Venezia

Hello friends and family! I had planned to update you along the way in (relative) real time, however, our internet connections have not been so great. We left Venice this morning for Monza and the Italian Grand Prix qualifying. We had a great time in Venice making sure to take in the top attractions as well as making sure we took some small "roads" as well. Strange to be in a city with no cars... although welcome! :) Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip so far.. sorry there are so many :)

Chapin

Gary and I were able to get away for a few days, so we headed down to South Carolina where we got to spend some time with both of our families.  We only had a few days, but we stayed a couple at Gary's house where we spent some much needed time soaking in the rays by the pool. We had a very relaxing time, laid back with no official plans. Hailey and Peyton, our niece and nephew kept us on our toes, we had so much fun with them! They are so sweet and loving! We went to the indoor shooting range with Gary's dad and shot off some hand gun rounds.... they did a little better than I.

We spent the last couple days at my house. Christina and Tom were in town with Landrie, my new niece who I have not blogged about before... she must have been born during one of my many blog dry spells. They are very happy and Landrie is much bigger than I remember her being only a few months ago when I first saw her in Colorado. Before you know it she will be heading off the Clemson to live in Lever!! :) We also got to see many close family friends as well as my Aunt Mary and cousin Lauren from Indianapolis. At my house we had a lot of rain, but on our last day we were able to go on the lake before heading home.

I know it is a lot of pictures, but pictures says 1,000 words... and I just don't have that much time. Love to all who read my blog!

The Postcard Killers....

I've finished another book. :) I've had this one in my bedside table a while, but some others came along that I had to read first. The Postcard Killers by James Patterson was a great summer book about mysterious murders throughout Europe. James Patterson is one of my favorite authors and is obviously best known for his murder mystery thrillers (but writes a great love story too), and this book fits right in. Although I read most of it on a plane, it would be a great beach book for anyone heading in that direction! His writing is very detailed though, so if bloody murders isn't your thing you might not like it.

Crested Butte, CO

What a journey! I have recently returned from Colorado, a trip which I will not soon forget. It started off on a clear blue sky day, it couldn't have worked out more perfectly. Gary dropped me off at the airport before heading to his class only a few minutes away. I made it through TSA without a hitch, found my gate, fired up the iPod, and awaited what I was certain to be a great flight..... Well ladies and gentleman this is not the end of the story! Soon after taking a seat at my gate, the flight was announced to be delayed. Ok ok, only by 45 minutes. However then the flight was cancelled, CANCELLED?!?!? How can this be? Weather you say? What weather, the skies are clear blue here? A quick call to CO indicates skies are also blue there. huh? Where is this weather?

I never did find out. I was in MD until 1:30 pm the next day. Ok, so I call Gary, he picks me back up, we go to BWW wing night. Then it hits me, I have no one to take me to the airport tomorrow. Gary will be at work because this flight is in the middle of the day, not in the evening. And my friends who were available to take me yesterday are also at work today. hmmmm. Well I can cut off my arm and leave it at the airport parking lot, take a taxi, or (start jaws theme song) ride the DC Metro! Metro is looking like my best (cheapest) option. So, the next day, I drive to the metro station park, get my rail pass, and hop on a train which will surely take my life. Aside from the feeling this rail was put together like a traveling fair roller coaster, it was a relatively comfortable ride. I had to change trains midway through, but eventually I got to the airport! phew, barely got away with my life there. Next, I again get through TSA without a hitch, get to my gate, fire up the iPod, and wait for my plane. There are about a gazillion teeny boppers also waiting, are they really going to be on my plane? Yes, yes they are!

Flight takes off with no problems, arrives in Denver where I arrange for a shuttle to take me into the city to meet my sister. I ride with about 6 middle aged women discussing their recent reads, things like oh I don't know Fifty Shades of Gray, and I'm wondering if my life could get any better, and it did, my iPod wasn't out of battery... better crank up the volume! FINALLY, Amanda, my saving grace! I'm dropped off at the front door of my hotel! I've made it!!! We stayed at Hotel Monaco which was beautiful and right in all the action of the city!

We walk around meeting all the homeless people and came across one particularly wonderful one, who was actually trying to make his life better and not just beg for beer money. He buys a paper called the Voice for $0.50 each and then sells them for $2. The paper has an article about his life as well as things going on in the community, etc. Way to go dude! Now that is something I will give money for! Not a few minutes after that we had a long haired, trench coat wearing, most likely packin' guy ask us if we need weed, no sir we don't. Well do you want to smoke some weed?, no sir we don't. Ok. And not five minutes after that a tie die, dred lock man asks if us pretty ladies would like to adopt a dirty hippie... haha, it just so happened we were in the market to adopt a dirty hippie.... no, no mom we didn't! We finally end our travels around the city at a pub for a beer and the US vs. Barcelona international friendly. Perfect! Insert a rickshaw ride and dinner with Matt our cousin and we were off to bed.

The next day brings pizza and a bus ride! So over the river and through the woods to Crested Butte we go. We get on the bus and it is 5 hrs of bliss through the beautiful mountains of Colorado with a side of nausea! The first few hours were ok, but after all I had been through already, those last few hours lasted a lifetime!

But it was all worth it, because at the end of that worthless first car ride to the airport, the death defying ride on DC metro, the teeny bopper plane ride, the Fifty Shades of Gray shuttle bus, the rickshaw, and the 5 hour nauseous bus ride I got to hold the most precious baby girl this world has to offer. Little miss Landrie Mae, my most prized Goddaughter! What a beauty!! Crested Butte is a wonderful place. Mountains, rivers, snow capped peaks, white water rafting, historic downtown shops and restaurants!

I had a wonderful trip with my family. The only thing missing was Unky Nicky, who was there in spirit!!

So, put all that in reverse for the trek home and you have a full itinerary! :)