. The Thing About Adventure .

Two days ago, I realized that there are only fourteen days left of summer. How does that happen? And then a memory popped up on my Facebook feed about how The General and I woke up at the crack of dawn last year and drove to surprise my mom at work in Chicago.

And it started. Slowly, the restlessness creeped in. Because soon? Soon will be football games, Labor Day float decorating, Homecoming dances to chaperone, volleyball tournaments, lesson planning, "do you hear me when I'm talking to you's", and pointy fingers. 

Sigh. I hate pointy fingers.

One of my favorite movie quotes comes from a Kevin Costner film (act a little surprised, okay?) ... and he's obviously a baseball player. Of course. A lot of this doesn't really have anything to do with what I'm telling you, but just shhhhh for a second and let me have my moment: 

And you know Steve you get the feeling that Billy Chapel isn't pitching against left handers, he isn't pitching against pinch hitters, he isn't pitching against the Yankees. He's pitching against time. He's pitching against the future, against age, and even when you think about his career, against ending. And tonight I think he might be able to use that aching old arm one more time to push the sun back up in the sky and give us one more day of summer.

That's how I kind of felt, you know? Like I just need to squeeze out just a little bit more of summer before I'm relegated to an uncomfortable desk chair and a whole heck of a lot of, "Do you REALLY have to go to the bathroom or is this just some ploy to get out of class and wander aimlessly down the hallways and knock on every door and wave at every friend and pretend I have no idea what you're actually doing?"

One more weekend before professional development. Before test scores. Before essays. Before trying to walk away from my door with my zip badge still inside my door. 

Just one more shining hot second where nothing else matters but my book, my drink, and my cute sunglasses.

So I started looking. You guys. I looked for two solid days. It took me two freaking days to find something before I fell in love. 

I started by drawing a radius around my location. I didn't want to drive more than seven hours away from my casa - and turns out ... seven hours would be necessary BECAUSE EVERYONE IS GOING ON VACATION THIS WEEKEND WITH THEIR DOGS AND EIGHT COUSINS AND NINETEEN KIDS. I was kind of hoping to find a rustic cabin by a lake in Minnesota, but no such luck ... because those people with their dogs and 19 kids? Not only do they take up tons of rooms, but they got more jingle in their pockets than this girl. Shelling out more than $300 ($500 .... $900 ...) a night is beyond my comprehension for a cabin with an outhouse. 

Here's what I used to search it all out: 

- Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO)
I found the cutest cabin for under $200 here. It was definitely on the short list. It was near St. Louis, and had kayaking available (that I totally wouldn't use because #balanceprobs). I couldn't get over how cute and charming it was. 

- Flip Key
I went back and forth on Grand Marais, MN ... but in the end, it was just too far away. I loved this property, though. Sigh. Maybe one day ... when I have more time, and you know ... actually plan ahead.

- 15 Kansas Inns (Because I did look in Kansas ... For whatever reason.)
And I'll be darned ... The Netherfield Natural Farm popped up and I almost said yes just based on the name alone. I do love a good Pride and Prejudice reference, and the dock, and the pool, and the bar ... It's close to Kansas City and on my list of places to stay. 

- Airbnb 
The most beneficial website I found was Airbnb ... mostly because it has the apartment I decided to go with. 

I skipped out on Branson. Said no to the Ozarks. Said no to Estes Park. Bed bugs kept me away from Lake McConaughy. And nothing was available in South Dakota because #motorcyclesareerrrrrrwherenorthofhere.

What did I choose? Where am I going? 

Well if I told you, then what would I blog about on Friday? 

I love you like I love the vaca I just planned, like the bag I just packed, like the liquor I just bought, and like the Kindle I just filled. 

Here's to adventure. 

xoxo, B.