Going Home :(

I am going back to Cleveland today and am leaving my buddy in San Fran!!! I couldn't be more proud of her but after being inseparable for the last week, it's going to be quite the adjustment!!!
I have developed such a love and appreciation for San Francisco!!! It's awesome!!! If you have never been I highly recommend visiting!!! It's the most accepting city in the U.S. If you ask me. If you want to go streaking you can (not saying I tried it but...you can!!!), if you want to dye your hair pink and put it in a mow-hawk not as many people will gawk at you and If you make the trip from Cleveland to San Francisco via automobile people will respect you.
This was by far one of the best trips I have ever taken!!!! Can't wait for the next adventure!!!

Day #7!

Lucky day #7!!!!! So I got to the San Francisco airport on Thursday, thinking I was to depart back to Cleveland at 1:30 pm, but turns out I depart on Friday at 1:30 pm!!! Woooooo hoooo! I couldn't be happier, considering I was getting a bit emotional after saying goodbye to Ellen. :'(So, I called my hype girl and she picked my ass back up! We headed to the grocery and Target. Craziest Target I have EVER been to!!! The layout was completely different than any Target in the Midwest. Children were crying, people were running across our cart, couldn't find a toothbrush...but, oh what an experience!!!!
On Thursday pm, Ellen, me, Ellen's friend Lauren and my friend Sharon went to NOPA, this fancy pantsy restaurant off Divisidaro in the area of Nopa San Fran. Seeing my friend Sharon is always so inspiring!!! She has traveled and lived all over the world, has a contagious enthusiasm for life and has a beautiful heart!!! I am so happy she will be down the street from Ellen and teach her the ways of the city!!!

San Fran!!!!

Day #6-San Fran!!

We made it to the sunny city of San Francisco at 5 pm on Tuesday!!! The drive through the Rockies of California were quite windy & curvy but picture perfect!!!
Once in San Fran, we met up with Ellen's friend Lauren for dinner and drinks at Fly Bar. Delicious!! Then we went to her new home off Baker St. to meet the roomies!! They are a great group of people! I am so happy for her!!
Later, my college buddy, Ben, met us up at Danny Coyle's bar for drinks and trivia!! I <3 San Fran!!! There are so many diverse people to learn from and so much to do!! It's different from any city I have been to. It has so much character and the best part...it is sunny almost always!!!! I better get my tan-on before I go back to cold, snowy, cloudy Cleveland!!!

Day #5-Salt Lake City, UT & Reno, NV

Tuesday we visited Temple Square! It was unbelievable!!! I wish we had more time to walk around and learn about Mormonism, but the brief visit was well worth it!!
Then, it was back on the road again for the final long haul to Reno, NV! It was interesting to see how the terrain changed from Utah to Nevada. Nevada was much drier and dustier than the mountains of Utah. We saw what looked like either a forest fire or "hot spots" in Nevada. The funniest part about stopping at any gas station is the casino attached, which reeks of smoke!! I can see how people can get addicted to gambling. I mean I got pretty into Blackjack in Reno;)
We stayed at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino in Reno. For dinner we ate AMAZING cioppino, a fish stew which originated from San Francisco paired with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Then we had some beginners luck at blackjack. I may have a new calling in life;)

Day #4-Park City, UT & Salt Lake City, UT

Wow! Today was unbelievable! Ellen & I were lucky enough to rent skis (and snowblades-Ellen's preference ;) and enjoy the glorious mountains of Park City, UT, home to the 2002 Winter Olympics. The views were breathtaking! Our cameras could not capture the moments we felt so insignificant among the snow-topped mountains at every angle. Enjoy the pictures ;) And if you ever get a chance, go ski out west!!! It totally beats Boston Mills/Brandywine and Holiday Valley...TRUST ME!!!
After skiing, we decided to drive to Salt Lake City, which is only 30 minutes away and rent a hotel for the night. It has been wonderful just hanging out with each other not in the car the last couple days. We soaked in the hot tub, of course, with a nice glass of Cabernet (wine of choice for the trip), watched Xavier beat Vanderbilt in b-ball (woot! woot!) and ordered some Greek food to go. Gotta love Greek salads and lamb gyros!!!
Tomorrow, we hope to stop by the Salt Lake Temple, a huge Mormon Temple that attracts thousands of visitors every year from all around the world. The Temple is right down the street from us. It's gorgeous! The Mormon religion is fascinating to the both of us and we hope to learn a lot from this visit. We have already learned so much about this religion while in Utah from bartenders to bus drivers. Then...we're off to Reno to win big money!!!!

Day #3!!!-Colorado, Wyoming & Utah

Today was the coolest drive yet!! Not gonna lie, we were both pretty sleepy and a bit stir-crazy today driving from Denver, CO to Park City Utah. Wouldn't you be cranky too after driving 1,707 miles, 27 hours in 3 days!? ;) I am not complaining at all, just stating the facts. That's a helluva lot of driving and exploring in just three days!!!
In Denver, we stayed with my college buddy, Ray, who housed us and took us out in the town for Mexican (strongest margaritas ever!) and bar hopping. The 2 hr time difference can do some damage in the party scene but we kept it low-keyed, drinking amongst awesome people!
We had to pull over a couple times today to stretch our legs and clear our minds before we went psycho in "the silver bullet." The pictures attached are from our travels in Wyoming, a gorgeous red rock state and Utah. I have this new found obsession with windmills after this trip. From these pictures, I am sure you can tell why :) The Rocky Mountains at night, however, not my favorite place to drive through.
Tonight, at 7 pm Utah time 9 pm Cleveland time, we pulled into the Park City, Utah Marriott, jumped into the hot tub and enjoyed another delicious bottle of Cabernet and sushi at our own private sushi/steak restaurant. Seriously, there is no one in Park City now. We are totally spoiled!!!!
Tonight, I will be dreaming about the red rocks and skiing in Park City tomorrow. Sooooo lucky!!!
Goodnight friends!

Colorado!!!

Words cannot describe how gorgeous the drive into Denver, Colorado is. You just have to see it for yourself!!!

Dino

Yes. There is a T-Rex in the prairie.

We may not have the same taste in music, but...boy bands of the 90s have reunited us!! Singing our hearts out on the open road of the great plains of Nebraska!!

Nebraska

Back on the Road Again!!-Nebraska & Colorado

Well. Here's to Day #2 on the open road toward California!! Our first day was very successful and eventful!!! We left Cleveland, Ohio and 15 hours later made it to Omaha, Nebraska! We met a very nice mechanic while dining in East Moline (outside of Chicago) who said to us, "Man, you guys have guts!" once he found out we were trekking it to San Fran in Ellen's 2003 Chevy Malibu aka. the silver bullet. I like to think we have guts;)
Thanks to my friend, Amy Crutcher, who goes to Creighton University in Omaha, we had an amazing sushi dinner and much needed bottle of Cabernet at Blue Sushi in downtown Omaha. Then, passed out in our two queen beds at 10 pm, 11 pm in Cleveland.
So, today, we are making the journey down I-80 W toward Denver, Colorado!! It's a gorgeous, sunny day to be driving with Ellen, St. Christopher, Mary and 5 LB 8 oz little baby Jesus :)

The Heartland of America

"Omaha! Somewhere in the middle of America!"
-Counting Crows

Illinois!!!

Indiana!!!

Here we go!!!

"it's 5 o'clock in the morning!!" on our way out west!!!

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!! I'm feeling so blessed to be going on the road-trip of a lifetime with one of my best friends!!!! May you all gobble 'til you wobble!!!

1 week!

Una semana!!!

Getting Ready!!!

Only 2 weeks EXACTLY until we are making our way to "The Golden State!"