home.

Alas, we have made it.

Last time I checked in, I was in Vail, CO, for the first night of two. That night, Monique and her roommates got a keg and we got to meet all of her friends, who were all so cool and fun to hang out with. The next day, Emily went snowboarding with her friend Doug while Monique, her friends Liz and Brian, her boyfriend Jess and I decided to go for an outdoor excursion. Jess threw a bunch of cushions in the back of his pickup truck and drove us all around a little mountain top while we bounced around in back. Sounds fun, right? It was...at first. Jess, quite the adventurer, was driving us up and down extremely steep and loose trails to the point where the three girls in the truck bed were screaming for their lives and basically squatting so we could move to the different corners depending on which angle the truck was leaning. I kid you not, there were at least three times I thought the truck would legitimately flip over. On the way back down, we banged on the window right before the steep parts and insisted that we get out and walk. Despite all the chaos though, it was absolutely stunning out there. Colorado really is such an amazing place and I really hope to spend more time there.

At 6 a.m. the next morning, Emily and I hit the road to drive to Vegas, about an 11 hour drive. Oy. Exiting Colorado was simply gorgeous as we drove through deep canyons and alongside winding rivers. Everything was green and shimmering, especially with the morning sun slowly on the rise. At the time, I thought it had been the prettiest part of our drive since we left Vermont, but nothing could have prepared me for Utah. You can look at all the pictures and video clips you want but driving through the state of Utah is one of the most unique and stunningly gorgeous experiences you could have in this country, I think. The whole time I couldn't help but think of a clip I read in the beginning of the book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," all about how when you drive in a car, your voyeurism experience is basically the same as watching TV. Riding on a motorcycle, however, really puts you in your element and connects you with what you see around you. I definitely wished I had been on a motorcycle of some sort in Utah. The land is all shades or red, orange and brown, and has the craziest cuts and jags. Instead of gradual mountains rising from the earth, Utah consists of sudden walls of rock that seem to grow sporadically and randomly, and it is easy to see how the whole state used to be a giant lake bed. I had been to Utah twice before to hike Arches National Park and Zion National Park. I remember appreciating the experiences enough but now I want nothing more than to get back out there and hike it all over again with a fresh memory and a new conscious.

Anywayyyyyyy. I digress. Emily and I got to Las Vegas in the early evening and couldn't help but laugh, not only at how disgustingly hot it was there (about 100 degrees), but also at the absurdity of this excessive and flashy city which stands alone in the middle of the desert. We had a nice evening (one that didn't match most people's idea of a night out in Vegas). We met Emily's sister, Julia, for dinner, and then after she left, we met Emily's friend from camp, Zach. We had one drink with him at the Bellagio at a little bar that overlooked the water show. Seeing as how that ONE drink cost $14, we quickly decided to change location. Zach took us to a place called 4 Queens which was away from the main part of the strip: still flashy in Vegas style, but not crowded or ridiculously expensive. There was a giant light show in this half indoor, half outdoor arena and we stood around drinking out of a bottle of champagne. Then we went to a cheap casino across the street from our hotel called "Slots A Fun." Whoooo! I was tired and not feeling too hot so I played a few slots but then just ended up watching Emily play Roulette. We headed back to the hotel room afterward and actually paid $14 to watch "Confessions of a Shopaholic." What a waste. But OH MY, those beds were so comfy I actually started giggling when I crawled in. That was the best night of sleep I got in awhile.

Friday, we drove to L.A. and got to Abby's house around 7.30. I couldn't believe we had made it to California. Even though we were still eight hours away from my house, Emily and I had made it through twelve states in about twelve days. Emily kept saying, "I'm in California!" and while I couldn't believe it myself, I kept having to remind her how different L.A. and San Francisco are! We spent Saturday on Main St. where Abby works (her store, Agabhumi, is AMAZING) and walked around the Venice Beach boardwalk (hellooo henna tattoos). We spent a few hours on the beach and then headed back to Abby's where Emily and I decided to make the two hour drive to Santa Barbara to spend time with Taylor and his girlfriend, Aya. We were tired and didn't feel like going out in L.A. again, not to mention, I can't remember the last time I got to hang out with my brother without a family function being involved.

Sunday, we drove to my house.

It's been a fascinating two weeks filled with nostalgia, adventure, confusion, and excitement. Now, here I am, showing Emily the place where I grew up and getting ready to start my summer job and just relax for awhile. I'm ready to walk away from the Burlington bars and the general lack of responsibility that I felt like I was able to get away with this past year. Yes, I had a job, and no, I wasn't partying every minute of every day, but I was anxious and maybe bored in a way and just felt the need to constantly be with all my friends or chilling at the bar. Whatever it was, I'm appreciating this breath of fresh air and falling asleep at midnight and waking up at 8 or 9 and enjoying the whole day slowly. When work starts next week, I'll appreciate having busier hours and then coming home to read and fall asleep or whatnot. This is my chance to clear my mind and get healthier and get into my routine before I have another two years of hard, hard work.

Ok, time to watch a movie. Ta ta.