Offically Half Way!!!

Monday:


I would like to apologize to Andrew Brown who was a Couch Surfer from Atlanta who took me out and taught me how to sail at Lake Lenier (45 min North of Atlanta). It was one of my best experiences thru couch surfing and had a total blast. I totally forgot to mention that in my last post. So sorry brotha!

IT's my Bifffday!!! Yay! I'm officially 27 today and phew! It's been a long ride sooo far... ups, downs, trials, tribulations, pros, cons, not so wonderful and amazing experiences. I would just like to reflect that this trip so far has been so life changing as an attribute to all of you who have pushed, pulled and supported me through the years. Each and everyone one of you reading this now have had a huge impact on my life. I can't expresses how much friends and family have really been there through some pretty tough shit. As well as just being a friend to talk to... nothing is more important then just your presence and energy! This is to you. I hope some or maybe one of you can take this trip and do something like this for yourself. Move to just move do something that your scared of. I've been so empowered. I want that for you. :-D

Now, I'm in Dayton, OH with my gf Lillary from college. I haven't seen this girl since graduation (3ish years) and she is exactly the same... which is a good thing. She also majored in Sport Science and she is sooo amazing. She use to play for the Sacramento Sirens (w's football team) and she's a crazy workout guru! Fortunately, she is going to be moving to Marin later this year, so I'm hoping we can be workout buddies! yup yup! Someone to kick my ass.... (grin). So, today I am planning to head to Cincinnati to go touring around and do some hiking. The rain is coming down like crazy, I know you're sooo surprised. BUT I work at REI so I have all the rain-proof gear, so I'm set! and Shiya likes it; she has a reason to be hella muddy, it's cooler and so she can shake it all on me. What a good girl!

Saturday:

Boy am I stuffed!!! I just got done stuffing my face with a crazy awesome dinner that me and my host from LOUIE-Ville had!!! Apparently, she has all these co-workers from all over the world and we had an "International Food Making Party". She is from Porto Rico and the guests consisted of French/ Canadian, Greek and Brazilians. So it was cool to all cook together and learn some new cooking techniques. Of course I made my famous enchiladas! Yum! I just wanted to get a taste of the Bluegrass state. Man, I like this place even more then the last. And fireflies!!! OMG! Why don't they exist on the BEst Coast?! Duh, the WEST! I stayed with a surfer named Noa who is from Porto Rico who has lived her since she was 17? Currently, she is in the process of become a hand surgon. She also lives in this huge old colonial style house which is about the same cost of my room in Marin (guh). She took me took me to a few famous landmarks, the Louieville Slugger Factory, this awesome museum/ hotel with tons of modern art (some interactive) and downtown.

On Father's Day I decided to go to Churchhill Downs, it's flippn huge! I didn't get to go in but I plan to go one day with Bird (from KY) and wear a huge hat too! I strolled over to the Woodford Reserve Distillery. Which is the oldest and smallest distillery in Kentucky (8 total in the state). It's also is the official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby! You know I never really tried Bourbon, but I liked it- on ice. I didn't know exactly what Bourbon was but apparently, all Bourbon is whiskey but not all whiskey is Bourbon. Bourbon has to at least have 51% corn in it but not all whiskey has that much corn. But, I did the tour and totally got picked on the whole time by the tour guide cuz I was from California. But in all good fun, I got to smell 140 proof, got a stolen cork w/ a nice topper (the tour guide gave me) , a shot and some Bourbon chocolate.

Before, I got here I spent one night in Charlotte, NC, Asheville, NC and Nashville, TN. Charlotte was very similar to Charleston, SC in the way the city looks but no history. Apparently, they had torn down all their old historical buildings so they pretty much have very little tourism. What I was told is that they want to be like Atlanta and have nothing but new buildings (which is dumb in my opinion). Nascar is based there but I wasn't that interested in going to see it.

Now! Asheville, it's settled just about an hour outside The Great Smokey Mountains National Park. This place was something special. It's reminded me of Auburn/ Grass Valley but with a Berkeley twist to it. Super progressive city (with some high rises) and on every corner there seemed to be a Vegan/ Vegetarian based business LOL! Every house has prayer flags on their porch, u know how it goes. But the cool thing was, I was staying with a couple of guys and one was a VEggie chef at a local restaurant and on the first night me made us an awesome super filling mashed potato, kale and tofu dinner. Then for the first time this trip I slept outside under the stars w/o a tent. I was praying and praying that I wouldn't get eatn alive ( I didn't) and it was sooo cool and nice that night. Granted I had only planned on staying one night and then camping in the Smokies but Ashley was a little to hot and too chicken to brave the storm that was heading that way. So, Shiya and I planned a day hiking trip to go see some waterfalls and do some river walking. Well that storm came in 1/2 way thru our hike (dog and cat rain status) so that really nice REI rain jacket that I bought the day before was in the car.....soooooo we ran the half back to the car.

To my relief I was heading to AJ's place my friend from HS and he had a washer and dryer in Nashville next. This was one my destinations that I was really excited about. I've heard from him that it was a really cool city and that I'd like it. Sooooo... it was pretty awesome. Huge city! First night we saw some live blues music (which he participated in). Granted he played in HS kinda but I haven't seen him play since then. He just made that guitar sing! I was sooo impressed, now this is why he moved here. He just drew all this energy from the crowd and used it. People stopped to hear him play. He out shinned everyone else in the band. The next day we toured around downtown and went to a life-sized replica of the Parathion. Apparently, it was built to be temporary to celebrate the Centennial of the city. When it became a huge success that the plaster started falling off they decided to keep it as a staple of the city and restored it. We also went to Coyote Ugly (I have never been there) but I did see the movie. Not to anyones surprise I was hella down! So, we were "watching the Lakers game" and enjoying the company of the Coyote Ladies. If you don't know what it is here: http://www.coyoteuglysaloon.com/. It's a themed bar with the bartenders who dance on the bar and embarrass you. Especially if it's your birthday. My a-hole of a friend told them it was my birthday (3 days too early) and they pulled me on the bar and a-hemmmm.... and got a shot of tequila. That was fun...

I have been requested to write more frequently. I will try my best since I am borrowing internets. :-D :-D