first ski trip of 2010

early tomorrow morning (and I mean early), I'm meeting Jaci and Tom and we are driving to go SKIING!

when I was younger, I traveled out to Breckenridge, CO with my parents to go skiing and that's where I learned how to ski. Mom and Dad used to ski a great deal before I was born and now they don't do anything like that anymore b/c doctor's basically tell Mom she should stay away from anything where she could majorly injury herself and my Dad just got two new knees.

I could also be found on the slopes in WV, PA and MD. however, THE MOST FUN, HANDS DOWN WAS SKIING IN VAL D'ISERE, FRANCE! my parents and I went on a school Spring Break trip when I was in 8th grade and it was an amazing trip! the Alps were breathtaking and going on a ski lift over the steepest cliff I have ever seen in my entire life scared the shit out of me! 8th grade lindsey.

let's see what happens tomorrow. I haven't been on skis in a few years and so it should be interesting. Tom is the better skier of the couple, so he's excited that Jaci has someone to ski with.

i'll be sure to take pics for proof of all the fun

lp

2009 catch-up

I don't know why I haven't written a new blog since August, but I have a few different things to write about.

I'm still unemployed... part-time. I took on a position as an Independent Contractor for a company called DwellWell, Inc.. They contact me when they have a client for me and I do whatever needs to be done. So far I've been working with a novelist, doing general research. That started in October, after I returned to New York.

Ahh, yes, I was at home in Maryland with my parents for a month and a half. My Mom was in a car accident, so I Amtraked my way home to be with my parents. We just didn't know that the hospitalization and rehab was going to be so long. Thankfully she is well and relaxing on our boat in the Abacos (which are a part of the Bahamas) with my Dad until late Spring. Retirement.

Travels, ok here they are:

August- 2nd Annual Girl's Weekend at the Boat in Ocean City, Maryland

Sept-Oct- Maryland and DC

Nov- DC to visit my best friend, Maryland for Thanksgiving

Dec-Jan- West Palm Beach, Florida and the Abacos with my parents

In the wake of the little blizzard NYC had in the late teens of December, JetBlue cancelled my two flights and I got down to Florida a day late. Because of the weather, we stayed in Florida through Christmas and we took the boat over to the Abacos on the 26th. Waking up early, it took 8 hours to travel to Marsh Harbour and for most of it, I slept. The water was a bit rocky, nothing I couldn't handle with my sea-sick patch behind my ear, but the medication made me sleepy. It was a beautiful trip, until the sun went behind the clouds and it got chilly. Good thing I went to Target and stocked up on longer shorts and lightweight sweaters- it got cold! In the Bahamas! But it was great to spend time with my parents, although the weather didn't cooperate and we didn't get any fishing in. Set them up on Skype and with my brand spanking new MACBOOK PRO, we've been able to video chat. It was a great feeling on my father's birthday :)

Another couple on the dock had their daughter come to visit with her family. Mom told me that the daughter's husband had sold his company, she had quit her job and they up and moved their two kids to the country of Panama a few years back. Now she's a school teacher and loving every minute of it. I told my Mom right there that I wanted to do something like that in my lifetime. I want to move somewhere, maybe only knowing one or two people, or maybe none at all and just make a go of it. Someplace international. Just think of all the beautiful encounters you would have, as long as you made the effort. I feel like I could. I'd certainly miss my family and friends, but there's just something about taking that leap of faith and doing something different. As I sit here blogging, still realistically unemployed, I have mixed emotions of what I just said because I'm not working and could totally do it, RIGHT NOW. There are certain things in my life that aren't in place, but then again I don't know when they will. All I know is that I am getting sick of of not working and I want to do something.

Perhaps moving is a bit drastic, but I live in one of the best cities in the world and so I need to explore all those local places I haven't gotten a chance to and let's hope that satisfies my craving for the time being.

FREE ANNIE !!!

Check out my friend Annie's new blog!!! A little info...

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An Unfortunate Decision

I made the decision to not travel to Jakarta for Sari's wedding.

Perhaps in a year or so, I'll return. Perhaps with a travel companion. Perhaps alone.
But I know I'll return.

To Travel or Not To Travel. Terrorist Bombings Edition.

Jakarta was bombed a few days ago. The Ritz Carlton Hotel and JW Marriott Hotel were hit. When I heard this, something popped into my head and then I promptly got confirmation from Sari in the form of a Facebook message- her wedding venue for October 2nd was the JW Marriott Hotel. She's furious for many reasons, including now the task of finding a new venue.

Now I'm torn. Weighing the pros and cons of traveling to Jakarta now.

Pros: once-in-a-lifetime experience, quality time with Sari, her family/friends, kickass kebaya made for me and me alone

Cons: fear of terrorist bombing, kidnapping, all those bad things that aren't going away anytime soon, cost of plane ticket (still not purchased), possibly vacay time taken away from possible future job

I still haven't made up my mind and this needs to happen soon, as I need to inform Sari and send my measurements for my kebaya should I be going. Sari and Johnny will be coming to NYC for their honeymoon, so I will be seeing them only a few days after their wedding, but it's not the same :( After I returned from my extended trip in 2008, I automatically knew I wanted to return to spend more time with Sari out and about since we didn't get that chance really during that visit. And also to visit her family and friends, who I really became close to. Sari recently posted photos from the cousin's wedding I attended with her parents and it brought back some many wonderful memories from that trip to Bandung.

Even as a 27 year old woman, I still called my parents, as I am an only child and very close with them. Had a discussion with my Dad, who if he were in my shoes, said he wouldn't take the chance and cancel the trip. There's no guarantee that relations in Jakarta will become any better in the coming months or years, but I do know I want to return. The question is when is the time to go?s Is the time to go now, when the city may be a bit more unstable than usual or is it in a year or so, when we don't know what will be going on, but perhaps I'd be lucky enough to have someone travel with me (which would automatically make me feel better about any given situation)? I'd love to take someone back with me to show them everything that I got to experience when I was there the first time. The Starbucks, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, KFC, Pizza Hut- all those fabulously Indonesian places! Haha :)

I'm going to sleep on it for another night and make my decision tomorrow. I'll let ya know what happens.

Indonesian Bridesmaid

After I returned from Mountain Jam that last weekend in May, Sari, my former-roommate whom I visited in Jakarta last year (see previous posts) facebooked me to tell me some very exciting news... she's getting married! On Sunday, June 21st she is being proposed to. Let me explain: Johnny her boyfriend has already asked her in private, but there is a tradition where the two families get together and an official proposal takes place. If all goes well (and it better!), Sari and Johnny will be married on Friday, October 2nd, 2009.

Sari has previously been married and isn't looking for the huge, glitz and glamour that she had for her first. The wedding will be more intimate and the wedding reception will be held at a local hotel. Even though she doesn't want it to be large, I have this funny feeling that it's still going to be a big deal. Sari asked both myself and our friend Kenzo to be her bridesmaids. Kenzo actually already bought her ticket online for less than $700 roundtrip, but I didn't get online to the deal quick enough, so I'm still looking. I would love to go over for two weeks, but hopefully I'll have a job by then, so I am planning on returning to Jakarta for a week, departing NYC on Saturday, September 26th and returning on Sunday, October 4th.

The part I am looking forward to the most has got to be my kebaya. During my previous trip to Jakarta, I wore a lime-green kebaya to a family wedding and I bought a beautiful, red/gold lace kebaya from a department store for myself. While cleaning my closets out this past week, I put my red lace kebaya on and low and behold (I knew it), those 10 lbs I put on since my trip have definately done their share to not allow me to wear it in public at this point in time. So, gotta lose the weight so I can wear it to some family event. For the wedding, Sari is going to be getting kebayas made for Kenzo and I and so I have to send her my measurements now and get fitted/tailored within the first day or so after I arrive in Jakarta. Start the diet and exercise!

In another exciting turn of events, I am going to learn how to speak Bahasa Indonesia. I'd love to be able to say a few basic things to Sari's family and friends while over there. I already know how to say a few things such as dog, cat, car, plane, girl, boy, woman, man. Don't forget "the cat is in front of the car". I got that one down pat! I am using the Rosetta Stone program and it's awesome! Gonna be jibberjabbering in another language in no time at all!

So that's my update! I am gonna write another within the next few days about my job search, so be on the lookout!

Mountain Jam @ Hunter Mountain

A lot has been happening since I last posted. I've gone to a number of concerts (Alkaline Trio, AtomicTom), the most recent one being Mountain Jam this past weekend at Hunter Mountain, NY. My ex was teching for Michael Franti & Spearhead, who were performing on Sunday and I drove up Saturday evening and stayed through Monday morning.

Why Monday morning? Did you take a vacation day? NO WAY! I was let-go from my job on Friday. An end of the day blow. To be honest, I was having some problems working at my last job and I was feeling like I wasn't fitting in and not as passionate about a job as one should be. So it's a blessing in diguise. I did not expect it though.

Back to the concert- I was supposed to get my zipcar and drive up Sunday morning but my ex got into the hotel early and asked if I could come up Saturday night. It really was a lovely drive once I got unstuck from the mess of New Jersey roads once across the GW Bridge!!!! Horrendous I tell you! Two hours later and I was at the Villa Vosilla at Hunter Mountain. A throwback to a 1960s, this is a a mini-resort. Looks small from the outside, but man, this place is a MAZE when you walk inside! The bar, that leads to the night club area with stage/dancefloor (perfect for a retro wedding), dining area, lounge area, indoor pool/sauna/game room! This place had the most amazing Italian food and the owners were so generous to the whole group. :)

The show on Sunday was awesome. Michael played an acoustic set on a sidestage, then I got to sit on the mainstage and watch the main performance- amazing! After the show, we went back to the hotel, relaxed, grabbed some dinner and then something magical happened...

MP AND I GOT MARRIED BY MICHAEL FRANTI! completely fake, but let me explain...

Earlier in the night I walked into the night club area, complete with archway covered in tulle and exclaimed that this was where I was going to have my wedding. Carl, the bassist for the band overheard me and put this bit of info in his pocket for later on. The band takes the stage around 11:30pm for a set and there are a lot of people in this room. Friends, family, fans, the owners of the Villa Vosilla. Michael says the following: "Welcome to the Mountain Jam 2009 after-party at the Villa Vosilla and wedding reception. We heard some rumors... are there any couples here tonight that would like to get married?" Michael and Carl then point to my ex and I. What the hell! We walk to the dancefloor with people clapping and stand in front of Michael. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..." and then we were "married" by Michael Franti. We had our first kiss and dip. People clapped. Some girl was my maid of honor. Throughout the whole night, whenever Michael mentioned wedding reception, we'd scream and yell and throw our drinks up in the air. I think I consumed about 2 bottles of pinot grigio that evening. We had our first dance to "All I Want Is You". fantastic.

The goodbye was quick but hard. He lives in LA and I live in NYC and that's the main problem. I'll always love him and it's hard to see the possibility of when we could possibly be together. So I'll take whatever time I can get, if I feel like it's ok too and I look forward to seeing him back in the area late August/early September. The drive home only took 2 hours. Definately have to go back for some skiing and I'll definately be staying at the Villa Vosilla.