Courtney

Last night was amazing. I'm still speechless over the food, friends, and memories. It was AMAZING.

Haven't been to Oga's in ages and I'm finally tasting the Grinning Loth Cat.

YA'LL. THIS. IS. SO. GOOD.

Perfectly refreshing, not overly sweet, and DIVINE.

I didn't vlog this year as I vlogged the event last year, and I wanted to focus on enjoying the event and spending time with my friends. In fact, I was so focused on that goal, that I forgot to bring a memory card. So no footage will be taken this trip at all!

We did the Lightsaber Meetup, and I got to do the Lightsaber instructional as I'd brought one of my sabers with me! It was much better than last years!

We got to meet Padme, saw Anakin keeping an eye on her, Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker, and even had some fun with stormtroopers and Darth Maul.

We got on Rise, Peter Pan, and Hyperspace Mountain too!

We did character meets, multiple big ticket rides, and I got a snack, but most of the food wasn't super tempting this year. I got the Pandan Milk Tea and it was good, but a bit overly sweet. Nowhere as good as the Passionfruit Limeade of last year.

Had an AMAZING time at Star Wars nite with my Starcruiser girls! We got very lucky with short queues and got so much done!

I went in with the same goals as last year. One Ride, one photo, and one snack.

We blew that out of the water this year!

Of how much we’ve lost, and how much we still could lose.

So I’m trying some new things and trying to get my groove back. But it’s going to be an uphill climb.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Trying to stay off social media more. The past few weeks since coming back from Antarctica has been…well, it’s been really pretty awful to the world.

The anxiety of it all is an undercurrent running rampant through my entire life, and that of my friends.

I’m a die hard podcast listener, but I listen to a lot of trivia and game show style shows, where it’s about 5-10 minutes per topic. Or less if it’s trivia. Long form I can do video but not audio only. :(

Attempting my first audiobook, because I struggle to remain engaged. Figured I should start with a book/series I know well and love.

The Caledonian Gambit by Dan Moren. LFG.

For those running Disneyland Half this weekend, please be prepared for a giant roadblock at mile 2. It is straight out of the courser of yore and it was an awful 2-4 person width.

BRING YOUR PATIENCE.

It's looking like OnceUponAMarathon and I are on the same cruise next year!!! I may finally get to meet Amanda! She's one of the best people in the RunDisney community and I am EXTREMELY excited to hopefully meet her in person!

Barely arrived from Chile and already back on work travel. So SO glad I pre-packed for this work trip and just left my bag with my family. Meant I could grab it and head straight to the hotel.

I did grab my maté cup and straw though from my bags. #priorities

FINALLY caught up with my manager and as expected, the meeting had some hiccups at the beginning, but our new guys and handling it, and they're getting better by the day.

Feeling proud of them, and so appreciative that my team is rising to the challenge. (And I can be more active in it now!)

A hexagonal frame around a gentoo penguin waddling on a rocky beach that says “Screw this. I’m running away to Antarctica.” Photo by Midlight Labs.

Back in the states any my only thought is this.

They did not! We had an open seat between us.

On the plane en route to Dallas! Still waiting to see if someone booked the middle seat between Robin and I.

Another year, another unredeemed Starbucks Birthday beverage. For the last 4 years, I've been off working for my birthday. This year, I'm in Chile, and Starbucks doesn't honor birthday drinks in other countries. 😭

Back at the Santiago airport after a whirlwind 24 hours in the city. Got some pool time. Met a kick butt player from Burbank on the Colo-Colo female football team who was stoked to have a moment to speak English. Had Lomo Saltado and a birthday song.

Not too shabby.

Courtney smiles with a Pisco Sour in a champagne flute. It is delicious with fresh lemon juice and three drops of bitters perfectly placed on the top.

Preparing to enter 36 in Santiago. Thank you Courtyard Marriott Santiago Airport for a complimentary Pisco Sour for my birthday!

A young Gentoo penguin stands alone in a muddy field of rocks covered in mud and pinkish red guano. His eyes are closed, his shoulders hunched, and he just looks TIRED.

My absolute favourite picture I took the entire trip. This little gentoo penguin just looks SO SAD and DONE.

In the words of one of our NatGeo photographers, "Poor guy is covered in poop and just waiting for some vomit (food). What a life."

Boarded our flight to Santiago! Not exactly looking forward to the 90 degree day awaiting us (I tend to prefer vacationing in cold places) but I'm not going to be sad about seeing more of Continent 6 for me.

Boarded our flight to Santiago! Not exactly looking forward to the 90 degree day awaiting us (I tend to prefer vacationing in cold places) but I'm not going to be sad about seeing more of Continent 6 for me.

It's morning in Puerto Natales, and our journey to return back home continues today. We're due to fly from Puerto Natales to Santiago, Chile around noon, and will have pretty much all of tomorrow in Santiago. Any recommendations or suggestions of things to do?

We are checked into our little hotel in Puerto Natales, and repacking and relaxing after our early morning wake up for our flight out.

We're at a little off the beaten path hotel called Hotel HD Natales. A bit older. Little bit run down. AMAZING food and staff.

There's an undercurrent of anxiety and frustration and I got a heads up about something at work that really has me spooked.

It's thrown me off kilter and is very much not where I want to be right now mentally.

Courtney looks out a window in the last row of an airplane

On the ship, they told us that they wouldn't be looking at our boarding passes until Puerto Natales, they did ask for them upon embarkation. We were in the LAST ROW!

The plane is in a 3-2 configuration, and the final 2 row was empty! They let me move over to there so now I have a window!

A small plane painted to look like a Gentoo Penguin on a muddy runway.

The plane arrived at King George Island, and we got the plane with the Gentoo Livery!!!

The life jackets onboard have a strap that goes through the legs.

As one of the people was prepping to debark, their final words to the rest of us as we're getting dressed was "fast track to a wedgie!"

And they walked off to base camp to debark. 🤣