Los Angeles

You know why I'm not blogging as much as I used to? I think Facebook has taken over as the place I go to post weird comments and humorous anecdotes. Find me on Facebook, I'll be your friend.

I'm here in Los Angeles visiting my dear friend, Kathie. Kathie let me stay on her couch the first four months I lived in Chicago. She is a wonderful friend who was so generous with me when I first moved. Nothing has changed. I'm sitting on that same couch right now and she's shown me what Southern California has to offer. So tempting to move here! Especially thinking about what February weather would be like here versus a Chicago February.

Here are some pictures from my trip! I'm off to Dallas tomorrow morning to see Drewby graduate high school. Thank God for this amazing vacation!

Braids for the Ladies!

My tan and freckles are beginning to fade so I think it's time I blog about the Bahamas. I could rant and rave about the trip, but I'll save you time and just write the truth - it was AWESOME! I could also talk about how the water was gorgeous, the air warm, the sun hot, the bikini cute, the beach pristine, but I won't. I mean, it's all true and everything, but so cliche!

OH GOD I MISS THE BAHAMAS! (dissolving into tears) I came home thinking, "Wow, I feel like I live in the Bahamas and am just visiting Chicago." The island sucks you in and makes you forget an outside world exists. I want to go back. This is how Jack must feel on LOST.

Highlight of the trip was definitely swimming with the dolphins. Andrew and I did the "deep water experience" at Dolphin Cay at the Atlantis. We used these water propellers to take us diving into the water as the dolphins swam by and touched our legs. Then we layed on body boards with our legs straight out and two dolphins would swim up quickly, put their noses on your arches and push you across the water with incredible speed. I WAS IN HEAVEN! We also got to kiss the dolphin (best makeout session I've had in a long time) and take a few pictures. They're adorable. I wanted to put one in my pocket and take it home with me.

Funny story about my dad. I love my dad and all his quirkiness. I get it from him. Many of you know that he does not own a pair of jeans. Wait, he had to buy a pair a couple of years ago for a family photo - so he got them from Walmart. He said, "I left the tag on them so I could return them after the pictures." He HATES jeans. He is a walking advertisement for Under Armor. He gets cranky when he has to wear anything else. Kind of like my mom when she wears a thong. So we make reservations to go out to eat. Dad has on blue athletic shorts and t-shirt (probably clashing colors). I read that the restaurant says "resort elegant - no shorts." So I tell him and next thing I know he has on his long Under Armor pants with a matching jacket. Elegant indeed. One night we did get him to wear khaki pants and he complained. I had to remind him that he still had on an Under Armor golf shirt with his khaki pants. Love you dad!

Andrew was really sweet to allow me "beach time" in the morning and in the afternoons he and I went parasailing, hit the slides, swam with the dolphins, and floated away on the lazy river.

Bahama-mama

You're going to hate me and I don't care. I'm headed to The Atlantis in the Bahamas on Sunday for a few days on the beach! (picture me with arms raised, fingers stretched in perfect jazz-hands formation, a big shameless smile on my face, and my white flesh gleaming in the sunlight.) It will be me, my parentals, and my travel buddy, Andrew. It's the only thing that's kept me going this winter and it's almost here!

I hate to leave you behind. I really do. I will take you with me and carry you around in the pocket of my shorts. It will be hot, muggy and a tight squeeze when I sit down...just like wearing a pair of spanks.

Back Home

I'm back! I miss the perfect weather and smiling babies. I could have stayed in Jackson Hole for another week, easily!

To see all 307 pictures from the trip (yes, I know. I promise I scaled back), click here. You'll see lots of mountains and babies.

So, now that I'm back, feel free to call me! I'd love to get together.

Ode to Me and Andrew

You know how people like to take pictures of "family groups" on vacations? Well, Andrew and I don't have a family group so we usually end up in pictures. Or if one of us is trying to take a picture of another at one of the sites, a polite person will come up and say, "Let me take a picture of the both of you." "Um, yeah, sure, okay." So basically, we have a ton of pictures of just the two of us. Finally, after we mountain biked, Andrew said, "And here we have finally completed all of our honeymoon activities." Can you tell which picture is the most honeymoon of all? Yes, so can we. That's when we stopped taking the pictures. I promised him that when I get married, he can still be in all our photos.

Click here for his account of the trip.

Teton Village & Mountain Biking

The day started with us taking the gondola to the top of Teton Village ski area. We took pictures, threw snow balls at each other, it was great. Then Andrew and I decided that we wanted to go mountain biking. The second we walk into the rental place, the guy said, "Well, you are aware that a biker was just charged by a grizzly?" "YOU'RE KIDDING?!" "Why would I kid?" "It's an expression! GEESH!" "Just say 'hey bear' and talk a lot. You'll be fine." "Where was the bear last seen?" "Bears move." "Yes, fully aware, thank you. Just tell me!"

We went for it any way and mostly tried to stay out of the trees. We chatted nervously as I lead Andrew onto a black diamond run accidentally and spent a few sickeningly nervous minutes in the trees. "HEEEEEY BEEEEEAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!" Right away I feLl and scraped my leg. I only cussed once, though Andrew says differently.

We lived to tell the tale. Fear did not stop us! That or stupidity kept us going.

Day at Yellowstone

Note to self: Take at least two to three days to spend in Yellowstone. Otherwise, you may start to feel pissy towards the six other people in your car...no matter how much you love them! Okay, so I wasn't that pissy. I mean, we didn't get back from the Park until 11:00 p.m. We were hungry, cold and a bit claustrophobic. But Yellowstone was worth every minute of the drive!

We saw Old Faithful, Geiser Park, Buffalo, Elk, two waterfalls and our favorite, the Canyons. Oh, and do yourself a favor when you visit Old Faithful: take a peek at the Old Faithful Inn. It's gorgeous!

Fly-Fishing Day 2

Dad and I took to the river together on our second day of fly-fishing. Last time we fished together he stole all my fish because he was in the front of the boat. He was much better at sharing this time around. I think I caught around 20 fish! That's a record for me. Again I caught another 17 inch trout. Dad caught a 19 inch brown trout. We were very impressed!

Excitement of the day: Chris and Andrew were stripping in a fish when they heard loud flapping noises. The look up and a bald eagle can swooping down three feet from them. Apparently he wanted the fish too. They claim that there was a seven foot wingspan. I'll choose to believe it.

Quote of the day: "Katy, can I take your sunscreen with me on my boat." "Um, no, I need it." "But I have more to preserve." "What do you need to preserve?" "I need to preserve my sexiness!" "Of course you do."

South Fork River

Today was our first day on the river. Ten of us floated the South Fork river in Idaho. I thought Idaho was all fields of potatoes. Turns out I was wrong. It was beautiful. My mom and I fished together today and we each caught around a dozen or so. It was a very lucrative day on the river! We were proud of ourselves for not losing too many flies or catching each other too many times. I can't wait to get back on the river tomorrow morning!

More from the Grand Tetons

Todays hike was to Taggert Lake in the Tetons. It was a beautiful easy three mile hike through the meadows. This is the way to get your exercise! Then I follow up that exercise with the practice of eating everything in sight. I need to get a grip.

Our first day of fly-fishing is tomorrow! Dad just told us that we need to be "in the car and rolling" at 6:30 a.m. Ugh! I'm already tired just thinking of it. But a day on the river beats a day in the cubicle any day.