"The Circle of Life" - Elton John

Nevada! Yep I headed out to Nevada which was a whole new experience for me! My good friend Erin is working at Safe Haven Rescue Zoo, a large animal rehabilitation zoo in Imlay, Nevada (Population 237) and I went to visit her. She picked me up in Reno and we drove 2 hours back to her place. She lives on the zoo property with another girl, Lindsey, and her bosses, the couple who own Sweet Haven, and of course the 3 tigers, 2 lions, 2 foxes, 2 bob cats, 2 cougars, and 1 crazy coyote. I loved it.

There was not much to do when you live in a valley with only two other “neighbors” as far as the eye can see and 45 minutes from a restaurant, but I managed to find things to do. Erinworked some days and I would come out and run alongside the tigers cages, watch them tackle boxes for the raw turkeys inside, or sneak up and scare the lions. It was very entertaining, however I did learn that cougars are TERRIFYING. I think it is by far the greatest mascot to have, they always had that don't even think about messing with me look. The tigers loved to play and I fell in love with Layla and Choi Hu. Kovu, the lion, had a thing for me and would chase me for hours. I miss those cats...

Lindsey was also great. We all went into town for mexican one night and stuffed crust pizza another, watched Calender Girls and the Office and I decided she fit in easily.

Erin and I stayed busy. We went driving around one day and

I got some homemadedelicious beef (or deer or something) jerky which Erin hated me for (it smelled up her car). We saw some concrete thing some guy made out of trash, not really sure how to explain it... One day we took the 4-wheeler up into the mountains and had lunch at the top of a mountain I forced Erin to climb. In my defense, I had no idea it was 80 degrees uphill... but the view was amazing and we had fun. I was a little worried the whole time because apparently there are cougars up there and I had already decided that cougars are the one animal (now more than pumas) that I don't ever want to cross.

Erin and I headed into Reno the day before I flew out because my flight was so early, and we had to try some gambling. We found a bar with free drinks, had dinner at a brewery in our hotel (grilled cheese burger mmmmm) and hit the casinos. I won 20 bucks at the slots but then somehow after Roulette and more slots I was negative 25 by the end of the night.... It was really fun though. It was hard to say good-bye to Erin since neither of us know what we will be doing next. I really loved Nevada. I see the appeal of heading out west. I couldn't get over the space and driving for miles before you see anything other than mountains and of course all those black cows.

"I just can't wait to get on the road again" - Willie Nelson

So before I go off telling about my sailing adventures I should take some time to fill in that time between Europe and the Bahamas...

I got home exhausted on December 13^th. I had a blast in Europe but was ready for a real and clean shower, my own bed in my own room and to sleep in as late as I want and then get clothes out of my closet instead of a backpack.... and of course see my family.

December flew by with family and friends. Last minute christmas presents, unpacking, wrapping, laundry all kept me busy. The whole family came down for christmas and the extended family made it the day after christmas and we had a blast! New Years was spent out with friends and too soon it was January. As much as I love Anderson, I couldn't stay there until March so I went on a road trip!

My first week was spent driving the good ol' chevy truck (yes the bug is gone) up to West Virginia to spend time with the cousins. Nights spent reading and drinking hot tea with Aunt Karen, days spent fighting the snow and honey bears yaps to build legos with Frankie and Colin. A couple days at Jamie and Fathoms laying on the couch with the 24 hour bug while “babysitting” Raleigh and Will. More like them watching me but I got better and got to enjoy some time with them in the end. After a night with Frank and Carol, and a quick repair on the radiator.... I was off to Roanoke.

I spent a week with the always beautiful Katie Perdue. She and I spent the first

year and a half at CofC together on crew before she left me for bigger and better things at UVA. She is marrying the always fun Josh this summer and I unfortunately am missing the wedding. So I decided to spend a week at their very beautiful new home and spend some time catching up. It was my first time in Roanoke and I loved it. We saw the star, had pizza, went sightseeing and I “helped” with some wedding planning. Had my first Red Robin experience and learned all about all you can eat fries...

From Roanoke I took a flight down to Flordia to visit Aunt Valerie and Uncle Brian. Aunt Karen was there as well and we spent our time reading and eating out and meeting up with Val and Brian's friends. Karen and I went to the Clearwater aquarium and rescue center and saw tons of sea turtles and dolphins, including Winter who has a movie about her coming to a theatre near you! Valerie also took off work on monday and we went swimming with the manatees!!!! It was so fun. Karen came along, though wasn't up for the cold water. We saw tons of them. They would swim up to us and we got to pet them. A couple even rolled over so we could rub their bellies (they even had bellybuttons). My dad flew in the day before I left so I got to see him for a bit (my parents swore I was being elusive). After my week in Florida it was hard to go back to the cold and snowy Roanoke but I survived. I spent one more night with Josh and Katie before heading home.

The driving was fun, specifically because I was listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on tape. Getting ready for the last movie! Yes there is a movie theatre in Nassau I already checked. But after a month of traveling, my visits were not over yet....