Molen De Adriaan, Haarlem, NL

Don't be that girl that accidentally touches the greased part of an active windmill...unless you're me. 

Yep! I had to be one of the people who has an in-depth experience! What a klutz. 

Anyway, every year that I've traveled to Amsterdam, I've tried to make each visit different by visiting somewhere I've never been before. For my third visit, I decided that I had to visit a windmill. I mean, what kind of person goes to the Netherlands three times, and doesn't see a windmill?

The tour guide was so nice and took time to explain how a windmill works, how much flour is made at once, and what cities in the Netherlands that the flour is sent to. This one specifically, is run strictly by volunteers. There was a fire here in 1932, and it took seventy years to rebuild, reopening in 2002.

This windmill is actually an active windmill, and the tour guide explained that though it is a little more pricey, there are still people who like fresh-ground flour.

Looking out towards Haarlem city center

Also, did you know there are still 991 windmills in the Netherlands?! That means you can see one anywhere you visit within the Netherlands! In some places in the world, you can even stay in one, which I'm sure is great, but that would be a lot of stairs to climb. Maybe I should add that to my bucket list, of things I need to do.

If you're ever close in Amsterdam, Haarlem is just a train ride away, and this place is one stop that you shouldn't miss, especially if you're looking for something that is authentic within the Dutch Culture!

est. 2019

Make your own Travel Map!

Hi, everyone!
I got to thinking. I wondered if there was any way that a person could put pins on a map, for all of the places they had visited. It turns out, you can!
So here is a list of places that I've been to within the world.

Look at all the places I've been!

I started out by going with my grandparents to San Diego, CA. But even before that, we've been taking road trips for as long as I can remember, from Indiana, to Starved Rock National Park, to conservatories within the Chicago area. While in San Diego, my grandparents and I went to Tijuana, Mexico, which I did not know it to be the little scary city is is now.

Fast forward about 20 places, and I still have that same strong sense of adventure and wanderlust that I did when I was ten! It's taken me to the Netherlands twice, California more than five times, and Washington state at least three. At this rate, I'll be traveling my visit to the sun and moon, in no time!

Last bits of Chicago Summer

Brookfield ZooRunRun2019

So when I'm not pretending to be a major jetsetter, I make sure I'm traveling locally. This weekend, I went to Brookfield Zoo's "ZooRunRun" which is a 5k where you run through the zoo!
For anyone who knows me, you know I don't run, ever. But apparently, I have some pretty long legs, because I walked my way through it in 45 minutes!!

Chicago and its surrounding areas are great for 5k's, 10k's, triathlons, and so many other forms of exercise. If walking, running, or biking is your thing, here is a list of just a tiny sliver of events Chicago has to offer:

• Walk to End Alzheimer's
• Making Strides of Chicago (Breast Cancer)
• Out of the Darkess (Suicide Awareness)
• The Chicago Half Marathon
• Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Run
• Turkey Trot 13.1/10k/5k/1k

These are just some of the events coming up in fall. If you'll soon be visiting Chicago, you should check one out. The events range from those for charity and cause-awareness, to those that are just for fun, like that of the hot chocolate run. I know nothing should motivate me more than running for adult beverages, candy, colors, or even being with a crowd of people with the same costume on as you. Speaking of, I hear there's a Santa run here, too. There's pretty much a run or walk for anything and EVERYTHING!

So if these types of events are your thing and you're making a visit to Chicago soon, check one of these fun events out. What better way to get some exercise in AND help out a local charity?

[Are you planning a visit to Chicago soon and love to run? Send me a message and I'll let you know what's coming up around the time of your visit!]

Travel addict: the first step is admitting it.

It's an age-old question, that takes us so many of us to figure out: What do you want to be when you grow up? I don't mean something like a job, a 9 to 5, something that pays the bills. I mean a career, something that makes you so incredibly happy that it doesn't even feel like a job, and you'd be happy to do it even if you weren't getting paid.
I've been giving this question a lot of thought lately and I keep coming back to how much I absolutely love travel! I've been so many places that I've lost count. For me, it feels so good to get away from everyday life, see something you've never seen before or even make new memories and friends. I love the idea that oftentimes, you don't know exactly what's waiting for you once you're off the plane.
With that said, I've decided to try my hand at travel-related content, including tips, tricks and for those of you who are so inclined, advice on your next vacation. I'll be sharing places I've visited including food, entertainment, hotels and air travel.
I hope you join me on this journey to finding myself, and finding as many new experiences as I can get my hands on! It's gonna be great!!!

Cat update!

Hi, all!

I just got word that Easton got adopted! Yay! He's my first official one, that I've received word of.

Currently, I have Poseidon and Plato, two kittens that I think are from different litters. One of them isn't eating so much, so he's headed to the vet tomorrow morning, to get his eating habits back up to where they need to be. Plato eats anything I put down, with a little help from the KMR formula I have been mixing in. Here is a photo of the babies I currently have.

Plato is a little larger than Poseidon. As a side note, it's worth mentioning that as a new foster, I've learned somuch in such a short time. Since I started during kitten season, that means there is a giant need for homes for kittens. I've realized over the past couple weeks that if you're dealing with kittens, no case is ever the same. Eleanor and Evelyn were under-socialized and Poseidon now has some food issues. I'm realizing very quickly that nothing is ever set in stone, each situation is different, and as a foster you have to learn to expect anything. Nothing is ever routine, and I think that's the hardest part of fostering that I've had to come to terms with. I guess if you're looking to do this, make sure you're giving it plenty of time before and after your work schedule. I get up at 7 a.m., and don't leave work until about 9 a.m., just because everything always takes longer than expected.

I often feel easily discouraged, rather quickly, especially with the less time I allow myself (especially in the morning) before work. I can't stress enough that when you think something will only take 30 minutes, it might take an hour. I didn't expect that I'd have to feed Poseidon with a spoon, then get kitten formula, and now, I'll have to feed him in the bathroom, so that there are no other distractions. And all the while, I keep having to remind myself that this is a process, that takes time to learn, like how a kitchen is too big for two tiny kittens, or how blocking off the radiator, so that they can't crawl under it, is something that likely will save me eons of time, in an attempt to avoid having to get them out.

So for now, I guess I'll keep repeating to myself: patience and time, as that is what is needed to be successful as a foster, and that nothing is ever routine. I guess I got what I wanted, when I wanted something that would keep me busy, because I sure got just that!

The "Cat"astrophe of Easton, Evelyn, and Eleanor

In the several weeks that I've been fostering cats, here are some of the things I learned, that no one told me.

     1: Liquid doxcycline is a godsend. It comes in powder form, but you shouldn't HAVE to crush it if you're new to fostering.

     2: Feral cats are different than "just regular" kittens. The last bunch of cats I had, had been accustomed to some sort of human contact. The ones I have now, ehhhh--2 out of 3 have not. I didn't know this going in and have had a very difficult time socializing the two girls I have. People keep telling me to give it up, that this isn't for me, that I should find something else, but if I do that, cats without homes have one less place to go. So, I'm not giving up.

     3: I wish someone told me that it might be easier to handle ferals if I have a large metal cage. This is also information that I just found. Maybe I won't time before these ones go back to PAWS (Friday, at the request of PAWS, if they're healthy), but I am definitely going to invest in one of those.

     I am not experienced with feral cats, so socializing them has been a challenge every day. At night, i go home to feed the cats, also giving myself time to unwind, and then spend at least an hour and a half throwing treats across the floor and playing with the kittens.  The funny part is, Easton always runs to the treat before the girls can get to it. I think we'll be doing 1 on 1 playtime tonight. I'm learning very quickly that this is all a complete learning process for us all.

Pet Foster

     So I recently decided to foster cats with a small rescue group in the area. I have never done this before so I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I applied online, and within the same day I got a call to pick up one cat within 24 hours, and a second the next day. This was quite fast, as I thought I would have to go through some kind of training, or moreover, that someone would call me and ask what my experience/qualifications are as a pet foster. This was not the case. Within the two days, I had to pull money together to get a litter box, cat litter, a couple cans of cat food, etc.: the basics. Luckily I had enough money to do so, but I was worried that I wouldn't have enough, and hadn't planned on getting all of this before last weekend, as I didn't know the process would move so quickly.

     The second cat ended up having a URI or upper respiratory infection, and I was told I needed to make a concoction with two doxycycline pills, mixed with Karo corn syrup and water, put it into a syringe and give it to both cats ( the one that was well just as a precaution) according to their weight. For someone who has never done this before, I was freaked out. Some of the group members reached out to me, but no one volunteered to take the time to show me exactly how to do this. The sick cat was very congested, coughing, and sneezing. I was majorly concerned that I would over-medicate the cats if I couldn't get their weight correct, not to mention, I had bought a food scale, that I was having trouble reading, and didn't know how to get the cats to stay still long enough to get the weight. This was slowly becoming a complete frustration, and I felt that maybe I made the wrong decision to foster animals. I was beginning to feel completely defeated.

    24 hours into getting the medication issue out of the way, the sick cat was still coughing and congested, and I told the owner of the rescue that I planned on bringing the cat to the vet the next morning. This was Saturday night. I then messaged her the next day, as I was leaving for the vet the next morning, AND called her. Her calls were going to straight to voicemail, and she had just gone on vacation a couple days ago. When I called one of the core foster contacts, she she said that the owner was on the west coast, and probably wasn't answering due to the time change. I would have paid, but with all the lack of communication I had had thus far, I didn't feel comfortable paying for the vet bill, and facing the risk of not getting reimbursed, so she offered to pay for it. When I arrived at the vet's office, the authorization still hadn't been called in. It only got called in while I was standing at the front desk. I really thought this cat was NOT going to be seen today. Even after the vet issued liquid medication for the cat, the owner complained to me how it's expensive to get the medication in liquid form.

     Fast forward two days, and I have decided that I will no longer be taking care of these animals and will be bringing them to one of the locations within the rescue group. I have thought about keeping these cats until they're adopted, but with how terrible the whole process has been with things like a major lack of communication, not being informed, and not having the full process explained as to how it works, I have had enough. I feel that in an effort to avoid having to deal with this group anymore, it is in my best interest to have them take care of the cats from here on out.

     I looked up how to turn a bad experience into a good one, as I am having a hard time telling myself that I didn't fail, and that I should continue to foster animals. I learned that when you have never fostered before, it's better to go with a larger, more reputable rescue group. I have since applied for PAWS, and am awaiting to hear back about the next steps. I have learned that all rescue groups are not the same, and if these small things are issues that you, yourself don't feel comfortable with, don't be afraid to tell the group owners. If I knew then what I know now, I would have asked them what the process for administering medication was. I would have asked if there is a backup person to approve authorizations, and I would have asked how new foster volunteers are trained. I try to keep in mind that I helped saved two lives, and those two happy-go-lucky cats are now playing and running all over my apartment together. I am proud of myself for speaking up when I felt something was wrong, even when I was accused of having a negative attitude. The group's criticism made me come extremely close to giving up and quitting for good. I'm glad that I haven't.
   
     I originally got into this because I have anxiety, and know that pets can be a relief for that. I also just wanted to help be a temporary home for animals, as I am now allowed to have cats in my new apartment, and want to help as many of them as possible, and I can do just that by fostering. I know that this isn't an easy process, and it's not one in which I didn't expect to work, and have some bumps in the road. But to be left on my own to crush pills, measure them, and administer them, is not something that I signed up for, nor is it something that they should have left me to do on my own, for the first time.

     I am now looking forward to volunteering for a more organized, structured rescue group, and know that my efforts will be rewarded when I see the cats I've fostered go to good homes. I know that I'll have much better support with PAWS, and that though there will be some difficult times, I won't be left feeling alone. More to come later...