Hello My Name Is

Introducies: My name is Lauren Marie Mann. I am a graphic artist with blue eyes, worn out running shoes and a strangely contradictory sense of optimistic cynicism. I have a petrifying fear of clowns, above average spelling skills and an unquenchable thirst for travel. 

Apparently, I am now also a blogger.

The sudden need to ramble uselessly via internet arose unexpectedly, although was not unaccompanied by a series of other spontaneously irrational impulses. Today I fully considered purchasing a ukulele on Ebay, to the point of creating an account and filling out my credit card information. Not only have I never played the ukulele, I have zero experience with any musical instrument whatsoever. Someone please explain the logic here.

Despite my unwavering devotion to anything chocolate and the musical stylings of country king George Strait... it turns out I actually have some very specific commitment issues. My track record, if investigated closely enough, will indicate a trend in patiently calculated decision-making followed by impulses of extreme spontaneity. Classic older-sibling-syndrome... Rooted down by the obligation to be the responsible adult / simultaneously fighting the urge to say "fuck it" and join the circus.

To clarify, I did not join the circus. I did recently accept a full time job in Austin though, which is in fact strikingly similar to a circus. In case you haven't heard, Austin is one of those rare magical wonderlands where you can wear shorts in November, hug a stranger on the sidewalk, and casually pick up a free gourmet veggie dog from a food truck in the back parking lot your office building. I didn't know it until now, but y'all, these are the things I have been waiting my entire life for.

I should probably address the purpose of this blog, which for you lucky readers, will be to write about whatever the hell I want, thank you very much. In all seriousness though, "I Wander How Far" seemed to fit as a title. My primary life goal is simply to travel, appreciate, learn and explore while I have the time on this planet. Having moved to such an awesome town has given me the opportunity to really bask in the experience. "Memory is the diary we all carry about with us." While Oscar Wilde had a point, I always seem to somehow carry this super cool thing called the internet about with me as well, which has proved on many occasions to be a much more reliable source than my own memory. That's why I'm going to start writing this shit down.

I promise that future posts will be less about me and more about actual exciting things in the world. Thanks for hanging in there.

Wander back,

Lauren