Thanks

So my time at home was great fun... I managed to get sunburned twice, don't ask me how, had a great time seeing all my family and friends and got to go shopping! I spent 4 days on the eastern shore for Kim's wedding and had a blast. The whole wedding party stayed all weekend at a really nice hotel on the water and I fell in love with stoli raspberry and sprites! The weather was perfect and the party was even better, we danced all night long.


I wanted to say thanks to everyone for making an effort to see me while I was home especially all my friends with kids! Everyone always makes me feel special and I just wanted to say I have the best friends and family... People were giving me their cars and going out of their way to hang out even taking off work (Julie and Pam:) As always it felt that my time home was too short but before you know it I will be home again, even if it's just for a bit. Especially thanks to Clay, Kim and the Davidson's for always taking such good care of me and for giving me such an amazing weekend! I love you guys...


Been back in Dahab for a few days now, sleeping a lot and trying to trace down my bag! Aghh... so annoying. Hopefully I will get it today. It was great to see Cameron even though he's been working everyday since I've been back. Not much has seemed to change here and feels like I never left although it has def gotten hotter! Hopefully I will get some work soon to just get back into the swing of things, can't wait to get back under water.

Back in the desert

After 2 days, 4 flights and no bag, I'm finally home...
Will take a few days to get back on schedule and get used to this heat!!! Think the temp went up a few since I left (thank God for air-con) but Im glad to be back. Will finish updating on time at home soon and post pics from the wedding...

Sailing

Not much time to write as I have been super busy since the second I arrived back home but I went with my brother today for a sailboat race and it was really fun. There wasn't much wind but I still really enjoyed it and got some good pictures. Tomorrow Im heading off to the eastern shore for a wedding Im in and spending the whole weekend there and will be a great time...
Well, it's past my bedtime...

Good Friends

Liam chillin in an old rocking chair from when Christopher and I were babies...

Babies, Babies, everywhere!!!

The everything must go sale...

My mom, Jack and Angela

Lauren and I

Angela, My brother, Christopher, me, Brad, Sondra, Mike and Kristy

My short-term roomie, Bo

We had a BBQ on Saturday and I got to see most of my friends and their babies, some I hadnt even met yet. People were also bringing their nieces and my friend Jess asked if it was required to bring a baby in order to get into the party:)
We all had a great time and thanks to everyone for coming... Everyone was joking about the baby thing and of course my brother was talking about getting a baby wrestling match going but seriously next year we may need a moon bounce.

Home sweet home

Finally home... after a 36 hour trip, twas NOT fun. It has taken me the better part of 3 days to adjust. The first morning I woke up at 6am not being able to sleep and went out into the living room of my brothers house, which is where I'm staying, and watched tv. It felt like I was surrounded by jungle with green out of every window and the sound of birds chirping. I have started the mammoth task of sorting through my things for a yard sale we are having on Sat. I was informed by my mom, whom has been storing all my stuff, that we would be selling it all! Well, most of it anyways, the things that have no meaning to me at least. I didn't realize how much I had accumulated over the years... I have 1/2 of today left to go through the rest of it and am not looking forward to it! After being away for so long you realize how little you can get by with.

I was standing in line at the airport in Cairo and was looking at my stuff. Basically all the things I have had or needed in the past 6 months and it came down to one pair of flip flops a small back pack and my larger backpack with about 4 outfits in it and realized that I hadn't really needed much else. So going through all the things I had saved makes me realize even more how insignificant these things are to me now. Why did I have 3 sets of mixing bowls? Or over 10 half empty bottles of lotion and hair products? Or 5 pairs of sneakers when I've lived off of one pair of $5 flip flops for the past 6 months. I have lived around and seen people who dont even have a home, who alternate between the only 2 t-shirts they own, work 12 hour days and sleep on boards behind the huts that we pay $7 a night to sleep in...

So after tomorrow, when hopefully everything is sold, I'm sure I will feel a huge weight lifted and after my time at home which I love, I will go back to where life is simple and you make due with whatever you can get and there are no calenders and to do lists and no 5 year plans. After coming home I realize just how fortunate I am to be able to live a life without all these things to cloud your mind and just wish that everyone I love could experience how it feels to be truly free.

And as everyone is probably wondering what does this all mean? Am I ever coming home again... I'm sorry to say I do not know the answer. I have no schedules, no time tables and definitely no 5 year plan... at least for now. I have fallen head over heels in love with diving and can't imagine my life without it at this point. As long as I'm happy I won't be changing a thing.

Has it really been 6 months???

I can't believe it's time to go home again... 6 months really flies by!!! So much has changed in my life and am really excited to get home and see all the new things that took place there as well. Since all my friends decided to have babies in the last months... there will be a lot to catch up on!
I am just relaxing today getting everything together to leave tonight. I am taking a bus to Sharm el Sheik and getting a flight to Cairo and unfortunately will have to spend the night there (in the airport I mean) as I'm flying out of there at about 7:30 am. Definitely not looking forward to it! Then off to Paris, Boston and then finally Baltimore...
The past few days have been fairly hectic, I got a call on Thursday night to work for the next 3 days and needed the money so I spent the past 3 days working, sharing a group of divers from London of 12 with another divemaster and have been getting home at about 6:30pm every night along with loading and unloading 30 tanks a day, more than once... Its good for me though. Quick way to build up the muscles:) Have been coming home and passing out early including on birthday which Cam wouldn't let me forget that Im going into my 30th year and can't handle all the excitement... easy for him to say, he just turned 25! My last dive was a nice one but Im sure I will be ready to get back in the water asap.
I am sad to leave Cameron and the sea but equally excited to go home.
Can't wait to see you all if I ever make it there!!!
Why do you all live so far away??? :):):)

Happy Birthday Cameron

Today is Cam's birthday. I made him 'American' pancakes for breakfast. Everywhere else, at least in here, Asia and Europe their pancakes are a lot different than ours. Theirs are a lot thinner and more like crepes w/ a different consistency and he kind of looked at my fat, fluffy pancakes like I didn't know what I was doing but of course ended up liking them. We are planning on going to a beach BBQ at a bar called the furry cup, it's called furry Thursdays, tonight to celebrate. We are taking tomorrow off to relax and hang out for our birthdays since mine is on Sat... but haven't made any plans yet. Some diving might be in order... we'll see. Last night Cam made me a popular british dinner which was beans on toast... toast with melted cheese with baked beans (their baked beans are a little differnt than ours) poured over top... very good. Must try.

I have been crazily trying to organize my trip home, plane tickets, drs appts, and meeting up with friends and have just been informed my my mother that she has started a 'schedule ' for me while I'm home... THANKS MOM:)

It's really started getting warm here but the past few days there has been a fierce wind coming through, supposedly there is a hurricane in the Persian Gulf??? Not sure though.
Other than that not much to report...

See everyone soon!!!

house

Pics of the beach across the street from our house

Our garden