Hey gals, I feel bad that I haven't posted here in SOOOOO long, it's crazy & I miss the chats/gushing. :( Now that I look at the date, I see that I haven't actually posted in *OVER* 24 months (2 whole years!!!). That's insane! I've checked in once in a while and read updates, so I don't know why I never posted since then. Anyway, I guess a bit has happened...

Just about a week after Hurricane Katrina hit in '05 my best friend and I went out on 2 month trip around Europe and I had a blast. Since then I've basically been working constantly to try and save up to do some more long-term traveling.

This past summer one of my brother's best friends (someone we've both known since elementary school) was killed and I guess you could say it was a bit of a wake up call for me to realize that I can't live my life trying to make everyone else proud of me and that I've got to do what makes me happy since we only have this one life to live. (as cliche as that sounds)

To make a long story short, I just moved to Chicago this past November on a whim (got a job offer while I was here on vacation in October!) and it's been a little scary, exciting & confusing all at once, but it's helped me become more independent. I'm still saving to travel and hope to get out on the road by the end of this year to see Central & South America, and then maybe work my way to Asia and/or Africa.

No major relationships to speak of though, figures. ha!

How'd your cruise go Natalie? Well I hope!! Well I hope you guys are having a great start to the new year! If you want to keep in touch, my e-mail is wand3rlust@gmail.com or you can always check in at my blog: Wand3rlust.com

Hey gals! I'm feeling ever so guilty about not posting in forever! I don't know that I've even posted this year....so sad considering I was posting something on a near daily basis for awhile! Hope you all are doing great and anticipating the holidays. I know I am - even if we aren't doing much of a gift exchange, that's not what it's all about anyway. I am going to try to make it to the 10:00 Mass like I did last year - I was so affected by it that I'm considering converting (my husband was raised Catholic). I would just need to do the adult classes for confirmation and such (I forget the formal name for it offhand - it's on the tip of my tongue....). So what else is new....STILL waiting for someone to buy the boat; it's been for sale for the last year & a half. We're now living in the City (San Francisco), so I have my closets, real bathroom (complete with tub!), real kitchen, etc. back. I do miss the water occasionally. I still watch for Rick's reports - and check his blog on Fox News. I haven't watched Fox as much as I used to. Usually Fox Report and then a little bit of Weekend Live on Sat & Sun. I guess it usually depends on what's going on.

Jan- glad you had fun on the cruise! My dad & stepmom want to take my sister, her boyfriend, my grandma, Kevin, & I on a cruise down to Mexico around March. While I've never had a problem on our boat with the rocking (even in 50+ mph winds!), I'm a bit wary on going out into the ocean. I think I'm a true land lubber at heart and I know I'm a definite control freak, so there you go. I'll bring the Bonine in case, but I think it's more my nerves that I have to watch - not so much the motion. All in all, I think it would be a great/fun trip. I'm getting prepared by starting to get my Hep A/B vaccinations; I just got the first one last week. Boy did that one hurt!

Well, I gotta go for now, but I will try to check in more often. Even though I haven't posted in some time, I've missed you all!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!! =)

Nathalie (Natalie)

Are we considering this blog dead? I miss you guys.....

Hi Ellen, long time no chat. Are you still in MN? I haven't watched much of Fox lately, I am working at a hospital from 2:00pm to 11:00 pm, and the basement (where I work) doesn't have cable. I get to see Rick occasionally. I just got back from NYC and a cruise on the Queen Mary 2 to Halifax, Nova Scotia. I had a wonderful time, went with 5 friends and had never cruised before. I made sure to take my dramamine every day and it was all great! We were cruising on 20' seas, and wobbling quite a bit, but I didn't get sick at all. Even with the not-so-great weather, we all had a fabulous time. It always ends too soon. I hope everyone stops by to chat soon, we need to keep this going, if not for Rick, then for us!

Jan

rick was just on studio b. no shep, but rick's as cute as ever!