Holy crap, I'm heading to New Zealand.  Today.  For 50 days.  If US Scareways thinks they can actually get it together (PLEASE get it together and don't lose my luggage...again...).  But I guess I will accept this as part of the multi-step process of making me more flexible and willing to "go with the flow": 

Step 1, don't freak out over a flight delay that puts some pressure on you making your international flight and creates the potential for them to lose/delay/destroy the bag that holds a large portion of your savings in camping gear.  Check (OK, I may be developing a mild ulcer, but I am NOT freaking out).  

Step 2, embrace the fact that you have absolutely nothing planned about this trip.  Not.A.Damn.Thing.  Che...ck?  For those of you that have spent time with me, you are probably very aware of my addiction to (over)planning trips.  This kind of trip is a first for me.  I'm excited and terrified all at the same time.

The beauty with Step 2 though, is that I get to decide whatever I want this trip to be.  I could find a nice spot of beach and pitch a tent there for the next 50 days.  I could go tramping through the beautiful forests and mountains and possibly go feral (you may call me Tarzana).  I could decide to try every adrenaline-filled activity available; like bungee jumping, paragliding, wind surfing, hitchiking, scuba diving with sharks (my mom just stopped reading), joining the All Blacks rugby team, rock climbing, etc.  I could spend my days sampling all the wine my belly will hold (ruh roh).  Or D, a little of all of the above.

So, I've never done a blog before.  I feel slightly silly and am not really sure what to share, but I'm hoping I get some good pictures and share some stories that will make you laugh at my expense.  If I start getting too sappy and detailed/boring, someone just tell me to shut up and I will tell you about the time I found a penguin and we became best friends (seriously, how cool would that be?!). 

But first, I need to find a place to stay the day I arrive in Auckland.  More to come!