This weekend:

My dad, sister and I went on a short road trip upstate New York and often felt like we were in a different country. How is that possible? Maybe it's possible because we went to see a rodeo and had to listen to, "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free..." This was in Lake George. The rodeo host had us watch a women wearing American flag pants, and american flag jacket and holding an american flag while on a white horse during the touching song and also during the national anthem. The horse didn't appreciate any of it and while supposed to stand still in the center of the small dirt rodeo stadium, he kept moving around while the plastic lady kept her smile and wide eyes on the audience. We left somewhere between the gay joke and the strap em', wrap em', tap em' cowboy vs. baby cow showdown.

We also went to visit our state capitol, Albany, and found about 3 cafe's on the trendy street that is "full of bars and cafe's" but the 7 people in the city were good and the burgers good.

Nice surprise: on our way back we drove to Aminia, a little town in the middle of vineyards. The view and the colors were beautiful. The fields and mountains by the road sides we light green, dark green, and had hints of purple, orange, and yellow.

Moral of the story: Maybe I've been traveling outside the country so much that don't really know where I live. And maybe I should focus on getting to know my own country.