Hello from the Pacific Northwest

The flights to Oregon were pretty good. Long, and three time zones the wrong way, but pretty good nonetheless. I've decided I'm a travel snob. It was so strange to be traveling with people - my mom and dad, my aunt and my cousin. I'm just so used to doing my own thing and not "worrying" about anyone else. So between that and people who don't read the security signs before they get to the metal detector ("Really? I can't bring a machete on the plane?), I decided I'm a travel snob. Ok, it wasn't a machete, but how many times must you be told you can't bring liquids onto a plane??? Sheesh...

But it's been so great being with family. My nephew Chandler is almost 10. I can't believe how much he has grown. And my new nephew Casey is just so... stinking little. He's a doll. I can't get enough of him. I spent almost all day Friday with him, Chandler, and my brother and sister-in-law, Angela. It's been great getting to know her as well.

John and Angela


The jet lag is getting to me, but on the plus side of it all, shopping is dulling the pain some... there isn't any sales tax here, and so things are slightly cheaper here than if I bought stuff in Florida. That's cool. My sister just started selling Mark Kay, and so she threw her first little party today. The stuff I bought was cheaper than if I bought it in Florida... niiiiiiiice. Below is Jean after the Mary Kay party.



Another cool thing is some of my friends up here decided to help me out and buy me a digitasl camera! How awesome is that? So now, when I blog, I can immediately post pictures instead of having to wait an eternity to use all my film and get them put on CD and all. I'm so excited - thanks Shaq and Nanc!! (No, I didn't misspell the names) I'll put their pictures up tomorrow simply because I can! :)

Well, now I must turn into the bragging aunt... below are my boys, Older brother Chandler, and younger brother Casey - can't you just eat them up??







So, most of the above pics were taken at Red Lobster tonight... Now, I had mentioned to my parents how i wanted to take Chandler out to dinner one night since I'm the family member who sees him the least. My mom came up to me this morning... "So, we were thinking you could take Chandler out to Chucky Cheese or something tonight." (Me shaking my head in agreement) Mom continues "So, we're going to go to Red Lobster tonight..." I gave my best 'you have GOT to be kidding me' look. "OK, um, mom. I love Chandler with all my heart, but do you seriously think I'm going to take him to Chucky Cheese while you all are at RED LOBSTER? I don't think so. Yeah, so not happening." Needless to say, my lobster tonight was awesome :)

OK, I must go to bed... it's 7:12am in Croatia, 1:12am in Orlando, and 10:12pm in Portland. I have no idea what time my body thinks it is... I'm just thankful I'm tired when it's nighttime.

Oh, and here is a 'sneak peak' at my new haircut - and notice - NO BARRETTE!:



It's not the best picture as I snapped it of myself when I was playing with the new digital, but I think yu can tell how much of the mop got whacked :) It's so much curlier - I love it!