Recap

Well, I'm back in Chicago and freezing! Apparently fall came stumbling in while I was gone, totally ruining my belief that the true 'Chicago summer' would come in September and October, since it never really showed up before then. So it's in the 50s and it's raining off and on. Brr. I had such an excellent trip home. To try and avoid a ridiculously long and wordy post, quick recap:
Saturday: arrived home
Sunday: recovered from lack of sleep
Monday: Hiking with Courtney (see previous post)
Tuesday: Beach with mom and grandma (see previous post)
Wednesday: lazy day!
Thursday: Hiking with dad to Marion Lake
Friday: lazy day!
Saturday: Hiking with Charissa and Stacey
Sunday Funday: Family gathering!
Monday: to Seattle!
Tuesday: begging for my future/ back to Oregon
Wednesday: Back to Chicago

PHEW! I got back to the windy city and trekked back to my apartment via the El. I finally walked in the door around 9:45pm. I putzed around for a little bit then hit the hay only to wake up well before dawn and go to work on Thursday morning. Waste no time, apparently. Work was okay yesterday. I did get an admission pretty late in the day which is always... exciting, but I made it home and have today to catch my breath before working the weekend. I'm not thrilled to be back in the city, and I am super impatient to learn whether or not I will get to relocate soon. In "a couple of weeks" I should know, but I WANT TO KNOW NOW. I have a one month grace period in my apartment. Technically our lease was up yesterday. My roommates will be staying, and someone is coming to take my spot on Wednesday. When I explained that my future isn't developing as quickly as I'd anticipated, they graciously agreed to let me stay through October. So I'd really like to know if I can anticipate a big move now in order to prepare with as little stress as possible (yea right). Oh well-- patience is a virtue... what a great opportunity to develop mine. Hmph.
Below find some more pictures of my super fantastic vacay to OREGON-- aka God's country.

Hiking with my dad-- Three Finger Jack in the view

My dad couldn't get enough of the "fall foliage"

We found another hiker to take our picture


Hiking with Charissa and Stacey-- we found waterfalls!

And of course had to walk through them!

Despite the jolly nature of this group photo-- it was quite a death defying situation.

Super fun family gathering with an impromptu soccer game. I look forward to the rematch.

Plane ride back... this is why I belong on the West Coast.