Minus some turbulence the flight wasn't all that bad. I didn't sleep but a few winks. After about 5 hours I start to lose all feeling in my rear!!! I watched several movies and read some of my book. I got into LAX and found my next gate, it was 6:45AM. I found a Starbucks and got a latte and a blueberry muffin that made up for me being so tired! I felt nasty, stinky, greasy, and just really tired! I boarded my next flight. I talked this guy, Justin, for our whole flight, six hours, to Atlanta, GA. Now I only have one more flight. I boarder my flight to Chicago just ready to be there already. This is how one feels after 30 hours of travel:
This was my first view of Chicago as I was coming in! Oh the snow...I wasn't looking forward to it.
I arrived into O'Hare at 9:30AM, completely tired from my hours of flight. I picked up all my luggage from the belt and followed the signs for the shuttle bus. Thankfully I didn't have to wait to long before my bus arrived. Yet another 3 hours drive to Waukesha, WI. There was just me and another guy on the bus.
Tony, my brother met me at the bus stop. It was so good to see him after a year! I finally got to bed that night at 10:30pm; around 42 hours of not sleeping....I was tired!
My days at Tony's house were filled with remolding his bathroom, stripping wallpaper, moving desks, thrift store shopping, lots of snow, taking the dog out, ballet performance, shoveling snow, and just hanging out.
Ethan helping out
This is how Tony and I felt after watching a two hour ballet show
Tony taking his dog out in his back yard (it snowed 10 inches that day)
I had done this about an hour earlier but it was already needing to be done again. We were on our way out to shop...
Me and a whole bunch of snow
Danae and I
I left my brother's house and headed south (4 hours) to meet up with my friend Andrew (childhood friend) It was so good to see him again but it wasn't long enough.
Goodbye dear friend....
The next day I left Andrew's and headed down to my cousins house in Lousiville, KY. I sadly forgot to get a picture with them! Next time. I spend the night there and headed out the next day to Evansville, IN. I was going to see Amanda and her husband, Ryan.
This is Amanda and I. We were roommates back in 2002 at Bible School. Good times...
The bridge connecting Indiana to Kentucky
I was getting excited! Blue skies, sunshine and the temp was going up!!!
my excited face
From Amanda's I left and drove south west to Serverville, TN. I went to see Opal who I hadn't seen in over a year. I stayed with her and Brad. It was good to see her again. I forgot to get a picture with her as well. The next day I headed out to my brother Pav's house. I heard of a short cut road through the Smokies that I could take. My friend told me the road to go on I looked at a map and headed on my way.
The drive was great back road and very beautiful! Soon though I realized that I had taken the wrong back road. I was thinking time wise I should already be there but I was still in the middle of a mountain range. I was pretty much the only car in around. The road was so curvy that i was making myself car sick. I soon realized I was on the alleged "Dragon Tail" road. Or otherwise known as Hwy 129. It was really dark by this point so when I came upon this sign I at least knew I was going in the right direction.
Once I arrived at my brother's house it was really relaxing. I sure had missed them and I got to meet my little nephew for the first time. It took all of 3 seconds for my niece to warm up to me. She is so cute and so much fun to play with. However cute she may be I still had to get used to her waking me up every morning and crawling in bed with me. I mean look at her....precious!
CHRISTMAS DAY
It was good to be with family. I loved being with them all and had a relaxing time!
I got Ever a hill tribe skirt and Sawyer got some Muay Thai boxing shorts!
I did his hair...little punk
Now I do realize that this next part is really gross...but however gross it is it is that much more interesting....so sorry for those with week stomachs.
So I have heard of these ear candles before and I thought I would try them since I sometimes feel like my ears are "foggy". And I did..and this is the out come!
It does work for any of you who want to try it.
Next I went down to Birmingham, AL. I was excited to see old friends who have become like family to me down there. I felt like I didn't have enough time down there but what time I did spend I had a great time. I forgot to take pictures with some people (Jason, Memo and Craig, Mrs Wimberly)
Kurt took me out for dinner and a movie, so good to see him again. He is a friend from church and we were in small group together. He is also my very tall friend...
From Bham I headed back up north. I stopped in Chattanooga and spent the night at my Aunt and Uncle's house. It was good to catch up with them and I stayed up talking with my Aunt. I headed out the next morning back to my brother Pav's. I had to get packed up and ready to leave. We woke up at 4:30 in the morning and Pav and I headed down to Atlanta so I could catch my plane. It was a great time to talk with him and catch up more.
Pav and I moments before I went beyond security. I got a little teary eyed....sad
From Atlanta I flew out to San Francisco, where I sat in the airport for 12 hours till my next flight. Man, I wish I knew someone in SF that I could have visited. I found a museum/library on airplanes in the airport so I bunkered down there for several hours and watched some movies on my computer.
And then I made my way to the Reflection Room, a segregated place that is quiet where I finish my show I was watching. I then went to eat and walk around a bit, which I didn't do much of since I had to lug my suitcase around with me. Finally.....I was able to check in and get to my gate. I ended up meeting some people I knew who were also flying back to Thailand. We were on the same flight. We flew into Taipei 45 minutes late and all got lost. My first time I have gotten lost in an airport...the signs weren't good and no one was around to help us. But we finally made it to our gate and met up with another family I knew all headed back to Chiang Mai. The last leg of the trip....and then rest. I was so tired by this point.
Here is down town CM
And here is the smog...already
mountain smog city
Thus ended my Christmas Break. I was met by Kelly at the airport. So good to be back and with my roommates again!
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