elisepeace

Coffee in a Whole New Perspective.

2011-12-29T18:35:00.000-06:00

Now that I am a whole 3 days experienced as a barista, I thought I would share some of values that I've learned.

Microfoam cannot be resteamed and microwaving milk to give it an extra warmth boost is a "no no."

If you can't pour milk directly in the center of an espresso - you are obviously not ready for latte art. And to add to that, don't pour the milk to slowly because the milk will "separate before [your] eyes!" - Jiminey. Also, don't make someone laugh as they are pouring delicious yummy milk into a drinky drink, because it is hard for them to not only pour consistently but to actually make it into the cup.

Basket to the gasket. Finger to the ringer. Immediately. Meaning after you tamp the grinds... put that business to the 'spro machine and get that hot water going.

A classic cappuccino is 6 oz.... so don't ask for a tall classic cap, alright?

A macchiato is not a tall, grande, or venti carmalicious mocha-fantasic drink. Its a hardcore drink with a double shot of espresso with a dash of steamed milk that equals 3-4 ounces! ITS TINY!

Oh yea.. that cool leaf on your chai latte is called a rosetta.

More to add later on, but for now just remember "its all part of the process."

Cap one the left: good. cap on the right: bad.

niiiiiiiiiice.

Gilmore Girl's Reading List

2011-12-07T13:34:00.000-06:00

As newly weds, Josh and I decided to save money by going without cable or internet in our humble shack. After watching all of our movies twice over, I decided to watch Gilmore Girls - all 7 seasons. I've always admired the Gilmore girls' wit and references to so many books and pop culture. I was just thinking of googling a possible list of all the books that they talk about in the show when a friend "pinned" this fantastic list on Pinterest. So eventually in my life I plan on reading through this list!

1984 by George Orwell
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Archidamian War by Donald Kagan
The Art of Fiction by Henry James
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Babe by Dick King-Smith
Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women by Susan Faludi
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Beowulf: A New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney
The Bhagava Gita
The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews by Peter Duffy
Bitch in Praise of Difficult Women by Elizabeth Wurtzel
A Bolt from the Blue and Other Essays by Mary McCarthy
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
Bridgadoon by Alan Jay Lerner
Candide by Voltaire
The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer
Carrie by Stephen King
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman
Christine by Stephen King
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse
The Collected Short Stories by Eudora Welty
The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty by Eudora Welty
A Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
Complete Novels by Dawn Powell
The Complete Poems by Anne Sexton
Complete Stories by Dorothy Parker
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas père
Cousin Bette by Honor’e de Balzac
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Cujo by Stephen King
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende
David and Lisa by Dr Theodore Issac Rubin M.D
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
The Da Vinci -Code by Dan Brown
Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol
Demons by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Deenie by Judy Blume
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson
The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx
The Divine Comedy by Dante
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
Don Quijote by Cervantes
Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhrv
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales & Poems by Edgar Allan Poe
Eleanor Roosevelt by Blanche Wiesen Cook
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn
Eloise by Kay Thompson
Emily the Strange by Roger Reger
Emma by Jane Austen – read
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
Ethics by Spinoza
Europe through the Back Door, 2003 by Rick Steves
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende
Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Extravagance by Gary Krist
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore
The Fall of the Athenian Empire by Donald Kagan
Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World by Greg Critser
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
The Fellowship of the Ring: Book 1 of The Lord of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce
Fletch by Gregory McDonald
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger
Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers
Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut
Gender Trouble by Judith Butler
George W. Bushism: The Slate Book of the Accidental Wit and Wisdom of our 43rd President by Jacob Weisberg
Gidget by Fredrick Kohner
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels
The Godfather: Book 1 by Mario Puzo
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Alvin Granowsky
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford
The Gospel According to Judy Bloom
The Graduate by Charles Webb
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Group by Mary McCarthy
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry
Henry IV, part I by William Shakespeare
Henry IV, part II by William Shakespeare
Henry V by William Shakespeare
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
Holidays on Ice: Stories by David Sedaris
The Holy Barbarians by Lawrence Lipton
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III (Lpr)
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
How the Light Gets in by M. J. Hyland
Howl by Allen Gingsburg
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
The Iliad by Homer
I’m with the Band by Pamela des Barres
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Inferno by Dante
Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Iron Weed by William J. Kennedy
It Takes a Village by Hillary Clinton
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
The Jumping Frog by Mark Twain
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Just a Couple of Days by Tony Vigorito
The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar by Robert Alexander
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – started and not finished
Lady Chatterleys’ Lover by D. H. Lawrence
The Last Empire: Essays 1992-2000 by Gore Vidal
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield
Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
The Little Locksmith by Katharine Butler Hathaway
The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Lottery: And Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Love Story by Erich Segal
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
The Manticore by Robertson Davies
Marathon Man by William Goldman
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone de Beauvoir
Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman by William Tecumseh Sherman
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
The Meaning of Consuelo by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Mencken’s Chrestomathy by H. R. Mencken
The Merry Wives of Windsro by William Shakespeare
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Miracle Worker by William Gibson
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Mojo Collection: The Ultimate Music Companion by Jim Irvin
Moliere: A Biography by Hobart Chatfield Taylor
A Monetary History of the United States by Milton Friedman
Monsieur Proust by Celeste Albaret
A Month Of Sundays: Searching For The Spirit And My Sister by Julie Mars
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall
My Lai 4: A Report on the Massacre and It’s Aftermath by Seymour M. Hersh
My Life as Author and Editor by H. R. Mencken
My Life in Orange: Growing Up with the Guru by Tim Guest
Myra Waldo’s Travel and Motoring Guide to Europe, 1978 by Myra Waldo
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin
Nervous System: Or, Losing My Mind in Literature by Jan Lars Jensen
New Poems of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson
The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay
Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
Night by Elie Wiesel
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism by William E. Cain, Laurie A. Finke, Barbara E. Johnson, John P. McGowan
Novels 1930-1942: Dance Night/Come Back to Sorrento, Turn, Magic Wheel/Angels on Toast/A Time to be Born by Dawn Powell
Notes of a Dirty Old Man by Charles Bukowski
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Old School by Tobias Wolff
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life by Amy Tan
Oracle Night by Paul Auster
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Othello by Shakespeare
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan
Out of Africa by Isac Dineson
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
The Peace of Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition by Donald Kagan
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Peyton Place by Grace Metalious
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Pigs at the Trough by Arianna Huffington
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain
The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby
The Portable Dorothy Parker by Dorothy Parker
The Portable Nietzche by Fredrich Nietzche
The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the Education of Paul O’Neill by Ron Suskind
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Property by Valerie Martin
Pushkin: A Biography by T. J. Binyon
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Quattrocento by James Mckean
A Quiet Storm by Rachel Howzell Hall
Rapunzel by Grimm Brothers
The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham
Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Rescuing Patty Hearst: Memories From a Decade Gone Mad by Virginia Holman
The Return of the King: The Lord of the Rings Book 3 by J. R. R. Tolkien
R Is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton
Rita Hayworth by Stephen King
Robert’s Rules of Order by Henry Robert
Roman Holiday by Edith Wharton
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
A Room with a View by E. M. Forster
Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
The Rough Guide to Europe, 2003 Edition
Sacred Time by Ursula Hegi
Sanctuary by William Faulkner
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford
Say Goodbye to Daisy Miller by Henry James
The Scarecrow of Oz by Frank L. Baum
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette by Judith Thurman
Selected Hotels of Europe
Selected Letters of Dawn Powell: 1913-1965 by Dawn Powell
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Several Biographies of Winston Churchill
Sexus by Henry Miller
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Shane by Jack Shaefer
The Shining by Stephen King
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
S Is for Silence by Sue Grafton
Slaughter-house Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Small Island by Andrea Levy
Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway
Snow White and Rose Red by Grimm Brothers
Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy: Lord and Peasant in the Making of the Modern World by Barrington Moore
The Song of Names by Norman Lebrecht
Song of the Simple Truth: The Complete Poems of Julia de Burgos by Julia de Burgos
The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker
Songbook by Nick Hornby
The Sonnets by William Shakespeare
Sonnets from the Portuegese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Sophie’s Choice by William Styron
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
A Streetcar Named Desiree by Tennessee Williams
Stuart Little by E. B. White
Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust
Swimming with Giants: My Encounters with Whales, Dolphins and Seals by Anne Collett
Sybil by Flora Rheta Schreiber
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Term of Endearment by Larry McMurtry
Time and Again by Jack Finney
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Tragedy of Richard III by William Shakespeare
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
The Trial by Franz Kafka
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson
Truth & Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Ulysses by James Joyce
The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath 1950-1962 by Sylvia Plath
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Unless by Carol Shields
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
The Vanishing Newspaper by Philip Meyers
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
Velvet Underground’s The Velvet Underground and Nico (Thirty Three and a Third series) by Joe Harvard
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Walt Disney’s Bambi by Felix Salten
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
We Owe You Nothing – Punk Planet: The Collected Interviews edited by Daniel Sinker
What Colour is Your Parachute? 2005 by Richard Nelson Bolles
What Happened to Baby Jane by Henry Farrell
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

The Ring is on the Finger!

2011-01-24T21:16:00.001-06:00

Here is the story!

On Sunday, Josh and I went to help out with Wesley's free lunch as usual. Afterward, Josh said he wanted to talk and hang out with Haley (his sister), so I just went back my house. At 2:15 I met up with Macy Waltz for our one-on-one time at J&B. The rhythm of our session was normal as we talked through our Christmas break and MLK weekend. At the end of our meeting time, I was about to leave when Macy nonchalantly said, "I have something for you."

In my mind I was thinking about the Christmas present that she told me she needed to give to me around December 1st.

She handed me a card with the J&B coffee Inc. logo with the "B" transformed to an "E" to make it "J&E." I was confused, but I just laughed and said, "Oh! How cool!" I opened up the card and I recognized Josh's hand writing. I started to read the note and I was beyond confused. I read through the note, and realized that today was a very important day.

The notes said, "Elise,
I hope you enjoyed your time at J&B,
but today there are many other things you must see.
Today is a day unlike any other.
Relax and enjoy our love for one another.
This trip will be an adventure of sorts,
but don't worry, you won't have to talk about or play sports.
To accompany you on your journey,
I am giving you a special "I love you" CD
So hurry up! Go to your next destination!
Go back to your house without hesitation!

I went into shock after I finished reading the riddle. I looked up at Macy and started hyper ventilating (not literally), but I did have an abnormal breathing pattern! And I was laughing and crying and trying to talk at the same time! I was ecstatic! I KNEW THAT TODAY WAS THE DAY! She handed me the "I love you" CD to go along with the letter. I didn't know what to say or do! I was paralyzed with excitement! Finally, Macy encouraged me to go and enjoy my night after several hugs.

On my way to my house, the first song that played was off of The Wedding Singer, Grow Old with You.

I opened my front door and a blanket of rose peddles led me to my bed room. When I stepped in my room I was surprised by Amy and Diana who were under my sheets and blankets. They handed me the next note along with a necklace.

The note read, "Elise,
I hope you have found your friends in bed,
a bed you will share with someone else once you're wed!
While you are here get ready for the day.
Use Amy and Diana to dress you up in whatever way.
No matter what outfit you decide to show,
you are the most amazingly gorgeous woman I know.
Let the necklace I give you remind you of your beauty,
but remember, remember you still have a duty!
Where we first met at Raiderville is the place to be.
Go to the Southwest Conference Circle (E.S.S. Building) and Drive Safely!

I was thankful that two of my roommates and bestfriends could be a part of this journey! We talked about how much self control Diana and Amy must have had because when it was so hard for them to keep something so exciting as this! They were thankful I wasn't home all weekend because I helped out with the Salt Shaker Retreat. After an hour and fourty-five minutes of laughing, screaming, crying, sweating in a tiny bathroom, and singing, I was finally ready with hair curled, makeup and outfit on. Both Amy and Diana gave me their blessing and sent me on my way to campus.

I was singing to My Cococo (thats my nickname that Josh calls me) by Stellastarr, but the second I pulled up in the parking lot I started bawling. Ali Dawn Kemp, my best friend/sister from high school, was standing holding a bouquet of flowers about 50 ft. away. I knew it wasn't easy for her to drive up to Lubbock and give up an entire day. (I found out later that she had been standing out there for over 2 hours waiting on me without a coat- She is a true friend!). I stepped out of my car and ran over to her. She gave me a big hug and we cried together. On the ground, "I love you" was spelled out in coffee beans, and the bouquet of flowers had my favorite flower Renunculas along with roses and tulips.

After we were united and she gave me the flowers she pulled out the note.

She read, "Renunculas, Renunculas
Ali is here, how reDONCulous!
I will always remember the night we first met,
My life was forever changed in a way I don't regreat.
I will always remember your smile and cream headband (:
filling up the night air, I just knew you were a special brand.
These flowers are unique and so are you.
Go beautifully on with your next clue
to the Wesley Foundation's Intern Office for a special surprise
as you gaze upon something with your eyes.

By the way... I was wearing a yellow headband, but Josh vividly remembers it being cream! Then, Ali and I packed up in my car to head to the Wesley as we listened to Firework by Katy Perry.

I walked into the side door of the Wesley Foundation and found hundreds of rose pedals leading up the stairs, into the internship office all the way to Josh's desk, and ending on the keyboard. It was dark, but it was lit up with several red candles. Beside the computer a beautiful mosaic of the world was titled "Oh the Places We'll Go..."

At this point, I was confused. There was no note and I wasn't sure what to do next. Ali came over and tapped the mouse and the computer screen came on. A Skype sign in screen was on the desktop. I logged in (on the second try! I forgot my password!) and I just waited silently for a couple of minutes. Then I get a call from my Daddy. We probably set there for a good couple of minutes before we could really talk to each other. We just cried a ton of happy tears. Then he told me how proud he was of me and of the person I had become. He reminded me that we had begun to pray for my future financé and husband together when I was around 6. (both of my parents had prayed for him since the moment I was born) I gave his blessing for Josh and my relationship and he couldn't be happier.

Then he read the note from Josh, "Skype Skype. I miss it but not really
all those nights that we talked until one of us was weary
through all of the video talking and chatting
I continued to fall in love with a girl so dazzling.
Of course you have a great Skype personality
especially the way you alway knew how to me.
Now you will no longer have to travel alone,
I look forward to "the places we will go" like Rome
So off to Spirit Ranch you will go
to a place so special for a reason you already know.

I said my good byes and we blew out the candles. I grabbed the canvas and we headed out to Spirit Ranch. I was fully expecting Josh to be there because after all that is where had decided to get married. We enjoyed several songs included On a Night Like This by Dave Barnes. As soon as I pulled up I looked for Josh, but instead I saw a beautiful couple, Kyle, my roomate, and Bryce. You can image I started crying again. I noticed some candles in the shape of a heart on the ground when Bryce started reading the next note...

It read, "Ah, I'm not here, but did you think I would be?
Oh well, at the next place you will soon see
a handsome man who has been excited to see you.
Smile, the adventure is almost over for you, too.
The question of most interest to me
Are you willing to "plan your life" to someone on bended knee?
Go to my parents' house. You know what's next
Be extra safe, and please don't text!

As Bryce read the line "plan your life," Kyle handed me a daily planner that said, "Elise, I'm excited to plan the rest of my life with you! I love you so much! Josh Hurst." I cried more and hugged them. They both gave me some encouraging words and they sent me off to my next destination.

We drove all the way across down, and we had to make a pit stop at a Valero. I was going to hold it, but Ali said that I'll probably pee my pants if I didn't go.

We pull up to the house, and Ali ran to the back of the house. Luminaries lined the sidewalk leading into the living room. I walked slowly towards. From luminaries, candles started lining the walkway into the house. Rose pedals made a path toward the center of the room, and also coffee beans made the path narrow. I looked up at him as I stepped across the threshold and let the tears roll. I walked from the tile to the carpet. Josh was standing in the center of a world map tapestry. It was lined with christmas lights and rose pedals were scattered over it. The fire place was in full blaze. Candles, coffee beans, and rose pedals lined the counters, window seals, and tables. The essence of two smells I grew up with - my dad's cup of coffee in his flower shop - reminded me of what a great life that I've had that has led up to this.

I stepped into the center with him. We waited just taking in the moment to speak. Finally, I smiled and said, "Hi."

He said hi back, and then he told me how special I was to him. He said he had never told this to me before but that my passion for the Lord and my drive to pursue His will is the reason why he loved me the most. He explained why he was attracted to my character and heart. Then he told me a few other reason why he was excited to spend the rest of his life with me.

Then, he reach down on the small side table that was right beside him covered in candles and rose pedals and picked up a white box. He said, "Kimberlyn Elise Peak" and he bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

I said "YES YES YES!!!"

Then he opened the box and slid the ring on my finger.

25 minutes later, 30 of our friends and Josh's family gathered there to celebrate! It couldn't have ended better to spend that exciting milestone with close friends!

First Experience as a Server

2010-09-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

I walked into Carino's, proud and gleaming to start my first day as an official server. My first guest, looking in his mid 40's sat down waiting for his wife to join him. As soon as I welcomed him to Carino's, he asked me about Pasta Points. On the front of the menu it says in bold letters "ask your server about Pasta Points." I'm sure my facial expression resembled that of a deer or elk in the dead of night when your car lights are blinding them as you screech to a halt. My immediate made-up response contemplated for my deer-eyes. After a brief false explanation, I told him I'd return after finding out more from my manager. My first fib, and I passed! He ended up signing up for Pasta Points, and he had no idea I was clueless.

As the night went on each table, I'm sure, saw the mistakes I made as I brought food out late, forgot to greet them in a timely manner, or checked on them too much. We can skip the majority of those table stories; however, there is one that iced the cake to finish off the night. At this moment I had three tables. These two ladies sat down, and I brought out their drinks as normal. I brought their salads ten minutes later. They were a little flustered, but they just ate their salads without saying anything. When they were finished, I told them, "I'm sure you're food is coming right out of the kitchen." When I checked, I realized I never put their order in. I scrambled to type it in to the computer and ran to the manager to get the cooks to fire the meals up. Finally, around 25 to 30 minutes after they had finished their salads, I dropped off their entreés. They were not at all satisfied. One lady said, "we won't be mad as long as you get us two coffees and dessert... on the house of course" (with a smirk at the end). I replied promptly with an agreeing confirmation. Half way through their meal I asked the ladies what type of dessert they would like, and they said Tiramisu with both regular and decaf cups of coffee.

I ran to the bar to get the coffees just to be sent to the back of the restaurant. There was only one pot of coffee. I brewed the regular coffee, and waited for it to finish before I could brew the decaf. When I was just about to start on the decaf, another server came up to me. She said that the ladies wanted to know where I was and they want their coffee now that they had their Tiramisu. She said she had told them, we only have regular coffee right now. They ladies said they didn't care they just wanted it right then. I rushed to their table with the two cups, and the only reply, "well, can we get some creamer?!" In my frantic state, I just started crying and with a cracked voice I said, "yes, I'll be right back with your creammmmmerr."

A man from the table right beside the table with the two ladies motioned for me to come over to him. He grabbed my arm as I bent down and he whispered in my ear, "you are doing a fantastic job. The food is wonderful. The service has been excellent, and you have made my night more enjoyable." After I cleared up from my emotional break down, I finished up my tables to end my shift. The ladies left me three dollars, while the man left me a $20 dollar tip.

I just realized that I am not immediately amazing at everything. I had to work at this job, and it was going to take some practice.

MUST HAVEs

2010-07-03T15:12:00.000-05:00

These are a few items that my little heart desires at the moment.

Drop handle bars for my bike
tennis shoes
photoshop
itunes card because I have a billion songs I want to buy
backpack
nook
otter box phone cover for my 4G iPhone
car mats
magic carpet
flight to Cambodia or Africa
James Avery bracelet
Rainboots
A lamp
Bike rack for my carrrr
Bed spread
French press coffee maker
Coffee bean grinder
tea pot
a machine to mold clay
guitar lessons
video camera of some sort
Microsoft Office 2007 for my mac (is that possible?)

MIND BOGGLING!

2010-06-30T23:13:00.000-05:00

Wow- not only did I learn about the way technology and our world really works, but would you look at this artist in the video? What a great way to visually stimulate your audience. The perspective of this generation really is completely different from the baby booming generation.

1st time answering the phone at work...gone wrong.

2010-06-24T23:34:00.000-05:00

Schedule for June 24, 2010:

7am: wake up
8am: technology in pfp class
10am: technical writing class
12pm: pick up iPhone 4G
1:30-3pm: get ready for work
3pm: do homework for pfp class
4-9:15pm: work
9:30-11pm: team meeting to work on project

As you can see, my day was PACKED!!! I didn't realize that I hadn't eaten until I was walking out of the library at 11 and I was talking to my friend about food. Wow- ditz. Anyway, check out the video to get the details about how I did answering the phone for the first time. Apparently, names are important?

Kyle and I Practicing our Dave Barnes Accent.

2010-06-24T01:17:00.000-05:00

So.... I'm posting this after the day is pretty much over because all the power decided to go out in Ama's house; therefore, no internet left to post this vlog! So... here ya go!

GOOD DAY!

2010-06-22T14:34:00.000-05:00

I'll Take the Ticket and Keep My Arms & Legs, Thanks

2010-06-22T00:34:00.002-05:00

So can I vent? I mean this is my blog... I suppose I'm allowed to have a negative post every once in a while.

This summer session has been horrible. I'm taking two classes, technology in personal financial planning and technical writing. Both of my teachers seem to either #1 hate their life and it shows in their occasional smile and rare laugh or #2 they love their job so much that they think we do too; therefore, overloading us with hours worth of homework. On top of that I am taking another online course, History and not to mention I was just hired as a hostess at Carino's. Let's not forget about having a boyfriend because that takes work too. Not that having a job and boyfriend is bad.. it is a blessing!!! After all these accumulate, however, the stress and pressure can be over-bearing.

I signed up for this knowing I wouldn't have a social life the month of June but I didn't think that my actual friendships would suffer from it. I just don't have enough time in the week to pour into and spend quality time with any of my girls. I'm bitter/ they're bitter - it just isn't a good situation.

Josh and I have constantly fought about me not giving him enough quality time; therefore, he doesn't feel affirmed and neither do I. He is trying to support me, but when eating and driving time don't count as quality time- there just isn't a spare minute in my pockets that I have to offer right now.

Let me tell you about my weekend and today, Monday the 21st.

I spent my Saturday doing about 4 hours worth of homework for my technology class, working, and finishing off my night with frustration after doing 3 more hours of homework. I did, however, get 8 hours of sleep before I went to church where Andy gave a fantastic sermon over Father's Day. I joined the Hurst's for lunch. I had an hour to spare before we ate, therefore, to no surprise, I did homework, and followed up lunch with 2 healthy hours of more technology work before I went to work. At Carino's, it was my first day on the floor and my shift lasted 4 hours. At 8:30pm, I grabbed coffee and went straight to the library to finish up my assignments due at midnight. Some weekend.

This morning I was eager to be awake and lively for my technology class. I woke up at 7 and drank a cup of coffee while getting ready. I even did some things that I needed to do before leaving for school. In my 8 0'clock I realized that I hadn't finished my memo for my 10 o'clock class. I spent about 40 minutes writing that out about my how-to paper. Then the printer messed up, and the computer in the alternative lab took 13 minutes just to load up. By the time I wrote and printed everything off, it was time to go.

I walked to my 10 o'clock. I had my 4 page paper with my memo all ready in my folder when I looked at the girl sitting next to me and her project. I did my project over a crochet potholder and she did a 32 instruction how-to over drawing a portrait. It was in a 3-ring binder with a cover letter and table of contents. Each page was nicely placed into laminated page covers, and each of her pictures had arrows to describe each step more thoroughly. She made my project just good enough to throw away.

I talked to my professor and he didn't comfort me by affirming his comparative grading rubric, which means my classmate's paper is going to blow mine out of the water. I struggled all day to be in a good mood, and even after my quiet time I was down and it was noticeable. After work, I was putting my left shoe on to go work out while I was stopped at a red light and somehow how I let up on the brake and tapped the car in front of me. The man was so sweet and after he took my information he asked me, "are you okay?" Thats when the crying started when I told him I was fine before I headed home bypassing the gym.

At this point I needed to be loved and comforted by someone actually here in Lubbock. Josh, his dad, Haley, and Michelle were all at Ceta Canyon with no cell phone service. Janey was busy with her mom being in town. Amy and Diana were at work. I had already vented to Kyle that day, and Ama was at the pool. I literally in that moment felt so alone and helpless. I went home and cried myself into a nap for 2 hours.

After meeting up with Kyle and Diana for coffee and hanging out with Ama before bed, I realized that all that happened today was that Satan saw doors to tear me down and destroy what I had declared that morning, "a good day." I just watched this video, and this man showed me how little my problems really are, and made me so much more thankful that I have self-determination to get through this summer session, and that a little nick on someone's car won't cost that much. Not having any arms or legs might change that mentality for anyone. This guy is such an inspiration.

Check this out.

Diving for Discs

2010-05-29T17:47:00.000-05:00

Today, I tested out the opaque waters at Mackenzie Park. I had wanted to swim with the guys before finding discs, but I just never had enough guts to go all in. Well today Lauren Riggs and I plunged right in. It was disgusting!!! The floor of the "lake" or whatever you want to call it, was squishy and slimy. Dirty is a given. We fished for discs for around an hour. I found 10 discs total not even counting all the ones Josh found! After I got past wanting to be pristine and clean, I actually enjoyed sweeping the pits of the swampy floor blindly searching for a long time to find a prize.

This reminds me of all those situations that I just won't put myself into even though I know it won't be all that bad. I knew the water would be welcoming, but I was scared of getting dirty, of possibly finding a snake, or anything else that would potentially hurt me. The same is for diving into my community. I'm walking around people who I know don't know the Lord, but even though I am sometimes given the opportunity for that spiritual conversation, most of the time I take the most comfortable route and stick to non-religious topics as to not put myself in a sticky spot.

Once I did finally jump in that water and realize that I could find some gems in the muck, I was okay with the grimy situation. I want to start reaching out to those around me not with the Jehovah-witness style and telling people the faith that I believe is correct, but by diving in, finding the muck, the dirty, and the story behind that person's life to bring out the gem in them they might not have known they had through Jesus Christ.

The Christian I want to be isn't measured in the good deeds I've done, how many friends I can get, or how many missions I've gone on. No, I want my Christianity to be radiant and obvious when a stranger, an outsider, an observer sees my actions, my love for others, my compassion, and my obvious relationship with the Lord.

Birthday in May?

2010-05-20T14:09:00.000-05:00

So as most of you close to me know that back on March 16th, my birthday, I didn't exactly have the best day. After missing the early bus to Madrid and catching another bus and riding in it for 8 hours to catch up with the group consuming my entire day, I was pretty tired finally getting to our hotel. My only desire was to play the games Spoons and there was no one willing to play. After that recap, you can conclude that my day was the average drag.

Yesterday, I was lied to, manipulated, and left hanging for hours as I waited for Diana and Amy several different times throughout the day. All this to say, IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST DAYS EVER!!!!!

I walked into Zack Esgar's house to get a game board so that Kyle, Diana, Amy, and I could play the game Aggravation. I hugged Zack's neck and he said the board was in the back. I walked around the corner to nearly pee my pants I was so scared when around 30 people all screamed surprise. I didn't even have words because I was confused about what was going on, why they were in unison screaming at me, and why there would be a surprise party for me.

Diana and Amy planned out the entire party a couple of weeks ago. They called all tech junkies that like Lubbock too much to leave to join in on the fun. I got to see several people that I haven't seen in over 5 months. I felt completely loved and welcomed back from Spain. Sometimes I did wonder if my absence made a difference, but last night gave me a sense being wanted and it was a great feeling.

We danced, ate, slack lined, laughed, then around 11 a big group of us went out and played sand volleyball until 1 in the morning. This day was exactly how I had imagined being welcomed back and I couldn't be more thankful to God to have the friends He has blessed me with.

Thanks again Di Di and Amo for the surprise!!!!

Venice and a little Treviso

2010-05-13T16:04:00.000-05:00

The bench where I sat at in Treviso

I slept, or laid in bed for as long as I could listening to the trains until I decided to get going. I took everything with just in case. I was planning on heading into Venice, but I decided to catch a train to Treviso, where Giulio said he would love to retire to. Well, that is exactly what Treviso is, a great to live in not necessarily to visit. I arrived and realized there is absolutely nothing to do unless you had friends there. I took a walk along the river and after a while I found a bench where the river split in two and the bench at the point of separation. I wrote and read just enjoying relaxing and soaking in the tranquility around me.

Around 1:15, I decided to head to the train station. By 2:30 I was back in Venice. Because I had turned left from the train station in Venice the day before I decided to turn right this time. I decided later that left is better. On the right-hand-side, the residence area and the not-so-polished side of Venice took me wondering for a good hour. It was still beautiful, but instead of gondola's, there were motor boats- The Venecian "car." This is the side of town where the schools, super markets, business' not based on tourism, and pharmacies were. Finally, I walked far enough, I ran into the port where an enormous cruise ship blew its horn at me. The sun was blazing at 3:30 and the Gelatateria was spilling out costumers with an icecream cone in each hand. I decided that was a good idea, I conformed into standing in the long line. I bought a double scoop, chocolate and mint chocolate- my favorite.

I made my way down the border and through some of the small streets to find Piazza Marco where there was a pier dock where a boat-bus would take me to Murano, the glassblowing island.

On m way, this gondolier, 22 years old, asked me if I'd like to go on a free gondola ride. I asked him if he was serious, and he said it was no problem. I wanted to go to Murano, but I just couldn't pass up another magical gondola ride for free! He asked me to wait 30 minutes until he could take me... I waited at a near by plaza.

He took me around for 30 minutes telling me the history of some of the buildings. We passed by several churches, and one place in particular, Mozart's house, that is now just an apartment complex. The gondolier's name was Andreas.. the V. He was the fifth generation and he was driving his dad's gondola. He pulled it up to a different dock where he puts it at night. he helped me out and then proceeded to cover it in tarps and secure cushions, floor boards, chairs, etc.. packed tightly together under the tarps. Andreas told me I could stay in his motor boat, but after second thought I declined and decided just to stay in my hotel.

It was 6:20m and I still wanted to make it out to Murano. All the glass making is in Murano now because the entire town of Venice kept burning down and it was dangerous; whereas, Murano is an island so that if a fire ever does break out, there is water all around to put it out. I took a bus boat 40 minutes around to Murano. I walked around a bit, then I went into a glass blowing shop. The entrance had small show cases of their glass and it was covered with white canopies. In the actual building, anything you could think of this company made and original design of it. I bought Freda a blue glass tiny container. I knew she'd love it.

Venenzia

2010-05-01T08:39:00.000-05:00

After Tiramisu that morning and drinking tea with Giulio drove me to the train station. I hopped on the train to Venice at 10:35am and the when the ticket man came around he said that it was a 50 euro fine for not having my euro rail pass signed and 18 euros instead of 10 for not getting the reservation at the station, but he said everything was crazy because of the volcano that he wouldn't charge me. Well, he only charged me 10 euros for the reservation.

Tom, the guy I was supposed to stay with in venice apparently a total creep. Giulio told me around 50 out of his 500 couch surfers that he has hosted that have stayed with Tom said its a horrible experience with him because is surch a perv. He is said to hang all over girls and he won't stop even if you say no. Therefore, I took the safe advice in my gut and I didn't meet up with him. I actually didn't mean to, but I missed the train station stop I was supposed to get off at. I was to stop at Mestre Station before the actually city of Venice, but I ended up going all the way to the little island. Because I didn't have a phone, I couldn't tell Tom that I missed the stop. I went to an internet café, and I found an ugly email from him, but I responded and said I was sorry, but my plans changed. I decided just to spend the day in Venice alone!

I bought a new backpack for 15 euros because my sad little backpack was about to die. After i crossed this bridge I asked a gondolier if I could take his picture. He said it was much better if I was in the picture with him and he asked someone in Italian to take it for me. I asked Victorio how much the gondola ride would cost and he said if I came back at 6:30 he would give me a ride for free. I was ecstatic! I was trying to find a coffee shop to sit down, have some coffee, read my map, and transfer everything from my old backpack to my new one, but it was too hard to fine one that would let me sit down without ordering food let alone alone just coffee. I finally found a place where I could read my map and drink a cappuccino for a whopping 3.95 euros. So expensive. All over Venice there are stage looking platforms in stacks, but really they are an alternative sidewalk when the water rises and floods the streets.

I sat down on one of them and put everything into my new Italian bag. When I was finished I ran into these two men, Stephen, 55, and Jeff, 43. I could tell they were American so I asked where they were from. I actually said, "Where y'all from," emphasizing the Texan accent. "North Carolina." They were on a business trip. They asked if I'd like to join them walking to Piazza Marcus with them, and I gladly accepted.

I told them about my backpack and as I was putting it in the trash can, they said someone might want it, so I went to set it on one of the platforms and Jeff decided he needed it for his souvenirs. It was perfect! Jess was entertaining as he looked into every single window of each store and bought several random souvenirs for his family. I was able to get some good talking time in with Stephen though. He told e his daughter who just graduated from Ole Miss and is now living in New York is a Pi Phi as well! On the way, Jeff bought me an espresso shot and bought us all Persian chocolates... they had hazelnut and I thought I was going to die they were so delicious.

In the Piazza, we sat down beside a live band, and they ordered a special drink kind of like sparking champagne for all of us. It was called Spritz.

They each had two and I just kept it at a polite one glass. The tapas, or small bite size snacks, provided included croutons with olive oil and garlic, two kinds of chips, and another bit size snack. The bill totaled up to 70 euros!!! I about peed my pants, but I still asked how much I owed. Stephen said not to worry about it, that it was on him.

Jeff came up with the idea that Victorio might let them come a long for the free ride, but Jeff actually kept insisting that I be smart about taking a free right and really just wanted to make sure I was going to be safe. We walked all the way back up the Guglie Bridge for 40 minutes and found Victorio. I was able to ride in a gondola!!! Something I never thought I'd get to do! And even more, I rode for free with two friends!!! The day was spectacular!

Milano

2010-04-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

April 16-17

I was sweating trying to run from my school, home, and then to the train station where the bus stop to the airport was. I wasn't able to find the bus stop. I looked for 40 minutes and finally, I found it in the easiest location, right smack in front of Santa Justa Tren Estación. At 12:15pm I loaded on to the over crowded stuffy bus. I watched a girl tear up as she was telling her Spanish boyfriend goodbye.

In the airport I waited in the wrong line, like always. After I asked the counter receptionist, I realized i to stand in the line with 50 people. I only had 35 minutes before my plane was to take off and they closed the gate 30 minutes before. An American guy asked the lady the same question receiving the same answer. He stood behind me in the new l ine only 3 seconds before we started talking. The receptionist told us to cut in front of everyone- and no one said a word as we slipped to the front of the line. Our flight was delayed and we ended up sitting next to each other on the plane. The American, Ricky, sat on my right and the girl crying for her boy earlier sat on my left. Its funny, I remember being so excited that I found a cheaper-than-dirt flight to Italy, but I realized the price measured fairly to the accommodation and service. We walked out to the plane, taking around 10 minutes, then cramming into a seat with barely any leg room. Keep in mind, I'm pretty short. Randy, 6'9", would have come out of that flight with no knee caps...

Ricky and me

The flight lasted two and a half hours and with the delayed take off, I arrived at the airport in Milan at 4:30. The race begins. Giulio's instructions were to take the bus to the center of Milan, and take a metro, two different lines, outside of Milan for him to pick me up. I didn't have a phone, so he said that he got off work at 5:30, but he would wait until 6:30 for me to call him from a public phone and be in the meeting place. The bus ride from the airport to the Centro took 50 minutes- 5:45pm by the time I found a bus and got to the center. He said it only took 15 minutes to the meeting spot, but I was still nervous. I felt as though I was involved in a drug deal!

Ihopped on the green line in the metro, but I realized I was going the wrong direction. By the time I got off found out how to get on the other side of the tracks and got back to the centro, I had waisted so much time, and 15 minutes had ticked by! 6 minutes later I found the stop to switch and hop on the red line. I was literally racing the clock hoping that this guy, whom I've never met, would wait for me. With 20 minutes before 6:30, I was worried I wasn't going to be able to find a public phone; therefore, I asked a younger man standing next to me to borrow his iphone. He dialed the number..the wrong one. He redialed then handed me the phone. Giulio answered and he said he'd meet me in 10 minutes ouside the metro station. The second I handed the phone back to the guy, the subway stopped and he was already half way out the door before I could say "gratzie a mile." It was perfect timing.

I only waited a few minutes before a man in a suit and tie rounded the corner and asked if I was Elise. He took me in his car out to his house which is in Rho, a small town right outside of Milan. He taught me how to make Tiramisu. He also taught me the meaning behind it. The name is Italian, and it actually means "pull me up," which, is fitting because it is made out of coffee, sugar, and more sugar. He told me that the biscuits or cookies, as we would say, were made to soak up coffee and the special biscuits that we used would be extinct, or wouldn't be made anymore, but those still making this tasty dessert, keep the business alive. Afterwards, he showed me how to make Italian homemade pizza. I was loving every second of it!

Giulio and his pizza

April 17th

This is an interesting day. Giulio woke me up at 8:40 am and by 9 he was driving me to the Centro Tren Estación. It only took around 45 minutes, I decided to walk around and see some of Milan while I wait for Natalie to arrive. Her flight was supposed to get in at 11:30 am and it takes an hour for the bus ride so I told her at 1:15 pm I'd meet her at the big staircase right inside the train station.

When I started walking around I saw this man dressed in army pants, wearing a red thick jacket with an army vest to complete his puffy chest look. Steel-toed boots and a Jewish looking crocheted hat topped off his homeless-ragged outfit. I asked him if he knew where the Duomo was and he asked if I'd like to see a church with him. I agreed without any way out, he took me to the church. It was beautiful, but nothing different from what I've seen. Afterwards, he told me that it wasn't safe to be alone and he would show me around the Duomo and go to a museum before I had to meet my friend. We took the metro out to the Duomo and instead of going in front, he led me to the side- the exit. I told him that I didn't think it was the entrance, but he ignored me and kept walking. The side doors were pouring out tourists of all nationalities. I don't know how but the guards let us by and we made our way in, upstream.

Once we were out, he started walking to the Museo del Risorgimento. It was the museum full of Italy's history. They had basically Napoleon's belongings, his clothes, swords, hemets, etc.. Honestly, the whole time I moving as fast as i could through there. This man, Brazzini Enzo, in his sixties, smelled like he had bathed in cigarette smoke. The stench was coming out of his pores and I felt this starting to take over my own scent. I didn't feel safe anyhow with him and I loathed walking by him especially when he lit his next cigarette from the butt of the one he was currently smoking. It was actually exhausting talking in dumb English for someone to understand you. I told him I had to meet Natalie at 12, so we started heading back to the metro.

I bought a metro pass and he had a pass that was for a 24 hour period, but apparently his ticket had expired. He wasn't able to get through. He told me to wait while he went to get a new one, but I took the perfect opportunity to lose him. I told him "nice to meet you! Gratzie! Have a good day!" He couldn't object - there was nothing he could do. He just told me in broken English to "take zee metro on zee right." "Ciao" and I was free!

The afternoon was a drag. I waited outside the train station by the bus stop for Natalie for 3 hours. Then I finally gave up and went to an internet cafe. She had sent me a message at 9 that morning telling me that the ash cloud from the volcano eruption from Iceland cancelled all flights for the entire day. I had waited for nothing!!!!

I decided to call Giulio, but he was busy so he told me to wait until 6:30 and to call him then. It was 3:30 pm at the time. I hadn't eaten lunch so I decided to go to McDonalds. I bought a cheeseburger for a euro! I know how to travel cheaply.. I sat there for an hour writing and looking at my map. These two ladies had been sitting next to me and when they finished their meal, one of them came up to me. She was a Jehovah's witness and she started witnessing to me. She told me about her beliefs, that the trinity is false, etc.. and I argued with her for about 20 minutes, but in the end I told her I would take her stupid false pamphlet so she would leave me alone.

I wondered around the train station for 2 hours watching people and taking pictures. At 6:30, I called Giulio back and he told me to meet him at Famagosto metro station at 9:15.. another 3 hours.

I went down to the metro to check exactly how to get there, and when I was looking at the metro map I met Serkan Avci. His flight had been cancelled because of the ash cloud and he had nothing to do so we decided to go have a good conversation and pass the time.

He was also in couch surfing in Instanbol, Turkey. He bought me this weird Thai drink, it was so sweet I could only take 3 or 4 sips! It was made with Basil seeds! He was a nice guy looking for company, but I just didn't like the feel of the situation. After two and a half hours, I took the metro and met up with Giulio. He brought his friend Oana from Romania and we went to this pizzeria where 20 of his friends were waiting for us. We all ate a pizza to ourselves, the size of a large Pizza Hut pizza, but the crust was extremely thin, so it wasn't as much as it appeared to be. Mine had tuna, spicy salami, corn, mozzarella, and tomato sauce... I think thats all! It was 9 euros, but Giulio paid for me. I had a blast talking with all of the Italians. We didn't finish eating until midnight!!

Away to Italia and Swisa

2010-04-15T13:46:00.000-05:00

Okay this is the first time where I'm starting to get nervous. I haven't been until today, but it just hit me. I won't really be traveling alone because I'll be Natalie and then I'll meet up with Logan, Nadia, and Julianna in Switzerland so it won't be that bad, but still. Ill be fine just say a prayer for me daily April 16-26th.

Matalascaña

2010-04-10T13:37:00.000-05:00

I don't have any pictures to show, because this Saturday was for pure relaxation.

After our big Spanish test on Friday morning, it was nice to get away to a warm beach on Saturday. We met up at Plaza de Armas, the bus station close to the river, at 9:00. We were thinking that the bus would leave sometime in that next hour, but we were wrong. Apparently on weekends, the buses run less than on the weekdays.... weird. We had to wait 2 hours and 3 different buses came to pick up the herd of students, international and Spanish, to Matalascaña. The bus ride was only an hour long, and every seat was occupied. Matalascaña is a small town and the bus stop drops us off close enough to the beach that we simply walk down the sidewalk and BAM! There it is.

6 of us girls plus the couple, Courtney and Ricky, found a great spot on the edge of the crowded beach. We laid there for hours just listening to music, reading, and talking. Then Nadia, Hayley, Julie, and I got brave enough to get in the ocean. At first, I couldn't even stand it on my feet, but once I caught my breath and after Nadia made me go under I was fine. The waves got big just as we got in and riding those waves were a blast!

We laid out a little longer and then made our way back to the bus stop. An hour later we were back in Seville!

My kind of a Saturday. Completely chill with no obligations and many laughs.

I just made Ranch and I'm pretty pumped about it... just sayin' (:

Sift Through the Travel.

2010-04-06T17:15:00.000-05:00

Sip brown addictive grains

melting into smooth milky comfort

release any burden ever thought of

and rejoice louder than roaring trains.

Take tightly the offering

to boldly receive a ticket to

the blue shades to be seen differently

through laughter and suffering.

Whether it is bicycle, bus, train, or plane

the companion is remembered

not the food or the hotel room.

In the countries those will remain.

A pack cannot fit what money cannot buy,

but the ink remembers how the garden smelled,

how the waiter spoke beyond comprehension,

and how all those bicycles passed us by.

Vines lushly curl around desires

to return defeating reasons of this world

and turning those grains, bitter and strong,

into a comforting taste that one acquires.

March 31 and April Fools day in Tarifa.

2010-04-04T15:05:00.000-05:00

March 31, 2010

We woke up around 9 and walked around a little to find a café for café con leche and breakfast. Around 11 we walked for an hour along the beach. The tide was so long. I describe it in this way because of the 200 to 300 yards of beach and shoreline was that massive. The tide came at least 100 yards and rolled back into the mar, ocean. It packed the sand with every swishing of the waves so walking on the sand was easy. We walked clear out to the very tip of Tarifa, which is almost a like a tear drop shap connected at the tip to the rest of the land. We weren’t able to actually stand on the very edge of the coast closest to Africa because it was part of the government’s private property, and it was closed off. Nonetheless it was incredible to see Africa’s silhouette across the crisp blue Mediterranean. The mountains in the distance tempted me even more to jump on a ferry and cross the border. We had decided earlier not to go to Morocco because of the corrupt government and with our small duo, clearly American, both with blonde hair, blue eyes, light skin, and a touristy camera, our entire aroma is a dangerous target, but knowing me, I would have risked the chance! I'm a happy camper to see my Jesus early! I can’t wait to go next March with Dad though. Its going to be such a blessing. I’m so excited for that trip!

We started walking back in the direction we'd came from again along the coast.. we watched a couple surfers, kite-surfers, people jogging- several with dogs, and many just enjoying the calm atmosphere of Tarifa's morning. The breeze was a bit chilly, but Tarifa is known to be the capital of wind surfers because of the excess quantity of wind passing through the Straight of Gibraltar. The windier the better for those practicing this challenging sport. Their kites are not just attached to a surf board, how I thought of wind surfing; rather, they are large kites that they hold on to letting the kites soar 100 feet in the air, and their board looks like a snow board with straps for their feet. They control the kite until they are ready and they make their way into the ocean and let the kite pull them through the waves. The immense strength and control the surfers have to guide them makes it look like a joy ride, but God knows that it is pure skill.

Honestly, the rest of the day is kind of a blur. We ate lunch and had the best mint green tea of my life! We tried to siesta afterwards on the beach, but 20 minutes laying down on that sand with the wind blowing, our bodies disappeared into the beach. We walked a little and took a nap back in our hotel room after we cleaned up from the dust-bowl-afternoon. We slept a little longer than we thought and headed out around 7:30 to eat dinner. We caught a few processionals of Semana Santa and after walking around for an hour and a half we found a restaurant. We ate. He went to watch the last half of the soccer game. I went back and went to bed.

The next day we left at 8:30am. The end. The beach was nice, but way too windy.

3.30 Gibraltar's family & monkeys

2010-04-03T18:47:00.000-05:00

Rock of Gibraltar- North Side

Loved the British signs.

8:30 wasn't a bad wake up call to catch a bus at 11 for Gibraltar from Algeciras. 30 minutes later we were walking across a landing strip for their military towards an enormous mountain made up of white, rock, brush, and caves. We had to pass through passport control. The "secure check" was us walking by the guards with the ID page of our passports open. They didn't even look at them. With a confirmed head nod of the guards, we were through. Walking through the town, the abrupt culture change from the Spanish lifestyle to the British signs, buildings, and language was apparent. They were speaking British English and all the signs weren't in Spanish for once. I was having a hard time going into stores asking for things in English. I kept forgetting and asking them in Castellano, which they understood. There was a few instances where I would talk in Spanish and the response would be “huh?” and I would have to repeat myself in English. The UK’s flag was flying all over the place along with Gibraltar’s flag with its crest and the European Union’s flag was the third to fly. It was so unusual to see this town. So incredible to see the diversity. Not only do you see Spanish people speaking proper English, but there were several immigrants from Morocco speaking Arabic, and several still speaking Spanish. Of course there were some tourists speaking German, but the people were not the entirety of this diverse town. To see the port in the ocean and not even a 100 yards beside the water to see a massive mountain is ideal for someone who loves the beach and the mountains. So amazing how God could make a piece of land with such breathtaking structure.

Looking for a place to have our daily coffee, we spotted a sign above our heads that said The Methodist Church of Gibraltar and another sign above it saying The Wesley House. This brought me back to Josh's family and all the people at the Wesley Foundation at Tech. My friends. Just to have a piece of home I made my way inside. We went up the stairs following this Spanish looking woman. I said hello and she asked if I was going to take a cup of tea or lunch in the cáfe. She spoke perfect English. She was a sweetheart. Her name was Peely, if thats how you spell it! She was Spanish herself, but her husband was from England. He is a pastor in Gibraltar and his recent project is launching another church on down the East coast of Spain not too far from Gibraltar. I told her all about the Hurst family. It was nice to be so welcomed. I'm not surprised though. We are family in the body and I felt so comfortable with them. At this point my sunburn had hits its peek rosy color and it didn't seem to phase them at all. I told them that I was embarrassed, but they told me not to worry and just to put some creme on it when I explore the Rock.

Me and Peely

you can really see the burn on my right arm.

there is a distinct line!

I ordered their special, pea soup that had potatoes, carrots, and German sausage bits in it. Greg ordered their other special, English breakfast with German whole-link sausages, mashed potatoes and gravy with a side of vegetables. We both had a cup of coffee (American size!) with this hot apple pie/cake with vanilla bean icecream. Greg also got hot lemon tea with his dessert. His was definitely a flavor from home. The entire meal was beyond delicious. We were asked to sign their guest book and also a petition for one of their projects helping the orphans in Morocco. Their sanctuary was a simple meeting place with chairs and a place for the band and a section on the side closed off with curtains for a prayer room. They were so kind to show us around and they also let us leave our bags there for the day so that we could take the cable car up Gibraltar's Rock and hike down it looking at everything.

I talked Greg into buying tickets taking the cable car up. I did not want to hike up that hour long windy hike so the compromise was to hike down it. We paid 16.50 euros total because we wanted to get into St Michael's Cave and the other historical landmarks that we probably would have had to pay extra anyway to get in to. The cable ride was maybe 3 minutes long. Completely worth it! With our package deal we got a head set telling us the history. I really appreciate history when its not shoved down my throat and I'm not asked to spit it all back up on an exam.

Gibraltar Ape

We started out on the trail and the very first thing I saw, besides the incredible view of the port and the town, were two monkeys just chilling on this concrete ledge. People were walking by one after the other taking pictures getting extremely close and they were just chilling. As long as you don't tamper with them and you don't touch them they could care less and are completely harmless. Greg didn't see one and walked right up to it to look over the ledge. He was less than a foot away from it and when he did notice I think he jumped like 2 feet. hahah they are kind of intimidating to be really close to. The ape didn't do anything except look at him. There was an instance where I was trying to take a close up of this one monkey and it was on a fence post and it looked like it was running to attack me but it was running past me to leap on to another fence and I screamed bloody murder turned to run and ran into another lady. haha. I quickly calmed down, but that was a weakness of Elise Peak right there!

We did see a guy that had just been bitten by a monkey.

There is a reason for these signs!

We walked all the way to the south end and looked out over the Straight of Gibraltar to see Africa's silhouette in the distance. We also got to see this canon that was enormous. There is only one other canon that size in the world! The canon had to be operated by 35 men and the blast was so tremendous that the townspeople were told to open their windows to avoid them from shattering.

Monkeys are literally everywhere! I loved them! Also, seagulls were a huge part of the Rock. They swarm the grassy areas looking for food. They make a horrible caw but they are so beautiful.

Kind of dark- St. Michael's Cave

My sunburn made this hike interesting. Because we were on a mountain and on the coast of the Straight it was really windy. The breeze was cold but it was sunny enough that hiking made me hot and sweaty. I wanted to take off my jacket but I didn't want to burn more and I was cold because of the wind but still had a burning sensation inside my humid rain jacket. The weirdest feeling ever. We hiked down to St. Michael's Cave. It was incredible and so big. I loved seeing how deep it was. But it doesn't hold a candle to Carl's Bad! GO DEIDRA! The legend has it that this cave is actually a secret passage way to Africa and that is how the apes came to be in Gibraltar, but no ones actually knows. There weren't any bats but there were several barred off sections that I could tell I could probably have climbed quite a ways in to. (Its probably good that I wasn't allowed to explore because I definitely wanted to!) They had also built a small stage which was really neat. They were playing soft music through a system and it was a cool experience to hear how it reverberated off the walls.

The Moorish Castle of Gibraltar

To get down the Rock, the fastest way was to climb down these steep narrow stone stairs. After walking down 4 long flights of them, my legs gave out and if it wasn't for the hand rail and my speed-lightning reactions I would have ate it, but thankfully I caught myself. We had to walk clear to the north end because the stairs stopped which led us to The Moorish Castle of Gibraltar. It was interesting to see how much they restored and preserved it. First built in 711 before it was rebuilt after much destruction.

Finally, we made it downtown. We found a hole in the wall café in an alley way off the main road. We both had a café con leche or I guess a cup of coffee with milk in a British accent. And we ate a coffee cake to go along with it. We enjoyed a good 45 minutes of writing postcards and reading before we headed back to the Methodist Church.

We got our bags and headed back through passport control to the bus station. It was easy to catch a bus all the way to Tarifa and it was super cheap, only 3:85 euros. I would say the day was an absolute success. Me encanta Gibraltar.

March 29th RRRRRRonda

2010-04-03T13:20:00.000-05:00

Ronda

After our second night in Málaga we took an early bus out to Ronda. First I have to share our embarrassing story for those who care for a sole chuckle. We set the alarm for 6:45am because the bus to Ronda left at 8:00am and the next one didn't leave until 10am. Wanted to make the most of the day so we decided the night before that we were going to leave early.

6:45am's jingle came on Greg's phone and of course he turned it off. We slept in for 45 minutes later. When we finally pried our eyes open Greg asked me, "what time is it?"

"7:30" I said closing my eyes again.

"If we get up and leave right now we can make it just in time," Greg proposed.

Not even 10 minutes later we had shoved every belonging into our backpacks, brushed our teeth, stripped our beds of the sheets we had to return and were scrambling downstairs. We grabbed a couple of muffins and raced out of the door. We had around 15 minutes to get there which is exactly how long the hostel website told us it would take on foot to get to the train station. They must've been running/ walking as fast as we were. My feet hurt so bad in my little TOMS shoes and one of the places where my sunburn hurt the most was the front of my armpits and shoulders, conveniently right where my backpack's straps sit. I was trying to keep up with Greg juggling our muffins, a jar of jelly, and my back pack. I hadn't taken a shower in 3 days more or less (don't judge me!) and I hadn't touched my hair since the beach the day before. I was looking rough walking funny as fast as I could holding all these things while trying to hold my backpack straps to save my skin the burning sensation!

Going straight down Heroe de Sostoa street we hit the train station, walked through it, around a corner, and finally to the bus station. Spain time means late time. They are always 5 to 10 minutes late because that is their unsaid custom. So we weren't too worried. As soon as we went to the ticket counter we were out of breath letting our Spanish flow out exactly what we needed. They said the bus leaves in an hour. We were in disbelief! We knew that we could probably still make the one at 8am! We kind of argued saying that we wanted a ticket for the 8 o'clock bus not for the 10 o'clock and he said that we missed it by an hour. We thought he was crazy because he kept pointing at his watch.

It finally dawned on Greg as he asked me "what time does your watch say?"

"7:58" I answered.

This was the "spring forward" day for Spain. The clocks were to be changed one hour ahead during our sleep. The time on my watch and Greg's phone has to be manually changed and of course we hadn't changed it yet. That morning we completely blanked even though we had talked about it the night before. After painfully rushing to the station we could have taken that hour to take a shower, eat properly and comfortably walk to the station. It was actually 9:00. As I walked to the restroom these two men laughed hysterically at my red-lobster body. I was wearing shorts and a tank top and although they think I can't understand their Spanish gossip I understood every word! I went to the bathroom and gave myself to the best of my ability a sink bath fully clothed washing my face, arms, etc... These ladies stared at my face and arms for a good bit. Finally, I just laughed and said, "ay me duele mi cuerpo y mi cara!" (Ah! my body and my face hurts!) That broke the ice and they asked if I had sun tan lotion or aloevera. They talked to me for a little longer while I tried to make my hair look less like a hobo's.

The 10 o'clock bus left with us in it. Ronda was only an hour away and it only cost us 4 euros. Carrie Thornton had told me about this beautiful pueblo, little town, but I didn't take her full word for it until I saw it for myself. The depth underneath bridge is breathtaking. The beauty of the canyon exceeded every expectation I had. We walked across one of the famous bridges, Puente Nueve, new bridge, which apparently is the newest. We unfortunately didn't make time to see Puente Romano or Puente Viejo, but I blame it on the rain. As we explored the New Bridge and the hiking trails around it the weather was perfect! From walking from the side of the bridge, over it, and on the other side, there was never a moment when we weren't peaking over the tall ledge to get a bird's eye view of the pais, country side.

The Bridge and the left hand side of the old town

The right hand side and a little bit of where we hiked.

We started down the stone pathway, around and down until we got into the tiny dirt paths that led closer to the bridge's waterfall. It was a blast actually getting to hike regardless of the wrong choice of shoes I had to wear. I forget how much I enjoy outdoorsy activities. It was great to climb into several caves and look at how a city was built on top of an ancient city's water system that had been dried out. The Moorish aqueduct had several tunnels where the openings were found in these caves and along the cliff's side close to the waterfall. You know you are about to get some major cardio work out when it takes a good hour to climb down the mountain side and you are about to reverse and retract going upwards. The first part of the returning hike wasn't bad because it was mainly level gradually going up on the mountain side, but when that stone path began I about died. I could tell that I had been studying abroad and heavily slacking on exercising daily. The sad part was, I was taking it easy ascending, but my lungs could have cared less as I was sucking in the fresh mountain air.

Me with the Puerte Nuevo

El Puerte Nuevo and the waterfall

This is a view from beside the bridge looking at the houses above the cliff and river.

We splurged a little and ate a great meal close to the cliff side eating ravioli, olives, bread, and fried eggplant with honey. To enjoy the rest of the day we spent an hour waiting on the rain to die down as it had started after we ate. We headed to Algeceras, a dirty port town close to La Linea which is where we wanted to go the next day in order to get to Gibraltar. Our hostel was super sketchy and not clean enough to take a shower barefoot, but it was cheap and a came, bed, to sleep in. I was thankful.

March 28th Toasted.

2010-04-03T09:02:00.000-05:00

Málaga's beach

This is 2 days after my burn

This picture doesn't portray how much it burned! (:

in the Alcazaba

Kind of the outer wall of the Alcazaba

The day of burnt regret!

We woke up around 8:30 and got some toast with jelly, coffee, and muffins before we set out to catch some sun.

Before the sun came up we visited the Alcazaba de Málaga which is basically ruins from Muslims rulers. The buildings dated back to the eleventh century and were made of limestone. So its incredible that they haven't fully crumbled and are still in tact. They did a great job of preserving them. The Alcazaba was a lot bigger than it looks. You are able to continuously climb up different sets of stairs on to building that lead up the mountain to different parts of the Alcazaba. The view was incredible. Because it was one of the higher points in the city, we were able to see most of the city, the port and beaches along with the Mediterranean. Plus we got a great discount for being students, it was only 60 centimos to get in.

On our way to finding the beach, Greg and I got into the stupidest argument ever about using "derecho" (straight) or "directo" (also meaning straight) and in Mexico they don't use "derecho." Greg refused to acknowledge it as an actual word because it is so close to "derecha," meaning right. We both blew out of proportion. He slowed his pace making my pace faster as to distance ourselves. We lost each other crossing the street. I spent the afternoon nuzzled in the warm sand soaking in the sun. I dressed for no more than an hour to get a showarma for lunch. I walked for another hour along the coast looking for Greg, but with no luck I settled down again. After 30 minutes Greg found me and sat next to me. We laid there for a few more hours letting the last of the sun pour over our skin.

If it was possible to grab and "catch" some of sun and rub it all over my body - I did just that with an overdose. Thinking it was cool enough outside- I didn't even think I would get a tan much less fried-to-a-crisp beyond bacon's capability. To add to my new sizzling tone color - I'd worn my shades all day long to make this bacon-fried body resemble a red Indian raccoon with beach-bum blonde hair.

-quite horrendous

The rest of the day was completely lax. We went back to the teteria for some tea and then to Corte Inglis for some food before we headed back to the hostel.

March 27th Málaga

2010-04-02T14:33:00.000-05:00

The Nazarenos

The Paso, The Float

Outside the Picasso Museum

No pictures allowed inside

MALAGUETA!!! Beautiful beach

It was nice to wake up around 9am, eat the same ole breakfast , frosted corn flakes, Spanish style, chat with my house mamá and my roomie before getting ready. I packed up, dressed, and walked down Recaredo street to meet Greg at Rodilla, a sandwich/ coffee café with free wifi (they pronounce it wee fee). Greg used the internet and by 10:40 we were walking to the train station.

The train took off by 11:10. I was so excited to be on a Spanish beach with the sun actually shining. The trip wasn't long, but it did take longer than expected. I told the hostel we would check in around 2, but we were only 20 minutes late arriving. The hostel was called Malaga Backpackers. Fitting I'd say. It was basically owned and operated by a few Spaniards in their late twenties. It looked like a bachelor pad with bright painted walls in blues, lime green and even purple and orange. That was the extent of the decoration. The living area had 4 or 5 couches all covered with African printed blankets. There was a big screen tv and the dining area had a couple tables with chairs at each. The rule: clean your own dishes. It felt like we were staying at a friend's house that wasn't catering or accommodating to us. Bit thats exactly what a hostel is. Its a bed for cheap- eleven euros was a steal.

We threw what little luggage we brought in our room and made a v-line from the hostel to the beach. We hit the port first. We got the chance to see these massive authentic antique ships. One had recently sailed from Cádiz to Málaga. Finally walking around the border we found a beautiful beach called Malagueta. We laid in the sun for two and a half hours getting a slight tan before the buildings covered the setting sun.

Walking up and down the streets in Spain during Semana Santa, holy week, is a challenge. The Spaniards and thousands of visitors crowd the streets to see parades take place always leading with a someone holding a cross followed by nazarenos clothed in tunics with masks and hoods (they look like the KKK) pointed to a tip. Many are holding candles or staffs depending on their The men holding the float are called costaleros. They have to have enormous strength in order to carry the main attraction, the floats that weigh up to 2000 kg's which is around 4400 pounds! The pasos, floats, are carried by 40 men and each one bears around 110 pounds for around 8 hours. They have cushions so that the wood doesn't rub directly on them, and they get to rest several times throughout the procession. The The climax of the procession is when the float passes in and out of the cathedral or respective church. The band that accompanies this parade creates the rhythm of the pace and order. The trumpets lead the melody. It is a beautiful experience. Anyone witnessing this can't help but be moved. I was able to see many of these parades throughout the week.

We passed on going from the beach to Picasso's museum. We talked to a man who was watching for his son who one of the men carrying the float. He was so proud! The museum was incredible. Pablo Picasso's home town was Málaga and I have a much greater appreciation for this artist walking through his paintings chronologically seeing the different phases he went through. Its times like this where I wish I could trade places with either Brittany Busch or Katie Nelson and let them enjoy this opportunity I was blessed to have. My favorite was Tres Palomas, but I'm not sure if it was by Picasso or not. It was beautiful and definitely inspired from Picasso's style.

Right outside the museum, a teteria, tea shop, was calling my name. We sat down and shared a pot of hot red tea and each ordered a turkish pastry to complement our tea perfectly. It was a perfect ending to a traveling day having accomplished so much while doing it all in a calm relaxing manner. My kind of vaca.

March 18, 19, and 20

2010-04-02T10:38:00.000-05:00

The Castle of Segovia

The Royal Palace of Madrid

Inside the Royal Palace of Madrid

This is the dining room.

18th-

The day after we arrived in Madrid and settled into our condo-like hotel rooms with our little kitchens, we headed to Segovia with the school care-a-van. I slept the entire way there, around 2 hours. The bus took us up into the mountains to visit this charming little town. The air was icy with sprits of freezing rain. We walked up the hill to the Spanish Bourbon Castle. It was beautiful! I snuck a few pictures. My favorite part was the history that Dr. Inglis told us about the King and Queens. How they would use the restroom and those Kings and Queens who actually loved each other rather than letting their marriage be arranged and uncomfortable. I loved hearing about the secret hallways the servants used to get around the palace. The servants would cook food and roll their cart all the way across the enormous palace so that the soup would be steaming hot when they left the kitchen and when they got to the dining room it would be ice cold. The kings never knew that soup was supposed to be hot. So interesting.

Then, by bus, they took us into town. The Segovian aqueduct is enormous! It was mesmerizing seeing the massive stone arches. I really just hung out with a big group and walked around the aqueduct and the town for a couple hours. We were back on the bus by 6 and rarin' to get back to Madrid.

19th-

Going to bed at 2:30am is great in the moment, but SUCKS when you have to be up by 7:30am. Boo.

I went to the Prado and spent a good two and a half hours looking at famous talented masterpieces of unhappy people. Some were naked. Some were fat, short, pretty, skinny, hideous, but all wearing a serious look or frown on their face. I understand that they had to stand there forever while they painted their body, but I mean lets get some laughter radiation through oil paint once in a while! After Goya and comparing his light and dark stages of his paintings, I peaced out of there. I headed with Carrie Thornton and her sister and mom to the Palacio Real de Madrid (The Royal Palace of Madrid).

It took us a good 45 minutes walk just because we took the long way, but that 45 minutes felt like forever with the sole of my TOMS soaking with rain sharing an paragua, umbrella, with Carrie. By the time we did find out way to this beautiful concrete palace we found out the great news; It was Spain's Fathers Day and King was in town so the Palace closed at 2. There was no way we would get through the line and see the entire Palace before we were booted out. We decided to add that to the agenda the next day.

20th-
Greg and I went to Starbucks to grab a quick breakfast and coffee and we headed out to Monet's museum. We planned out our timing perfect because 30 minutes before the museum opened up the line was already a block long and we were 7th in line. The museum was unbelievable. It has to be my favorite out of the Lourve, Prado, and Picasso's museum. The impressionist paintings had me staring mesmerized for long periods of time. I'm usually the one to respectfully look at a painting long enough to appreciate it, but never the one to stand in front of a painting paralyzed and unwilling to look away. Monet work was that moving. We went to both of his museums to see his water lilies series and garden series. What a fantastic artist.

We spent the entire afternoon enjoying the museums and then we decided to hit up the Royal Palace once again. The Palace was enormous and so captivating. I couldn't help but compare it to the Versailles Palace in France. Regardless of the luxury of decorating this massive unit someone calls home, The Royal Palace of Madrid couldn't touch the beauty of Versailles. Plus, the tour only included maybe 30 percent of the palace. This is where I had unimaginable connections where I could explore the Palace in all its odds and inns, secret passage ways, and basements.

The rest of the afternoon is all a blur. I took a nap. Had an amazing quiet time and just enjoyed hanging out with some of the other students. I went shopping and cooked for Greg and Carrie in our hotel room.

March 17th Small Small World.

2010-03-19T12:47:00.000-05:00

She's the one squatting on the far right. What a sweetie.

Okay this is a crazy one.

We met early on the 17th to go to mass in the massive Cathedral in Toledo. We walked through the cold dark main corridor that was at the moment closed to the public. The doors opened for those who were attending the mass. We opened the the thick wooden doors that had stained glass above the entrance. This led to another sanctuary where 8 monks were chanting. They handed us little booklets that read on the left hand side the chant in Latin and then on the right hand side it was translated in Spanish. There were about 70 pages and we definitely went through all of them through out the 50 minutes we were there. I absolutely loved it. They sort of sang the chant and their deep voices reverberated off the high ceilings. I wish I had a picture to describe it better, but the altar had red carpet with a table, but the backdrop is what was so interesting. There were around 12 large paintings molded into each other to bring the top to a point with a picture of Jesus on the day of crucifixion. The colors were vibrant with gold paint on every picture. The walls were gaudy as the ceiling had a very detailed design.

After the Latin mass, we went shopping for a little bit. Then this is were you just wont believe it. Let me prep the story a little bit- I hadn't caved to McDonalds or any other American fast food restaurant until this day. Because my birthday wasn't celebrated very much, Gregabus offered to buy me Micky D's. Round one: large fry, 9 chicken nuggets, and a burger with a medium orange soda. Round two: Bacon cheeseburger, large fry, and a small coke all split between Greg and I. Ha- besides the American fix (which later made both of us feel like poo) there was a group of around 6 or 7 girls all around the age of 10 or 11. When they finished up their meal and walked by us I asked their director where they were from because their perfect English was apparent. She said, "why none other than Amarillo, Texas!" Greg and I just laughed and told her that he was from Plainview and that I was from Perryton. While I was talking to the lady about her brother being from Perryton, a little girl was talking to Greg. She told him she had moved from Perryton this last winter break. I turned around and immediately recognized her. I asked who her mom was and you'll never guess. I was her mom's flower girl in her wedding. The little girl grew up in my church and I can remember when she was born. Wow, do I feel old. But isn't it funny to reaffirm how small this world really is?