Ode to Christmases Past

As I sit here, eating my canned chicken noodle soup, I can't help but think of Christmases past. This is my first year to celebrate Christmas without my family. This is also the first year that my maternal grandparents haven't been alive.

When I was really young, we always celebrated Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Tilley's house. Grandma had her three-foot artificial tree with the weird little joker topper and the ornaments from Christmas, 1963.

All of the kids and grandkids (12 total+gma and gpa) came over on Christmas eve and slept on every available surface - couches, pallets on the floor, and beds.

There was ALWAYS a card game going on. Pitch was first middle and last, with games of Skip-bo, Dominos, and Rummy in between.

Grandma always had food ready to go. Breakfast included eggs, bacon, sausage, hash-browns, biscuits and gravy - the works! She was the best cook EVER!

Christmas dinner included the best ham I've ever tasted, fried "taters" and brown beans, casseroles, and possibly some greens for grandpa. The grownups sat at the kitchen table and the kids sat in the living room at card tables.

I was the youngest of the grandkids by about eight years, so I was spoiled rotten! I was always sitting on or near my grandma - when I wasn't playing cards on grandpa's team.

I'd like to think they're smiling down on me on this Christmas day, and hopefully, grandma can send me some of her good cooking tips. I'm cooking dinner for Brandon and our roommate Ty. It will be a non-traditional meal for a non-traditional Christmas.

I'm planning, ham with pineapple marinade, brandied apples and pears with fried sage leaves, cranberries with grapefruit and mint, twice baked potatoes, sugar snap peas with carrots, rolls, and (from the bakery) a yule log.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! I'll be thinking about you!

Home again, home again

Since my last post, I went to dinner with my host family. I had chicken tacos with pineapple and cilantro. YUM! After dinner, we walked around San Juaquin. It was dark outside, and the Christmas lights were beautiful! My Mama Tica said that one guy put up all the Christmas lights above the streets. We walked down a street in which all the houses were decorated, complete with moving reindeer, etc.

We went home and sat on the patio. I had beer and they had whiskey and water (ick). We talked about our respective cultures and about the country's overall view of Americans and of other cultures. They are a religious culture. Their kids live with them until they get married - even through college. A boy and girl can't be in the same house unless the parents are there, and even then aren't allowed to be alone with them. They usually sit with the parents and hangout. They said this is true for boys and girls, no matter if they are 15 or 30. They can go out on dates and stuff, but it has to be in public, and the curfew is usually 10:00 p.m. ... crazy. We talked til around midnight and then went to bed. Jimi - their youngest son was graduating high school the next morning.

Everyone was gone when I awoke. I looked at the clock and noticed I was running late. It was 11:15 and I had hoped to be at the airport around 11 or 12 for my 2:00 flight. I ran around the house frantically looking for a towel. The only thing I could find was a hand towel, so that would have to do... I jumped in the shower and the water wouldn't turn on... Finally, came a slow trickle. I HAD to have a shower, so I decided to make it work. Several times during the shower, the water stopped running completely. I considered washing my hair in the sink as a last option... Finally the water started running, so I turned on the heater machine. It scalded me, so I turned it off and then the water stopped again. AHHH!!!

Finally, I finished and ran to get a taxi. Made it to the airport fine and on my first flight. I couldn't help but hear a woman talking to a guy she had just met about how disappointed she was in Costa Rica. She said she couldn't find a hotel for less than $200 a night, nor a meal for less than $100. It made me mad that she was talking poorly about my favorite country (outside of America, of course) and I wanted to ask here where the hell she had gone. I was spending $25 a night for a place on the beach w/ a pool and a/c... I decided to keep my mouth shut and drown her out with music...

In Atlanta, the customs line was really long, so I continued to read the book I bought at the CR airport. - The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho. Cool book about following you dreams. I suggest it to EVERYONE. Once thru customs, I ate one of the best sandwiches I've EVER had! Au Bon Pain's Baja Turkey. I've never had snow peas on a sandwich before, but DUDE it was BOMB!

Got on the plane from ATL to DEN just fine, but then we had to wait for an hour and a half on the runway for a door latch to be replaced and then for clearance to go. I arrived in DEN at 12:30 a.m. Unfortunately Brandon wasn't there because the headlight on my car was out and he got pulled over. So then he stopped by Walmart to buy a new bulb. When he tried to put it in, he couldn't get the light out... So we didn't end up getting home until 4:00 a.m. POOR BRANDON had to get up at 6:00 for work. It was a LOOOOONNNG day of traveling. BLAH!

I'm glad to be home to my sweet boyfriend, my awesome view of the mountains, my hot water, hair product, hair dryer, kitties, bed, soft TP, good sewage system, fast internet, phone that works, friends to call, etc., etc., etc.

Today I'm looking up Christmas dinner recipes and researching my upcoming trip to Peru.

Happy holidays everyone!!

San Jose

Woke up around 7:30 yesterday morning, packed the rest of my stuff, and walked to the bus station. I tried to sleep on the bus, but it was pretty useless. Hunching sideways onto the non-existant window sill isn´t exactly comfortable. :)

Since the trip is such a long one, the buses stop 1/2 way for food and a restroom break. I bought a chicken taco and then realized that everything in Samara was pretty over priced. (Most meals are around $10 each.) Right before I got back on the bus, I considered taking a pit stop since people were still getting on the bus. I´m SO glad I decided not to because right as I sat down, the driver took off.

The ride back to San Jose wasn´t bad since I had a window seat this time. On the trip, I saw people standing outside church; I saw several carnivals being set up - Costaricans are very festive, especially around Christmas time. I saw mountains covered in trees and clouds, and several small towns. Small towns in Costa Rica are often set up in a similar way: there is a large soccer field surrounded by tiendas (stores), Sodas (Costarican-style fast food), and a church. There are also flowers and flower bushes EVERYWHERE. It´s really pretty.

I arrived at the SJO airport and caught a taxi into San Juaquin de Flores where my tico family lives. When I got here, no one was home! That worried me a little, since I hadn´t called to let them know I was on my way. (I had messaged Jason on FB, but he hadn´t replied, so for all I knew they left for the weekend.) ... Luckily, Miguel´s (papa Tico) mother lives next door. She let me bring my bags into her house and we talked for a while. ... Well she talked - I had little clue as to what she was saying. LOL

I left my bags in her house and went to the MegaSuper (grocery store) to look around. Then, I spent a few hours walking around San Juaquin. I checked my email, ate un postre (dessert), tried on a skirt, and marvled at all of the Christmas decoration shops that were EVERYWHERE. I walked quickly in hope of avoiding all of the unwanted cat calls from men in cars and on the streets.

When I got back to the house, Nadia and Miguel were home. They welcomed me in and then cooked me dinner. Then, I went to ¨my¨room and watched Terminator 3. LOL. Jason came home around 9:30 and we went with his friend Danny to a club. Once I arrived, I realized that I was WAY under dressed. I was used to the people in Samara who wore sundresses and shorts to the bars. The people at Club Vice were dressed to the 9s. Everyone was HOT and I was dissappointed that I didn´t know. I would have at least worn makeup. LOL...

We waited outside for a few minutes and then paid a 2,000 colones cover charge (around $4). We walked in and could barely move! There were A TON of people there. It was a nice place, too. There were two levels overlooking the main floor on both sides. There was also a second bar upstairs and in another room. They played music from Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, and Estados Unidos (U.S). Everyone was dancing! Next time I come back to CR, I need to remember to hang out with the locals more - they know all of the best places. :) I came back home around 1:00 and crashed.

This morning, I woke up and Miguel fixed me breakfast. The typical dish is gallo pinto, which is rice and black beans cooked with onions, garlic, and bell peppers. It sounds kinda weird to those who have´t tried it, but I assure you that is tha bomb! We sat and talked (in Spainsh, of course) about our cultures and the differences between them.

After about an hour or two, I got around and walked to the San Jose bus stop. I walked to one area and the bus never came, so a guy in the convience store directed me to a different stop. I walked and walked and finally caught the first bus I saw. I asked the driver how to get to SJ and I think he told me that I took the bus going the wrong way. Regardless, he let me out at a bus that went directly to SJ. It took about an hour to get to the center of town. I was going to ask the driver how to get to the art musuem, but it was too crazy with everyone getting off the bus, so I just started walking. I went into a store and asked a worker how to get to the museum. He said the only one that he knew of was far away, so I decided to just walk around and check out the shops. I went into a few clothing stores and the attendants followed me around each time. It was great service, but it kind of made me uncomfortable - partly because I was just looking and partly because I couldn´t understand what they were saying to me. hee.

I was really impressed with everyone walking around town. The people here always look nice. The women wear cute sandals or high heels with jeans and brightly colored tops, and often skirts or dresses and a lot of jewelry. Their hair is done and makeup looks great. I haven´t noticed any of the girls wearing tennis shoes or athletic wear. This is true for younger girls and older women alike. The guys wear jeans or slacks with collared shirts. Some wear t-shirts, but always look stylish. I wish I had a good picture of la gente (the people) to post.

Anyway, here I sit at the ticos house, waiting for them to get home so I can buy them dinner on my last night in town. YAY - I´m about to go home! :)

The Last Lemonade

I finally got off my butt and did something. Horray! :)

Ryan and I walked down the beach and found a kayak rental shop. The shop owner said that since it was high tide, it would be better to go in the morning. But, since I won´t be here in the morning, the let us go anyway. We rented a double seater and rowed out to the little island, about a mile off shore. It took us about 30 minutes to get out there, paddling pretty slowly. Once there, we washed up on some rocks and carried the yellow beauty out of the waves. The island was small but pretty. The waves were crashing in from all around and it was cool to sit in the middle and watch them. The sand on this beach was lighter in color and much softer than the sand in Samara. My feet sank as I walked around. The water was really strong, pushing and pulling large rocks around in its current. We spent about 30 minutes exploring the little island and enjoying the scenery. It was good to get off the main land and look back at it. The mountains are full of trees and vegitation - beautiful! It started to get a little darker, so we pulled out into the olas grandes (large waves) and headed back. We had to paddle hard most of the way back because it was starting to get dark fast.

We stopped in the middle of the ocean so I could take a couple pictures. More rowing and finally, the waves helped sweeup us in. We caught the last wave perfectly. We glided onto the beach just before it got too dark. Perfect timing all around! The dude from the shop came up and helped us carry the kayak back up to the shop so I didn´t have to! :)


I came back to the hotel and ate some leftover pizza - trying to save a little money because I´ve been going thru it like a mad woman! Then I walked to Laconda for my last lemonade of this trip. mmm... It was everything I had hoped for. I sat for a while and listened to the waves crash on the beach, and also watched a guy climb up a coconut tree with no luck in picking one. (fun to watch tho.)

I´m glad I listened to my ¨Mama Tica´s¨ advice and came to Samara. It is laid back, beautiful, and the locals are very friendly.

I´m also excited to go home and see my boyfriend! Two weeks is a long time to be apart. I don´t know how I´m going to survive when I go to Peru for a month in February.

It's Ladies' Night - Oh What a Night

I bought my bus ticket back to San Jose yesterday. I leave Samara at 8:30 tomorrow morning. Gotta get all of my electronics charged up for the six hour bus ride.

Yesterday, I figured out how to transfer the songs from my iPod to my laptop! Horray - I don't have to use headphones! (Currently listening to "All You Need is Love" by the Beatles and missing my bf.)

I pretty much sat by the pool all day yesterday, except for my excursion to buy my bus ticket and some souvenirs, and of course to drink my daily lemonade.

Around 5:00, my new friends from North Carolina came over and swam for a bit. Then we went our separate ways and got ready for the evening. I got dressed up for the first time since I've been here! Showered and put on makeup and would have died for some hair product. My hair has been in a pony tail or bun since I arrived, as I didn't bring a blow dryer.

My hotel is unique, for the shower has HOT WATER - quite a luxury for CR! Also, a random fact about Costa Rica: their sewer systems are weak, so you can't flush TP. Surprisingly, their bathrooms don't stink. They take the trash out and clean the bathrooms several times a day. Also the women are constantly cleaning the tile floors. There is so much sand that they sweep and mop one or more times every day. They constantly have their doors and windows open, night and day. The mosquitos come out at night and are RELENTLESS even with bug spray.

But I regress... After getting all dolled up, the North Carolinans swung by the hotel and picked me and Ryan up. We all walked over to a nearby seafood restaurant for some good eats. Funny thing about CR, the service - like everthing else - is muy tranquilo (very relaxed). You better not be starving when you go to a restaurant because it takes forever to order and then for them to bring your food. If you don't ask for your bill, they will never bring it. ... like ever. But I have no where to be so it's all good.

Last night was ladies' night at Bar Tabanuco! We got there five minutes before they started serving and there weren't many people there. Yay ... more free cocktails for us! :) The bar was really nice! No roof, stone mosaics on the floor, lots of plants and a garden that offered seating. The music was fun. They played American dance music and rap and later started playing Latin music. We totally started the party. We were the first ones dancing and then a ton of people joined in. At first dancing solo and then with partners for Merengue and Salsa. Latins do love to dance!!

Came home around midnight and slept like a rock. Woke up at 11:00 this morning and walked laid by the pool some more. :) Then I walked into town and got a pizza. mmmm SO GOOD! The crust was perfect! Now I'm sitting here (by the pool still), thinking about renting a kayak. Will be good to actually DO SOMETHING. lol

Refreshed

The past couple of days have been spent working on my tan and on keeping the mosquitos away.

A few days ago, I met a guy from Minneapolis named Ryan. We've been hanging out a bit, which is way cool - one, because he's good company and two, he keeps the Ticos away - which is AWESOME! These Ticos love light skinned girls and don't care one bit if you tell them you have a boyfriend. It's really annoying...

I moved hotels yesterday and I'm SO glad I did. My last one was close to the beach, but was really musty. My current room is a couple blocks from the beach, but it is cleaner and has an AIR CONDITIONER! It has gotten extremely hot here, so I've been avoiding the sun from about 11-4. Oh - the other good thing about my new hotel is that it has a POOL! The water is really cold and feels like heaven.

Another thing that is like heaven, is the lemonade at Bar Locanda! It's sooooo fantastic! In Costa Rica, they have a lime that is orangy in the center and is very sweet. The bar makes the lemonade with that and blends it with mint. It's one of the best, most refreshing drinks I've ever had! I have had one or two every day since I discovered them.

I went out last night and hung out with Ryan and some girls and a guy from North Carolina. We went to a bar called Arriba, which means "up" in Spanish. It's upstairs, has cool lighting and a cool open-air view.

After Arriba, we went to Bar Olas (waves) for a beer. Most of the bars here have free pool tables. They are really large tables, so it's pretty challenging (and fun).

Most people in Costa Rica are open and are quick friends. The local saying is "Pura Vida" which translated means "pure life." EVERYONE says it. It can be used in place of "what's up," as a reply to "how are you," or to "how do you like Costa Rica."

Costa Rica is tranquillo (laid back). The locals are very trusting. I didn't pay for my last hotel until I left and no one asked me about it until I went up to pay. You have to ask for your bill at the restaurants and bars. I've almost walked out on a couple tabs on accident because they just let you hang out forever and don't bring the check, so you kind of forget. Night before last, I had quesadillas and my server forgot I had them, was just going to charge me for my drink and I had to remind him. ... "Pura Vida" pretty much describes their whole culture. It's really refreshing.

Playa Samara

I arrived in Samara as it was getting dark. The bus ride from San Jose was loooonnng, but air-conditioned!

I didn't walk long until I found El Hotel Ancla ("anchor" en Engles). It's 10,000 colones per night, or about 17 bucks. Unfortunately, I'm kind of a dummard and I don't know my PIN for my credit card, so I have to pay with credit card everywhere. Ancla didn't take cards, but luckily they let me run mine at the restaurant here. (They don't usually do that.)

I put my things down, checked my email and then went to the beach! It was dark but the sand felt good between my toes so I didn't care. I found a restaurant and had a huge pina colada and salad with tuna, cucumbers, heart of palm, tomatoes, etc. Fui muy bueno. I ended up meeting a guy on the beach who asked if I wanted to go get a drink. After I made sure he knew I had a boyfriend and had absolutely no chance, I went to the bar with him. I kicked his butt at four games of pool and then walked home.

Yesterday was fun. I saw a guy with a small motor boat on the beach who was giving tours, so he took me out snorkling. I saw some really cool fishies. Big ones, small ones, yellow and black ones, blue ones, etc. I also got to hold a blue starfish and big snail. Then, we went to the other side of the island and saw a turtle. It had fishing line all around it's flippers and body, so I helped my guide cut it all off and set the turtle free! Then, we swam to this little beach on the island. There were hundreds of hermit crabs crawling around. It was all so pretty!

I came back and showered and then went to dinner. It was REALLY, REALLY good, and I wish I had taken a photo. Twas a huge plate of rice with seafood - crab, lobster, shrimp, octopus, etc. mmm Fui muy rica.

This morning, I got up early. The snorkel guide, Pablo, invited me to go fishing with him and a tourist from Holland, Anthony. We went out past the island and trolled for tuna. It was a three hour trip, and it wasn't until the very end that the Hollander caught one lonely black tuna. But, the ride was beautiful, and I saw several turtles and a group of dolphins in the water right beside the small boat. Then Pablo cooked the fish for us. It was really good. He cooked it with onions, garlic, oregano, and lime juice. We ate it with tortillas and jalapenos. MMM!

I came home and laid on the beach for a bit, then went to the computer place and now I'm eating chicken in sauce with strawberries, bananas, mangos, and rice. MMM. I heart Costa Rican food.

The restaurant is right on the beach and is playing American music. It's dark and I can hear the waves crashing on the beach.

There was a meteor shower last night, so I saw a billion stars falling from the sky! Did I ever mention that I heart Costa Rica?!

Namaste

I'm on the bus on my way to Playa Samara. Thank goodness I got on!

I woke up around 9:00, packed my bags, and searched the internet for a hostel on Samara beach. Vicki (hostel owner) got me a shared taxi ride into San Jose with a guy named David. The taxi dropped me off at the wrong bus station so I had to take another cab to station across town. It took FOREVER to get thru traffic, but I arrived around 11:45 - just in time for the bus that left at noon. I asked for a ticket and the dude behind the counter said a bunch of Spanish words that didn't make sense to me. From what he said, I understood, "no seats available on this bus and the next bus leaves at 6:30 p.m." ... so I got out of line and thought about it for a minute. I got back in line and asked him if there was another beach I could go to - ANY beach - right now. :) He was finally able to convey to me that I could get on the noon bus to Samara but I wouldn't have a seat. ohhh! It is a six hour ride, but I didn't care - I am READY FOR SOME SUNSHINE! I got on and the bus promptly left - LUCKY! Not sure how, but it worked out that I'm currently in a seat! I may have to get up if anyone else gets on, but I hope not! So far, so good!

Yesterday, I had orientation at the SAT Yoga Institute. I wasn't sure what to expect, as they were pretty unclear about what it was all about. It turned out to be pretty interesting. The orientation lasted about an hour and a half. It was given by a woman - probably in her late 30s or - who was married to the Yogi who started the institute. She spoke about their philosophies. They basically believe that people are reincarnated until they solve all of their problems - fragmented karma - of all of their past lives and relationships in those lives. You can attain this "personal bliss" only through meditation and thru transformation sessions with the head cheese. I met a cool guy, Jason, who had been traveling with is girlfriend for a couple months. He was really nice and told me about all of his travels in the Americas and in Asia. After the orientation, we all had lunch and I got to meet all the volunteers and other retreatants. Lunch was AWESOME. I was a little worried at first, because it was a vegetarian lunch, and I'm a total carnivore. But, alas, it was fantastic! All of it was very fresh. There were several dishes, complete with soup appetizer and freshly squeezed juices. After lunch, I walked back to my hostel for a quick nap. At 4:45, I caught the bus back into town, and attended a class on the 10 Traumas every human faces from incarnation to death. Most people never get over the first three (incarnation trauma, birth trauma, and helplessness trauma), but if a person can overcome, they are on their way to attaining pure bliss. Once you attain pure bliss and set your karma right, your soul is free and you go into the light. You do not need to be reincarnated ever again.

After the class, the main guy finally showed himself for the the biggest meditation session of the week. It was attended by retreatants, such as myself, by all volunteers, as well as by people from the community. I'd say there were around 30 people total, sitting in a semi-circle atop floor mats and others behind them in chairs with pillows. No shoes were allowed in the meditation hall, so people put on socks, blankets, and head covers. Volunteers set up a video camera and microphone; they dimmed the lights and lit candles, moved a large plant beside the mat that was facing the room, and finally set out a glass of water, all in anticipation of their leader. They started the music, and everyone sat silently for about 10 minutes until the yogi came in. Finally, in walks a skinny white guy with a gray ponytail, white linen clothes, and a large beard. He stopped, first, to pay his respect to the photos of gurus on the wall. He sat and, without a word, gazed around the room, looking every single person in the eyes. It was pretty intense. He spoke for about 10 minutes on the benefits of meditation. He then said, "Let's meditate" and again cued the New Age music. Everyone was silent and still for an hour. Afterward, he opened the floor for comments. Several people spoke of their experiences, of smells and sensations. Some were moved to tears because they had broken a new barrier and were closer to their personal bliss.

After class, Jason walked me home since it was dark. I got some Chinese carry out on the way. We arrived at the house and Vickie gave Jason shit, for apparently, he had told her he was coming to stay there a couple days ago but he didn't come and didn't call. ... Jason left promptly, and I guess I won't see him again. Too bad... he was cool.

I'm glad to be on the road again. I'm looking forward to sunshine and pina coladas. :)

Pura Vida

I arrived in Costa Rica on Monday night around 10:30 p.m. When I arrived at the hostel - that Brandon so lovingly found for me while I was sitting on the plane in Atlanta - I checked in and then went to my assigned room. All the lights were out and everyone was asleep - which was a bit of a disappointment for me, as I was EXCITED TO BE IN COSTA RICA and wanted to talk to someone! ... I couldn't get to sleep, as there were motorcycles going UPPP and doowwwn the streets with people hooping and screaming. Then, I woke up at 5 a.m. when my roommate left. I said, "Yea right" and promptly went back to sleep. Then, the hostel owner came in around 8:00 to inform me that coffee and breakfast was available... okay. I'm in Costa Rica, I can get up and enjoy the day...

I had my breakfast and met a cool couple from the U.S. We talked for a good 30 minutes about traveling and life. Then I called my Mama Tica, who housed me when I was here 7 years ago, got a taxi to her house and walked around town with her collecting money from shop owners for the elderly bingo session she's volunteering for this Sunday. Nidia is way cool. She speaks Spanish really slowly and makes sure I understand. For dinner, we had arroz con pollo y vegetales and then I laid down and watched "27 Dresses" and "Star of the Family."

Nadia woke me up with pancakes this morning and helped me get a bus from San Juaquin de Flores - where she lives - to San Jose. Once in town, I walked with my way-too-heavy-backpack to the bus stop for Escazu, getting directions from four different shop workers and a bus driver along the way. I got to Escazu and walked to the park and then in the direction of a supposed hotel, then I stopped at an internet cafe (all with my way-too-heavy-backpack and flip flops), where a really nice guy helped me call a hostel and then a taxi. The hostel was in a different town, so I decided, instead, to stop at the Yoga Institute which I was accepted to. ... I am scheduled for an orientation session tomorrow, but wanted to stop by today to make sure it was legit and that I would prefer to go there instead of to the beach. ... they were pretty weirded out that I stopped by unannounced... and I was weirded out by the police with guns drawn arresting people next door... They helped me - somewhat reluctantly - find a place to stay, and I ended up here, at the House of Connections guesthouse.

It's beautiful, with big, open rooms, friendly people and lots of windows. It's been pretty interesting so far. When I first arrived, I was offered a sarong, free calls to the U.S. and free wifi, as well as earplugs and a face mask to sleep in! Vicky, the owner is from the U.S. and was very accommodating with the price and room. They also offer a Self Help library for your reading pleasure.

As I said, tomorrow, I go to an orientation for a yoga/meditation retreat. I had to write an essay and fill out some questionnaires to get admitted, so I hope it's worth all the fuss. But, if not, I'll just junk it and take a bus to the nearest beach. Either way, I'm ready to go!

Pura Vida

Five-Year Plan Realized

I take my first trip out of the country tomorrow since being unemployed. I'm going to my favorite place: COSTA RICA! If you know me at all, you know I did a seven-week language study there when I was in college and it was one of the best times of my life.

I never wanted to work a 40-hour-a-week job. In college, I cringed at the idea of "becoming my parents." - I don't cringe at that idea anymore, just for the record (I like my parents). Upon graduation, I made a five-year goal for myself. I would work the daily grind and save up 1/2 of my wages. After working for five years, I would quit my job and move to Costa Rica.

It's funny how things work out... My grandparents passed away this year (grandpa) and last (grandma) - which was the worst part of my entire life. I didn't think I'd get through those two years. I referred to them "the years I grew up." During that time, I totaled my car, then had my new car wrecked into three months later. I also got shoved into a higher position at work, with much more responsibility and the same pay. After that, I was asked to move to OKC for my job - on my own dime. And that process lasted about a year. I was ready to go and suck it up for my "great job," and then Brandon and I decided it wasn't worth it. If we have to move and sell our house anyway, why don't we do something we actually WANT to do. ... what a concept. So, it just so turned out that I quit my job almost exactly five years after I had stated my goal.

And now, I'm going! I say all of this because this is proof to me that we decide our own fate and future (perhaps with a little help from the big guy upstairs).

This time of my life is the happiest I've experienced so far. I am so thankful and lucky that I am living my dreams - and thankful that I have a dream boat to live them with.

Path Less Traveled

We set off yesterday around noon - after my amazing boyfriend cooked me a delicious breakfast of eggs, sausage and croissants. mmmm


We drove south down Hwy 9 toward The Royal Gorge, over the Continental Divide via the Hoosier Pass. The farther we drove, the icier the roads became. :(

We saw several turnoffs for National Forest entrances on the way so we decided to skip the gorge today and take the path less traveled.


Today, we would travel through the Pike National Forest.

The Jeep trails took us up and down mountains, thru prairies, and around frozen lakes with beaver dams intact.



According to the USDA Park Service, Colorado has 13 national forests and grasslands.

Compare that to Oklahoma's two and you may be impressed.

If that's not enough, how about the fact that Colorado has "22 million acres of forested landscape." TWENTY-TWO MILLION ACRES!

On our two-and-a-half-hour drive, we saw paw prints in the snow,
several very cool trees, a gray fox, a herd of moose, pretty snow, frozen beaver dams, yellow grass-covered prairies, and tree-covered mountains.




My favorite trips are those that aren't planned on.


Pike National Forest is beautiful! And - we're going to help the forest service by cutting down our own Christmas tree this year! YYAAAY!