Party Like A Rockstar

This year was the longest birthday I will ever have. I started the party in Louiville, then stopped in Pheonix and ended it all in San Diego. I was on my way home from Kentucky and I didn't remember that it was my birthday until 930. I got up at 215 Pacific Standard Time and was up for 24 hours. I only slept for 2 hours on my birthday and it was well worth it. Jet lagged Julia was on a mission to have the best birthday ever. I was picked up in the SD by TJ, Judd and Brannen and they were nice enough to buy my lunch at Phil's BBQ and without me knowing they told the workers that it was my birthday and so they came and sang to me. I was shocked because I had no idea and the one lady kept hitting a tamborine close to my ear. But the food and company were awesome. We continued the festivities at the swap meet so they could buy bonzai trees so they improve their biosphere/natural habitat.
I headed home to rest and unpack and then we went to a wedding where 160 of my closest friends joined us for a reception at the Marriott on Coronado Island. We had a nice dinner and danced the night away. I came up with some amazing moves that impressed all the boys. But the party didn't end there, we watched a movie and I felt inspired to write about my life growing up on the rough streets of Stockton after watching Freedom Writers. Then I watched another movie at my house. It was the longest birthday ever! I felt like the newest celebutaunt partying all over the world. But the party didn't end. The next we had a nice dinner and dessert party at Lisa G's house and then it ended. No, not really. On Monday Lori made Banana Sundae Cake. Then it ended. That is when the party ended. Whew, I'm tired just writing about it.

I love Kentucky!!!

I had a great time in Kentucky and the trip was so awesome. I stayed with one of my mission companion's sister and family in Lexington and that was so nice of them. I got in last tuesday night after an amazing 5 hour delay in the Chi-town because of the crazy storms. But when I stopped off the plane and felt that humidity it was like a warm embrace welcoming me home. Wednesday morning I walked around the campus and talked to the people at my program. Very nice and I love love LOVE the accent and picked it up quickly. So I think I already wrote about this on the blog so we will skip to Friday. I went to Louisville and had a fantabulous day all by myself. There is something to say about going on vacation on yourself. I honestly have never made so many phone calls in my whole life. I had no one else to comment on how fun everything was so I just called them.
When I went to the Horse Park and saw the tomb of Man o' War, the greatest race horse ever winning 20 of the 21 races he started I thought of my friend Lisa and when I was watching the horse jumping she texted me, so I had to call her back. I saw 90 of the 140 breeds in the US and saw the large draft horses that are used on farms and when I saw the Tennessee Walker I thought of my grandparents Hall.
When I was in the Louisville Slugger Museum I thought of TJ and Judd especially when I ordered my custom made bat. Outside is a huge 250 foot tall bat, but mine is better. They have over 11,000 types of bats for the pros to choose from and the bats are made from white ash or maple.
Then I went and saw the Muhammad Ali museum and watched a couple of his fights and realized that I don't really like boxing and that guy had some funny poems. I think I just like the fact that he could entertain. He also divorced his first wife because she wouldn't convert to Islam. Nice.
I walked alomg the Ohio river along the first Main Street in the West, according to my friend at the Visitor's Center. She also gave me a fan that said, "I'm a fan of Louisville." I kept it and acutally used it.
I stopped by Thomas Edison's house and learned what that saying, "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite," came from. The straw mattresses were made of straw that bugs loved and they were held up by ropes that needed to be tight so you didn't fall to the ground. I got a personal tour of the house he lived at when he was 19 and was fired from his job at the telegraph company for bringing chemical to the office and ruining his boss' furniture when one went bad. I learned he made the first motion picture and some other stuff I can't remember. I wrote it in my journal. It was fun, but the guy kept talking and I could tell that he wanted me to stay because no one goes there and he was bored.
Louisville was a nice town, but I was ready to leave and go home. And that is exactly what I did. But now I just need to decide what to do.

Living in the South Is Mighty Fine with Me, Maybe

Alright the more time that I spend here, the more that I love it. Today I went and checked out a ton of appartments. The best one I found was $415 for a single bedroom 7 minutes walking from my school. NICE!!!! I also went to the Kennedy bookstore to get some cheap UK gear. I love them sales and I love speaking with a southern accent. Yeah, for some reason it just comes out of nowhere, but fits so perfectly. Guess all that time in Georgia as a child really stuck to me. But the best has been driving around town and knowing where I am going and all the major streets. I already feel comfortable driving around town. The college is huge and everyone, I mean everyone, wears UK gear. I have never seen so much blue in my life.
I went to Mary Todd Lincoln's home to learn about that first lady and her life of wealth unlike the Pres. Her family didn't really like him because he wasn't connected or educated, little did they know. They used to put candles next to mirrors to have more light. Smart folk.
I also went to the Kentucky Horse Farm where there are over 90 of the 140 breeds of horses shown. I also saw the greatest thouroughbred horse of the 20th century named Cigar. He was in the Hall of Champions with a few other retired race horses. I will post pictures when I get back to the CA. I also saw some Belgian Draft horses, the largest horse there. I also got to see some horse jumping competitions and some mini horses. I saw horses from Spain, France, Russia, some other country that ends with "stan" and China. The really are beautiful and the whole time I was there I thought, "If only Lisa Garcia was here to see this." Then she texted me, so we talked.
I loved just driving throught ht country side. The rolling green hill with white fences is so beautiful. So green and the humidity isn't bad at all. The sunset here is amazing with the sky turning pink and orange and at 930 it's still pretty light outside. It's my favorite time of day.
I went to Institute and the director was awesome and everyone was really nice. I met a boy who served in the same mission as Philip my brother and in the same district as him. So that was really fun and I met a boy who just returned home from a mission in San Diego. What a small crazy world! So I still have to decide whether or not I move here, and I hate that I have to decide right now basically. Well, I should go to bed. Tomorrow its off to the Ville and to see some baseball and boxing fun. Signing off from Appalachia.

Appalachian Adventures

After the best delayed flight in Chicago, I finally arrived in Appalachia Wednesday morning at 123. Well, I arrived in Louisville or the Ville, as the locals call it, an hour earlier and then drove in my Hundai elantra to Lexington. It was so green and I was so excited to be there. After my nocturnal feast I awoke and headed to the campus. I loved it as soon as I saw it. The institute is close by and right by the stadium, so when I got to all those football games I know where to park.
The campus is beautiful with all the brick buildings and rolling green hills. It's really beautiful. The humidity isn't bad at all and I went for a nice run tonight in the housing development of mansions. The houses are huge and brick. I am staying with a mission companion's sister and family and they have been wonderful. Helping with directions and giving me suggestions. Plus a nice place to stay for free. I talked with some professors and administration people here and they are all you could dream of with southern accents and all. I can do international practicums and continue to the PhD program if I want too. Plus most of the classes are are 3 or 6 pm. Love it. I just love it.
Its all so new and exciting. I checked out one place to live and will check out 2 more tomorrow right by campus so I could walk to school in less than 10 minutes. I have to buy some UK gear tomorrow and check out housing and then I will visit a historical place or 2. Something with horses. Friday I am going to the Ville, to the Slugger Museum and factory and the Muhammad Ali museum and to try some good southern cooking. So I made a pro and con list tonight of SDSU and UK and it's really tough to decide. I still have to think about a lot of stuff. But I will let you all know ASAP. Peace out from Appalachia.

Julia Hall vs. Julia Hall

On my way to my Appalachian Adventure I met for the first time in my life another Julia Hall. Crazy to think, but it's true. As I was waiting to board the plane, they called my name overhead and as I was walking up to the kiosk another lady was walking straight towards it as well. I get there and say, "My name is Julia Hall." and so does the lady. Crazy!!!! Then she told me how she knew that I would be on that plane and had hoped she would meet me. She told me how when she had gone to buy the ticket online, they wouldn't let her because I had already bought the ticket and it was a big hassle. We laughed about it and then disscussed what we did. Here are a few crazy similiarities of the Julia Halls
1. I work at the VA in SD. She used to work at the VA in SD.
2. I work for a research study. She audits reseach studies. That's why she was on her way to the Chi-town.
3. I have good skin. She has good skin.
4. I like to travel on planes. She likes to travel on planes.

There are so many similiarities I could continue this list forever. But we parted ways and I boarded the plane and she waited for the next flight. Well, they say you can see into the future, and I have. I look good.

I LOVE THEM QUILTS!!!!

In my time off from school(all 3 weeks now) I have been crazy busy with my friends, family and most time consuming quilting. How I love to quilt, let me count thy ways:
1) I love the touch of fabric. Many a good time have been spent in fabric stores just running up and down the aisle, arms out, feeling the fabrics.
2) Rosie's Quilt Corner is my favorite quilt store ever. I love how big it is, seeing all the fabrics organized by color and designer and most of all the newest trends in quilting
3) I love fat quarters. To those who don't quilt, it's a quarter of a yard and it is pure heaven to me. I can buy a plethera of fat quarters for $1.50 and make beautiful quilts.
4) Piecing all the fabics together is fun for me and takes my mind to QUILTLAND, a magical place where decisions can not be made and there is no bedtime ever, but watchout sometimes the evil fairies make you sleepy and mess up late at night.
BEWARE!!!!
5) Going back to a fabric store with an unfinnished quilt is autamatically an invite for all workers to look at your quilt and ask questions. LOVE IT!!!!!! I feel really tight with my girl Judy at Beverly's. She loves my quilts.
6) I love when Ruthie finishes my quilts. Which hasn't happened in a while, but she used to do all the crappy end parts. Now that I live far away from her I have to do it and I am getting better about the corners, but she is still the best.
7) The joy a quilt brings. I love to give quilts away, because I think it is such a nice gift to give someone that you really love and appreciate. Homemade stuff is always better and has more thought put into it. I would rather have a homemade gift with thought than the most expensive gift ever.
8) Quilts are warm. I like being warm.
9) Quilts are creative art. So many fabrics and colors to choose from, it helps me express my inner creative freak.
10) Quilting brings families together. Many a night I have spent quilting with my mom, sister, aunts and cousins and have wonderful memories that will last longer than those quilts I made.