Overcoming my encumbrances

Life's Lessons.

2009-02-20T18:27:00.001-08:00

This past year and a half has been a real character builder for me. I have learned several life lessons, many of which seem to coincide with past advice my parents had given me. You know, when they try to instill upon you what it is they have learned during their lifetime and you think to yourself, “right, what do they know?” Turns out they knew a great deal. Unfortunately, I had to make my own mistakes to learn the life lessons; I couldn’t just take their word for it. I guess that’s really not a bad thing. That’s how I learn and grow as a person. While enduring the hardships of said growing pains I may not be aware that I am undergoing a personal transformation. It’s later on down the road when I am looking back that I realize that maybe I hadn’t made the best decision, but I learned a big life lesson in the process. And that makes it worthwhile. I have also begun to realize that in making mistakes we really get to know ourselves. We are all going to make mistakes. The important thing is what we choose to do after we make a mistake. How we decide to remedy the situation. You have heard the quote, “it’s not how you fall, its how you pick yourself up again afterward.” If we recognize that we made a poor decision, and we do whatever is necessary to make it right, then in the long run we are better for it.

As I get older I have learned to take on a different attitude while dealing with life’s tribulations. Instead of being angry with someone or with a situation, I try to look at what I can take from the ordeal. It hasn’t been an easy road getting to the point of being able to do this. Sometimes I wonder if I have become numb towards outward circumstances, but I would like to think that over time I have learned to see the big picture. I understand that life doesn’t always go as we had hoped or planned. But you just have to roll with the punches. While something may seem like the end of the world while you are going through it, it isn’t. Life, it goes on. Instead of being negative and dwelling on the situation, I take what I can from it, and try to keep moving forward. It’s not always easy. But as you practice it and implement this way of thinking, it slowly becomes easier. Things don’t seem to hurt as much. I don’t take things as personally as I once had. Instead, I do the only thing I can. I learn from it.

Stronger in the end...

2009-02-18T16:25:00.000-08:00

So, last night as I was lying in bed wide-awake many things were racing through my mind. As of late I have been going through some stuff that I don't really care to get in to, but as I was thinking about these little tribulations I had a bit of an epiphany. I have pretty much determined that I am a bit lost right now. I'm happy; not stressed-out or anything. I am just having difficulties coming to grips with the fact that my life has no real sense of direction at the present moment. And honestly, it shouldn't. That's the point of me setting out and doing this whole traveling bit. But I still tend to think about what's next when I decide to move on from this point in my life. I guess I am having a bit of a hard time living in the moment. Anyway, back to my point. As I was thinking about everything that I have gone through in the past that has led-up to me being here, I have realized that I really don't know myself. I am living a facade. I feel that as I encounter life I respond to it in a way that society has programmed me to respond, not as I would respond. If that makes any sense... For example, while in past relationships, whenever I have experienced any sense of turmoil my immediate response is to say whatever it is I think the other party wants to hear. Not what I feel. I think this is more so the case when I am unsure of my feelings or unsure of what it is that I want, so I say whatever it is that I think the other party wants to hear until I figure out where I stand in the current dilemma. And sometimes it takes me a while to figure it out, if ever. So, I am not being honest to them or to myself. I am pretty sure I have hurt others in the process. And for this I feel awful. I really need to learn to listen to myself, to what it is that I want, and what it is that will make me happy. I need to learn to not be so concerned with appeasing others by telling them what it is that I think they want to hear, because the truth is always better. No matter how much it may hurt initially, it makes us stronger in the end.

The Road Not Taken

2009-02-18T15:00:00.000-08:00

I love this poem and I wanted to share...

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

The Hamptons

2009-02-17T17:10:00.000-08:00

Next stop on Golden Boy II's summer 2008 itinerary was the Hamptons. I was definitely excited about this stop! We docked the boat in Sag Harbor. It was an ideal location because we were close to the golf courses, but also fairly close to the Long Island Wine Country.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to tag along when the captain took the Mr. (the owner) to tour the North Fork Wine Trail. I really couldn't believe that I had been invited to go with them. I love going to Napa and Sonoma, so this was right up my ally. To get there we had to take a ferry across the bay. This was yet another new experience for me.

A ferry taking passengers across the bay

Once we arrived in North Fork we visited three or four wineries. North Fork's wine region is unparalleled to Napa and Sonoma's wine regions. This is what I love about traveling. I love discovering things on my own. Forming my own opinions from my experiences, not taking someone else's word for it. This is why I find travel to be so rewarding. It pushes you to think for yourself. To get out there, to wonder, to feel, to ask, to taste, to see, to touch, to experience so many new and different things. Traveling really is the best education.

There was one winery in particular that I enjoyed, Corey Creek. It had the best atmosphere of all of the wineries we visited. Their vineyard was gorgeous.

25 Things About Me...

2009-02-17T04:25:00.000-08:00

I posted this on my facebook account and I figured I would post it on my blog as well. Enjoy.

1. This isn't what I had imagined my life would be. And I wouldn't change a single thing.

2. Pretty much every morning I wake up and can't believe that I live and work on a yacht in St. Maarten.

3. I have the most amazing friends EVER. Not a day goes by that i don't appreciate and realize how lucky I am to be blessed with such great friends.

4. I love the 80's. The music. The movies. The attire. But I love it for what it was. I understand that it was great then. We don't need to try to bring it back again.

5. I'm an only child. My parents achieved perfection on the first try.

6. Some days I feel lost; others not at all. But I'm happy. Eventually I want to get another degree because I miss school. Any ideas what I should go for the next time around?!

7. I REALLY want to take a scuba course. I'm actually researching one this very moment. I have a date with slammin sammy this summer involving some serious diving (I hope!).

8. I love music. I think everything is better with some music in the background. In fact, I work better/more efficiently when I am rocking out to pretty much anything.

9. I almost got married. That seems like a lifetime ago. Now I am terrified of getting married. I wonder if I will ever have the desire again now that I am really getting to know myself and beginning to understand what I want in life.

10. I used to live in Las Vegas. I have a love/hate relationship with that city.

11. My favorite foods are Indian and Thai.

12. My Mom and I are very close. She is my best friend.

13. I used to have a dog named Chicken. He was the best dog EVER and I miss him so much.

14. I really want to learn Spanish. I hope to either live in Spain or Costa Rica for 6 months so that I will become fluent.

15. I have so many hopes and aspirations for my life that there is no way that I can possibly achieve it all. But one can try!

16. My Dad recently pursued his dream to open a wine bar. I am so happy for him and proud of him. I hope to visit the bar one day fairly soon!

17. My birthday is March 17, St. Patrick's Day. Best birthday EVER!

18. I'm hoping to take the jet skis out on my day off. But I'm a little nervous about all of these brown jellyfish I keep seeing in the water. Anyone been stung by one of these bad boys? I just want to know what I'm up against here.

19. I REALLY want to get a tattoo. I know what I want. But still can't figure out exactly where to get it...

20. I wonder where I will live when I decide to settle down again. *If* I decide to settle down again.

21. I do plan to buy a house somewhere rad someday. That way I can trade homes with my friends from all over the world. It will be a great way to vacation. Anyone else in?! I know you are Ash!

22. I have learned a lot of life lessons this past year. My new mantra is to live with passion and without regret. It seems to be working well for me.

23. Travel is very important to me. It is an integral part of my life and I encourage everyone to do more of it!

24. I have a blog about my travels. And I have been SO bad about updating it. I really must get on top of it.

25. I HATE pickles. Blech!

Essex, Connecticut

2009-02-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

Sunrise in Essex

Before setting foot on Golden Boy II I had never heard of Essex. When I was informed that it was on our itinerary I was intrigued because I had never been to Connecticut. Upon our arrival I was instantly love-struck with the quaintness of the town. The surrounding countryside was covered in a layer of green. Nestled in amongst the scenery were summer cottages dating back hundreds of years. Walking the streets of Essex was like exploring a US history museum.

Swans swimming with a windmill in the distance

As I walked and explored the enchanting little town I stumbled across incredible parks, ponds, churches, and even graveyards. Everything about this place was perfect. Nothing was askew; everything was just in its place. It seemed as though it was out of a story book.

I loved this park

Cemetery

One evening I was able to get away with the captain and the chef to have a drink and experience Essex nightlife. However, there really wasn't much of an Essex nightlife. It was very low key, but the locals were very friendly.

Church

Our time in Essex was short-lived, but I left with fond memories. There is a good chance that I never would have been to Essex if it weren't for my stop there while working on Golden Boy. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to explore Essex and I hope to visit again one day.

She works hard for the money!

2008-12-05T13:09:00.000-08:00

The boat didn't stay in Newport, New Jersey for long. While we were there I didn't get much of an opportunity to go and do a great deal since I was pretty busy training. I did get off of the boat a couple of times when I had a bit of a break, but it usually wasn't much more than a couple of hours. Many of the times that I did get a break I would spend it napping. With live-aboard owners I worked very long days seven days a week. In the yachting industry 18+ hour workdays aren't uncommon. Live-aboard owners, however, are more uncommon. My boat was a bit of a unique situation.

Our next destination was Essex, Connecticut. When I had taken the job on Golden Boy II it was a month-long freelance position. Their itinerary wasn't my ideal itinerary, but it was a great opportunity for me to get some experience which was great for my CV. When I first got into yachting it was my dream to get on a boat anywhere but the US. Looking back, I am glad that I was able to spend my summer traveling up and down the East Coast. I had the opportunity to travel to some charming places, many of which I hope to go back and visit again one day.

Time for the partying to end and the work to begin...

2008-11-28T07:48:00.000-08:00

After I got word that I got the job, I needed to wrap up some loose ends in Fort Lauderdale. I wanted to send a bag of stuff home to my Mom because I had packed more than I needed. Traveling with so much stuff is nothing more than a hassle. I easily sent home half of the things that I had packed. I also had to say goodbye to all of my new friends that I had made. Fortunately, the yachting community is relatively small so you are able to run into friends while you are traveling with the boat.

I left the crew house on a Friday morning and headed to the airport. I had a flight into New York City. The boat was docked in New Jersey at the Newport Yacht Club and Marina, just across the Hudson River. After my flight arrived I grabbed a cab and made my way to the PATH Station to catch a train to Jersey. When I got off the train the captain was there to pick me up. The boat was a couple of minutes away, so he gave me a quick rundown of who was onboard. I was going to get thrown straight into it. I was nervous and excited; in a few minutes I would be meeting my new home/job, my crewmates, and the Mr. and the Mrs..

Newport Yacht Club and Marina

Golden Boy II

Dave, the captain, seemed to be very nice. He was full of energy and very up-beat. When we arrived at the boat he helped me with my bags and showed me to my cabin. Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos of my cabin. It was very small. There were bunk beds, a small closet, and a combined shower/toilet/sink. For the time being I had the cabin to myself, which was great.

Dave introduced me to my crewmates; all of whom were very welcoming. Julie was our chef from New Orleans. Jolene and Johan were the chief stewardess and the first mate/deckhand. They are a couple from South Africa. After the introductions I got a quick tour of Golden Boy II. Jolene got me a uniform and gave me a bit of time to settle in and unpack.

Julie and I

Johan and I

Dave, Jolene and I

That evening I had dinner with the crew in the galley. Besides our cabin, the only other spot that you can really hang out on the boat is in the galley. There is a crew mess area where we all sit together for our meals. We had a TV in there which was nice since my cabin did not have a TV (all of the other crew quarters had TV's in their cabins). After our dinner I helped with the dishes while Jolene tended to the guest's dinner service. She let me go to bed relatively early my first night there. I had to be ready to work the next morning at 6:30, so she wanted me to get plenty of rest. I had a long day of work and training ahead of me!

Thankful...

2008-11-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

This year I am spending my first Thanksgiving completely away from my family, friends and home. I have had to work during Thanksgiving in the past, but I was still able to see my family for a little while, or join some friends for their Thanksgiving celebration. This year is much different. I am away from home, and have no family nearby. I am currently living in the crewhouse in Fort Lauderdale. I am fortunate to be living with some truly lovely people, and we will all be sharing our Thanksgiving together. We are each other’s family this year and we plan to spend the day barbecuing and relaxing.

Being that it is Thanksgiving, I have been thinking about all of the things that I am grateful for and I wanted to share them:

I am thankful that everyone that I love and care about is healthy.
I am thankful that I was able to pursue my dream and set out on this journey. I have undergone a substantial amount of personal growth and for that I am truly grateful.
I am thankful that my Mom and I have become so close over the past year. We were always close in the past, but now I feel that my Mom is one of my best friends.
I am thankful that my Dad was able to pursue his dream to open a wine bar. I am so proud of him.
I am thankful that I was able to reunite with Lisa this year. She was such an important part of my life for so many years, and I had missed her a great deal. Thanks to facebook she is back in my life.
I am thankful for all of my wonderful friends. They are all remarkable and I am a better person for having each of them in my life.
I am thankful that I am learning to live each day with passion, to slow down and enjoy the beauty surrounding us, and to worry less because everything has a way of working itself out.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Fort Lauderdale...

2008-11-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

After my week in New York City quickly came to an end, it was time for me to head down to Fort Lauderdale to set out on my yachting career. I had arranged to stay in the Neptune Group crew housing when I arrived. Crew housing is similar to a hostel, but for yacht crew. It is very affordable, and it is a great way to network with other yachties. Crew house accommodations vary from house to house, but you are essentially staying in a fully furnished house which includes cable, internet, washer & dryer, bed and bath linens, kitchenware, etc..

Crew House Kitchen Area

Crew House Common Area

I was slightly nervous and extremely excited to meet my new roommates. I knew I would be meeting lots of new people from all over the world, but I really wasn't prepared for the whirlwind of fun, excitement and partying that was about to become my life for the next three weeks. As soon as I walked through the door I was instantly greeted by Guy from South Africa who was very eager to help me with my bags (South Africans are some of the most polite people I have ever encountered). Soon after I met the rest of my roommates. There were sisters Brooke and Ashley from Bermuda, Jane from New Zealand, Emily and Georgia from the US (and some other girl that was from the US who was super sketch and got kicked out so I can't remember her name).

This was unlike any living situation I had ever experienced, but I imagine it could be equated to living in a college dorm. The biggest difference is that there are constantly people arriving and departing, so the dynamic of the house is continuously undergoing change. I met so many people and made some truly remarkable friends during this time.

In a previous post I had mentioned that I had to take the week long STCW course. Fortunately Brooke, Ashley and Georgia were enrolled in the same course with me, so the four of us set off to class together early each morning after a night of hard partying. I honestly don't know how we made it to the class each day, but somehow we managed!

The STCW course was pretty basic. It covers personal safety and survival, first aid and fire safety. My favorite part of the course was the fire safety. We got to dress up in full fire gear, including the breathing apparatus, and fight fires. I feel that it is something most people should try to take so that they better understand fires and how to fight them.

After the STCW course was complete I spent a great deal of time hanging out with my roomies at the beach, the pool, bars, etc.. We were all having such a great time that we weren't in a huge hurry to avidly search for work until the beginning of week three.

Guy at the Embassy Suite's pool

Rolf & Brooke at the beach

Ashley & Rolf at Waxy's

Molly & Georgia

To find work in the yachting industry you put together a CV, similar to a resume, and register with various crew agents. Once you register with a crew agent they set up an interview to get to know you a bit. Crew agents help you look for work on boats, so it's beneficial to sign up with several crew agents so you can get as many leads as possible. There are other places that you can post your CV, such as the Neptune Group's website, or at Smallwood's. And another avenue to find work is to walk the docks early each morning with your CV in hand. Walking the docks is also a good way to find daywork. Some boats may require a little extra help for a project, so they hire a dayworker. This is a great way for someone with no experience to obtain a little which is good for the CV. Also, dayworking can often lead to a full time position.

I was fortunate. Once I decided to find a job, it happened very quickly. I hadn't even been out to walk the docks yet. A captain saw my CV posted on Neptune Group's website and gave me a call. The boat wasn't in Fort Lauderdale so I wasn't able to see him for a face to face interview. We chatted for a few minutes over the phone. He told me he would call me back in about 10 minutes to let me know if he wanted to hire me. About 2 minutes later he called back and offered me the job. This happened on a Wednesday afternoon, and he wanted me to fly to New Jersey to meet up with the boat on Friday. This is where all of the fun and craziness ends, and where the hard work began.

NYC...

2008-11-23T02:08:00.000-08:00

The first time I visited New York City was when I was in high school. My Dad took me on a trip to Washington D.C. and NYC during my spring break. It was a great trip, but we had a limited amount of time in each city so we were a bit rushed to see as much as possible. My absolute favorite part of our trip to NYC was when we visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We only had a few hours to explore the museum, which is no where near enough time to check it out, but the exhibits were phenomenal. Since that trip with my Dad I have been eager to go back and commit an entire day to exploring the MET's exhibits.

The MET opens at 9:30, and so I was sure to be there as soon as it opened so that I could spend as much time as possible in the museum. The MET is by far one of my favorite museums I have ever visited. My favorite exhibit is the Egyptian exhibit, but they are all pretty spectacular. I spent the entire day there, and it was once again one of my favorite things that I did while visiting.

Justin and I walked a lot while I was visiting. In the evenings after dinner we would walk along the outside of Central Park. It was a nice way to end the day and walk off our meal. One evening while on our walk I glanced ahead and saw a raccoon staring directly at us as he was making his way to the trash can. Upon further inspection there was another raccoon with him. We stopped in our tracks and watched as they rifled through the trash for their dinner. A moment later another one came crawling over the wall to join them. And then another! It was pretty cool to watch them. And they were completely aware of us; and not scared at all.

My last day in NYC happened to fall on the 4th of July. Which also happens to be the Nathan's hot dog eating contest. And since the contest takes place at Coney Island, there was absolutely no way that we were going to miss it. It was pretty awesome. There were so many people there to watch. I had happened to watch it the previous year on TV. I couldn't believe how many changes my life had gone through in the past year and that I was actually going to be watching the contest in person this year. Kobayashi was the winner last year. He almost won again this year. Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut tied after the 10 minute race, but Chestnut ended up winning in overtime. It was pretty intense!

As soon as the contest was over we took off. We didn't want to deal with the massive crowd any longer than was necessary. We headed off to O'Brien's Irish Pub for some lunch and some drinks. After lunch we decided to walk around and find a good spot to watch the fireworks display later in the evening. Everyone seemed to have the same idea as us; the streets were filled with people. After finding a suitable place we headed off to McFadden's for some cocktails. Unfortunately, it began to rain. It was looking as though the fireworks weren't going to take place this year. We headed back to our spot to wait it out just in case they were going to go off. Finally, they were able to shoot off a display close to where we were at so we had to hurry and move so we were able to see them. It was a little disappointing, but still a great day nonetheless.

And so that ends my trip to New York City. Thank you Justin for your hospitality. I had such a great time.

The Big Apple...

2008-11-04T05:12:00.000-08:00

I arrived in NYC on a Friday evening. I was so excited to go and visit Justin in his new Manhattan apartment. We spent Friday evening catching up since we hadn't seen each other for quite some time.

Saturday we walked from his place to Central Park. The walk was astounding; Justin lives on such a beautiful street. I couldn't get enough of the architecture. Every block we would walk down something would catch my eye. I would point it out to Justin and he would always say that he had never noticed it before. It was a lot of fun to explore the city together. Justin showed me a lot of cool places that he has found while living there. And I was able to show Justin NYC from my perspective by bringing things to his attention that he had never noticed, which happened quite often!

One of the buildings on Justin's Street

Central Park made for a beautiful walk as well. The park was bustling with people out on their Saturday strolls. While exploring the park we got caught in a torrential downpour. Of course we weren't prepared with umbrellas, so we stood under a tree to wait it out. We had to wait for quite a while, but the rain was nice to watch anyway.

Saturday evening we headed to Little Italy for some dinner at Casa Bella. After dinner we walked around and explored Little Italy when we stumbled upon Ferrara Cafe. This cafe was packed, so we decided that we would get some dessert and check it out. This was a wise decision. Their desserts were like eating a little slice of heaven. Little Italy was touristy, but the food was well worth it.

My priority on Sunday was to go to the Guggenheim Museum. I had never been and always wanted to see it, so off we went. The architecture of the building itself makes the visit worthwhile. The exhibits were also phenomenal. I highly encourage anyone visiting New York City to take the time to explore the Guggenheim. You won't be disappointed.

Monday I met up with Justin in Chelsea for lunch at Kiku Sushi. After lunch we walked to the Chelsea Market. Justin used to work in this area and he had stumbled across the indoor marketplace. The building used to be a bakery, but it was more recently refurbished into a charming little marketplace. We enjoyed a scoop of gelato as we explored the shops. This is another place that I recommend visiting if you are in NYC.

Justin had to get back to work, so I set off on my own to explore the great city. I walked by Ground Zero to see the progress they have made thus far.

Next I walked through Rockefeller Park. I literally just stumbled upon it, and it was a lovely discovery. It lies right along the Hudson River. I followed it along until I reached Battery Park. Battery Park pales in comparison to Rockefeller Park. Rockefeller Park is so beautifully maintained. Battery Park is often overrun with tourists looking to visit the Statue of Liberty. As I walked through Rockefeller Park I felt as though I had discovered one of New York City's hidden gems. This is where the locals picnicked with their families. As I left Rockefeller Park and made my way into Battery Park it's as if I entered into tourist hell. I went from a splendidly manicured park to a deteriorated and chaotic park within minutes.

Justin works in Brooklyn and he wanted me to meet him at his office when he was off of work so we could hit up a pizza place he had discovered. I decided that I wanted to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge instead of taking the subway into Brooklyn. This was a great decission on my part. Everything about the bridge is exquisite. The architecture, the view. I can't believe that I had never made the time to visit the bridge during my prior trips to NYC. In my opinion, if someone has a very limited amount of time to visit New York City, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge should be very high on their priority list. I took so many great photos of the bridge, but I think it's pretty much impossible to take a bad photo of it.

We had dinner at Grimaldi's Pizzeria. I must say, as far as pizza goes this place has some of the best pizza I have ever had. It was amazing. During dinner I told Justin about how much I had enjoyed my walk across the bridge. Now, he lives in Manhattan and works in Brooklyn, and he had never once walked across the bridge. So I suggested we walk across it after dinner so that he could see how truly amazing it is for himself. And I was excited to see the view from the bridge at night since it would be an entirely different perspective. Justin also fell in love with the bridge, but how could he not?!

More to come.....

I'm Still Alive...

2008-11-04T05:02:00.000-08:00

So, I have been a little MIA for the past, I don't know, 4 months. I know, I am such a slacker. I have had every intention of updating my blog, but I have been so incredibly busy that I haven't had much time. My life has been a whirlwind over the past 4 months. I have seen and done so many amazing things. My goal is to spend the next few posts catching up on where I have been and what I am up to. After that, my goal is to write a post at least once a week. But, first things first, my trip to NYC...

Lucky Strike...

2008-07-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

After Sonny got off of work Thursday evening we had big plans to get a Chicago style deep dish pizza followed by some bowling. We decided to grab a cocktail at a new Latin restaurant before we headed off to dinner. As soon as we set foot in De La Costa I was smitten with the place. We sat at the bar and I instantly knew that this would be a great place to order a mojito. Mojitos are one of my favorite cocktails, but unfortunately they are difficult to make. This usually means that I am disappointed when I order them. This was not one of those times. I was partaking in one of the best mojitos that I have had in a very long time. I could tell this was going to be a start to a great night!

De La Costa

After I finished my mojito (okay two mojitos, I couldn't resist!) we headed to Giordano's for some deep dish pizza. After all, it's not a true visit to Chicago without having some deep dish pizza. The place was packed, but it was well worth the wait.

Bowling was next on our evening agenda. Sonny and I have been planning on bowling since we met about 3 years ago. We were supposed to go the first night we met, but it never happened. Since then we have been talking ourselves up about how great we are at bowling (which is so not true for either of us) and promising to kick each other's butt when the time would finally come for us to bowl. Well, this was the night. We headed to Lucky Strike Lanes, which is one of the coolest bowling alleys I have ever been to. We had a blast. And in case you were wondering, we each won a game, so we tied.

Friday evening we headed to dinner at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba which is known for their tapas and their sangria. I used to go the the Cafe Ba Ba Reeba on the strip in Las Vegas. It's a fun place to eat with a great atmosphere. After dinner we headed to Zella. It's a splendid little bar with an alluring patio area. We didn't stay out too late because we had a big day ahead of us on Saturday.

Saturday morning we headed off to the market to stock up on tailgating supplies for a Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and Leann Rimes concert at Soldier Field. We were out there all day long, but it was a lot of fun!

Tailgating madness with Soldier Field in the background

I really wanted to go to the Field Museum since I had arrived in Chicago. I was planning to attend during the week when Sonny was working, but he said he would like to join me so we went on Sunday instead. Over all, I was pretty disappointed with the museum. It wasn't really what I was expecting or hoping for. The only worthwhile part of the museum, in my opinion, was the Evolving Planet exhibit, which contained the dinosaur fossils. I also got to see Sue, which is the largest and most complete tyrannosaurus rex fossil yet discovered. It was pretty impressive, but much smaller than I had always imagined.

Sue

This is where the Chicago saga ends. I had an amazing time and was so fortunate to go and do everything that I did. Thank you Sonny for being such an amazing tour guide. My trip wouldn't have been the same without all of your planning and efforts and for that I am very grateful.

I am in New York City now, so the New York narratives will be coming soon...

Picturesque escapades in the city...

2008-06-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

Late Tuesday morning I decided to head off to the Art Institute of Chicago on my own. I love to get lost for hours upon hours exploring museums, and since Sonny was at work this was a perfect opportunity for me to do so. I was pretty impressed with the art exhibits at the museum. They had a decent selection containing Picasso, Matisse, Seurat, Monet, Wood & Hopper just to name a few. They even had an Egyptian exhibit which I have always been fascinated with, but it hardly compared to the Egyptian exhibit at the Met in New York (which I will be visiting again next week!).

Picasso

Monet

Seurat

Wood

Hopper

Later in the evening Sonny and I headed to Navy Pier. He had challenged me to a game of putt putt (which he totally kicked my butt) and he also wanted to show me the view from the Ferris Wheel. The pier was a little touristy, but it was fun to experience it nonetheless.

Wednesday afternoon I met Sonny for lunch at Rivers. We sat outside at a table right on the river. The food and the atmosphere were superfluous. Sears Tower is just down the street from Rivers, so I headed over there right after lunch. Sears Tower is another touristy attraction, but the view up there is spectacular.

To finish off our day we headed to a White Sox game. It was fun, but not nearly as fun as the Cubs game. There was a different feel at the Cubs game; the people there seemed to be more energized. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to experience both.

Ravinia...

2008-06-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

Sonny asked me if I had any interest in going to a park outside the city to listen to string quartet perform while enjoying a picnic on the grass. I answered with a resounding ABSOLUTELY! The concert was on a Monday evening, so Sonny had to work during the day. I spent Monday afternoon packing an amazing, if I do say so myself, picnic for us to enjoy. Goat cheese. Check. Brie. Check. Prosciutto. Check. Almonds, hummus & cherries. Check, check, check. Oh, and how could I forget about the wine?! I packed 2 bottles for good measure.

With the picnic all ready to go I headed down to meet Sonny at the train station. The string quartet was due to start at 8 PM in Ravinia which is about a 45 minute train ride outside the city. We wanted to arrive early so we could set up our picnic and relax in the park. At Ravinia you can watch the performance from the Theatre (or the Hall or Pavillion depending on the concert) or you can purchase lawn tickets and picnic out on Ravinia's expansive lawn. The concert is broadcast out onto the lawn audience from their state-of-the-art sound system so we didn't have to worry about not being able to hear the concert.

The Martin Theatre

The Lawn

The Julliard String Quartet commenced promptly at 8. They performed beautifully. As the sun went down everyone began to light candles which created an amazing ambiance. Earlier in the evening the sky was slightly overcast, but as the evening went on the curtain of clouds dissipated to reveal the star encrusted sky. It was a magical evening.

A leisurely Sunday...

2008-06-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning Sonny decided to take me to Chinatown to introduce me to Dim Sum. Apparently everyone else in Chicago had the same idea as us because we had quite a wait at Shui Wah. The wait was well worth it. It was a fun new dining experience and I encourage everyone go and to try it. After eating entirely too much food we explored the streets of Chinatown before hopping on the Red Line to Lincoln Park.

When we got off the train we walked through the most gorgeous neighborhood on the way to the park. The streets were lined with trees and decadent homes. If I were to move to Chicago someday this is the neighborhood I would like to live in.

While exploring Lincoln Park we stumbled across a charming lily pond. Chicago seems to have captivating little jewels strewn amongst the entire city just waiting to be discovered!

Adjacent to the lily pond was the Lincoln Park Zoo. Exploring the zoo was a perfect way to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon. It's not too big, so you can go and see it all in a couple of hours. After viewing the animal exhibits we grabbed a table near the South Lagoon and people watched as we enjoyed a beer.
We had been nonstop busy since I arrived in Chicago and so this day was much needed interlude.

A Wicked good time...

2008-06-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning we awoke with a bit of a hangover from the festivities the prior evening. There is no better cure for a hangover than a big greasy hamburger, so off we went to Boston Blackies which is famous for their "hefty" burgers. After lunch we decided to catch a movie. We went and saw The Happening (which is NOT happening in case you were curious). After the movie we headed home to get ready for our evening affairs.

We met Sonny's friends for dinner at Dao Thai before heading off to see Wicked The Musical. I must say that I was most impressed with Wicked. I wasn't too sure what to expect, although I had heard several people rave about it. It was very well written and highly entertaining. It was Sonny's idea that we go to see the show and I am so glad that we did!

30 things I want to do/accomplish before I'm 30...

2008-06-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

While I have been in Chicago I have been doing a lot of walking around the city. I think that the best way to really get a feel for a city is to explore it by walking the streets. Sometimes it can't be avoided and Sonny and I must take the subway or a cab, but for the most part my transportation of choice is to go by foot. This week Sonny has been working during the day, and so I am left to explore the city on my own. While exploring the city I rock out to my I-pod and get lost in my thoughts. As I was walking down Michigan Avenue (The Magnificent Mile) to meet Sonny for lunch yesterday I began to think about what it is that I would like to accomplish in the next few years, or more specifically, before I turn 30. I decided to compile a list of 30 things that I would like to do/accomplish before I turn 30. As I began to compose my ideas of what I would like to accomplish before 30 I quickly noticed a recurring theme. Most of the things that I want to accomplish on my list over the next few years involve travel. This has confirmed that I have made the right decision to pursue my dreams to travel. Without further ado, here is my list:

1. Visit Greece

2. Learn how to sail

3. Learn another language

4. Go scuba diving

5. Visit the Taj Mahal

6. Visit the pyramids in Egypt

7. Pay off my debt

8. Visit Thailand

9. Visit Hong Kong

10. Replenish retirement account

11. Visit all 50 U.S. states

12. Visit Brazil

13. Visit Australia

14. Visit France

15. Visit Russia

16. Visit Switzerland

17. Go on an African Safari

18. Swim with the great white sharks

19. Visit Dubai

20. Visit Japan

21. Take some photography classes

22. Take some cooking classes in Italy

23. Visit Scotland

24. Visit Ireland

25. Visit England

26. Visit the Bahamas

27. Visit Canada

28. Visit Costa Rica

29. Live in another country

30. Live in a large metropolitan city

It will be exciting to see if I am able to accomplish all of these things before I reach 30. Let the countdown to the completion of my accomplishments begin!

Create yours at BlingyBlob.com!

The bean...

2008-06-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

We started off our Friday with a walk to Millennium Park to check out the Cloud Gate sculpture (aka the bean). As we entered the park we were immediately greeted by the Jay Pritzger Pavillion, which is one of the most amazing amphitheaters I have ever come across. The park is littered with beautiful views with every step you take and direction you turn. I couldn't decide what I wanted to capture with a photograph first: the amphitheater, the gardens, the bean, the city skyline, or the view of Lake Michigan.

Next we headed to the Buckingham Fountain. The Buckingham Fountain is one of the largest in the world. It was breathtaking.

Sonny and I decided to take a brief break from all of our walking and grab some sushi for a late lunch. We literally had to eat and run because we had tickets to go on an architectural boat tour. The tour was an excellent way to view the architectural landmarks of Chicago. We had already experienced the view from foot by walking the city, and from above whilst enjoying the amazing view at the Hancock Tower. Now we were able to obtain another perspective of the landmarks by viewing them from the water. Well worth it!
As soon as we finished the boat tour we ran off to the grocery store. We were invited to a rooftop party and we were supposed to bring paella. After obtaining the proper ingredients we went home and threw together an amazing paella (no thanks to me, he he). The party was a lot of fun. Sonny's friends were really nice, and the view was spectacular.

More to come...

You say goodbye and I say hello...

2008-06-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

Goodbye...Reno

Hello...Chicago!

I am having an amazing time. Sonny has kept me busy with an extremely full itinerary. Today is the first day that I have had some free time to sit down and write about my adventures in the Windy City.

I arrived in Chicago Wednesday evening. Sonny surprised me by picking me up in a Zipcar so he could give me a guided driving tour into the city. After driving around the city and taking in the sights we headed back to Sonny’s apartment. I sipped his homemade san gria while he cooked us an extraordinary dinner consisting of baked brie with apricot jam, honey balsamic salmon, scallops, asparagus and mashed potatoes. Yumm! After dinner we headed to the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the Hancock Tower. We sipped a cocktail as we looked out at the spectacular view of the city.

Next we walked around and took some photos as we headed to The W Hotel for a cocktail at Whiskey Sky. We had a really fun night. And this was only a glimpse of what was yet to come!

Thursday I woke up to a yummy home cooked breakfast. Afterwards we walked to the marina and the pier.

Next we caught the Red Line and headed to the Cubs game. We were almost to the game, literally approaching our stop, when the train broke down. We were stuck. Stuck, might I add, with a train packed to the gills with people all of which were eager to get to the game. Fortunately, this only lasted about 15 minutes. A very long fifteen minutes.

Finally, we made it to Wrigley Field. We grabbed some bratwurst and beers, and headed to our seats to watch an awesome game. The Cubs beat the Braves 3-2.

After the game we headed to the Red Ivy in Wrigleyville for a cocktail. We killed some time there until it was time for us to head to dinner with Sonny's friends at Tango Sur, an Argentinean Steakhouse. The food there was okay, but not nearly as good as Sonny's dinner that he prepared the prior evening. We wrapped up the evening at Coobah. The atmosphere in Coobah was perfect. The tasty mojitos paired with the live music was impeccable.

More to come...

To my friends...

2008-06-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

June 11^th is rapidly approaching and so my time in Reno is quickly coming to an end. I have been incredibly busy the past couple of weeks with moving my things into storage, wrapping things up at work, and trying to spend as much time with my friends and family as possible.

People keep asking me if I am scared or nervous about the adventure I am about to embark on. Surprisingly, I’m not scared at all. This is very unlike me. I’m a worrier; always have been. Somehow I just know that everything is going to work out. I am extremely excited and eager to set out on this journey.

I do feel a slight sense of sadness. I have been so fortunate to have my friends and family close to me for the past 8 months. I almost forgot what that was like being that I was away in Vegas for 5 ½ years. For a time I lost sight of how truly important friendships are. Moving back to Reno helped me to realize how essential good friends are in one’s life. I want all of my friends who have given me unconditional support, hope, encouragement, understanding, and love to know how much I appreciate everything they have done. Without my friends I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. It’s because of all of their support and encouragement that I have the fortitude to chase my dreams. Thank you Lea, Sam, April, Melanie, Sonny, Laura and Jen for everything that you have done for me. I will miss you all. Love you guys!!!

Lea and I (I've known Lea since 8th grade)

Slammin' Sammy and I (Met her through my Dad, thanks pops!)

April & I (Known April since 9th grade)

Melanie & I (Friends since birth, really!)

Sonny & I (Met through a mutual friend)

Jen & I (Friends since 10th grade)

Laura, Jen & I (I've also known Laura since 10th grade)

Me, Lea, April & Sam

Laura, Kristen, Me, Jen & Melanie

I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again...

2008-05-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

So, it’s official. I am leaving Reno on June 11^th, and I don’t know when I’ll be back again. I am overcome with excitement! It is becoming so real. I have put a lot of thought, planning and research into this, and now it’s finally coming into fruition. I will be heading to Fort Lauderdale to take a required STCW 95 course. After I have completed the course I will begin looking for work. There really is no telling where I will end up. Ken is currently on a yacht that is traveling the globe. I could end up on a yacht working in Greece, Spain, the Caribbean. Who knows! Wherever it is that I end up, I am incredibly eager to begin this new journey.

I am taking a little detour on my way to Fort Lauderdale to visit my good friend Sonny in Chicago. I have never been to the Windy City and so now is the perfect opportunity for me to go. We have an exciting few days planned that will encompass a Cubs game, Wicked, Museums and a whole lot of shenanigans! Whenever Sonny and I are together good times are had (see photos below, he he). I am so excited to finally be able to go and visit him!

Sonny & I at the Whispering Vine in Reno

Me in the infamous Elvis Shades

Sonny in the infamous Elvis Shades (I brought them to Cabo!)

Sonny & I in Vegas

My inspiration...

2008-05-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends Ken has been traveling the world for the past couple of years while working on Mega Yachts. He is the one that has really inspired me to follow my dream of traveling the globe. He was pursuing a career and had bought a condo, and then one day decided that he wanted to travel the world. So he packed his things and left. I didn’t understand how he could just take off from all of his responsibilities so easily. He made the decision, and left. Deep down I envied his fervent desire, and the fact that he wasn’t going to let anything hold him back from following his dream.

Ken has pushed me for the past couple of years to follow in his footsteps. I desperately wanted to go, but at the same time I was terrified. I came close to leaving around December of last year, but something was still holding me back. After everything I had been through in Las Vegas, I wanted to spend some time with my friends and family in Reno. I needed to be around them to help me recover from all of the anguish I had recently encountered. I don’t regret my decision to stay in Reno for the time I did. Being close to my family and friends has helped me to grow and learn from my past. I am a stronger person for everything that I have been through, and I believe that is why I now have the confidence to finally pursue my dream of traveling.

Thank you Ken for encouraging me to follow my dreams!

A freeing feeling...

2008-05-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

There are so many things that I need to accomplish before I depart. I really have no idea how long I will be gone. I hope to be gone for at least a year. I am putting everything I own in storage, getting rid of my car, and wrapping up any other loose ends I have.

While preparing for my travels I have undergone some changes. I have done a lot of research to try to mentally prepare myself for everything I am about to experience in the upcoming months. I don’t believe that there is anything that can truly prepare anyone for what it is like to travel, to experience new places and cultures. It’s a sensory overload with all of the new sights, smells, sounds, and tastes. While traveling around Spain and Italy there were times that I wanted a few minutes to sit down in my room and decompress. The language barrier can be overwhelming at times. It’s not only difficult trying to communicate with the locals, but trying to navigate maps, subways and streets in a foreign language can be trying as well. I remember watching the movie Lost in Translation before I had ever set foot out of the US. I didn’t get it. I thought it was a strange movie that really didn’t have much of a plot. After returning from my trip to Spain and Italy I had watched the movie again and I got it. It made sense. It’s difficult to fully describe, it’s more or less an understanding that you can only achieve through international travels.

One of the bigger changes I have been undergoing in preparation for my travels is best described as taking on a sense of minimalism. While living in Vegas I changed in a lot of ways. In some ways for the better, in some ways for the worse. People in Vegas are so consumed with money, with having a big beautiful home, an expensive car, and all of the other materialistic obsessions that are out there. It’s like everyone in Vegas is fixated on keeping up with the Jones’ and you can’t help but get wrapped up in it. Moving back to Reno was a good decision on my part because Reno helped to ground me again. I began to realize that none of those things are really of any importance. Now that I am preparing to travel, I am realizing that I can’t bring all of my things with me. I will only want to carry with me the bare essentials, and that is all. So all of the things that once seemed so important to me, well, just aren’t any more. They have become a burden. Now I have to figure out what to do with all of my things. I will keep the things that are truly important, or things I will need when I am finished with my travels. As for everything else, I am going to get rid of it. I have fully transformed from someone who wanted the best of everything, to just wanting the necessities. It’s an amazing and freeing feeling.

A new direction...

2008-05-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

I have been through so much in the past 10 months of my life. Everything that I knew, had, or was changed in a matter of weeks. I lived in a beautiful home, had a career, and was engaged to get married. One day I woke up to realize that I was not at all happy with the direction my life had taken me. I wanted out. And so I left. I left my fiancé and my beautiful home, I left my career, and I left Las Vegas. There was nothing left for me there.

I decided to head back to Reno, where I was born and raised. I have an amazing support system in Reno between my family and my amazing friends. After everything I had been through in Vegas I decided that moving back to Reno was the best thing for me at that point in my life. So I tried to make it work. I got a job (actually two), and I made the decision to go back to school. I already obtained a degree while living in Vegas, but I have always had an interest in nursing and so I decided to pursue it. I worked hard, but felt an immense emptiness, or a void. I have never really been an unhappy person, or one to be depressed, but I had felt as though I had begun to fall into a serious funk and I was unsure on how to bring myself back out. I began to go through the motions each day. I was becoming more unhappy with my situation and something needed to change.

I have always had a desire to travel the world. Ever since I can remember I have been fascinated with exotic cultures and far off places. My Dad has pushed me to travel the world for years, but I have always been uneasy about taking off on my own and chasing my dream. I was afraid of the unknown, of what could possibly happen to me while traveling on my own. I was torn between my strong desire to see the world, and my apprehensions of what may happen while carrying out my dream. Until now. I don’t really know exactly what happened, but all of my apprehensions about traveling have dissipated.

And so in a very short time my journeys will begin. I am in the process of wrapping up all of my loose ends in Reno so I can set off on my travels around the globe. I am so completely excited to begin this new chapter of my life.