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*Cracks knuckles* Well, let's get started ^^

It's been two weeks since I've been back in the good 'ol state of AZ. And for those of you who did not know, I was in Minnesota visiting family and...FAMILY (most importantly my father, who has returned from the burning oven of Afghanistan unscathed *sigh of relief*). Anyway, while I did many things, for the sake of my pal's "Friends" page, I'll shorten it to the pictured things XP.

Ahem...

First off...here is this goofball...



MY DAD! Yeah, figured I might as well get a picture at the airport...anyway, ONWARD!

O, and here are a few of my kool kousins...







The first one is of Roman (the red-head) about to judo-toss Sebastian "Sea Bass" (the smaller-than-me one XP). The second is of Logan (the brunette) and my new cousin, Cian ("key-in"...it's Irish XP). And the last is of Maddie "Madman"...she's a bit crazy, but cute nonetheless (reminds me of my sis Abbie).



Hmm...here is me at St. John's University (beautiful campus, and for the Arizonians...TREES! =P). It's a pretty nice place, complete with church, monastery, and no co-ed (it's Catholic too...but hey, nothing is perfect =O *gets slapped*). O, about the no co-ed, just guys at St. John's...HOWEVER, opposite is an all-girl's university (basically, the classes are split between the campuses, but you live with your own gender on said campuses...*shrugs*).



*Screams in fright* Yeah...part of my grandma's Wall of Christ (opposite to it, the historical Area of "The Last Dinner"). *Shudders* As you can see, my grannie takes her religion seriously (there was more to the wall, but I think this suffices). But I can't fault her, or my grandpa...and this is why...



*Kodak moment* Awww...yeah, that's them, the koolest grand-couple in the world (as said by me...but it's true...you all know it XP). Spent a good deal of my time talking politics with the big man (full-fledged Democrat) and watching News/Wheel of Fortune/Twins with my grannie (strange bonding ritual, but it works =P).



Some of you may be looking at this confused (except for Ellie XP)...but this is "tubing", a ritual performed by those blessed with water XP. Basically, you hang onto a small tube, which is connected to a boat, and have your arms ripped from their sockets (quite fun, actually, but I was hurting for a bit afterwards =X) This was one of the more fun things I did up there, and that particular picture is of Alex being out-tubed by Sofia (Sofia and Louie, who is later pictured, are old childhood friends of mine...kids of my dad's friend...Alex, however, was one I just met up there, she is likewise and old friend, and nice as well ^^). Here are a few pics of the day's fun ^^...











Let's see..the first is my dad waiting to meet his demise at tubing (as seen in the fifth pic XP), the second being the lovely Sofia (who had just finished going through the "Circle of Death"...that is when the boat goes in a circle so the tube hits its own wakes...so yeah, you get some good hang time in the air XP). The guy in white is my dad's friend/boat owner, a good guy, but very ruthless on those in the tubes...a semi-sadist o.0. Ah, and the fourth is a few moments before the fifth picture is taken (my dad wiped out pretty quickly, actually XP).

Well, after all the tubing, Gene (dad's friend) and his family took Da and me to a dock-and-eat restaurant. It was pretty neat, just pull up to the dock after tubing and eat food (what could be better? XP). And here is all of us after a good day of fun...



From left to right: Da, Gene, Shelly (Gene's wife, Alex, Sofia, and Louie. Well, after all that, movie time at their new log cabin, then back to Monticello...but before!...



Yes, tremble all you mortals, and stare in awe at the fabled...HEADWATERS OF THE MISSIPPI!!! =O. Yep, that is it...a lake (one of the 10,000 in Minnesota XP). But yeah, it was okay for a nature hike, but not much else.

Anyway, so yeah, no more pictures...the rest of what I did was pretty normal (hanging out with Roman and Sebastian, Halo LAN's, and reading)...except...I got to go gardening. It was pretty fun. Now, before you laugh, take into account the things I consider fun...alright, now go ahead XP. It was pretty much picking vegetables and then selling said vegetables (plus hanging out with my cuz Racheal and Aunt Sally). But man o man! You can't beat the taste of fresh veggies from the garden, and the best part, my family (as most of them grow something or another) doesn't use pesticides or herbicides...which means, yeah, there might be a few corn boars (nasty, 8-inch caterpillers), but the fact that you can pick something straight from ground and eat it...ah, worth it ^^ (I love eating up there...everything they make is fresh and usually from scratch...you can see why they didn't exactly have the best internet, but I can live with that as long as there is plenty of fresh veggies/fruit ^^).

Well let's see...as for when I got back...went to Ellie's b-day party (Happy Birthday, btw, Ellie) at SunSplash (awesomely, awesome time ^^). And, afterwards, got home, dled...30 songs? Something like that, and the new animes (Tsubasa, Naruto, and now...Shuffle XP, suggestion by Erik, so, heck, why not?).

Anyway, I'm here hanging out, loving the fact that I can sleep in my own bed...and of course, the internet (might take some time to get used to the speed XP).

Haha, well, thnx for reading my lj...hopefully it answers some of my pal's questions about what I do in Minnesota every year XP. Haha, well, I'll talk to you all later...time for sleep soon (need to get books at school...spent 2 hours in the line this morning, but had to leave after I found out I had only gotten halfway through the line o.0). Anyway, ciao all, and g'night, NEW YORK CITY...I'm tired XP.