You know you're a Geography Major when...

Someone erroneously calls the Baltic states the Balkan states, and you recognize it. Thank you How I Met Your Mother.

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.
- Sir Francis Bacon

The Big Decisions

One minute you are incredibly excited and tantalized by the possibilities that come from big decisions that change your whole life, and then the next minute you're scared out of your mind about making those decisions and moving forward into that whole new life. I wonder, when it comes to big life decisions, will you ever feel completely ready for the change?


(ps to those wondering, NOT engaged. Not even close, so don't worry.)

Bienvenidos a Mexico!

I got home from Baja (which coincidentally means 'low' in Spanish). I spent a week at Rancho Los Amigos near San Jose del Cabo (as near as you can consider over an hour drive away on a windy dusty potholed road that induces instant nausea.)

Fishing in the mornings

Sipping Mango juice or water with lime in the sun in the afternoon. Mostly this is what I did the entire time I was there: nothing. And it was wonderful.

Chino Maro my Dad caught.

The city of San Jose del Cabo for some shopping. Cabo means 'end' in Spanish.

Sunset from the back porch.

The scary inside of a fish's mouth. Yes, those are teeth way down in its throat...

My dad is the self-proclaimed King of Baja. He caught over 50 fish from the beach in two weeks in Mexico.

Fish Omelet for breakfast!

Cabo Pulmo, home of one of the last living coral reefs in the world!

I was so excited to snorkel, but...

I got stung by a jelly fish! A bluebottle to be exact! It stung me several times on both legs. I had a red line connoting where its tentacle wrapped around my thigh. Luckily it didn't hurt worse than razor burn and all the pain went away with a little meat tenderizer. Unluckily, I didn't get to go snorkeling.

We did a lot of fishing. I nearly caught something big on the beach. I don't know what it was because it got away. I do know that it messed up my wrist and I'm having a hard time using it now! I also know that even though I was in Mexico and far away from everything, I still looked cute. Cute enough apparently for a very drunk man to tell me he loved me before crashing through a table in a small cantina that looked something like this:

Monday Morning:

Mexican boys casting nets for sardines at sunrise.

Deep-sea fishing early Monday morning.

Look at that beast!

I caught a dog-toothed snapper! We ate it that night. Delicious. Though the catching of the fish made me feel uncomfortable. You can see it in my face.

Then we saw dolphins! And (unpictured) manta rays and sea lions.

Scary dog toothed fish. Look how sharp those teeth are! What if that bit you?

We also caught Trigger fish that WOULD NOT DIE! I felt so sorry for them. They kept flipping and trying to breathe TWO HOURS after they had been in the water. And, oh guess what, they filleted them alive. Yes. Alive. And yes they continued to be alive after both of their sides had been filleted. Luckily I hadn't had lunch, or I would have lost it.

It was a good week. I got a good tan and a lot of naps. I was well-relaxed to come back to work at 4am this morning... No one is that relaxed.

Telegram

Just got home from Baja. STOP
Now I have to go to sleep. STOP
Work starts at 4a tomorrow. STOP
Will post photos when I can. END

Up in the Atmosphere, Up where the Air is clear...

.yesterday we flew kites.

.here i am struggling with the stupid lizard kite. it was so small it wouldn't fly.

.lauren was the photographer. she was smart and sat in the grass enjoying the sunshine.

.matt's parrot kite.

.poor lauren had never before flown a kite. she struggled at times.

.her younger brother david showed up for some of the high-flying fun.

.we untangled a lot of knots. most of them were lauren's doing. not all, but most.

.when we got tired of flying we took a page out of lauren's book and enjoyed the sun.

.in this picture matt is trying to stick his fingers up my nose.

.binghams.

.the boys look like creepers in this photo.

.the boys started biting our hair.

."this is me as a kite".

.i'm so happy it stopped snowing and now it can finally be proper springtime.