"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the
things that you didn’t do that by the ones you did do. So throw off the
bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain
In twenty years I will be 43 and I do not plan to be
disappointed by any of the things I didn’t do. When I was 18 years old I made a
new year’s resolution to “never turn down an opportunity for fun, ever.” Myself
and my friends have kept me fairly true to course since I uttered those words,
and I could not be more satisfied.
Taking Twain's words to heart I literally sailed away for the new year
of 2013. A group of my favorite people and I headed to the British
Virgin Islands to bring in the New Year with new friends, lots of
champagne, confetti, island drinks, sand, viking hats, etc. I met so
many amazing people who have and will continue to pop up in my life over
time.
The week looked something like the following pictures and a link to one of the videos put together by one of my friends here.
I returned to my house the first Saturday of the year at midnight and left the next day at 5pm to continue working in Philadelphia. Philly is a really cool city with tons of great restaurants. I enjoyed my time there but I really enjoyed the fact that I could travel to places other than home on the weekend. I did not have a lease at the time and decided to make the best of it. The following months were a blur of airports, new places, friends, and fun.
The first "trip" was actually a weekend when the Field sisters came to visit Philadelphia. Caroline, Kathleen and I were at the height of Yacht Week withdrawals and decided that a weekend up north may cure our ailments. Physically it probably made us worse as we were out and about in the city in freezing temperatures, but it was a great weekend. Katie took the train from DC and Carol flew from Dallas and we headed straight to check out the nightlife of PHL Old city. The next morning we brunched at what may be my favorite brunch spot in America, White Dog Cafe. They have a bangin' omelette and bottomless mimosas. We took full advantage and then made our way to the art museum. Post art museum we decided to dye Caroline's hair before we went out that night. It looked good but it stated a long train of questionable post brunch decisions. One decision that we all fully supported was Kitty booking a trip to Austin 3 weeks later.
Fast forward and the three of us are back in Texas where we introduce Kathleen to the ways of the South and some of our favorite places to go out. (I think this is when the W became one of our "places"?) It was an awesome time that resulted in yet another trip a bit down the line.
It was starting to get warmer and spring in Texas means SXSW festival in Austin. This was my first year to do SXSW properly. By properly I mean of age but still sneaking into things. I got to see quite a few really cool bands, most notably St. Lucia, where Caroline and I sneaked into the back gate of a party with some random girl who was pretending we were with one of the bands. I almost got punched by a guy at Faderfort. All in a days work.
The next weekend it was time to head off Los Angeles to stay with my wonderful friend Christina, whom I met the previous summer at training for work. Another coworker/friend Kandice also came that weekend and we were able to see many sides of the city. The first night we stayed with our friend Pete in Santa Barbara. The next day Kandice and I worked from the Capgemini office in Burbank while our friends were working on the client site. The office is next to the Warner Brothers Studio so we got to walk around at lunch and saw none other than the Michael Kelso. Well actually it was Ashton Kutcher standing outside the set of the 2.5 Men studios but I heard his voice and though "Kelso!"
That night we stayed with Christina at her place in Beverley Hills and it was awesome! We went out that night to meet a group of her good LA friends. The next day we took a bike ride along the beach and hung out on the pier. It was a beautiful day and a really fun time. That night we went out for one of her friend's birthday for bottle service at Hollywood's Premiere Supper Club. Swanky.
I was supposed to stay for two weekends in Philadelphia before our system go-live but our project manager allowed us to leave for the first so I booked a ticket to see Zach while he was working for a few weeks in Tampa. The first night while he was with work friends I got a FB message from Tedz, my yacht week skipper. He was in Germany and I told him I was in Tampa. It turns out one of his best Irish mates lives in Tampa as well so I met up with two Irish guys for a few drinks. Small world.
The weekend that Kathleen came to Austin she met one of my friend's name Britton. I don't know how it happened exactly but in early A we all ended up doing a Philly/NYC weekend, where we are also able to meet up with our friend Greg from Yacht Week. The first night I went out in Bowery with my friend Nicco and had a nice dinner and drinks. Kathleen and Britton arrived the next day. We did a few touristy things and went out that night. Britton ate LOTS of hot dogs and Kathleen post brunch purchased a Swatch. It was all very fun and then we took the bus back to Philly.
I have never been one to be super excited about my birthday or want a huge celebration, but this year was different. I invited a pretty large group of my girl friends out to Vegas to celebrate and ended up with a group of 8 of us coming for the weekend. Girls flew in from Texas, PA, California, and two sweet Russian friends came in from Canada. It was BEYOND AMAZING. At the check in desk I ran into a coworker and went to dinner with him and his friend. Caroline and Kathleen, Dasha and Anna came in that Thursday night as well and we made it a point to visit all of the bars at the Cosmopolitan where we were staying.
The next morning we went to brunch at The Wicked Spoon- the only true competition for the White Dog Cafe in PHL. Huge buffet with really ornate food and bottomless mimosas. You may be seeing a trend. I like champagne. The other girls began to trickle in as we waiting with bottles and OJ on the table. My birthday was off to a good start. Later that day we hit up Encore Day Club with our new found Greek Speedo wearing older friend Dimitri- he was in cabana 16. That night we went for sushi and a Calvin Harris show where we got to enjoy bottle service before watching Calvin.
The next say we went to Encore Day Club to see Avicii play a set. They had frozen mojitos and they were revolutionary. We spent the majority of the day there and Caroline and I ended up getting a ride home in a limo because the taxi line was too long....
The following few months were weird for a two reasons: 1. I was now working in Houston and was not happy about that at first and 2. I lived in Travis' living room
Summer was broiling but a blast. A few highlights include "Pizza Weekend" where Caroline came to stay with Travis and I. We went out on Friday night and then Travis almost burned the complex down by cooking a pizza on a muffin tin in the middle of the night. By cooking I mean leaving the oven on and the pizza out. The next day we hit up the UT Texas Exes crawfish boil, went to Casey and Jared's engagement party and then drove to Austin for a Green House Boys welcome party.
For Memorial Day, my friend Van invited a group of people to go out on the lake with his family's boat. Huge thanks- it was a great time!
Next came FPSF, or Free Press Summer Fest. It was a cool experience because a lot of my friends were there and I found out that I have a doppleganger, BUT I am not in to festivals at all and will probably never go to one unless it is ULTRA or Tomorrowland or something, but we will see about that.
I think I was more patriotic this 4th of July than all previous 4ths combined. Maybe it was because there was a Swede in town or maybe I was just digging the RW&B but I had a great time. A bunch of friends came down to our beach house for beers and barbeque. How American.
In early August one of my managers told me that I should plan for a vacation in September as it would align with my project schedule. I was contemplating places to go and Whatsapping with my friend Pepa from Chile that I met during Yacht Week. A few days later I booked a plane ticket, Caroline booked one as well and we had a trip to South America on the books.
Before heading South it was time for one more American celebration- Labor Day. Kathleen's roommate from PHL is a Dallas native and invited a HUGE group of people from Texas and the North East to come out to her ranch for the weekend. There were probably 50 people there at one point. We swam, rode horses and shot guns. I needn't say more. Perfect weekend.
The next weekend it was time to head off Los Angeles to stay with my wonderful friend Christina, whom I met the previous summer at training for work. Another coworker/friend Kandice also came that weekend and we were able to see many sides of the city. The first night we stayed with our friend Pete in Santa Barbara. The next day Kandice and I worked from the Capgemini office in Burbank while our friends were working on the client site. The office is next to the Warner Brothers Studio so we got to walk around at lunch and saw none other than the Michael Kelso. Well actually it was Ashton Kutcher standing outside the set of the 2.5 Men studios but I heard his voice and though "Kelso!"
That night we stayed with Christina at her place in Beverley Hills and it was awesome! We went out that night to meet a group of her good LA friends. The next day we took a bike ride along the beach and hung out on the pier. It was a beautiful day and a really fun time. That night we went out for one of her friend's birthday for bottle service at Hollywood's Premiere Supper Club. Swanky.
I was supposed to stay for two weekends in Philadelphia before our system go-live but our project manager allowed us to leave for the first so I booked a ticket to see Zach while he was working for a few weeks in Tampa. The first night while he was with work friends I got a FB message from Tedz, my yacht week skipper. He was in Germany and I told him I was in Tampa. It turns out one of his best Irish mates lives in Tampa as well so I met up with two Irish guys for a few drinks. Small world.
The weekend that Kathleen came to Austin she met one of my friend's name Britton. I don't know how it happened exactly but in early A we all ended up doing a Philly/NYC weekend, where we are also able to meet up with our friend Greg from Yacht Week. The first night I went out in Bowery with my friend Nicco and had a nice dinner and drinks. Kathleen and Britton arrived the next day. We did a few touristy things and went out that night. Britton ate LOTS of hot dogs and Kathleen post brunch purchased a Swatch. It was all very fun and then we took the bus back to Philly.
I have never been one to be super excited about my birthday or want a huge celebration, but this year was different. I invited a pretty large group of my girl friends out to Vegas to celebrate and ended up with a group of 8 of us coming for the weekend. Girls flew in from Texas, PA, California, and two sweet Russian friends came in from Canada. It was BEYOND AMAZING. At the check in desk I ran into a coworker and went to dinner with him and his friend. Caroline and Kathleen, Dasha and Anna came in that Thursday night as well and we made it a point to visit all of the bars at the Cosmopolitan where we were staying.
The next morning we went to brunch at The Wicked Spoon- the only true competition for the White Dog Cafe in PHL. Huge buffet with really ornate food and bottomless mimosas. You may be seeing a trend. I like champagne. The other girls began to trickle in as we waiting with bottles and OJ on the table. My birthday was off to a good start. Later that day we hit up Encore Day Club with our new found Greek Speedo wearing older friend Dimitri- he was in cabana 16. That night we went for sushi and a Calvin Harris show where we got to enjoy bottle service before watching Calvin.
The next say we went to Encore Day Club to see Avicii play a set. They had frozen mojitos and they were revolutionary. We spent the majority of the day there and Caroline and I ended up getting a ride home in a limo because the taxi line was too long....
The following few months were weird for a two reasons: 1. I was now working in Houston and was not happy about that at first and 2. I lived in Travis' living room
Summer was broiling but a blast. A few highlights include "Pizza Weekend" where Caroline came to stay with Travis and I. We went out on Friday night and then Travis almost burned the complex down by cooking a pizza on a muffin tin in the middle of the night. By cooking I mean leaving the oven on and the pizza out. The next day we hit up the UT Texas Exes crawfish boil, went to Casey and Jared's engagement party and then drove to Austin for a Green House Boys welcome party.
For Memorial Day, my friend Van invited a group of people to go out on the lake with his family's boat. Huge thanks- it was a great time!
Next came FPSF, or Free Press Summer Fest. It was a cool experience because a lot of my friends were there and I found out that I have a doppleganger, BUT I am not in to festivals at all and will probably never go to one unless it is ULTRA or Tomorrowland or something, but we will see about that.
I think I was more patriotic this 4th of July than all previous 4ths combined. Maybe it was because there was a Swede in town or maybe I was just digging the RW&B but I had a great time. A bunch of friends came down to our beach house for beers and barbeque. How American.
In early August one of my managers told me that I should plan for a vacation in September as it would align with my project schedule. I was contemplating places to go and Whatsapping with my friend Pepa from Chile that I met during Yacht Week. A few days later I booked a plane ticket, Caroline booked one as well and we had a trip to South America on the books.
Before heading South it was time for one more American celebration- Labor Day. Kathleen's roommate from PHL is a Dallas native and invited a HUGE group of people from Texas and the North East to come out to her ranch for the weekend. There were probably 50 people there at one point. We swam, rode horses and shot guns. I needn't say more. Perfect weekend.
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| These "Don't Mess" Texas shirts have become a travel staple- thanks Haley! |
Mid September had arrived and it was time to pack our bags for Chile. We were going to stay with Pepa at his family's house as well as check out some beaches and mountains while we were there. I absolutely fell in love with Chile. The people, the scenery, the food, the drinks, it was all so vibrant. The Villarroel family were amazing hosts and Pepa and his friends showed us a great time. It did not hurt that we were there for their independence day celebrations either. We ate barbeque and drank Piscola for 4 days straight and went to these crazy parties at night called Fondas. Words cannot describe. I cannot wait to get back down there!
Back almost long enough to catch my breath, I was ready to go again. Caroline and I went to visit our friend Casey Ryan who had moved to New Orleans earlier in the year. She lives in the cutest house and is such an amazing host. We had a great time roaming around the streets, into art museums, under trees, into several happy hours.
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| beaches at Viña del Mar |
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| Portillo |
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| Chilean Independence Day- Sept 18th, ft. Tx flag tanks |
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| fonda friends! |
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| amazing hosts! |
Back almost long enough to catch my breath, I was ready to go again. Caroline and I went to visit our friend Casey Ryan who had moved to New Orleans earlier in the year. She lives in the cutest house and is such an amazing host. We had a great time roaming around the streets, into art museums, under trees, into several happy hours.
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| could not think of two better butterflies to drink wine with on the porch |
The weekend before Halloween and the weekend after Halloween I was in Austin. One of the was F1 weekend and the only UT home game I would be able to attend. The next was the Green House Halloween party. Both were crazy, both were fun. I also went back to Austin and ended up at a Danny Avila concert. He is Tiesto's prodigy so, that's cool.
My mom, Gram, and Keith were going to spend Thanksgiving in Arizona, while my dad and Spencer would be at home. Logical destination? New York City. I spent the week with my friend Zack, who SO GRACIOUSLY let me crash at his place for the week. We had a good time and I met all of his new friends. We had a friendsgiving with all of the traditional foods. I was also able to catch up with and spend some time with my friend Tristan. We went to the MoMA and walked around Manhattan. It was really nice. I unexpectedly saw Van Gogh and Monet.
From NYC I took the train through Philly all the way to West Chester to see Kathleen at her parent's house! We went to a light display at the DuPont Manor and I now have high expectation for my own future manor.
Somehow 11 months have passed and December started and it was overwhelming that the year had come and nearly gone. I spent the week of Christmas with my family in the British Virgin Islands. Seriously lucky that I got to start and end my year there- very grateful. We stayed in a house on Virgin Gorda, ran around the island, hung out at yacht clubs, snorkled, and drank.
The year should have been winding down but it was time to head to Austin to celebrate New Years Eve! A group of us were headed to a soiree to celebrate. There isn't a group photo but there were a ton of our friends there. Here is the last photo of the 2013.
I left Austin at 6:15am on January 2nd for ski trip in Park City, Utah. That is 2014 though and will have to wait for next year. It is January 16th now and this year has yet to disappoint. Big things on the horizon.
xxoo
Julie
