Inspiration...

"The world is full of people who will go their entire lives and not actually live one day.  She did not intend on being one of them.  When faith in myself was so strong that I believed I could move mountains...."

 - Curly girl designs and Leigh Standley

Do gooder: volume 1

Just dropped off towels at the Peter Zippi 
fund for animals. Zero administration costs, 100% volunteer serviced...I'm so, so happy I could help. It's a 501c-3, so donate away, folks. 

Www.peterzippifund.com

Garage Sale

I just raised enough money for Thailand in the garage sale today - $1400!

There is still heaps of good stuff to sell like my wii, AppleTV, surfboard, couch, kitchen table and upholstered chairs so I'm extending it until tomorrow.

I've already made arrangements with a kitten adoption agency to donate all of the towels and blankets that I don't sell.  Any clothes are going to a battered women's shelter and all of my toiletries and travel sized products (from hotel stays) are being donated to the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

US Roadtrip...

Hi all,

I've gotta get to Paris via Detroit somehow...so I'm driving across the country.

But who knows where I'll land when I come back from my yearlong trip around the world. So, I think I'll stop in a couple US cities on the way home.  Austin and Nashville seem very attractive with their country music and art scenes.

Unfortunately, I just mapped it out and Austin is 20 hours from LA.  So, I'll break up the trip with a quick jaunt in Phoenix, AZ.  I'll stay Friday night at Casa De Ru (Thanks Rob), and head off to Austin Saturday morning. 

Andy wants me in Nashville by Friday night, so Austin might be a quick trip.  However, my friend John has offered to show me around the town and even take me out on his boat. Totally worth it, I think :)  Plus, Nashville is only a 12 hour drive away.  I've got just enough time to love Austin, but not fall in love...

Bring on the music, the art and the cowboys....yee haw!  Thank goodness I haven't packed away my boots and hat, yet!

Leaving LA June 7th!

Let the packing begin...

As, I start to pack up my house and sell everything I own, I realized that I had to pack my bag for my trip first! 

Since, I am only taking a single packpack worth of belongings, I had to know what I was keeping and what I was selling.  Basically, anything that will fit in a 45 cubic inch hiker's pack is everything that I'm taking - plus my tennis racquet.

Also, I've decided to catalog my trip by adding patches for each country I land in to my bag so you can tell where I've been starting with the good old USA, of course.  Ready...set... pack...

Itinerary

With just over a month until I leave, I wanted to share my itinerary with you, please feel free to comment on places to go and see, tips on where to stay or if you have friends in any of these places...

July - Paris
August - I'm going on vacation....meeting some friends in Stavanger, Norway; Berlin, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and Ios, Greece
September - Greece (3 weeks)
Sept/Oct - Italy (3-4 weeks)
Oct/Nov - South Africa, Mozambique, Ghana

I'll be back in Detroit, MI for Thanksgiving, then spending the first week of December in LA

Late December - New Zealand/Fiji
January - Australia (australian Open)
February - Thailand
March - Hong Kong
April - Tokyo (Cherry Blossoms!)
May - Dubai (1 week), Peru (3 weeks)
June - Brazil (World Cup, baby!!!)

Its Official

The blog is up and running.  Stay tuned for details of my amazing adventure around the world...
Leaving the United States on July 3rd!  Setting up Twitter and Vine soon!