A flashback in time! At drive-in double feature in Williamsport, PA!

Lulu is seriously watching the movie. She liked "Karate Kid" much more than "Knight and Day".

Punxsutawney, PA ~ Home of Punxsutawney Phil and movie "Ground Hog Day"

This stop in Punxsutawney was for my brother! When I first told Chris about my semi-irrational plan of quitting and traveling around the country, yoga, etc... I wasn't quite sure how he was going to respond. I was doing it anyway (of course), but having support from a rational thinking person is nice. ;)

He was ALL for it. My life-changing plan inspired one of the best conversations we've had in awhile. As we've gotten older, I don't find we have that many deep conversations anymore – we're always "too busy". We talked about our hopes, dreams and plans for bigger more meaning lives. It was special.

I'll never forget his quote, he said "I completely understand where you're coming from. Everyday feels like 'Groundhog Day'. We're only here once and I want to live and experience more, too. Go for it!"

So Chris, this stop was for you!

Pennsylvania! Hitting the REI store for some camping gear!

I decided that I "may" want to camp on this trip. I'm totally freaked out about doing it alone, but some of my snowboarding friends said they'd meet me on the road! I think it's time to buy some camping gear -- just in case! One problem, I'm right next to a REI Store but I left my wallet in Starbucks 1.5 hrs away!

I could see my father shaking his head at me as I filled him in on the 'almost' lost wallet incident. He wasn't surprised, concerned but not surprised. Anyway, I thought I could go to REI, pick out my stuff, then put him on the phone to give his credit card to pay for it! Easy right? In retrospect, I'm not entirely sure if my dad's 'concern' was for my mindlessness or the fact that I was buying camping gear. Either way, he agreed, now I just have to convince REI it's a good idea. The manager was stubborn but he finally gave in. Now I'll retrace my steps back to Starbucks to pick up my wallet. haha

MY PURCHASES:

I Bought a 2-person tent (for me and lulu), goose down sleeping bag, a self-inflating air mattress, lantern and all sorts of other supplies!!
 

Edinburg, PA ~ 'almost' lost my wallet! Already!!

Before I hit the trails at Bushkill, I sent my old friend Rachele a quick text. I met Rachele and her boyfriend (now husband) in NYC 5 years ago while feeding the homeless. Goes to show you, those that feed the poor together, stay together! Rachele and her husband moved to Pennsylvania, where they're both from, a little over 2 years ago after the wedding... it's been that long since I've seen her! She had a baby boy I was dying to meet as well. Life had changed quite a bit in the last couple of years for her, and I couldn't be happier! Hope she gets my text!

I had no signal in the woods, but had a text and voicemail from Rach as soon as I emerged. Thankfully she was HOME and so excited for me to visit! Yay! I get to see Rach, Andrew, Hagin and get a home cooked dinner!! Yay me. :)  She gave me directions and after a quick stop at Starbucks (somewhere in PA), I headed on my way. She lives about 1-1/2 hours from Bushkill Falls in Edinburg, PA

Something you should know, if you don't already... I have this incredible propensity to spill EVERYTHING on me. I'm a walking disaster. I really should wear a Tide-To-Go pen as a necklace. That being said, my trip to Starbucks did not let down. As I was fixin' my coffee, I spilled the entire thing all over me, the floor the counter... disaster. The girl came scurrying over to clean "me" up and in all of the fluster I left my wallet! Only problem is I didn't realize this until I was pulling into Rachele's driveway! Second problem is I had NO IDEA where the heck I was. With Rachele's help, I proceeded to call every Starbucks in PA (not really, but you get the point!). We did call about five though. Thankfully I hit the jackpot in Easton, PA. The same girl that cleaned up my spill answered the phone. She clearly remembered me, my mess and she had my wallet. PHEWWWW. What a way to start the trip!!! And it's not a small wallet either!! It's a purse/wristlet! Can't believe I was such a mess, jeeez. Thank goodness! Someone was looking out for me. From now on, the wristlet stays on my wrist!! DUH!!

Our evening was full of much wine and much catching up. We had a ball. Rachele and Andrew eat VERY healthfully so I was in good hands. My "healthy" diet was not going to suffer in the least bit with them. Perhaps the bottle of wine was off diet, but it was worth it! :)

I slept in, missed my 9am yoga class and it was at that moment I realized I need to get in the habit of doing podcast yoga (via internet) every morning – just in case something like this should happen again (which it probably will), or if I have trouble finding a class! At least I'll have it done for the day and if I do find a class – bonus for me!

Bushkill Falls, The Niagara of Pennsylvania!

My plan of 'no plan' led me to Bushkill Falls, PA!  Beautiful spot!  Lulu was incredible little hiker!  We hiked for over 2-1/2 hours through some pretty steep terrain and she never got tired! Awesome day!  MORE PICTURES!

Lulu wanted to say goodbye, too!

With Lulu tucked away hidden in her very discreet bag, I made a quick stop in the Bronx to say goodbye (for now) to my favorite person, Blake. It was a complete BONUS to run into Jermaine on the way into the nursing home! Jermaine has been in and out of the hospital with complications (from the original gunshot that left him paralyzed) but he's doing GREAT now. I was able to buy Jermaine a new computer, a few summers ago, from our very first little fundraiser! It was his very first computer!  

I left the boys with some money, and Blake with Broadway Show tickets (thought he can use some culture!)! He can take his girlfriend and make it a date night!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! Independence Day! Let the adventure begin!

Hey friends! It's been a long road getting to this point, but I finally made it! I'm OFF! My adventure has officially begun!  It's 1:20 am and I just settled into a Best Western in the Poconos! I had on clue where I was staying so I looked up a spot when I got tired and my GPS send me here! I need to sleep! Will write more tomorrow (or later today!). Lulu is already fast asleep and snoring. I need to join her, minus the snoring part! :)

Thank you Jenny Lieberman for making the world a better place.

You quietly help from the sidelines – wanting nothing in return except to make a boy's life better.

I would be remiss if I did not send a special thank you to Jenny Lieberman. Jenny is the "wheelchair seating and positioning advanced clinical specialist" at Mt. Sinai Hospital. She measured Blake and moved mountains to make sure his manual wheelchair was delivered and put together in time for our Jan. 21st fundraiser. More recently,

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We're back from our amazing trip to LA! SEE PICS!

Our trip to California was an amazing; awesome; inspiring; surreal; unbelievable; special; wonderful; emotional; memorable; moving; life-changing event! I'm setting out to reinvent myself this summer on my road trip, but thanks to Blake, I already did! I see more, appreciate more, love more and give more. I'm a better person because of Blake.

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Blake's new tatoo! SORRY FOSTER CARE! errrrr

We were walking down Hollywood Blvd Tuesday night, on our way to Hooters, when we passed by a tattoo parlor. Yes, you heard me correctly, "Hooters" and "tattoo parlor" in the same sentence. I think I just quickly went from an angel to a devil in a blink (haha). No really, Hooters was just a photo op, we didn't go in. As for the tattoo, that's a little trickier to explain.

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