Thursday, December 29, 2016

Preparations & Expectations - Outer Journey

As far as preparations go, I have not done a single thing to start. I always make check lists of things to do, then use sticky notes for each item on each check list. Though I am not the most organized person, I do take pride in making sure I am prepared in every aspect as soon as I can be. Currently I am remaining calm about it since I am still home for the holidays three and a half hours from my apartment, but once I make it back I will be frantically getting everything together.
            I will have the most trouble packing clothes. As I shiver in my house that is currently kept at 67 degrees, I looked up the estimated weather for the first few days in New Orleans: 72, 69, 60, 52, and 57 degrees. While it will be much warmer there, it is still considered chilly in Illinois. Louisiana gets humid. This makes it difficult for me to choose the right clothes.  I get cold easily, so I will definitely be bringing my comfy green jeans, my soft gray cardigan, and plenty pairs of socks. I already know that at night I will need to sleep in some baggy pajama pants along with sweaters that should only really be worn outside for the fall with how thick they are.
I will need to be able to make time to go to the store to get snacks for the train and for the hotel room. If I could I would bring a whole barrel full of my mom’s pumpkin cookies from the holidays. The cookie tastes like the feeling of the holidays and the chocolate chips melt in your mouth, but keeps me salivating as I reach for another one. Nature Valley granola bars are my muse. The crunch from each bite leaves me tasting more honey than the last. They are extremely filling as well and would be a great option to bring along for travel.
I was fortunate enough to be able to have been given a cross body purse for Christmas. The teal leather of the bag compliments the light brown of the strap so well, and the gold accents of the zippers and the key that hangs on the side ties the whole look together. My fingers are crossed that I receive the black Nikes that I asked for for my birthday, otherwise I have no idea what I will be wearing for the long walks every day of the trip. I need to avoid the painful, achy feet for as long as I can.
Lastly, I am still in the process of arranging plans for my boyfriend and I for while I am gone. Our anniversary is on January 7th, which we will still be in New Orleans on that day. Anniversaries are so important to us as we have such a great history, so I put forth an extra effort for him. I have filled in a booklet in which each page has a prompt that I answer about him. Even though I will not be with him physically to celebrate, I hope that as he turns each crisp page of that red leather book that he feels all of the love that I put into it with each stroke of the blue fountain pen. I appreciate him so much and for all of the help he has offered to prepare me for this trip with everything that I have stated already. And I know he will be there supporting me my whole time there.

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