Home Sweet Home

Home

It's definitely a strange concept and a hard one to define. I've called so many places home over the years and when I'm going to the U.S. for a visit while living abroad I often say I'm going home (to the U.S.) and then when I leave, I also say that I'm going home to wherever I am living at that moment. That being said, there's no place like home, and last summer I got to spend a good chunk of time with those nearest and dearest to me. And that's home. 

Quick stop in CA

 

I stopped off to see my oldest brother and his family for a few weeks. He and his wife have the two most beautiful children in the world (no argument)-my nephew and my 2 month old niece! It was a blast to hang out with them, help send my nephew off to day care, babysit my new niece and of course get to see the amazing landscape that southern California has to offer. My brother and his family took me on two hikes while I was there-the first one to "The Slot" which is a favorite of my nephew who loves to run around the maze of crevices that snake through the desert floor. We played lots of hide and seek along the way. My brother is, by trade a wildlife biologist, so taking hikes with him is a great opportunity to teach his son about all of the flora and fauna that surrounded us. 

A friend of mine who I'd met in Korea (not the one from Taiwan) was living in LA and came out to visit for a few days. We took a bike ride through town to see these metal structures that dot the landscape around town. There are over 100 in total, and most are prehistoric animals that were common to the area. This serpent is 350 feet long! 

We also stopped off for some super fresh oranges and citrus fruit which you can just come and grab and pay for by leaving money in a locked box- complete honor code. They may have been the best oranges I've ever had. 

We spent a few days hiking and camping in the nearby areas. Above was a sunrise after a star-filled night, void of any sounds whatsoever. 

After a year in Australia, land of all things deadly, I had only seen about 3 snakes. In my first month in the states, I saw at least 3 or 4 more. Just starting a hike one morning I said, "haha, look that almost looks like a snake." and then it moved! The lizard was another cool little creature we came across, it was nearly white and we played hide and seek for a while before he finally won and ran off. 

 

One day of hiking included a few stops in Blair Valley, starting with Whale Mountain, along which we were able to see some pretty vibrant pictographs, thought to have been painted from anywhere between 200 and 1000 years ago by the local native tribes. I've read that the pictographs could possibly have meanings relating to a puberty ceremony or simply the artist's own personal thoughts. 

Then we climbed up Ghost Mountain, to the remains of a family who from the 1930's-40's lived on the top of a dry mountain for 17 years as an attempt to "get back to nature" before the wife got fed up with this "idyllic" way of life and the fact that her husband would get to go to town to see a "friend" of his while she was stuck out there.There are only a few walls, a box spring mattress and a well that I immediately climbed into, cuz-why now?

 

Another quick stop- Kansas City

My hiking buddy is a bit of a Lego nerd and he knew I was going to visit my engaged brother (who used to be the Lego king in our house) so he gave me this set of Legos to take along with me. My brother and his fiance had a good time playing with the heads and hairstyles. This was our favorite one.

My visit to KC was pretty low key and only a few days long, so we didn't get to do a lot of sightseeing but I think I checked off the important things-good food, good drink and a fun night out. 

We went to an underground brewery/restaurant one night, called Weston Brewing, where we drank some delicious beers several stories underground in structures dating from 1842. 

Another night my brother pulled out all the big stops and treated me to BBQ in a gas station! Joe's Kansas City BBQ was actually one of the best BBQ joints I've ever been to-true to form American style with way too much food, but worth ever bite. Then we went downtown to the Power & Light District to an awesome sports bar called No Other Pub with bowling, beer pong, several arcade games, and darts. For me, the best part of the night was when I asked the mechanic, who had to fix the machine which raises and lowers the bowling pins several times, if we could accompany him behind the lanes to see how it all worked. He gladly obliged and made my night!

Finally back in CT

It only took me 2 months to get from Australia to CT, not bad I´d say. I even got home a bit earlier than originally planned, so that I could help out and attend my sister´s bridal shower. 

Putting to use my skills as a kindergarten teacher, that had been out of practice for well over a year, I got down to business my first night home and managed to whip together a farm-themed shower with help from my mom and best friend. Thanks to all who attended and participated with the dress code. 

May was full of little trips and activities. My dad and I attended a live showing of ¨Blazing Saddles¨ followed by an interview with Mel Brooks, both of which are legends in our household. The man is 90 years old and he would barely sit down between questions before jumping up to tell some other crazy anecdote from his life. 

My cousin invited me to attend his school´s Ellis Island Day at school where the 5th graders have to act out being immigrants, each with their own unique story. The parents and teachers (and myself) got to be the immigration officials and had to make the kids work to get through all of the check points. And yes, some of them were deported as you can see from the large sign in the picture above-it was quite emotional. 

I finally got to celebrate my birthday at home for the first time in at least 10 years and my two best friends treated me to a day at a local winery. Thanks ladies for always making time for me. 

This wild crew graciously permitted me to join the ranks a few summers back when I meekly approached and asked if I could play with them. After confirming that I had in fact played before I was allowed on the court and ever since, they have made every Tuesday and Thursday night an exciting time. Thanks for letting me play Joe :)

I was especially glad to be home last summer in order to witness my mom´s retirement. The school gave her a nice send off and a few weeks later after the wedding we gave her another surprise party with friends and family. (I was so sure I'd given away the surprise so many times in the preceding weeks but thanks to her retirement and my sister's wedding she did not catch on and was completely surprised as she entered.) Congratulations Mom on an extraordinary career. Enjoy retirement, you deserve ever bit of it. 

Absolutely, hands down, the best part of the summer and my time home was having my entire family together under one roof (for tops-I'd say, 2 days). People came in from across the country and across the pond (those pond hoppers are currently visiting me in Peru!!!)  to celebrate another wonderful addition to the family. 

This is normally a biennial event, although this April will make it a biannual event! Twice in one year? Impossible to think but it's going to happen. 

 

With the help of the other bridesmaids, we managed to plan a bachelorette party that ticked off my sister's wishes: low-key, lots of friends, and maybe some camping and a bonfire. And so we had a lovely cruise down the CT river on the Lady Kate, where we were very much the ladies, enjoying dinner and some drinks while taking in the surprising beautiful riverfront. 

Then we switched gears, changed into jeans and sneakers/boots and settled down to a bonfire and drinks at Rocky Neck State forest at "Camp Molly." Thanks Doll for being so chill about everything, it made planning so much more fun.

 

The Puzzo family above and the Flat Brook Road Family below. Couldn't ask for two better families. 

My adorable nephew was the ring boy. During practice he noticed that there was only one ring on the pillow, so I had to add a second (fake) ring for the actual ceremony so that he wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Too smart kid!

My gift to the wedding couple: decorations. With a LOT of burlap, lace and ribbon I managed to add some rustic, country "style" to the wedding reception. As the lady at the fabric store said during one of my numerous trips there, "This seems very rusticy," to which I said, "Yup, that's the idea." 

We also had a photo booth, thanks to all for participating and posting their pictures. And thanks to my friend here for being my best (and only) wedding date so far ;)

I may have stayed home a bit longer than I intended to as I contemplated my next step, but I made sure to make myself useful. One of my many jobs (self imposed), was to help put up what will be the start of an awesome backyard, designed by my parents. 

And then of course my mom and I had to celebrate our hard work. Drinks in the sandbar at low tide is hard to pass up. 

I am forever missing out on birthdays, births, weddings, and so many other things while I'm away. So I was so glad that I was able to make "Christmas in July" with some amazing people, especially the hostess and her husband. Maybe one day I'll be able to stay up for the whole party with you all ;)

I was also lucky enough to be invited by my future sister-in-law to NYC for the final game of The Basketball Tournament (TBT) which was in just it's third year. TBT hosts some of the best players from around the world (non-NBA) who compete in a 64 team tournament to win a million dollars. Here's us with one of the winning team members. This year the prize it up to 2 million and ESPN will broadcast every game. Well done sis. 

 

It's good to have friends. Including those who are really friends of your parents. Above are my parents best friends from college, who they continued to stay close with over the years, in what has now become a "Home and Away" series, both hosting the others at their beach houses. I got to join in the fun in both Cape Cod (still my favorite place in the world) and also in CT. They were very nice not to make me feel left out despite being young and single ;)

Another friend of my parents was also very, very gracious to invite us out for a cruise off the Niantic coastline in the Long Island Sound, including getting to see "our beach" from the water. It was a beautiful night on the water, and seeing the extremely large beach houses from the boat only made me a bit jealous. I think we almost spotted Geno Auriemma. 

 

 
And just before setting off for Peru I got to see two of my best friends I'd made in Korea get married, in Canada. They even used a Korean beer mug to toast each other. It was  a great reunion for the Cheongjuers (Hopefully another one this summer as well).

I realize this posting may not be the regular travel update with crazy stories of far off places that some of you might have been looking for, but I wanted to acknowledge, thank and credit those who are an important part of my life, even when I'm far away. These are the people who have been there to support me over the years. Who despite not seeing me for months, or even years on end, are always there for me when I need them and always welcome me home with open arms and hearts. I am so thankful to all of you (who I didn't name by names for your own privacy) for being a part of my life and for loving me and accepting me, my lifestyle and my long periods of absences. Please know that I think of you all often and appreciate all you've done for me.