Vacation

Oopsie!  I wrote the following LAST weekend, hoping that I would just quickly be able to insert some pics and hit "Publish Post."  No such luck.  Pictures overwhelm me for some reason.  I know it's probably just about the easiest thing in the world to insert them, but for some reason they are ultra intimidating.  Even now I just keep typing and typing in order to avoid having to insert and arrange the pics.  Stop stalling, just do it!  Here's the vacation post:

Got back from vacation on Monday.  True to form, I just finished unpacking today.  I don't know why, but little things like that just make me want to procrastinate until I just can't avoid it anymore.

Okay, so vacation was amazing.  I left home just feeling heavy.  Several events of the previous week were weighing on me, and it really showed in my attitude and shortage of patience.  So, the trip happened at a very opportune moment.  While it would take me way too long to give you all of the details of the trip (and I'm sure you would get bored of reading and just leave and then I would just have done all that work just for myself which is fine, but I want to give you something that you can hang with too), I can give you highlights in pictures.  Here they are, in no particular order (actually, they are in chronological order, I just have always wanted to say that...)

#1 Thing of Amazingness:  Concert at Disney Concert Hall

One of the first things that happened when we got there was a concert at Disney Concert hall in downtown LA.  Not only was this amazing because it was at the Disney Hall, probably one of the most genius acoustical and architectural buildings of our time, but because my dear friend Casey was performing.  It was magical.  

#2 Thing of Amazingness: Hiking

I love living in Fort Worth, but one of the things that I miss the most is the great outdoors.  I always tend to feel much closer to God when I can see His creation all around me.  Therefore, I was quite happy to go on an amazing hike a few days after we arrived.  Nika's uncle Nick knows all the great spots for hiking.  This waterfall is actually just outside of LA.  

The whole hiking crew:  Emily, Nick, Jim and Nika

#3 Thing of Amazingness:  BEACH

I already mentioned my love for creation.  In my opinion, the golden child, the sun-kissed, can do no wrong element of nature is the beach.  Love it.  

#4 Thing of Amazingness: Birthday Dinner at Ken of Japan's

Birthday girls are in Kimonos.
Lynda and I are twins...practically.

Hibachi grill near Nick and Lynda's home in Simi Valley.  If said quickly, and without contextual bearing, the name may be mistaken for "Kenna Japans" as "Ken of Japans" doesn't sound particularly Japanese.  I'm just throwing that out there...

#5 Thing of Amazingness:  Universal Studios

I'm telling you, this was an all star trip.  Nika and I were able to meet up with Casey for a day at Universal Studios.  So fun!  

#6 Thing of Amazingness: PCH

This trip helped me to discover that I only need three things to make me utterly and completely happy:  the ocean, miles of highway, and a Mazda Miata.  This was probably my favorite thing that we did during the course of vacation.  We took a day to drive down the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping at will to skip rocks and stick our toes in the ocean.  So indescribably peaceful.

The Miata!
I have to admit,
I had to confess some covetous thoughts after driving this baby around!

#7 Thing of Amazingness: Santa Monica

Ended up on the pier, learned that it is the home of the only solar powered ferris wheel in America (I think, or maybe the world...can't recall), and that it is the last stop on the famous Route 66!  Also went to a fun little aquarium there.  The jelly fish are my fave.  Later we had a snack at In-N-Out.  Can life get any better?  I submit that it cannot!

#8 Thing of Amazingness:  Manzanar

Manzanar is what remains of a Japanese Internment Camp.  We were able to stop by for a brief visit on our way up to our stay in the mountains.  I love hands on ways of learning about historical types of things, so this was good for me.  It was amazing to see what it was like for these people during the war.  I can't really describe it here in this little blurb, so just believe me when I tell you that it was well worth the visit.  

#9 Thing of Amazingness:  Ears and Ebony

From L to R:  Ears, Emily, Nika and Ebony

Our lunch spot

One of the activities in which Nika and I partook when we got up to the mountains was to go on a half day trail ride through the mountains.  While it was amazingly picturesque, a half day on a horse for an inexperienced rider was a challenge!  Let's just say I was ready to get off, and my body didn't let me forget the ride for a while!  Our trusty steeds and our faithful guide Fletch (a born and bred Aussie) gave us a beautiful and safe ride.  We took the Tom's flag along just for some fun pics. 

#10 Thing of Amazingness: Snow In July

We went to the Mammoth Mountain Ski area, and believe it or not, they were still open on the July 4th weekend (it was the last one of the season).  We took the gondola to the top, watched all of the skiers zooming down the mountain, hiked out to see some beautiful snow covered lakes, threw some snowballs, took a couple of runs on the sled, you know, the usual July 4th stuff...

Congratulations!!!!

If you're still reading, you made it!  Thanks for taking the time to read about my July vacation!  We did a lot.  It was great.  Beautiful, interesting, exciting, hilarious, tiring, and many more adjectives that I'm leaving out.  Thanks to Nick and Lynda for showing us such a great time!