Blue Lollipop Road

and then there were 800

I didn’t even realize I was approaching 800 posts until I logged on just now. Great way to kick off my next 3,000 miles.

I might be the only person in history to drive clear across the country to turn around and drive right back. That’s how much some amazing people, a fabulous company, and a city like San Fransisco have stolen my heart. (Boy, do I love the energy of a big fat city!) As much as a huge part of me wants to stay west right now, the other portion tells me to complete the circle and trip I started on July, 13 so here I go. Maybe I just get east, wave hello, collect a few boxes and drive back 3,000 miles. Maybe I stay east forever. Either way I am such a huge winner. I have learned about what I want and need in my life to be happy, healthy, and balanced. I can’t wait to make a home living around people and things that inspire me on a daily basis. I see clearly now more than ever.

See? There was a method to my madness all these years. My reverse retirement has paid off. I never doubted for a second that it would, but also never knew it’d feel this incredible or peaceful to get here.

Here’s to all that’s waiting in the future!

get your seat belts on

The road trippin’ begins again in 3 days. We’ve been to Alaska, we have busted it. We left from the east coast almost 5 months ago. (Yes, by “we” I mean you all, my peeps, my readers, my friends; all who share here.) Lets hit the road to complete the loop and see what’s around the next corner.

One life. All the freedom and opportunity in the world and things to learn every day. I’m loving that.

See you on the road…

second round of skirt!

I confess, I occasionally Google myself.

I’m glad I did just now when I can’t sleep at 3am. Look what I found! The Skirt! magazine article from the August Issue. Yay! I have to say a huge thanks to Editor Constance Costas for seeing a story in me more than once.

The U.S Border Patrol knows about Skirt! too. They Googled me when I was coming back into the country from Vancouver this summer. I guess when I rolled up to the booth with a car packed full and no plan as to where I was exploring next, then told the agent I had just driven to Alaska alone he thought I was a criminal or fruitcake. He then sent me inside with an orange slip. I waited in line, went through a bunch of questioning and stood there nervously as the agent typed away on his keyboard. I knew I was good to go when he looked up from his computer monitor and said: “Crushing Oreos in a jar of Nutella?”

All that typing he was doing, he was Googling me. Sure enough a Skirt! story about me that included information about my chocolate habit popped up from 2007. All the guy could do after reading that story was free me laughing and shaking his head. He handed me back my passport telling me: “Be careful Ms. Peacock, Ok? Really, be careful. Safe travels.”

Thanks for saving me at the border and being a cheerleader for my exploration and adventure Skirt!

send me to manhattan

Um, my ultimate favorite sport soccer combined with Caribbean-style booty shaking dance moves? This class was made for me. The two ways I like to sweat best. I’m in love.

follow the yellow brick road

…actualIy, mean the red line. Click on the “Alaska” button above and track where I am going! I head east shortly and you know a cross-country road trip comes with a lot of stories.

I never imagined that when I declared; “2010 is MY year!”- it would mean that all in this quick flash of less than 365 days I would:

1.) Work with one of my best friends helping him to organize his company during it’s wildly successful growth.
2.) Drive alllllll the way to Alaska, alone, to hit my 50th state reaching a 16 year old goal.
3.) Live and work a full harvest season in Napa for a winery owned by the most lovely kind-hearted people I could imagine.

….and then some. And I don’t take one second of any of it for granted.

I still can’t wrap my brain around all the memories and experiences that I have just from this one single year. I look forward to sharing my 2011 with you here. Nothing like following your heart, setting goals and doing what feels right. It always works out. I am so thankful this year for being inspired to follow my dreams. I can do this because of all the friends and family I am lucky enough to have.

In honor of a chuckle and giving those thanks for Thanksgiving, I’m using the term “The Napa 15” (like The Freshmen 15 so many gain in college.) This describes how tight my jeans are after 2.5 months here. I mean, who’s not going to eat cheese and drink wine everyday when you work in a place like this? To add to the wine and cheese, now comes the turkey. Let the buttons pop. I’m going out with a bang.

Happy turkey feasting everyone!

funny

Apparently when I say I am taking a sabbatical, the world really wants me to take one. I just found out that my email inbox has been bouncing back all the messages people have been sending me for a week. Nice when I’m working my tail to connect/network, send resumes and all that good stuff huh? Life always seems to have that perfect timing. The email issue is fixed now, but if you have emailed me in the past week- please resend to diane (@) blue lollipoproad.com -Thank you and sorry!

Now back to my sabbatical. Happy weekend. I’ll be back soon with a vengeance. Promise 🙂