my love hate relationship with public transportation

There are definitely pros and cons to the bus.

Pros: it's cheaper. You can do stuff while you go places. You don't have to drive - which for me is a big one, I hate driving.

Cons: bus drivers aren't super nice (they tell you something and get annoyed when you don't hear them) The seats aren't comfortable. The stop-and-start action of the bus could make one nauseous. And if you don't know exactly where you're going you have to pay very close attention to where you're going so you don't get off 5 blocks too early and end up wandering up and down a street looking like an idiot.

All-in-all it's not too terrible...Maybe I'll get some good stories out of it :)

And here is a picture of the beach I went to today:

Vancouver: Part 1

I made it! After a few tears, a 2.5 hour plane ride, 30 min taxi trip and dragging a suitcase through a cobblestone street I found my new home for the next 11 weeks.

So far I have learned that there are more coffee shops here than I'll probably have time for, the sushi here is great, and the city is very big, and only 2 bags full of stuff won't totally fill a room. Getting a tour was a little overwhelming just because I saw a lot and was told a lot of information, but it was good.

I can't wait to explore more of the city. Expect pictures hopefully in the next week or so.

The Couv

Well, it's official. I leave in 5 days to spend my summer in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Rock on.

Here are suggestions people have given me for things to do:

• Smoke weed (thank you Starbucks barista)
• Make friends with the naked people on the "clothing optional" beach ON CAMPUS at the University of British Columbia (again, thank you Starbucks barista)
• Visit Stanley Park
• Go to the beaches
• Visit the plethora of cute, independent coffee shops that populate every corner (can we say perfection?)
• Go to Seattle for a weekend (which I definitely plan on doing)

I have also found a few things of my own I want to do. AND Coldplay and The Fray are coming in concert while I am there.

Lets just hope I make friends to do these things with :)

awkward

Check out this link I found on MSNBC this morning to Awkward Family Photos.

It made my day and it's not even 9:00 a.m. yet!

Love you, Mom.

Thanks for thinking I'm funny. Thanks for making me backpack 29 miles. Thanks for raising me. You're the best!