No' Vemo'

The last few weeks have been very enjoyable, a bit hectic and sort of bewildering as well. It was nice having my parents in Cabarete my last week and getting to show them around the place I had been living the past year. Even though I was ready to leave, actually leaving the DR was a bit sad. I'll certainly miss all the great people I met there.

Checking out the beach.

Mom and Dad at a nice sunset.

At Playa Grande.

Last night out.

The week in Jamaica was a rousing success. Everyone there thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and it was too bad more people couldn't make it. I think someone in this area will have to install a pool bar and serve Dirty Bananas.

Good times were had at the beach/beach bar.

Dave and I with Pina Coladas being put to shame by my mom drinking whisky.

Sunset swimming.

Hey, I know you guys.

We can have a sit-down dinner and still hit the buffet later? This place is awesome.

IIIIII don't wanna work...

Shannon gives beardless Dave the thumbs up. It apparently had been twenty years.

When at a tropical wedding, sleeves and pantlegs are not required.

A thunderstorm forced the ceremony under cover.

Nice tie, Tim.

People are going to pay $4 for a cup of coffee? That's a good one Scott.

I totally carried Marc during this performance.

Dave and Mel doing their dance quintet, you know, their cycle. We all gave them notes.

All hell broke loose afterwards.

Five out of eight, not a bad showing.

Our last day, we all went to the world famous Rick's Cafe.

I can't pass up jumping off of things. There's me in the red watching as Trevor jumps.

Should I go with the triple lindy?

Better to do an easy one to get warmed up.

Here's my second jump (I finally figured out how to embed a video). Had I known that my dad was going to use his digital camera to take a video I would've given him a signal or something. Alas, the video begins right after the jump. Also, the footage after the jump is pretty worthless, so feel free to move on after that.

Hooray beer!

Alright guys, where we going now? You're going to be by yourselves this week? Oh, OK.

I then spent a couple days in Miami visiting my friends Brent and Courtney and their two daughters Sienna and Tyler. Two young kids seem to be quite the handful. I also drove down to Key West for a day while I was there. There's some interesting things to see there (Hemingway House, Little White House, southernmost point in the continental U.S.) as well as some very active nightlife.

Caught a Marlins game.

Here are where the Marlins fans would theoretically sit.

Whatever, Hawaii's further south.

Now I'm back home trying to get things in order and work on the next stage of my life. This will be my last post so I would just like to thank everyone who followed along with my this year. I hope you enjoyed reading about my trials and tribulations as much as I enjoyed sharing them with you. I'd also like to say thank you one last time to everyone who made a donation on my behalf. Without you I wouldn't have had an opportunity to have this wonderful experience. For those in the Northwest, I hope to see you soon, and for those in other parts of the country/world, I hope to see you as soon as possible.

John