Puppy Love

  Orange Juice (or Juice for short) is the most special dog in the world. He’s one of my best friends and I love him dearly. I’ve been thinking about him constantly since I’ve been at school and I can’t seem to shake off how much I miss him. He’s been my safety blanket for years. If he could read this, here’s what I would tell him:

Dear Juice, 

   Hi puppy. I love you so, so, so much. You’re the sweetest, cutest, most lovable dog in the entire universe and I am beyond lucky to have you in my life. I think about you every single day and I miss you so much it hurts. Do you remember when you came home with us for Mom’s birthday? You were such anlovely fluffy puppy. You were with all of your siblings and it was between you, another fat puppy wearing a green collar, and a puppy wearing a red collar. Mom and Dad always say that I was going for the puppy with the red collar, but I know for certain I was yearning for you-the puppy with the orange collar. Finally we got to get you and we piled up in that green van to go home. Mom had you plopped on her lap for the ride and I so desperately wanted to hold you. It took a little while for us to give you a name, but I remember we were all gathered on the porch. Brandon was really little, and he wanted to call you Orange Juice because he was in an orange juice phase. I wanted to name you Sebastian, but everyone else decided to call you Orange Juice, or Juice for short. At first I didn’t like it, but now I can’t imagine you with any other name. You’re my little Juicy Pie. 

   I always felt so sad when we had to discipline you, and I especially hated doing it when you made accidents on the floor. I also hated when we tried to train you to stay in the yard with an electric fence. Everyone says it’s safe for dogs, but I still don’ t like it. Do you remember that time when it was you, me, and two of my friends hanging out in the front yard and playing together and all of the sudden you tried to run down the hill towards me, but instead you lost your balance and tumbled down. You just got right back up and trotted over to me with your little tongue hanging out and your tail wagging. You were the most adorable puppy ever. I fondly remember all the times you’d lie in front of my door at night when I was in bed. In high school I would open the door to let you in, and I always wanted to hop on my bed to sleep with me, but you always seemed to prefer the floor instead. I’m sorry for all of the times I shut you out. I always felt bad seeing your nose trying to peek in through my door. 

   

   You're always there to help me get through hardships; it’s like you know whenever someone is down. Thank you for allowing us to dress you up and tolerating it so well. You’re truly an inspiration, Juice. I wish I have done so much more for you. I’m so sorry for not taking you on daily walks or playing with you enough. You deserve to have fun all the time. I’m sorry you got sick with Lyme Disease, and I hope it doesn’t hurt you too much. I got so scared when we didn’t know what was wrong with you. I’m glad that you’re still here. But I’m also sorry for all the times I pushed you away when you just wanted to comfort me. No matter what, you’re always by my side and making sure I’m happy. I’m so deeply sorry for not being around enough for you. I’m sorry I took your wet nose, furry muzzle, and sloppy kisses for granted. I adore every lick, bump, smile, wink and ounce of love that you give so generously. You give so much and expect nothing in return. When I see you again, expect to go on many walks…just you and me, buddy. I miss you putting your little snout next to me and begging for food. You’ve gotten so good with not eating it off the plate when I’m not looking. 

  

   Also, I got you some healthy doggy treats and I hope you like them! I can’t wait to hug you and cuddle with you on the floor. I can’t see myself ever having another dog because my heart is so filled with the love I have for you. I’m glad that you came into my life. Even if you run out of the yard a few times a week to explore the world, chew things up, or jump on the couch, you will always be the best dog in the world. I love you so very much, Juicy Pie. You're the very best friend anyone could ever ask for.

Love Always,

Caitlin

Juice's Smile 

Tongue Out 

More Juice 

Juice and Neptune 

It's the Great Pumpkin Patch

   My favorite season is autumn. I absolutely love the crisp fall air, the delicious smells, and the striking warm foliage. I greatly love the pumpkin patch and carving them out as I bake goodies and watch Hocus Pocus, Stepmom, and other seasonal movies. 
   Because I love Autumn, a few weeks ago Ryan and I ventured to a nearby pumpkin patch and had a grand time. Not only was there a hayride, corn maze, and a typical vegetable stand, but there was also a petting zoo. That was our first stop on the list and we were in awe. There were chickens, goats, a calf, ducks, and more. After visiting each critter in their stalls, we went through the corn maze and eventually took a short cut out to the pumpkin patch. Rather than picking out our perfect gourds there, we decided to walk back to the hayride station and ride it to the pumpkin patch again. Finally we each found a pumpkin that we fell in love with and brought them back to the apartment. A few weeks later we still haven’t had time to carve them. But fear not, tomorrow will be the day.

Petting a sheep

Petting the sweetest little goat

Ryan petting a sheep

Little Quackers

The goat again

My Great Pumpkin

Calf

Mushy pumpkin

Baby Oinkers

Ryan's Great Pumpkin

Ryan petting a chicken 

Hello, Washington

  It’s been quite some time since I’ve updated this blog, and I’m very sorry. I’ve been swamped with tons upon tons of science projects and homework. I eat, breathe, and sleep science. As one of my professors had said, those who are majoring in the sciences do not have time to spend with others, but only our classmates due to the outpour of work and research that needs to be done. And they were certainly right. Even on my days where I don’t have class I am meeting up with a study group from mid-morning to late afternoon. All of this work does pose to be a bit stressful because sometimes all I want to do is sit around and read a book or do something that I KNOW I’m good at and comes easy for me, such as English. However, I have to say that the program that I am taking is great...even if it constantly keeps me on my feet…and involves more mathematics than I had anticipated. Will I be taking similar classes in the upcoming Semesters? Most likely not. It’s not that I’m not doing well, I’m actually doing extremely well (much to my amazement) according to my professors, but I am majoring in Global Studies and would much rather be on the communication side of things rather than the analytical side. 

   I may not understand all of the engineering behind what we learn, but it’s still all pretty amazing. On our first week, my class traveled to Eastern Washington for a week-long field trip. Rather than Evergreen trees all around, there were canyons and…SUNSHINE! The only downside was the chilling wind. I got placed in a group with five others and we drove up together with one of our professors in a big white van. The six of us also bunked together in a cabin, cooked meals for the entire class on our required cooking days (there were five or six groups and we each had to cook one of the five days during camp), and we also ate together. There were three guys: Evan, Matt, and Andrew. Then there were three girls: Emily (Emmy), Susie, and myself. We all got along and easily opened up to one another. They became my first friends in Washington. 

  During our time in Eastern Washington, we ventured to three different facilities. The first place we went to was the Hanford Nuclear Site where there was work done for the first atomic bomb. the site is no longer in use, but there is now a clean up act to fix all of the damage that it created for the surrounding environment. That is not to say that radioactive material is necessarily bad for you; there are slight traces of radioactivity in many things such as smoke detectors and even bananas. Yes, bananas. Like many things, you can become overexposed to different types of matter, and that’s when it becomes harmful. In addition, we also went to the Grand Coulee Dam and The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Energy Farm. My favorite by far was the wind facility because it appeared to be the most environmentally friendly, and I didn’t feel like I was trapped in a bomb shelter since the wind machines were in an open area unlike the other energy centers. 

Class in front of the Nuclear Reactor

Grand Coulee Dam

Evan, myself, Susie, and Tn'aa

Solar Panels at the energy farm

Windmill

  That was my first real week of school, and now I’m on a normal schedule where I have Seminars and Lectures twice a week, and then lab/field work all day on Thursdays. So far I’ve been taking water samples and measuring different things in the water such as conductivity, salinity, nitrate measurements, etc. I live in a campus apartment with five other people. I've found that as a person who loves her own space, it can get stressful living with people in such close quarters. Luckily I get along with four out of five of my roommates. Bob (who’s room is right next to mine) is from California and really nice and easy to talk to. We have our differences, but we respect each other and have great conversations about it. He and I actually had a very deep conversation about Harry Potter the other night, which was super nice and fun. He doesn’t know exactly what he wants to do in life, but he’s leaning towards herbal medicine. Maggie is from Washington and though I don’t talk to her as much, we still hang out and have gone out to the store together a few times. She’s taking psychology. Andrew is graduating after this Semester and is a very articulate and intelligent fellow. He’s studying film. We’ve all sat down to play card games together and watch movies. Then there’s Ryan, who I’ve known for almost six years. We all coexist in harmony and respect each other’s boundaries, clean up our rubbish, help each other out, and have a healthy relationship. 

  Then there’s this other guy. We'll call him "Alex". He moved into the apartment the same week I was on my fieldtrip. To put it point-blank, we don't get along. We butt heads a LOT. There have been several occasions where I just sat in my room and cried out of frustration. He’s not the cleanest person alive, and he makes no effort to change that. I now know how my parents felt when I was a teenager who was horrible at cleaning up (I literally would hide bowls in dresser...I was super lazy...please don't do that). I constantly am cleaning up messes in the kitchen and picking food up off the floor. Perhaps it's karma. 

  The other night I was at a sexual assault awareness meeting and came home early for a phone interview. The apartment was completely empty, which at first was nice. Sounds peaceful, right? Wrong. I walked into the living area and saw that the tv was on; the windows were wide open (we live on ground level and the windows are wall-to-ceiling height with no screen...so we ourselves climb through them almost like a door); the fan above the oven was on; there was food spewed all over the floor, couch, and table; and there was some sort of liquid all over the stove that had seeped into the burners. First, my problem was that no one was home and someone could have easily broken into the apartment. They wouldn’t even have to break in because they could simply walk right on in through the window! My second issue was that the liquid in the electric burners was a safety hazard. My third issue was the food left all over the place. I was absolutely enraged. Once Ryan got home and I told him what had happened, he talked to our roommate about it since I was having my interview. Alas, it did no good and he didn’t even clean up his mess, so I got stuck doing it.

  This is not the only issue I’ve come across. He has also left the shower room drenched in water-the rug, the floor, the walls, and the door. Once again it was my job to clean it up. He clogs the toilet and won’t fix it. Not only that, but every time he’s in the bathroom, he is in there for at least twenty minutes. Every. Single. Day. There have been three times this week that I had to leave the apartment in my pajamas to use the housing community center restrooms instead. He blasts his music and when his friends are over they are obnoxiously loud. I have not been a happy camper. On top of all this, he smokes pot in the apartment. I don't care if people do it, but I don’t want it in my living space. No matter how many times any of us talk to him about these issues, they never get fixed. I decided to take this up with the Residential Director and explained everything that was going on. I also called the on-campus police after the hallway started reeking of marijuana and they came over when he was out with his friends. I don't know what to do, and I'm tired of cleaning up someone else's mess. 

  On a brighter note, I have made friends with a few people in my class. The one I talk to most is named Dawn and she's a 29 year-old mother of one. And to my parents: I am truly sorry for all the messes I’d make and would not clean up. It’s annoying. Kids, don't be like me. 

Bob and Maggie

Bob and Maggie in Beatles mode

Washington 

More of Washington 

Rainbow in Eastern Washington 

More Eastern Washington 

A view from campsite in the morning 

A pit stop to learn about the river flow in Eastern Washington 

One more view of Eastern Washington by our campsite 

California Pt. II

  Ryan and I drove away from the doctor's office both a little heartbroken to be leaving Ventura, but we were also graced with a new adventure: Yosemite National Park. The drive was roughly six hours or so, and I spent it wondering when in the world I would be able to hear out of my left ear again (better, but still working on it!). I looked out the car window and watched the scenery change from sandy beaches to dry and barren mountains to woodlands. Within a few hours, we had stopped at a Target Pharmacy on the route to pick up my eardrops. The whole rest of the drive I was worried that they'd burn like the over-the-counter eardrops.

  Eventually the afternoon grew into night, and we were only able to make out silhouettes of Yosemite's trees. We drove through dark, windy roads and talked about Big Foot and Smokey the Bear. Eventually we made a right turn onto a dark and appropriately uncanny road that seemed to lead to nowhere except a few sleeping horses at a deserted stable. Soon we decided to turn around and drive to the nearby Wawona Hotel and ask for directions. One side of the lodging was draped in vines of ivy from roof to soil and I couldn’t quite tell if I liked the Bayou-style, or if it frightened me. It actually resulted in the latter as we drove around the parking lot for a space. There was not a single space available for at least fifteen minutes. As we drove around and passed the main entrance of the hotel, the dining area appeared to be bursting at the seams with guests and everyone seemed so…awake. I found this to be very odd given the hour, and it brought me back to my Goosebumps days. My imagination ran wild as we finally found a spot and started to walk up the steps. All I could picture were overly-polite butlers wearing green suits and white gloves with big teeth asking if we’d like to stay; being transfixed by the old charm of the hotel we’d say yes…then all of a sudden all of the people in attendance would turn out to be ooze-dripping (green ooze, naturally) aliens that would never let us leave. Of course, that was not the case at all. Rather than seeping aliens, there were average, normal people and an average, nice-but not too nice- concierge who was glad to help us find our campsite. After a few minutes, we safely were allowed to leave the hotel and travel further down the road to our campsite.

  But things didn’t get any easier as I sat in the car half-pouting/half-crying out of frustration and sadness and pure exhaustion. I sat in the passenger seat and cried for the second time that day. I cried because my ear hurt and all I wanted was to be fully capable of hearing again. I cried because I was too tired to deal with setting up the tent and camping for two nights with a bad ear. I cried because I already missed my family in Ventura. I cried because I missed my family in Pennsylvania. I cried because I severely missed my dog, Juice. And I think I probably wallowed because I’ve never been too keen on change, and here I was completely getting away from the East Coast and plopping myself on the other side of the country. I can’t even rearrange my room without feeling a little out of place and sad for the first few nights. But I think I mostly cried because of my ear and because I was tired. Eventually I mellowed out and put on my big-girl pants and helped Ryan set up the tent. Soon after, we both fell asleep, and I with a fair mood.

  The next morning I wasn’t sure if I was up for hiking or not, and after putting in my eardrops (which I’m happy to announce brought on no pain), I told Ry to go hiking without me so I could sleep and read a required book for class. However, he said he’d stay with me because he didn’t want to leave me alone, so I told him we’d see how I felt after taking a nap. Not only did I take a nap, but h fell asleep as well. For three hours. By the time we woke up feeling refreshed, it was nearly noon and I determined I was up to at least go on a shuttle around the park to learn about it. The vehicle drove past the Wawona Hotel and in the daylight it was a lot less intimidating and actually beautiful. Our driver even gave us tidbits of information: Not only is the Wawona Hotel the oldest hotel in California, but there also used to be an aircraft landing strip just across the road until it got deemed unfit for safety reasons and eventually got shut down. In its place is a grassy meadow where deer like to roam.

  We got off at the Mariposa Grove and then decided to go on a tour of the spectacular area. The great Sequoias were absolutely spellbinding and the serenity that I felt there was probably comparable to being in Disneyland (and for those of you who know me, that is a BIG deal). While being chauffeured around, I listened to my temporary headset and learned so much about the Sequoias. I proudly present this next section as information on the Mariposa Grove and the habitual Sequoia trees.

Mariposa Grove and the Sequoia Trees:

(Substituted for Interesting Facts)

  Mariposa Grove is famous for its beautiful giants and is named after Mariposa County in California. The name is derived from the Spanish word meaning butterfly. During the Civil War, this patch of land was the very first-ever to be set aside become reserved as a park. Now look how the park has grown. Giant Sequoias-also referred to as redwoods and by their binomial name, Sequoiadendron giganteum-are probably the largest living trees (by volume) on Earth and can stand at close to 100-400 feet, or over 120 meters sometimes. Their life expectancy can be anywhere from 2,000-3,000 years. Their roots sit only a few feet under ground and can range from 50-200 feet long. During hot days, these roots transport hundreds of gallons of water a day with the help of sapwood up to the Cambium layer as well as the bark.

  As you drive around, you’ll become aware of some trees with big gaping holes at the bases; some are wide enough for a pick-up truck to drive through! Looking around the base of the trees, you’ll probably also notice blackened marks. Not only do they engulf the trees with holes, but most of the other Sequoias as well. Yes, these blackened scars are made from fire. And yes, these fires are intentional. Why in the world would anyone set fire a tree, you might ask? Well fun fact: These prescribed burns are to help the tree and its seedlings maintain nourishment to grow. With every fire, there comes beauty. These prescribed burns are controlled by fire crews and are started upwind and uphill to prevent a raging and out of control forest fire like Yosemite recently has been battling. Unlike most trees, Sequoias can withstand the fire better due to its water based sap and other elements. These trees have been through hundreds of burns throughout their lifetime (due to their age, not all burns have been prescribed…some are just Nature’s gift). Basically, the Sequoia’s bark acts like our skin-when it gets burned, the bark attempts to grow over the wound and heal the tree, just like our bodies do. We are connected to nature in more ways than one. Even so, enough scars can create deformations, and that is the case for the trees with the gaping passages. As luck and biology would have it, these trees can sustain a normal lifespan without their heartwood, as the heartwood only supports the structure of the tree. The only parts the tree requires to stand tall are its bark, roots, and its Cambium layer.

  These marvelous monuments have been around for millenniums, and there is fossilized evidence proving that these trees were once spread out all across America. This was before the Sierra Nevada Mountains formed, making the land back then a much wetter climate for the species. Now the population is dwindling, and there are many people nurturing these trees to make sure that the legacy of the Sequoias lives on. However, we can all work together to make sure these trees, along with many other plants and animals, are here for generations to come. If you need ideas on how to help, contact Yosemite or any National Park for that matter.

  I’m not sure how this tour made anyone else feel, but by the end I felt so inspired and very touched by being in the presence of the trees. It has become one of my favorite places.
  The next day, Ryan and I left for a hotel in Andersen, California, and now we are in Olypmia, WA! Tomorrow we check in for our rooms and finally get to set up roots for a while. It’s been a fantastic journey, and I’ve decided to continue my blog to share my college experiences and hopefully help others gain some insight on what it’s like to be a college student living in today’s world. I’ll post weekly, maybe even a few times in the week. As for now, it’s time to rest for a great, big, exciting day tomorrow. Goodnight!

Rate: 9.9/10

Likes:

1. Mariposa Grove

2. It's magical

3. Friendly people

Dislikes:

1. Intimidating at night

2. Did not get to see everything

Tree with burns 

Size comparison

In front of tree 

California Pt. I

  Though leaving Zion was gloomy, we had a new destination to look forward to: California. We left around 2:30 PM and I couldn’t hold back my excitement. I was clapping my hands and singing out loud like a little kid on a much-anticipated field trip. After driving through Las Vegas and sticking our noses up at Sin City, Ryan pulled over at a gas station to feed Porter (the car) and I hopped in the driver’s seat. I have to say that after two weeks of driving 75 miles per hour, it’s going to feel odd driving 55 miles per hour. Anyways, about an hour into my turn of driving, we crossed the border of California. I was SO happy and gladly let everyone else pass me as the little Kia chugged up the undulating road and tears of joy glazed my eyes. Sure, the Nevada/California border is sort of unexciting, but the fact that I was finally in my home state after several years was thrilling. I still have no clue why I decided to always stay back when my family flew to the West Coast. Silly me.

  The further we traveled, the more I took in. I looked into the distance and the mountains looked azure against the sky- as I always remembered as a kid and took for granted. Hours passed, and Ryan said he’d drive the rest of the way. Eventually we got to my Aunt’s house in Ventura and I took in all the new (to me, at least) renovations of her home…including her two big pups. The kitchen was fashioned into a big open area that held a French Bistro sort of theme. The living room and flooring was also different. As much as I loved the old look, I have to say that I can’t get over how amazing it looks now.

  After sharing several hugs with my family and introducing Ryan, I did what I always do when I see my Aunt and talked to her for a few hours. Soon enough we both decided to go to bed. The next day Ryan and I both got up at 7 and after getting ready, we went to Port Hueneme- the town that I grew up in. We stopped at Ann’s Bakery where I distinctly remember picking out a few birthday cakes as a little girl. We ordered breakfast burritos and a little pastry to split. The icing was delicious and exactly as I had remembered it. After munching on the pastry and sharing a few memories, we drove around the town. We drove past the two elementary schools I attended, the harbor, the naval base that my dad went to, and we finally stopped in front of my grandma’s old house. It looks different now. And I’m not sure who resides in it now, but I hope they make my old home their home and fill it with many exceptional memories. I hope they plant new trees to climb on. I hope they get good and dirty rom playing and crawling around the yard. I hope they toss a ball over the neighbor’s brick wall just to climb over and get it before the dog comes out. I hope they pretend that they’re in the desert looking for water to survive and they quickly pull of part of the same neighbor’s cactus for a source of water and stir up a little harmless trouble. I hope I hope they get a new swing set to swing on. I hope they crawl out of the second story window to sit on the patio rooftop to enjoy the moment like I did. I hope their dad throws a softball back and forth with them like mine did. I hope they take walks to the beach through the park, and I hope they take it all in. I hope that house becomes apart of them like it has for me.

  After recollecting some of those memories, we drove to the beach and ate our breakfast burritos. It was literally the best burrito I’ve EVER tasted. Once we disposed of our leftovers, we strolled along the beach and took in the salty breeze. We took off our sandals and ran to the Pacific Ocean’s edge only to squeal and run back from the brisk temperature. We walked under the pier and admired the crashing of the waves and agreed that the sand there came off much more easily than the sand in New Jersey. We walked back to the car to go watch my cousin Isabella’s cheer practice. As we drove away from Port Hueneme, I rolled down the windows and sniffed eagerly for the scent I remembered so well…the smell of the trees that lined the road. I still have no idea what any of these trees are called, but I love them so much. There are tall trees that remind me of willow trees that shade you from the sun, and only lets glimmers of sunlight through while driving past. Then there are trees that I’ve always referred to as “paper trees” because their bark is so soft and peels off…just like paper. As we made our way closer to Ventura, I pointed out to Ryan a landmark that I deemed as a child as “Cookie Monster Hill” due to the bareness of the hill except for two lone trees that represent Cookie’s eyes. It was such a rush to know that it looked the same.

  Soon enough we went to my cousin’s practice and sat and talked to my Aunt Sheryl and Uncle Andy. Once the practice was over, we parted ways with them as we went to get lunch at-drumroll, please…BUM BUM BUM- In N’ Out! I ordered my usual burger with a chocolate milkshake while Ryan opted for a cheeseburger and a strawberry shake. I told him he’d regret it and that the best way to have it was with a chocolate shake, and once he tasted mine, he agreed. Following lunch, we went to another beach until it was time for dinner with my Aunt Sharon, Sheryl, Uncle Andy, and most of my cousins. We feasted on Mexican food and discussed plans for college and then just random chit chat. Later on, we went back to Sheryl’s and the most of the kids watched a movie while my cousins Sabrina and Averi ran around and had a blast. Sheryl left to drop off Isabella at her friend’s birthday party, so it gave me and Ry some one-on-one time with my Aunt Sharon. Eventually he started talking YouTube stuff with my cousin Nathan, and my cousin Shannon came over to spend the night. As soon as we saw each other we gave each other a huge hug. She’s 18 and probably only an inch or two shorter than me…we’re probably going to be the shortest people in our family once our cousins grow up. I found myself feeling a little self-conscious and insecure around her because I’ve always thought she was one of the most gorgeous women I know, and to be quite honest, it’s intimidating at times. We talked to Sharon for a while, and then Sheryl came back and we all chatted away. As the night grew darker, Sharon took her two boys home while letting Averi spend the night. Eventually the kids, Ryan, and my aunt and uncle went to bed, leaving time for Shannon and I to talk alone. The more we talked, the less I found myself focusing less on how gorgeous she was (and how maybe unpretty it made me feel), and more on the memories we shared together as children and the things that were going on in our lives currently. The thing about having a big family is that your cousins are basically your best friends- or at least that’s how it is with my family. Though we may have our individual characteristics and personalities, Shannon and I have something that connects us, and it gives us a foreground. Our family. Our friendship builds from there. I never had really close friends except for a few here and there, but no matter how far away we are, my cousins have always been my best friends. We didn’t stop talking until 1:30, and even then I didn’t want to go to bed. But eventually we said goodnight and I fell asleep.

  The next morning Shannon and I were the first ones to wake, and one-by-one, so did everyone else. After we made sandwiches, we all hopped in the van to go down to the beach so we could learn to surf. We all put on our borrowed wetsuits and my uncle taught us the basics of surfing. Shannon went into the water with the surfboard first, so Ryan and I boogie boarded a few yards away. To our disbelief, the wetsuits really did keep us comfortable in the cold water. Once Shannon was done surfing, it was my turn. Though I didn’t stand on the board, I did get to my knees, and I was pretty satisfied with that. On my last attempt, I remember looking down and seeing the nose of the board tipping forward, and at that point I knew I was going to take a beating. The crashing wave pushed me over the board, and I plummeted into the ocean. I rolled around underwater with my eyes closed and I felt my head smack into the sand (which was surprisingly hard), and then I felt water rush into my ear canal. It took me a minute to find my footing, but then my head came above water and I stood up. Everything was spinning and I could barely stand. I tried taking a step and almost fell. Then I finally got some of my balance back and walked over to Shannon. She walked me up to where our belongings were and sat me down. My head was pounding and I was afraid that I had a concussion. What scared me even more was what happened to my ear. It was throbbing and I couldn’t hear out of it. I’ve always had problems with my ears and being in water, so going surfing was probably very poor judgment on my part. I’m certainly not invincible. Soon enough the dizziness went away, but my ear was still injured. When we decided to leave the beach, we stopped at CVS and picked up some drops to dry out the water. Our next stop was the pool to meet Sharon, my Uncle Steve and his wife and kids, and my grandma. We got there and the first thing I did was sit down. Minutes later I had Ryan put in the drops. Almost instantly my inner ear started burning from the alcohol-based drops and as much as I tried to hold back my tears, the pain was too much and I started crying. Ryan hugged me and rubbed my back, and eventually the pain ceased. I decided that I was NEVER going to place those drops in my ear again.

  The entire family made their way back to Sheryl’s house for a little barbecue. Unfortunately my ear still bothered me and I went to lie down for a little bit to drain the water out. Hours passed and Ryan waited with me. I still felt like my ear had more water to drain, and so we waited. My younger cousin Emily came in to talk to us and helped distract me from the pain. She’s a very sweet-natured girl and she’s probably one of the younger cousins that I connect most with. Although my other cousins don’t remember me too well, she’s always right there waiting to talk to me like she sees me all of the time. I can’t help but to have an attachment to her, and sometimes I get afraid that people are going to walk all over her. At the same time, she’s very mature for her age and I think that’s another thing that makes me feel so bonded with her.

Emily asked me if my ear was okay and then she brought me some fruit. We talked about how she felt about her sister (Brittany) getting married and moving to North Dakota with her husband, and she admitted that she felt very lonely since Brittany was the sister she felt closest to. It made my heart sink a little and I gave her a hug and tried to reassure her that they can still be close. She told Ryan that he had really pretty eyes, and then she talked about a Demi Lovato concert the previous day. She told me about school, soccer, and cross-country. Then we both shared how neither of us liked running. However, she does love to play soccer.

  Finally after being fed up with my ear not draining, we all walked out of the room and started talking to everyone. As time went on, everyone had to leave and all of cousins went out back to take group photos. I said my goodbyes to everyone and told them I’d see them again in December. I gathered my belongings for the departure to Yosemite the next morning, and watched part of a movie with Sheryl and her kids. Then I went into the room Ryan and I were staying in, and before I knew it, I fell asleep. I woke up with a little bit of diluted blood that had drained out of my ear and decided that I’d go to the doctor’s in the morning. After cleaning my ear and determining I had most likely ruptured my eardrum for the umpteenth time, I went back to sleep. In the morning my aunt and uncle left to drop off the kids at school and go to work. Before they left, we said our goodbyes and she told me where to go about my ear. Then a little while later, Ryan and I went to the doctor’s.

  Once we got to the counter, the front desk lady told me that they do not accept HMO’s (the type of insurance that I’m on), and that put a damper on things. It was a $100 charge for visiting the doctor’s but we decided to stay. After signing in and waiting to be called back, the nurse called my name. We were taken into a little room where I sat on the patient table and Ryan sat in the chair. Finally the doctor came in and looked at my ear. I expected to get ear drops to prevent an infection, but she instead told me I should see an ear doctor. Feeling a little frustrated, I said thank you and she gave me a number to call. Ryan and I sat in the car and I started crying out of frustration from my ear and also because I found out that my insurance cannot be used outside of Pennsylvania. Finally I made the appointment for the ear specialist and we waited around until the appointment time. Once we got in, the doctor had me lie back in a chair and he took a look into my ear. He told me there was definitely a perforated eardrum and lots of scar tissue (gee, I’ve never heard that before). He then sucked some of the fluid and white gunk out of my ear and said it may or may not heal. He seemed a bit egotistical, and I knew that my eardrum would heal because this isn’t this first time I’ve had a ruptured eardrum. He added to my annoyance as he me it was silly of me to be going into the water and recommended that I stay away from things such a s scuba diving, surfing, swimming, etc. Though he really irked me, I felt satisfied when he prescribed me ear drops. I would have asked him if there was anything to help my ear such as getting tubes or taking out my tonsils, but I decided that since he acted like my case was unusual, he probably wouldn’t know what he was talking about or give me misinformation. I guess it wouldn’t be California if I weren’t welcomed back with another ear misfortune. Oh, the nostalgia.

Interesting facts:

1. Became 31st state on September 9, 1850 

2. Home to the world’s largest tree (General Sherman in Sequoia National Park) 

3. Home to the original Disney theme park, Disneyland 

4. Barbie was created in California. As well as Apple computers, fortune cookies,      and blue jeans. 

5. Named after the character Queen Califia from a book written by
     Garcia de Montalvo 

6. More turkeys are raised here than any other state

Likes:

1. Home state 

2. The Pacific Ocean 

3. Amazing food 

4. Mountains 

5. Santa Barbara Zoo 

6. Nice people (most) 

7. So many different areas

Dislikes:

1. Most populated state 

2. Not enough backroads 

3. Parents no longer reside here :(

Rate: 10/10 because I am biased

Ry under the pier

With Auntie Sharon

With Auntie Sheryl

BIRDS!

At the beach with Ry

I'm a bird!

My butt

Port Hueneme Pier

Shy Ryan

Cookie Monster Hill

Cousins with Grandma Bea

(First Row: Jackson, Me; Second Row from left: Averi, Sabrina, Emily, Rachel, Zane, Grandma; Third Row from left: Shannon, Bianka, Isabella, Nathan) 

With Em

With Shannon ad Grandma

Taken by Emily

Utah

The route that we took to Zion National Park wove in and out of Arizona through Utah, until we had reached the town of Springdale, Utah. The drive up was beautiful. As the sun was setting, a golden shower cascaded over the canyon and its valley below. I was in absolute awe of the park and the charming town just outside its gates. Soon, we found our lot and set up camp. I walked over to the recycling bins to throw out a few plastic bottles, and the first thing I were two deer right in the campgrounds! So I quickly rushed back to Ryan, got his camera, and started snapping away. Closer, and closer I got until I decided to stop about three yards away to give the animals their space. It was as if they hadn’t even noticed my presence.

Shortly after spotting the deer, Ry and I decided to go to sleep early. The forecast had called for rain, but the skies looked pretty clear…until later that night. Around two in the morning I stirred from my sleep as droplets of water landed on my temple. Moments later as my senses also awakened, I heard rain pelting my surroundings. As I listened closer, I heard an even more consistent and more amplified drip, drip, drip coming from within the tent! It was a very rough night as I realized our tent was leaking water, and I was debating if I should go out to the car and seize my pots and pans in order to contain the water. However, I had enough of the rain and decided to stay (moderately) dry inside our little tent and wait it out. Finally, two hours later, I stopped worrying and fell back asleep. Hours later when we awoke to start our adventuring, we found that some of our clothes had gotten wet and there were a few puddles on our tarp floor. With a new hurdle to overcome, Ryan and I were both a little agitated the first few minutes until we worked together to clean up the muddle. After that, we decided to drive into town for a nice breakfast and a look around town (the forecast called for more rain and lightening). We met an elderly lady who told us all kinds of stories about her past, her eight children, her grandchildren, her GREAT-grandchildren, and how she wants to have a Celebration of Life party with all of her family surrounding her when she reaches 90 (in three years). We were intrigued as she told us about her travels, and the love that her and her husband shared. We witnessed the tears caught trapped in her eyes as she told us about her husband and son passing away from cancer only a short time apart, and we felt our hearts warm up with the willpower and love she still has to give. Before we left her shop, she gave us a piece of advice- to be thankful for what we have and never take anything for granted. This woman, named Mary-Anne, is one of my favorite people I have met on this trip. All I wanted was to hug this woman or grasp her hand show her how much she touched my heart and that in that instant, I felt very bonded with her. However, I am a fairly shy person and thought it was perhaps inappropriate. So instead, we signed her guest book and thanked her for sharing her memories with us. I wish the best for Mary-Anne.

After looking at most of the shops, we went back to the tent since there was clearly no rain to come. I was tired from my lack of sleep, so I told Ryan to explore a nearby trail while I got to take an hour nap. On his return, he gently woke me up, and I put on my hiking shoes. We took a shuttle to one of the trails. I looked out the window on the way up the canyon and saw how muddy and swollen the Virgin River had gotten from the week of rain. There was even a landslide that blocked one of the roads. It was a disappointment because Ryan and I wanted to hike The Narrows- a trail that literally goes through the river- but there was NO way I was going to hike through fast moving waters…especially when a woman went missing the day before we got there. Once we got to our stop, we got off and started hiking. We conversed about the animals we saw, our disappointment about the Narrows, and how beautiful Zion was. Eventually we made it the “end” of the trail, or where The Narrows really began. Two men were walking back from The Narrows and I think it got Ryan a little hyped about The Narrows, because he kept saying how much he wanted to go and tried to ask. However, I still said no. I could tell he was upset, and I can say was equally disappointed, but eventually he agreed that it was much too dangerous to venture into the waters during a flooding period. As an alternative, we went back into town and got some supplies for a campfire. We made tea and chicken sandwiches for dinner, and soon after we went to bed.

The next day we packed up the car because we had decided to leave for California a day early. After everything was done, we went on our way to hike The Emerald Pools, which were so refreshing. I took in the scenery around me, and I thought to myself that the canyon looked like nature’s version of New York City…and it was a place I’d much rather be. The sandstone looked perfect against the blue sky that had sprinkles of white clouds. Though it’s considered a desert, the shrubbery and trees that festooned the valley made it feel like an oasis. I can’t wait to come back one day.

Interesting Facts:

1. The average snowfall in the mountains near Salt Lake City is 500 in. 
2. State symbol is the Beehive representing thrift and industry. 
3. The name Utah comes from the Native American Ute tribe meaning 
    "People of the mountains." 
4. Utah was acquired by the United States in 1848 in the treaty ending the              Mexico War 
5. Utah has the highest literacy rate 
6. Became the 45th state on January 4, 1896

Likes:
1. Very nice people 
2. Gorgeous National Park 
3. Small-town charm 
4. Felt safe 
5. Phone Reception 
6. Lots of different level trails for everyone (easy, moderate, strenuous) 
7. Showers in town if you need them (for a fee)

Dislikes:
1. Did not get to hike The Narrows 
2. Ants bite! 
3. Some flash flooding in places


Rate: 9.7/10

On our way to Zion Pre-Storm. Hmmm...inspiration for Disney's Cars?

Into the storm!

AHH!!

Welcome to Zion National Park!

Zion

One out of two deer

Ants that bite!

Dusk at Zion

Pottery and flowers in one of the shops

A silly squirrel scavenging for food

An intriguing beetle

Unsafe water/Beginning of The Narrows

Me

Ry on our way to the Emerald Pools

And again

Ry and I