The Packing Project

Ok, so I have a lot of stuff to bring to NYC. Most of it being supplies for my Smashbook project ~ and SHOES. I'm not sure why I ended up bringing so many shoes, but I have a feeling I won't regret it later. All my Smashbook and photo supplies will be used up as the month progresses, so I should create some space for anything I pick up in the city.

I think I'm going to pay more for baggage fees than the actual ticket itself :) but it's really not that important at this point.

I got everything into two suitcases, a duffle bag and my laptop bag.
Not bad.

2 Days to Go

My first few days of sabbatical have literally been non-stop! It's been wonderful, so don't get me wrong, but I'm worn out tonight.

I've upgraded my Mac (since my iPad has not been recovered from me stupidly leaving it on the Intel Shuttle), replaced my hot water heater, finished my sister's Retirement Smashbook (which looks awesome!), took a super fun day trip to Sedona with my lovely friend, Kristi, gone to two funerals (unbelievable), gotten my hair done, contemplated a 180 career change (true!), mani-pedi, 2 workouts, a 1-hour walk.... AND.... written a packing list.

WHEW... what a crazy week! No complaints - I'd rather be doing all or any of that and not be going into the office everyday. Life is good. I am blessed.

Tomorrow I do laundry.

I cannot believe my incredible luck...

I DVR Fallon every night and this morning I was so excited to start watching last night's episode only to see my other all-time favorite guy, Jerry Seinfeld! Only to find out that - YES! - he is performing in NYC on October 4th. I checked out ticket prices and I can afford one in the nose-bleeds, but WHO CARES!?!? It's Jerry!!

Also found out he's doing a webcast comedy show called, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee." I just watched the first episode with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks. HYSTERICAL. So funny. Check it out!

The Last Work Day

Today is my last day of work before sabbatical starts! I love these days because I have time to write blogs and such - and am basically in wrap-up mode. Tying up a few lose ends. Going to lunch. Going to the Dentist.

The perfect work day.

The next few days will be devoted to a little more planning, packing, organizing, spending time with friends and family and enjoying not having to have an early bedtime!

 The Parties

My two awesome cubeys, Nancy and Cindy (see below) got cupcakes and cards for my going away (and for the boss's birthday)! They were the yummiest cupcakes.

They also took me to lunch for Mexican food along with our other pal, Patricia. What a great send-off. I'm going to miss you guys!!

My "Gone Fishin'" sign on my white board...

The Smashbook Obsession...

I discovered the Smashbook while wandering around Seattle this summer and poking my head into all manner of funky little stores. Smashbooks are a free-form creative way to scrapbook, journal and save stuff. The pen even has a glue stick on one end!!! So genius!!

I'd been looking for a cool scrapbook for NYC. A few months ago, I had the idea of taking a portable printer and scrapbooking day-by-day - so that when I left ... I would have the memory book done. I also want my guests to write their memories and put some of their pictures in - so I have a total trip kinda thing going.

So in that same timeframe, while enduring an extremely boring F2F, I started googling portable printers (which saved me from literally pulling my hair out strand-by-strand). I found this really cool 3 lb printer that prints one picture at a time right from your phone or iPad! You just dock your phone and click, click, click - whirl, whirl, whirl - PHOTO! The cartridges include ink and paper - so supplies are easy too.

 So between the groovy printer and the Smashbook - I was all set to go.

But I couldn't wait - as we started planning stuff to do during the trip, I started taking notes and keeping it in the Smashbook - it's awesome to have everything in one place. Everyone I talk to shares their favorite places they've visited or where they've eaten - so now I just jot everything down in the Smashbook :)

Every page is a little different and has some kind of cool, funky design - so each guest can pick the pages they like to smash in their photos, words, stickers - whatever!!

It also has little pockets where I'm storing all of our tickets to Broadway shows, tours... and naturally - the Jimmy Fallon tickets (which have their own special pocket).

Sidenote: This post proves my theory that I could totally be a QVC host. Do you see how much I wrote just about this book!?

Single Digits & Counting Down

This is a nifty little tool that I have on my main site at work. I only have six days to sabbatical.

Eleven days to the NYC Experience.

It's been 9 years since my last sabbatical - 9 years and 9 months to be exact. My time in Costa Rica stopped the clock. TOTALLY WORTH IT, by the way - but it's been a long time, nonetheless!

LNWJF - Wahooo!

The highlight of my planning, thus far, was yesterday. After calling NBC Ticket line daily for 2 and 1/2 weeks - I finally scored tickets to Fallon.

The best news is that the tickets are for October 24th, when both Gina and Jules are visiting.

DVR it!
Look for us!

I'm secretly hoping they do "Freestylin' with the Roots" that night....

I leave for the NYC experience on October 1st. As the trip gets closer, people are asking me to start a blog - At first, I was thinking ..."Just check me out on Facebook" but after reconsidering... Blogging isn't such a bad idea, so here it is :)