-packed two + weeks for me. i will report more "work-related" details, as soon as i start living them:)

love to you all from the east coast,
lauren faith