Catching up...

Happy 2011 everyone!  Once I returned from Serbia, I decided to stop blogging because my life ceased to be interesting.  Well, that is not exactly true, but it was interesting in a much different way, and I didn't really want to share all of my new life with the world!  Coming back to Texas was a bit of a struggle.  Everything was different for me.  The changes included a new job, not having a house, being single, and most of all, me.  I was different, shaped by the experiences I had in Eastern Europe.  I had such an amazing time in Serbia, I wasn't mentally prepared to come back to my old life.  Therefore, I decided to make the most of my fresh start by meeting new people, moving to a new neighborhood, and generally taking life as it came instead of trying to plan everything.  I have never been happier and have never felt more capable in my life.  There is nothing like testing your limits to realize exactly what you can accomplish.

Since returning to the USA, I have been traveling quite a bit for work.  I went to Chicago, Minneapolis (3x), Cincinnati, Boston, Philadelphia, Lynchburg and Charlottesville, Virginia, and Raleigh (2x).  I also took a few personal trips, including a college reunion in Santa Fe,  visiting my brother in DC, 2 trips to Indiana to visit my family, a trip to Austin, a camping/floating trip to San Antonio, and a trip to Seattle to visit my old roommate and her husband S&C.

I wanted to post some pictures from these trips so you can see what I have been up to and so I can have a log of my trips!  These are some photos from my trips this past summer and fall.

A summer storm near Minneapolis, MN

The GABP in Cincinnati.  I saw a 103mph pitch that night!

Monticello, TJ's pad

Chicago on a gray day

Boston

Massachusetts's State Capitol

A wonderful Texas meal in Georgetown

Texas State Capitol.  It is taller than the US Capitol in DC.

YeeHaw!  At the Texas Capitol.

In December, I went to Seattle to visit my old college roommate and her husband, S&C.  I had only seen them twice in the 10 years since I left Purdue.  I flew out on a Thursday night, and they met me at the airport.  December may not be the ideal time to visit the PacNW, but we had a fantastic time.  They took me to all of the tourist highlights, including Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Red Hook Brewery, Chateau St. Michelle Winery, and the Chihuly Glass Museum.  I ate some fantastic seafood, and went to two breweries and a winery, which as you all know, are big highlights for me.  Here are some photos from that trip.  

At Red Hook Brewery

Pike Place Market

Cheddaring at Pike Place Market Cheese Shop

The Seattle skyline from the Space Needle

The Space Needle

So for now, I will keep blogging about my travels.  I have several great trips planned for 2011, and I'm glad that I can share them with you all again!

Happy New Year!