664. Chuckle

664. Chuckle
Definition: (v) laugh quietly or inwardly
Location Placed: Darien Rest Stop, Darien, Connecticut
Date Placed: 8/11/15 at 9:16pm





We stopped at this rest stop on the way up to a cabin in New Hampshire. I had never been to New Hampshire before so it was very exciting. I knew I was in New England in general when the local McDonald's had lobster rolls, which I heard were actually not too terrible for being a seafood item at a fast food place! But we made a pit stop here on our way up through all sorts of dark and twisty roads, including several very interesting detours. We finally made it around 2am and had a nice, solid sleep.

477. Delicate

477. Delicate
Definition: (adj) fine in texture, quality, or construction; dainty
Location Placed: Connecticut Rest Stop, Fairfield, Connecticut
Date Placed: 8/4/12 at 3:45pm





Although it was a little closer to home than previous trips, it was a lot of fun and jam packed with tons of different activities. I like saying I was able to see everything I wanted to see in a place or city so that this way I can set my sights on a new location for the next time. In the words of the great Tom Petty, "After all it was a great big world, with lots of places to run to." And that is just what I plan to do.

476. Flattery

476. Flattery
Definition: (n) the act of trying to please with complimentary remarks or attention
Location Placed: Beinecke Rare Books Library, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Date Placed: 8/4/12 at 2:35pm





The Beinecke Library just looks like a square-shaped interesting piece of architecture from the outside. It's made of a specific type of marble that looks quite ordinary from the outside, but from the inside it is amazing! As you can see from the picture, light is filtered through some of the bits of the marble, giving it a warm glow on the inside. This helps to give the building a little bit of light and to not ruin the rare texts and manuscripts in the several story library. I have never seen anything like this and was just in awe during that whole portion of the tour. I think the tour is worth it just to see this alone in my opinion.

475. Noble

475. Noble
Definition: (adj) having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles or ideals
Location Placed: Yale University Sterling Memorial Library, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Date Placed: 8/4/12 at 2:20pm





So on the tour, we came to the University's largest library. It actually looks like a church. Apparently the architect really wanted to build a church and approached the school to see if they would agree. But since Yale is non-denominational, they said they didn't need a church and were pretty good with everything they had. So the architect decided he still really wanted to build a church structure but perhaps they could make it into a library, so that's what they did! The library apparently goes under ground and the steeple has something like 9 stories of books in it. It is quite pretty and a bit disorienting!

474. Interesting

474. Interesting
Definition: (adj) amusing or entertaining
Location Placed: Yale University Visitor's Center, New Haven, Connecticut
Date Placed: 8/4/12 at 1:06pm





So while we were in New Haven, I wanted to pop over to see Yale since it is one of the Ivy League schools that I've not yet seen. I really enjoy seeing campuses that are very old and how things have evolved over the years. They were providing a tour to visitors, not to be confused with a potential student tour, so we decided to jump on. It was definitely geared more tours potential students, but I enjoyed the historical aspects and stories that were interjected by the guide.

473. Luminous

473. Luminous
Definition: (adj) bright or shining, especially in the dark
Location Placed: New Haven Historical Museum, New Haven, Connecticut
Date Placed: 8/4/12 at 12:23pm
Status: Found!





We decided to head over to the New Haven Historical Museum in between the tour we took at the Center Church under the church graveyard, which was pretty interesting, and the tour at Yale University. I really liked all the artwork that they displayed as well as all the interesting relics of the past. I think my favorite thing was the bicycle with a super tiny wheel in the front (for steering) and a huge wheel in the back (we're talking nearly 5 feet from top to bottom!) I'm always intrigued by old signs that depict just how much less expensive things were in the past (it's all relative, I know.)

I'm glad someone else was out enjoying the museum as well! D. found this crane and in his email to me, he said he and his family would be replacing the crane in a Hamden library. So any local folks should be on the lookout for Luminous!

472. Precision

472. Precision
Definition: (n) accuracy, exactness
Location Placed: Schaffer Building, Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut
Date Placed: 8/3/12 at 2:52pm





So we came across one of the indoor (and air-conditioned!) exhibits that showed some art work as well as model ships. I'm impressed by the detail that goes into such tiny replicas! Teeny tiny masts and replica ropes are just as fragile as can be. Of course they then set those next to larger than life busts of famous people, whose names I have since forgotten (I am terrible!). I definitely enjoyed looking at the maritime art and all the little bits and bobs they had in that museum building.

471. Triumph

471. Triumph
Definition: (n) a great victory or achievement
Location Placed: Mystic Seaport Schoolhouse, Mystic, Connecticut
Date Placed: 8/3/12 at 2:19pm





I loved walking throughout this historic town to see all the old buildings: the pharmacy, the saloon, the rope making shop, and even the schoolhouse. It was really interesting to see all the old bits and pieces and how life was lived. I thought it was cool that their schoolhouses were just one room since they served such a small population. Of course there's no way that would be adequate now, but I definitely appreciated how things were done back then.

470. Homely

470. Homely
Definition: (adj) simple but cosy and comfortable
Location Placed: Mystic Seaport Visitor's Center, Mystic, Connecticut
Date Placed: 8/3/12 at 2:11pm





My Grandpa had mentioned how much he loved the Mystic Seaport whenever he is up in the area so we decided to check it out. It's a (quite large, in my opinion) historic town that depicted what life was like in the past. Lots of interesting exhibits and people dressed in the clothing of yesteryear. There are several small places around by me that are similar but this one definitely took the cake. It also made for lots of great photos as it was right along the water!

469. Mercy

469. Mercy
Definition: (n) compassion or forgiveness shown to someone
Location Placed: Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, Connecticut
Date Placed: 8/3/12 at 1:01pm





There is something about glass things that I love. And I'm not talking about glassware. I'm talking about balls of glass that either have something in them (like this jellyfish) or blown glass that just has colors in it. My Grandma used to have this blown glass ball that she made with blue, pink, and yellow streaks in it that I just loved. Every time I think about it, it reminds me of going over to her house and eating donuts. Or watching the birds in the bird feeder outside. Or listening to the wind chime my grandparents hung. Definitely lots of good memories.

453. Flawless

453. Flawless
Definition: (adj) without blemishes or imperfections
Location Placed: Homewood Suites Hotel, Hartford, Connecticut
Date Placed: 7/30/12 at 1:19pm





I wish I could've brought this hotel along with me on my trip! I think I was most impressed that it was such a good value for the price and it had a full kitchen in it. Definitely would've been good for storing the leftovers I would've liked to have brought back with me from the other restaurants. But no worries. The staff there was super nice (and suggested the AMAZING restaurant Agave, that you should totally check out if you're in the area. The fish tacos and yucca fries have been the highlight meal of my whole trip!) Do you have a hotel or chain of hotels that you prefer to stick with when you're on vacation?

452. Outstanding

452. Outstanding
Definition: (adj) exceptionally good
Location Placed: Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut
Date Placed: 7/30/12 at 10:40am





Yesterday marks 2 years that I've been placing paper cranes and writing about them in my blog. I was so busy yesterday being out and about, that I totally forgot to write about it! It's been a lot of fun not only leaving the cranes but hearing back from the people that find them. That definitely is my favorite part of it all. I hope you guys have as much fun reading about the cranes as I do leaving them!

451. Angelic

451. Angelic
Definition: (adj) exceptionally beautiful, innocent, or kind
Location Placed: Connecticut Capitol Building, Hartford, Connecticut
Date Placed: 7/30/12 at 10:09am





Nathan Hale is apparently a pretty important figure to Connecticut. He was only 21 when he was killed but he had graduated college, decided to teach women (who were way under-educated at the time), was a soldier and a spy. Talk about a full life! If you've ever heard the quote, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," then you've heard Nathan Hale. I definitely not only found him to be impressive but also this statue! Definitely a good state hero if you've got to choose one.

450 Foxy

450. Foxy
Definition: (adj) sly or crafty
Location Placed: Harriet Beecher Stowe Visitor's Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Date Placed: 7/29/12 at 5:15pm





I had no idea, but Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain were neighbors! Literally their houses were next to one another. So I took the (very short!) walk over to the Harriet Beecher Stowe House for a tour. Although she didn't write Uncle Tom's Cabin in this house, she was still pretty important and the house was filled with little bits and bobs that were hers. I even learned she was a pretty awesome painter, not that she ever made money off it. And the guys working at the center were not only knowledgeable, but super helpful in getting brochures of the area attractions so I could make a plan of attack that didn't leave me missing anything awesome in the area. 

449. Hearty

449. Hearty 
Definition: (adj) loudly vigorous and cheerful
Location Placed: Mark Twain House Museum, Hartford, Connecticut
Date Placed: 7/29/12 at 2:42pm





This was the first stop on my road trip vacation, the Mark Twain House. I didn't really know very much about Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) prior to the trip. I hadn't even heard of the house before, but it seemed well rated in travel communities, so I decided why not! I must say, it was well worth the cost. So many wonderful details, it's hard to put how wonderful the house is. Definitely worth a look with your own eyes if you're in the area. Now it's made me want to go dig up old copies of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn to refresh my memory.

448. Admirable

448. Admirable
Definition: (adj) deserving respect or approval
Location Placed: Middletown Rest Area, Middletown, Connecticut
Date Placed: 7/29/12 at 2:04pm





After driving several hours in one day, I feel pretty beat. I don't know if I'd be cut out for a long road trip, especially one where I'm driving all on my own. I certainly admire truck drivers who spend hours driving over these roads without fail. I certainly don't think I could do it and all I've done is a few measly hours! I never really gave much thought to where a lot of the goods I consume come from, via truck drivers. Certainly makes life easier for the rest of us! So thank a truck driver next time you see one.

447. Fascinating

447. Fascinating
Definition: (adj) extremely interesting
Location Placed: Milford Service Area, Mildford, Connecticut
Date Placed: 7/29/12 at 1:33pm





I find it fascinating how people have different ideas and beliefs about things. One thing is vacations. My idea of an ideal vacation would be going to a bunch of places, seeing as many things as possible, and then never going back. There are so many places in the world to visit, that I don't want to squander my time by seeing the same stuff again. My vacations are fast paced and filled to the brill, planned in advance (although not too far in advance sometimes!) But other people want a relaxing vacation, where they sit and allow their thoughts to wander. Perhaps spending time on a beach somewhere, or in a cabin in the woods. My ideas of a vacation don't appeal to them, and vice versa. What makes a vacation a good one for you?

446. Refined

446. Refined
Definition: (adj) elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, and taste
Location Placed: Fairfield Service Area, Fairfield, Connecticut
Date Placed: 7/29/12 at 1:09pm





I really like placing cranes in rest stops, especially along major thoroughfares. Since I-95 spans from the tippy top of the United States in Maine and all the way down to the very bottom of Florida, you never know who might happen upon a folded bit of paper. I think it's interesting to make up stories about where my fellow rest area comrades are headed. Vacation, like myself? Visiting family? Job interview? Moving? Away on Business? The options seem endless. But for some reason, we've all been at this one point at the exact same time. Will our paths cross?

96. Attractive

96. Attractive
Definition: (adj) pleasing to the eye or mind
Location Placed: Arby's, North Haven, Connecticut
Date Placed: 10/18/10 9:40am