Winter has been an experience this year. Aside from the fiasco of traveling to multiple states, dealing with three different climates and three very different American cultures, I've had to tackle yet another series of course-altering decisions. Let's start off simple: travels first. For some reason the entire airline industry and I were never meant to be friends. Southwest airlines seems to be the only exception. I made it to Chicago with no problems whatsoever (Southwest flight of course). The weather at home didn't look as willing to make my stay pleasant. Snow and cold and broken cars kept me homebound most of the time. I didn't get the chance to revisit some of my favorite Chicago spots or visit with some of my favorite Chicago people. I guess there's always next time, right? I really need to stop coming home during the most meteorologically inconvenient season of the year. Regardless, I relished the time spent with my family and hope it's not too long before I see you again.

A canceled flight, multiple delays and an overnight stay in Atlanta later, I made it to Tallahassee. Round two of my vacation had begun. We immediately entered our giddy, love-y state and showered each other with gifts from the Christmas and birthday we had missed while apart. The next three days were spent in utter bliss as Taylor and I were so kindly given use of a beach house by friends of the family. I rarely gush over things like this but it was the most romantic experience I've ever had: a porch swing overlooking the beach, watching dolphins swim past in the glittering, clear water, walking up and down the beach finding the most diverse array of life that you could encounter in such a small area, cooking Taylor his belated birthday dinner of homemade squash ravioli, drinking wine, going for nighttime walks and discovering nocturnal ocean creatures, watching sunsets blazing with color, collecting fresh scallops for lunch, building a fire in the wood stove at night...

We loved every minute of it and were incredibly sad when we had to leave.

For the rest of the pictures, click here

The trip seemed to go by so fast, we just didn't have enough time to do all the things we wanted to. We had to pick and choose, leaving some adventures for another day in the future. There was a lot of really delicious food, more outdoor adventures (so far the hiking boots have been wonderful, mom!) and some family time as well. It always takes me a day or two to adjust to his family's extreme attention to politeness and manners. It's funny how those rules are in place to give a pleasant and proper atmosphere but truthfully, they make me uncomfortable. Maybe I'm just used to the laid-back way we do things at home, but I feel like some formalities are unnecessary when it comes to family and good friends. Still, I do my best to be as polite a guest as I can manage. After all the fun, the worst part came and we said a not-so-painful goodbye. This time, the longing and ache that usually accompanies these situations was relatively absent because we knew my situation would be changing soon. Let's get to that part...

I do not like Lubbock, Texas. There are a number of reasons why and most you can probably guess but I've been relatively unhappy there in comparison to past living situations. As much as I'd love to just grin and bear it, avoid all the hassle of moving again, job hunting, school searching and the like, it just isn't my style to accept an undesirable situation that I have the power to change. My worst fear was disappointing people and putting additional stress on undeserving bystanders. After all the anxious dread I felt prior to delivering the news of my leaving Texas to these parties, I've found everyone to be incredibly understanding and supportive to the point that a huge weight has been lifted. Knowing that people have confidence in your ability to manage your life and make decisions is incredibly reassuring. I have been feeling my usual self again and eagerly looking forward to the future. Right now things are a bit up in the air: a possible job in Arizona, but more likely is moving back to Northern California. While Taylor and I 'play house' I will be researching projects and schools for a later point in time while enjoying the quirks and simple pleasures I've been missing from life in Mendocino county (or as Taylor appropriately calls it, "la-la land")