The Gift of Gaga

by: Jaimie Gleissner

I can pinpoint the exact moment that I developed a serious girl-crush on Lady Gaga. My sister was obsessed with her first single, “Just Dance,” and as I recall, my brother didn't completely hate the song. We played it, on a loop, the entire way to our family Thanksgiving and had a sweet dance party in the car. As Gaga came out with more songs, it became a major form of entertainment to watch my sister freak out every time one of her singles played. Then I saw the video for “Telephone” – the costumes, choreography, sets, lighting, make-up; my mind was blown. From performances to interviews, Lady Gaga radiates a persona that is nothing short of enthralling.

While working in Wickenburg, AZ, I met a fellow little monster. Though the work environment was trying at times, we escaped by playing dress-up and listening to Lady Gaga. We'd spend hours applying our make-up, throw on some fishnets, and drink boxed wine in my room all night. The day we found out that Gaga was going to be in Phoenix we bought our tickets without clearing it with our boss. Without a doubt, we were going to that concert. After months of dress rehearsals, we arrived at the Monster's Ball in true monster style: sans pants. The concert took us on a journey as Gaga not only played a flaming piano but melted faces with a high-heel guitar solo. Caught up in the moment, we were catapulted out of Arizona to Planet Gaga. I figured that nothing could top the concert and filed it in my mind under “unforgettable.” There was no way any other Lady Gaga experience could top seeing Mother Monster in concert. Then again, life always has something unexpected up it's sleeve.

Every year, the fishing lodge I work for hosts several “big-deal” businessmen. For a few days, the entire staff does everything in their power to make sure our special guests have everything they could possibly want. When the Gould party arrives, we don't say no; we find a way to get them whatever they want. After a particularly stressful day, Lara (my roommate) Facebooked me to come down to the office, informing me there was a surprise awaiting me that was too good to miss. After a short debate (via Facebook chat), I grudgingly headed down the boardwalk to see what she wanted. I entered the office and was greeted by George Kalinsky (the official photographer for both Madison Square Garden and the New York Mets) and Paul Gould (Managing Director of Allen and Company, LLC) presenting me with an original Kalinsky print of Lady Gaga live at Madison Square Garden. I thought they were just showing me the picture at first, but slowly, I realized George was actually giving me the portrait.

As it turns out, Lara had been eavesdropping on their conversation and when she heard them bring up Lady Gaga, mentioned that I was a huge fan. The portrait had already been given away to Sandy Climan (president of Entertainment Media Ventures – the guys who brought you Iron Man), but he was kind enough to give up his photograph so that I could have it. When they handed me the picture, I was so blown away that I incapable of forming sentences. I muttered a stunned “thank you,” as I fought back tears and the urge to hug both guests. The look on my face must have been priceless because Paul and George had ear-to-ear grins on their faces as I struggled to come up with something to say besides “wow.”

Weeks later, I'm still flabbergasted and tend to pull out the photograph just to make sure it's real. Seasonal professionals work long hours and put aspects of their real lives on hold for months at a time to live on location. The main payoff doesn't show up in our paychecks; it lies in the once-in-a-lifetime experiences that occur with every season. In my case, the seasons biggest payoff came in the shape of an amazing photograph of a pop icon taken by a world renowned photographer. Sometimes, I guess you just get lucky.

One More Goodbye

by: Jaimie Gleissner

Illinois is beautiful in the fall. I had put so much effort into escaping my hometown that I had forgotten how amazing it is to gaze at the horizon with an uninterrupted view. Back-roads and corn fields are the scenes of my childhood - things I still see clearly in my minds-eye when I'm far away from home. Harvest season brings the brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds of fall, and I find myself reminiscing over the huge piles of leaves my sister and I used to jump in. The air is starting to cool and become crisp now that October is reaching it's end. By the end of next month, winter will be in full swing. Temperatures will drop far below zero; snow will pile up and hang around until spring, and every

Midwesterner will ready their snow shovels and stock up on salt.

Last winter I lived in Wickenburg, AZ and would cringe when the weather dropped below 60. In a few days, I'll be packing up my car and leaving for Denver, CO. Lola (my car), and I will once again be forced to brave the winter elements. I've never spent a long period of time in Colorado, and I'm looking forward to experiencing everything the Mile High City has to offer. At the same time, I'm absolutely terrified to leave home and possibly find a permanent address.

I've spent the past 16 months making decisions on a whim and avoiding actions that could potentially make me commit to a single location. But a lifestyle of constant goodbyes becomes sad and exhausting after a while. In a few days, I'll say a final farewell to Illinois. With the exception of a couple summer trips, I'm officially relocating on a permanent basis (at least that's the plan). I've made a living traveling by myself without anyone else to worry about, but I think I'm ready to be a little more stable. Am I giving up my ambition to travel as much as I can while spending as little as possible? Absolutely not. I'm just ready to grow up a little bit.  

From One Traveler to Another

I stumbled across this guy online and found his writing rather interesting. Check it out!

http://artofbackpacking.com/

First Impressions

by: Samantha Bermitz 

My first impression of college is that it's scary. You are an adult now and are paying for school. Making sure you pick a career path that you are passionate about is something that can be extremely intimidating.

In a couple of days I will be starting college. There are so many thoughts and feelings running through me that I can't properly process them. I'm super nervous and find myself panicking about the importance of first impressions. In order to make sure that everyone knows how passionate I am about cooking, I try to project an air of confidence combined with an eagerness to learn which doesn’t come easy when your nervous.

While on vacation, I’ve been mentally preparing for the up coming adventures (and by preparing I mean doing nothing). I am on vacation. Why should I do anything but relax? My boyfriend, Stephen, has been nothing but encouraging, and with all this relaxation going on, I've managed to calm down.

When I got to New York I kept thinking how intimidated I was by the fact that I was going to college. When Steven asked why, I said” Just think I am 18 and there are people of every age and from every walk of life who want to cook and most will be awesome at it. I want to be someone people notice, and I want to be the amazing student who stands out for all the good she does. I want to be the person who makes people nervous about their cooking.”

What Steven said next amazed me and made me love him more. "Baby, you are an amazing cook, and you are so passionate about everything you do. Those people in class should be afraid of you not you of them.”

After he said that I knew I would do awesome and be awesome. I had nothing to be worried about. I had experience from Yes Bay which will benefit me as I keep my mind on track. I'll be just fine.

Remember, if you love what you do you, will never work a day in you life.

p.s never bring a gun to a sweagle fight!

Not so Entertaining

by: Jaimie Gleissner

You'll have to bear with us folks! The Away We Go staff has been pretty busy this month, so we hope you can understand if our posting schedule (Wednesday and Sunday) is a bit of a mess. Lara and I are getting ready for pretty big moves and Sam is starting school. With all of these big changes, we've gotten a bit scatter-brained. We appreciate your readership and are trying our best to post in a timely manner.

Lately, I've been in charge of wine tasting at the local liquor store. Since Rochelle is a pretty small town, I have ample time to sit and think. Here are some of the things that run through my mind when there aren't any customers in the store:

- Thinking too much can be dangerous. It's amazing how easily you can talk yourself out of taking a risk when you're trying to be reasonable.

- Why does my coworker keep dusting? I spent 20 minutes dusting today, and he just keeps dusting the same bottles. He's been at it for hours. God, he must be bored.

- I can't remember what I was going to do, so I'm just going to wander around the store until I figure something out.

- Listed all of the states I've been to: 26 (counting Washington DC even though it's not really a state).

- Why does time go by so slowly when we're bored and so quickly when we're entertained?

- I'm hungry.

- Random song

Turns out my life at work isn't that entertaining. Luckily, I've had a fair amount of time on my hands and managed to find something more interesting than my day. Check out 50 pictures from National Geographic:

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4AmK20/www.topdesignmag.com/50-images-from-national-geographics-2010-photo-contest/

Crossing My Fingers

by: Jaimie Gleissner

When I woke up this morning, I realized that it was not Wednesday. In fact, today is Thursday which means this post is a day late. Between catching up with friends and trying to find some sort of routine, I've completely lost track of days. Oops.

Although I don't know what day of the week it is, I've successfully managed to make decisions. There were days in Alaska where I'd sit down and think myself into a state of nausea while contemplating my future. I came up with several career paths: flight attendant, teacher, bar owner, dragon pilot, etc. Obviously, a few of these idea were a little far fetched. I have a bad habit of convincing myself that I'll be really great at anything I try, and I'm the first person to quit when I realize I might have to put in a lot of work to reach my goal.

Back in the real world, I've become more realistic. Would I like to be a dragon pilot? Heck yeah! Have I realized the chances of that happening are unlikely? Sadly, yes. On the other hand, I'd probably end up singed by fire breath. That's why instead of worrying about a career in handling mythical animals, I've decided to push my moving date to the beginning of November. Two weeks from now, I hope to be on my way out to Colorado. Ideally, I'll even have a few job interviews lined up when I get out there.

Nothing is more exhilarating and terrifying as embarking on an unknown adventure. I never would have guessed that I'd be more nervous about trying to find a job in an unsteady economy than heading into the Alaskan wilderness. Right now, I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping that the move goes smoothly. Wish me luck. 

Here Today

by: Lara Cleeland

Here Today…

Dear mountains,

I am finally home, I have never been so glad to be adventuring within the boundaries of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 

Dear concrete,

I can finally skateboard on your smooth surfaces. The reunion was priceless.

These two nostalgias that have been built up over the past 4 months are no longer distant dreams, but my new reality. My mental happiness and physical health are reaping the benefits from being home in my element. Like that of a complete protein, similar to rice and beans, the mountains and concrete are my perfect combination to keep me thriving. 

Gone Tomorrow…

However, I’m a nomad at heart…always on the move. Hopping from place to place. Searching for something new or running from the boredoms that weave themselves into daily routine.  Therefore, I’m moving again, back to Tahoe in a few weeks to begin a renewed journey for the wintertime. 

Unfortunately, moving all the time, gets exhausting, and starting from scratch is never an easy task. The sacrifices are great, including the lack of financial stability and the hardship of holding onto strong relationships with family and friends is proven difficult. The struggles and inconveniences of this lifestyle are not for everyone. But they are rewarding if you open yourself to the idea that constant change isn’t such a bad thing, because in exchange, you get to experience so much more.

Maybe my life isn’t supposed to be normal, where I settle down so easily, and follow a structured approach to the successes of this world. Maybe my goals aren’t measured in the same way others measure their successes. I’m happy just knowing that I’ve lived my life with little restriction, and in doing so, have seen and done so much more than I could have ever dreamed.

In conclusion, life’s questions can keep racking themselves into my brain, but the only way to find out what I’m really meant to do on this earth, is through experiencing everything imaginable. Even if that includes making a bunch of extra mistakes and getting lost along the way. After all, how else are you supposed to find yourself, if you don’t take the time to explore all the possibilities and detours that life has to offer?

The Morning After

by: Samantha Bermitz

Back in the real world there are cars, cell phones, and depending on your location, sunshine. I have to cook my own living expenses, and all the things that were provided by Yes Bay are now gone. Being back in Florida is a lot to get used to, and I had to spend a lot of money getting everything organized.

• Getting insurance for my car:

This was a lot more difficult than I had planed. I thought I would try progressive first, but it turned out to be more than I cared to spend, with an initial down payment and no 6 month payment option. Then I called several private insurance companies and didn’t qualify for coverage because of my lack of previous credit and insurance. (Mind you, I just graduated high school.) Geico ended up being my most affordable option, $1260.88 for 6 months, so of course I went everyone's favorite computer generated gecko.

• Getting my car registered and buying my tags:

What was supposed to be an easy task was stretched into the longest and most difficult. When I arrived at the Department of Motor Vehicles, I noticed a lot of people waiting and no one being helped. I thought it was weird, but I got my number and sat down anyway. As I looked up at the number board, I realized that my number would be up shortly. However, as the lady who was in charge walked out and called for every ones attention, my excitement faded. Apparently the computers were down, and they couldn’t do anything without them. No one knew when the system would be up and running again. I wouldn’t have minded if I didn’t need it that day, but wanting to get behind the wheel, I held my ground for 4 hours. When the computers were up again I was able to get tags and register my car. In the end I spent $460.55: $250 on the tag and the rest on the registration. What a waste of a beautiful day!

• Registering for College:

Registering for classes was far less frustrating than registering my car. I finalized my enrollment, got my ID, and ordered my chef uniforms. Everything went smoothly, but they estimated $900 for books alone per semester. Yikes. At least I’ll be all set when I get back from my mini-vacation with my boyfriend.

There were a lot of silly things that I had to get used to such as the bright sunny days of Florida, answering my phone, carrying my wallet around, and driving. Luckily, I got the hang of everything pretty quick. All in all, I’m glad to be home. Though I miss Yes Bay,it's comforting to know that I'll soon be returning to the place where you never bring a gun to a sweagle fight. 

Landing on My Feet

by: Jaimie Gleissner

Getting into a normal routine has been pretty tough since my return to Illinois. I've spent the past week staying up until 3 in the morning, waking up late in the afternoon, eating fast food, drinking beer, and hanging out with my friends and family. Upon departing Yes Bay, I had a whole list of things I needed to get done. Since I don't remember what was on that list, it's safe to say I haven't accomplished any of it.

Actually, I have gotten a couple things done this week. I've managed to complete another year of living, and when I went to the liquor store to buy beer, I walked out with a job... and beer. I haven't done much thinking, though I have decided that I will be moving to Denver. My first week back, as you can see, has been extremely uneventful.

This time last year I was getting ready to drive across the country. I went from living in South Eastern Alaska to Wickenburg, Arizona. Everything was scary, and I felt shell shocked for much of the move. The transition into society has been a lot easier this time around. Instead of timidly testing the waters, I threw myself into civilization. Working as a seasonal professional has taught me a lot of things, and the most important thing I've learned is to embrace the unfamiliar situation.

That being said, lately, I feel like a cat that's stuck in a tree. I've managed to get myself to a really high branch. The view is pretty good, but it's starting to get dark, and I'm getting pretty hungry. Not to mention, it's getting cold. Looking around, I realize that I don't know how to get down, so I start mewing and hope someone will hear me and get me out of this tree. Finally, it dawns on me that no one is coming. The only option I have is to stop being such a pussy and jump. After all, I am a cat. I'll probably land on my feet.