This is goodbye from Destination Unknown

It is time to say goodbye to all of you! That's right, this will be the final post from Destination Unknown.

I've been struggling to keep my blog going over the past couple of years. Perhaps it's due to the public nature of my profession, the lesser anonymity in a smaller community, or maybe, like my dear friend Heather pointed out, maybe I've found my Destination - It's happiness.

No, things aren't perfect, far from it. But I'm technically in a good place and it will get better.

I'm in love, to a good man, and my heart is in a safe place. I have reached one of the heights of my career - I actually get to run a museum. I'm getting paid to write. My blood pressure has been normal for over a year. I've dropped 20 pounds and counting... you know.. 43 is not looking so bad.

I started this blog in August of 2009. I was 36 years old. Newly married to the egyptian, and honestly, I was in a good place then. If you go back and read, that slowly began to crumble. The whole failure of that cultural fusion of a marriage was documented for the world to see. You were there when I lost a job for the very first time. When I had to move back home. While I struggled to find work during a recession for over 9 months. (Which to this day is the darkest period of my life.) How I was able to rebuild and reestablish myself in my hometown. The joy of unpacking my things out of storage after 9 months. The divorce. The loss of another great job. (Again - none of these were through any fault of my own (job wise).) Then starting a brand new job and going on the date with my SG (and btw, his name is Tim. The egyptian was Yasser.)

I shared my heart ache over the loss of friends or the distance from people I loved. I shared my cancer scares, the meningitis, the anger over political issues, etc.

For those of you who have been on this journey with me over the years, I thank you. I used to get almost 50,000 views a week. That was pretty special, considering the only wares I'm peddling was my life's story. I'm not going to delete my blog, however, in a week or so, I will unpublish it and save it in a draft for me. Sometimes, I might want to go back and read my little journey. My Facebook fan page will be deactivated in about a week. I want to give any of you who might actually still be reading a chance to read this.

If you ever find yourself in Macon, stop by the Cannonball House on Mulberry Street. Ask for Nicole. Let me know you are a reader. Would love to shake your hand.

You can follow me on instagram. There is a button on the side bar, as well as Twitter. Heck, you could even follow me on Facebook.

Here's hoping the future is just as bright. You never know... I could always come back and reinvent my blog. But I doubt it will be anytime soon.

1900 blog entries.
Over 8 million views.
Most searched word: Fried Pickles
Most viewed Post: You'll Thank Me Later on December 10, 2011. 205,228 views
Much love to each of you. I leave you with a simple...

Until next time.

To Shut Down or Not to Shut Down?

I've been doing some serious debating over the past year. I question whether I want to blog anymore.
It used to be fun, but lately feels like a chore.

That's not good.

Over the past month, I've posted videos about women's issues in honor of Women's History Month, and I noticed that I've lost 33 followers during the past few weeks.

I used to write so my good friends could keep up with me when I lived in Birmingham, as a way to stay involved in my life. I've since moved home and probably see everyone even less than I ever did before.

I'm not sure I want my life to be such a public display as much as I use to. It's something I struggle with. I might want to save some stories for myself. Maybe my memoirs? Who knows.

I rarely get comments or feedback or letters. About 4 years ago, I would have dozens of comments and conversation with people about the various topics. Zip lately.

It's like I'm just writing to the wind, which is fine, but I can do that in a notebook at home.

Maybe that's what I'll do.

I'm going to make the decision this week as to whether I will keep this. I will shut it down, and also deactivate the Destination Unknown Facebook fan page. It's not really all that necessary any more.

I do have my other website, but that one will strictly become my travel log. Nothing personal, just showcasing interesting places to visit. Simply because I travel so much.

If you want to follow me there, it's nicoledestinationunknown.com. Maybe it's time to just start over. I've been at this since August of 2009, almost 7 years. I think it has just ran its course.

Time to move on. Keep on keeping on.

I'll let you know what I decide.

Until then,

Finding my Zen

I've been a little quiet lately with my writing because I have been slam packed with activities. Not only the events and what not, but battling bronchitis and I had three teeth extracted. Yes, three. Luckily, they are on the bottom left hand side. I will eventually get an implant and a bridge to fix it all up, but for now.. and we're talking it's been over a week, I must heal.

I feel terrible. Still.

Luckily, I was able to get away last weekend to the cabin. I needed to restore some sense of balance into my life. Working on all speeds, deeply medicated, was not easy.

We had a huge event at the Cannonball House - complete with reenactors. We did our monthly story time which was Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The kids got to dress as pirates, it was a hoot!

On Friday, SG's mom and I drove around some old country roads and came across this abandoned old church. Circa 1870. Good stuff.

Then, of course, there was the business of life. SG had a few projects he wanted to work on around the cabin (those pics coming soon - but the door is now RED!) I had to work on four freelance writing projects. Which in turn just kills my spirit for blogging. But hey, I have to put bacon on the table!

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the videos I've been posting. It's good stuff!

Are You A Leader?

If I could pick a team of women to be my fantasy besties, I think Sheryl Sandberg would be at the top of that list. She happens to be the COO of Facebook and an incredibly intelligent and relate-able person. She seems to get what it means to balance a work life, as well as a personal life, and I like that. If we have to pick a mentor in this world to look up to, I think she has done a great job of sharing her thoughts on the topic of women as leaders.

I think I was always a leader. As they say, "She gets it from her mama." My mom is a force to be reckoned with. She is a take charge-take-no-prisoners type of leader. I, on the other hand, have the ability to do that, but I choose to put a splash of sugar in with it. Why?

Because I like to see people succeed. I really, really do. I like to help people strategize their lives and figure out the best course of action with the tools they have available. Heck, that's how I live my life.

March is Women's History Month. We take a moment and remember the women who have come before us and made such a difference in how the world works. I like that. However, just like I was in college, I am more interested in what we are doing now. I enjoy history and I find it interesting - hence the whole museum bit. But I LOVE doing something now, not just regurgitating what someone else did. (ie - I am also a journalist.) Journalism is history in the making, and I have always gravitated toward the trailblazers. All month, I'm going to share inspirational videos and memes and posts about strong, vibrant women. I have always wanted to lead, it's in my blood, and I've been blessed with an opportunity to run a museum.

Did you hear me? I get to run a museum!!! The little girl in me still gets giddy about this. I did it - I really did it. I achieved a goal. The funny part is, it was just a whimsical dream, you know the kind? Where you make a list of everything you would love to become one day, and this happened to be one of them. I'm an Executive Director. I still have to pinch myself.

My mom is an Executive Director. My sister was an Executive Director. My father was a supervisor. Most of my dad's side were military. It's just in our blood.

I want to see more girls strive to make their dreams come true. I really, really do. Whatever that looks like. I also want to see women strike a better work-life balance, something I think Generation X values. If you get a chance, watch the following video. It is inspiring and says so much. Meet my fantasy bestie - Sheryl. She's one smart cookie.