so much to say!

first, let me start by saying a happy {belated} birthday to Alex over at The Sugar Tree.

I hope it was a wonderful day for you!

Ok - Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnndddd..

I made it back to New York last night!

I did have to sit in the Atlanta airport for an extra hour because the original plane we were boarding had some mechanical issues.  Which I don't really understand why people get so worked up and angry when there are delays like that... I mean, do you really want to take a plane that has mechanical problems??

And then when I saw Jackie at the airport, I hugged her for a good five minutes.

After claiming my bags,

which by the way,

went from this...

to this...

yeah, I know...

amazing, right?

it's my mad packing skills.

yeah, no.

I don't have any of those.

As much as I was able to get into the bag

(it even has a zipper to expand the lid)

I did have to leave some stuff there for the next visit.

So, after picking up my bag,

got home and gave Dad a big hug, too.

Then - had to return my {overdue} library books...

oops.

And picked up hoagies.

mmmmmm..

I missed those.

And theeennnnnn...

braved the snowstorm with my buddy, Sean for a few beers.

oh, New York, how I've missed you!

christmas wish list

Dear Santa,

I've been super-sonic good this year and I thought you might like some guidelines for presents this year.

 I'll start with the....

Aviary DeskSet from Elum.

                  

           And a penpal or two.

Sponsorships for my trip to Kilimanjaro.  Donate as little as $1 and up to any amount that you want.. If you're feeling generous, or need a tax write-off, you can donate directly to the site or you can use PayPal at the bottom of the blog page.

 Either of these...

or any shoes as a matter of fact.  Really, though, I need a pair of trusty sandals for my time in Africa.  Also, probably a good pair of rain boots.  Any suggestions?

   

these sweet things to basically anywhere so I can get these...

A Very White Christmas in New York.

An apartment with an ocean view in San Diego.

And lastly, one of these...

Anything that you can't get this year, I'll understand.

This is pretty much an ongoing list for me.

Don't worry, it'll still be good next year.

XX,

Carrie

Hello San Diego!

Goodbye New York

#6 - get to JFK

- Recap -
List of things to do this week:

1 - visit family
2 - visit the Tanzanian embassy for my visa's
3 - photo shoot with Jac
4 - spend time with good friends
5 - pack for cali
6 - figure out how to take a train to JFK

#5 - How do you take the train to JFK? No idea. I thought that grown-ups knew how to do these things, you know, get to the airport on your own... yeah, no. As it turns out, if you're really a grown up, you can just ask one of your good friends to drive you. It doesn't matter that it's a drive through NYC and a long one at that... they have to... because it's what friends do. In my case, because I have a sister (well, only one in the area), I ask her to take me and she is mandated by the sisterly code of conduct to agree. And be happy about it.

As Katie pointed out at Jac's dinner party, sister's really are amazing. They are basically second or third hands when you need something and they will always be there. Whether it's an ice cube for your glass of wine, eggs for the brownie mix, or an hour & a half drive to the airport... she's always going to be right there.

So how do you take the train to JFK? I don't know. Jackie drove.

#5 - I'm leaving on a jet plane... with one checked bag for freeeeee

- Recap -
List of things to do this week:

1 - visit family
2 - visit the Tanzanian embassy for my visa's
3 - photo shoot with Jac
4 - spend time with good friends
5 - pack for cali
6 - figure out how to take a train to JFK

Let's first start out by saying that I was more conscientious in my flight purchase this time when considering what airline I'll be flying. JetBlue allows you to check one bag at no additional cost in addition to one carryon item and a personal item as well. As you might remember from a previous post of mine, I was horrified to learn that airlines no longer allow you to check a bag as part of your flight premium. So when starting to pack (at 11:36pm on Friday before I leave on Saturday), I was happily reminded that I get to check a bag for free - which means, I don't have to lug it through the airport, and that I can pack whatever I want.... Now the question is... what to pack...

a sad day, but always a smile...

Don't be sad that it's over, smile because it happened.
~Dr. Seuss~



Today was a sad day for me. I left a job that I love and the people that I've worked with every week for five years. That's longer than any relationship I've ever been in, come to think of it. I learned a lot, but more importantly, made good friends.

Tomorrow begins the reality that is my new adventure. Heading down to visit the family in South Jersey with Jac. I've got loads of samples of mark. stuff to share. Also, taking my shoe collection with... family does get first dibs. Katie and Jac are looking into a fundraiser/going away party and I think maybe we could include an auction as well for the bigger-ticket items that have to go. Anyone know how to work an auction? Or do you have a super-cool auctioneer voice? Let me know.

List of things to do this week:
1 - visit family
2 - visit the Tanzanian embassy for my visa's
3 - photo shoot with Jac
4 - spend time with good friends
5 - pack for cali
6 - figure out how to take a train to JFK

More on this as the week unfolds...

my carbon footprint

I've purchased my ticket to California! I'm heading to California to visit my sister and her lovely little family. My nephew Jax has big plans to take me to the San Diego Zoo. I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on my trip. This will be my first time visiting California and I'm sure, not the last.

In my travels, I want to have a positive impact on the people and places that I go. I want to be conscience of the impacts of my travel on the planet. Just call me environmentally saavy. Yes, Allisen, this part is just for you. Allisen, being the eco-friendly lady that she is, has inspired me. In order to start this, while purchasing my ticket, I chose to offset my carbon footprint caused from the flight. The organization I chose is a not for profit and their website has some really great information for you to check out.

What exactly is a carbon footprint? According to Wiktionary.com, "A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a person, organization or state in a given time."

What is your carbon footprint? Find out with their handy carbon footprint calculator!


Here's my certificate showing my offset:

Stopping to breathe

Sitting in the terminal at Philadelphia International. Waiting to
catch a connecting flight. Missed the first one out of Philly thanks
to rain. Delay of game for rain.

Headphones on.
Feet up on my 'unchecked' baggage.
People watching.
'the String Quartet' makes for great backgound music. If you like
music, or even if you don't. You should listen in.

As wikipedia notes:

"[the] Vitamin String Quartet is about applying rock n' roll attitude
to classical technique," says Tom Tally, a violist and arranger who
has performed on and produced over thirty-five Vitamin String Quartet
albums."

I can't say that I'm a classical music lover, by any means. This
isn't your typical classical. You sit listening and your mind
downshifts. You know the words but you can't quite fit them in. As
frustrating as it could be, it's not. Not in the least. There is
something about this music.
Makes you smile.
Makes you breathe.
You can feel it in your soul.

From where I sit, I see the staff of the terminal and all the many
people rushing by in a different light. Just watching them going
about daily tasks set to music makes everything slow down just long
enough to stop.
Take a minute.
And breathe.
It feels good.
To breathe.
To slow down.
To remember that life isn't a race.
And no matter how close you come to the finish, there's always
somthing left undone, something more you could've, would've,
should've...

Stop.
Slow down.
Breathe.

After all, everyone knows that close only counts in horseshoes & hand
grenades.

I have a flight to catch.

I have a flight to catch.

Worked from 7am to 815pm yesterday. Did I mention that my work is time
consuming? Oh, I have, eh? Hmm. Taking a week off is stressful.
What will change in the week that I'm gone? Enough about that.

Got home around nine. There was a pizza waiting with a friend,
who had come to see me off.
Sweet thoughts. Brought me dinner and his computer so that I can
update my iPhone music. He knew that I hadn't even packed yet.

Packed and in bed by 1230a. Not bad, considering I haven't flown in a
couple of years. Wake up at 5am. Shower, blowdry hair, coffee with
Dad. He drops me at the airport at 6:09am. He's off to a school field
trip.. Rafting. First time I've missed it in years.

Wait in line for 10 minutes to check my bag. It's not big, but I'd
rather check it. She hands me my boarding pass in just minutes.

"Miss Pfeffer,are you sure that you want to check your bag?it's $20
for each bag checked."

"Oh.my. No thanks, i'll just take that back and carry it on."

$20?? Per bag??? When did that start??? Oh, the lovely attendant is
already explaining that it started in 2008.

So now security. I forgot you have to take your shoes off. Even if
they are flips. I sure did not pack the 'Michelle' way. (another
sister, extremely well organized. Packs everything in clear ziploc
bags.). I'd say my technique is a cross between that and Allisens way-
throw everything you see in a bag and if it doesn't fit, grab another
bag. I have a happy medium, I think. And a problem. Security guard
tells me I look confused. Reading a sign... No liquids over
3ounces? Uh-oh.

Rifled through my bag. Pulled out my toiletry bag.
Deoderant 2.6 oz
Static guard 1.4 oz
Opcon-A 1.0 oz
Lip balm tub 0.25 oz
Toothpaste 1.5 oz
Purell 1 oz
Cortisone-10 1 oz
Hand lotion 3.1 oz
Razor. ( hmm. Is that allowed??)
Mascara, more lip balm, more lotion, you get the idea.

Hand lotion 3.1 oz... Oops. Maybe I'll just push that to the bottom of
the bag... Everything on the conveyor belt... Even my shoes.

They didn't stop me. And nor should they have, either. I'm not
dangerous. I don't look suspicious. Why do I feel suspicious? Why do I
feel like I'm hiding something? Oh, the lotion. It's just over. It'll
be fine.

More on my trip later... I have a flight to catch.

Sent from my iPhone