Vacation

So, as most of you know, when Hunny came home, I went to Alabama to visit my family. The flight from California was my first time flying solo and it was nerve wracking but over all went very well and I felt much more confident. When I arrived in Atlanta my parents were there to pick me up and it was so awesome seeing them in person for the first time in a year and a half!! It was nice coming home and visiting so many friends and relaxing. Not to mention the much 'needed' shopping. :) I was able to visit my family for about two weeks before my brother and I drove 10 hours to visit my very prego sister. It was an interesting ride since we hadn't ever spent much time together and didn't really know each other anymore so it was a grand time talking and enjoying one another's company.

We made it in to Prego's at midnight or so and stayed up a while cuttin' up. The best memories are made late at night when everyone is too tired to care [so loopy with exhaustion]. Getting to see little kids after a long time is the most rewarding because they grow SO fast that there is a big difference. My nieces, though looked the same, were just bigger. It was especially fun seeing my nephew who was only 8 days old when I saw him last. He was a hoot getting to know as he was already a very shy little one, and this crazy new woman just shows up.

Besides just visiting, I came to the states to be there for Prego before, during, and after the baby was born to help and support. I was there with her from beginning to end of labor. We all went to the hospital and I got to be there the WHOLE time. I was nervous at first at seeing everything, making me possibly change my mind about the whole having babies thing. But being there for such a beautiful process only made me more excited about having one of my own. Yes, the circumstances were not the best and I got very fired up at the rude doctor, but seeing the birth of my newest niece and the immediate love, care, and concern for her was touching. Seeing the new baby period, was darling. It was scary seeing the head come out blue and motionless with the cord wrapped around her THREE times, but she was okay and after turning all blue then purple, made it to a normal color and is doing fine. Seeing new life turns your heart soft. I was fighting off tears as I watched the new baby. Such pure love and innocence. It is truly impossible to put into words the feelings felt during that amazing opportunity.

I stayed the second night at the hospital with Not-no-mo-prego and we enjoyed late night snacking, talking, and the olympics. I also saw why she would be SO exhausted after getting home from the hospital. Someone goes in interrupts every 20 mins!! Back home Baby and Mama did well. The children took to her immediately. I was only able to stay a few more days before going down to visit my other sister in Orlando before flying back to Korea.

Since I only planned on being there for a day, we wanted to make the most of it. When asked what I wanted to do, I mentioned she could show me some drawing tips, paint each other's nails. She had a theme park in mind. "Hello, we're in ORLANDO!" In that case... HARRY POTTER LAND!!!!!! The next day we totally went and hit up Universal Studios and Hogsmeade! We rode all the Harry Potter rides as well as a few others including the Hulk and Spiderman. We drank Butterbeer and I got a wand from Olivanders! Of course the lines were long but that gave us the opportunity to talk with one another. I learned a lot about my sister. I am the youngest of 5 and felt pretty much like an only child through middle school and on. All my siblings moved away quickly, save Prego who was there forever and why we are so close. I never lived with my eldest brother, Orlando moved before I was in school, Prego was around and my next brother, 8 years older then me,  joined the Marines soon out of high school. It was a pleasant vacation in that I was able to see ALL of my siblings within a week, something that has NEVER happened before. All in all I had a wonderful time in the states and am so blessed to have been able to go.

Just do it!

Running makes you feel good; Fact!

I don't buy Nike but I have always been a fan of their slogan, "Just Do It!"

I needed something to do this afternoon because I had spent all moring leisurely working on projects around the house. I needed a break of scenery and some activity. I thought about going for a run...I have not been running in a while and knew a run would do me well. But I did not want to run. A little more time in front of a computer screen flipping between projects and I decided to suck it up and "Just do it!"

So I did. I got my running shorts and shoes on and headed out.

It was great to get out and I would have to say it was an odd sensation after finishing; I felt exhausted and rejuvenated at the same time.

I was not sure where I wanted to run when I left the house but I turned right at the gate and headed toward the river. I decided to wait at the light (which is not something I often do) to go across the bridge instead of running along the north side of the river. I ran across the river and followed a walking path down off the bridge to a river parkway with a running and biking path along it. It was nice to have drinking fountains every so often along the path as I failed to bring any water with me. After a short while along the path I decided it was time to head back, but I could either turn around and go back the way I came or hop on the bridge in front of me and head back on the other side of the river. I am not one for going back the way I came so I ran the little bit farther to Dongho-daegyo (big bridge)...and then I saw the steps! The path off the Hannam-daegyo was a gradual ramp, this one was steps, and they went straight up.

I was committed at this point so I climbed the steps and started my way across the bridge. After a moment to recover I continued my run but the traffic on the bridge was super slow so I decided it would be adventurous and would help my balance to run on the top of the guard rail instead of on the sidewalk. If I hadn't decided to do that I probably would have walked the entire length of the bridge. It was exciting and I am sure I got a lot of strange looks from the passing Koreans. (There was a fender-bender on the bridge and that is why the traffic was slow.)

When I made my decision to go across the Dongho-daegyo I thought about the path that I would probably have to take to get back home but I did not think at all about the GIGANTIC hill that was between the other side of the bridge and the house. At this point my run turned more into a saunter. I also did not think about there not being any more drinking fountains the rest of the way home. At the bottom of said hill I saw a Baskin-Robbins and thought "Ooo! I could go for an ice cream!" But I figured I didn't need any ice cream... and then I thought about the Jamba Juice near the house that I would pass going this way and that gave me a little extra charge. It still took me one or two stops to get up the hill but after that it was non-stop to Jamba Juice. It was a refreshing end to an exhausting run. Mmmm! I love Jamba Juice and was happy to discover a few here in Seoul.

I walked the rest of the way home enjoying my cool refreshing smoothie and hopped into a much needed cold shower upon getting there.

There is always an adventure to write about if you get up and Just Do It!