As January comes to an end so does my job with the City of Flagstaff. I am finishing up the Low Impact Development project. One more council meeting to get through. The project has involved a long process. I am looking forward to getting it done. It will be good to not have to think about it again.
Everything else if going along as planned. I am just getting everything ready for my trip. Diane and family are going to take good care of Max while I am gone. Joy is going to take care of the Sylvester. I know that poor cat is going to get lonely. He love having someones lap to a lay on when the TV is being watched. Plus I think he will miss Max. Who will he have to hassle?
next week is my last week of work. It doesn't seem really yet. I don't think it will until I am going to the airport. This should be a lot of fun. Flagstaff is funny. Seems like just about everyone I know has been to new Zealand. I imagine on our travels we will run into at least one person from Flagstaff. That is just how small the world can be!!!

Well it is official!! I just turned in my letter of resignation!! I can not tell you how happy it makes me to know that I only have 10 more days of sitting in this cubicle! I will miss some of the people I work with. This job would have been completely unbearable if it weren't for the people I have made friends with here.
Everything else if going along really well. Been training hard at the gym. It is not nearly as fun as climbing outside, of course, but my options are limited to that for now. I really miss climbing outside. There is something so pure about climbing. Really it is just you and mother nature and my evil foe, gravity!!! I am just trying to hang on the rocks that mother nature put there. Nothing in between me and her, yet gravity keeps trying to pull me down!!!Well all I can to do is try. I think that is why I like climbing more than any other sport. Most other sports there is something in between you and the earth. I can't wait to get back on the rock!! Real rock.
Three more weeks until we are off to New Zealand. The exchange rate is really going to help things out. I am actually really looking forward to car shopping. It should be fun. It has been a long time since I have bought a car!! The last car I bought was my Toyota and that was about 15 years ago!!!Funny to think about. I guess this car just has to run for three month!!!
God it feels good to turn in that resignation!!!

The plane tickets have been purchased and the rest of the planning or lack there of begins. I still have about three and a half weeks of work to make it through. I think this cubical is getting smaller by the day. I find myself looking for reasons to get out of the office. Humans are really not meant to sit in front of a computer 8 hours a day. Getting out of here will be really good for me. I love that it is down to the wire now. My hour lunch time bouldering at the gym helps. It would be tons better if it was outside, but with the two feet of snow on the ground it makes it difficult. So the gym it is.

The official departure date is February 15. We will be flying in to Auckland then who knows. We were able to get a stopover in Samoa on the way home. So departing Auckland to Samoa on April 27. One week of hanging on the beach and relaxing. I will be getting back just in time for my cousin, Andrea's wedding. Funny things really worked out. My mom will be flying in from Korea the next day, so we can head up to Flagstaff and make it just in time to see Andrea get hitched!!

So that is the plan. The rest is up in the air. I love it.

As the new year begins I find myself making travel plans. It is all very exciting. I have not done an extended trip in while It has in fact been two years since I have left the county.
This trip will be to New Zealand. Three month of travel, climbing and adventures. It is going to be fun. My trusted climbing partner and friend, Stacy will be joining me.
And so the adventure begins. One more month to plan and enjoy Flagstaff. And I do plan on enjoying Flagstaff for the next month. Spending time with friends and enjoying the snow.
I think New Zealand will be a good place for me to figure out what my next step will be. I have no idea what I am going to do when I return. It is actually very freeing. I have time to figure it out. I am certainly glad to get out of this cubical that has imprisoned me for the past three years. I may not know what I am going to do when I get back. But one thing is for certain. I will not EVER work in a cubical again. Office maybe. If I am going to have padded walls I want a pretty white jacket to go with it!!!