Delayed

I am delayed! My original plan fell through due to corporate mistakes of course. Ahh, to not be in control again and at the whim of others. That will definitely take some getting used to. I am trying to figure out why it happened in a universe sense. argh!! What do you do when you are bored and stuck? Ideas would be nice. It is hard to be in limbo land, especially when it has been extended and unexpected. On the good side, it has allowed me to spend more time to see friends and family. I still keep in touch with quite a few high school and college friends. Those relationships from years past seem to be harder to come by as we get older. It must be something about being younger and growing up and learning the way the world works together. I can go for years without talking to some of my friends and we can pick up just where we left off. It is a wonderful feeling.

I have my flight booked and I leave this Friday evening for Venice. In the meantime, I will continue to bake here in Michigan, but at the same time sweat like I'm in sweat lodge from the humidity. Going to East Lansing to visit my Alma Mater, Go MSU! If only Bagel Fragel was still there!!

As I get more comfortable blogging, let me know if there are specific things you want to hear about, not hear about etc...

Detroit Tour

I am still in Michigan. I have been reconnecting with old friends from high-school and college. Always good to see my friends from the good 'ole days. It is always an interesting time to come back to Novi, where I grew up. Things have changed a lot, and then they really haven't. I went jogging around my highschool. Do you still have dreams about highschool, getting lost, can't remember your locker combination? I went in and looked around, yes, it is still confusing!! They were also having a blood drive, hey why not, so I donated, and this time I didn't faint! (Chinese herbs helped with that one)

One of things I like to do in Michigan is take a tour with my parents and check out the demise of Detroit. I grew up in a house full of history lessons at all times, as my Dad was a high school history teacher. I love it by default. Today we toured the Ford Piquette Plant. The first factory built to build the Model T which forever changed America and the World. Built in 1904, it still stands as a reminder of how far the automobile, Ford, and building cars has come. Henry Ford was an innovator, one of the most important of the last 100 years I would say. They have been trying to restore this factory bit by bit, with limited funds. They are doing a good job, the tour was great.

You cannot even imagine was Detroit looks like. War-torn is what I would use. See some pictures below. Detroit I wish so much for you.

On the Road

How funny life is....You think you have left, but there are always reminders to bring you back.

I left Boulder this morning. I said goodbye to the mountains. I said good bye to the blue sky. I said my silent goodbyes to my past life. I was not sad. I almost wanted to be, but I wasn't. I am excited to see some new things, a little change in my life. Or my sadness hasn't hit yet.

Currently I am staying overnight in Des Moines, Iowa. I snuck my cat in, as most places do not allow overnight cat guests. The heat and humidity that seemed to hit literally as I crossed the border into Nebraska is almost unbearable. I got my car a/c fixed last week anticipating deathly conditions in Middle America. Seriously, if I lived here, I would consider Meth myself. I finally found an NPR station close to Lincoln, the first familiar voices I had heard. I just don't get "New Country", or these guys with these drawling voices telling me about the "word" or how I am a sinner. Guess what was on NPR?? As soon as the station came in, guess what the piece was about? Colorado! haha It was a story on the bluegrass scene in Colorado, including Telluride, Lyons, Boulder, Denver...I am a bluegrass music lover myself and have let my hobby of that music slide over the last few years, always missing it. I had goosebumps the entire story. Ok Colorado, I haven't forgotten you...

Another 10 hour driving day tomorrow. Michigan and the lakes can't come soon enough.

I stopped at a grocery store in Nebraska and saw the hugest rectangles of cheese product. Folks, I am not in the Bubble any longer.

Custom

A wonderful friend made this for me. I am going to wear it around the boat as I try to gain patients for my practice at sea. I think it is very professional and says all there needs to be said.

I have been spending my last days with all sorts of friends. Leaving an area tends to put perspective on where you have been and where the future may go. Since my divorce in the Fall of 2007, the community I have made for myself is incredible. I saw there were two black and white trends of people who went through divorce: Victims and those who went out and moved on and became better people. I quickly chose the latter. As my attitude on life, love, friends, family, career, health, etc. changes positively, all of those aspects change too. The people I attract are AMAZING!!! That means ALL of YOU. The creativity I have seen, the knowledge I learn, and the generosity of all of my friends is unbelievable. Thank you for being part of my life.

Another aspect that has only gotten better is that I am in the best shape I have ever been in thanks to exercise and acupuncture. I always say by the time I am 60 or so I will be in the Olympics, just keeps getting better and better....I just hope I don't lose it on the boat. I think swimming in the ocean, running and lifting in the crew gym will keep me pretty fit. Oh, and the bicycle shops that I hope will start to know me and have my custom Italian ride ready for me when I walk through the door. "Noella, your bicicletta is ready. Bella!" (say with strong Italian accent)

Now I am off to finish packing, which I have been procrastinating very nicely, thank you. Who knows who I will see today to say goodbye....

My Boat

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do?shipCode=VY

Here is my boat and some of the features I can play on:

rock climbing wall

ice rink, of course

food!!

Packing

Everything in storage except for a suitcase. How do you fit everything in that you will need for at least 7 months? I guess there are stores to buy stuff, but I am actually very excited to SIMPLIFY my life. Less stuff, less stress. I won't have to keep track of all my stuff. Picking out outfits will be very simple. Oh, I wore that yesterday and the day before, sweet! My doctor's lab coat will go well with everything!

No more motorcycle, no more 25 necklaces to choose from, no more 15 books on my bedside table, no more endless piles of useless stuff on the floor! Just me, my bathing suit and my lab coat!