Showing posts with label Western New York. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Western New York. Show all posts
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Loganberry
I'd like to share a little piece of Western New York with the world: Aunt Rosie's Loganberry.
First of all, the mythical loganberry is REAL. It's actually a hybrid berry - a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry. I didn't actually know what the berries themselves looked like until just now when I google-imaged (it's weird that I just used that as a verb) them. This is what I found!
It's amazing how different two regions within a single state can be. I am reminded of this almost regularly when people say "...must be a Western New York thing..." Of course I knew that long island would be a complete 180 from my small town lifestyle, though in many ways is remarkably similar, and that was the attraction for me to come here. That's a blog of it's own however and the real reason I'm writing this is to shout out to my homebase.
I purchased two 12-packs of Aunt Rosie's Loganberry at the end of winter break in order to have a stash while downstate. I wasn't aware that loganberry "juice" was strictly a WNY thaaang until I did some web browsing about where one is able to buy it. I found numerous posts/responses on Yahoo Answers and random web forums from people who had moved from WNY to other places during their life and deeply miss one of their favorite beverages. Awesome! Turns out, it's a rare jewel in the beverage market! Anyway, I recently gave away my very last can to a new resident that moved onto my floor this past week. I found out through the grapevine that he was from the Buffalo area and immediately knew an adorable way to make him feel welcome. I left the cool can on his desk with a little note reading:
Heard you were from Buffalo. Thought you'd enjoy a little taste of home. Western New Yorkers stick together. Everyone else thinks I'm crazy. -your RA (Mattina)
It was music to my ears to hear how excited he was when he saw it and when his suitemates, all of whom I am friends with, asked "Do people really like that stuff up there?" he replied, "Yeah! Everyone loves loganberry!" Made. My. Night.
Every place has little things that make them special and I know that I didn't even realize them until I left home for a few years. So today, take a moment to find something about where you are from that makes it one of a kind.
First of all, the mythical loganberry is REAL. It's actually a hybrid berry - a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry. I didn't actually know what the berries themselves looked like until just now when I google-imaged (it's weird that I just used that as a verb) them. This is what I found!
It's amazing how different two regions within a single state can be. I am reminded of this almost regularly when people say "...must be a Western New York thing..." Of course I knew that long island would be a complete 180 from my small town lifestyle, though in many ways is remarkably similar, and that was the attraction for me to come here. That's a blog of it's own however and the real reason I'm writing this is to shout out to my homebase. I purchased two 12-packs of Aunt Rosie's Loganberry at the end of winter break in order to have a stash while downstate. I wasn't aware that loganberry "juice" was strictly a WNY thaaang until I did some web browsing about where one is able to buy it. I found numerous posts/responses on Yahoo Answers and random web forums from people who had moved from WNY to other places during their life and deeply miss one of their favorite beverages. Awesome! Turns out, it's a rare jewel in the beverage market! Anyway, I recently gave away my very last can to a new resident that moved onto my floor this past week. I found out through the grapevine that he was from the Buffalo area and immediately knew an adorable way to make him feel welcome. I left the cool can on his desk with a little note reading:
Heard you were from Buffalo. Thought you'd enjoy a little taste of home. Western New Yorkers stick together. Everyone else thinks I'm crazy. -your RA (Mattina)
It was music to my ears to hear how excited he was when he saw it and when his suitemates, all of whom I am friends with, asked "Do people really like that stuff up there?" he replied, "Yeah! Everyone loves loganberry!" Made. My. Night.
Every place has little things that make them special and I know that I didn't even realize them until I left home for a few years. So today, take a moment to find something about where you are from that makes it one of a kind.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Flight 3407
Back in peaceful Western New York...
It's the first commercial airplane crash since August of 2006.
I have never been frightened of flying on airplanes, and I wouldn't say that I am now, but doesn't it seem as though we have been seeing a lot more crashes lately? I mean while I was home for winter break from school, I remember spending half of a day sitting in an over-sized armchair watching the live news feed of the emergency "landing" into the Hudson River near Manhattan. WHAT?! It was actually quite an amazing rescue mission; you don't see 40+ people walking on a partially submerged plane wing everyday. Everyone I have talked to shrugs it off though. They say "Oh these things happen all the time, you just don't hear about them...". What makes these cases special then? Perhaps it was the flock of birds that were massacred in the engine causing it to stall. Terrible, terrible loss indeed.
Accidents happen all the time it's true. Whether it's birds in an engine or failed de-icying procedures or opening a door over a big toe and ripping the toenail off (yeah, ouch is most definitely right). Timidness will get you no where and fear is a waste of energy. If you spend your whole life being cautious you'll never experience the joy and pleasure of risk. Audaces fortuna iuvat, timidosque repellit. [Fortune favors the bold, but repels the timid.]
The follow up.
It's the first commercial airplane crash since August of 2006.
I have never been frightened of flying on airplanes, and I wouldn't say that I am now, but doesn't it seem as though we have been seeing a lot more crashes lately? I mean while I was home for winter break from school, I remember spending half of a day sitting in an over-sized armchair watching the live news feed of the emergency "landing" into the Hudson River near Manhattan. WHAT?! It was actually quite an amazing rescue mission; you don't see 40+ people walking on a partially submerged plane wing everyday. Everyone I have talked to shrugs it off though. They say "Oh these things happen all the time, you just don't hear about them...". What makes these cases special then? Perhaps it was the flock of birds that were massacred in the engine causing it to stall. Terrible, terrible loss indeed.
Accidents happen all the time it's true. Whether it's birds in an engine or failed de-icying procedures or opening a door over a big toe and ripping the toenail off (yeah, ouch is most definitely right). Timidness will get you no where and fear is a waste of energy. If you spend your whole life being cautious you'll never experience the joy and pleasure of risk. Audaces fortuna iuvat, timidosque repellit. [Fortune favors the bold, but repels the timid.]
The follow up.
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