Bath

In preparation for a month with no running water, I've taken two luxurious New England baths. Of the first there are no photos because I was soaking (naked) in a stranger's backyard hot tub, all alone, under the stars. The air was cold, the water hot, and I was told there were coyotes. Thank you, New Hampshire.

Pictured here is the second bath, taken in Maine. Slightly more civilized, shared with a boney red-head, it smelled of pure lavender.

Twenty bucks and a tank of gas

As a last stop before we embarked for real, we spent a night in Warren, PA, my hometown. We picked up last minute supplies, took a snowy jog around town, obsessively organized the car, and scored a $20 from Grandpa at lunch. My sister, Megan, weighed us on her fancy work scale and determined we've each got 4.7lbs of bones and 87lbs of rock hard muscle. I'd say that makes us sufficiently tough for Nova Scotia.

Xo everyone we love, we'll miss you.

Twenty three

This is day -23. I am listening to Amber's favorite music, which means, at this moment, Glory Fades by Brand New. It is difficult to continue sitting in this chair and not jump up and set out right this minute on the trip we have been planning for months. We are ready. We could leave tomorrow. We could leave right now, as soon as we stuff everything into our car. I sometimes sit at my desk and stare at my bank account. I can't believe how free all the money I've saved makes me feel. I can live for the rest of the year on what I've already earned. Not luxuriously, but creatively and with no one to report to except myself. Right now, everything looks beautiful and hope is lifting everything inside me up.