The End

This is the end of a beautiful friendship.

I'm sorry I didn't blog much toward the end. I got some serious tunnel vision right around 1/2 way through the trip. I did update the final tally. It came out to:

ZERO cigarettes (congratulations poodle!!!)
897 fast food meals (this number is purely an estimate)
+/- 3 fights (none of which involved physical violence)
+/- 11,000 miles

oh yeah, and we were around 40% over budget (and I learned in my project management class that is just about normal)

About the fast food: It was maybe not a totally realistic idea for me to give up something that is kind of an addiction (fast food) on a road trip where it's usually the cheapest and easiest food option, and I'm forced to pass hundreds of stores (In and Out! Sonic!!!) while looking sideways at a dryersheet flavored egg salad sandwich. Well, I didn't gain too much more weight, I guess I just need to actually do something about it now that I'm making all these other changes in my life.

Anyway, poodle and I were very lucky to have made this trip together. We couldn't have done it with the financial support of someone to whom I am married. I shall not name names. :)

Poodle and I got to learn a lot about each other, face a few challenges, but overall we had a wonderful time, and I think it was a trip we'll both remember for years to come. I will post a link to the photos as soon as I get them uploaded somewhere, but for now, I shall bid you adieu.

Feel free to follow my personal journey on my personal blog if you are so inclined. If you want to follow poodle's journey, you'll have to convince her to start a blog of her own. I haven't been able to convince her yet.

warm regards
-wm