Dear Little Women,

The following are lessons learned after I saw the movie:

• the word 'awful' is inappropriate to say as it is considered to be slang
• today, the word 'ninny pinny' isn't used NEARLY as often as it should
• i hope to never date a person my friends would describe as 'dull as powder'
  
• cutting one's hair off is equivalent to social suicide
• although my gut reaction is to not like jo for turning down laurie's insanely perfect marriage proposal, the fact that she falls for mr. baehr who publishes her novel makes me overlook her past mistake
• swine flu is just as trendy today as scarlet fever was back then

Dear Sapa Bar and Grill,

The speed dating was tolerable but the food was INCREDIBLE.

I got more than enough to eat. Who knew sushi could be so good? Oh wait, I did.

Open to the public July 13 - grand opening is July 9 w/ free food - come one, come all. You won't be disappointed.

www.sapabarandgrill.com

Dear sad but true,

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to Bear Lake this weekend.

Dear tender mercies,

Thank you for friends who search in the grass, at night, on their knees, with their headlamp for a lost necklace.

Thank you for friends who play fetch with the dog while I continue to search for the lost necklace.

Thank you for a sister who found the necklace on the edge of the air conditioning unit and took time to de-tangle the chain.

It's the little things that make the difference.

Dear vacation,

You are wonderful.
Completely rejuvenating.

I am looking into the possibility of making you a career...but then I guess that kind of defeats your purpose if it is work. But man, what a day job that would be.


Walk in the Blue Mountains, Australia - shout out to Fern Gully, the Last Rainforest. "Can't you feel it's pain?" referencing the hurt we cause trees by our need to write our names in their bark.


Nothing makes me happier than the beach. Maroubra Beach outside of Sydney.


When asked, 'What animal would you want to be if you had the choice?' I decided a tiger...even though I think I look like a koala.


See the resemblance?



My view in Samoa for a week. Not too bad.


I love coconuts. True happiness.


Samoan fire dancers.
Hot in more ways than one.

Dear When in Rome,

(...and by Rome, I mean Australia + Samoa...)

In Sydney, I saw a show at the Opera House. Yes, THE Sydney Opera House.

In Brisbane I fed kangaroos. I also attempted to kiss one as well, but he would have nothing to do with me...strangely paralleling my dating life...

I experienced 24 hours non-stop rain...and we're not talking a sprinkling, we're talking torrential downpours that closed roads, shut down schools, businesses, you name it. It was nuts.

I saw my best friend get married and loved every minute!

In Samoa, I ate fresh papaya, coconut, oranges, bananas and some other fruits I don't know the names for.

I slept in a hut 50 ft from the beach.

Every day I went to the beach.
Every day I swam.
Every day I napped.
Every day I was bit by at least 10 mosquitoes.

And last but not least...

I received 2 marriage proposals.
I was asked out by 3 Samoan men.

Pictures forthcoming.

Dear Law of Accumulation,

I am choosing to believe that if I run nine 5Ks, it is the same as running a marathon.

3 down, 6 to go.