we travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us

Internet Reality v. REAL Reality

September 11, 2014

So, Monday, I got back from my second trip in two weeks to Miami.


Ugh. 

If only. 

I have been flying down to Miami (okay, twice) for job interviews for next summer. (see previous post). But, I had an idea after looking at my IG feed that -- wouldn't a great post be about the difference between your internet reality and real reality??

For example

 What you see:
Da bomb dot com view from my balcony in my hotel room that was totally comped and upgraded and INCREDIBLE.

What you don't see:
The fact that I fly down on Sunday night, to return on Monday night. Hectic. I can't do any of my schoolwork/ extra curricular obligations because I'm such a nervous flyer that I can't concentrate in the airport or on the plane.


What you see: Amazing fucking view. 
What you don't see: No, okay, this is just rad. 

 What you see:
Same pic, but IG'ed.

What you don't see:
No, sorry, this view was just too incredible.

 What you see:
IN-FUCKING-CREDIBLE view from the firm where I interviewed.

What you don't see:
When (ONE OF) the interviewer(s) asked me, "so, from teaching, to big law, that's a big change, why?" and I said, "Well, you know, I feel like the two are not mutually exclusive, and I can still contribute and give back to the community outside of work" and the attorney literally LAUGHED at me and said, "I just want you to understand what it's like to work here. You have NO free time to do anything. I've been trying to get through a book for a year, but I can't because my life is here."
 What you see:
Awesome hotel room. Incredible jacuzzi tub. Wiiiiinneee.

What you don't see:
I can NEVER get the temperature right. TOO hot, burned my skin off. OW.
 What you see:
INCREDIBLE Miami Beach. Fucking, GORGEOUS.

What you don't see:
The taxi driver dropped me off on "lincoln road", i didn't know where to go, so I just started wondering around -- this is after my taxi driver put the "a/c" on, which I'm pretty sure was just hell-fire blowng on me. I sweat entirely through my shirt before I got out of the cab (THIS IS NOT A JOKE! THE BACK OF MY SHIRT WAS A DIFFERENT COLOR!). When I stepped out of the cab, it felt COOLER than inside the cab (reference point: weather.com said that the "feels like" in miami beach was 100 fucking degrees, jus sayin) . . . I walked around, down to the beach, up lincoln road - for probably like an hour. I sweat SO MUCH that I thought I was going to faint. It was SO hot.
 What you see:
Hofbrauhaus München -- in Miami

What you don't see:
I was LITERALLY the only person in this bar. All the places on this road were so fancy I was afraid to stop, I finally went in here, because I LOVED the hofbrahaus in munich, but it was so awkward. 

 What you see:
Cool cocoon thing outside the pool at my hotel

What you don't see:
How exhausted, sweaty and hot I was while laying in there. This little cocoon was literally a life-saver, but damn if I didn't have an exhausting day leading up to it!

 What you see:
The outside of my "cocoon".

What you don't see:
Nothing. This is an accurate representation of where I was napping before the airport!
 
 What you see
View of Miami downtown/water. 

What you don't see
How tired & ready to be home I was!

So there you have it. A FEW of the differences between what you see and what is actually going on. I hate to complain about having interviews, because not many people get them (e.g., the recruiter told me they also invited back two other guys from my class -- so out of 167 people, they invited 3 people bck for interviews), but it is REALLY REALLY draining and exhausting and is basically like another job!

What does your internet persona show v. what's reality??? 

xox, 
Kimbo

Post-Vacation Bluuueeess

August 9, 2014

How I feel about the fact that I'm no longer on vacation.


This year was a true vacation. We went to Turks & Caicos after I read on TripAdvisor that it was one of the top 10 beaches in the world, and I'm just gonna throw it out there that YES, it was incredible!!! The water was like pool water!

Turks & Caicos is still pretty low on the travel radar scene, it was only in 1985 that Club Med built a resort there and it's been expanding ever since (most people go to Grand Turk when they're on cruises, but we stayed on Providenciales). So there really is not a lot to do there. Which, was just fine for me.

Anyways, on to those blues . . .


 ^^ full disclosure: that's my sister not me but how cool is this picture??
 Somehow I got roped into eating the "spine" of the conch, fear-factor style . . . also, doesn't that background look fake??
 THAT WATER THOUGH!! They told us they do victoria secret shoots out here . . . well, duh!
 Oh, paddleboarding? Not my jam
 it was better on my knees. (#twss?)

 I wish I didn't look like I had a lazy eye in every snorkeling picture I tried to take!
 View from our beach
 Our room was the bottom left!
Don't make me go back!

The biggest thing T&C has going for it (as opposed to other islands in the Carribbean) is that it is not overrun with tourists (yet). There were plenty of opportunities to take pictures and relax on the beach without seeing anyone else around!

The only cure for this post-vacation depression is a netflix binge . . . up now: Friday Nights Lights

Have you ever been to Turks & Caicos? Where's your favorite vacation spot??

A Tale of Two Airlines

August 4, 2014


I would say that I travel frequently and have flown probably hundreds of times (despite my fear of flying). 

So let me break down for you how ridiculous (and unnecessarily so) this trip to Turks and Caicos was (so ridic that I'm typing from my phone so I won't forget my impassioned injustice)

First of all, American Airlines and US airways have "supposedly" merged. That's important for this story. I have a US Airways CC so I can get free first checked bag + priority boarding. I booked my and my sisters flights on orbitz, but it wasn't like a "change airlines" thing, it was just: my first flight is American Airlines (really American eagle, AA's regional provider), second flight is US Airways. Everything from picking seats to checking in online was a mess. I would go to AA and it would only let me check in/pick seats for my first flight. So then I go to US airways to pick my seat:check in and it says it's an aa flight so I have to go to aa and it will redirect me. Mmmmmk.

Bottom line: I was never able to check in for my second flight. Whatever, I'll do it at the airport bc I'm checking my bag anyway (btw, the online checkin never asked me if I was checking a bag, but I looked and it said that international flights were free first checked bag.)

I get to tallahassee airport brigt and EARLY and there are like two checkin counters there - delta and us airways. I'm like, okay, us airways should be good, especially bc te sign when you walk in had BOTH company logos on it. I tell the guy (after waiting in line) that my second boarding pass (which is actually on us airways) wouldn't print. He tells me I have to go to the AA desk. What? There's an AA desk?? Yep. Sure enough, behind where you have to drop your bags off. This line is massive. I wait in that. Explain the situAtion. Get charged $25 to check my bag. Excuse me? This is international plus I have this credit card. No, technically it's not international because were going tally to Miami 😳. Okay, whatever, I'll write a letter later. then he tells me he can't print my boarding pass and I have to go to the us airways desk in Miami. What the actual fuck.

So, I get to Miami, go to the desk, the guy tells me he'll help me an hour before the flight departs. REALLY? You can't just print my boarding pass?? So then my sister and I go to the bar and when I go back right before boarding and ask him to print my boarding pass, he gives me a kind of knowing smirk and says "soo, what happened to your boarding pass?"

Oh no he didn't.

Now my flight is mega bumpy y'all. This is a good distraction. This is what I wanted after all..: for my flight not to get cancelled / delayed as I fly into a tropical storm.* No big.

Okay, but with a view like this, I almost (almost!) can't complain!!


Xox,


Kimbo

* were not flying into the trop storm ( at least not yet) but there was a trop storm warning in Turks and Caicos and it hit yesterday.

Travel Throwback Thursday: Akumal, México

July 31, 2014

In anticipation for my week-long beach vacay in Turks & Caicos (leaving Saturday!), I thought it would be fun to do a little Travel Throwback Thursday (maybe a repeating trend while I get my travel page fattened up!) on one of my favorite beachy vacays: Akumal, Mexico.

We (my three girlfriends and I) went in October 2011 - over Columbus Day weekend. We got a living social deal and it worked out to $90 for each of us for THREE NIGHTS stay in a BEAUTIFUL condo, right on the water, in México! Those deals are no joke!!

We flew into Cancun, rented a car and drove about an hour to get to Akumal. It was pretty painless. One caveat though, and I'm sure if you've ever rented a car you know this, but ESPECIALLY if you are traveling just females, make sure you make note of any problems with the car beforehand. They basically tried to tell us we had to pay for four new tires when we turned the car in because one tire was flat. I was like, NO. Put air in it! But the rental place is not attached to the airport, it's down a dirt road and you have to take a shuttle there, so you could be screwed getting back to the airport if they really decide to be jerks.

It was pretty easy to check in, and we also got a day-trip to some "eco-adventures" thing. I've gone ziplining in Costa Rica and Panama, I've done the rapelling thing and all sorts of stuff, so I think in retrospect I didn't need to do this tour. I should've just stayed on the beach all day. The other day we did go snorkeling (I got seasick), then hung out on the beach all day.

The town was ABANDONED because it was October, and October is low-season for Mexico (everyone from up north wants to escape the cold winters!). We went to "our" restaurant - La Buena Vida (The Good Life) and ordered guac every day. YUMMMMM.

It was just a really nice, relaxing long weekend getaway with girlfriends and I'd love to go back! Now, some pics!

 the view from our back patio!! unreal!!




 getting dragged over the rocks. -_-
 a view from inside our condo. there were two bedrooms - one with two twin bed, other with a king.

 back patio
 "our" restaurant. blurry, but the floor is sand, and swings for seats!
 nom nom nom get in my belly!!

Have you ever been to México? I really want to go to Cabo!!!

xox, kimbo

Preparing to Leave the Country

July 29, 2014

So, I'm heading out on Saturday morning (my first flight leaves at 7:20am. WAHHH) to Turks & Caicos. Every year my sister and friend Steph and I (and sometimes others) go on a trip that centers around August 4. The past trips have been London, Ireland, and (last year) Iceland. For my 30th birthday -- which is next year -- I want to go on an African Safari! #bucketlist. So, the idea was that this year we would stick close to home. I saw on TripAdvisor that they did an article on the top 10 beaches in the WORLD, and Turks and Caicos was on the list!

I didn't even know where Turks and Caicos was before I started researching this trip. Turns out, it's right there in the Carribbean.


So, what started out as a sticking-close-to-home-to-save-money trip, has basically turned into possibly the most expensive of all the trips we've taken!! I can't believe it. But, t&c is pretty abandoned, in terms of, it hasn't been overrun with tourism yet (win!). We got an oceanfront room, so I'm veryy excited!!

But, before I go on a big trip I have a few things that I ALWAYS do, no matter how much I try to resist.

#1. ONLINE SHOP like crazy

I cannot seem to stop myself from buying everything that I think I might actually possibly maybe need/use.

This time, I bought a Lo & Sons bag. The MOST expensive bag I have ever bought, and I am REALLY hoping that it lives up to the hype. And by hype, I mean my own research that I did about it. The biggest perks of it are the strap on the back that lets it easily be attached to your rolly luggage + all the pockets!

I also went on an old navy shopping binge. I got enough clothes to wear something new every day. Soooo I might have gone overboard.

Victoria Secret bathing suits. Ahhh. Unfortunately the bottoms are too small, (i think?) . . . it's hard to tell with bathing suits bc I feel like if you get a size that feels good, when it gets wet, it falls off, and if you get it a little smaller then you're like, why is my fat being squeezed out of me.

#2. Get my nails did!
Haven't done this yet - I think I'm gonna go Friday and get NEON EVERYTHING!!

#3. Pack the night before or the day of (depending on flight time). 

I really don't understand these people who are packed like a week before they leave. What if you need the stuff you've packed? I'm actually a pretty good packer although I ALWAYS bring one or two things that I NEVER wear. I'm gonna try to beat that this year.

#4. Charge all the things. 

Cameras, iPad, eReaders, phone, portable battery stick. Nothing worse than your charge dying, ESPECIALLY on the cameras.

#5. Obsess over TripAdvisor

If you travel and don't use TripAdvisor, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG. Seriously. That is the best wesbite/app of all time! Unfortunately, I am always really bad about actually writing my own reviews, but it is absolutely the best resource for what to do, where to go, when to eat, etc. I spent hours the other night looking at people's photos from the resort we're staying at!!

BONUS #6 - Panic about flying. 

You'd think with the amount of times I've flown (100s, if not 1000s), this would not longer be an issue, but no. I'm semi-excited this time because I've been working at it with my therapist so we'll see how it goes. I think I make myself out more scared than I am, and usually I go to the airport bar before the flight so it's not a HUGE issue, but still, it would be nice not to think the plane is going down every time there's turbulence.

(A hilarious post that I swear I could have written -- esp. #12 -- about what freaks out nervous flyers)

& there you have it. All the things I do to prepare for a trip! What about you??

AMERICA! F YAH!

July 4, 2014

My favorite song y'all!

I love the Fourth of July and I couldnt really put my finger on exactly why until I read Juliette's post and said she likes holidays that are about presence, not presents and I was like BINGO! that's EXACTLY it! I also LOVE St Patty's Day and it boils down to = themed dressing. What's not to love? If you missed my America nails that I posted on IG and in a previous post this week, go here.

So today I woke up and went running on my old stomping grounds. I forgot how absolutely incredible it is to go running and have an OCEAN BREEZE on you!! Whyyy cant I have that in Tallahassee??? 
#home
Then we went the pool in my parents' "community". AKA Old people village. There are so many rules it's insane. 
it's normal to read books in the pool, right?
Then I got a pretty brutal headache so we came home and I took a nap, now we're watching fútbol, and later we're going to some breweries and then to watch fireworks, because what's more American than breweries + fireworks?? 


Allieology

Comfort Zones, y'all

July 3, 2014

DAY 3!! STREAK!

Today's topic is about how have you pushed yourself outside of your comfort zone in 2014. I think? Some posts I've just seen are just on what makes you uncomfortable, so I like that we have some flexibility in the topic.

Anyways, comfort zones and leaving them

I don't know why, but for some reason I ALWAYS associate comfort zone and pushing outside of it to be things to do with TRAVELING. Solely traveling. & believe me, I'm terrified of everything, and yet every time I travel I push myself to do things that are outside of my comfort zone. Even things that I DIDNT WANT TO DO and that I DID NOT ENJOY. hahah. I think it's taken me a LONG time to realize that pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone doesn't mean that you have to force yourself to do things that you don't like or don't want to do . . . but you shouldn't let your "comfort zone" keep you from doing things you DO want to do, and that once you do them you're happy you did.

What are some things that I've forced myself to do that I hated? And knew I would hate?

#1. Roller Coasters. 
this is me, but with my eyes closed. the sheer terror, i know it well.
I'm from Florida, guys. I've been to every amusement park, and I've been on EVERY roller coaster. And I fucking hate them all. Serious. When I worked at Chickfila, my boss bought us all tickets to go to Islands of Adventure (Universal Studios Part Dos) one Sunday. I went on EVERY SINGLE ROLLER COASTER . . . in the FRONT row on every one. WHYYYY. But no one can every accuse me of not TRYING new things.

Me in line for a roller coaster is a constant feeling of nervousness, sweating, hot flashes, and feeling like I'm going to puke -- for however long I'm waiting. Me ON roller coasters is closing my eyes, hanging on for dear life, and LITERALLY sweating through whatever clothes I'm wearing.

Never again.

#2 Avatar One - First roller coaster zip line - MEXICO. 
(Do you see a recurring theme?)
not me - this person looks like they're enjoying it
Again. I did not want to do this, but I like ziplining. I don't like roller coasters though. So, I risked it. Let me mention that this thing definitely did not look up to American safety standards, they told us there was one part where some people get stuck and if you do you have to reach up and pull yourself the rest of the way. (Guess who got stuck??) THEN, it finishes by going into a cave, a garbage bag (i shit you not) holds back some water, and you crash into the water. Well, they told us to put our legs a certain way so that we would not PUSH WATER into our faces at the end, but I, of course, didn't follow directions and I basically drowned myself at the end.

Okay, basically those are the only two things. But this year, especially because I have gone back to school I have a few things on my "pushing myself" list that I've done.

#1. Try out to be a representative for the Women's Law Group
No one knew me. It's like student government so I was like, there's no way I'm getting elected - it's a popularity contest. And guess what guys?? IT WAS. But you know what, I didnt win, but it didn't crush my heart. It didn't suck that bad.

#2. Try out for mock trial team -- the ONE thing I wanted to do in law school. 
This one was terrifying - because you have to try out without ever having learned the stuff that you're doing. AND GUESS WHAT - didn't make it.

#3. Try out for moot court 
(like mock trial but for appellate work)
I made it to the second (of three) rounds. AND GUESS WHAT - I didn't make it.

#4. Try out to be my writing teacher's assistant next year
She has two TAs for the whole year.
AND GUESS WHAT
I ACTUALLY MADE IT!!!! 
If at first you don't succeed, y'all, try, try again!!

#5. Go to my teacher's office hours
This was a big goal of mine because I never went to office hours in undergrad OR grad school and I think it's really important but I was always just scared. I didn't go AT ALL first semester and I regretted it. Spring semester I went a few times and I definitely want to keep that goal going for the next two years.

#6. Go to a weight watcher's meeting

This has legit been on my list for at least 3 years. I don't know, I just really wanted to go to an actual meeting because I felt like it would help me, but I've always been so scared. Well, at the beginning of June I finally did it and GUESS what -- not scary at all! So glad I did it!!

Welp, yeah, soo can you see a theme? One of the hardest things for me to do is put myself out there with PEOPLE. I always *say* I'm socially anxious but whenever I'm in groups of people I actually do really well. And if I learned anything this year it's that you can't always get what you want, and I am SO HAPPY THAT AT LEAST I TRIED!!! I never have to wonder, "What if??" and next year, I'll try out again :)

xox
Kimbo
Allieology

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