Summer Must-Sees

And now, what I'm sure you all have been waiting for...the list of things I aim to see and do this summer. Okay, so it's really for my own reference, but sharing is caring, right?

• Visit the Holy Family Shrine -- I drive past this every time I go to/from Omaha, and it catches my eye every time. It's a building that's like one gigantic window...gorgeous!
• The Bodies Exhibit -- I missed it while it was in Milwaukee, but it's in Omaha now.
• The Farmer's Market in Lincoln -- It goes on every Saturday morning in a beautiful old part of town called the Haymarket district. I've heard it's really cool, and there are just so many different things to see and hear. It's also got a lot of things from different cultures, too, since Lincoln has so many different backgrounds amidst it's population. I sense a great place to people-watch.
• The Lincoln and Omaha zoos -- Animals. Need I say more? Oh, and I've heard that Omaha's zoo is pretty cool.
• See a band play at the Bandshell in Seward
• Ride my bike around the whole Plum Creek Trail -- That's 2.7 miles of peacefulness and beauty.
• Lay out on the roof stargazing all night and watching the sunrise in the morning.
• Take a crazy roadtrip across many, many miles in only 4 days with some dear old friends.
• Camp and hike at Branched Oak Recreational Park.
• Visit Platte River State Park -- With horseback riding, tepees, paddleboats, and excellent scenery, how could I go wrong? Camping here is now under consideration as well.
• Visit the WWII Library and Museum in Ceresco, NE (another stop on the way to/from Omaha).
• Go to Harley Davidson in Lincoln -- This one's for my dad. He wants a t-shirt. I'm trying to hold out for him to take a trip out here on his bike, though...

And, of course, wandering around to explore without a real agenda is also part of the plan. I also know that I'm forgetting a few things, so I'll have to come back and add a few things as I think of them.

Added things:

• Enjoy 4th of July in Seward, the self-proclaimed 4th of July city -- It's literally a 2-day celebration out here jam-packed with events. I'm excited.

~"I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma." [-Eartha Kitt]~

"I'm meeelting!"

My roommate was checking weather a few nights ago, and she yelled, "Michelle, this doesn't look good!" I'm wondering how many more severe t-storms are going to be keeping me awake (and contemplating the safety of this house), and she said, "There's a picture of a sun with a cactus next to it." Well, it's better than storms, but ominous nevertheless.

Sure enough, it's HOT here. Weather.com says it feels like 103 here right now. It's actually only 91 degrees, though...that's a comforting thought.

At home, mid-90s is few and far between.

At home, we also have a/c. That we aren't afraid to use for fear of burning our house down (we are suspicious of everything here).

This WI girl is learning about real heat.

~"It's so hot. Milk was a bad choice." [Anchorman]~

Alaskan Adventure

So I spent 10 days in Alaska...I still can't believe I can say that now. More things I can't believe I can say:

• I didn't die on a boat out on the ocean.
• I got to see a glacier up close and personal(and lick glacier ice)...and hear the thundering sound of it shifting/cracking.
• I got the chance to support the beautiful love of two of my friends by being a bridesmaid.
• I was 70 ft from a grizzly bear.
• I was even closer than that to a moose.
• I've eaten moose.
• I climbed the most strenuous trail at Denali National Park...a 1300+ ft mountain (Mt. Healy).
• I've seen Mt. McKinley.
• I've been to Seward, AK, with a group of friends from Seward, NE!
• My bridesmaid bouquet survived a 6 hour plane ride and 12 hours in the car only slightly worse for the wear. (It was too beautiful and wonderful smelling to leave behind!

It was a LOT of traveling in 2.5 weeks, but I really love to travel. It isn't really fun to live out of a suitcase for that long, mind you, but it was without a doubt worth it. Here's how it went down:

Left here on May 22nd and drove 4 hours to Iowa. Stayed overnight, took Joel with me when I left in the morning to drive the 8 hours to IL...with a side trip to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA, since it was on the way. Literally a dream come true for me. The next few days were a blur of WI/IL family time and last minute errands to get my dress ready.

Flew out with the 2 Joels on Wed. the 26th (after a 2.5 hour delay...which gave me time to charge my iPod for the 6 hr flight. Score). Had great travel buddies, the most hilarious flight attendant ever, a BEAUTIFUL flight, and an even more beautiful reunion with the Reason for the Season (aka the newlyweds-to-be) at the airport.

Spent the 10 days up there hiking, playing Rock Band (supplementing all the memories of playing at school), hanging out with their families, and hanging out with 9 other friends from school (plus a few new AK friends). Also went camping, out on a boat on the ocean to see animal life and scenery (gorgeous), experienced rough ocean waters (in the same waters they film The Deadliest Catch), and played an epic game of Apples to Apples (we're talking 14 people, 7 teams).

The wedding was fantastic and beautiful. There were only a few glitches that got worked out, thank goodness. The reception was a blast, too. We did a hockey face-off entrance (these two met through their h.s. hockey team), and then we proceeded to dance like crazy for the next 4 hours...with a killer rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer" by us crazy college kids (like we used to sing all the time in the car) -- including an amazing air guitar solo. ;) It was truly one of the best memories I have with these people. I mean, all 10 days were, but the wedding was the best. It was such an honor to be there, but it was an even bigger honor to be a part of the wedding...to know that these are two people who I've grown up with so much in the past few years, who have supported me and who I have had the chance to encourage, too, and see their love grow...to be able to celebrate that deep love they share...it was such a blessing.

We flew out on an overnight flight the day after the wedding (the Joels and I were the last to leave), ALMOST got bumped to first class, slept maybe an hour (thanks to Joel's shoulder!), and then spent time with my family for my birthday. Felt old for being tired enough to think about going to bed instead of the bar, haha.

Got up on the 8th, packed the car up, made a few last stops, and hit the road back to Iowa (no stop at the Field of Dreams this time). Stopped long enough to eat and relax a little, then back on the road to NE. Work from 12:30-6 the next day.

Whew.

The worst part of the trip (besides leaving) was also the best...getting to spend so much time with 9 other people. Now I have to MISS them all! And I started missing them the second we all parted ways. They were the heart and soul of this trip, and the whole reason it was as great as it was. Adjusting to flying solo after that has been a little weird...but we're talking about doing another trip together. Hawaii 2013, here we come!

~"If we catch you smoking in the lavatory, we will ask you to step out onto the wing where you will become our feature presentation of Gone With the Wind." [our flight attendant on the way to AK]~