New Goals!! Poor Man's Travels

***SAMPLE***
German Coastguard... : ) & Brief tour of Hamburg


***FULL SCOOP***

Oh heeeeeey!!!! ; ) So it's been a while... I know I have wild masses of fans who have mourned my absence.... : ) but don't you fret... I am going to try to repent for my personal record of my life (note sarcasm in wild masses of fans... ; ).  If anyone still/ever did read this... get ready, because... I'M BACK!!!   Okay, actually, I struggle with commitment, so no promises... BUT  I'm going to try to write more because....!! I have a new goal.  If you know me well, or if you hardly know me at all... you probably know I have a slight obsession with experiencing and tasting as much of life as I can.  (and when I say taste... I DO mean literally.... ; )

Here's the scoop... I have a passion for travel, but limited resources in regards to $$$ and time... and (yes, it's true) I have a personal mission statement, and part of it includes experiencing as much of life as I can -- whether it be through actual travel, talking with people about their life stories, foods, music, dance, art, work, lifestyle, religion, etc. etc. etc. and do my best to do more with less.

As I was pondering recently how I could travel with limited resources, I have decided to experience it the best I can on my own.  Last year I started this on a smaller scale with Tapas Sundays when I would put on my flamenco apron, listen to flamenco music and invite a friend over to have tapas (in honor of my love for Spain : ).  I have decided to re-start and re-vamp this goal; meaning, my new goal is, to choose a new country each month and learn about/experience it each month.  The ways I do this may vary each month.  I am banking on DC being really cultural and having lots to offer... let's hope it does : ).

Here is where you come in -- as I scan for movies, documentaries, music, recipes, youtube videos, phrases, jokes, culture tid-bits, events, games, traditions, news, cool person of that country to learn about, awful American assumptions/stereotypes about the country, outfits to try on, etc. to try/do -- or just even share with me your own memory or experience for a little inspiration : ).

I already have a full plate, so I am not going to get too obnoxious with this goal, but am going to try to get a little country action in each week.  Upcoming country for OCTOBER.......... (drum roll.......)  GERMANY!!!!

Plans thus far for my "poor man's travels":

• I'm attending a dinner at the German Embassy -- so I'll even get to touch some German soil! : )
• Hitting up some kind of PG Oktoberfest event 
• Finding somewhere where I can do a photoshoot with some traditional german clothes..... any recommendations of where I can get my hands on some?? : )
• Rest of the ideas I'll be deciding from here and FB... so shoot me some ideas!  In the future, if this takes off.... maybe I'll even let people vote on my adventures or the country for the next month -- or even give out some invites to come eat/cook/attend with me if you're up for it....!! : )

Let the games begin! Taking ideas/love experiences/feedback starting............... NOW! : )  As I love traveling with others and sharing adventures with people... I hope you'll join me in the journey and tag along ; ).

..................danke.....!

(OR maybe I should just re-enact this like these folks... even if it doesn't REALLY have anything to do with Germany... still could be fun...!! : ) Ferris Bueller... Danke!

40 line, 3 word update each... just trrrry to interpret : )

**SAMPLE**
Life is a highway baby... I think I drove 40 hours in two weeks... (later update, later 80 hours in 6 weeks... who loves road trips?! : )


**FULL SCOOP** 
I am taking off to DC soon... here is 40 line, 3 word update each of my recent adventures I made... have fun trying to interpret!! : )

1. Heidi C-section TODAY!!
2. School lunch grandkids
3. Swam with grandkids
4. Ate yummy salsa
5. Saw Mom NM
6. Played catch grandkids
7. Cleaned prego's house
8. Ate at Chilis
9. Got temp-job call
10. Bob wants me (temp-job guy)
11. Crazy decisions DC
12. Need be there
13. Temp no go (see above)
14. Motivation to go
15. Interview when arrive
16. Microsoft skills tests
17. Other networking plans
18. Pack up go
19. Drive drive drive
20. Love phone GPS
21. Loved MCDs StrawberryLemonadeFreeze
22. Saw "don't pick up hitchhikers near correctional facility" sign
23. Saw suspicous hitchikers : )
24. Called PoPo justincase : )
25. LOVED driving scenery
26. Listened to books
27. LOVED St. Louis & Elk City, OK : )
28. Enjoyed state stereotypes
29. Ohio -- tired, Erin (friend/neighbor)
30. Scared Dad TV : )
31. Harry Potter Erin
32. LOVED home ward
33. Sister/Fam visit M-day
34. 4 yr. old Niece say, "I can't keep up with you and David" ha! : ) (or something like that, also asked why I wasn't married : )
35. Watched "Waiting for Superman" again (and y'all should too!)
36. Cheap Massage, Erin
37. PF Changs, Erin
38. FHE with Dad
39. Email catch-up
40. Musana Conf. call

Bonus: This, now SLEEP!!!! : )

HAPPY.

HAPPY.

I can’t express just how happy and at peace I am with life right now. I know who I am and I know where I am going… (for the most part : ) at least I know it is somewhere… even if it just where the wind blows me : ) j/k. But I believe that we are here on earth for a purpose, which is to fulfill The Plan of HAPPINESS.

Sometimes I’ve wondered how it could be The Plan of Happiness when there is so much pain and sorrow in the world; however, one must know opposition to fully know just that… the opposition of both good and bad – how much sweeter the fruit of happiness is once one has experienced the struggles of sorrow and sadness, indecision and the unknown, etc. etc.

I won’t go into great detail right now, but I have had some interesting experiences regarding making life decisions about my future, emotional investments and which paths to take and how to go about each of these… it has been an adventure : ) (which I am confident is just the beginning!) but I have found my happy place. I’ve learned so many interesting life lessons through both my own experiences and those shared with loved ones; from studies to heartaches to career paths to deaths to health to travels to goals and set backs, etc. etc.

I’ve been fortunate to be a student of life (and of course continue to be) and to have the Lord as my personal tutor through prayer and scripture. One great lesson I have learned in particular comes from a talk I heard in a church meeting called General Conference last fall, which is that, “I may not know everything, but I know enough” (see http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-4,00.html – You Know Enough, Neil Anderson).

Again, I can’t express just how truly truly happy I am right now and how excited I am about the future and the adventures held in store. How grateful I am to the Lord for allowing me to experience such peace and happiness which I know is available to all who sincerely seek Him – He lives and I know loves each of us, as He truly is our Father in Heaven.

All this + More = I know enough… = HAPPY! : )

Much love, K*

YOUR TURN/READER THOUGHTS: When was a time you were truly and completely happy? What/where would you consider one of your "happy places"?