Dream Summer Vacations

Each week I get a list of blog prompts in my inbox from the fabulous Mama Kat. The following post is inspired by one of her prompts.

Since joining the working world, I have discovered the saddest part of the Monday through Friday, 8-5 grind.

There is no summer break.

For the second year in a row (I know, poor you, says every working stiff who's been in the game for 15+ years), I am watching this beautiful season literally roll right on by me on a candy-striped bike eating an ice cream cone. It is incredibly depressing.

Part of my gloom stems from the fact that despite putting my time in, I'm still too low on the totem pole to rate more than a few days of vacation.  These precious gems are incredibly rare and must be meted out over the course of an entire year. Even more unfortunate in the case of my particular job, it is entirely possible that they can be eaten up as sick days.

Seriously, someone make me the CEO of something already because I'm SICK. OF. IT.

Anyway, as I wither away under the pale glow of florescent lighting, I'm planning fabulous imaginary vacations that I would take if I had the summer to myself. Since they are imaginary, all of the below vacations can be paid for in smiles and baked goods. Obviously.

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+ Thailand

I've never been to an Asian country and I think I'd like to dip my toe in the water with a trip to Thailand. I already love the food so I'm fairly certain I'd love the country. A two-week tour of Bangkok and the surrounding countryside? I'm totally down.

+ Iceland

This country has been on my list for over a year now after seeing photos on The House That Lars Built.  I would love to rent a car and just drive around, taking pictures of all the gorgeous countryside, exploring waterfalls and lagoons as well as spending some time in Reykjavik. It looks like such a lush and vibrant country.

+ Musha Cay in the Bahamas

I have never been on a cruise or to any tropical location. I've relaxed by rivers, mountains, lakes, and the seaside but never anywhere below northern Florida. This particular group of islands is privately owned by the famous magician David Copperfield. You essentially have to rent all of Musha Cay to vacation there; it's incredibly exclusive. But man how awesome would it be to chill on the beach by these crystal clear waters with your family or friends and not have to worry about anyone else ruining your vacation? As someone who loves the ocean and not strangers, this is pretty much ideal.

Obviously there are about twenty other places around the world that I'd love to visit on a summer trip but before I cry myself to sleep with travel envy, I think that's enough for now.

What about you, if you had unlimited money and time where would you go this summer?
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Image Sources: (airplane) / (wanderlust) / (Thailand) / (Iceland) / (Musha Cay)

Pennsylvania and One Hundred Pictures of the Sky

Recently my brother and I took a quick trip to eastern Pennsylvania to spend a much needed weekend hanging out with friends. It's been an age since I hopped in the car for a good old road trip and it was only a couple of hours in when I remembered why. 

I have the world's tiniest bladder.

Seriously. I'm like an old man with a prostate problem. 

I'm sorry for sharing, it's just, if you ever want to take a trip with me, you should probably know that.

Bathroom stops aside, it was a lovely drive. Sam doesn't let too many people between him and the driver's seat of his beloved car, so I did zero percent of the driving. But I didn't mind. We listened to Stuff You Should Know podcasts and I took pictures of the sky.

And the tunnels that cut through the mountains. 

We got there on Friday evening and it was a relief to pile out of the car and sit around a crackling fire and catch up under the stars. We told stories and jokes and riddles and laughed until my eyes were crossing from fatigue. 

San Antonio, Part 1

Rather than bombard you with a squillion pictures all crammed into one post, I decided to break up my trip to Texas into three posts. You're welcome.

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On Thursday I ducked out of work at lunch and hopped on a plane to Texas.  After a pleasant trip to Dallas next to the world's quietest baby (seriously, I was like, lady did you drug your baby, wait don't answer that I don't even care) and one more flight in front of a man being "escorted" out of the country (not kidding, his hands were zip tied together and he kept yelling at his "handlers" a.k.a. INS officers in Spanish, drama!),  I arrived in San Antonio just in time for for dinner with my sister and her husband. We caught up over hamburgers and I got to meet the sweetest little dog named Bella.  Falling asleep under my sister's old daisy quilt, I could hear crickets and birds settling down for the night and the sound made me smile because it meant it was still warm enough outside for them to make music.  As much as I enjoy winter, the stillness of a cold night is too lonely for my taste.

Friday morning my sister and I went for a jaunt in Eisenhower Park and we chatted about life and things as we took in the view from atop a small wooden tower.

 BLUE SKY. AND LEAVES. AND SUNSHINE. AAAH!

Showing off my modeling skills in nature, obviously.

 Looking out to the quarry.

 Love you my dear.

She's not pouting, I'm just taking her picture from a creepy angle.

....seriously you cannot take me anywhere, I am always up to no good.

" It's really the oddest feeling
to be completely and totally in love
with places I've never been to before. "

il ya quelqu'un qui veut parcourir le monde avec moi?

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(1) Beach

(2) California

(3) Mountains

(4) Portugal

The last 3 weeks

So yes, it's been rather light on updates around here but I have been living up to my name, traveling here and there and everywhere for the last few weeks. I'm finally in Texas and having a good ole' time. 

To bring you up to speed, I left Massachusetts on February 9th and spent the next four days visiting friends in western and eastern New York before heading to my parents' house in Indiana. 

I spent a week and a half there before hopping back in the car with my dad for the long trip south. After two days of driving we arrived in Houston where we spent a beautiful weekend with my sister. For the last two weeks I have been traveling back and forth between Houston and Temple, hanging out with my sister and getting settled in the apartment in Temple. 

Now that she's off to a beautiful wedding in Hilton Head, I'm back in Temple, just in time to wave goodbye to my pal Adam who leaves this evening for Afghanistan. I don't envy him, he's looking at a few months in the freezing Afghan mountains defending the country. I wish you well, Adam. Be safe and hurry back! Meanwhile, Jilly and I (and a rabbit named Zippy) will keep the home fires burning. Until next week when the temperature shoots through the roof. 

Anyway, here are a few polaroid-ized cell phone shots from the last three weeks:

 A cold but lovely Massachusetts evening sky bids me and my overpacked car adieu! (Don't worry, I didn't drive all the way to Texas with this much stuff.)

The sunset in Connecticut almost made the bumper to bumper traffic worth it. Almost.

New York hidden treasures: Great Aunt Margaret's colored glass window collection and my cousins' candy store. 

Helloooo Texas! In case you forget where you are, all the overpasses kindly remind you.

Overpriced cowboy boots and proudly displayed flags every 50 yards. It's the Texan way, y'all.

Lovely weather mostly. mid 70s and sunny. Grin.

 Unemployment rules the day. Current projects include learning how to knit and making my own greeting cards. I just may open my own Etsy store...

and of COURSE no trip to Texas is complete without a stop in College Station to see my bestie Hatley Nell! (Cowboy hat not included)

Whew. Lots more to tell but it's Sunday evening and there's sunshine and barbeque to be had. 

Hope all is well with my friends scattered far and near. :)

Things running through my head at 11 pm the night before I move

Source

This will totally all fit into my car tomorrow.
I forgot how much work it is to actually pack up all your stuff.
I wish someone would make me a sandwich.
I thought I got rid of everything unnecessary at the garage sale 4 months ago. How do I still have this much junk?
I just realized that the song "Secret Asian Man" is actually called "Secret Agent Man". This changes everything.
A house elf would be really useful in my life. Accio, Dobby!
Actually, so would a Mary Poppins-style magic carpetbag. 
I seriously need to stop drinking iced tea in the afternoon. Caffeine = Problems.
Vacuuming out the car is actually quite soothing. I sound like my father.
WHY DOES THE TRUNK STILL SMELL LIKE SAUSAGE AND ONIONS?!?
I just realized I packed all my clothes and completely forgot to leave something out to wear tomorrow. Guess I'm driving to NY in my jim jams. 
This will totally not all fit into my car tomorrow.
Enough, I'm going to bed.