ask and ye shall receive?

in august i posted about missing certain college friends who i'd experienced winfiled, ks with... days later i was contacted by one of them! sandi, an old friend and roommate who now lives in brazil with kevin (one of rhodie's dads) and their daughter wrote to tell me they were going to be in kansas visiting family and would be driving through kc to iowa.  they were kind enough to invite me to meet them at starbucks for a quick visit. it was as if no time passed - just completely natural to be hanging out with such great people.  i stole this pic from sandi's blog as i didn't have my camera with me that day.

USCA

i just returned from spending 4 nights in orlando, fl attending the united states conference on aids.... despite having worked in the field of hiv/aids for the past 6 years, this was my first time attending this particular conference.  it was refreshing to be around people who share similar views and feel that renewed fire to continue the fight for my clients and friends living with the reality of hiv.  was it the greatest conference or training i've every been to? no. certainly not. did i learn anything new? of course.  would i go again? no doubt about it.  best part? by the time my supervisor found the funds to send me, the more affordable of the 2 hotel options was sold out.  that means i ended up at the waldorf astoria. seriously... check those photos. it was the nicest hotel i've ever been to in my life.  they turned down my bed at night and left me chocolates, a robe and fuzzy slippers. it was a really good mini-vacation. now i'm home for few weeks before heading to st.louis for my cousin amy's wedding!

sister trip.

kel and i spent 5 nights with liss in venice beach, ca earlier this month.  it was a great get away.  it had been 4 years since we last did that.  it was good to be together, just us girls. i have a fun story from the trip and a few more pictures to share a later post but for now, here are just a few photos. 

lake vacation number 2

last month steve and i took the doggies and headed to the lake of the ozarks for 4 nights. it was a perfect vacation full of great conversations and planning and relaxing and swimming and a little fishing, though it wasn't that great.  here are a few pics from the trip. ps, if you're looking for a good get away house this one was reasonable... pet friendly (for $10 per pet per night)... super clean and super cute.

traveling fool

in the past few weeks i've been all over the place. to the ozarks for vacation with steve.... to st. louis for my cousin amy's bridal shower.... to venice beach, ca with kel to visit liss... and i'm heading to orlando, fl on saturday for a work conference.  i'm exhausted but having fun. and its especially nice to be away from the office so much! i really needed the break from there... but soon i'll need a vacation from all the traveling!