Thursday, December 12, 2013

550. Prepared

550. Prepared
Definition: (v) make ready for use or consideration
Location Placed: Knob Hill Country Lanes, Manalapan, New Jersey
Date Placed: 12/2/13 at 8:34pm





I used to drive by this bowling alley on a regular basis when I was coming home from college, but never went in. Bowling isn't really my cup of tea. But I decided to pop my head in to see what it was like to cure my curiosity on the way home from dinner out one night. I can honestly say that it looks like every other bowling alley out there! If I  were more a fan of bowling, I'd definitely want to try bowling a round or two there to see how it was.


549. Decisive

549. Decisive
Definition: (adj) producing a definite result
Location Placed: The Provident Bank, Freehold, New Jersey
Date Placed: 11/30/13 at 12:23pm





The days are slowly winding down, with less and less daylight to enjoy around work schedules. Only another week or so and the days will start getting longer. Although the brunt of winter is still ahead of us, I am really excited to get back to the days where it's light when I leave work in the evening!

548. Restorative

548. Restorative
Definition: (adj) restoring the health, well-being, or strength of something
Location Placed: Adelphia Post Office, Howell, New Jersey
Date Placed: 11/30/13 at 11:49am





Christmas cards were posted early this year. Aside from misaddressing one card (sorry!) it seems they are all getting to their intended locations in different towns, states, and countries. Sending and receiving Christmas cards is one of my favorite things about this time of year. Although I love the whole holiday season, receiving individual bits of mail is something I always enjoy. It's sort of like when the internet first came out and we all jumped for joy when we got an email! Now we jump for joy when we get something that isn't a bill or junk mail in the post. Much thanks to the post office for all their help, kindness, and for their speedy delivery!

Friday, December 6, 2013

547. Palatable

547. Palatable
Definition: (adj) pleasant to taste
Location Placed: UPS, Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Date Placed: 11/27/13 at  5:41pm





I'm always careful now when I release cranes at UPS. I was once "caught" by video cameras in the act! This time, as I was taping up my package, I was very nearly caught taking a picture of my crane! Apparently I wasn't being careful enough. But the helpful gentleman just took my package up to the desk to be sent out, while I snapped a quick shot before following him. I must be slipping in my "carefulness" routine. Knock on wood, aside from the one time in Wilmington, North Carolina when a crane was given to me since she thought I had dropped it, I've not been caught. Here's to hoping the next 453 cranes go by as smoothly!

546. Lavish

546.Lavish
Definition: (adj) rich, luxurious, or elaborate
Location Placed: Starbucks, Eatontown, New Jersey
Date Placed: 11/27/13 at 5:28pm





I had no idea this Starbucks existed until a few days before I stopped there. It must've been new because it wasn't there when I lived in the area. So I decided to pop by and check it out (and pick up a hot chocolate for my Thanksgiving Eve drive home). A nice mint hot chocolate reminded me how much I enjoy hot chocolate and need to make it more often at home. Does anyone have a favorite hot chocolate recipe or mix that they buy?

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

545. Helpful

545. Helpful
Definition: (adj) supportive, accomodating
Location Placed: Jenkinson's Aquarium, Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Date Placed: 11/17/13 at 3:32pm





It had been ages since I had been to the Jenkinson's Aquarium. Although I had been to the boardwalk probably a dozen times in recent years, I hadn't gone to the aquarium. I had an out of town guest visiting who gave me a good excuse to go visit again. It may be on the smaller side for an aquarium, but it packs quite a punch. There were lots of awesome animals to snap a few photos of and lots of little exhibits to see. I was sort of surprised to see parrots and even pigmy monkeys upstairs! It definitely was a wonderful treat, which was followed by a edible sort of treat next door at the fudge shop!

544. Flair

544. Flair
Definition: (n) stylishness and originality
Location Placed: Village Coffee, Wall Township, New Jersey
Date Placed: 11/15/13 at 7:13pm





I hadn't been to the plaza that houses Village Coffee since they had redone it. It is quite nice. I was in the mood for a warm beverage whilst being in one of the other stores. The chai tea definitely did the trick. I think one of my favorite things about the winter is teas, hot apple cider, and hot chocolates. I'm definitely a sucker for them. Do you have a favorite winter treat that you look forward to?

Sunday, September 15, 2013

543. Divine

543. Divine
Definition: (adj) excellent or delightful
Location Placed: Starbucks, Freehold, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/14/13 at 12:19pm
STATUS: FOUND!





The weather has been quite divine lately (unlikely my hastily spelled out crane. Poor thing!) Not too hot, not too cold. I think that might be why autumn is my favorite season. You don't find yourself as bitterly cold as in the winter or as swelteringly hot as the summer, but you get the bonus of pretty colored leaves and fun holidays, unlike the spring. I'm certainly going to try to take advantage of these gorgeous days as best as I can because I know winter isn't too far behind.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

542. Original

542. Original
Definition: (adj) first or earliest; not a copy or imitation
Location Placed: Sayen House & Gardens, Hamilton, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/16/13 at 1:57pm





If I lived closer to the Sayen Gardens, I could definitely see that as a lovely reading spot with its fountains and gazebos. There were lots of little trails and some very pretty flowers. I imagine the spring is when it is in its prime. It was tucked away in a residential neighborhood and very quiet. Definitely tranquil and serene. I wasn't sure exactly where all the trails lead, and didn't want to get lost, so I didn't explore it thoroughly. But from what I did see, I could definitely appreciate its beauty.

541. Eloquent

541. Eloquent
Definition: (adj) persuasive in speaking or writing
Location Placed: Seward Center for the Arts, Grounds for Sculpture, Trenton, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/16/13 at 1:57pm





I think this was one of the most interesting installations I saw. In this art center, there were large pieces of food and utensils and all sorts of other things hanging from the walls and ceilings. I was pretty impresses as the room itself was quite large. Definitely gave me something to think about, in addition to the large amount of "realistic scenes" of people in a variety of situations. It definitely was a really fun outing and I'd recommend checking it out if you're in the area. Can't beat an outside "museum" when the weather is still quite lovely out!

540. Industrious

540. Industrious
Definition: (adj) diligent and hard-working
Location Placed: Toad Hall, Grounds for Sculpture, Trenton, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/16/13 at 1:38pm





Toad Hall was a lovely little art shop/museum at the Grounds for Sculpture. They had a bunch of neat looking jewelery as well as some nice wall hangings. I always like to have a poke around those sorts of shops because you never know what sorts of treasures you may find. I'm all about finding unique pieces to place around my house. A little trinket or knick knack from a trip reminding me of all the fun times or a handy little tool to make a mundane task a little more fun. You never know what you'll uncover

539. Resilient

539. Resilient
Definition: (adj) flexible; adjust quickly to change
Location Placed: The Museum at Grounds for Sculpture, Trenton, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/16/13 at 1:16pm





Being resilient is an extremely useful trait to have. Life throws a number of curve balls at people, and those who are able to adapt to change are able to navigate it effectively. Nothing is ever perfect, so being flexible in the face of adversity is helpful. I admire people who are resilient, and hope that is a quality I possess during such times. Is there a quality that you admire in people?

538. Captivating

538. Captivating
Definition: (adj) capable of attracting and holding interest
Location Placed: Cafe Museum at the Grounds For Sculpture, Trenton, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/16/13 at 1:05pm





It had been several years since I had been to the Grounds for Sculpture. It's basically an art garden with sculptures interspersed among them with several museum areas. It was just as pretty as I remember it. I really enjoyed having a relaxing walk around by the water and all the different little garden nooks and crannies. I'm looking forward to going back in the not too distant future with my friends to enjoy it during the fall.

537. Exhilerated

537. Exhilerated
Definition: (v) make someone feel very happy
Location Placed: Metroplex at Town Center, East Windsor, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/15/13 at 7:22pm





After work we had tickets to go see Starship Troopers with Rifftrax Live at the Metroplex. I had never been to this theater, or to see Rifftrax Live. It was a lot of fun! If you've ever heard of Mystery Science Theater 3000, they are the same guys who do Rifftrax. They make humorous tracks to go along with movies. So seeing it live made it even better. Now I'm looking forward to seeing the next one live in October!

Sunday, July 28, 2013

536. Dashing

536. Dashing
Definition: (adj) stylish or fashionable
Location Placed: Hyde Park Brewery, Hyde Park, New York
Date Placed: 7/19/13 at 2:35pm





After a thoroughly hot day of adventuring, I decided I needed to stop for a bite to eat and a cool spot to sit. It definitely was cool and the bar tender was welcoming! I'm glad I ended up stopping because there wasn't all that much on my way back home, and the traffic had me getting in a little after dinner time. Short trips are definitely necessary to keep me re-charged between larger vacations. I'm also glad I was able to see some historic National Parks that I hadn't been to before.

535. Independent

535. Independent
Definition: (adj ) free from outside control, self-sufficient
Location Placed: Stone Cottage, Hyde Park, New York
Date Placed: 7/19/13 at 1:47pm





After seeing Val-Kill, our tour guide offered to show us Stone House, which was also on the property. It had been home to Eleanor's friends, Nancy and Marion. It is currently holding a few historical pieces, as well as some art pieces, waiting to be put together as a small museum. I think, in all, I was most impressed with Eleanor and her independence. She was the first First Lady to take up causes of her own and to advise her husband the President on issues of great importance to her, such as desegregation. I was extremely pleased to learn so much more about an influential women and all around solid person.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

534. Eager

534. Eager
Definition: (adj) avid, keen, zealous
Location Placed: Val-Kill House, Hyde Park, New York
Date Placed: 7/19/13 at 1:30pm





My last stop of the adventure was to Eleanor Roosevelt National Site, housing her home, Val-Kill. Val-Kill, which is Dutch for Valley Stream, was the only place Eleanor Roosevelt felt at home. Although not all the items in the house were original to Eleanor, the home was put back together in the manner her relatives remember it to look like. It definitely had a homey feel, more so than Franklin Roosevelt's home. I can see why Eleanor enjoyed this home and lived in it after FDR's passing. It was a lovely tour, and I appreciated knowing more about Eleanor and her life's work.

533. Paradise

533. Paradise
Definition: (n) a place or state of bliss, felicity, or delight
Location Placed: Vanderbilt Mansion, Hyde Park, New York
Date Placed: 7/19/13 at 11:28am





 My next stop during the day was the Vanderbilt Mansion. It was owned by one of the 8 Vanderbilt children, Frederick Vanderbilt. It is the smallest of the 43 Vanderbilt Homes, which include Biltmore in North Carolina, The Breakers and Marble House in Rhode Island, and  several homes that were in New York City. That said, at 54 rooms, "small" is a relative term. The decoration was over the top gorgeous with lots of lovely pieces that didn't all belong to Frederick. He left his fortune not to his Vanderbilt family, but to his niece on his wife's side and his servants. Talk about generous!

532. Gem

532. Gem
Definition: (n) a highly prized or well behaved person
Location Placed: Franklin D. Roosevelt Museum, Hyde Park, New York
Date Placed: 7/19/13 at10:37am





The first picture behind the crane is the grave where Franklin D. Roosevelt was buried. He was particularly fond of the rose garden and wanted to spend his eternity there, looking all over the flowers. It was a lovely home garden with well-kept plants. I certainly wish my garden looked even a portion that pretty! I am a sucker for some lovely landscape, so I definitely appreciated this site.

531. Sharing

531. Sharing
Definition: (v) give a portion to another
Location Placed: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Home, Hyde Park, New York
Date Placed: 7/19/13 at 10:08am





Off to an early start, I decided to stop at Franklin D. Roosevelt's House at the FDR National Site first. I watched an interesting 20 minute movie about his life prior to heading over to his house for a tour. It was quite a lovely house. I think I was most impressed by his ability to get around his house, given that he was unable to climb stairs and his home is two stories. He used a huge dumbwaiter-esque shaft to pull himself up to the second floor! Most impressive, I must say. I appreciated that the items in the house were as they had been back then due to his stating he wanted the home donated to the National Park Service upon his death.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

530. Constant

530. Constant
Definition: (adj) steadfast, permanent, continual
Location Placed: Eveready Diner, Hyde Park, New York
Date Placed: 7/19/13 at 8:52am





I stopped by the Eveready Diner when I saw it was a Diners, Drive-Ins, and Drives location. Guy Fieri, so far, has not steered me wrong when choosing those locations. And I certainly wasn't disappointed with my breakfast. I enjoyed an order of the Banana Foster French Toast on Challah bread. It was nice and hot, basically like a dessert for breakfast. My sweet tooth thanked me for the rest of the day. It definitely had a quintessential diner feel, which is exactly what I was hoping for. It was definitely the highlight meal of the day.

529. Plentiful

529. Plentiful
Definition: (adj) copious, plentiful, rich, ample
Location Placed: Starbucks, Hyde Park, New York
Date Placed: 7/19/13 at 8:19am





My adventure definitely was plentiful in all that I had planned. Perhaps a tend to over schedule my day trips and vacations to within an inch of their existence. But I just want to make sure I get the very most out of my time away. A trip to me doesn't include relaxing, because that's something I can do in the comfort of my own home. I know of, and am friends with, people who definitely don't agree with me on that count. Which sort are you? Do you plan a lot on your time away or do you prefer to relax?

528. Liberated

528. Liberated
Definition: (adj) freed, released
Location Placed: Starbucks, Newburgh, New York
Date Placed: 7/18/13 at 9:47pm





After a long drive, I figured a cool beverage and a crane release would be the best way to settle in before hitting up the hotel. I've found a new favorite drink there, the Peach Green Tea Lemonade. I never use to be one to get drinks out, but a few free well-timed free gift cards have changed that. Plus it is a lovely bonus that it is a good location for releases (and quite plentiful everywhere!)

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

527. Okay

527. Okay
Definition: (adj) agreeable, acceptable, correct
Location Placed: Barnes and Noble, Newburgh, New York
Date Placed: 7/18/13 at  9:32pm





As a book lover, I find it impossible to pass by a bookstore and not go in. It seems wrong on many levels. So I popped in to have a quick jog around the store and see if anything caught my fancy. (Not that I don't already have more than enough books to read that I own...) I didn't find anything I absolutely needed, but I left the store feeling pretty jazzed anyway. Perhaps it was just being on an adventure, but I feel like walking around the aisles of a bookstore is sort of rejuvenating. So many worlds and plots and characters all coinciding under one roof. The hours one could spend reading amongst those books...

Do you have a place you just love going that you feel wonderful when it's time to head out?

526. Thrive

526. Thrive
Definition: (v) to grow of develop vigorously
Location Placed: Sloatsburg Rest Stop, Sloatsburg, New York
Date Placed: 7/18/13 at 8:52pm





With a free day off from work, I decided to take an overnight adventure. I pushed off shortly after the end of the work day and drove North. I had never been that far north into New York before, so I took advantage of the rest stop location for a crane release and a cool bit of A/C. (Can we take a minute to just jointly lament how hot it has been outside this summer? I am an autumn girl through and through!) I still had a little ways to go before finding the hotel and it made for a decent place to snag a little walking time after a long drive. It was quite busy, so I imagine a lot of other people had the same idea!