tequila, anyone?

Last night was intoxicating. We were trying to figure out what to do, and after tossing around ideas for about half my life we finally decided to go out for drinks. None of us were super hungry so we didn't want to go somewhere known for it's food, but known more for it's drinks. So if you're ever looking for a pitcher of the best frozen margarita you'll ever enjoy go to Polvos in Austin.

I'm not a huge tequila fan (the only way I drink it is in a margarita), but these were sooooooo good. A pitcher is $20, but you get about six out of one pitcher, so I recommend going that route! The neat thing about Polvos is that they have a salsa bar, with three different salsas to taste. They are all really good too. We also got the Chili Con Queso to split, and it was the best queso I've ever had. You add your own ground beef, tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and jalapenos so you can pick what you want in it, and how spicy you want it. Super delicious.

The atmosphere is really cool there too. Their patio is made up of plastic tables and folding chairs, with a billion Christmas lights over head. It's the perfect place to relax and just have a fun, laid back night out. If you are going to split a couple of pitchers of margaritas between you, take a taxi, or walk. The drinks are strong, and so yummy. Once you have one you'll want to keep on drinking! Last night was intoxicating.

sweet travels

Guess I asked for it. I wanted this adventure. I am sitting in B&N using the internet, trying to look for a job, and the smell of coffee is making me happy. I miss working in a coffee shop, and it's only been two weeks. It's been a bittersweet couple of weeks, saying goodbye to all of my coworkers who are really my friends, and my family who are really my inspiration. It's been an interesting trip, with only one mental breakdown, but way too many car breakdowns.

The trip started relatively uneventful packing the car with everything I own. We couldn't fit everything in, but we got a lot, and the car was jam packed. With one last stop at Caribou we were on the road. We stopped in once in Iowa for a potty break, and once for gas. Drove through Missouri without any issues, which was surprising because it was super foggy, and then stopped somewhere is Kansas for dinner. We got back on the road, drove another hour and decided to stop in Emporia, KS for the night. Then the problems started.

When we were ready to hit the road the next morning, we started the car and discovered the low coolant light was on. So we went to some oil change place and had them check it out, fill it up, and make sure we wouldn't blow up or anything. So we keep driving and make it to Oklahoma without anymore problems. Stop for lunch and get back in the car only to discover the check engine light was on. So we call a few people, and they tell us that it could be two things, a tripped wire that's nothing, or something bad, just keep an eye on it, and keep driving.

On the road we go, praying, hoping, and begging that my car does not breakdown on the side of the road in the middle of OK. We make it through Oklahoma City, all the while looking for a car dealership to see if they can look at my car to make sure we won't die in a fiery explosion. By sheer luck we find one on the outskirts of town, pull in and ask them for a little help. As we're talking to the service manager I look out my window to see a river of coolant running down the shop floor.

As we waited for the guy to come tell us that my car was completely broken, we discussed our options. Hope nothing was wrong, buy a new car, get a rental, or stay in Norman, OK for two days. Turns out my car would cost another $1000 (thanks parents) and two days to fix, rental cars couldn't leave the state, and enterprise was closed. Thus ensued my mental breakdown, crying because I was sick of driving, sick of things taking so damn long, sick of my car being so broken, and the start of my life seemed so far out of reach. The service manager seeing this somehow made it ok for a rental car to leave the state, and we loaded an HHR (really dumb looking by the way), and headed for Austin.

Finally here I feel like my life can start. I am getting organized, furnishing my makeshift bedroom, and looking for a job (and blogging of course). It's been an eventful four days, full of excitement, fear, adventure, laughter, and tears. And I couldn't be happier. We're still trying to figure out when to get my car down here, but it will all fall into place, I'm sure. This is what I wanted. Guess I asked for it.

fate. planning. packing.

It's all up to fate. And planning. And careful packing. No one ever tells you how much packing sucks until you're knee deep in boxes, clothes, hangers, and crap. I have paths all around my room and stuff everywhere. It doesn't help that there is a mountain of clean laundry to put away. I have neatly separated things into piles; what to move, what needs to be stored, what I'm selling, what's getting donated, and what goes straight to the garbage.

(My mountain of laundry on the bed.)

Turns out I am slightly a pack rat (or just lazy). But I keep weird things no one would ever need. I've found my collection of In Styles and Glamours, which are purged every time a move happens. There are old journals with one entry in them, books I need to read, and a nice stack of college textbooks. The weirdest things are plastic bags from Target, Gap, Anthropologie, and Charming Charlie, etc. and white plastic hangers. I must have a thousand hangers, why?

(Save or throw away?)

(Seriously hangers? There are still at least 50 hanging up still!)

I'm not lacking motivation to pack, I feel like I just did this. When I moved out of my apartment in September I planned on just grabbing everything I have and moving to a new apartment in the Twin Cities. I didn't think I would be consolidating everything into my car and driving to Texas. This is a little more challenging than I had anticipated. I'm just making the dent in my room, and I still have the whole garage to go through.

How is this all going to get done in a week? Especially with a trip to Grand Forks and Fargo this weekend. It's hard to know what I will need and want when I get there. Does every book and movie come? Will I need all of my dishes, Tupperware, and cookware? Who knows, I guess this is just all up to fate. And planning. And careful packing.

adventures

It's time for an adventure. It's time to get out of this Minnesota weather and head south. I'm packing up my life and moving to Austin, and I'm going to blog all about it. As i sit on my bed at my Parent's house writing this, I'm looking out my bedroom window at the snow covering the ground and thinking about all of my time here in the frozen tundra. All of the friends I've made, all of the adventures I've had, how much I'll miss my family, and it makes me sad. But then I think about the new adventure I'm about to have, all the new friends I will make, spending more time with my sister, and being happy!

I've discovered a lot in the last month since I've decided to move. saving money is easier than I thought, I have some of the best friends and family a girl could ask for, and I've actually made an impact on some people's lives. And while all of that is wonderful and would make some people very happy, I'm ready to live for me. I'm ready for my time to shine, and for my life to really get going. I've gotten too comfortable and complacent, and I'm ready to really LIVE!

So with just over a week to pack up all of the belongings I can fit in my car, say goodbye to everyone I love, and set out for bigger and better things, I'm finally starting to feel it. I'm starting to feel my feet getting wet, and I can't wait to start swimming in the proverbial ocean of life.

It's happening faster than I thought, but at a snail's pace. How is that even possible? Packing, cleaning, organizing and laundry are going to consume the next couple days, and then it's here, time to go. I guess this is where real life starts. It's where my journey here ends, and my new journey begins. It's time for an adventure.