Bucc and The Baltic

I just got back from a ridiculous cruise with Bucc in the Baltic. It was so good to be able to spend time with her again. The first day that we that we hung out we went to Leeds Castle with her friends and I couldn't help but grinning like an idiot the whole day cause I was so excited to be with my big sis. She is awesome.

We went on a sweet tour around the Castle Grounds. Here is Bucc talking to the sheep.
The second night on the ship was a formal night and since I have no sense of style or ability to make myself look like anything that resembles a feminine woman, Bucc helped me get ready. It was actually way fun having her teach me the ropes of how to look exactly like her.... :)
Vigeland Park in Oslo, Norway. I've never had sculptures make such an impression on me as the ones in this park. They were stunning.
Me looking at the Fjords of Norway. They were gorgeous.
Yes, I am excited to get back to school and cook Foodish every night with D.
We met this way awesome Jewish chick who worked at a shop in Copenhagen, Denmark. This is her tat of the verses in 1st Samuel where Jonathan and David swear an oath of friendship. Her best friend has the same tat on her arm as well. She was super awesome.
In Germany we went to the Sachenhausen Concentration Camp.
This is a church in the little port town we docked at in Germany.
It had incredible beaches.
And was way charming. I could have stayed there for days.
This little kid was so cute. I wanted to give him some change, so I got an ice cream cone to break a bill. I was happily eating it leaning over the bridge watching the water and was just going in for another bite when out of NO WHERE my cone freaking exploded! I quickly looked around and spotted a seagull dropping down to the water with the remains. I couldn't believe it! I got poned by some bird! I know as he flew off with my creamy delight in his mouth that the only thing in his head was, "Boom...Roasted!"
This was a sweet looking building in Tallinn, Estonia. This was my favorite port.
A door in Tallinn.
These corks were sitting by the door of a sweet looking restaurant.
This is the antique shop in Tallinn where I purchased one of those sweet cameras.
Bucc in Tallinn.
Bucc modeling a medieval hat.
Tallinn.
Bucc Workin' it in Tallinn.
Some sweet graffiti in Tallinn.
Tallinn Bikers.
One of my favorite things about the cruise was the people I ate dinner with. They were so incredible and so fun! I had a bomb dinner group.
Me loving the Swedish Fjords at 5 AM.
Swedish Fjords in the morning light.
Swedish Fjords.
Stockholm, Sweden.
Stockholm
We looked around in a photo shop in Stockholm. Becca and I loved this picture and on the day I left the ship, she handed me a little bag with this picture in it with a note on the back. It was one of the sweetest gifts I've ever gotten. Her note meant a lot to me. Thank you so much, Bucc.
It was gay pride in Stockholm while we were there.
The Swedish Fjords from my chair on deck.
ummm... my honeymoon spot on the Fjords? Done!
Sunset in the Baltic.
The cruise ship freaking passed under this bridge.... twice! I swear there was only a few feet between the bridge and the top of the ship. It was awesome.

Running

So running has been pretty difficult for me since I got to England. It’s just been a constant mind-game that I have invariably lost. I was starting to hate running… especially outside. I could barely make it across the bridge that is just down the street from Rob and Amy’s house. Rob enquired about my running and I told him that I just started this summer, so I am complete crap at it. He said that when you first run, don’t concentrate on how fast you are going, just concentrate on time and distance. He said I had the physical ability to run three miles … I just needed to take it slow. I got ready and went running right after that. I ran the slowest I have ever run, the most consistently I have ever run, the farthest I have ever run, the longest I have ever run, and was the least tired I have ever been on a run. I probably could have gone three miles at that rate. I ran for 20 minutes straight outside. I’ve never done that before! It was incredible! There were no mind blocks. I was just running and enjoying it. Who cares if I could walk faster than I was running, I consider it the best run I have ever been on. I felt so good afterward. Rob really gave me a huge key to running well. The ironic thing is it was a key I had already learned at the beginning of the summer when I first started running, but I had forgotten it and pushed myself too hard. Often in life, answers to our questions (even if they are not asked out loud) come from those we love. People around us can always teach us … if we are willing to learn. Experiences (good or bad) that come from interacting with people, especially those who are closest to us, can teach us so many incredible lessons. You see who and who you do not want to be. You learn lessons you’ve sought after for years. You especially learn to love more honestly. You think you learn a lot in school, but most some of the most essential lessons can come from the every day experiences and interactions we have the privilege of having.

Edinburgh

Let me first say that before I even got to Edinburgh, my life was completed. While I was sitting in the airport waiting for my flight, I looked over and what did I see? A Premordial Dwarf! It was the most amazing day of my life! (If you don't know what a premordial dwarf is, just watch a TLC special on them and your life will be changed forever).

The Queen felt so bad about me being deported earlier this summer, that she decided to join me in Edinburgh the day after I got there. I would have loved the one on one time with her highness, but my invitation to her huge Tea Party with hundreds of Posh Scots must have gotten lost in the mail. Damned fate.

A view while hiking up to Arthur's seat in Holyrood park (Which is basically the Queen's nature reserve that is located right across the street from the Palace).
A Side street in Edinburgh.
Me looking like a baby at the top of Arthur's Seat.
My first Bueno since Jeru. How have I gone this long without them in my life? Jealous, anyone?
I wish I could say that this is my dream-come-true premordial dwarf... but it is just a cute little girl I saw at the castle.
A bagpiper at the 21 gun salute they did for the Queen at Edinburgh Castle.

Spectators at the 21 gun salute. I dunno why I like this shot so much...

Part of a ruin in Holyrood Park.
The Queen's Garden Party....that she forgot to invite me to.
Walking through Holyrood Park... Time Bomb, baby!
I was in Holyrood Park for 7 hours one day and had to duck behind trees and bushes a couple of times to answer nature's call.
Me on top of a cliff overlooking Edinburgh. Time Bomb. Yeah, man. I threw it down.
Overlooking Edinburgh.
Holyrood Park. Seriously... My pictures don't do it justice... I could camp there for the rest of my life. It was gorgeous.
I hiked Arthur's seat in my Rainbow sandals....twice...Props to the Rainbow people.
Time Bomb. Overlooking Edinburgh.
Time Bomb.... Hiking up the trail from Holyrood Palace.
The Royal Mile.
In the gorgeous park below the Castle.
In a side street.
They gave a 21 gun salute at Edinburgh Castle when the Queen came into town. An onlooking officer.
Stairs leading up to the Royal Mile.