This summer has gone by quickly. Since I was too busy (or lazy) to start writing at the beginning of the summer, I'll only provide a snapshot. This summer has been filled with the end of our time in Santa Cruz, and the beginning of life after college. Although the apartment was my "real" address in Santa Cruz, it wasn't home. When we graduated, I felt like I left a different, but very real, home behind.
<---- Actually, this trailer was where I got the name for this blog. You can't see it in the picture, but the front of the trailer has the phrase "Pura Vida" painted on the front. I love this trailer, and everyone who lived in it:
A very blurry picture of Grant and my cat, Bond, who haunted the trailer park on campus. Bond even went so far as to befriend a deer that was passing through the park.
Of course, Grant and I also graduated. Cue the Awwwww's. Although to be honest, Grant has graduated and I have not officially graduated yet. I finally tracked down the reason for my lack of degree. I was missing two grades. One has been recovered, while the other is still...undiscovered. I should have it by the end of next week, meaning I will finally, officially graduate. Several people have told me that the little piece of paper doesn't mean much to them. I don't understand that; I've worked my butt off for four years. That "little piece of paper" is most definitely going in a giant frame on my wall, right next to an 8 x 10 version of our graduation picture.
In between all the moving out/graduating silliness I've just mentioned, I've been back at work at the Community Center in Livermore, where I happily read most of the day. I've also been stressing over my impending graduate school applications and what kinds of vaccines I might need to get before we leave for Costa Rica (so far: the answer is possibly typhoid and rabies, neither of which are covered by my health insurance, although with their track record that's not surprising). I've accompanied Grant to the annual Livingston Family Reunion (much fine, like always. And I've got to hand it to Garberville - they have a mean bar scene). My dad took Grant and I sailing one day as well, and we jumped in the water in Aquatic Park. Grant and I are both doing the Escape From Alcatraz swim on September 17th...let's just say I'll need a wetsuit, or I'll have to be hoisted out of the water and into a rescue boat roughly 10 seconds after I jump out of the ferry.
My sister and I also joined the rest of my family in Ohio for our Great Grandpa's funeral. It was a beautiful in the most humid conditions we could have asked for. Although that was the last we will see of Grandpa, it is always nice to see our Ohio family! 2011 has been a rough year for the Meloy family health wise. We're all just hoping everyone survives until 2012. As an added precaution, I'm going to sign up for supplemental travel insurance.
The last few weeks in the U.S. are going to be busy. I guess an outline will suffice:
1. Swim the Alcatraz race (with Grant, his cousin, and my uncle)
2. Spend the week in Tahoe (with Grant, his sister, mom and Step dad)
3. Figure out our vaccination situation
4. Figure out our vacation plans for the first 10 days of our stay in Costa Rica
5. Finish graduate school applications so that I can get that out of the way ASAP!!
6. get some more Spanish under my belt!!!
Here is where we'll be going:
According to my Fodor's guide, it's possible to take a bus from one end of Costa Rica to the other in approximately 8 hours, and for less than $10. How awesome is that???
And for your viewing pleasure, our embarrassing attempt at trying to swim in the bay. I'm going to need a wetsuit, that's for sure!
