Why am I Hot in February?

Aaah, Tucson.  

I'm sitting next to an open door in short sleeves, drinking an iced latte and enjoying free internet.  This is the life.

I left the Canyon on Monday morning and stopped in Bend on the way out to see my favorite 6'4" man in the world, Dan Creasey.  We had breakfast at West Side Bakery, one of my favorite local Bend joints.  It was fun to be back in Bend, our beautiful "hometown" while out in the Canyon.  And it was even more fun to see Dan.  

I hopped on the road and spent the rest of the day driving through Southern Oregon and down through Central California.  I took I-5 the entire way down which is not the beach route, but is beautiful none the less.  I just love watching the scenery change from mountains and forests to farmland to the Hollywood hills.  It's so beautiful. 

I ended up stopping in Sacramento for the night just because I could and I was really enjoying the alone time.  I'm realizing that I was desperate for some time to just wander on my own.  The Canyon has my heart, New York was fabulous, and I'm excited for Kansas City.  But it had been a long time since I had an open road and time on my hands and it was exactly what I needed.  

By the time I got to Sacramento I was feeling more at peace than I have been in a long time.  I love people, but at heart I'm an introvert.  I find energy and renewal in being alone.  I love to wander and I do my best thinking when jamming in the car.  So really, a road trip should be mandatory for me every year or so.  

I woke up Tuesday morning and got the rest of the way into LA.  I spent the afternoon and evening with Hannah, who is another person that I dearly love.  Hannah was on Summer Staff my first session this past summer and quickly became one of my favorite people ever.  She has the rare ability to root herself deeply into the lives of people around her.  She's genuine and honest and sincerely seeks to know you.  I've found a kindred spirit in her even though we seem like very different people on the surface.

We took a walk on the beach in Santa Monica and saw the famous pier.  I loved being on the beach.  The beach is something that I never really long for, seeing as I grew up in the middle of the country.  But some kind of combo of the smell and the sound of the waves and the feel of the breeze of the water creates the most calming effect.  It's a great place to contemplate the world.

I woke up the next morning and headed due East for Tucson and Kristen.  I've never been to the Southwest, so I was excited to make my way here and see the desert in all its glory.  It was a breathtakingly beautiful drive out of LA (and the crazy traffic!) all the way here.  The weather is literally 80 degrees which I'm loving after months of freezing in New York.  It feels like summer which triggers some kind of chemical mood enhancement.

Time with Kristen has been wonderful and it has been so great over the past week catching up on intern gossip and seeing/hearing about how everyone is doing.  I was not great at keeping in touch while I was in New York (surprise, surprise) but I've truly missed everyone.

All in all, this road trip has been exactly what I needed.  I'm still a little freaked out at the prospect of a job hunt and being back in MO, but I feel genuine peace about where I'm at and what I'm doing.  I got to properly say goodbye to the Canyon and the world I created there, I was reminded of all the people that I love and that love me.  I feel complete freedom and independence.  I love this phase of life.  What comes next?  Who knows.

I'm headed out tomorrow and will be back in MO in a couple of days!  

Much Love.

Road Trip Diary 2

I Was Just in Seattle Too! (The Bachelor, Ep. 5)

That's right.  The bachelor blog is coming at you from Sacramento, CA.  I'm at a Super 8 and I am excited about watching Jason go back to Seattle with the 5 women left.  And there's more of his super cute son, Ty!!!  I'm pumped!

I missed last week's episode and it looks like it was rather dramatic.  He didn't give out one of the roses, leaving Melissa, Molly, Stephanie, Naomi and Jillian for this week.

They're all excited to go to Seattle because "one of them will be moving there."  The reunion between Ty and Jason is the sweetest thing ever and also sets a Guinness record for the most women across the US simultaneously saying "aaawww."

The women arrive and Melissa gets the first one on one date.  Jason recaps what they're going to do on the date, saying things like "then I've got a helicopter waiting to take us over Seattle."  I seriously doubt Jason planned and paid for a helicopter.  I think maybe he should say "then the producers have a helicopter waiting for us."

Ty is pouty as Jason is getting ready, so Jason decides to stay home and asks Melissa to come over instead.  She is oddly not too excited, although all the other girls are extremely jealous as Ty is clearly the key to winning this thing.  And really, who cares about a guy who takes you on a helicopter?  Any woman would rather have the guy who would cancel a helicopter because his kid misses him.

Melissa gets to Jason's house which is awesome.  It's a classic Seattle house, on a dock, super cute.  She doesn't get to meet Ty, but she does get to peak in at him.  That's a little weird and she's clearly not ready for kids, but likes to pretend like she is.  

Jillian, Molly and Stephanie get the group date which starts with a boat around Seattle.  Stephanie's wearing a sparkly shirt with a fuzzy vest over it.  I keep wanting to like her, but then she wears stuff like that.  She the only one who wasn't whining earlier when Melissa got to go to Jason's house and is clearly the most mature, but she's just a little bit of a weirdo.  They continue to bond over the kids during a little bit of alone time.  

And Jillian and Molly continue to whine about how much they hate it when he pays attention to other girls.  Um, maybe someone should re-explain the concept of the show to them.

After the whining, they head over to a radio station where Jason gets interviewed while the women watch through soundproof glass and Melissa and Naomi listen at home.  He then rudely answers a bunch of questions about the ladies such as which date has been the most fun and who's the best kisser.  Awkward.  Then they blindfold Jason and have the women kiss him to see if he can tell who is who.  More awkward.  Stephanie's the only one who doesn't get wildly inappropriate with the kissing.  More points for Stephanie, although she's definitely not going to win now.  That's just how it goes.

Side note:  I love the show What Would You Do where they do things like put a baby alone in a car and see if anyone will attempt to do anything about it.  I like watching it and shouting about how horrible people are while secretly knowing I would be one of the people who walked by without saying anything.  

Jason continues to make out with everyone (except Stephanie)  as he spends some alone time with Jillian and Molly on the group date.  I can't figure out why, but I don't like Molly.  I'll pin point it, don't worry.

Naomi got the last one on one date which included a sea plane tour of Seattle.  This was so she could decide if she wants to live there.  When deciding where I want to live, I insist on an aerial view.  How else can you decide? They finish off the date with rock climbing and cuddling.  Sure.

They could really make this show an hour.  I could do without all the behind the scenes talking that all the girls do.

Just so everyone knows, every time he kisses one of the girls I make fake puking noises akin to the ones Chunk makes in Goonies.  Even when I'm by myself.  I would never kiss someone on TV.  

Chris comes to Jason's house so that they can talk about how hard the decision is.  Unfortunately, Jason doesn't have a weird room where the girls are enshrined for him to stare at and deliberate over whom he loves...  I'm glad we ditched the mansion.  It's too creepy.

Jason continues his questionable wardrobe choices at the rose ceremony with a plaid tie over a striped shirt.  

He takes Naomi out of the room at the rose ceremony and the other girls freak out.  Naomi sells herself in an attempt to stay in game and loses a little of her dignity in the process.  

Jason hands out the first 3 roses to Jillian, Melissa and Molly.  He gives the last rose to Naomi and then cries as he gives a little speech about how awesome Stephanie is.  The other girls fake cry in an attempt to show their compassion.  

I guess it had to happen.  Stephanie leaves with the most grace I've seen yet and, with that, won me over.  Good work Stephanie!  You made the women of America proud!  (Now stop wearing scarves that look like boas and we can be besties!)

Next week, hometown dates.  It's getting serious people!