Marriott Fremont

... we were off to go on our hike. We went for a small hike, with Louis the poodle, and I think everyone was tired or something, and we didn't go for very long, but it was fun, and pretty. We hopped in the car, and went to a thrift store that Lil said was really good. I found an obnoxious 80's colored ski jacket and obviously had to get it, Jen found a suede jacket, and Sophie a sweatshirt and a few other things. The nice old woman at the counter told us where the ATM machine ...

... fact that they were playing No Country for Old Men but in French...the *******s...but we did have chick flix a plenty...when will I get my karma points back?? ARRRGH...We all landed and Erica swung by and picked up Marc, Jefe and I, while we left Eric to be picked up by Monica. It was a fun and exciting trip and I look forward to our next Mancation...

... c*rds being printed. (Phew!) There *lso might be * third member to our shen*****ns here. Meliss* is working on finding * w*y to t*ke * month *w*y from life so we might be ch*nging our blog to AKMgotoeurope! How exciting!! All in *ll, the pl*nning is going smoothly. Lets keep our fingers crossed th*t the next three *nd * h*lf months go by f*st *nd e*sy!

... went with the smurfs theme. There was Poet Schmeiz, and Schmeizette, and since we all came from a magnet school there was a lot of competition for Brainy Schmeiz, but not a lot of competition for Hefty Schmeiz. I was on the soccer team, and had pretty decent musculature for a brainiac, so I became Hefty. Or perhaps it was the Hefty Bag I was using as a pack cover, I'm not sure, but I think I'll stick with the first story.

Less than 24 hours away from take off. Nervous, excited, unsure of what I am in for. It will be an adventure. One of the reasons were going to South Africa is for the daisies. It's too cold in the States for these daisies, so here we are going to the other end of the world in search of some daisies.

Getting ready to leave was an adventure in and of itself. No matter how much I tried to do in advance, it seemed like everything had to happen at the last minute. But thanks to the help of my aunt, uncle, and cousin, I managed to move out of my apartment in enough time to still ...

... see a doctor'....which she did! Vegas itself is bizarre. We stayed in Circus Circus, a family based casino. That says it all! Kids could gamble for Teddy Bears whilst parents spend their money whilst drinking their free booze. We heard of people losing cars and even houses in games. You can literally gamble for anything! There is a hotel which has white lions in the casino....need we say more? The main strip is bright and busy. It is ...

... hell. Leaving the airport at Seattle was one to remember. This story proves that the people that work at airport securities are worth every cent that they are paid and that our security is safe in their hands. After checking in and passing though the line for airport security we eventually came to the front of the line and passed over our bags to go through the x ray machine. Safely behind the cordoned off area awaiting our shoes and belongs ...

... around the world, but what about the work that needs to be done in America? I honestly enjoy not being in the States right now, the political situation at home is one that I don’t miss. It was difficult for me to be bombarded with the images of Richard Clarke and Condoleezza Rice 24/7. (I really loved watching the Daily Show with my mom though!) I didn’t have a television in Rivne and news here doesn’t cover American stuff nearly as often as European. However ...

... news to hear someone was driving about the freeway shooting dead other drivers!!. We had a quick change of plans and flew back to LA instead. We also took several bus tours, a scenic tour that took in golden gate bridge and up to the Twin Peaks lookout with a view over San Francisco. We noticed that everywhere there were Australian eucalyptus. Turns out they felled most of their forests to build houses and for fuel. On scouting the world for a fast growing ...