Polar Vortex…The Dream Crusher

I’m not even sure where to begin with this one.

Two Words: POLAR VORTEX.

POLAR VORTEX

We are still in Buffalo.

Everything out of Buffalo is cancelled.

We were booked on FIJI Airways out of LAX tonight at 9:30pm- we can’t get there.

W T F.

We thought we were in the clear. Everything was scheduled and on time, we finished packing- posted our farewell on Facebook, poured some wine and then BOOM- CANCELLED. The Buffalo Storm of the Decade is the crusher of all dreams.

Adam and I spent about 4 hours, starting at 1am, on the phone trying to figure out a way to get out of Buffalo, how to cancel our flights, contact the reservation we had in New Zealand for the first couple nights we got there, and if we just lost all of our money.

Here are some things we learned in this process.

Oh, and only twice did Adam have to take the phone away from me because I’m pretty sure I wasn’t speaking English, but pure profanity after 3am.

Tip 1: Do not book FIJI Airways. Ever. In a million years.

                  Example Conversation:        

Fiji Airway Employee: There is nothing we can do for you. We do not refund.

                                    Adam: So you’re saying even though there are traveling bans where we are and every flight is cancelled, if we cannot make it across the US before our flight at 9:30pm we are screwed.

                                    Fiji Airway Employee: Yes, sir.

Tip 2: NEVER book through AIRFARE.COM…who apparently I booked through when I used KAYAK [this may be more so the problem, but FIJI Air was about as helpful as speaking directly to a wall]. And I repeat, NEVER. They hung up on me twice, and they refuse to cancel my flight. They sent me 2 emails with a link to change the flight telling me that’s all I can do, and by doing so- I will get charged $350 per ticket. There is no way for me to take out my credit card information to process the request. Mind you, all of their flights now are about 2 or 3 times more than what we paid in August, and they will not honor our pricing.

Example Conversation:        

Airfare Employee: You are confirmed! Your flight is on time, have a great trip. 

                                    Nicole: No, I am trying to tell you…

                                    Airfare Employee: Your flight is on time and you are confirmed.

                                    Nicole: No, I need to cancel my flight. 

                                    Airfare Employee: You cannot cancel your flight it is non refundable.

                                    Nicole: Our connecting flight was cancelled and nothing is flying out for us to get to LAX- we have no choice.

                                    Airfare Employee: Your flight is confirmed and it is non refundable.

                                    Nicole: We are unable to get there- there is no possible way for us to get on that flight. 

                                    Airfare Employee: Our flight is on- I suggest you get here or you lose your money. ::CLICK::

Tip 3: PURCHASE ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE. AAA uses Allianz, which is how I heard of them. Adam and I purchased this insurance directly through Allianz and my fingers are crossed that this is covered with them. I was hopeful on the phone and I am currently gathering everything I need to send them for this claim. They are extremely helpful and someone from the United States actually answered my phone call at 2am- points in my book for sure. They even knew of the situation; fingers crossed.

We changed our Southwest flights out of Buffalo, and we booked elsewhere to get to New Zealand.

January 18^th is almost the same as January 8^th, right?

See you on the 21^st New Zealand.

2013: The Year of Change

What a whirlwind this year has been. I started with no idea it would end up this way- which goes against so much of what I feel strongly about: planning is EVERYTHING! Don’t get me wrong, I will always be a planner and will always try to plan as much as I can, but I never could imagined or planned a year ago what I am about to embark on in a just about a week.

The Year of Love.

The biggest unplanned event this year has to be Adam. Meeting someone like Adam is life changing, even if you don’t end up falling in love and traveling the world as we may be. He has made me stronger than I ever have been before- believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself and picking me up when I needed a little help.  He is the most incredible support system and told me that if I had a dream and really wanted to make it a reality, I am the only one stopping myself- 100% true. Dreams do come true. Cheesy- but only when it happens to you, you believe it.

First Date!

The Year of Long-distance Love and THANKYOULEAH.

While meeting Adam was one of the best things, we started our relationship as a long-distance one. He was hiking the Appalachian Trail with Warrior Hike. We didn’t know when we could talk as service was spotty, so every day was a stare-at-your-phone-until-he-calls kind of day. In addition to not knowing when we would talk, we saw each other just about every two months when I would visit where he was. How did I stay so strong? I was lucky enough to have an incredible friend who would listen when I was having a hard day and who would continue to make me feel strong when I wasn’t feeling that way myself. As I said previously, meeting someone like Adam is life changing but I have to say- meeting someone and having a friend like Leah is just as amazing. Thank you SO MUCH Leah for being there through thick and thin, as I’m sure you wanted to say SUCK IT UP about a hundred times but didn’t. If I could pack you in my pack and bring you to New Zealand I would- I know I’ll need you while I’m there!! Love you, Freebird!

Adam took BOTH of us off-roading the morning after our first date. 

The Year of Selling Things.

What didn’t I sell this year? The most emotional sale was that of my house…my first home.  This was bittersweet as it held so many memories for me, but it was so incredibly satisfying. I lived on Harvest Ave for four years, and it was a learning experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life. I know what I would do different and what to look for when buying: what I want [a bigger bathroom] vs. what I don’t want [a tiny bathroom]. The important things of course. In addition to selling the house, I just about sold everything in it the weekend before hosting an epic yard sale with some amazing things. The house was sold the first day of my week vacation that month- luck. That brings me to the most recent- I sold my SUV yesterday. LUCK for sure. Perfect timing and it was to someone I know which is even better. Sell. Sell. Sell!

My first home.

The Year of Heartache.

I debated writing about this [because it makes me so emotional] but it was one of the hardest things I had to do this year. Due to my crazy work schedule and traveling in 2012, and the start of planning for this travel adventure, I had to find a home for the two most amazing fur babies anyone could have- Raisin and Lilly. I refused to separate them, and I wanted nothing in return other than finding a new forever home for these two peanuts. Thankfully, with the help of The Island Pet Lodge on Grand Island, NY, and knowing some incredible people, I found the most incredible place for them to grow up in. Thank you Kim & Jeffery Pardee- you made one of the hardest things I have ever had to do just a little more bearable. I fought through the tears [and still do when talking about it…like right now] but I know, without a doubt, they are with two INCREDIBLE people that would raise them just as I would have.

Lilly & Raisin

The Year of The Freebird.

I’ve worked since I was 14 so leaving my job was one of the strangest things I have done this year. Since I am a planner, and the thought of the unknown financially makes me a bit CRAZY, I wasn’t happy and I knew that. From our first date [which Leah attended by the way…I’ll never live that one down] we joked about being Freebirds. Not until this moment did I feel like a true Freebird.  There is comfort for me here though since we will be volunteering while on our journey. As it will be in exchange for housing & meals, we have a purpose. We will learn new things every day while we are gone, knowledge that will benefit us for years to come.

Dave Matthews Band Concert

This year has truly been amazing.

As New Years Eve is here, I do not have a New Years Resolution as many do. There is no specific thing I am looking to change or make different, but in turn hoping that during my upcoming journey I find more about myself than I knew when I left.

I open my arms wide to 2014: The Year of Happy.

Leaving Your Comfort Zone and Staying Strong.

When do you know when you’re out of your comfort zone?

For me, it’s when after being independent and living alone, you find yourself back at your parent’s house, in their basement, with your bed next to a double oven.

For Adam, its when after being deployed to Iraq, back safe, living the backpacker life on the Appalachian Trail, and finding himself at his girlfriend’s parents house, in their basement, with his bed next to a double oven.

Seriously.. 

HAVING SAID THAT… we are being tested… and staying strong. Living in a basement may be the definition of being out of your comfort zone…but the light is there.

Two HUGE things to mention in this post:

1. I have left my job
2. Our website is LIVE!!! www.HauserBautz.com

Bye-Bye Work Life.

Bittersweet! I have worked since I was 14 and walking out on my last day I found myself full of emotions. Being walked out by one of my closest friends at Stampede, Felix, I was greeted at the door by Adam with a dozen red roses and a huge hug. I was overwhelmed with what to feel. I sat down in the car and said to Adam, “I’m not sure if I should smile, laugh, or cry…but I guarantee all of these will happen at some point in the night once I realize what is happening!”

I have met some incredible people while at Stampede and I will forever be thankful for the friendships that were made while there. Kimmarie, Karen, Stacy, Jenn & Felix- you guys ROCK and kept me laughing and smiling!  

What? We have a website?

YOU KNOW IT! This took many hours to complete, and two calls from GoDaddy- who has the best support team EVER by the way. Although I still find myself changing things as time goes on, I am incredibly proud of what has been created.

Our website has ALL original photos that myself or Adam have taken, and we plan to keep it this way. What better than to look through the site and know we stood where each one of those photos was taken? There is just so much more meaning to us that way. 

Realizing that with not working, we will need a way to keep up on our gear and food- something we have planned from the start to do on our own. We have set up a pretty strict budget for food and shelter on our journey, in addition to cultural and adventurous activities we find along the way. We are also saving up for the GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition; check out this incredible video here. It’s amazing what the Hero 3+ can do and this is how we will capture and record everything we are experiencing along the way. I have been asked a few times how family member and friends can help along the way. With some research and advice from people, we have set up a Plum Fund- check it out here if you would like to help! We have a few things on our "Wish List" but any contribution helps! 

22 days until departure- we see the end of the tunnel, and it’s gorgeous. 

How did we get here?

Everyone always has that one neighbor that they will never forget. You know, the one who you can get caught in a conversation with and lose the hours-sometimes not by choice, the one who is always the first to greet you, or the one who seems to have that one friend that you feel is just a little different than the rest. My neighbor was Brad, and that one friend turned out to be the love of my life, Adam.

Now let’s back track…

As a whole, I feel our society always looks at those reaching for the stars or trying to live their dream as a little “crazy” in a sense. We think they aren’t “focused” or we think they may not have enough “drive”. What really is crazy? Is crazy living the 9 to 5? Is it waking up every day doing the same routine just because this is what you have learned actually IS the norm?

I think crazy is doing just that: living the way we have learned is normal and what society has told us to do after we go to school or graduate college. I lived that life and I can tell you it isn’t satisfying- for me at least. It may be for many, but the routine and structure didn’t provide what I was looking for. Graduating college, buying a house, living 15 minutes from home. That may be comfortable for some people, but it wasn’t what made me happy.

Having said that- chances take guts.

I was the normal. I was structure. I was safe.

This person was my opposite. Adam was that one person who lived the life he wanted to, knowing just how important life was. Being a Marine and having two deployments to Iraq, Adam knew what it meant to love the life you live, and he has shown me just that.

What IS stopping you? You have the power to do exactly what you want. It may not be comfortable or the norm- but if anything is holding you back, it’s you.

I looked at my dream and decided to follow it- when do you find your soul mate who has the same dreams and aspirations to live like you do?

I was ready to live. I sold my house, we booked the tickets- and started to plan the dream.

What may be a dream to many is a reality to us.

New Zealand, we’re coming for you.

January 8, 2014. 

Summit of Cadillac Mountain; Bar Harbor, Maine 2013