TX

Heading to the great state of Texas this weekend for my brother Micah's wedding.

Congratulations, Micah and Virginia. Hark the sound.

The news

We've been back in America for about two weeks now, and I had forgotten what 24 hour news channels were like.

This about sums it up:

The first two things I did when I got home...

After I hugged my family, of course...

Ah, the Old North State. Love it.

spend my days in the sweet sunshine

I've wandered this world far and wide
I've been all around and to the other side, but there's nothing like coming home

We're coming home for the summer and to celebrate coming home, I'm posting the top 5 simple things that I am looking forward to:

1) TAP WATER.

go to the sink, fill up your glass, take a sip.  delicious.  can't wait.

2) DRY HANDS AFTER USING A PUBLIC RESTROOM.

there's a sink.  but there's no soap and no way to dry your hands.  looking forward to walking away from bathrooms without wet pants.

3) STARS!

I think I can count the times on my hands that I have seen stars in the last year and a half...and none of those times were in our city.  this is the city where sometimes it's a challenge to figure out if you're staring directly at the sun or if the moon came out early.

lately i've seen too many city lights,

i want to go somewhere where i can see the stars at night

4)  ICE.

in drinks.  at restaurants.  and you don't have to ask for it.  or really trust the establishment you're at to give you clean ice.  one of American friends here had to tell his visiting dad every time they went to a restaurant that he couldn't get ice water.  and every time they went, his dad still asked for ice water.  it's hard to get used to.

a local friend of mine went to america last summer, and thought it was so strange that she couldn't get hot water at restaurants, but it always came with ice.  i feel your pain.  (only the other way around).

5)  DRIVING.

we don't drive here.  although my husband did just get his chinese driver's license!!

roll down the windows, turn up the country music.

OH and what the heck, one more..... HOT DOGS.  an all beef hot dog. carolina style - coleslaw and chili.  I know. I know.  A lot of girls think hot dogs are gross.  But I like them.  And the chinese hot dogs around here are more like Vienna sausages instead of Hebrew Nationals or Ballparks.  

Me and E

Today, my friend E is getting married. E and I have been friends for a long time, and he is a really fantastic friend and a brother. The girl he is marrying is also quite fantastic, and Stacy and I are thrilled for their new life together!

Me, Stacy, M, and E at another friend's wedding this past year

I met E during his senior year of college six years ago, even before Stacy and I were dating! We pretty much struck up an immediate friendship because of our love of the outdoors and movies. Since then, our friendship has deepened to cover a multitude of similar interests and hobbies.


When I moved back to America after my first few years in Asia, I was pretty sure I would drift out of contact with the friends I had made during those two years. However, E and I stayed in close contact while Stacy and I lived in America, and now E and I only live a couple of hours from each other!


Congratulations E & M!

My chair

The O'Hares have finally entered the realm of "adulthood" - we purchased our first ever piece of furniture. Granted, we live a different life than most, but...

My wife surprised me with burnt orange armchair, and I. Am. In. Love.

Not only does it make me look regal (not a difficult task), it is super comfortable. And since this is the closes to a recliner I'll ever get, I am tickled pink!

Golden Birthday review

I turned 29 on the 29th of May.


This is the first birthday where I officially feel old - leaving my twenties in just a year.

To kick off the last year in my twenties, we decided to go big.


I woke up on the morning of my birthday to a collapsing tent under the weight of the snow from the storm the night before.  We kicked the snow off, ate breakfast, then set off for climbing a glacier.  It actually wasn't as hardcore as it sounds - I mean I didn't throw up like I did hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge (which according to our friend Jarred whether or not I am throwing up is his new litmus test for if something is hardcore).

We came back to the city a couple of days later, where Aaron and I got caught in a rain storm heading to one of my favorite restaurants to celebrate my birthday.....only to get there and discover it was closed.....so we had McDonald's for dinner instead.


The next night Aaron took me out on a date to the nice Italian restaurant he took me to for our anniversary.

AND then the next night he surprised me by taking me to the previously closed restaurant for a surprise dinner with some local friends.

It was a good birthday.  I think it's going to be a good year.

Last hike

This past week, after 9 years, 2 continents, 1 re-soling, and a ton of miles, my Vasque Sundowners made their final hike. When I bought them, I paid $170 and hoped dearly that they would be worth it.

They carried me through many miles with my friends Will, Mark, and Tanner in college, and more recently, with my lovely wife. I would certainly say they were worth it.

Here are pictures from last week's hike, a week-long trek at 14,000ft in western China that was a fitting last waltz:

Fog rolls into the valley

Climbing the ridge over a glacial lake

Whiteout fog made it hard to see anything past 50ft.

Stacy and I on the banks of the lake

Fresh snowfall on our 4th morning

Someone makes ordering shawarma *POP*

And it's me! You're welcome, Lebanese food...