Time stamp: 5:19 a.m.

I’m an insomniac on a good day. My mind is constantly racing about the previous day’s events, or what might happen in days to come. (Or, I might be perseverating on something that happened 5 months ago, or what might happen 5 years from now...you catch my drift?) Add to this the fact that I have 3 weeks to do 3774948494 things...and you have the recipe for an all-nighter...and not the fun, college kind, either. The question I’ve been asked most about this ‘little’ trip of ours is “how are you going to pack for all that?!” The short answer is: I don’t know! Since we’re basically chasing summer, I’m planning on throwing (rolling) a bunch of sundresses in a bag and hoping for the best. Packing clothes for the trip is actually the easiest part. The other stuff? A little trickier. Like, what actually IS 3 ounces? Do the Greek islands have drug stores? Will I be able to pick up my favorite eyeliner in Singapore if (gasp!) I run out?! All of these musings have been Google-worthy...albeit grossly first-world and cringey, I’m aware. Figuring out banking/cell phone/doctors appointments/job/car/seeing friends and family/storing my LIFE away for 6 months is proving to be somewhat difficult, too. As I’ve said--the to-do lists are long; the done lists, short. When you’re traveling with someone who’s used to living out of A suitcase, it compounds things as well. All of these things, though, are good “problems” to have--I know. I just keep thinking about finally sipping on a pint of Guinness in my happy place to kick the journey off...after all, as the Irish say, “a good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything” ... Now, if I could just get some sleep...💤

“I changed by not changing at all, small town predicts my fate, perhaps that’s what no one wants to see...”

Change...it’s an awfully curious thing. I’ve always been a creature of habit...the same daily routines, the same 10 foods eaten in rotation, the same 5 mile driving radius, the same job, the same brand of car-the list goes on. Yet, in my heart of hearts, I’ve always known that there was something else out there for me...places to go, things to see...experiences waiting to be had. In light  of the *pretty major* changes that await me (which are coming up fast!) I’ve been forced to take a step back and take a look at my life up to this point.  I’ve been made to look at the big picture, then begin to tackle the smaller bits and pieces that make up my day to day scene. I kiddingly refer to myself as an ‘adult in quotation marks’, but when faced with making big decisions like these, I can’t help but want to default to the familiar...can’t my mom or dad do it for me?! 😬 Never one to be particularly organized, and in an attempt to stay sane and not become completely overwhelmed, I have several (chicken-scratch-laden) to do lists scattered around my house and car. Somehow, it seems, they keep growing instead of shrinking. Long term and long haul travel require lots of planning...What will I do about my car?! My phone?! My livelihood?! My whole wide life  is centered in and around Milford, CT! Recently I’ve  come to the realization, though, that... Stuff is just stuff. Home will always be home. Life in Milford will go on, as it does. As for me? I will be forever richer for the experiences I’ll have had, and in knowing that I had I was lucky enough to have the chance to do something I’ve always wanted to do...and I took it. Xoxo

So, here I am, amidst my 34th spin around the sun. I thought I'd finally attempt to document bits and pieces of my life and travels! If you know me, you know I love traveling, photography, a glass (or 4) of red wine, my man Tito, and - oh ya...Domino's pizza! (Among other things...;)) My hope is to record what I'm getting up to, and to keep up with friends and family - both in the States and abroad. Happy reading! xoxo