FINALLY

I finally got internet at my apt 2 days ago so now I will actually post all the journal stuff I wrote during my trip:

January 30 - Left Norwich around 9:15 (110,057 miles on the old Camry). Got to Mercersburg at 2 and couldn't find anyone cause it was long winter weekend. Went to the Bergin Center and saw Ms. Mufson, then to the health center and visited with Mrs. Galey. Stopped at Romeo's and got cheese fries then checked back for the Thorne's who were home! Ended up hanging out with them for an hour and a half - I forgot how entertaining and ridiculous Mr. Thorne is! Drove to Melissa's at 5:15 and got there around 6:45. Had dinner with her and Don after a Nina's appetizer, then hung out until Aaron and Andy got home. Played Rock Band with Aaron for a little while then passed out. [376 miles]

January 31 - Went into Baltimore today. Don dropped me off at the aquarium a little after noon. Tickets were $25 so I was expecting it to be as good as I remembered. Unfortunately it did not live up to my high standards. Afterward I walked around the harbor, got lunch at Panera and sat in Barnes & Noble and wrote 12 postcards. For dinner, Melissa, Don and I went to G&M for crab cakes. They were the best I have ever had BY FAR. If anyone gets a chance to go there, it's near the airport and so worth it. As I was trying to sleep, I got a random drunk dial from one of my best friends from Mercersburg, Erica. I hadn't spoken to her in over 2 years so that was a pleasant surprise, plus she is planning on visiting our friend Molly who lives in Olympia too, so hopefully I'll be seeing her soon.

February 1 - The drive down to Chapel Hill was pretty uneventful. Brodie and I were going to meet up for lunch in DC, but he got "Jake Hamlin drunk" and didn't leave PA until I was already past DC so that didn't happen. I got into Chapel Hill after 4 and then Paul took me on a tour of the UNC campus. We went over to Faustine's to watch the Superbowl and new Office episode and didn't get back until 11:30ish. I took a sleeping pill and passed out basically immediately. [302 miles]

February 2 - Left Paul's around 9 and stopped north of Atlanta for gas. I was thrilled they had diet Code Red Mountain Dew so I bought 3 bottles. A random car was stopped where I-75 and 85 split so that was a little hazardous, but I made it out okay, along with a car with no lights through the rain in Alabama that I couldn't see and barely avoided hitting. It rained all through Georgia and while I was on 85 in Alabama, but stopped once I got on 10. I got into Baton Rouge a little after 9 with the time change. Jess and I hung out for a few hours before I became non-functional and had to sleep. [887 miles]

February 3 - Drove into New Orleans at 9:30 but hit roadwork for 12 miles so I didn't get there until 11:30. I walked by the Mississippi River, then down Decatur Street, over to Bourbon. I had gumbo and a blackened shrimp po'boy for lunch and then got a Hurricane. I was buzzed after that so I walked around for awhile to sober up. I stopped back at the Mississippi River and wrote a few postcards then headed back to Baton Rouge. Jess and I went out for sushi with her roommate Emily and friend Lindsay. We tried gator sushi which I really liked, along with a lava roll which was amazing.

February 4 - Left Baton Rouge a little before 9. The GPS route took me on US/State highways through Louisiana. I got so sick of driving on them, the second I saw an interstate sign I went for it and added 30 minutes on to the GPS ETA. Dallas was the only non-desert/flatland area I saw which was a nice break. I got to Linsey's at 8:30 and had dinner and hung out for awhile before bed. [788 miles]

February 5 - Linsey had to work all day so I hung out around her apartment, working out, reading, doing laundry, and bought food to make us dinner (BBQ chicken, mashed red potatoes, and 3-bean salad). Afterward we baked a cake and finished half of it that night, before and after going to a local bar. I hit on a few random guys with some ridiculous lines (obviously including "is it true what they say? is everything really bigger in Texas?"). Linsey and her 2 guy friends were clearly entertained by the shenanigans.

February 6 - Linsey had the day off so we hung out and were lazy all day. We went out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant with her work friend, Mindy. Then the 3 of us went to see He's Just Not That Into You which was really funny.

February 7 - We got up to work out before leaving, and left around 10:15. The GPS route was going to take us straight into Colorado without going through the Oklahoma panhandle, so I had to take a different route to go through Kansas as well - which added an hour and 40 minutes to the trip! The back roads from Kansas into Colorado didn't have a welcome sign, but I could tell when we switched states because we went from a paved road to a dirt one! It was ridiculous and we didn't drive on an interstate at all - but the mountains once we got here were beautiful! We got here at 7, went out for dinner and drinks with Amanda and Steve, and got a good night sleep for skiing. [545 miles]

February 8 - Went for breakfast before hitting the slopes around 10:30. The 4 of us went, but after the first run Amanda chached out. Steve, Linsey, and I stayed out until the lifts closed at 4. Overall it was a lot of fun, but my feet and ankles get so sore. Amanda made us Mexican chicken and potatoes for dinner which was delicious, and I made strawberry margaritas. We sat around and watched Season 1 of Greek which I am now totally addicted to.

February 9 - Linsey went skiing but I wasn't in the mood to go and spend another $140, even after Linsey offered to pay. Some days I just feel like relaxing! Amanda and I went to lunch at this soup shop that made me think maybe I should open that sort of business and make it really environmentally conscious with corn plastic containers and local produce, etc. I managed to watch 8 more episodes of Greek before going out to dinner for all-you-can-eat ribs. We got back around 9 and I went to bed soon after.

February 10 - Got up at 6 to drive Linsey to the Denver airport. Dropped her off at 8:15 and started my trek to Washington. I drove in Wyoming for 5 hours, but at least it was scenic. It took me awhile to realize the reason I thought everything looked so cool was because there are NO trees on the mountains. I got pulled over in Twin Falls Idaho for going 83 in a 75 but he let me off thankfully. I made it to Boise Idaho and spent the night at Motel 6 where I also enjoyed $3 wireless internet and watched more Greek! [930 miles]

February 11 - Left the hotel at 11:15 and drove for 7 hours without stopping. After so long a trip, I just wanted to be there already! I got dinner in Southern Washington then drove less than an hour to my cousin Jay's apt. He's at army training in California so I stayed with his roommate who I'd never met before but he was a nice kid. [528 miles - 4535 miles TOTAL]

February 12 - Went into Seattle to do touristy things. Went up the Space Needle twice (day and night views) and to Pike's Place. Very cool, but I wish I went earlier when it was busy so I could get the full effect. Went out for drinks in downtown Olympia with Molly but was ready to pass out at 11 and went home.

February 13 - Drove to the Pacific Ocean! I parked in a lot a few hundred feet from the beach and had to walk down a random path to get to the water. It was kinda creepy so I just took a couple quick pictures and headed back to my car before I got murdered and thrown in the ocean (I've watched too many horror movies...)

February 14 - Moved into my apt! Sleeping on an air mattress and watching movies on a body pillow couch I crafted. Went over to Molly's for a Valentine's Day party but came home early cause I was exhausted from moving.

More stories from the West Coast soon....