Editor’s note: Here in the Blogosphere, you get to meet some very nice people from all over the world, and today I’d like to introduce you to one of them, Ms. Sassy, who writes her very own blog, which is infinitely better than mine. Ms. Sassy hails from Mumbai, India, and one of the first things I noticed is her writing style, which is unfailingly effervescent and cheerful. Roamin’ Gnomials could use a little cheer, and that’s one reason I asked her to step in with a ray of sunshine by way of a guest post. Another reason is because I was too lazy to write anything myself! Now I can’t make Ms. Sassy’s dream of visiting America come true, but I can help her see what it might be like, with the help of some creative photoshopping! I’m forever in Ms. Sassy’s debt for agreeing to help me out, and also for meeting her deadline despite being sick the entire time she was writing. Enjoy, and please don’t forget to follow her blog at https://sassandsauce.wordpress.com!
Gnoming and roaming through America
By Ms. Sassy
Perhaps the best part about blogging is making friends. But what’s even better is making gnome friends!

I, Ms. Sassy, am happy to have befriended the gnomes, and the gnome-folk liked me so much they wanted me to join in the gnomery. That’s a lot of gnomes in one sentence! Actually, that’s A LOT of the unwieldy combination of the consonants “g” and “n” in one sentence.
Instead of writing a guest post like the dear gnomes asked me to, I went on a Google-spree, and here’s what I found out: There are just 67 words in the English language beginning with “gn.” Gneiss isn’t it? But before you gnash your teeth and navigate away, here’s another gnarly tidbit, there is such a thing as a WikiGnome. They are those sweethearts who write those oh-so-useful wiki articles and never clamour for attention. (I clamour for attention, therefore I cannot be a gnome 😦 )
And now let me stop procrastinating and get on with the real post! I’m Ms. Sassy. I live in Mumbai, India. I love books, cats, trees, the sea, cooking , reading, writing and so much more. My acquaintance with Glenn started a couple of weeks back over a blog post I’d written for my own blog. A few mails back and forth, and I had found myself a new pen friend. I happened to mention to Glenn that I have never been to the United States. All I know about America is through books and movies. That’s when Glenn thought it would be fun if I would write a post about the places I’d like to visit when/if I visit the United States.
So here’s my list of the Top 5 Places on my wish list:
1) National Parks

As many national parks as I can visit! I love the fact that America has so many national parks. I also love that they are easily accessible and well-managed. Lucy Maud Montgomery says this in one of her books: “I couldn’t live where there were no trees — something vital in me would starve.” I feel exactly the same. I’d especially want to visit the Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks and pretend to be a wood-elf amongst the giant sequoia trees.
2) Alaska

Something about the stark landscape and untamed forests calls out to me. Ever since I watched the Disney movie Balto, I’ve wanted to visit the place where it all happened. I want to meet a team of huskies, and say “Mush” to a dog. Knowing me though, I’d sooner cuddle and kiss the dog than let loose an authoritative “Mush!” The biggest attraction however, are the Northern Lights. (I do so wish they had a more magical name. I’d have named them Fairylights or something.) If I had to pick one experience in the entire US of A, I’d choose the Northern Lights. They just seem sooo magical. Plus Alaska is the most sparsely populated state in America. For an introvert like me, it can’t get any better. In fact I might never want to go back!
3) The Appalachian Trail

About a year ago, I read Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods, and that’s when I decided to make the Appalachian Trail my foremost travel goal. I gave up on the idea when sanity returned and I realised that I never even walk to the next street without cribbing. Then again, Glenn wanted this to be a sort of dream list — no constraints of time or money — and I extend that to laziness. Laziness permitting, I’d love to do the Appalachian Trail!
4) The Southern States

This one’s inspired by Scarlett O’Hara. I’d love to see Atlanta and Charleston and New Orleans for the architecture and history. I’m a sucker for old-world charm, and I love the fabled romance and hospitality of the South. I might even pretend to be a pretty Southern belle inveigling a handful of charming beaus. Oh the stories I could dream up!
5) Disney World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

For someone who grew up on Disney and grew up with Harry Potter, you can’t not have this on the list. I NEED a wand, and I wouldn’t say no to some butterbeer either.
Beyond the Top 5
I’d decided to keep the list to five, but I realise I have left out so much. If I do visit the United States, I’d also want to visit Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, also the Grand Canyon, Washington D.C., and so many other places/attractions. But the top five are the ones I would hate to miss!
Also as a big and rather picky foodie, there’s a bunch of stuff I’d love to eat. Although I could get most of this here in Mumbai, I do so want to taste the real thing!
- Salt-water taffy
- Key lime pie
- S’mores
- A complete Thanksgiving dinner
- Pumpkin pie
What else would you have me eat/visit if I were to visit America?
Hi Ms. Sassy! If I were to have a list of top 5 places to visit in America, mine would be similar to yours except I’d replace The Appalachian Trail with Hawaii 😀 I’d rather ride the waves than hike LOL If you were to visit America, you have to go to the supermarket! Any supermarket! Coming from an Asian country and walking into Kroegers (a supermarket in the US), I was awe struck with how HUGE it was! I could spend hours there. And I actually have haha so in between visiting your top 5 places, drop by the supermarket 🙂
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Ooooh Hawaii was a good place to add too.. I didn’t think about it 😀 I’ll add that and the supermarket to the list.. Haha 😛
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Ms. Sassy, looks like you roamed the US of A in style!! 😀 Talking about style, something that aces that quotient is your writing..fly high 😉
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Thanks Deb 🙂 Soo eager to fly ❤
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Reblogged this on Sass and Sauce and commented:
Glenn of Roaming Gnomials asked me to do a guest post for him. I’d like to say that I’m extremely grateful for letting me do this, and I enjoyed writing every bit of it!
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Thank you Glenn for all your kind words and the opportunity to join the ‘gnomery’ 🙂 I loved this post and the pictures. You’ve made it so much more interesting ❤ ❤ ❤
PS: This is my first guest post ever and I'm super thrilled!
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There you have it, folks, Roamin’ Gnomials really IS the place where dreams come true!
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What a fantastic post. Firstly, Glenn, thanks for introducing us to Ms Sassy and her fun-loving nature and your pictures are super amazing! Secondly, thank you Ms Sassy for such an uplifting post. I do hope you get to visit America and fulfil all of those dreams. I’ve been lucky enough to visit a couple of times but didn’t manage to see half the things I wanted to. I must go back! However, I did manage to have several helpings of Key Lime Pie!! It is a touch of heaven on earth 🙂
Thanks again to you both for a super uplifting post. Have a lovely week.
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Thanks Nicola, it was my pleasure to introduce Ms. Sassy! And I couldn’t agree more about Key lime pie!
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Thank You Nicola! So glad you found the post uplifting. 🙂
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Well, Ms. Sassy, how could you come to North America and not visit romantic Niagara Falls! It’s only about 20 minutes from my house, and I would so love to take you there (American side) and then treat you to dinner after.
PS: Your Photoshopping abilities are awesome – those photos look so real!
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Well thanks for the Photoshopping comment, though I still consider my abilities to be pretty rough! Actually, I’ve been “photoshopping” since before Photoshop existed. Back in the day, my troublemaking colleagues and I made do with a Xerox machine!
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Ooooh yes.. I dunno how I missed it.. But I’m definitely takeng you up on the offer and do count me in for dinner too 🙂 ❤
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Oh, yay! I like both of you guys so this is fun. I live in a southern state not too far from the Appalachian Trail, and I always have the ingredients for s’mores on stock in my pantry. Let’s switch lives for a bit, Sassy, because I’ve always wanted to go to India lol.
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Hahah! That’s a deal Blair. Or just come down to Bombay and I’ll show you around 🙂
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And if you come to Disney World you must let me know! I will soon be living on an hour and a half away from Disney World! I, too, LOVE Disney so I’m very excited about this! As for the Northern lights, they are also called ” aurora borealis”. Does that help? 🙂
Loved your post, and agree with Roamin Gnomials about your writing style. As I’ve said before, you make me smile!
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Thank you! If I do come to the US, I now have so many fun awesome bloggers to visit 🙂
Aww aurora borealis is kinda nice. The goddess of dawn and all 🙂
So happy to make y’all smile 🙂
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When you started your list I really felt Canada could win with the steal! We have majestic national parks, more trees than you could shake a stick at, snow and sled dogs and the Appalachian Mountains (the forest, the birds and the animals) continue right into beautiful New Brunswick and Quebec! But sadly we do not have Harry Potter World, and I’ve been there so I know for sure, it’s a terrible loss for Canadians. Although I do have a recipe for butter beer that I make at home for the kids. Now on the subject of food, I do suggest you do your Thanksgiving dinner with a Canadian. Americans stuff marshmallows into their food for Thanksgiving. What’s up with that?!?
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Speaking as the resident Murican, we do NOT put marshmallows in our Thanksgiving chow at my house, but I can’t speak to what others may do!
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Actually, I have attended more than few dinners in which people do put marshmallows on top of mashed sweet potatoes.
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Here, too. Glenn leads a sheltered life.
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I lead a sheltered life??? You’re the one who’s afraid to set foot on an airplane, and is allergic to crossing state lines!
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I’ve crossed many a state line, more than I can remember. My aversion to airplanes is partly fear, I’ll admit, but primarily a distaste for the way it’s become a cattle-car operation for anyone who can’t or won’t pay for a First Class seat.
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Well thank goodness because that’s just wrong! Marshmallows are for smores and rice crispy squares and that’s about it. I’m feeling better about Americans already…now if you can just solve your Donald Trump problem… 😉
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I wish I could solve it, but in the event I can’t, I recommend you start building a wall of your own, but wait until I get over to your side!
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So my next imaginary trip is Canada 🙂
Do share the Butterbeer recipe with me sometime, I’d love to try it and raise a toast to them building a Canadian HP world !
Oooh as much as I like marshmallows, wouldn’t want them in my mashed potatoes. haha..
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Nice to meet you, Ms. Sassy! And welcome to Glenn’s Gnomic World. Great choices on where to visit. The US National Parks are celebrating their 100th anniversary. No trip to the US would be complete without a visit to the Empire State Building and having a hotdog at Nathan’s in Coney Island (located in Brooklyn, the 4th largest city in the US). 🙂
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Sad that our mermaid thinks Nathan’s has the best hot dogs, but then she’s never had a green chili hot dog from Blake’s Lotaburger in New Mexico, so I’ll forgive her for making this mistake. But you, Ms. Sassy, have been warned, and I don’t want to see you eating inferior hot dogs!
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Not sad at all! Not wishing to start a hotdog war, however, Nathan’s Coney Island hotdogs are classic NY! No green chili; grilled dog with mustard and sauerkraut! 🙂
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I will admit that sounds better, at least, than what one could likely get in Canada, where they probably serve their hot dogs with marshmallows, though CracTpot would know more about that.
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How about I try both hotdogs and award a winner 🙂
Thanks MagickMermaid – Do you have a blog as well? I am v fascinated with your blog identity and I love the gnome art..
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Good idea! 🙂 I just started my blog today!
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Awesome! Heading over right away 🙂
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Welcome, Ms. Sassy. Like Glenn (a former newspaper colleague and friend of some 30 years), I am a Texan, and can’t believe he hasn’t put in a plug for the Lone Star State. Alaska claims to be the largest, but down here we feel that if it had to endure our heat Alaska would melt to the size of Rhode Island or Delaware, so consider their size brag as dubious. If you really want wide-open spaces, this is the place to be. Loving County, in far West Texas, encompasses 681 square miles and has a population — despite its name — of only 82 souls. You can do the math on how much room that would give you. Our urban areas, while perhaps not as crowded as Mumbai or Kolkata, can be daunting. I live in Houston, which is spread out over about 600 square miles, but in truth is made up of numerous smaller communities that have melded together over time. The traffic can be a challenge, I’ll admit, but our barbecue and Tex-Mex food can’t be beat. We have it all down here in Texas: mountains, plains, spectacular canyons, desert, rolling hills, pioneer settlements, spaceports, and nearly 370 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. Come on down when you make it to America, and we’ll have you saying “y’all” before you know it.
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Hey, I didn’t write the guest post, I simply hosted it! If Ms. Sassy wants to visit Texas, then of course I will support that decision, and would gladly photoshop some new images of her at The Alamo. And while Houston does indeed have good barbecue and Tex-Mex, I can’t award it first place in either category. Best Tex-Mex is in my hometown of San Antonio, and the best barbecue is in the Hill Country around Austin. Having never been to Mumbai, I can’t say for certain how it compares with Houston, but I can’t imagine another big city would be high on her to-do list, though she DID say she’d like to see Manhattan, thereby shunning Morgaine du Mer’s favored borough of Brooklyn. If I were to escort Ms. Sassy to Texas, I’d make sure she visited San Antonio, then traveled west to Big Bend, since she does seem to prefer wide-open spaces, where the deer and the antelope play.
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If Ms. Sassy makes it to Texas, I’d suggest she take the Grapevine Vintage Railroad to the Forth Worth Stockyards. I did that years ago and it still remains one of the highlights of my stay in Texas 🙂
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Wow, AJ, I never knew you’d been to my home state. That’s impressive!
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Yep, I spent a glorious 6 weeks in Texas in 2007. That’s when I fell in love with Kroger and shopping with coupons 🙂
Amelia
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So true Glenn.. I dislike big cities. I made an exception for Manhattan because of all the chick lit novels based out of the city. And Satc. I used to be so inspired by Carrie bradshaw and wanted to be journalist just like her!
BTW I had such a good time reading everybody’s kind comments and advice on my post. I’m so touched. So here’s a big Thank You your way 🙂
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Thank you Aggie.. Sounds like I’d love Texas too. Mountains, plains and canyons, what’s not to like. And I quite like Texmex too.
So expect me in Loving County y’all! Oops you already had me saying that!
PS: Loving County is too cute a name..
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This must happen only in the world of gnomes! I mean what are the chances of meeting an Indian blogger on an American blogger’s page 😉 Excellent photoshopping – cant believe they arent the real thing!
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I’m thrilled to find another Indian blogger too.. I don’t have many Indian blogger friends you know! 😦
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All in good time I guess 😀
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Soon I will have cornered the Indian blogger market!
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🙂
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That was very well written and totally fun post 🙂
Add Crater Lake , Glass Beach , CA 1 Highway Drive too to the list. They are all fun too.
My number one was Grand Canyon and I got to do it during my first trip there. It was totally awesome.
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