I’ve been in PA since the 14th and every day has been a super fun adventure. Some highlights: seeing my brothers & sister, eating my mom’s homemade pasta sauce, going to the movies to see Bridesmaids, driving around Connellsville to see all the old major places in my life (old houses and schools, mostly), visiting with Nick, shopping at the Monroeville Mall, eating at Primanti Bros and Eat n Park, visiting Fort Ligonier, visiting with some of my college professors I’ve missed dearly this year, shopping at the King of Prussia mall, going to a Phillies-Rangers game, visiting with Allison and doing our customary end-of-semester trip to the Cheesecake Factory, shopping at the Limerick outlets, finished reading a good book, going to a Pirates game, visiting with Kathy and going to Kennywood, touring the famous Frank Lloyd Wright house Fallingwater, getting to catch up with Anne and hang out in the Strip District in Pittsburgh, and going to the Heinz History Center.

Left to do: go bridesmaid dress shopping for a wedding I’m in in December, go to the drive-in movie theater tonight to see the Hangover 2, tour Heinz Field, hang out with Megan, maybe go up to see the Ohiopyle falls, and continue general fun and relaxation until our flight back to TX on Saturday morning.

The weather was rainy and gross the whole first week we were here, but since this past Saturday it has been sunny and warm almost all day every day (just a few scattered showers that didn’t last long enough to ruin any plans).

Pennsylvania is a beautiful place, and it’s boring (in my opinion) to live here, especially on the western side, but it’s super fun to visit. It’s just the breath of life I needed before locking myself indoors all summer to study for the algebra qualifying exam (which, admittedly, is also boring).

So, to my PA friends, if I saw you while I was here – it was awesome, if I didn’t see you while I was here – I’m sorry I didn’t have time to see everyone but rest assured you are missed. To my Texas friends, see you all again soon!