If you can sneak into the RISD nature lab, (on waterman street, across from the (I think first baptist) church) it’s worth a looksee. Go left as soon as you enter. There isn’t anybody at the front door, and it’s pretty darn cool.. Skeletons, weird taxidermy, all kinds of weird stuff.

Also there is a pretty darn good Cuban food place… I don’t remember where it is, but it is on the way to the public library…

The RISD museum is actually a world class museum, and has quite an extensive collection, and I love visiting the Athenaum (really old public library), it’s so cool, and smells so wonderful.

Also there is usually some kind of exhibition at the galleries around RISD. Not sure what is up during the summer, but there are usually some cool art.

AND Newport isn’t too far away. So you can do a day trip from Providence, though the first time I missed it by one minute, and the bus driver just shook his head at me…

Instead I’m having to look for new digs, so no o/s trip to be in the sun.
But I will find a way to visit peeps and do fun stuff.
I’ll find a way to see the Vienna Art and design exhibition at NGVA in Melbourne (lots of Klimt!!!). And my youngest sister is graduating, so there’s a trip to Brisbane as well. Otherwise, at night I’ll hang out at home, on the couch with a doona, the fur-human, the SO and trashy tv and movies, dreaming of warmer climes.

Hopefully later this summer we can get a trip in up north to go fishing. Aside from that, we are planning a Big Trip to Montreal eventually, as the “official” honeymoon.

I’m also participating in an informal reading group which I casually mentioned to a cohort of mine in the spring. I was all, Hey let’s read The Faerie Queene this summer! And she was all, Yeah that’s a good idea! And then because she’s really efficient she made a syllabus, talked to a bunch of people and came up with a shitload of extra reading, and now we’re doing that. I’m so glad she’s so efficient, because I’m really good at getting shit done when I have even the faintest glimmer of accountability, and when she was like, Read Book 1 by next week, I was all, YessirThankyouSir.

Other than that: dog park every day. Gardening (I have 25 sprouting tomato plants in my kitchen, and I recently procured a small plot with full sun on-campus, so that’s A+). Make and eat lots of ice cream.

Also, I’m in RI, so if anyone in New England is looking for a day trip and feels compelled to come here, feel free to email me. I mean, I don’t think there’s anything cool or fun in Providence, unless you’re doing research at Brown’s Special Collections or something (it’s telling that this is the only thing I can come up with as a reason someone might travel to this city), though I’ve heard that there’s a thing with water and fire that’s supposed to be cool (but I don’t know). And I don’t think my partner would be ok with me offering couch-space to people I know from the internet, necessarily. Hmm, this is certainly turning out to be a pretty qualified offer of hospitality. But, I can certainly direct you to a brilliant bookstore that sells absurdly cheap, really cool remainder books, and potentially some homemade ice cream of exotic or traditional flavor.

And I can definitely offer a pit-stop type place for anyone passing through. Because here’s the thing–sometimes when I’m traveling somewhere and I arrive in a city and I’m just staying for the day, I’m like, wow I wish I could just go to someone’s house and wash my face and pee and have a non-car, non-coffee-shop, non-transitory center from which to decide what to do next. Does anyone else feel like this? Like, it’s easier to do sight-seeing things if there’s a house I can use as a homebase, or something? (Or am I just crazy?) Anyway: I’m saying my apartment is available as a potential home-base. As long as you promise not to be a serial killer or something.

I just got back from a conference myself – I presented my first paper ever, and I’ve only just finished my 1st year as a PhD student. !!! Very exciting! Upcoming: another conference. My partner-in-history and I have a deal: we go to each of our specialized conferences together, and to the biggie every January (if we can afford it!) and that way we get our nerd on and don’t travel alone. Plus rooms are cheaper when it’s double occupancy.

Cheap-o summer stuff…well, this summer I’m essentially taking 2 readings courses, so I have a mountain of books to get through. I have decided that since the readings are assigned for the summer, they are summer reading, which requires chairs in the sun and frosty drinks, even if it’s just in the backyard or at a park. (Smoothies at the park – YUM.) Also, we’re about 2 hours from the coast, and I, Mr. Boxer, and the Partner-in-History all have Mondays off this summer. Beach Mondays!

PPS @PhDork: *sings*RockRockRockaway Beach!

I’ve already been to the Boston area once to visit our daughter, and Mr MM and I are going again right after the 4th. In August we have a big trip to the West Coast planned. Mr MM and I, our kids (25 and 23), my brother from Dallas and my mom will go to LA for a few days to visit our other brother, then drive up the coast and spend a few days in the Bay Area, where our daughter’s bf is working this summer. If anyone has suggestions for places to visit, restaurants, etc. in the Bay area, please send them along!

And if anyone is traveling through Pittsburgh this summer, def email me!