Summer: business as usual.

Except not.

I came home from a wonderful experience in SE Asia to a place that literally only changed with a single coat of paint on the building at The Accidental Tourist. Going from a world that actually changes on a daily basis to a place that hasn’t really done too much for itself (besides installing stupid decorative curbs in unnecessary places) in the past 5 years really hits you hard.

It was really like I had never left.

I went back to work at Kyllo’s, the same restaurant that I’ve been working at for 5 summers, waiting tables and continually waiting for “real summer” to hit. It never did. This weekend is Labor Day Weekend, the monumental end of summer party weekend and Mom’s birthday. Game over. Sorry bank account. This isn’t like the summer of ’08. That summer made you fat and happy.

Over the summer, I got back into the swing of knowing what the regulars order, learned some funny things about people (and how they never change), and did a lot of crossword puzzles with Trish (look at the bottom photo). One slow night, I was just hanging out, chatting with one of my favorite regulars, Larry, and a couple who had obviously just got a new game on their phone. Trivia. Sweet.

There were so many questions that most people wouldn’t know, but I did. It felt like a moment from Slumdog Millionaire. Know how I knew? I experienced something relevant to the question while I was doing ____ thing in ____ place.

Apparently, the chick with the phone drinking mojitos was impressed. She got a little loud and asked the bartender, Ashley, “How does she know this? Nobody knows this shit!”

I got a little inspired by Ashley’s response, “Dani travels.”
It was as if that was all that was needed to be said. As if it explained everything. I know your random trivia from your Droid game BECAUSE I TRAVEL!

It took a couple weeks for that statement to really kick in. It really has a lot to do with who I am. And lately, since I’ve been back in the one part of the world where I swear, the Earth doesn’t turn, I haven’t been on any meaningful adventures. Sure, I’ve gone hiking and kayaking with friends and family, but I know that I’m not making a difference, learning or doing something new. I’m in a rut.

I hate ruts.

GET ME OUT!

I think getting told that after this week I no longer have a job at Kyllo’s was somewhat of an inspiration. I have nothing to tie me down here. I have no lease, no contracts, nothing. I just need a job. I have a car. I can go. I really can. Sharon and Jill told me to go to Ithaca, Carrie.

Game on.