Maine Trip, Day Five - Wednesday, August 5

I got up early on Wednesday morning to say goodbye to the guys before they took off for work. It was so sad! I promised that I'd be back soon though. I'm planning on going back over christmas break sometime if I can afford it. And if everything works out...I'm moving there after I graduate again in May! Super excited.

Anyway - my flight didn't take off until 3:4o that afternoon, so Courtney and I went to Dunkin Donuts again and then headed to the Portland Headlight lighthouse and Fort Williams Park. I got some pretty good pictures. We sat out on the rocks enjoying our Dunkin Donuts and Cape Elizabeth and talking about me moving out and other things. Then Courtney took me on a driving tour of the East Prom and Old Port. Courtney said that the Eastern Prom would be a good place for me to live if I moved out there. It's right by a wonderful park right next to the water, very dog friendly.

Eventually I had to say goodbye and make my way through the airport to my flight to Atlanta. Yes that's right. Atlanta. Cheap flight. Bah. I had a three hour layover where I caught up on my texting and phone calls and watched half of Valkyrie on my laptop. My flight from Atlanta to Minneapolis was delayed because the flight attendants had not arrived from their previous flight yet. My friend Joe picked me up and we got back to Eau Claire around 2 a.m. Once I got home, I immediately felt homesick for Maine, which was when I decided to move for sure. It's the perfect point in my life if I am going to make a move like this. So I've been planning and budgeting and figuring out a way to make this work. I have about a year to save, and I should be able to move out there and survive without a job for a couple months while I search. I can't wait!

Maine Trip, Day Four - Tuesday, August 4

We had big plans to go whale watching on Tuesday with Kyle, who was home in Maine visiting from California. Courtney got us Dunkin Donuts (a guilty Maine pleasure) and got ready to go up to Boothbay Harbor to see a Free Willy or two. The weather was wonderful when we left Portland, and it was still pretty nice in Boothbay Harbor, but as soon as we got on the boat and got out onto the ocean it was complete fog everywhere. We couldn't even see the islands we were passing. The lady on the mic was saying "Well if you look over to your right, you would be seeing an island with a building on it...a big stone structure...except you can't see it..." That was pretty much the way the trip went. We saw a bunch of birds, which the lady thought were just wonderful, and a shark that looked dead. Four hours later we finally pulled back into the harbor. I did enjoy the ride, but was kind of bumbed we didn't see any whales. They gave us free standby tickets that are good forever, so I can try again next time I'm in Maine.

On the way back to Falmouth we picked up some Pat's Pizza, which was wonderful. Then we watched Stepbrothers and more Shark Week.

Maine Trip, Day Three - Monday, August 3

Monday morning brought sleeping in and laziness by the pool...exactly what I've been needing. I did wake up briefly when the guys were all getting ready for work. They're like a little family, telling each other to have a nice day and see you tonight. I smiled inside before going back to sleep.

Our afternoon by the pool was relaxing. Courtney and I caught up on our journal writing and our tans. At lunchtime we went down to the Town Landing Market to get some sandwiches which were wonderful of course.

At 3 we got ready for the sunset cruise and then headed down to the Old Port to walk around and check out the shops. I found some really cool jewelry at Mexicana Blues for super cheap. We met up with some friends at Aaron's chiropractic office around 6 and walked down to the Long Wharf for the sunset cruise,which turned out to be wonderful. The weather was just perfect and I was able to get some pretty awesome pictures. Afterwards we ate at Ri Ra before heading home to watch Shark Week - which everyone seemed to be talking about while I was there for some reason.

Maine Trip, Day Two - Sunday, August 2

Sunday was a perfect day to relax. Courtney and I went to brunch at Local 188 in Portland (wonderful Salmon Scrambler and Crab English Muffins) before Courtney went into work for a couple hours and I took a wonderfully delicious nap. Eventually the boys rolled in and I got to catch up a bit with Ross as we waited for Courtney to get back from work. We grilled out once everyone was back, and I learned that Maine has red hot dogs. Very interesting. Our friend Bonnie's parents were visiting from Wisconsin and brought cheese curds, Spotted Cow and Sun Drop as a special treat for all the deprived New Englanders. I had no idea that Sun Drop was a midwestern thing. Post grilling out Courtney and I watched "Love Potion No. 9" with roommate Aaron who insisted he hated chickflicks while proceeding to sit down and watch the entire thing.

Maine Trip, Day One - Saturday, August 1

On Friday I dropped Soni off at the vet over lunch, and then took off to Minneapolis as soon as I was done with work. Don and I stayed at his friend Kevin's house where we arrived to grilled chicken and corn on the cob. We all went to bed early in order to get up early the next day.

Saturday morning I got up around 6 a.m. in order to make my 8:30 flight. There had been some flights cancelled and/or delayed on Friday so it took quite a long time to get through the security checkpoint. Once I had reclaimed my shoes, laptop and carry-ons I stopped at Karibou Coffee for a Mint Condition to get me through the morning. Being back in an airport had me quite excited, and I couldn't wait to get into the air. I had quite a long trip in store for me in order to get the cheapest ticket possible. I was flying from Minneapolis to Milwaukee to Detroit to Portland. My flight to Milwaukee was uneventful, and then I passed the time in that airport talking to my sister Corissa who told me stories about my adorable nephews. Rivers has a new camera and goes around saying "Smile!" and "Say cheese!".

I was feeling pretty happy about my Milwaukee to Detroit flight, as I was able to upgrade to first class for the first time in my traveling career. Unfortunately I was seated next to a drunk guy who reaked of alcohol and had already passed out before I got on the plane. He snored the entire flight from Milwaukee to Detroit leaving me wishing for a seat in coach. It's funny to me now, but I was quite annoyed then.

In Detroit I had a half hour to get from gate A9 to B12, which I thought couldn't be too far apart. But I had to go up and down some levels and then through what I call the "seizure" tunnel with flashing green, red and blue lights and weird music. I got to my gate just in time to board the plane for Portland. The flight went smoothly and we landed in Portland on time, but had to wait about 25 minutes before we could get off. I'm still not sure of the reason. I was just happy to finally be in Portland and see my friends again!

Courtney met me in the "pick up" parking lot and we went straight to lunch at Sebago, which was wonderful. After lunch I called Mom while Courtney stopped in to work to finish up some things. Then she brought me to her house in Falmouth, which she shares with 5 guys. The house is amazing, complete with inground pool. It's on the end of a wooded road in a richy area, with a fenced in backyard. It was the perfect get-away for me. We had the house to ourselves for the night since Ross and Matt were in Boston for a concert, and the rest of the boys were in Providence for a wedding.

Courtney and I went to Freeport with Courtney's friend Selina to see the Blues Travelers play a free concert outside at L.L. Bean. The show was pretty good, but it was super crowded. It was fun to people watch though, and I was happy to see that dogs are welcome at events like that. The only place we could find to stand was in a bed of daisies...I hope we didn't ruin them!

After the concert, we got some ice cream from a nearby gas station and went home to relax. It didn't take long for both of us to pass out in front of the TV.

more of the trip to follow...

The Countdown!

One more week until Maine!! I made a reservation at the doggie hotel for my dog Soni (doggie hotel=Westgate Animal Hospital) for July 31-Aug 6. It's going to be kind of spendy, but at least I know she'll be well taken care of. She even gets a free bath while she's there! My friend Don will be driving me to the Cities on Friday and we'll stay at his friend's house since my flight leaves so early in the morning. Most plans are all set, now I just have to think about packing. I'll be going home to La Crosse for a family reunion this weekend, so I'll be able to do my 3 huge bags of laundry just in time to fill my carry-on. I won't be checking any luggage - too much of a pain. I have learned to travel light over the years.

Be ready, Maine! I'm on my way. :)

Adventures Past, Present and Future

I love traveling. I came down with the traveling bug when I was young. My parents took my sisters and I on a trip to South Dakota, and I was hooked! Since then I have been to many places, both in the U.S. and abroad. Our family drove to both coasts, camping along the way and hitting as many states as possible.

In 1998, my mom and I went on tour with the La Crosse Girl Choir to New York City, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. Two years later my mom, younger sister and I traveled to England and France with the same choir- a completely new and wonderful experience! As a sophomore in college in 2004, I returned to England to study in Winchester, and made stops in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Ireland and Spain. I fully intend on going back when I have the money to.

The last semester before I graduated from college (the first time) I took a geology class which was actually a field excursion during spring break to Death Valley, California. Despite getting up at 5 a.m. each day and hiking up alluvial fans in 103 degree weather, it was tons of fun. We flew into Las Vegas, Nevada and got to check out the casino scene before heading off to the desert. I met a lot of fun people and had some great times out in the desert. But what happens in the field stays in the field, right guys? :)

I try to take a trip at least once a year. Last year I went to L.A. in January and March to visit my best friend Holly's aunt and cousin. The beach was wonderful! (The picture in the heading of this blog features my feet relaxing on Venice Beach). It was an interesting place to visit, but I don't think I'd like to live there. In August I flew out to Arizona to visit my friend Bethany on an Apache reservation where she had been teaching. The monsoon season in the desert is really exciting to witness!
Currently, I am planning a trip to Maine to visit my good friends Courtney and Ross, whom I met while studying in Winchester. Courtney is from Maine and Ross went to school at UWEC. He moved out there when he graduated in 2006, and I've been promising them a visit ever since! I leave August 1st and I'm SO excited!! I love everything about traveling: planning, packing, waiting at the airport, people watching, flying, sightseeing...everything!
One of my friends at my job in the Center for International Education at UWEC is originally from Maine, and has given me some recommendations of things to see while I'm in Maine. So far I'm interested in seeing Portland Head Light, Old Orchard Beach and going whale watching. I'm open to more suggestions!

Hopefully I'll be able to keep up my blogging while I'm on my trip, so you all can see how beautiful Maine is!