friends

I just have to say quick that I'm going to miss my people here very much. Very Very much. -lj

Nine days

One week from Friday. Nine more days. Nine more days to make as much money as we can. Nine more days to tell everyone around us how much we've appreciated their kindness. Nine more days to realize that we better start packing soon. Nine more days to stand along the beach. We're very very excited. We've been searching craigslist for possible sublets, making budgets, booking hotels and planning food and family stops. I honestly think this is our favorite part of adventure. It's so much fun to look forward to a huge change. And this one is going to be very big. And long. I have to say, we're indulging in this move quite a bit. Here's a rundown of our itinerary-

We leave Jupiter the 1st to spend the night in Tampa with some of Rach's highschool pals (whom I've met several times). One of them is expected to go into labor during this time so... watch for that post. Then we leave the next day for Atlanta, GA. We can't make our days as long on this trip because now we have two cars and can't split driving duties. We'll stay in a hotel in Atlanta and have reservations at Woodfire Grill. There we will be doing the tasting menu served by Top Chef finalist Kevin. Las Vegas season. I'll try to write down the dishes so I can tell you about them afterward and we can all judge them together! Next day its on to Tennessee to visit Rachel's cousins and finally meet new baby Brason (who I guess isn't so new anymore). The next day its on to more cousins in Virginia. Next day is a long push up to Lancaster, Penn where we'll stay with Kate and Kate. If its really late and we know they're sleeping and we have left over energy, we might push it a few more hours and make it to Monroe. I absolutely cannot wait for Monroe. I'm so homesick (as usual). I seriously need a family reboost. After about a week in Monroe, we head West for a week in B-Lo (Buffalo......duh). After a week of light partying (yea right), we're going to stuff all our things into the Honda and together, head to Harrisburg, Penn for a few days (Popsons are coming too). We've tried to make a habit of going there for Easter and we're afraid if we stop the tradition the Easter Bunny may not know where to go. The day after Easter we'll set back on the same route we took to Denver a year ago- since thats where we're going. How can we drive out to California without stopping in Denver for some fresh mountain air! If you've just joined the blog- first of all, welcome. I'll go over our "Denver" route. First we stop in Wilmington, Ohio for a night to visit Americorps teammate Joni. The next night is in Grosse Point, MI with Americorps team leader Emily. A night at a hotel is Chicago is necessary because...c'mon...Chicago's cool! Then its a huge long push past all the corn in America until we get to Denver. We've chosen to stay a mile high for about a week. So many people to see and dogs to hug. Denver carries such a different "home" feel than Boston or Jupiter has. Denver is.... Denver. If I had to choose right now where I wanted to settle, I wouldn't have to think about it. Hands down, Denver. I told Rachel I was going to tie myself to a tree when we got there so that we couldn't leave. I'm still seriously considering the idea. We plan on leaving Denver May 5th. Depending on how much money we've spent, we might stop in Las Vegas. Might as well try to get that money back, right? We might also stay in a hotel in between Denver and Vegas so we have time to check out the Grand Canyon. We also might then just stop in Vegas to look around and head right back out and into Cali. First night in California will be spent with sister Stephanie just a little south of L.A. Then a few days in L.A with best friends Christina and Alex. Then on the 12thish (depending on whatever we set up as a living situation) we take a beautiful, relaxing nine hour drive along the coast of California and arrive in San Fran to start our new life....again. That's a month and a half of pure adventure. Followed by more adventure. Wouldn't you be impatiently counting down? ..... Nine Days. -lj