Meet Cheryl

She's not totally in the picture, but it shows that I LOVE her.

This is my friend Cheryl. She's an angel from above. She lives in Miami now but is originally from Albuquerque. I was lucky to spend a few hours today with smiley, big-blue-eyed, curly-blonde-haired, beautiful inside and out Cheryl. I have such wonderful memories of Cherbear from Vienna. One day we went hiking and though we told her not to, she decided she was going to eat this random berry-looking thing, and in the same day decided she was going to run with some random runner man for a little bit. We'd sit on a bus or train and she'd just look at me and say where we were - "Hungary." We spelunked and giggled and made music. She had trumpet success. She supported me when I was frustrated. On the last night of Vienna, she went around the circle and told everyone what made them wonderful.

Cheryl has just returned from a yoga-learning-camp-teaching-thing in Mexico where she had her life transformed. She described to me the various ways to meditation they would take each morning and afternoon and just how in love she is with the art. Today we had a delicious lunch on the plaza downtown and caught up on our lives' joys and sorrows. Then we walked around looking at interesting shops and galleries, got lost, and had some gelato.

All five hours Cheryl announced, "I am so happy." She's living at her own pace with a beautiful boy beside her all the way no matter where they are. She has a new passion and balance and way of thinking about music. She's discovered so much and is so at peace with her thoughts and obligations.

Feeling her energy and positive vibes made me sooo absolutely happy for her, but somehow reminded me how heartbroken I really am. I'm really scared. For this job, for being without people who have become such a crucial part of my life.

I will try to keep optimistic, but I suppose I can always look back on days like this above, when winning a water fight on top of a mountain was all that mattered.

I love you Cheryl!

Chocolate and Friends

Yesterday morning was calm...rain outside, a little bit of hooping on the back patio, a little bit of RosettaStone (Spanish, of course)...

The sun came out and I decided to go downtown to check out some shops including Kakawa...a chocolate house recommended to me which sells all kinds of chocolate and hot drinking chocolate.

I stared at the menu for a lonnnnnng time until the barista suggested I do the sampler...7 hot chocolate samples, some sweet some spicy. A tall boy there with brown hair down to his shoulders offered to buy it for us. Good deal, huh? Six-foot five-inch twenty-five-year-old scientist Gavin and I sat down, though he could barely fit his legs under the table. We sampled some delicious and some well...interesting...hot chocolate. It was really fun.

Gavin and I talked and giggled for a while, and then he asked if I'd like to walk around the Spanish market. I hate to be the girl that needs a tour guide, but it's been nice when people offer. On the way he pointed out things such as the oldest church in America (below) and awesome restaurants. We walked and talked and somehow started quoting Wet Hot American Summer. Laughter continued.

Eventually we walked down a street of many art galleries and we casually walked into one. The man there, a young guy from L.A./Texas was rather excited to see us. It was kinda weird but really funny. He offered us free beverages (as it was also a coffeehouse kinda thing) and said "c'mon! come sit with us." He took us to the backyard and we sat down with some people who were grilling curry chicken. More laughter. An attractive couple bickered and weirdo art-seller-coffehouse-man talked about the attractive female's attractive friend. He gave us his card and said "you guys are cool you should go out with us tonight!" We took the card but didn't meet up with them later...maybe another time. Seems like a nice spot to hang out. I'll certainly see Gavin again.

I seem to be making all guy-friends here. I haven't even seen many young girls.

But the good news is...CHERYL FROM VIENNA IS COMING TO SANTA FE TO SEE ME IN 2 HOURS! ...I'm a little excited.

Cheryl and I before spelunking. (Budapest, June 2009).

Colleagues

Last night I got a phone call from Joel, the band teacher I stayed with the other night, and he asked me if I'd like to go to a jazz concert in Albuquerque. In that I have zero plans until next Wednesday, there was no question that my answer was "yes." He and Steve, another band teacher in our district, picked me up and we drove the beautiful scenic highway to Albuquerque.

If you ever want to hear some unbelievable jazz sounds, look up Christian McBride & Inside Straight. Each musician was so talented and just so so good. The sounds rushed over me like a wave. If I tried to sit still, the ocean of sound would rock me in a whirling motion. The pacing of the whole show was amazing. Their personalities were so funny and made the show such a good time. I have no idea how jazz musicians do it.

After the concert the three of us went for a beer and a walk. They told me the secret code (wiggling fingers in front of your nose) for when we need to stop talking about work, which was a challenge because music and working for the same district is what we have in common. We found a field belonging to U of NM and did some cartwheels and ran thru the sprinklers. Ya know...a Thursday night. I had a real good time.

Diet & Exercise: Attempt #1

My trying-to-run face.

If you know my relationship with running at all, you know that my first day back on the pavement was not a successful day. I am now 7,000 ft above the sea and can't seem to get hydrated. I love putting on my Brooks and seeing where they'll take me, but today I hardly ran a couple blocks and I started feeling strange. My palms were itchy...a familiar feeling especially from the wintertime. I tried to keep going but then my hands blew up like balloons, so much that I thought they'd burst.

I walked a while, trying to scope out the neighborhood. It seems everyone has a yippie dog, which is both hilarious and annoying. It's a very cute town, and I feel like the only blonde that ever existed with the way people look at me.

In place of running more, I went back and got my hoop. I took the hoop to the park and worked on hooping and tricks and did some squats and things for a half hour.

My official grocery store is the Sunflower Farmers Market. It's very clean and friendly and...hmm...organic. Prices are awesome, it seems as a young shopper, and is very close to my house. I'm slowly bringing in the kitchen essentials, like pasta and cereal and enough stuff to make a sandwich when I want one. In that I'm trying to stretch the life of what I buy, I'm very hungry. I'm hoping I'll shrink my stomach like I did during student teaching. Skinny is soon I hope.

Rain smells rainier here.

Also, organic peanut butter is a no-go.

One Dollar

The movie theater near me charges only $1 on Wednesday nights. Omg. I just took advantage of that with my roommates. I saw Super 8...for one dollar.

Hoop Across America

The Super-Awesome Way to Roadtrip.

I got a lot of attention doing this, and burned some calories too.

Here's the finished product, I'd like to share with you!

Hey I'm a poet and I didn't even know it.

Quirks of Santa Fe

Things I know about Santa Fe:

• Everything is adobe. My house is adobe. McDonald's is adobe. The school is adobe. Every building is made out of adobe.
• New Mexican food is different from Mexican food, and don't you dare tell them otherwise. New Mexican food uses green chili peppers or "Christmas" when they use both red and green, which changes the entire taste palate.
• Nicknames of New Mexico/Santa Fe include: The Land of Enchantment, The Land of Entrapment, Fanta Se, The City Different, The Land of Sunshine
• Despite being all adobe, the area of town I live in reminds me a lot of the Deptford Mall area.
• Everyone is old, gay, or old and gay.
• Monsoon season is soon, but that means that it'll downpour twenty minutes a day and then be over it.

Rundown of last night: I drove to my elementary school to introduce myself to...the parking lot. I'm so excited. I see beautiful mountains every day. Then I visited with my roommates and had a lovely introductory conversation. We talked about everything from his musicking to her architect job and celebrity "husbands." They are such cool people and my room/closet space/kitchen/working fireplace/everything is amazing. Then I met up with couchsurfer/band teacher Joel. Awesome guy. He showed me some of the local bars, and I met a few people from the Philly/NJ area! Joel seemed excited to have another young person on the team, and I'm excited to know somebody already.

Now I'm just waiting until I can move in. T-1.5 hrs.

Day Nine: Santa Fe, NM

This is where I live. This is where I live.

I made it! It wasn't easy but it wasn't too hard. I drove across the country from my old home to my new home. I drove by my new home, but I'm not allowed to move in until tomorrow. So I'll be staying with another Couchsurfer/music teacher in my district. Yeah, same person. Whoa.

I needed to kill some time before my host could host, so when I saw a nail salon, I thought "hmm...it must be fate." Anna talked about getting me a manicure/pedicure before I moved away, but I was working so much that I never got to go. So I took out some of the cash she had given me in a going-away card, and I made my fingernails shiny and French. The first thing I do in Santa Fe...a manicure? Seriously? No shame. They're pretty.

My manicurist was an asian man named Antonio who once lived in New Jersey and knew the difference. His warnings included that people here drink more than they work and kids get high while they drive, and also that pizza is just not the same here. :(

I didn't know what to do next so I drove around the mall in circles like a looney tune and eventually stopped in this Applebee's for dessert and free Wi-Fi. The girl who delivered my Triple Chocolate Meltdown with 2 spoons and said, "I brought 2 spoons incase you wanted to share this with...anybody..." Womp womp. Yup, I'm a lone ranger. With allll the chocolate to myself.

The ride into Santa Fe was beautiful but was not what I'd call a laid-back drive. The roads twisted and turned up and down and around the mountains of rock and dark clouds teased me with their ambiguity. I felt like I was on one of those car commercials where the husband and wife are fighting over who could be "in the zone." I wasn't in the zone...I was more like spastic...but I'm glad I took that road into town instead of the main highway. Always up for a little adventure.

I can't wait to move in to MY HOUSE tomorrow. It's in a little development called Las Acequias and the houses are just so cute and there's a playground around the corner.

Final map celebration:

Coming soon to a Triathlon Training blog near you:

*Hoop Across America Video: Part I*

Day Nine: Amarillo, TX

Now today is more like it!

I slept as long as my body wanted, then got up to get breakfast at Big Texan Steak Ranch: Home of the Free 72 oz. Steak. No, I didn't try the challenge. I had enough trouble finishing my 6 oz. steak and eggs. It was some goooood Texas cookin'. (My actual breakfast photo below).

I arrived at the ginormous place and took the hooping opportunity while real cowboys cackled and gave me thumbs up. It was BEAUTIFUL inside. The head cowboy-host-man with a handlebar mustache made a buffalo head talk to me when I walked in which made me giggle. They sat me in an adorable booth and I was in awe of the decor. It was near empty for breakfast, but I imagine it to be hip-hoppin' for dinner. Long tables covered in cow print table cloths, deer and bull heads, waitresses in cowgirl gear, curtains, spinning wheels, a balcony section, 60:00 counters for when people take on the challenge.

The Challenge: Eat a 72 oz. sirloin, a baked potato, salad, dinner roll, and shrimp cocktail all under an hour. I learned that the champion hot dog eater man recently completed the task in 8 minutes and 52 seconds (barf!) and the oldest to complete it was a 69 year old grandmother and the youngest was an 11 year old boy.

The cowboy-host-man-with-the-handlebar-mustache asked me to sign his book. He said "You're a special customer. I appreciate you, and put somethin' in there about bein' from New Jersey...and your hoopin'." I also talked with a young truck driver dining by himself as well about how there's nothing to see on the road from here on West. Still, the road is calling me, or maybe it's the sunshine. I'm ready for hours sunshine and smelly cows.

I found a stretch of Route 66 that actually impressed me. It's funny that what I want to see is old run-down motels and gas stations, busy saloons, and broken traffic lights. It made me feel alive somehow.

In more recent news...I'M IN NEW MEXICO!

Day Eight: Oklahoma! the musical and not.

I had a boyfriend a few years ago who would drive me nuts with the words "I miss you." "I KNOW!" I'd answer and then explain that it hurts me to be away and those words remind me that I'm at college and I can't do anything about it. "Of course I'd rather be with you, but I'm not."

Today, all I can think about is "I miss you." "I love you." "Thank you."

Last night I couchsurfed in Oklahoma City. The host was having a cookout and was busy cooking and running around, so we never really talked...at all. His friends, though very happy attractive people, were very into their own scene and spent hours looking at their iPhones which had pictures and videos from the party they had on Friday night. It made me feel like I was literally watching an episode of Saved by the Bell: the College Years. Awkward turtle for me. Some asked about me, including a pretty accountant from Alabama and a man with one light green eye and one dark brown eye. The couch host (ridiculously A.C. Slater) spent the night out, but came back this morning to kick me out before he went to work. Uhh...

He explained that he slept out because the girl he's dating (who I met at the party) is very jealous. It made me laugh a lot. A petite beautiful brunette threatened by moi? How silly!

It was overcast, but I needed to find a place to hoop. The people last night told me to go to the memorial for the 2005 bombing. Of course, this was not a place to hoop, but I'm glad I went. The outdoor symbolic memorial was so peaceful and meaningful. I sat on the side of the reflecting pool and cried. Everything was so real. The empty chairs. The survivor tree. My heart ached for the families who lost loved ones. A ghetto man approached me..."You knew someone that died?" I replied, "No, I'm just visiting." He said, "Me too....just.....visiting." More awkward turtle. But beautiful.

I liked how OKC was set up. On a map I saw, there were color-coated divisions such as Bricktown, Mid-town, Arts, and Auto. Through the city I saw murals of the history of Oklahoma, and even murals of Oklahoma! the musical.

I drove out on 40W for a few hours. Nothing but grass and cows. I stopped at a Sonic for lunch, and they forgot about me so I got a free meal! And boyyyyy does free Sonic taste good...

I was thinking about food a lot on the road. I haven't eaten so well on the road, as it is difficult on a budget and when couchsurfers offer delicious burgers. I'm optimistic that I will develop good healthy habits in Santa Fe. I just want to get there.

Rt. 40 today seemed like a line dividing good from evil. If I looked up or to the right (North), I saw the edge of dark dangerous billowy clouds. The left was like angel white fluffy clouds and blue skies. To the right I saw lightning bolts and that made me nearly freeze. I'm not sure if it was just my eyes freaking me out, but Oklahoma and Texas sure like to kick up some dirt in funnel shapes from ground to sky. I felt like Dorothy when she ran away from home.

Eventually I got so scared that I stopped in a motel in Amarillo, TX. It looks like a castle and I thought, "Well, I am a princess." So for $27.99 I'm here for the night.

It was a musical day. At the memorial all I could think of is "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables." Oklahoma! signs haunted me in the city, as if I couldn't stop cracking myself up with cliche musical ideas already. As a break from my super-awesome, specially-made roadtrip CD, I popped Wicked in the CD player to listen through the music and envision how it was on broadway. Already feeling like Dorothy or even Elphaba, each word brought me back to a memory, a person, or a feeling. I had an urge to defy gravity and tell everyone that "because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

Like a silly girl I cried for hours, driving what seemed to be nowhere. Tired and homesick, I thought about my family and friends and how thankful I am for everything I have been granted in the past 21 years. I wanted to write a letter in the clouds.

Dear New Jersey,

I miss you.

Love,

KC

Day Six-Seven: Springfield, MO and Oklahoma

I wound up staying with a wonderful, hospitable, kind couchsurfing couple in Springfield, MO. Though it was last minute, they were understanding of my position and welcomed me in, took me to a lovely restaurant, a great futon-bed for sleeping, and to a beautiful park filled with flowers and butterflies this morning.

I showed up at their house at the same time as some of their family, which included a 3-year-old grandson with beautiful blond hair and big beautiful eyes who gave me an unexpected hug and a kiss to say goodbye. A little angel.

We talked about travel and food and life. She was an art person and he was quite quiet, but with small comments like "a free-spirit like you" and a simple "nope" when I tried to help with the bill, I liked them a lot.

I took a drive down some of Route 66 as planned, but I find myself unimpressed with Pizza Huts and Subways and bright orange reflecting roadwork signs.

I set off back on 44W and now I'm somewhere in Oklahoma, on my way to Oklahoma City to couchsurf again. I'M SO TIRED. (surprise).

Day Six: Missouri

I'm stopped at a Panera instead of a McDonald's for a nice change. A fun fact I learned was that Panera was originally St. Louis Bread Company, but when they branched out they changed the name. Who knew?

My first stop on the road down 44W was Meramac Caverns. The way billboards raved about it, you'd think it was Disneyland. What I was psyched for was the zip-lining, but I wound up not zip-lining because there was a 70 minute wait, and that was of just people that had finished the paperwork...so, I decided that with the heat and the itch to drive far today, I was not waiting for 2 hours for a short zip-line course. Another opportunity will arise.

I was able to take the tour of the caverns. These caves have a lot of history. Apparently where we were was the official hideout of Jesse James and was part of an Underground Railroad system.

The whole time I was thinking about being with my friends in Budapest when we went spelunking. In Budapest, I was working very hard to keep up with everyone, climbing the slippery paths and using every bit of upper-body strength I had to pull myself up to the next ledge. It was a feat of fear and physical strength, and overall it was a kick-ass time.

Today, I spent the hour and a half singing in my head "this is boring, this is boring boring boring..." It was pretty awful. A HUGE group of people: old women who scolded me for wearing a tanktop in the cold underground, douchebag Dads with beer bellies who yelled at their kids and made rude comments to the douchebag tour guides. We'd walk 30 feet then stop and wait until they said something uninteresting for two minutes, then we'd walk another 50 feet and wait. Waiting waiting waiting. It was a real trial of patience. The stalactites and stalagmites were pretty impressive but I was so turned off by symmetrically placed electric lights and handrails that lined the place like a museum. Half-way in I realized that I hadn't eaten anything yet for the day and I was starving. It was a long hour and a half.

Another not-so-successful story, but I keep reminding myself that I'm 21 years old, I'm in Missouri, and life is beautiful.

It really is.

Day Five: St. Louis Part Dos

The other night I wound up crashing with some happy-go-lucky Couchsurfers

- Daniel, Stephen, Cat, and Kelsey.

I planned to head out in the morning as I did my touring of the city, but they practically begged me to stay "at least one more night" with promises of music, fun, and unicorns.

So I stayed, especially with Aunt Lesley's advice to "smell the roses."

In another situation, this would have been a great choice. How great to spontaneously stay in such a beautiful city another 24 hours!

BUT it was the wrong choice and I am unhappy with my decision. I spent the day with a girl who describes herself as "hipster" and is traveling to travel and write. Nice girl, I just wasn't crazy about our day. Though she didn't want to spend any money on the museums I was itching to hit up, she was fine with buying ridiculous T-shirts from almost every thrift store in St. Louis. Why we were spending our time in Salvation Army, I don't know. But we were, and hours later, I was exhausted from driving and again...the heat. I got 4 books and a nightgown all for $4.99 though.

Later I was near tears. Bored and exhausted and feeling sick. We hit up Food Truck Friday with Daniel where taco trucks lined up to feed thousands of folk in long ridiculous lines. I got a crepe from the 10-minute line while everyone waited in a 45-minute line for fish/weird tacos. I know I'm moving to Santa Fe, but I still don't think I'll ever be a taco/Mexican food person.

We got A-list custard at Ted Drewes' and went back to Daniel's with at least 10 other people who refused eye contact with me for a while and were quite content with their connections of kickball and CS.

The party went until 3 am, in which I suppressed my frustration by attempting to hula hoop and play the ukulele at the same time.

As it got later, a stupid stupid boy kept touching me. At first I'd joke and say "no more hands," and then it turned into more of a "NO MORE HANDS" plus storming away.

Aghhh though St. Louis is one of my favorite cities I have ever been in my life, I am severely disappointed in my 2nd day and I couldn't be more thrilled to get out of here.

Onto Springfield...

Day Four: St. Louis, MO

I don't like that I can't adorn my blog with photography of my own, but unfortunately I haven't been blessed with photographic skill and/or a reliable camera-computer hook-up. I have awesome pictures stored on my little Kodak EasyShare, which should be called a Kodak Not-easytoShare. I'll need to just take pictures on my video camera because my Mac refuses to recognize the files. Boo.

I love St. Louis.

After a little hooping with some interesting sculptures in Citygarden, I walked up to the Riverfront to see and go up The Arch - The Gateway to the West.

The museum was about Westward Expansion and I made friends with some California women in the tiny tramcar to the top of the arch. It wasn't life-changing, but it was really fun to see the city from so high in the sky. AND I played with a baby on the tramcar downward :D

It was hot but there was so much I wanted to see. I jumped in the car to find the Scott Joplin House and took a tour of his actual residence from 1900-1903. It was crazy to see his kitchen, his bedroom, the desk where he would write his music. The tour guide gave me a demonstration of one of his pieces on the player-piano. On the way out I met an adorable Aussie couple, whose female part was a music teacher in Hong Kong. Whoa!

I went to the Third Degree Glass Factory where supposedly I could see glass-workers at work. No dice. I saw the gallery which was beautiful and impressive, and with Zero 7 playing softly in the background, I definitely felt...cultured.

I went back downtown, but missed my turn and wound up taking an accidental drive down Great River Road which was beautiful enough.

Then I hit up the Wax Museum where I met some friends both dead and alive...everyone from President Nixon to Barbara Streisand to Yoda. There was a horror room which I had to talk myself into. I went half-way in and ran back to safety. That part was hard to do alone.

I took a walk and decided to eat/drink at "Joey B's on the Landing." It hit the spot.

Now I'm in my 5th McDonald's of my roadtrip having a diet soda and using the free Wi-Fi. Now I wait to see if my night will be on the town or on the couch. Stay classy, St. Louis.

Day Three Part Two: Indiana and Illinois

I drove on to Indianapolis and hopped out of the car when I got there to hoop by the welcome sign. Mellllttting. It's so hot outside. So, I drove and I drove up and do

wn the streets of Downtown Indianapolis, through the college town and saw the coffee shops, monuments, fountains, and stores. Quite lovely. It was just too hot for the zoo or intense exploration. Back on 70 West I went...

Driving driving driving...Today was a driving day. Tomorrow will be an explorer day. I am now 5/6ths through The Search CDs. It's an intense murder story goin on. Kinda scary, but entertaining. I stopped at a rest-thing in Brazil, IN to eat where truckers made strange comments as they waited for their showers. Weird.

Now I am in a motel called Jay's Inn in Vandalia, Illinois. Only an hour or so away from St. Louis where I plan on spending tomorrow. I chose Jay's Inn over the Days Inn across the way because I figure solo-standing places will have more personality. Not this one. I run in because I have to pee and I announce that I'm interested in a room. The woman shakes her head and says "no." Whaddya mean, "no."? She finished the Dorito she had in her mouth and then asked how many nights I'd like to stay. What? Anyway, it's Air Conditioned, has Internet, and has a large bed for jumping and sleeping. It's time to rest for another fun adventure tomorrow.

If ya ask what state I'm in, I'll say IL.

Get it...it's a joke?

Day Three: Dayton, Ohio and the road

I woke up this morning and set off, stopping first at the Santa Maria for a hooping video opportunity. I thought I'd visit Dayton, Ohio briefly as Westminster Choir began there. The heat and my need to pee made the experience less than pleasing.

I saw the fountain you see above and thought "awesome hooping video shot!" so I set it up and it was going to be SO COOL. I pressed record and ran a distance away from the camera to begin. and the fountain. turned. off. *angry face.*

I moved on and now I'm in Indiana somewhere. The plan was to make it to St. Louis by tonight, but it matters if Nora Roberts' The Search on CD can keep me awake that long. (Thanks, Aunt Lesley & Robin & families!) If not, I'll stop at a motel and indulge in a long shower and sleepies.

Day Two Part Two: Columbus, Ohio

The CouchHouse was easy to find and with signs pointing to "German Village," I already liked Columbus. Taylor and Paul welcomed me to their home with couch choices and AC, which was much-needed. Paul even helped me move/hide all my valuables so that they wouldn't be stolen from my car.

I went for a walk by myself in search of that German Village and somehow missed it while talking on the phone with Aunt Lesley. I just said "oops" and kept walking all the way down to the river. My flipflops killed the soles of my feet and the heat was exhausting. I sat on a bench swing by the river and watched children play in a fountain.

When I thought I was going to die of heat stroke, I stopped in a little place to eat and drink. The neon sign that had an arrow to its door made me expect a diner atmosphere, but I walked into Little Palace to a classy bar and restaurant setting, women in elegant attire, men in ties, and a beautiful bartender with tattoos as sleeves. I had an amazing Amber Ale and a vegetarian stromboli that was to die for. I didn't want to leave.

I began walking back and made some phone calls. Paul (couchsurfing man) called and picked me up in his little blue car for a tour. We drove through German Village which was adorable in every way with brick pavement and cheesy street names. We went back down to the river to see an exact replica of Christopher Columbus's Santa Maria and I heard stories of shananigans that went down on that boat. Then we got some crazy unique ice cream and Paul made me sample almost every one before I picked. Paul was a real, relatable and intelligent guy and I laughed until my stomach hurt once again.

The night was finished on another comfortable futon.

Day Two: West Virginia

This ex-elementary school museum blew my mind. Toys from the past 100 years everywhere. And, you get to push buttons.

Roadtrip Day One: NJ to Pittsburgh

Not too bad.

With some good tunes in the car, some mountains for gazing, and a nice futon to rest my head, Day One was a success.

Dad helped me pack up the car and I left a little before 10 am. I felt like the road was waiting for me. Despite some traffic on the Walt Whitman and a storm near Pittsburgh, the ride was smooth. I made one stop in Lawn, PA to pee, another in Blue Mountain to eat, and another in New Stanton to gas up. Yes, I videotaped myself pumping gas for the first time. Imma big girl.

I got way lost in Pittsburgh trying to find Allie and Will. Allie is one of my closest friends I met in Vienna. She took me to a cheesesteak place where we ate a lot of grease and a gigundo beer. We hooped and laughed and caught up. She's a Music Ed lady too so we can certainly connect. Love her.

Will was an awesome host. We went to The Smiling Banana Leaf where I had a delicious banana dessert that made me smile. With his friend Elizabeth who cracked me the hell up, we had a lovely evening sharing stories.

I was exhausted from the 7 hrs of driving, but after 8 hour sleep I felt amazing.

I'm glad I visited Pittsburgh...Mom's alma mater. I wondered with every step if she had ever been standing exactly where I was. Annnnnd I hooped next to a dinosaur.

Oh yeah, Dad, I HATE your GPS. But I love you!