a bit of an update...

I love it here. Let me just get that out here. I don't know that I've ever been to a prettier state. And it's cool here...but then it's warmer...and then cooler...crazy.

Now...here's the trip update...We left out for San Francisco Wednesday morning. Once we got there, the whirlwind began. We had so much we wanted to do and so little time to do it in. Natalie'sister lives in San Fran, so we started out with a driving tour. This included Lombard Street (the supposed crookedest road in the world, but Travel Channel just did a documentary that showed otherwise...), the Full House House, Chinatown, and Little Italy, the San Fran Bridge, Twin Peaks, and other stuff I'm probably forgetting right now. I ran into the Beat Museum real quick to get my feel of what it might have been like to hang out with Jack Keruack (...and I prob. mispelled his name...)

We ate at a pretty cool restaurant that night and then attempted to see the view of the city from Twin Peaks at night. The fog was just not cooperating though!

Thursday was CRAZY BUSY and we MUST have walked 10,000 miles! We started out at Muir Woods for a little hike through the redwoods and then hit up Muir Beach. Beautiful!!! Loved it. The waves got me though so I was wet. We then headed to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. Ate a quick snack at the Hard Rock Cafe. Then hit up Alcatraz. It was sooooo neat! I loved loved loved it. I'll have to post some pics later on...I will say that the wind was INSANE. I mean, it just pushed you along. After a few hours touring Alcatraz, we headed to Haight and Ashbury, grabbed a burger, took a pic of some psychodelic shops, and Jerry Garcia's house of course, and then headed back into Lake Tahoe.

Today - Finally finally finally, we got to sleep in! I was sooo excited!! We visited Natalie's other sister's art museum. Really interesting! I bought two books =) Then we went to the beach (forgot the name of it) and sat in the sun for about an hour. Then -- and here's the highlight -- we met some of Natalie's sister's friends for a boat ride on Fallen Leaf Lake. Seen the movie The Bodyguard? Remember the scene where the boat blows up? This is where that was all filmed! The lake and the mountains and the trees are all amazingly beautiful! I cannot even describe it! We got to do a little fishing. And I caught the most fish - a whopping TWO!! Loved it! Loved the rush of getting a bite and pulling it in. We stayed out on the boat all evening. Got some great pics that I hope to share.

Now I'm home. Exhausted. But happy. And blessed.

Three more days here...then it's off to Key West and Cozumel...

An Unexpected State

We left out Monday to come to Lake Tahoe, but had to make other arrangements. Our flight to ATL was delayed and consequently we would miss our connecting flight to Reno. So....we had to choose between an overnight in Dallas or an overnight in Denver. We chose Denver. THis worked out for me because I had never been to Denver, so this would be one more state to visit -- getting me closer to my goal of going to all 50 states by age 35.

The Denver airport was really cool. The top was made to look like the top of the snow-peaked Colorado Rockies. We didn't get to do much while we were there because we were exhausted, so I'll need to get back and really experience it.

So now we're in Lake Tahoe. It is amazing here. There is a rumor that I could see the 'neighborhood' mama bear and cubs. There are steaks on the grill, the weather is crisp....I'm wearing a jacket....and looking out at pine trees.....

OKC

My Oklahoma City trip overview...

1. Flying into the OKC airport, I was reminded of the movie Walk the Line for some reason....

2. There are oil rigs right beside the airport. cool.

3. Once inside the airport, there was a sign right outside the restroom that read: "Tornado Safe Area". I wanted to take a picture, but refrained.

4. If you ask someone where something is, they'll say, "Go east one block, south one block, west two blocks...." I didn't like it. I am a landmark person. Turn right at the Exxon. Turn right beside the fence with the cow beside it.

5. The drive from OKC to Wichita Kansas was almost unbearable! My friend's AC in his jeep went out, so we drove for 2.5 hrs, with windows down (not the top off for some reason). This destroyed most opportunities for conversation. We were, however, able to listen to an ample suplly of phil collins, alan jackson, and lynard skynard.
These were my travel snacks:


6. I could probably live in Wichita, Kansas with no problem. The people were sooo friendly and the food was amazing!! If ever in the area, you should probably eat here


7. The Oklahoma City bombing Memorial is something you have to do! It took me about 5 hours to get through it...read everything, listen to everything, watch everything....you won't regret it.

This statue shows Jesus turning his back to the evil done in OKC and weeping.


Each chair represents the person who was killed in the bombing. The smaller chairs represent the kids.



This is the building beside the Murrah Building. This wall was not repaired so that visitors could see the damage. The windows were not replaced with glass but with black brick in order to symbolize the darkness felt during that day.


The Survivor Tree. It's been there since as early as the 1920s. They thought about tearing it down, but changed their minds. It is called the survivor tree for obvious reasons. Mayor Gulliani (spelling?) was given a sapling of it after the 9/11 bombing in NYC.


This is the memorial where the Murrah Building once stood.

FYI

Off! Outdoors Insect Repellent does not really repel insects. However, it will remove your toe nail polish :{

Continuing the Quest...

"Before I turn 35, I want to travel to all 50 states."

Yes, I made that comment about a year ago. I knew I was going to be able to check California off the list this summer and I felt good about that...but SURPRISE...now I get to check off two more. Thursday I'll be flying out to Oklahoma City to visit a friend from college. While out there, we're taking a road trip to Kansas. I have been googling these two places like crazy to find the 'unique' things to do in the area. I don't want to just check these places off, I guess, but rather live like a native there while looking completely like a tourist.

So far, I have discovered there is actually a PIGEON MUSEUM in Oklahoma City. How do you pass up the opportunity to learn all there is to know about pigeons? Ummm...you don't. Pigeon Museum or BUST!!!

Hometowner Day

Today I became a hometowner. My friend Anna and I headed to Pickens around 8 this morning. Today is Wednesday...we were going to Pickens...guess where we were headed? To the flea market. ding ding ding. Pickens is my hometown...and I'm usually not ready to return there, but for some reason, being in Pickens today was a..pleasant feeling. Pleasant because I can't really think of another word to describe it.

Of course I ran into several people I knew. And talked to others I didn't. Anna was amazed at how many people just came up and talked to me. I just like old people. I've always liked old people, so I've always not minded talking to them. They're the most interesting people. I guess because they've been around longer than me...and that gives them more stories to share...I don't know.

After the flea market, we decided to hit up the Pickens County Musuem - something I hadn't done since I was in elementary school. Cool stuff. In the military section, I read about this soldier who took a grenade that the enemy through at him and a couple others in his company, held it close to his body, bent over the grenade, and let the grenade explode on him. He saved his partner's life by doing that. That amazes me. I mean seriously.

On the way back to Anderson we went to Spill the Beans in downtown Clemson for some ice cream. Pretty good stuff.

The sun is exhausting though and I have been lazy for the rest of the day....

summer!

This is my first full week of summer vacay 2008!!! (I opted to do summer planning last Monday and Tuesday). Last week was fun, crazy busy. I had some random friends in town and we had a blast. There were movies to be watched, putt putt, Mrs. Pac-Man, and War (cardgame) to be played, coffee to be drank, rides to be driven, ice cream to be eaten, conversations to be had....inside jokes to be remembered, and more memories to be made...and even tears to be cried....

One story from the weekend that I will share. I was riding along with a friend of mine who happened to be in town and we came up beside a man on a motorcycle and I happened to notice he was smoking a cigarette! Not my friend, but the guy on the motorcycle! I did not know that was possible. Of course my friend rolled down his window and asked him if his cigarette ever went out =) Thankfully, we were not shot.

It is 3:00 and I am still in my pajamas! I love it! My dog has literally been looking at me like, "Why are you still here? Don't you have a job to go to?"

I am excited to catch up on summer reading...I am currently reading Bono in Conversation. Ummm...all I can say about this book is READ IT. Seriously! This is going up on my top ten favorite books! I am also reading Elisabeth Elliot's The Path of Loneliness. Let's face it. We'er all lonely at times. It happens. This book is good because she knows loneliness. I have enjoyed reading about her struggles (kind of an oxymoron, right?) and how she has allowed God to be with her through all of it. Good stuff. I also started reading the teenage novel (i guess) City of Ember. For some reason I am in this sci-fi/adventure mode when I pick out novels. A friend recommended me to read a book entitled Personality Plus. I'll start that one when Bono is finished....

I was also reading a little health brochure my insurance company sends out and learned that redheads have an increased sensitivity to pain! So all these years I thought I was a baby when it came to pain may not have been the correct theory afterall.

In the past five years or so....I have been learning that things aren't as black and white as they used to seem.

okay...off to shower. I do need to do a couple of productive things today....