My Adventures Began Yesterday

Took a quick 3-day weekend trip to Los Angeles and filled it with tons of touristy happiness. E and I arrived early Friday morning and drove up to Malibu. Attempted to eat at the Malibu Café but we arrived 45 minutes before opening and didn’t feel like waiting. So, we drove back through the hills towards the coast and chose a cute Italian Restaurant. Yeah, I know, poor choice, considering we’re on the coast and fresh seafood is abundant. I did order the Lobster Bisque. It was quite delicious. And the owner and waitress were extremely kind and welcoming. We walked to the beach and admired the Pacific coast for a bit. Took some fun pictures, then stopped at a liquor store to grab E some vodka and sprite. After all, the reason for the LA trip was his birthday. En route to pick up A from the airport, we stopped at Santa Monica Boardwalk and explored. I was saddened by the overcast weather and wearing jeans and a sweatshirt at the beach (even if it was January), but the company w...

A friend asked me to run a marathon with her. In December. 11 months away. Uff-da. That’s a commitment. I’m not sure my body can handle running that many miles and 26.2 miles isn’t something that you can mentally push through to make it to the finish line. Training would be required. Lots of training. Weekly long runs. Daily short runs of 4-10 miles. I’ve run 2 half marathons but I never ran more than 6 miles while training and only did that once each time. Ideally, I’d like to run it under 4 hours, so I would need to maintain a pace of 9 mins and 16 seconds for 26.2 miles. For that, I would need to train and run at least 4 times per week (if not 5). Add in two days of weight lifting, some yoga, a few soccer games, and perhaps this marathon business is possible. There’s also a half marathon on September 10 at Smoky Mountain National Park. That would be a fun way to explore the park. The course is on a slight uphill elevation (200 ft) so that works out in our favor. Beautiful...

The question on everyone’s tongue: what would you do with $697.5 million dollars? That’s the estimated take away after taxes if you win the Powerball Jackpot tonight. Six-hundred-and-ninety-seven MILLION dollars! Let’s say I live for another 60 years, that’s roughly 12 million each year or 1 million per month that I have to spend. This doesn’t include investments or interest or an amazing accountant who will earn me even more money. I love playing the “what if I win the lottery” game. :) I’ve been speaking to my lawyer…okay, well, I haven’t paid him anything, so I guess I’ve been speaking to my friend who is a lawyer by profession, and who has been kind enough to humor me for the last 7 days while we play the what if I win game. “When I win the Powerball tonight…”, he will set up a trust for me and in 30 days claim my winnings under said trust. Then it’s time to sit down and plan. He’ll help me set up a charitable organization and walk me through giving money and gifts to fami...

Each New Year brings about change, and hope, and short term commitments of improvement. Some people carry out their New Year Resolutions (NYR); others, not even through the first week of January. With over 60% of Americans making resolutions, what do you think would be the top 5 NYR? Number 1 is easy: lose weight. Everyone wants to lose weight, tone the body, and look good for swim suit season that’s just around the corner. Number 2? According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute (hey, it sounds fancy), it’s getting organized. For me, I’m an organized machine, so this doesn’t apply. Does it apply to you? Hmm, although, I did go through my closet and hope chest on New Year’s Day and donate a bunch of clothes and stuff I refused to hold onto any longer. Number 3: Spend less, save more. Duh. We all want mo’ money. Number 4: Enjoy life to the fullest. Yes please. Any suggestions on how people achieve this one? Everyone hears how you’re supposed to live each day as if it’s...

Dear Shooters, More than feeling disgust, you scare me. Am I going to be the next victim? Is my brother or my mother going to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and are you going to shoot them? The odds keep increasing that someone I know will be in a mass shooting, soon, and those odds are terrifying. I don’t understand what killing people achieves for you? I don’t understand how you can sit in your home and plan out the details about how you will shoot to kill and not care (or understand?) that you’re taking lives. The lives of possible future friends, loved ones, or someone who could have cured the cancer discovered within you. I can’t comprehend the destruction and I don’t understand all the cop killings. How many people do you need to kill before you’re satisfied? What number will be enough? Why the mistrust of your brothers and sisters? Why the hate? Do you not care how your mother or father or friend would feel to see you on TV in a police chase? Or watch you...

Figuring out the next step is hard. I planned and researched and wrote a general idea of my travel route. I even bought a few supplies for my car! But a nagging voice kept telling me that this wasn't my path. This wasn't going to be my time. Something was off. Maybe it was the timing (Winter is Coming) or maybe the people telling me I'm crazy (thanks mom). Telling me they would prefer I not travel by myself; it's not safe. Take someone with me. Do I even have enough money? What about my apartment? Am I going to leave my roommate to cover the rent? What about my furniture?  All valid questions.  I decided I wasn't going to quit my day job and travel the USA. At least not today. I'm still on a mission to find my peaceful place, a place to bring me joy, contentment, and feelings of home, but the discovery of said place must (hopefully) be accomplished through quick weekend trips. Hop on a plane, take a short drive, maybe jump on a train.  Am I the only one th...

It's happening again, I'm feeling the urge to uproot my life and travel. This time the USA is calling to me. I envision State Parks and National Monuments, friends meeting me in random cities, hundreds of beautiful sunsets, and the time to explore my innermost thoughts, delve into writing full time, and discover America’s historical cities and landmarks. Money is saved but I will most likely supplement my savings with random jobs (did you know that you can work for a week or so on a farm and they’ll provide you with free room and board, while teaching you about organic farming?). Perhaps I will write a few articles to sell to travel magazines/websites. Or maybe my network of family/friends is broad enough that a couch/spare bedroom will be available in each city that I choose to visit. I’m a firm believer in planning and knowing what will happen next. When I planned this trip for a friend and me to take after college, I had the route, stops, and mileage written down a...