Summer "Break"

Sorry blog readers! I have been out of the loop for almost a whole month! Thats because I have been a busy bee, taking a fake 10 day "vacation" in the middle of my summer semester and then having to work my patootie off to catch up! I started asking about making my special request for this trip back to California about 6 months ago, so I was thrilled to find out that everything would work out and I would be able to make it back for such a long time! Why did I need to miss so much school, you ask? Well, two of my good friends married the loves of their lives and I was lucky enough to be able to share that experience with them. I would have been incredibly disappointed to have missed out on these special days and new that, whatever kind of crazy work I would have to do the next few weeks to catch up, would be well worth it!

SO a little about my trip:

Friday May 25: Pharmacology exam at 8 AM, required class meeting until 11 AM, then STRAIGHT to the airport in Flint, MI to pick up my wedding date! After two flights (one verrrrryyyy small/turbulent plane), I arrived back home in good 'ol Elk Grove, California! I figured that I would be getting in too late to attend the rehearsal dinner (which I was pretty bummed about), but I miraculously made it! And boy am I glad I did! It was so great to see everything, sharing in the same excitement and love for the soon-to-be-wed couple, Kelsey and Lyle.

Saturday, May 26: The absolutely GORGEOUS wedding of my dear friends (Mrs.) Kelsey and (Mr.) Lyle Chan. (See "Now Introducing, Mr. and Mrs. Chan")

Sunday, May 27/Monday, May 28: Drove up to the bay area to see S's parents for the weekend! Its always great seeing them. I know that I am a very lucky girl to really fit in with my boyfriend's parents. They always welcome me in and treat me like one of their very own kids.

Tuesday, May 29: Boring day of doctor's appointments... (Yes, I am going to be a doctor in the near future and am still calling it boring) At night, I went back to my old workplace, the Wackford Aquatics Center for a nice workout...and boy was it nice! Swam 100 laps, which is pretty great for my first time back in a LOOOONNNG time. [I went swimming 4 days while at home, for a total of 10,000 meters...not to shabby!]

Wednesday, May 30: More appointments/visiting my mom's old co-workers/other non-interesting things

Thursday, May 31: Morgan's Good-Bye Celebration! Another one of my good friends is currently on the trip of a lifetime right now! She quit her job, quit her lease, sold all of her possessions and is now backpacking through Central America. I. AM. SO. STINKIN. JEALOUS. Anyways, we had a little going-away get together for her...we all brought some type of food idem, BBQed, and then went to a Sacramento River Cats Game (I love me some minor league baseball!)

Friday, June 1: Ralaxing day at home and then dinner with my cousin, Kathryn at this amazing restaurant, Wasabi (basically the same thing as BeniHanas...YUM). Then, Shopping for Peru Clothes! One of my biggest tasks to get completed while at home was to get all of my hiking gear ready for my trip! So, REI was a necessary stop while at home...almost $400 later, I was fully equipped with incredibly sturdy backpacking boots, 2 pairs of hiking socks, 2 memory-foam insoles and 2 pairs of "sock liners". I didn't know all this stuff even existed, but now that I am going to be an intense hiker, I am sure glad I have it all!

Saturday, June 2: My half-brother, sister-in law, niece and nephew came up for a visit! I know everyone thinks that their own relatives are the cutest kids ever, but you are all wrong...my little niece and nephew win as far as cuteness:

Sunday, June 3: The fabulous Kirsten/Kyle Konkel Wedding! (See future blog post)

Monday, June 4: My LONG flight home. Arrived back in East Lansing after midnight (after getting pulled over by a cop for the very first time in my life, in the most dangerous city in America...but thats another story). The next morning, I had 6 hours of required clinical experiences/small groups to make up for things I missed and then an exam the next day...So, it was a BIT of a stressful time coming back...but I made it through and am so thankful for my amazing week home.

Every time I go home, I really am reminded of how lucky I am still so close with all my high school girlfriends. I know that a lot of people lose track of their friends after high school, especially when everyone moves away for school/starts their lives in other areas, but I really am truly fortunate to say that my best friends from high school will be my best friends forever. :)