Song of Happiness

Busy Busy Busy

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 05:14:00 +0000

Well so much for the wishful thinking regarding getting some work life balance. The past couple of weeks have been insane. So much work to do, and also trying to get ready for the holidays.
I was able to get a little baking done though, and made these guys.

I have so many more to make though, as well as trying to determine what I am going to make for Christmas dinner. I have a few friends coming over on Christmas day, and I plan to serve up quite the feast.

New Job

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:41:00 +0000

I got the job that I wanted, I start on January 1st (officially).

I am really excited. I have been pretty much doing this job for the past couple of years in addition to my regular role. But, now I get to do that full time, and leave the other role behind. They are backfilling my previous role with 6 people.

Which is crazy, if I think that I have essentially been doing the job of 7 people for the past 2 years. It's no wonder I was working such long hours.

I am looking forward to being able to use a different part of my brain, and do more planning strategy as oppose to the reactive execution I have been doing lately.

Habits v's Goals.

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:58:00 +0000

I have been wearing glasses for the past 18 months, and just made the move to contacts. In 18 months I have formed a habit of pushing my glasses back up my nose. I am more aware of that right now, as I keep doing it without having any glasses to push up my nose.

Obviously it took less than 18 months to form the habit, but I am curious how long it will take to break it.

Supposedly it takes 21 days to form a new habit/break a habit. I wonder if this will follow suit.

With it coming up to the end of the year, New Years round the corner, I have one goal for 2013. That goal is to make sure I give myself some work/life balance. I have spent the past 3 years working a crazy schedule, and put my personal life pretty much on hold.

Going forward I want to continue to work hard, but ensure that I leave some time for my own mental and physical health. I have weight to lose and friends to see. I really do have some amazing friends though. They have been patient with me over the past few years, and have been flexible with their schedules, so that when I did have some down time we were able to get together. Now its my turn to make sure I can do the same for them..

Regardless of new years resolutions, what things in your life are you looking to change?

'Tis the Season

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:16:00 +0000

Its that time of year again, for parties, eating, drinking, spending time with family and friends. It always comes with mixed feelings, as I am grateful for the friends I have here, but always miss my family, who are so far away. I have met lots of new people over the past couple of months, and am feeling that my surrogate family is expanding. I am very fortunate to have so many wonderful people in my life. Both those that I know in person, and those that I have met through the virtual world.

I lived in the US for almost 8 years now (It will become 8 on Jan 5th). My first Christmas here was spent alone, in my small apartment in downtown Portland. I remember being unable to reach my parents by phone, as they were on vacation in South Africa, and sometime in the evening the power went out, so I was all alone in the dark. It was quite possibly the worst Christmas I've ever had.

Since then I have invited friends over to my house every Christmas day, and have had anything from 2 people to close to 20 stop by. It makes Christmas feel like Christmas to me, if I am able to open up my home, cook for people and share the day.

I could of course go back to the UK for Christmas, but now I have made my own tradition here. It might not be a conventional Christmas spent with family, but my friends out here in the PNW have become my family. I still get so excited about Christmas day that I wake up around 4am (as you can imagine, my husband is not really impressed by that). I try and stay queit as I make my way downstairs and start to prepare the turkey and trimmings.

Then around 8am, when I can stand it no more, I go back upstairs to wake up the husband. He cooks a wonderful breakfast, and we have memosa's, eat then beginning the gifting process. Presents are pulled from under the tree and placed in the relevant piles (myself, hubby and of course the cats :) ). We make our way through, topping up the memosa's as we go. Then its time for me to get back in the kitchen. By now the Christmas music is blasting.

As our friends start to show up, the party begins, with food and drink to spare, we have a merry time, drinking, talking, dancing, drinking, dancing, drinking sleeping.

Other than Christmas day it's self, my favourite holiday moment, is decorating the house. I have boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations, and put up several trees. I love going through the ornament boxes and finding all those memories. Ornaments that my mum and I bought when I was going through a rough patch in life, and my mum was there to support me. Items from my childhood, decorations off the family tree from 30 years ago. We were recently able to add to the collection, ornaments from Ryan's childhood, there are homemade ornaments in there, one's that move, and ones from his grandma.

As bittersweet as Christmas can be, it is certainly a time when you remember loved ones, it's a wonderful occassion to be surrounded by family/friends.

A Word of the Day...

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 06:41:00 +0000

A search for "word of the day" today returned: Cathexis
I had never even heard of this word before, let alone did I have any idea what it meant.
According to http://www.merriam-webster.com here's the definition:

noun

: investment of mental or emotional energy in a person, object, or idea

After trying to find out more about this word, I end up reading about Sigmund Freud. Its been a long time since I've spent much time thinking about Freud. I had to study him, well I suppose really, his theories when I was at University, which was one heck of a long time ago. (This is where I start to realise my age, and quickly dive back to my original train of thought).

Essentially it seems that Freud believed that psychic energy is generated by the libido. (of course it is.. where else would it come from).

This psychic energy is released through biological means known drives. A drive has two parts: a biological need and a psychological need. Then of course what I am reading starts to get into the id, the ego and the superego, and all of a sudden, distant bells start ringing, and I actually start to remember some of the things I learnt at Uni oh those many years ago. Seems it wasn't a waste after all. My parents will be so happy.

Ultimately, what I realised is that I didn't think I'd ever heard this word before, but that really isn't possible, been as I spent a substantial amount of time studying the id, ego and superego. Apparently I just suppressed the memory of Cathexis. Only for it to rear it's head x number of years later.

What I most certainly do remember is having a biological need for a drink, and then somehow ending up at the pub. My id, ego and superego apparently had that figured out. When my id conjured up an image of a drink, my ego saw that as a beer, and then sent me off to the student union, to quench the biological need for a beverage. Apparently in these situations, my ego did not feel the need to respond with anticathexis, as it did not deem going to the pub for a nice cold beer as an unacceptable action.

Now I am delving further into Freud's theories (again), partly to see how much I remember, partly because I still find it intriguing. (by no means does this mean that I necessarily agree with all of this theories).

Who's that girl?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 05:28:00 +0000

There once was a girl from Shotley
Who typed up some words quite promptly
With thoughts in her mind
And a heart that was kind
She lived to be old and happy.

Forgiveness

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 04:24:00 +0000

Does forgiveness have a larger affect if it is given by someone to another, or if a person is able to forgive themselves for their own mistakes or misgivings?
Does it mean more to offer forgiveness than to receive it?

I know that I personally find it much easier to forgive others than I do to forgive myself.

It's possible for me to find more examples of this as work. It's as I hold myself to a different set of expectations than I do those around me. I seem to be able to accept that other people are human, and therefore mistakes are inevitable. Yet when I get something wrong myself, I will beat myself up about it for days, weeks, sometimes even longer, even if other people forgive me or reassure me

There are a couple of people in my life who find it exceedingly difficult to forgive themselves for anything. Causing themselves grief for years. Long after the people involved in the incident have moved on from it, and in many cases even forgotten about it.

I can still remember things from my childhood that I did. Such as when I yelled out that I hated my parents. I was probably no more than 4, and really upset at the time. I have no recollection if what had happened leading up to the outburst, but I remember with a sickening feeling the words I shouted out. I don't think I'll ever let it go. There are many other things, that I will not go into here, as I still feel ashamed of them. Some at the time were reckless and fun, but people got hurt. I don't let these things consume me, but if and when I do, for some of those things I still feel guilt. Others are just a memory.

I have a belief that mistakes, bad decisions and moments of impulsiveness will occur, and that it is better in the long term to forgive oneself and learn from the mistake than to carry the guilt. Forgive but maybe not always forget.

I bring up the not always forgetting, for two reasons. 1. Because repetition of the same mistakes is really not a good course of action. 2. I was in an unhealthy relationship for a period of time, and had I forgiven and forgotten everything that person did to me, I'd most likely still be in that horrendous situation. There came a point, that although I could still forgive, I knew I had to get out, otherwise I would only be able to hold myself accountable for what would of/could of happened to me.

"Forgiveness isn't something we do for others. We do it so we can get well and move on."
(source unknown)

Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:57:00 +0000

There is something to be said for what sleep can do, and the feeling a person gets when they wake up at the beginning of the morning.

There is always that moment of possibility. Of course sometimes it can last longer than others.
Last night it took me a long time to fall asleep, I had a lot of thoughts in my head. Finally I drifted off, then woke up this morning feeling calm and relaxed. The fact that I've only had 3 hours of sleep hasn't yet sunk in, and I am hoping I make it through the day before the inevitable wave of tiredness hits me.

My work schedule over the past couple of years has been insane. I worked an average work week of 70 hours, pretty much worked 7 days a week, put in a few 20+ hour days in the office, but no matter how stressed or tired I was, there was always, that moment, sometimes fleeting where I would wake up and feel calm. I have come to treasure those moments, and try my best to make them linger as long as possible.

Purpose?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 06:48:00 +0000

I have met some new people lately, and had some recent conversations which have sent my mind traveling back to my past, and got me thinking about my perspective now v's back then.
There have been a couple of major events in my life which sent me on a certain course. There's also been some smaller things which I experienced which may have either tweaked my course, or perhaps altered my perceptions.

I admit now that I have no idea where this is going, but I was laying here, feeling somewhat awkward and felt the need to write. I am sure to most this wont make much sense. It doesn't help matters that I am writing this on my iPhone and we all know by now how apple likes to autocorrect. Doing my best to catch those as I go, by certain I will miss some.
Anyway, I had a recent conversation with someone regarding the way I was feeling a long time ago. About the struggles I was having in my early 20's trying to determine what the point of life was. Not just my life but life in general. The human race as a whole to be honest. I couldn't figure it out, the thought consumed me. At some point I realized that there was only so much I could do regarding a larger purpose. And rather than beat myself up, I realized that I could make a difference to those around me. If I could walk down the street on the way to work and smile at someone, it may make a difference to their day. If at work I could make a small improvement it could make a difference to someone. If I could appreciate the small things in life, it would make a difference to me.

I still now, almost 10 years later believe the same thing. Is it because I convinced myself that this was right, or did I just accept that it was OK?

I find myself revisiting it. Wondering and speculating.

For some their purpose in life is their kids, or earning enough money to pay the bills, or by the car they want. I've never set my goals that way. I've always felt that we, as part of the earth have a responsibility to ourselves, each other and the environment around us. As such, I get pained when I see or hear of people/events that damage those around them. It makes no sense to me.

I was going to write surely we all have the same goal which is to be happy and live life fully, but then I realized that's not the case. That's just my goal. Certainly I share it with some. Several people in my life have the same goal. Others not so much. And although I had in my mind that fulfillment of those goals would lead to happiness I realized that also is not the case.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:36:00 +0000

I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Put some music on while I pour

Lazy weekends, a thing of the past?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:40:00 +0000

I don't know what it is about my weekends of late, but they seem to fly by so quickly. Jam packed with all sorts of things, leaving little time for those lazy Saturdays or lazy Sundays.

This weekend was spent with my friends girls, meeting up with my cousin from the UK, who is over here visiting a gentleman fellow. Catching up with my husband who I hadn't seen for a week. Working on the house, shopping for the house, visiting with a friend, and goodness knows what else.

Now its a little after 5pm, and I am finally sitting down, with a cup of tea and pondering what the week is going to bring. I should really check my work email, but I feel so content and happy that I don't want to spoil it. It will all still be there tomorrow after all.

So, these days, although my weekends are full and busy, I can't help but notice, by the time Sunday evening comes around, I feel relaxed and content. I don't feel the need to have a lazy day.

Now, I am making Shepard's pie, and will soon be sitting down to dinner. Next on the list, its time for me to start reading up on my garden. So many things out there, that I have no idea how to take care of, and I need to start soon, otherwise everything will be dead.

Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:31:00 +0000

Bamboo

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:29:00 +0000

We have some gorgeous bamboo in our new back garden. It's one of the things that I've had to do some reading up on though, as I've heard that it can get out of hand pretty easy. It already seems to have grown in the two weeks we've been living there. Although, from what I read, they grow anywhere from 1ft to 5ft a year, depending on the type of bamboo.

Looks like one of my activities this weekend might be to get outside and give our bamboo a hair cut. While reading I also found out that is possible to grow from cuttings, which I think I might try out. There's another area we've been talking about extending the bamboo too. It might be a fun way to get it done. Time consuming of course.

It is wonderful to sit outside and listen to the breeze rustling through the bamboo. It's impossible to be anything other than relaxed sitting outside with that in the background.

Gardening - for worms?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:17:00 +0000

Two more days left with the girls. They really have been so great. I've had a good time, although it is quite tiring. I just wish that there was a way to bottle up our energy when we are children so we can save it and use it later when we get older.

This weekend will be quite eventful. My cousin is in town (at least I think she is). She planned to arrive today, and is staying with someone she met when she was out here at my wedding. I haven't heard from her yet, but we have plans to meet up on Saturday.

She's such an interesting character. She's a hoot. Never a serious moment when she's in town.

Other than that, there's more house things to do. I need to get out into the garden and figure out what's in the veggie patch. A Vietnamese family had our house before us, and they planted the veggie patch. From what's above the ground I don't recognise anything. So I am going to have to dig and find out what's underneath. Hopefully I haven't left it too late, and there will still be something edible under there.

I will start posting photos of my gardening fiascoes. I haven't dug in a garden since I was a child. No doubt I'll end up all dirty and muddy. I used to dig a lot as a kid. My cousin and I (the same one mentioned above), used to dig and collect worms, then make worm gardens. However, when we got back to our grandparents house the following week, there'd be no more worms in the worm garden, and back to digging again we would go. I think we did this for weeks on end. Not really sure why, but it was fun and made sense at the time.

Shame my grandparents didn't have a compost heap, we could have made that into the worm garden. Then there would have been happy worms, and some really good compost.

Sweet Potato Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:48:00 +0000

As mentioned in my previous posts, I am looking after my friends kids this week, and staying at their house.
The kids grandpa also lives here, and he enjoys cooking. Which works out great for me. Tonight he made a pot roast, and sweet potato pie.

I was honestly not sure what I'd think of sweet potato pie, its not something you get growing up in the North East of England. As soon as he started to bake it, the smell was amazing. I had forgotten how long it takes to make a pie. The better the pie smells the longer it seems to take :). (Of course that is all just perception), it felt like hours before the pie was cooked, then cooled enough to eat.

We ate it with whipped cream and boy was it good.

Here is the recipe that he used

Scrummy!

You know, what I have just realised, after re-reading this post, is that when I started this blog, I would never, in a month of Sundays have thought there would ever be a post about sweet potato pie on my blog. Not least, because I didn't even know there was such a thing as sweet potato pie.

Count Down

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:12:00 +0000

I am looking after my friends 2 girls this week. 1 is 10, the other is 6. For the most part they are pretty easy to look after, but every once in a while, one of them like to see how far they can push their boundries.
I don't have kids of my own, but I do remember trying that act myself.

I also remember the countdown. So figured I'd give it a go last night. "You've got till I count to 10". I didn't even get as far as 1. I have no idea what I would have done, if I'd gotten all the way to 10... but seems it worked out OK. I've never really understood why the countdown works so well. But it certainly does. Even the mention of it, seems to drive panic deep into the child.

Other than some minor things the week so far is going well. I honestly have no idea at all how working parents manage to do this. I have to take the kids to school, around 8:30 am, then pick one up at 3, the other up at 4. Luckily the school is right around the corner. But still, if I wasn't working from their house this week, and was actually trying to make it into the office, I'd be having huge problems. I'd only be in the office for about 4 hours, or I wouldn't be able to get them to and from school.

I suppose theirs after school care, but from what I hear, its really expensive.

Guess I should consider myself lucky to be a DINK household.

Back Again

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:24:00 +0000

Well, I am back after almost 20 days of busyness. I've spent the past few weeks moving house. Husband and I just bought a house, its the first time we've bought, we both been renting up until now. It is such a different feeling to be living in a place that is really ours. We are really enjoying it.

Last night we ended up at Home Depot at 8pm, to buy stuff for garden maintenance. Lawn rake and broom is all for now. I was embarrassed by the amount of leaves on our lawn compared to our neighbours, so something had to be done.

This morning I was up early raking the leaves, and sweeping the drive way. My cat Henry was out keeping me company. To my neighbours I may have looked like a witch, broom in hand, and black cat rubbing up against my legs.

I left my house behind in the care of my husband for this week. I am staying at a friends house while she is in Germany, I will be looking after her children playing "Auntie Caroline". This should be interesting :)

New home - hopefully

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:13:00 +0000

So, we had good news today.
Hubby and I put in an offer on a house a few weeks ago.
The offer was accepted, and we have been waiting for the appraisal to come through.
Well, it came through today, and it came back looking good, so we are good to go. Closing will hopefully be next week.
We are first time buyers, so it's all quite exciting but scary.

The past few weeks have been a bit stressful I am hoping when it closes it will be a bit calmer.

I don't want to let myself get too excited about it until we have the keys, but it's sort of hard not too. I can't help but think about the things I want to do to it.

It has such a nice garden, and I've already started reading up on how I need to take care of it. I've never had a garden to take care of. I am sure I'll be able to provide some interesting stories of my mess ups, over the next few weeks, months etc.

Sepia Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:43:00 +0000

For this week the choice of theme for Sepia Saturday is little girls, Spain, holidays or ... whatever. As I am on holiday in Vegas this weekend...

Photo credit is to: Vintage Vegas on Flickr

I love old town vegas, and will actually be staying at the Golden Nugget this weekend. I've only been to Las Vegas once before, and I fell in love with the vintage feel of downtown. Even though it has grown over the decades, I love the way that the new is combined with the old.

Looking at this picture I can just imagine the types of things that went on in Vegas back in the day. Of course no one will ever know for sure. After all, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

The Golden Nugget opened in 1946. It was the first structure designed from the ground up to be a casino. Steve Wynn took it over in 1972 and built the first tower in 1977. The hotel now has 1,900 rooms. Also in 1946 the Eldorado was built, Benny Binion purchases the Eldorado Club in 1951 and renames it the Horseshoe. It is currently owned and operated by his son, Jack Binion. It was the first casino to have carpeting and comps available to all gamblers.

Please pop on over to Sepia Saturday and see what everyone else posted.

Some things just don't translate.

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:28:00 +0000

When I came back to revive Song of Happiness, I made myself a promise to try and post every day. Well, today I was a little lost as to what to write about. Then I decided just to do what I used to do. To start typing and see where it goes. Want to take the trip with me. I figure my brain never stops, I am always thinking of something, so I there must be something in there I can write about. I probably sound like a crazy person. No doubt I am to some extent, but no more so than anyone else.

Ah-ha, I think it just came to me.

This time last year I was in Hong Kong, on a business trip. I have been working on a project for the last 18 months, where we are implementing a new HR system, globally, in 52 countries. This time last year a small group of us traveled to Hong Kong and Amsterdam to meet with HR peeps from all 52 countries in 3 weeks.

Our goal was to collect all legal and local HR business requirements.

While in Hong Kong we were in a room with all our Asia Pacific region representatives. We were going through all the leave types.

We got to Korea. It seems Korea has a type of leave for sterilization. Japan, was a little perplexed by this. They looked at each other, spoke amongst themselves then asked the group. "sterilization leave, is that when they close down a factory for a few days as it is cleaned". It was then one of my co-workers tasks, to explain what this leave is really for. Somethings just don't translate, verbally, so hand gestures were required.

If only I had photos, but imagine a snip snip gesture, and some pointing.

Japan then then thought that sterilization leave was for men getting sex changes. We finally got it resolved. With many giggles and much awkwardness. It was a concept that apparently does not exist in Japan.

Phew, good to be home.

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:58:00 +0000

Today was a tough one. It started off with me driving to the doctors office for my immigration medical exam.
This examination consisted of my getting jabbed with 3 shots (tetnus, tb and something else) and having a vial of blood drawn. During this whole process I had to lay down as I almost passed out. I am such a wuss. I swear I was tougher than this when I was a kid. Don't know what happened to me.
I was there for almost 3 hours, most of it waiting. What was quite nice though, was after I had been there for 1.5 hours, they brought me a snack.

Well after 3 hours of that I got back into my car, and headed to work. It was one of those days, where I wish I hadn't of bothered. It was hectic and we are at a point on our project where everything, and I mean everything is getting micro managed. It's driving me insane. I am quite capable of managing my own work. But now, its every 15 mins, someone is stopping by my cubicle to ask "are you done with ???? yet", and more frequently than not my answer is no, not yet. I am working on it. Thing is, I have so many of these tasks to complete, and there's just not enough hours in the day to get them done. Hence the 70+ hour work weeks.

It makes me tired and sad. Thanks for letting me whine, I am feeling rather sorry for myself today.

I spy

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:31:00 +0000

I was out on our deck this evening and looked over into our neighbour's yard, and look who was watching me

Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:40:00 +0000

My nana had this poem embroidered and hung in her living room:

Make new friends,
but keep the old.
One is silver,
the other is gold.

I used to like it as a child, and now as an adult I am drawn to it even more.

Throughout my adult life I have moved around a lot and have had many opportunities to make new friends. I've never been very good at keeping in touch with people though. I have a tendency to disappear, then pop back out of the blue.
The friends that I have had most of my life are luckily for me very forgiving and when we get back in touch in many ways it's like we've never been apart. Some life things may have changed, but somehow we seem like the same high school friends.

I have done the same thing to many of my blogging friends, and this post is dedicated to you. Thank you for taking me back. It's been a fun week reading through your blogs and catching up.

Monday Musings

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:17:00 +0000

Some weeks I love Mondays, other weeks not so much.
So far this Monday has been a little rough. I came into work with a plan. It's now 1pm and I haven't done much of what I had planned to do. It's one of those days where everyone seems to have a question for me.
As soon as I get heads down, someone pops by with a "quick question", they leave then 3 more people come along. I almost feel like I should start blocking time out on my calendar for visiting hours, or a consult period.
It's nice to feel wanted, but it feels like I spend more time helping other people with their work, than I spend doing my own work. No wonder my typical work week ends up being about 70 hours.

Oh well. I look around and have to be thankful that I even have a job. Many of my friends are unemployed and are finding it really tough to get a job.

Discoveries

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 04:38:00 +0000

I keep trying to find something to write about but I write a few lines and end up finding myself wanting to write about something else. But I can't quite find it. It's like when a word gets stuck on the tip of your tongue. When you know its within your grasp. You know the feeling of it, but just can't quite find it. Then a few minutes, hours or sometimes even days later, there it is. Popping up out of the blue.

Well that "popping up" hasn't quite happened for me yet, so in the mean time its just my ramblings.

While browsing the internet earlier today I came across the photo below:

Cerro Torre - Argentina (I've Reached the End of the World)

from the blog at http://www.stuckincustoms.com

I don't know how much this was touched up post production, but I love the image. It's like something from another world. I've seen several images today from parts of our planet that look like they are from a fantasy land. Our planet is such an amazing place with so many surprises. I've had a hunger to get back to travelling lately and these photos are increasing my appetite.

I need to figure out where to go to first once I am able to get some time off work. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow where would you go?