Some days, I feel like this guy. Just a little off.
Stop the rain, save the planet April 26, 2010
wander gear
With April showers upon us — and Earth day not far behind us – it’s a good time to meet the Brelli.
I picked up one of these stylish parasols at a flea market after the creator, a local woman, sold me on the environmental benefits: it’s the world’s only 100 percent biodegradable umbrella. I have to admit, I’d never thought about how long my old nylon umbrella would live in a landfill. Turns out it will outlast me, whereas a Brelli will biodegrade in five years.
Not only are PVC and bamboo better for our landfills, they hold up against maniacle East Coast weather. Manhattan winds have shredded four of my husband’s traditional umbrellas in eight months. Meanwhile, my dainty little Brelli is holding up.
The down side is it’s an investment: prices start at $48 for a small one. I snatched a sample for $10, so locals, you might luck out. And the creator has introduced a new line of parasols to block UVA and UVB rays, as well as a paint kit to personalize your rainy-day accessories.
Publish a Poem April 26, 2010
reading list
I can’t imagine a more inspiring place to write than New York. Everything here triggers a new idea or an old memory.
The later was true last spring, when I walked through an untamed section of Central Park called The Ramble and was transported to a camping trip my family took 20 years ago. Thanks to Anderbo.com for publishing the resulting poem, and to The Purple Mango Post for blogging about it. Read “In the Hammock” here.
Happy writing, and wandering.
Photograph the Cloisters March 7, 2010
Chris and I took the train to the top of Manhattan this weekend and got out in Washington Heights, where the famed Cloisters makes its home.
The museum houses the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s medieval collections — wooden doors, marble columns and stained glass windows from around the 14th Century. These artifacts have been carted to America over the years because, well, Europe has a surpluss of history and we’re like a storage unit.
Lucky us. We enjoyed soaking in a rare 50-degree day, roaming the grounds, learning some history and trying our new cameras. Here are a few images that lingered with me throughout the day.
