In a land far, far away

As the snow plows lumber into service and we awake to yet another morning with frost caked on the car windows, I can't help but think of all the places I would rather be than here. Don't get me wrong, winter is my favorite season of the year. However, wouldn't the icy weather be just a little more tolerable if one was in, say, Europe?

I've had my passport for a number of years now, but I have been putting off updating it with my new last name. Husband needs to get a passport someday, just in case we ever need to get out of the country fast... We're hoping to tackle these chores during our upcoming Christmas vacation.

We are both very interested in traveling before we start a family. The trick is just sitting down and making the plans concrete. He would like to visit Japan. I would love to take him to France (if only for the Capri pizza and crêpes...). Plus, when else would I have the opportunity to put my French minor to good use?! From there, it would be just a short ride on the Euro tunnel to see England (and stalk Simon Pegg and Hugh Laurie...). I've always wanted to visit Sweden, a piece of my ancestral home. However, lately I've been doing some genealogical work and have come across very interesting information that I will have to write a post about someday. Turns out, I'm a lot more German than I thought I was, so, perhaps Germany would be added to our travel wish list.

There are so many places to see, most of them vastly more interesting than the flat, Midwestern landscape we currently inhabit. I suppose, for now, I will just have to curl up with a hot cup of cocoa, gaze out the window, and dream.