I don't think that pig lizard was Gorignak

OMG Joshua Tree. Stop it. It's too much.

Apparently, Dan loves the desert. It calls to him. I'm more of a forest/mountain girl, myself, but I will say, this place killed me. The night skies. There is no comparison. They were amazing.

I may even get Dan (man who hates camping) to go back so long as we have a telescope in tow. The man is also really into stars and planets. It really hurt him that I didn't know all the planets and their order until I was 22. Leave me alone, I went to private bible school. I learned the books of the bible in order by song. Old Testament and New Testament.

I digress.

Joshua Tree was amazing. And I got my dad and baby sister to join us. Dad and I (the more adventurous of the four of us) decided to hike Ryan Mountain in the wee hours of the morning to watch the sunrise at the summit. About 2,000 vertical feet and a mile and a half later - and a couple disagreements on who was the speedracer of the two of us - we made it to the top in time to watch the sky change color and the sun come over the horizon.

We brought the little stove and french press and had ourselves a little father-daughter moment.

I can't say enough good things. Though I am exhausted and a red-eye the same day as you come back from camping is ill-advised. Pro-tip.

tennis and twinkies

Today we played tennis and I ate twinkies. Judge me if you must but I haven't had a twinkie in years, probably close to a decade, and well, it was an impulse buy at the Target checkout and it just looked good. So, I bought it. Dan made the obligatory "ew, that's gross" observation to which I responded "get up off me" because I am a gangsta. A gangsta who eats twinkies. And plays tennis. From the ghetto.   

stay

Staycation: (n); a vacation taken within a short distance of one's home.

I think Wilmington is growing on me. Although, I do think I was lied to. We went to the ocean today, the first time I've ever seen the Atlantic Ocean, and the water was not warm. Everyone told me how warm the water on the east coast is, yada, yada, yada. Well, they did not speak truth. But it's okay, the dunes here are pretty and we found our way to an awesome tiki bar. After the beach we went to the batting cages to hit a few -- yep, I'm as good as I ever was (batting about a .100 = not very good). I like that we didn't have to go far to feel like we are exploring new places and seeing new things. It helps that we live in a beach town where thousands of people come every summer for vacation. Wanna visit? We have a fabulous futon waiting just for you.

saint pat

It would seem that my spring break really started today. Daniel took some leave in order to hang out with me on my break and we had a blast. We started by going to breakfast at this little diner tucked into a residential area. After breakfast we went for a hike on a trail at Poplar Grove, an old plantation in Wilmington -- super beautiful. Dan made corn-beef and cabbage for dinner and we drank some Guinness in honor of good ole saint patrick. And what saint patty's day could be complete without a trip to the bar? $1 Irish Red Ale? I'll have two.