If you are burning the candle at both ends, why not light a few fires in the middle too?

I am feeling the stress a lot more lately than usual.  My co-worker is out sick for a few months leaving me to pick up the slack.  When you already have a job that is usually done by 4-6 people being done by 2 people then one of those is out it makes things unmanageable and I am barely holding it together. I am putting in long hours making it hard for me to keep up on my photography and my book.  I am barely meeting deadlines.

I get to work an hour early an use that hour to take or edit photos, work on my website, blog or book.  I have been starting work 30 minutes earlier now so that cuts into my time to get all that done.  My lunch hour is where I relax and read when it is quiet and no one is bothering me.  But now I usually work about halfway through it leaving me enough time to eat and that is pretty much it.  Then I have been working late in the evenings about another 30 minutes making me late getting home and giving me less time with the kids before they go to bed.

I feel like I am failing in all areas with my time cut short by working extra.  I have also been working the evening clinic about once every other week and about one Saturday a month just to barely keep up. I’m tired and I still have at least two more months of this to go for sure but, most likely it will be 6+ months.

Finishing Touches

With 1 month until takeoff I am putting the finishing touches on my trip and tying up any loose ends or bits that need to be finished.  It isn’t much, just last minute details like getting to and from the airport at home.

My excitement is building.  I got some weather protection for my camera…Just in case.  Because if I buy it and bring it with me I’ll never need it, but if I don’t then it will rain the entire time I’m gone.

#liveagreatstory & #momimfine

Why didn’t I think of that?

#liveagreatstory this has been my unsaid motto for as long as I can remember. I love to travel and take photos but I don’t like to actually be in the photos. But I always take some to make my Mom happy. The idea of being someplace amazing and having the “live a great story” flag, sticker ect somewhere in the shot appeals to me. This is something I can absolutely get into! Last night I placed my order and I’m looking forward to incorporating it into my upcoming trip.

#momimfine is an awesome concept and I give bonus points for creativity here. In the days before hashtags and social media I would send my mom and grandmother each a postcard every day from wherever I was. I still plan on sending my mom postcards but I absolutely LOVE the instant gratification my Mom will get knowing I’m fine. (Especially since she just learned that 1. I’m traveling again and 2. I’m doing this trip solo. Let’s just say the “solo” part as usual did not go over well, even though I’m almost 45 years old, married and have 2 kids now) So now I’m adding to my project list at least one “Mom, I’m fine.” sign to take with me.

So, now I have my quest to search out the 4 hidden bars, incorporate #liveagreatstory and #momimfine into my trip.

Finishing up my plans for my UK trip

I’m a planner.  I like to have a solid plan and backup options if things don’t work out.

A few things have changed through the years and my travel style is ever evolving and suiting my current state and style but one thing has remained the same since the start… I always use a simple folder and notebook while planning. In that folder and notebook I make notes of things I have heard, seen or read about that I want to make sure that I fit into my trip.  I gather articles and pamphlets of things I want to look into.  I have folders started for trips I’m dreaming up that are no where close to getting an actual date or even year of travel, but I have started collecting bits of information already. These folders sit on a shelf waiting for the day I pull them off and start my plan.

Once a week I pull out my folder and see what I want to work on. With most of my trip done its just little odds and ends that I need to work out or book (like my transportation to and from the airport.) Things that need to be done, but are easy to do even last minute.

My excitement is starting to build every time I look over my plan.

6 weeks left to go!

San Diego Solo

My actual conference was boring. When I first arrived the room was full and people were standing in the back so I found a comfy spot against the wall in the back corner and made myself at home. It turned out to be awesome! I had room to stretch my legs and switch sitting positions and even a plug to charge my phone!

I attended all the morning classes then I ventured out for lunch followed by a trip to the San Diego zoo. I was running later than expected so I just grabbed drive through on the way. Since I was on hold with Hornblower Cruises trying to book a bay cruise tour. I stopped at the ticket booth between the airport and the conference but they were not in yet. I eventually gave up after listening to hold music for about 30 minutes and just went into the zoo.

The San Diego Zoo Although big, is still a zoo. It’s also very hilly. I was not prepared for all those hills. The cool thing is they have an app with a map to guide you to where you want to go, *note* on the top there is two options “walking” and “accessible” some areas have stairs and some the incline is too steep for wheelchairs/scooters. If you want the walking rote double check that when you pull your phone back out of your pocket that you did not accidentally hit the accessible route or you could find yourself wandering in circles and wondering why you are back at the hippos, again and again and again. This little setback made me run later than expected so I skipped the other museums in Balboa Park that I intended on visiting, stopped at a grocery store to pick up some snacks and checked into my room where I took a shower, put on my pjs and binge watched Netflix on my iPad the rest of the evening.

San Diego here I come! part3

It has been a while since I have been anywhere alone. It felt very weird going to the airport by myself and boarding the plane.

The only hiccup I encountered was my rental car. I searched for “San Diego Airport” but didn’t confirm so it gave me a pickup at another location in San Diego. It wasn’t a problem. They still had cars available and rented me one, although this one didn’t have GPS and being as directionally challenged as I am, I had to use my phone. It took a little getting use to, but I eventually got the hang of it although I did miss seeing the route on the dash.

For my room I booked an Airbnb. It was my first time using one even though I have stayed in many Home-Stays around the world through the years before Airbnb was a thing. It was a little hard to find, but once I did the host was friendly and the place was incredibly clean. I have always had good luck with home stays and have found it to be a more authentic experience to see how the locals do it. Although you are not on “hotel row” you will find that things are cheaper when catering to locals rather than tourists. I love hole in the wall places to eat with good prices and awesome food. Staying in places like this is the best way to find the off the beaten path places that the locals frequent.

Easter

My Easter traditions change a little bit every year and I’m still working out what I want to do. The dream I had growing up of holidays has been edited because things are just different with a special needs child.

Three years ago we just moved into our new house and we’re just getting settled with a 3 year old and a baby.

Two years ago my older son got released from the hospital after his 3rd open heart surgery on Easter Sunday.

Last year we started forming our traditions. Some things like coloring eggs and doing an Easter egg hunt just started. But last year we also got a puppy and she jumped up on the counter and ate maybe 20 deviled eggs. Let’s just say a dog that eats that many hard boiled eggs puts a damper on the festivities.

So this year we are trying again! I took off Friday and Monday to get things together. I’m hoping to someday get the holidays together so they are easy, fun and memorable.

San Diego here I come! part2

Well, not quite yet. But I have completed my planning! My flights, room and car are all booked. As for my plans once I arrive… I plan on getting the city pass.

I’m a big fan of the city pass. I like that I can pass up lines and go in and out of places as much as I wish. I’m planning 1/2 a day at the zoo safari and 1/2 a day at the zoo to check them out as possibilities to take the kids later. I’m also planning on the Carlsbad flower gardens. Those are my big 3. But I see on the city pass there is a lot to do so I’ll spend some time plotting where everything is, adding the hours and seeing what I can come up with to efficiently do as many things as possible on the pass. Let’s see just how many I can check off in a few days.

I believe in having a good plan, and a backup plan… just incase. I don’t get stuck when something doesn’t go as planned. I step back, regroup and go to a backup plan.

San Diego here I come! part1

As part of my day job I have continuing education that I need to keep up. It’s boring, but I have to keep it up. Prior to having kids I would travel to big educational conferences, spend the mornings in classes then enjoy the afternoons and evenings seeing the sites. Once I had kids the travel part became…complicated. Well that is all about to change as I go to my first educational conference in almost 10 years in San Diego, California.

Now it is far from my first trip there but times have changed and so have I. My plan is to head straight to the conference as soon as I land and get started. Unlike other trips, I’m renting a car for this one so I can get around a bit better and see some things.

First up, since I’m part mermaid the beach can not be ignored! I found a nice Airbnb a few blocks from the beach and I’m an early riser so expect some nice sunrise photos while I enjoy a nice walk with my bagels with cream cheese and coffee for breakfast as I watch the sun rise. I figure I’ll do that…yeah, every day. 😎

Up next the Wild Animal Park can not be skipped. I plan on an afternoon there photographing the animals and scouting it out to see if it’s an option to take the kids to. While my younger son loves animals and does well in new places my older son does not. So I’ll be looking to see if it’s an option. He doesn’t do well with loud or crowds but usually does ok outside. Welcome to my world living with Autism.

The only other thing I know I want to do is to see the flower fields. For my other afternoons I’ll make it up as I go along.

The historic gas lamp district will end up being one of my evenings dinner and entertainment. I’m sure another will be somewhere on the beach (see part mermaid above).

What to do

The first time I go somewhere I always see whatever the big thing(s) are in that area. Like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. I don’t think anyone should go somewhere and NOT see the iconic sites of that area. You can usually find a hop on hop off bus or a day tour that will take you to all the “must see” places in 1 day or less.

Up next after my “must see” items I look to see if any holidays will be celebrated while I’m there. Participating in the local celebrations is an awesome way to remember your trip and celebrate with the locals!

I’m also in for food and shopping! If there is a local dish or food they are known for (no matter how strange) I want to try it. It may only be one bite, but I’ll try it. If there is an amazing or iconic market, I want to shop there. Food and shopping don’t need to be a high priority, I’ll eat at some point but I want to know what the area is known for so if I see it I can get it while I’m out and about. For the shopping, I’ll usually do that on a free afternoon or evening.

The next thing I do is look for the secondary things I want to see or do. These are not the iconic “must see” things for the area but things I’m interested in. I scuba dive so if I’m somewhere that it’s an option I try to fit it in at least one day of my trip. I’m also a sucker for priceless jewels, butterfly sanctuaries, aquariums, old churches, Castles, ancient temples and ruins. I was an art minor in college so if there is important pieces of art in an area or artists I’m interested in I try to fit seeing those.

Part of my secondary things to do I look for an unusual tour. They have always been a highlight of my trip and very interesting. Some examples of things I have done in the past a flashlight Jack the Ripper tour of London and a Haunted tour of Sydney in a hearse. I did an erotic tour of different kinds of brothels and sex shops and learned all about the sex worker industry that was quite enlightening. I did a symbolism tour of an old graveyard. Some destinations have them, some don’t. But I have learned the quirky tours are usually a blast so if there’s one available, I try to fit it in.

The last thing is a bit of pampering. I try to book this at the end of my trip or after a long day. There are day spas and salons all over the world waiting to pamper you. It may be a mani-pedi, facial or massage a little pampering is nice. If there is something unique to the area I try to give it a try.

My only piece of advice is: Don’t pre-plan every day, every minute. Try to book one thing a day so you have time to do other things you didn’t know about until you were there. I usually book a tour or activity in the morning leaving my afternoons and/or evenings free. If I have an evening activity that I want to do I make sure that the next day is not an early morning (like diving) and if I have a morning tour that day it needs to end by lunch so I have the whole afternoon free before my evening out.