Welcome to Japan

After a 10 hour flight we landed in Tokyo, Japan ready to begin our three week Asian spree. We will be in Japan for 6 days, South Korea for 4 days, and China (Beijing and Shanghai) for 12 days. Whew!

Home...At Last

So, we've had a crazzzyyy busy week. Got into town on Tues, started right away to find a place to call home. We checked out a few places close to town and in town, and already we found this cute, old and charming apartment on the park...So excited!! We'll be close to a number of coffee shops, cafes, art museum and the trolley line as well as two blocks from school. So, if either of us need to use the library, we're just a couple of blocks away. Parking will be a bit of an issue, and we've got to find a neighborhood in which to park Michael's car.

Thurs, we got to go see Nate's group (Imago Films), as they were a part of a 48 hour film project, so that was fun to see some fun stuff going on in the area. (Jon was a part of it last year or something like that).

On Fri, Mom and Dad headed out with Nate on their train/ferry journey to Alaska. They've been out of phone range, so we've not heard from them. But, they should be north of Juneau right now.

We also checked out a church today--Mosaic in Southwest..It was fun--we met a nice couple and enjoyed a picnic outside. It's definitely not Warehouse, but really...Don't know that anything will compare. I've got another birthday coming up on Wed, and we are going to a Kirk Franklin, Chris Tomlin concert at the park near the water downtown on Fri... So, that's another fun part of city living.

Great Salt Lakes

Wow...big lake...lots of salt. Whew... annnnnnd we are done here. Yup, it was beautiful, but honestly not quite as exciting as I had led myself to believe (Michael talking here). On the other hand it is pretty amazing for the city to be surrounded by mountains. Well, that's all I have to say about that!

Westward on the Oregon Trail

This was supposed to be a picture...only, but mom had a bit of trouble taking the picture.

Ok, so we're really in farm country now

So, today was another long day of about 500 miles...We're happy to keep moving along, closer to our goal. Today was a bit of a downer, though, for me...My good friend Suzanne from high school lives between Denver and Boulder, CO...Well, we didn't plan very well and decided late in the game to make our way down to Co, and we missed out on seeing Suz b/c called her this morning and didn't hear back until we had already made our way up to Wyoming... We still managed some laughs along the way, though, as you can see...

Dis..connected

So, we're in the middle of Nebraska right now and praising the fact that we finally have wireless access after a full 2 days without it...pretty sad really to think that we'd feel so lost without our connectivity. But, I think we're feeling it so obviously from leaving the comforts of home and friends...As we drive further west, we're so much more aware of how trully unfamiliar yet familiar things are. Yes, we're 1500 miles away so far (if that), but we finally stepped away from the roads and the buildings and people we know. We've stepped away from those things and yet...we still have the same stores and access to things like the internet...It's just so very different. As we've had some time in the car to be quiet and still there (though moving so quickly)...I realize how much more time I need to absorb all that's happening around us. I mean, we're really leaving! Really! I wonder how long it will be, before I really break down and just ball my eyes out...
~glori

So, we've been in 'Bama for about 36 hours, and we're hitting the road for St. Louis. Not sure about this thing of leaving. Saying goodbye hasn't hit me yet.. That will come--perhaps today, in saying goodbye to Grandma for one of the last times. ~hloti