It’s almost penguin party time!!! I head out in five days. Thanks SO MUCH to everyone who helped make this happen. I’m beyond excited!!!!!

 

~~~ DECEMBER 16, 2017 ~~~

Wow. You guys. I have no idea which bit of information I left out of my estimates. But, amazingly, my mistake was actually in my favor. I just paid off the credit card bill for my cruise fair in full. I will not be going into extra debt (yet!). Whew!!!  I am soooooo close to being ready to go. I just have to purchase cold weather gear and save up for gifties. THIS IS SO EXCITING, Y’ALL!!!

~~~ NOVEMBER 5, 2017 ~~~

Well, it’s go time. Lots has been going on since my last post, and I’m not quite in as good a shape as I was hoping to be, for reasons. I’m not getting into the financial gymnastics that are happening this month, but the balance of my cruise fare is due on the 11th, so things are about to get real in the Department of Laura Is Broke. That’s the bad news.

The GOOD news is, my budget estimate might be on the high end, so I may not end up in as much debt as anticipated overall! We’ll see. I’m not counting those penguin chicks just yet. AND, my bank is offering a balance transfer deal that will make the debt MUCH more livable while it lasts, and help it not last as long.

Still, the penguin counter shows where I’m about to be, and if you felt so moved to give me an early birthday present, that would be SO GREAT.

Also… ANTARCTICA, YOU GUYS! It’s so hard to be this practical when I am THIS EXCITED!

~~~ SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 ~~~

I’m going to just soft-pedal this update, because now in Houston is just not the time to be crowing about my penguins.  And I’m not even sure the numbers are right, because I can hardly believe my progress. Still, I’ve paid for the various things in the graphic, and I have a certain amount still in my savings account I set aside for this trip, and I’ve run the numbers so… I guess it must be true!

I’m more than halfway to my goal! If I didn’t have to pay the balance of my trip until February, I’d be pretty well set.  But that balance is due in November so… I guess that’s what credit cards are for. 😛

Also, my savings ability has definitely taken a few recent hits. I’m not long on muscle for flood remediation demo work, but I’ve been making my own dollars stretch as far as I can to help out the folks impacted by Harvey, and lighten the worries of people who have more than enough on their minds. As a sort of ripple effect, I’ll also be leaving my current amazing living situation in my friend’s guest room for an apartment of my own so her family who got flooded, has the space at their disposal. It will be amazing to be back in digs that are all mine, but I’ll miss the great roommate and the amazing rent, for sure! So the next few months continue busy. I’m not going to ask for anything right now. So many others need it more. But I wanted to keep you all up to date. If you were looking for some good news, ANTARCTICA is less than 5 MONTHS away!

~~~ AUGUST 16, 2017 ~~~

VERRRRY EXCITING NEWS, YOU GUYS!  I have purchased plane tickets! This is so very much absolutely happening! Definitely need to start freeing up some penguins, if you’d like to help with that. 😉

So, barring any changes between now and February 9, I’ll be officially flying out that evening, changing planes in Atlanta, then swoooooooping south to Buenos Aires! I won’t get to see any more of the city than can be seen from whatever transport I get between airports, because I’ll have to hightail it from EZE over to AEP for my flight to USH (Ushuaia, where we’ll embark).

I *will* have a full extra day and most of another to explore the area, and there is el Tren del Fin del Mundo, which goes from Ushuaia up into Tierra del Fuego… So I’m thinking that’s happening! And maybe some exploring the town and its history, before we embark off the edge of the until-recently-known world!

Oh my gosh you guys!

~~~ JULY 28, 2017 ~~~

Exciting news! The deposit has been made, and our cabin is secured. I can now give you details of when and how exactly this Antarctic Adventure is going down!

I’ll be joining a friend on her mother in Crossing the Antarctic Circle aboard the Hebridean Sky! Our itinerary runs from Monday, February 12, 2018, to Monday, February 26. I’ve even run the dates past my boss and she’s okay’d my time off. I’ll probably fly down to Argentina a couple of days early, and spend some time exploring Buenos Aires!

I absolutely cannot wait!!!

~~~ JULY 24, 2017 ~~~

Were you wondering what I might like for my birthday this year, since this one is the Big Four-O? Well you’re in luck! The answer is super easy! To celebrate the completion of my 40th year, I’m taking an ANTARCTIC CRUISE, and what I would love more than anything is your help in getting there. I’m counting the penguins… er… hours until I embark!

My birthday isn’t until December, it’s true. And I won’t set sail until February. But if you’d like to contribute, you don’t have to wait! I’m putting everything I can into my savings account, and every penny of interest will help. I’m sorry; I’ve been told I can’t bring back baby penguins back with me, but I plan to send everyone who helps me along a penguin postcard with a HUGE thank you note, from Antarctica if possible, or from Ushuaia, Argentina, if we’re unable to dock at any bases. I

I’m going to start posting updates here, so check back from time to time to find out the latest on my plans, and to see which penguins have been set free!