So I arrived home about 5 days ago.  Went right from the airport to see my best friend’s band play a show downtown. Landed at 9.20, show was at the El Mo at 11….arrived at 11.05.  Not too shabby, considering the fact that I was TTCing it.  Stayed in the city with my lovely Chantelle and her beau Todd, then back to see my parents on Sunday.  Where I’ve basically done a whole lot of nothing since I got back, aside from meeting a friend for some wine before her big move to Calgary.

I’m finding it difficult to readjust.  i just want to stay in bed all the time, and i really need to find a way out of this rut.  I’m sure it’ll be fine once I’m in Halifax, but right now I just feel overwhelmed.  I think between being home, having so much unpacking and repacking and sorting to do, and then all of these obligations it’s just a bit much for me right now.  Don’t get me wrong, I really want to see my family and friends.  I just wish I had more time to do it in, I guess.  

To help get out of this rut, I’ve started Operation Hasta Luego Hippie. Trying to get back into the personal grooming game so I don’t feel nearly so slovenly.  I didn’t feel gross when I was in Central America, I suppose because I didn’t give a shit what people thought of me.  But now that I’m back home, and people haven’t seen me for quite some time, I think that I’m expected to look, well, better than I do.  I’m sure on Friday I looked like someone who just got out of the hold of a cargo ship after spending about a month down there.  One equipped with tanning beds, but obviously no showers or hairbrushes.   Took care of my eyebrows today, so they no longer look like they belong to an 80 year old man.  Who dyes his eyebrows.  Brushed my hair, both before AND after my shower, although a cut is definitely on the to-do list.  Not even Rumplestiltskin could turn this straw into gold.  Started working out again, although I felt like I just ran a marathon, when I just did a few stomach crunches a la P90x.  Think I may take the dog for a run later on, although not sure if 100 feet constitutes a run.  Gotta start somewhere though, right?!  I imagine it’ll primarily be comprised of a really long walk warm-down.

At any rate, still have a lot to do, and only a week left to do it.  I’ll let you know when I’m at my next destination.  Or in the likely event that there’s not much to report in my next locale, I’ll report from my next, next locale, which is Halifax.  Or somewhere in the general vicinity.  

it’s my last day!  While i’m excited to see friends and family, I really don’t want to leave all this!

I’m currently in Isla Mujeres, Mexico (Island of Women.)  I’m staying at a really cool hostel called Poc-Na.  They have live music every night, a massive beach bar that backs onto the sea, and it’s a pretty sociable place.  Really nice for my last stop for sure.

Just woke up, so I’m afraid the creative juices aren’t yet flowing.  Maybe I’ll just come back and update this later on today, after I’ve actually done something with my time.  Yesterday was spent rotating between nursing a hangover and finishing my book.  Nothing really exciting there.  However Tuesday, met a cool group of people, and tied one on.  I see it as my last hurrah.

More to come later!

So less than two weeks to go, and it’s starting to really sink in that I’m leaving all this.  Part of me is excited to be home, to see friends and family, and to no longer have to live out of a backback…or at the very least, switch up my wardrobe slightly.  The other part of me just really doesn’t want to leave this life behind.  Granted, I’m picking up and moving to a new city, so it’s not like I’ll be drifting back into my old, rut of a life.  But it will be a life of employment, and that I’m not too keen on.

I leave bright and early tomorrow morning on the boat to Chetumal, and then from there, I’m heading by bus to Tulum.  Not sure what my plans are after that.  I have to be in Cancun May 25th, so I’m slowly (but not too slowly) working my way up that way.  May check out Holbox or Isla Mujeres, and then most likely stay in Playa del Carmen my last night.

There’s been plenty of places I still want to see that I’ve missed on this trip, but I don’t regret anything.  Save it for another trip, add it to my bucket list, and I certainly wouldn’t mind returning to some of the amazing locales I’ve visited on this trip already.  It’s been the most amazing six months of my life, and I’ve met some pretty incredible people along the way.  This was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I feel like I’m going home in much better shape mentally than had I stayed at home.  I’m stronger and more confident as a person, that’s for sure.  And definitely way more tanned.

Had such a great day on Monday!  Started with my friend Hilary taking me out scuba diving.  Saw a big ol’ nurse shark, as well as two big sea turtles….possibly the same one twice.  The second time was at the end of my second dive, and it swam right up to me.  I could’ve reached out and touched it if I didn’t value my fingers.  Or my whole hand.  

Caught the sunset with Hilary and her family, then met up with a bunch of other friends, as some people were leaving the following morning.  After having a few drinks at the split, we headed out to dinner.  After we all ate, we were just chilling having some drinks, when I saw this Italian couple walking down the street, he with a really old tuba strapped to his back, her with an accordion.  I chased after them, and talked them into playing for us at the bar.  They reminded me of a 2-piece version of the band, Beirut, whom I love.  Pulled in a crowd of onlookers as well.  It was such a great night, and a great way to see people off.  The next morning, however, was a completely other story.  

Give a little, take a lot.

I arrived in Caye Caulker last Tuesday.  I have spent the last several days doing absolutely nothing, and absolutely loving it.  My schedule these days consists of a heavy rotation of hammock lying and chair lounging.  I’ve been staying at Yuma’s, right on the beach, and I’ve met some really amazing people here.  We’ve gone out the past couple days, and I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard.  I’ve decided to stay here an extra week, maybe get in some diving, although I’m not sure if the piddly amount of money I have left will afford me the opportunity.

My original plan was to head west again after I leave the cayes, but I’m tired of moving around and living out of my backpack after this long.  I really wanted to see El Salvador, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to save that for another trip.  But no matter, I’ve seen so much on this trip, that I don’t really feel like I’m losing out.  I also wanted to see more of Mexico, but I’m going to have to edit that plan down as well.  I’m in no rush to leave this place, and I think I’ll just visit a couple places on the way up to Cancun.  Still debating with myself over whether to go to San Cristobal and San Miguel de Allende, but they both seem so far, and the novelty of long distance bus travel has certainly worn off.  I’m nearly ready to be home, seeing friends and family, then starting fresh in Halifax, far from all those things I ran away from in the first place.  It’s exciting starting over, although a bit scary too, but I figure now’s the time to do it, while I still have the momentum going from this trip.

I do not want to fall back into the same rut I found myself in before this journey began.  I have every confidence in myself that I won’t.

I’m feeling very run down today, and as a result, I’ve taken it upon myself to take a day off work.  Well, i cleaned one of the showers, but after that, it was a no work day.  Oh, I also made breakfast, but that doesn’t count, as I mostly did it cause I was hungry.  But then I took a two hour nap.  And by nap, i mean lie in, seeing as how with all the noises coming from the school across the street,  and from everywhere else, i couldn’t really sleep.  But i didn’t exert any energy, and as far as i’m concerned, that’s still a point for me.

Had to get an extension on my visa however, so I had to walk down to do that.  Wasn’t very far, and barely required anything aside from me showing up with my passport and $50 (BZ.) That’s $25 US.  Did have to walk down to the end of the building to pay at the cashier, and then come back to pick up my passport, but there were no line ups, and I was in and out in about 5 minutes.  Maybe a few minutes longer as I stopped to read the inspirational print out, about not takin’ no shit from no men, on the cashier’s window.

Was supposed to send off my insurance claim forms today, but I still have some filling out to do, and I really want to make sure I cross all my “t”s and dot all my “i”s.  So i thought instead I would fill my blog with filler.  I’m too tired to even be witty in my execution of this mundane blog entry.  So next time I’ll try and wait until something eventful occurs before I bore you to death with trivial going ons.  Goings on.  Goings ons.  Whichever it may be.  Until then.

PS – I also bought orange juice.