Family everywhere!!

So here I am in Lawrence, Kansas.  My grandparents have lived here their entire lives, so there's a lot of family history around which is awesome.  My Aunt Teresa, Cousin Kelly and her son, Alec are here as well, and my dad is here working on Grandma and Grandpa's basement.  So it's been a wild couple of days, and I've loved every minute of it.  I also got to go to Astros (a bar) to play pool with my friend from high school, Mandy Girl and hang out.  It was a blast.  The only down side was that last night there was an extremely loud and obnoxious woman yelling outside our motel room... so to that random person - I'm sorry that you weren't able to meet up with your friends at the bar, and I'm sure that everyone else in the motel last night was, too.  Yeeeesh!

Also, my dad believes that he is able to fit Goliath (his truck) into any parking space availible - and indeed he can.  The only down side of this is that I had to do some major manouvering to get out of the passengers seat!  So I mentioned on Facebook, and I'll confirm it on here - if you ever have any questions about why I drive like I do and why I'm not afraid of anything on the road, meet my dad and you will understand. 

And here is my food for thought - Mandy Girl's friend Bonnie came over the other day and we all were hanging out in Mandy's room and Bonnie said that it's interesting how circumstances will determine who is meant to be in your life and who is left behind.  This was following the recap on how Mandy and I became friends - she grew up in Perry, KS, moved to Pavillion, WY, we met in High School and became friends, then she moved back to Perry and I went to college, we lost track of each other and then she found me on Facebook and told me that she now lives in Lawrence, KS just about a mile down the road from where my grandparent's live!  And she is one of those friends that we were able to pick up exactly where we had originally left off.  And those are the friends that I really do cherish.  We've both been through a lot in the past 10 years, but it's like the distance and time haven't mattered.  Obviously that's not the story of all of my friendships - but at least one other friend and I have had this happen.  It is amazing to me how these things do happen - you lose track of someone and then pick them back up later and the friendship is none the worse for it.  And then there are the other friends that you are close to at one point, then drift apart and never reconnect, or if you do reconnect then you no longer have anything in common and it's awkward.  I don't think there is anything wrong with people taking different paths and leaving behind those who it's no longer possible to relate to.  People, relationships and friendships change over time and there is no way to stop that.  I've come to realize that the trick is to surround yourself with people who lift you up as opposed to dragging you down.  And keep your attitude positive - it's amazing how much better life is when you let go of the negativity and embrace the beauty / chaos / insanity of life.  Also, always let the people that you love know that you love them - that way there are no regrets about things that you could have said.  : )

I have five more days in Kansas before heading to Ohio to see my Marcus and visit the old alma mater - until my next post, I say goodbye and I give you a hug <> and I blow you a kiss * (muah!). 

Gettin' ready to drive on!

I'm not really sure what this one should be named - I'm 3 days away from going to my Grandma's for a week and therefore continuing the cross - country road trip before we take off.  My time at home has been good for me - I don't come back much because really it depresses me to find out who died, who got divorced, who got married, who had more kids, etc etc.  Everyone around here knows everyone and a lot of the stories end up being pretty damn sad.  There are some good ones, though, and it has been a blessing to reconnect with people that I haven't seen or heard from in years. 

When I tell people what I'm doing, the reactions are varied buy my favorites so far was someone that my mom talked to said "You mean they don't have kids or husbands or anything? - Yes - Those lucky bitches!  And yes, that's pure jealousy talking!"  He he he - and my friend Bethany who I've known forever - "In an alternate universe, I'm single and coming with you."  Also "I'll carry your backpack, you can carry me and you'll still be backpacking!"  I did get my long undies for when it gets cold, and a sweater as well.  As far as having everything packed is concerned, I'm prepared!  As far as the road trip and when we'll be staying where... well... that's a different story.  Trying to do the whole - "let go and let God" thing... but on the other hand, Heaven helps those who help themselves... I just have a couple more phone calls to make!

I'm really looking forward to meeting Ana in Baltimore and hanging out until we leave.  I am still annoyed at the airline, but as my friend Carolyn said, there's probably a reason it was changed.  Hell, it just hit me that we'll be coming into Germany at the same time that everyone is suffering a hangover from Oktoberfest (which is actually in September).  He he he - I feel their pain.  Went out to the bar with my friends a couple nights ago and got way too happy and had a hangover all yesterday.  And that is why I love Saturday vigil Masses - get your God time on and then not have to be in church with a hangover the next day!  Probably a very heathenistic way of looking at it, but hey, works for me!  It's kind of funny drinking around here when I'm all legal and stuff... he he he... much better than the illegal times, and I still haven't run into anyone that I really didn't want to see at the bar.  It's easier to avoid people around here than I thought.  Oh, also, I used to think that Riverton was sometimes a pain to get around... not after 5 years in the metroplex!!  It also struck me the other day how different all the houses are.  Living in Coppell, Lewisville and Las Colinas, all the houses and stuff were kinda the same - brick with maybe some siding and generally the same architecture.  Here it's a totally different story - you'll see a trailer, a 2-story house and a little one-person cottage all on the same block!  The population is now a little over 10,000 - and yes, that's a BIG town in Wyoming.  I don't love it here - I like the people, the rodeo, the country-ish way of doing things, but I can't ever see myself moving back to Riverton.  Maybe somewhere else in Wyoming if I ever want to have the snow back in my life, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. 

As much as it's nice to come home to visit, it's not for me - really it never was.  I'm proud to be from Wyoming... but home is made for comin' from.  As Lee Marvin says in Paint Your Wagon.

Woo hooo!!

Last phase is complete - we have ordered our rail passes!!!  So we are just down to actually getting on the plane (Travelocity sent me the confirmation email, so we're good to go on that).  I would love to be able to sit here and bash Travelocity and the airline, but that isn't going to do any good and at least Travelocity was able to deal with the airline for me and we are still going to be able to go!  Leaving at 9pm and getting to Frankfurt at 11:30am may work a little better anyway for dealing with the jet lag.  So now we're down to meeting in Baltimore - Ana will be flying there, I'm driving since you all know I can't do without a huge road trip!

I do have to say something - if I don't see you on this trip, don't be offended - I can't go all around the US to see everyone I know before I leave.  If it's possible for me to stop by and see you on the way from Riverton to Baltimore, then I am more than happy to stop and see you.  If not - deal with it.  : )

Reflecting on being home - it's rather bittersweet.  Too many memories both good and bad.  A lot of friends that I haven't seen since Shane died... missing him too - Riverton just seems more empty without him.  Reconnecting with others that I haven't seen in years - it's intense.  I'm glad that I'm here, but I definitely know why I don't come back much.

Interesting how the big guy works sometimes...

Ok, so most of you know that I'm Catholic - and those who don't know - hey, SURPRISE!

Anyway, today I was reading this thing that said Pope Benedict 16th declared the upcoming liturgical year as the year of faith.  It starts on Oct 11.  And then I was struck by the irony.

I've been planning this trip for a long time now, and it's finally happening and part of the point of this trip is to learn to let go and let God - to trust that he'll take care of us and we'll come home safe.  Also to visit the shrines, churches, etc to pray and listen and try to discern the direction that my life is supposed to take, or at least what vocation I'm called to.  Perhaps even some answers about my career (or at least a job that doesn't make me want to gouge out my eyeballs - no offense to my prior co-workers, but I can't say that I didn't contemplate it from time to time).  So while I have been planning on taking a "leap of faith" as it were, it just so happens to correspond to the year that the Pope has set aside as a year for faith.  The big guy knows what he's doing, I'm sure of it - but part of me wants to be let in on it!!!  A control freak is attempting to give up control and try like hell to learn to take the passenger's seat in her own life.  Admit it, you're gonna be interested to read about the train wrecks!  I can't say that I'm looking forward to them, either.

Besides that, I'm also praying for healing, which means learning to forgive not only those who have hurt me, but myself.  And I'm one unforgiving bitch when it's me that I have to forgive.  Sigh - so fair warning, this may get a little religious from time to time - if you can't take it then don't read those posts!

So I guess what I'm saying is that I find the timing ironic, I hope to come back as an even better version of the me that is going, hopefully I'll learn something about how I'm supposed to live and where I go from here. But as for everyone who asks what I'm going to do when I get back, here is your answer... ahem... I'm gonna live in a VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!

Stupid Airline!!

So we are now leaving the country on October 8 at 9pm and get into Frankfurt on October 9 at 11:10am.  I was told that the airline is shutting down on October 4 and won't be back in operation until Oct 8.  It was either a re-schedule or a full refund... I went with reschedule.  So now I have to contact everyone that I was planning on seeing on this trip and re-work everything.  Good news is that it's doubtful that anyone has asked off of work or anything like that quite yet.

In related news - who in the Baltimore / DC area wants to put up with Ana and I for a few days?  She's coming into Baltimore on the 3rd.

Holy Schnikies - Flight was not confirmed

So I got an email today that said "Flight not available for your Oct 4 trip" and to call Travelocity within 48 hours so that they could help us out for the same price as we originally paid.  So I called Travelocity (didn't try dialing 9 to get out of Dad's house this time, but that could have been because I was using the cordless phone) and talked to a lovely young lady who called Condor (the airline we're supposed to be flying out on) and eventually said that she'll have to call me back because they were experiencing a long hold time.

So in other words - please cross your fingers and toes that they are able to schedule a new flight for us - I had to tell them to reschedule for Oct 3 after 10pm (Ana's flight to Baltimore gets in at 7pm) anytime on Oct 4 and anytime on Oct 5.  In other news, I'll be staying here today until this is resolved.  Damn it.

Pre-trip preparations

So here we are - I figured out how to set up a blog - GO ME!  Right now I am in Wyoming and Ana is in Texas and we are spending time with our respective families, getting ready to put on our packs and take off across the pond.

Am I excited?  Yes.  Am I nervous?  Only a little.  Am I scared - HELL NO!  This is going to be incredible and I can't friggin' wait to get on that plane!

I'll be here until the 20th, then take off for the Baltimore area - the plane leaves on Oct 4 (as most of you know).  More updates will be coming via facebook - I just wanted to make sure to get this right first and see how it works.  : )