Everyone’s finding themselves. Why? I know myself. I’m a 24 year old unemployed ginger with a peculiar fondness for beards, and I like beer more than wine.
I want to lose myself. Escape the routine, the familiarity. Here’s my map for success.
1. Have a semi-traumatic experience, like being laid off from your career two days before your birthday.
2. Go on a two month bender dubbed “The Summer of Candice,” with highlights including hot tubs and homemade wine.
3. Have a certain amount of tumultuous love affairs with men ranging from 0-10 on the Douchebag Scale.
4. Buy a one-way ticket to a city of your choice.
5. Plan an impromptu, one-day roadtrip with a strange man you’ve only met two months ago for a few days. (Just kidding, Carlo. Maybe.) Also, a ziplining tour and water-park adventure with a girl named Steph you’ve only met last week and all her friends you haven’t met yet.
6. Don’t die.
I fell hard for Cape Breton.
Somewhere on the island of Cape Breton, after Markland Beach and the Highlands with its giant crashing waves and green hills and chirping crickets, zooming down mountains in a car rental and finding another perfect curvy landscape around the next corner, I might have shed a tear of happiness. A thousand miles from home, in a new setting where beer is only sold warm at the local Co-Op, hearts and fragile egos mend, and new beginnings…begin.
Seriously, despite the sunburned arm and the mosquito bites on my ass, I am so blessed.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Dang. That was quick.
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Candice Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
It’s amazing what one accomplishes when not drinking on a Saturday night.
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I like your plan. Maybe I will adopt it myself.
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:03 pm
DO IT. It works. Maybe I’ll write an ebook.
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Cape Breton heals.
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Fell for that place harder than anything in my life. Amazing.
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Hi Candice,
I just stumbled upon this page of your blog (literally) and thought what an interesting way your opening line is to be introduced to someone. I like your plan and had similar motivations for taking a trip around Australia. Although I had a completely different approach to loosing myself. I tried the more direct approach of actually trying to get lost.
Just a little word of warning though. In your attempt to try and loose yourself, you may just achieve the opposite.
Either way, I’m going to be following along with your journey from now on
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Awesome, thanks so much, James! Your plan sounds a little braver than mine, hahaha. But who knows, perhaps I shall join you in Australia.
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James Cole Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Just remember that
“Brave” is in the eye of the beholder…
No, hang on that’s not right.
I’m Brave, therefore I am..
No, not right either
Oh yeah, I remember the quote I’m after.
Some say Brave, some say stupid…
Yep, definitely more fitting.
Visiting and hanging out in Oz is never a bad thing. I could show you some great places to loose yourself in
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Candice Reply:
September 6th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Hahaha, thanks James, might take you up on that offer!
Love this! I lost myself purposely a few years ago and it was a beautiful experience. I wish you the best.
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Thanks so much!
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Love your plan. I think I should adopt it as well
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Do it, including the torrid love affairs.
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The “Summer of Candice” sounds like it would make for an interesting book/movie.
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Kinda sounds like a horror flick, don’t you think?
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Love it! Sounds like things are really taking a turn for the better, knew they would!! Enjoy yourself!
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Thankya, Annie!
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Good stuff Candice. Enjoy the road trip with the strange man!
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Oh those strange men, can’t be trusted.
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Hi Candice! I just stumbled across your blog on my quest to find some great travel blogs. Sounds like you have a great plan for the months ahead – I stress the importance of #6, because then this source of travel information and entertainment would disappear for me : )
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Woot, thanks Stephanie! Don’t worry, that isn’t on the plate for anytime soon, hahaha.
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LOVE that picture.
It’s been a bit of a ‘lose yourself’ summer for me as well… and I guess I’ve been following your list! Definitely can tick off 1, 2, and 3… did not do 4, but my 1 was not being laid off and I like my job, so.. ;P As for 5, I’ve had multiple impromtu road trips, does that make up for them not being with a guy i hardly knew? ;D And, hey, I’ve made plans with Steph’s friends I’ve never met this summer as well!
Also very much enjoy the quick summary of this epic summer
and so far so good on #6, though this weekend I came close ;P
Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without Summer of Candice…. in my more sappy and emotional moments, I’m quite sure you’ve saved my life
<3
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Hahaha it’s true, you’ve been my partner in crime throughout the whole thing! And now I know never to ride on someone’s drunken shoulders/back ever again…
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maggie Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 6:37 pm
well, at least ask the guy beforehand if he’s ever dropped someone before… ;D
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Candice Reply:
September 6th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
True dat, true dat.
I agree with Eric above-Summer of Candice sounds like a plan for a book/movie. You know, kinda like Eat Pray Love, only with more alcohol and a much shorter period of time. And probably waaay better than the movie (although the book is great!).
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Oh geez, I should just strap a camera to my face and go. It’d be a blast.
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I love it when a plan comes together!
Robin
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:15 pm
As do I, as do I.
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I think I know why you like beards:
http://www.biggerbetterbeards.org/
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:16 pm
MMMM, so sexy.
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Love it. Can’t wait to hear how the Autumn of Candice shapes up.
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Hahaha, it will definitely continue along the same route, I hope.
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That was one very interesting post.
very serious though, i was like, am I really reading Candice?
Then I a few sparkles of cuss words here and there and i realized, yes, this is her.
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Hey, sometimes I have serious posts on Tangly, too!
But the cuss words, I do love those.
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Love it Candice! And I second production of Summer of Candice, first book followed by movie.
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Hahahaha, well then, perhaps I’ll have to do just that.
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Seriously, I don’t know what my deal is this morning.. whether it’s lack of sleep or overload of hormones, but this post just made me well up! I know there are such good things ahead, and I’m pumped about your new journey!
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Candice Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Awww, yay!! I’m glad! Which reminds me I haven’t checked in on you in awhiel, ahahah. Life is madness!
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I need to know more about this zip-lining adventure! Why have I never done that and I live here???
Oh man you are going to have to add waaaay more things to that list after I get back
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Candice Reply:
September 6th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Oh god it was lame as shit, remind me to tell you sometime. Or have I already? Hahaha.
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damn. this may be my favorite thing you’ve ever written Candice!
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Candice Reply:
September 6th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Wooot, thanks Kirsten!
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Nice post! I don’t like to drink on Saturday night. Actually i am planning for travel so that it may be helpful for me. Thanks……
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Killer, Candice. I know it’s a cliche, but these upsets in life are what really defines us. How we choose to respond to them and what we decide to do. Keep on not dying, kicking ass and taking names!
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Candice Reply:
September 6th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Thanks, Kate! Although for the most part things keep going awry. Karma better not have something to do with this.
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Awesome… I am totally at the traveling to “lose myself” point. Some of my best trips (like the one I took this past summer) have been at the point where losing myself has been most necessary. Sounds like losing yourself was well worth it!
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