weekend

This weekend I decided to explore a little bit of Charlotte, North Carolina. I need to start thinking and researching which area of Charlotte I want to get an apartment in. Thankfully the weather was warm and sunny!!

Saturday morning:

9am Alison and I went for a 3 mile run with a running group I found on meetup. There was probably about 15 runners. After the run through the neighbor, I got a chai latte at Smelly Cat Coffee House and chatted with some of the other runners. The conversation was great but the chai was a little watery and not very favorfully. Then we walked over to Jack Beagles for breakfast. Delicious!!

Sunday morning:

At noon, Alison and I got our picture taken with Santa at Pet Essential. They were so patient with Alison. She did not like Santa's white beard. I had 5 shots to choice from, two different poses. The proceeds go towards the CMPD (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department) Animal Care & Control spay/neuter clinic. Then we headed over to a dog park. Alison had some nervous energy to let go of. By that time it's 2pm, time for lunch. I decided to check out Viet-Thai Noodle House on our way back to the hotel. Delicious!!! I had vegetable pho with tofu and Vietnamese coffee. The food was so good is Vietnam, I miss it. I definitely recommend this place!!

where I am (and where I am not)

Lately I have been thinking a lot about life and where I am (& where I am not). Three months until I am thirty. Right now I am unemployed and living in a hotel. Sometime I get 'on' myself, why am I not married with kids and a house, loving husband and a job? But then I do a reality check, in the years I have been alive I have done amazing things. I have traveled to Europe twice, Asia for a month, volunteered - built homes and served food (soup kitchens and Feed My Starving Children), lived in 3 states, finished college, have an amazing dog and so much more. I am on a path I want to be on. As of right now, I am not a type of person who wants a house (or kids for that matter). I want to freedom to move and travel. Because I don't fit the 'tradional' lifestyle, I think, for me, discovering myself will take longer. I have to remind myself that life is an ongoing process, that I all keep growing and learning. Not to compare myself to my high school friend. I am unemployed right now because I got laid off and I have moved to a new state to find a job. And living out of a hotel is a like rock star-ish!!

• similarities between romantic rejection and cocaine craving
• After seeing the trailer for the Tintin movie, I really want to read old The Adventures of Tintin books.
• the only thing I want for Christmas - a laptop cover that look like a book!!!
• someone else who is also unemployed

"Each time we face our fear,

we gain strength, courage and confidence in the doing"

~Michelango~

Day of 30 Indie Travel Project: 2012 Ticket

The last prompt/question from BootsAll: Where are you going in 2012? Why is that place great for indie travelers?

I just moved to North Carolina so right now I am planning on just taking little trips around the east coast states; Washington DC, Virginia and maybe South Carolina and/or Georgia. Today I just got my Rosetta Stone for learning spanish, a trip to Central America is in my near future!! Hoping to also go to India and Egypt by 2015 (fingers crossed).

new chapter

I did it!! I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina on Monday November 28. All by myself, living in a hotel and no job. Scary? yes. Nervous? yes. Excited? Hell YES!!!

The one thing I have to remember to do is to stay 'active'. The first day I arrived in Charlotte, I started joining groups on meetup.com. My first meetup meeting is this Saturday, 3 mile run then breakfast at a coffee shop. Today I had a interview/meeting with a temp agency. Every day I look on linkup.com for jobs. I am so grateful I have Alison, our walks help me get away from the computer and breathe. I think with a positive attitude anything is possible!!

Getting little ahead of myself but I am really excited about moving into a new apartment and decorating! My dad gave me six pictures (3 sketches of Paris that his dad bought back from WWII, 2 maps of Philmount, & family crest). Been looking around for some DIY projects. Found some fun ones on Mr. Kate, and Design*Sponge. I going to go hunting for globes, trunks and suitcases at thrift stores; get a world map to mark where I have been; frame and display some of my photos (Texas, Asia..).

Day 29 of Indie Travel Project: One Word

Today's prompt/question from Bootsnall - What does travel mean to you in one word?

explore

Day 26 of Indie Travel Project: Photo

Today's prompt/question from Bootsnall - Post a photo of your favorite place and tell us what you love about it.

This picture was taken in 2007, my first night in London during my first trip overseas. The tour (London - Paris - Rome) started the next day. I took the train to the hotel and went out to dinner at Shakespeare's Head by myself. I was so nervous, I have a hard time understanding the waitress. After a couple breathes and thinking "it will be ok", I ordered my dinner and beer. It was a great trip and I've been traveling ever since.

"One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure."

William Feather

"It's time to start living life you've imagined."

Henry James

"The journey is the reward."

Chinese Proverbs