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Category: Looking Ahead

Birthday Girl Dreams

Birthday Girl Dreams

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First off, many, many thanks for all of your suggestions. They were, quite literally, all over the map. From China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam to Costa Rica, Peru, and Argentina to the Amalfi Coast, Azerbaijan and Disney World. I particularly enjoyed the random text messages I would receive when someone thought of another place! I finally whittled down the list to Suriname, Switzerland and Namibia, and I seriously considered a tour of the Balkans and a week sailing the Mediterranean Sea….

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Help! No, really. I’m turning 40.

Help! No, really. I’m turning 40.

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I need your help! I don’t know where to go. And I’m serious. I have enough miles for a free trip on Delta, possibly even first class depending on the destination, and I’ve been saving my vacation time. I’ll have five weeks available by the time my birthday rolls around. And it’s a big one: 40. The problem? I don’t know where to go. I’ve realized that my last three big trips were really someone else’s idea. Ireland? Mom. France?…

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And the award for ‘World’s Worst Blogger’ goes to…

And the award for ‘World’s Worst Blogger’ goes to…

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NOT ME! What? Really? Why?! Because the ‘World’s Worst Blogger’ wouldn’t be blogging. That person would be the worst and therefore, wouldn’t be back after a months-long hiatus. And so here I am, after only posting four times in 2016. FOUR TIMES. That’s pathetic. But a lot happened in 2016. Some of it, not so good; I lost the doggie love of my life, Winzig. Some of it, awesomely good; there’s a pitter-pat (and occasionally, rip, rip, rip) of a new…

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Gone with the Wine

Gone with the Wine

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“And when I woke up the next morning, I had booked four international trips! FOUR! We weren’t even that drunk!” I was in stitches. My co-worker was standing over my desk, rolling her mischievous eyes, tossing her dark shoulder-length hair over her shoulders, her smile pinching her cheeks upwards. “Seriously. One bottle of wine. That’s it. And a gin drink.” “I can drink more than that!” I declared. To be fair, my co-worker can too. But despite my bourbon talents, I have…

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When the Timing Doesn’t Work

When the Timing Doesn’t Work

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There’s a right and a wrong time. In January, I wrote about applying to the Institute on Science for Global Policy’s Climate Change Arctic Program, which is hosting a series of debates on climate change throughout the country. The issue of climate change is particularly close to my heart as a Floridian, but I was particularly drawn to the possibility of traveling to the Arctic as part of the conference.  So I submitted my application (possibly twice) and waited for the conference…

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Motivating Mom: Part III

Motivating Mom: Part III

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First, an apology. Mom, I’m sorry. I’m going to bring up the shoes. You know the ones. I also apologize for everything else. Love, Your Baby Girl *  *  * A little back story on my relationship with my mom. We get along great! We have so much fun together! My husband loves her, and she loves my husband! And sometimes, I want to kill her. Ok, so now that I’m in my thirties, I rarely want to kill her,…

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Motivating Mom: Part II

Motivating Mom: Part II

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After four solid months of speculation, my mother finally decided on Ireland as the destination for her birthday celebration trip, despite a tour of England appearing to be the odds on favorite, even over the long-talked about Alaskan cruise. When I asked her why she had chosen the Emerald Isle, she told me that she wanted to go somewhere that I hadn’t been to yet. All together now…aww! When I last saw my mother, pulling out of my driveway early…

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Motivating Mom: Part I

Motivating Mom: Part I

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How many times have you said, “I really want to go to [some location]”? But then you just never seem to muster the get up and go, and that statement, that dream travel destination, just hangs in the confines of pleasant conversation, destined to be nothing but a wistful musing during a delightful Sunday brunch. There’s always a reason not to go: finances, timing, vacation days, kids, you name it. But studies, like this one, have shown that not traveling when…

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Sweeps Weeks

Sweeps Weeks

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After four weeks of visitors, my house is finally quiet…and empty. I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to sit on the couch in my PJs while drinking copious amounts of bourbon and watching our final days of cable (we’re planning on cutting the cord soon). Three weeks of bathroom renovations ended on March 2nd, and the very next day my cousin arrived. We had lovely adventures to Pass-a-Grille Beach, downtown St. Pete, and Plant City for Boyz II Men and…

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Arctic Expedition and Climate Change

Arctic Expedition and Climate Change

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I just submitted an application to be part of the Institute on Science for Global Policy’s Climate Change Arctic Program, possibly for the second time. Several months ago, there was an article in the Tampa Bay Times about the excursion and how it would include 15 residents from Pinellas County. While the program piqued my interest, I think I only half-heartedly completed the application, I might not have even submitted a complete response, which made today’s email from one of…

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