Bushels and Barrels and Mountains of Thankfulness

So I'm having a difficult time trying to figure out how to start this post. I typed then deleted about eight simple variations of "I did it!" before realizing that it just doesn't do it justice. While simplicity may rule in many forms of journalism, in my case, it just ain't gonna fly. A more appropriate beginning to this post would better reflect how I'm feeling, and go something along these lines: "Iiiiiiii'mmmm HEEEEEERRRRE! I maaaaaaaade itttttttt!!! HOLY SH*T, I AM SO GLAD TO NOT BE DRIVING ANYMOOOOORE!! Can you believe I'm actually IN CALIFORNIA??? I can't, but it's so freakin' cool I get goosebumps thinking about!" Or something vaguely similar to that. 

Offering up some thanks to the travel gods who had my back. 

While thinking about what to write for my "I finally made it" post, I keep coming back to this overwhelming feeling of good fortune and gratitude that nearly bowls me over when I think about how blessed I have been. So I have decided to proceed in typical Emily fashion: I will write a list. A list of the many things I am grateful for in this well timed season of giving thanks; and not one of these items has been added to the list for the sole purpose of being an "easy-cross-off"(such as "brush teeth" or "eat breakfast") like I usually do. I'm warning you now, this list is extensive, but I'm sure I will forget someone/something... Also, this is a really freakin' long post, so I hope you've got some spare time. 

I am thankful for...

a  Mona. My trusty sidekick, the 2005 Subaru Legacy Outback I purchased back in February with the full intention of making this trip happen within a year. Thank you Mona for not breaking down or giving me trouble even once. I promise to get the crack in your windshield fixed immediately, your front headlight bulb replaced and your oil changed this week. I swear.

Mona's room had a better view than ours at the Grand Canyon. 

a My parental units, but specifically for this thank-you, my dad. Dad, I know this decision was really tough on you, and I'm sorry to have put you through it, but thank you for understanding. Thank you for knowing what's best for me, and for having faith in my choices and in me. I promise I'll come home often, and I swear I did not tell mom to keep saying she's going to move out here whenever she talked to you on the phone this week. In fact, I told her it was a bad idea. She's a shmuck, what can I say. Love you Dad. 

a My other parental unit. My "Louise" on this Thelma & Louise trip-of-trips. My mumma. I could not have asked for a better travel buddy. Your timing was perfect and I am so happy we were able to share part of this adventure together. You just slipped right into my little trip like you were there the whole time and knew exactly how things were going. Well except for that one incident in the middle of the California desert where you decided we didn't need to get gas when it was at a 1/4 tank and then we got stuck in construction traffic 50 miles away from any gas station and then had to pay $4.89/gal to get us to the next station. Yea, that wasn't exactly how I had been playing things out, but we survived. I love you like a fat kid loves cake Mumma.

a Samwise, the GPS. If it weren't weird to be in a relationship with one's GPS, I might consider it. I have become sadly dependent on you and even started calling you by the pet-name "S-dub" part way through the road-trip. When I say "I would be lost without you," I don't mean it cutesy, and figuratively. Seriously, I'd probably still be stuck on the back roads of one of those one-horse-towns that freaked me out so bad in Texas. 

a The pure and simple fact that I was even able to do this trip. I am all too aware that there are many people out there who would never have such an opportunity or the resources to make it happen.

a My courage, as insanely cheese-ball as that sounds, I'm being serious. In truth this concept had not even crossed my mind until a very special friend of mine sat me down before I left and told me how proud she was of me and my courage to take on this challenge. Until she said so, I had not thought that it took much of anything to do what you know is best for you, but as she pointed out, not many people A) know what is best for themselves and B) actually act on it. I now realize how much of a badass I am, and I'm pretty freakin' proud of it.

            a To this very special friend of mine: you know who you are and without your friendship and your faith in me, this adventure would have been very lonely, and this move all the more intimidating. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

a KDR Fitness, my gym back at home and my trainer Ben. Thank you for the 2 months preparation of deadlifts and goblet squats in getting me ready for spending two weeks hovering over public toilets. I have the quads of Superwoman, and no known diseases to speak of thanks to you. Woop woop.

a Calle & Eric, Uncle Mike & Bobbi, Brooke & Jacques, Charlie, Joyce & Victor. Thank you to each and everyone one of you for opening up your homes to me throughout this trip. I count myself as so unbelievably fortunate to know so many people so willing to welcome some wandering soul like me into their home with no questions asked. 

a Turkey jerky. I make some pretty rockin' turkey jerky, and it was my favorite road grub, so I'm offering up thanks to the solid 4lbs of turkey cutlets I dehydrated in order to make this scrumptious snackum. Yum.

a My Mikey, the best brother ever. I'm just plain grateful to have you around. Nothing to do with this trip per say, well minus that time you called me while I was walking around New Orleans and it just made me REALLY happy, but just basically you're the man. I'm super pumped for you to come out here for your Spring Break. I just found the sickest strip of outside bars/ restaurants today and thought of you. Get psyched.

a The jackasses who made me feel crazy for wanting to do this. For example the guy at the pool who so kindly reminded me that California has one of the highest unemployment rates and said so sarcastically "so yeeea, good luck with that whole thing." Your negativity and doubt only makes me want to try harder and to prove to you all that when you want something bad enough, you will work for it and the universe will arrange itself to make it possible somehow. I can and will do this. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it. Humph. 

a The flip-side of that: the friends and family who encouraged and supported me so whole-heartedly and got just as excited for me as I was for myself. I am so lucky!

a Mom's friend Judy who made my first two nights in California a fantastic way to kick things off. I'm so happy you and mom got to catch up and I could be a part of it. Thank you for letting me keep some of my crap in your house! You are awesome and I can't wait to hang out with you more!!

a My cousin Kristin, Nathan and their two beautiful girls, Sydney and Celia. I am so incredibly, insanely, overwhelmingly, monumentally thankful and excited to be part of your awesome family while I try to get my feet under me out here. I promise to start cooking up some mean eats real soon here, among other things, in order to earn my keep!! I'll never be able to thank you guys enough :)

So there you have it. My To-Thank's all checked off. Of course I could go on forever about how lucky I am, and how continually surprised I am to find myself in such good fortune. Let it suffice to say that there are not enough "thank you's" in the world to begin to encompass the way I'm feeling. 

Yesterday I dropped mom off at the airport after a great end to our joint adventure together, and headed over to a coffee shop I had found on "Yelp." Sitting by a window with a Pumpkin Spice latte made from coconut milk and real pumpkin, looking through Craigslist for apartments I felt... normal. Like this was where I was supposed to be, right then, for that moment. It was nice. I made my way down to Moonlight Beach to go for a walk afterwards, and while I sat on one of the boulders by the cliffs to watch the sun set on the horizon as the sky turned into giant molten lake of reds, and pinks and orange, my whole body was covered in goosebumps and this weird feeling of energy and excitement sort of raced through me. All of a sudden I think I finally felt the magnitude of what I've got ahead of me.

So, here I am. This post turned out to be more mushy than originally intended, but tough shit, it all needed to be said. Working on getting all of my pictures up online, and I'll be sure to let you know when it happens. The first album was up a while ago of Eastcoast on down pictures. Second album is Nola thru Texas. Still working on New Mexico through Cali. 

Thanks to everyone for reading along so enthusiastically! I've enjoyed writing this so much, and I think I might keep up with it while I'm out here. If anyone knows of anyone in the travel writing/journalism world and wants to get me in touch with them, it something I think I'd really love to do! Just another one of my hair-brained ideas though. 

peace.love.happiness.chocolate

Sending love from the west coast to the moon and back again.

Love,

Emi

Blue skies, farmer's markets and one big friggin' hole in the ground.

I feel like "The Little Engine That Could".... Chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga-choo-choo! "I think I can... I think I can...I think I can" I used to love that book.

Only one more stretch before this crazy trip comes to a close. How is it even possible I have been on the road for nearly two whole weeks...? That's absurd to me. This whole adventure is coming to a close so quickly. I can already feel myself reeling in the shock of all these months of planning (or lack thereof...), finally coming to a close. The other day I got to think too far ahead of myself, and thought "what am I going to have to 'look forward to' now that my road trip is almost over...?" Of course, that is completely ridiculous because I have an entire new city, and basically a whole coastline to explore, as well as a gazillion new people to meet. Emily, some how, some way, you will find a way to occupy yourself.

The last couple days have been nothing short of epic. I made it through Texas, FINALLY. That was brutal. I realize I sound dramatic and over-the-top about all this, but I strongly feel that anyone would start to question their sanity after staring at the same God-forsaken nothingness of landscape that is the Texan scenery after FOUR DAYS. Won't be doing that again any time soon...

Who you callin' a Ho??

I will give Texas one little ounce of credit though. After my night in Amarillo (which was the least pleasant experience of my trip - I apparently chose a hotel directly down wind from some gigantic horse farm, or maybe the city is surrounded by horse farms... regardless, the 40mph winds were gusting some foul smells the whole time I was there), Friday morning I got up early to drive Southeast of the city to the Palo Duro Canyon. It was an unbelievably clear day, with this insanely blue sky. The canyon was gorgeous and I'm really pumped about some of the pictures I was able to snag. Overall, a super positive way to end what shall hence-forth be known as "The Dreaded Texanpedition of 2011".

On the road out to Palo Duro Canyon

Even Texans have a sense of humor I guess. 

Palo Duro Canyon, TX

After rejoicing in the all-consuming joy that overcame me upon finally crossing the New Mexico border, I calmly made my way to Albuquerque to pick up my MamaDews at the airport! Her flight got in around 6pm on Friday, so we made our way an hour north to Santa Fe in the dark. The next morning proceeded to be some of the most fabulous 5 hours of my trip so far. We got up and packed our things, rearranging poor Mona's packmule-like load we have stuffed her with, and then walked over to the Santa Fe Farmer's Market that was just across the park from the Inn we stayed at. Now, as many of you may know, a good Farmer's Market is like crack to me. Add in an Artist's Market with obscene amounts of turquoise, plus the fact that the weather was perfect and they had a gluten free baked goods table... I was just proud of myself for not running around the market like a newly independent Macaulay Culkin à la "Home Alone"...

Fresh fire-roasted peppers! Seriously, that's a huge ass flame under the barrel. 

The city of Santa Fe was beautiful. All of the buildings are of course in the traditional old-style pueblo/adobe design. The color of the buildings set against the unreal backdrop of the snow covered mountains further to the north was nothing short of jaw-dropping. Mom tripped over her feet, I kid you not, nothing short of 7 times because she just kept gawking at the scenery. I threatened to strap her to a wheel chair for the rest of her trip if she didn't watch where she was going, so she quickly shaped up. But honestly, that's how beautiful it was. So much to look at... So many things I desperately wanted to buy... I was very proud of myself though. After much deliberation I settled on one pair of earrings, hand made by a woman who had set up shop in the Indian Market next to the main square. I would also like to mention that this is the first piece of jewelry I have purchased on this trip. Again, those of you who know me well, please send your virtual "congratulations" along as you please. Accessories, farmers markets and chocolate. Not the worst vices one could have, right??

So! Today... Today, me-oh-my... Ok wait, one more thing. After half a day in Santa Fe, we hit the road once again, mom at the wheel (thank GOD, it was such a relief to not be driving for a while). The road towards Arizona was UNBELIEVABLE. Some of the most breath-taking scenery I have witness yet. Since we missed the view coming in the night before, we were able to finally see the incredible mountain scenery surrounding the Santa Fe area and even out of Albuquerque into the desert. Basically mom and I didn't speak for 4 hours except for two words: "Holy sh*t..." There were honestly no other words. We were also blessed to see one of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen in my life. Perhaps one to even rival the mid-summer sunsets at the cabin on Lake Morey. 

The colors were so surreal... Pictures of the drive and the ones at the Grand Canyon just don't do it justice...

Ok, so about today. Again, mom and I arrived at the Grand Canyon in the pitch black. After checking in and getting to our room at the Bright Angel Lodge located on the canyon's rim, we took a (very) quick walk to the path along the edge of the rim. The park was eerily quite; there was truthfully not a sound to be heard except for the gusting winds and the ever-present feeling that "it's out there". We could not see a thing, but knowing that this massive gash in the earth was a few mere feet away from us sent us into nervous giggles and running back to the warmth of rustic lodge. 

I had made a promise to myself that I would see the sunrise at the Grand Canyon, and so I convinced mom to wake up at 6am to start walking out to an overlook that faced the east. Nothing could have prepared us for the view we were rewarded with. Again, pictures can hardly do it justice, but it will be something to remember it by.

You can see the itty-bitty lights of the Canyon Village on the right side of the plateau.

I basically have a gazillion and one pictures from the gazillion and one vantage points we tried to get to throughout the day. Of course none of them measure up to what it looks like in real-life (so cliché, I knowwww, but it's the truth). In all honesty, the sheer magnitude and beauty of this place makes me highly suspicious that perhaps the whole thing is actually a scam. Maybe what we're really looking at is just some crazy high-def hologram set up in a government conspiracy to keep Americans and international tourists smiling in dumbfounded bewilderment at an image that basically blows our puny minds. Hey, you never know.

New favorite pic. Photo props to MamaDew.

Shout out again to my brother Mikey. After seeing my Facebook post this morning about this being "one big effing hole," he posted the following video for my viewing pleasure. And in keeping with the "Home Alone" references today, it seems appropriate to share with you. Unfortunately for me, I received it while on a bus full of people, mostly international tourist. So thanks Mikey for making me look like the crazy American girl, yet again. 

Marv was always my favorite Wet-Bandit. 

And so tomorrow will be the beginning of the end with the longest drive of the trip yet... A solid 9 hours of cruising time between here and Carlsbad, CA. Mom and I will be spending the night with a friend of her's from high school who has been in the SoCal area for a number of years. I am super excited to meet her, and after listening to mom and Judy talk on the phone, I can only come to the solid conclusion that they are exactly the same way I am with my closest friends. They haven't seen each other in ages, but I don't think they're going to be able to shut up the entire visit. One talking over the other, and then both cracking up in fits of giggles... Yup, just like my girls! And then Tuesday will officially mark the end of this awesomely incredible, epic and mind-blowing, girl-power, kick-ass adventure when we FINALLY arrive at my cousin Kristin's house in Encinitas, CA... Tuesday, I can say "I did it!" Stay tuned my loves ;o)

Hugs 'n love to the moon and back again,

Your EmiLou

ROARRRR! And other onomatopoeias of distress.

Ok, can I just whine, you know, for one paragraph? Just one, I swear.

I AM TIRED. Yup, friggin' wiped. I'm sick of driving. My back and my hips are killing me, and northern Texas is SO FREAKING FLAT. Honestly, how is it that the earth actually BENDS before the scenery changes in Texas? I'd like to have a serious conversation with the founding fathers who decided to be LAZY JACKWADS and make a state that is basically the size of a European country. Honestly though, they did so well on the original colonies; New England's all nicely puzzle-pieced together and so easy to see like FOUR states in one day. I HAVE BEEN IN TEXAS FOR THREE DAYS TRYING TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. All I want is one of those stupid blue government issue signs declaring a new state border. There is a 75-80% likelihood I will pull my car over tomorrow at the New Mexico border and kiss the ground. Then maybe I'll do some split squats & lunges to try and stretch my ancient-feeling joints. That's the other thing, I feel like I'm a gazillion flippin' years old with these creaking hips joints, "lower back pain," and what I have deemed, "driver's shoulder's." I feel all hunched over and slouchy. I miss my gym, I miss pull-ups & dead lifts & box squats. I miss busting a sweat and feeling exhausted from actually doing something, not from sitting for seven hours!! My trainer/coach-dude made a program for me to use on the road that works for being in a hotel and not having free-weights available, and I've done it a couple times, but it's not the same! It's borrrrrrinnngggg! Also, why do Texas truckers keep honking at me when I pass them on the highway?? Do I have something in my teeth??

Alright, that's it. I just needed a vent 'sesh. Grammatically that was probably more than a paragraph, but you don't care, right? No one panic, I'm fine. It really hasn't been all that bad. I really am having a blast. It was only today that got to me. Seriously, this part of Texas is bologna (side note, I hate that it's spelled that way. It sounds way more fun that it's spelled... Bull-ohh-kneeeee!). Yea, northern Texas is depressing. I caught myself actually talking aloud in the car. I passed a sign on the road that said "HAY" and said out loud "Oh HEEEEYYYY yourself!" all head-swively with snapping-finger-attitude... Then I looked in the rear-view mirror and shook my head at myself, "Oh no you did NOT." ...Help...

In my desperation to not slide any further down this slippery slope away from sanity, I have two remedies I'm prescribing to myself:

Rx #1: Tomorrow I'm driving to Albuquerque to pick up my mom!!!! She's flying in for the last leg of my trip and I am pumped!!! Santa Fe and the Grand Canyon better get readyyyyy.

Mama Dew!

Rx #2: Tomorrow I will resort to my "Use Only in Emergency iPod Mix": CHRISTMAS MUSIC. Yup, only the likes of Otis Redding's "Merry Christmas, Baby" and Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" can save me now.

I will argue to the death that this is the best Christmas song everrrrrrr.

Oh, and the final prescription: MORE COWBELL. Obviously.

Another thing I am soooo over: eating out of the cooler and going out for food. Tonight I got a burger from take-out at a legit "roadhouse" that had peanut shells all over the floor and when I asked for the "seasonal veggies" as my side, I got one large stalk of broccoli... I cannot wait to get to Cali and start cooking again. 

In other news, a shout out to my brother Mikey. Micah has taken to calling me "Tumbleweed" lately (for what reason I just cannot figure out), but I think is fabulously creative of him and I love it. Well! TODAY I SAW A REAL TUMBLEWEED. The fact that THAT was the highlight of my day is more than mildly upsetting. 

I can't believe I only have 4 more days on the road... This has gone by SO quickly. No more whining, I  promise. This was my one get-out-of-whiney-jail-free card. Enjoying every minute, I swear!!

NEW MEXICO AND SEEING MY MUTHA TOMORROW!!!!!

Loves n shtuff, to the moon <3

Emi

An open letter to the city of NOLA:

Dearest Darling Glamorously Grand New Orleans,

I am so intrigued, yet leery of you. We really aren't meant for each other, let's face it. You're like that bad-boy guy I am always into, but know I shouldn't be because, let's face it, that NEVER works out. You see, we're just opposites, and while it seems like such a good idea if I don't think too much about it, it would just never work out. 

Here's the thing... You're all about being deep-fried, and smothered in chocolate (or bacon fat depending on your mood...), and hey, who am I to judge, to each their own, but that's really not my style these days. And your cologne dear Nola, the intense and permeating smell of cigars and bad decisions just kind of wrinkles my nose. To top it off, your love for soft-shelled seafood might actually hospitalize me, and not in that swooning-love-sick-heart-break sort of way. One kiss from a craw-daddy mouth and this girl's a big hive-covered mess with an epi-pen jabbed in her leg. Does that sound like a fun relationship to you?? Nope, nuh-uh. 

Famous Cafe Du Monde. 

They give you three, THREE beignets.

 And no, they won't just let you have one. I asked.

 I was also awake half the night due to sugar overrrrrloooooad from just the one. 

And yet.... Yes, there is that "yet".... There is something so.... "Grand" about you. That's the only word that seems to fit. The sprawling houses covered in years upon years of twisting vines creeping their way up from the ground, trying to break in through the windows, while the eerily elegant moss hangs in exhaustion from the branches of your willow trees. It seems surreal, like walking through the set of an old Hollywood movie. Every time I opened the door to yet another adorably unique shop in the French Quarter I half expected to find the door made of plywood and a young Marlon Brando cut-out as the "customer" in the window ("STELLAAAAA!!"). But, nope, it's all for real. The brightly colored buildings, the donkey-drawn carriages, and my personal favorite that always wins my heart in every new city: the street artists. And your street cars, oh your street cars. I'll admit, I might have swooned a bit as I rode down St Charles Street on my way into the Quarter...

Siiiiigh.

But no. No, no and no. A fling will be enough. It's just not meant to be. You would have been able to keep me distracted and blinded by your bawdy ways when I was younger and oh-so-much-more naive, not this time though. But I promise you I can thoroughly appreciate you, you really are amazing in so many ways. You've been through hell and back again, and somehow you've managed to keep a smile on your face, a sugar covered beignet with a cafe au lait and a "Here you go honey," for everyone who comes your way. You are fabulous, and mysterious, and everything I love about something I know I shouldn't have. 

(Shhhh, I'll keep you my dirty little secret.)

It's been fabulous Big Easy, but it's time to keep moving. 

Laissez bon temps roulez <3

EmiLou

(** Will write more soon everyone! In Texas now, night one of three in this country-sized state... Mehhhh. Pictures of the trip up through Atlanta can be seen at: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.977149472571.2397781.11003550&type=1&l=1d180357ad

Enjoy! Lots of love<3 **)

Day 4: ZZ Top, Samwise Gamgee and ladies of the night. Welcome to the South!

Oh haaaay yaaawl, made it down hurr to the dirtay south awl safe an soun' like.

Gaaaaah. Yup, the Southern accents are now abundant, and I lost track of the number of beat up Chevy pick-up trucks with Confederate flag stickers that passed me on the back roads of South Carolina. Stereotypes are apparently alive and well my friends.

Regardless, I have made it to Atlanta! I spent last night with my Uncle in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is my mom's older brother and it was a total kick to see him and his wife for the first time in something like 12+ years or so. The drive from Virginia to Charlotte wasn't bad at all. I ended up making a pit stop in Chapel Hill on the UNC campus, GORGEOUS. It definitely reminded me of a bigger (and possibly prettier) UNH campus. I parked my car and high-tailed it for the Starbucks I passed on my way through campus. What is it about Starbucks that makes me feel so warm and fuzzy? I think Starbucks is my "Cheers" of sorts. I feel all relieved and thankful that "everybody knows my name." Ok, yes, I realize I told them my name when I gave them my order. But wasn't it so nice of Suzy-Barista to call out my name and tell me to have a wonderful day and enjoy the sunshine?? I should so know better than to be shmoozed by savvy marketing techniques... What can I say, I am just an average mindless consumer. An average, sometimes-hipster, caffeine addicted consumer. Sigh.

So yes, Charlotte was a great visit, albeit, a short one. I don't think I was much of a conversational whiz while visiting. My brain was apparently pureed with a potato masher somewhere between the cotton fields of Virginia and the outskirts of Charlotte, so I was having trouble stringing together intelligible sentences... "Yea, Micah's going to school to study to be a criminal. Uh, I mean to study criminal justice." Oi vey.

Uncle Mike & I before I hit the road again.

Today's drive was nothing short of AWESOME. I lucked out yet again with b-e-a-uuuu-tiful weather. I actually intentionally planed a pit-stop for today, my first semi-touristy detour. I went a little bit off the direct route to Atlanta in order to stop in Clayton, Georgia, at the Black Rock Mountain State Park. Black Rock is GA's highest point, and COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. It's awesome. I get to the mountain and start cruising up this insanely steep grade that keeps switch-backing all over the place. Mona the Sube is kinda groaning cuz I have packed her full of clothes and shoes and food (life's essentials), but I'm half way up the mountain when I look to my left and the view is already SIIIIIIICK! So I tell her she's a rockstar and she better make it to the top cuz I don't know what the eff I'd do if I got stuck on the side of a mountain in Red Neck Central, Georgia.

The view at the top was amazing. There was a balcony out the back of the ranger station where I got some great panoramic shots and then I walked around the outlook a bit. Then I loaded up a plate of food from my car and sat in the sunshine to eat lunch with this absurd shit-eating grin on my face due to complete. happiness. overload. It was fantastic.

Gigantic tub of almond butter and a bar of Lindt dark chocolate = happiness. 

How pensive.

And then I made friends with the park ranger at the parking entrance and got his picture. This guy might as well have just gotten off touring with ZZ Top. He was basically The Man. I didn't get his name, but I have decided he'd make a good Amos. Amos the former ZZ Top front-man-turned Georgia state park ranger extraordinaire.

I think he was hiding his Gibson inside the hut.

So tomorrow begins the hike out to New Orleans, which I am SUPER excited about. I'll have a full day on Monday to check out the city. Hopefully my GPS isn't a little jackwad like it tried to be today. It had a minor hiccup and took me off the highway for almost 10 effing miles before deciding "oh totally kidding Emily! I didn't mean to do that." Overall though, I really love having my little Garmin up there on the dashboard. I have decided to name him S.W., as in Sam Wise, as in Samwise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings. Yes I am aware this makes me a severe nerd, even though I haven't even read the books. But the quote on my tattoo is from J.R. Tolkein and I've always loved the somewhat befuddled but always well meaning-ways of Samwise. Not to mention the all-too auspicious-connection of SW also being "South-West"... as in the general direction I happen to be on this adventure of mine ;)

What a faithful little Hobbit.

Ok! Another lengthy entry. Hopefully you made it all the way through. Apologies to my mother and her worker friends for making them cry with my last entry. Not exactly what I had planned. The whole Madonna reference was supposed incite laughter, not tears. My bad. Let me leave you with this little gem of an image incase anyone's getting too sappy: I'm 99% sure there's a bachelor party going on next door to my hotel room, and I'd swear I've heard multiple knocks on their door from lady friends coming to visit. I PROMISE I'm in a legitimate establishment. I did not rent my room by the hour. Honestly.

Hugs and love and mushy mush to the moon <3
EmiLou

PS. THANK YOU to everyone for the notes on my blog posts. If you decide not to set up an account and stay "annonymous," be sure to sign the message pretty please! I'd love to know who's leaving me the love<3 Thank you thank you!!!

A big ball of mush.

Hi! Soooo, I made it to Virginia. Woop woop! Yesterday was my first try at a long-distance drive alllll on my own. Yaaaaaay Emi! So liberating, so empowering, so... NOT fun when you really gotta pee. Rest stops are way less fun when you're by yourself.

Anywho, let's back track a bit to right before I left on Tuesday. I spent Monday at home putting the finishing touches on packing my crap up and cooking a bunch of roadie food to snack on. It was absolutely gorgeous out, so I threw Snickers in the car and grabbed my camera to try and get some of the last bits of foliage around our house and down the back road by the Connecticut River. I fully embraced my "leaf-peeper" side and got a bunch of fun shots; the sun was perfect and the sky was crazy blue.

So I'm cruising around back-woods-boofoo Plainfield NH and I start getting a little nostalgic about growing up in P-town, and how much I love the fall in New Hampshire... yada yada yada... My nostalgia level hits an all time high when I realize I have Madonna's "This Used to be my Playground" running through my head... Seriously, Emily? No, you do NOT live in a Hallmark "Movie of the Week," WAKE UP. For those of you who are not up on the epic early 90's music scene or familiar with the classic movie "A League of Their Own" - Let me enlighten you:

Yup, I'm way to dramatic for my own good. 

Tuesday was kind of psycho before I hit the road. I had a minor panic attack about leaving, but calmed myself down enough to get my shizz together and get driving down to see Mikey in Connecticut. Saying good-bye to mum & dad was NOT my favorite. My nose felt like I'd been rubbing it with sandpaper by the time I finally got a grip on myself. Pretty sure I've gotten choked up enough in the last two weeks to last me a lifetime. ENOUGH ALREADYYYY. And then! When I leave Micah's house on Wednesday morning, as I'm driving away he throws up the "I love you" hand that we always used to do in elementary school (you know, where your middle and ring finger are down and your pinky is the "I" and your pointer finger and thumb are the "L"?). Yea and I start to get all mushy, and sappy and nose-runny again. (PS Sorry Mikey I totally ratted you out on your sentimental side. LOVE YOU!) Whatta mess.

I'm in Virginia now hanging out with my besty from college, Calle and her husband Eric as well as their flippin' ADORABLE dog, Acadia. I'm so lucky these guys were my first "real" stop along this trip, it just makes it feel like a little visit to see a friend and not the whole "I'm moving across country and about to completely change my life." But then again Calle kind of said it best tonight after dinner when we were talking about New Hampshire: "I can't believe that you're not going back there... Not that you aren't ever going back, but... this isn't just some vacation." Yup, you got that one right. HOLY CRAP.... I don't think it's actually registered with me what I'm doing... Maybe I should work on that... Although I did have a couple moments in my drive yesterday when it sort of struck me and I thought something along the lines of "Holy SH*T, what the HELL are you doing???" 

Alright friends, I hope everyone's doing great. Thanks for reading! I'm back on the road tomorrow, send some happy thoughts!

<3 to the moon 'n back, 

EmiLou

T-Minus 3 Days: HOLY CANNOLI. I'm freakin' out.

It's 2:45am the Friday before I am supposed to leave for my epic-once-in-a-life-time-I-might-be-crazy-to-do-this-solo-road-trip/attempt-to-move-cross-country. The effing to-do list is a mile long and I quite frankly have been my own worst enemy when it comes to productivity this week and "preparing" for my big adventure. I've had the house all to myself for a solid 6 days now (the parents peaced out for the week to St. Martin's a mere week before their first born is set to move across country, HUMPH! Kidding, I love you guys!). But 6 days alone has basically consisted of a gazillion scraps of paper with random thoughts of crap I should maaaaaybe get done before I high-tail it out of the Upper Valley. Net-net, I've done absolutely shit to get ready and the next three days will be psychotic mayhem of packing/planning that I should have done over the past 4 months since I decided to do this. My mother is going to be SOOO happy to come home from vacation and see me! ...mehh....

Tonights dose of procrastination was brought you by: first, cooking myself a super yummy meal of Spaghetti Squash, Italian spiced ground turkey and homemade marinara sauce. Voila! And then I watched "Water For Elephants."A fabulously relaxing evening made even more so by the cheap bottle o' vino I picked up the other night to get me through the week. Well I polished that off properly and then decided I should be productive on my to-do list. At 10:30pm. After 1/2 a bottle of wine. Genius. Needless to say I think I should get a second pair of eyes on the first part of the route I "mapped" out in my road atlas... Now would be the time to be thankful for my new Garmin nuvi 1350 GPS unit! 

Welp, I suppose I should throw in the towel and call it another day well spent in the art of procrastination. For those of you who will be following me along my two week road trip across the country, as well as TO INFINITY, AND BEYOND!, thanks for jumping on board. Prepare yourself for disjointed, spazzy, EmiLou-like readings. I am basically incapable of typing normally and it all comes out the same way as I talk. Hopefully you can follow along. I apologize in advance for misspellings, crude language, and incorrect grammar. But it all comes down to the fact that whatchya see is whatchya get with this kid :D

Peace out cub scouts.

Yours truly to the moon n back again <3

EmiLouLou

Home sweet home ;o)