After the not-so-fun effort of condensing my sprawling belongings into two bags and finally getting to breathe on the drive to the Albuquerque airport, I said my tearful goodbye to Alisa. She survived yet another show with a tag-along sibling and I'd like to think we were both a little better for it.

But as life closes the door on one sibling, it's opens up a plane to another. So I took that plane to southern California, where my brother Aaron lives in the town of Redlands with his girlfriend Sara and their 3 kids (aka 2 pitbulls and a kitty they rescued from the salvation army). As the theme seems to go, the visit was too short, but I couldn't imagine leaving without at least getting to say goodbye in person.

Our plans for the visit mostly revolved around food. Anyone that knows me knows I'm perfectly okay with that. We went out to dinner, brunch, ran errands and did laundry. After the work in Santa Fe, my body and mind more than welcomed the chance to relax. Plus, anything is exciting and special when doing it with family I only see a couple times a year.

My stay ended with yet another tearful goodbye. What can I say...my family has this effect on me. And once again, it's off to another visit that will be too short. Everything changed the more the movie pushed. But it is what it is, and I couldn't imagine taking off without this last pit stop as well.

Big Apple, here I come.

Hola Travel friends! A good friend/ co-worker and I will be running a few 5k and 10k races this summer, but one is very cool and IMPORTANTE!! It is the City of Hopes: Underwear Affair on August 2, 2008. Each of us needs to raise a minimum of 300 dollars. I am excited about this race because it is benefitting the research of cancers below the waist. These cancers are known by the public, but they are not the ones that we hear about all of the time! SO... we are having a fundraiser to get some more exposure for these cancers below the waist! I would love it if you could make it! July 9, 2008 (Wednesday) 4:00pm- 9:00pm The Gourmet Pizza Shoppe 120 East State Street Redlands, CA 92373 (909) 792- 3313 We will be handing out flyers soon. You will need one for money to be given to our fundraiser, or you can just donate at our page. http://www.uncoverthecure.org/index.html Click on Los Angles Click on Donate Search for Participant: Tiffiny Hargrave click find participant click on my name when the new screen comes up There is a list of amounts you can donate: Silk Boxers (1,000) the highest to Tighty Whities (any amount). Click on your choice and fill out the information there. Follow Prompts. Thank you so much! I am really excited about this run and the idea of exposing cancers below the waist!! Peace and Holler! Tiffiny P.S- If you want to join the Underoo Crew (our team name) go ahead and sign up! Each team member needs to raise a minimum of $300.00.

If you would like a flyer, please get your e-mail address to me. Thanks! :)

Our next stop was in Redlands, CA, where my great-grand parents lived. Their home was a beautiful two story with a root cellar. Out in back was a two or maybe three car garage and workshop. And right next door to their home was the Redlands Bowl, a wonderful community venue where outdoor concerts are held all summer long and to this day it is used frequently. I used to go over there as a youngster on my skates and had a blast roller skating all over the stage, aisles, and where ever else struck my fancy. It’s nice that the bowl is still there, even though my great-grand parents home was torn down to make way for a parking lot for the doctor’s offices on the next street. Across the street from their home was the Library, and it is still there, expanded and very nice looking.

The history of the Redlands Bowl goes back nearly a hundred years to 1923 when Grace Stewart Mullen started the Redlands Community Music Association. She believed that music should be for everyone. Her idea to build the bowl and not charge an admission to anyone has been retained for its entire history. The schedule now runs from late Spring to early fall, on Tuesdays and Fridays, and includes all kinds of music and dance. There is even what is called "Community Sings" prior to the main show on Tuesday evenings.

Well, I am home. I landed on Valentine's Day. I got home and then drove to my friends house. It was her birthday.. she had no idea I was going to be home yet. What a surprise!! So, I have been working and getting things in order for grad school. I miss Prague, but it kind of feels like I was never there at all, which is weird, because I spent three months of my life there! Well, nearly two weeks home and still no regrets in my returning! I love when I listen to my gut.. and it turns out to be right!

The Vault is a nice bar on the same street as my house. My friends friend owns the place and her boyfriend's band often plays there. It is a neat setup. When you walk in there in the bar and few tables and then you walk through that and end up outside. But, you do not feel like you are outside, because you are surrounded by buildings, which create a cozy atmosphere. This outside area is where the bands play. The Vault is just a nice place to go and chill. Take a visit if you would like! (Vine Street) The Underground is not too far away from The Vault and I haven't actually been there, but my mom has eaten there and says that they have some delicious food. So, eat, drink, and be MERRY! (Citrus Street)

I discovered this not too long before I left for Prague and it is amazing. It is off of Nevada street and is in the parking lot as the Barton Ranch House. it is a tiny little shoppe, but it is amazing! There is a cute little place set up for you to sit and enjoy your frozen custard outside. They are only open at certain times during the year and I do not know what those are off the top of my head, so I will will update this when I get home... if I remember. Basically it is like frozen yogurt, but it is custard (creamier than froyo). You also have the Coldstone element... where you can mix in many tasty treats as well as have a already planned concoction from the menu! Muy delicioso!!

I find this place to be delicious! I try to take all of my friends there at least once when they visit! Oscar's is a small Mexican restaurant that sits on Citrus street. The staff is small and friendly and you always get great service. There are meal specials that go on all of the time. Please check them out!

Ok, so I may be a bit biased because I worked here for eight months and I will be working there when I return from Prague. If you want a pizza unlike any you have every had before.. then this is the place for you! We have a menu of crazy and delicious pizzas! Here is one for example.. The Mayan. It had peanut butter, bacon, and onions, topped with mozzarella cheese and cholula hot sauce. There are pizzas for veggie only eaters and for the meat loves and all those in between. If you are a big risk taker, you definitely need to check this place out. We offer spaghetti, lasagna, and salads galore!!! I even eat there when I am not working.. ha ha! I guess just check it out is all I have to say! You will not be sorry!

Redlands was founded on the back of a growing citrus industry that the prevalence of the train system was making a booming business in the 1800s.  The soil and the hills were perfect for the drainage needed to plant thriving orange and avocado trees as well as many other types of citrus.

I began my walk at the Redlands Historical Museum, in the old location of the City Hall.  Located on the corner of Orange and Citrus (what else) streets, this is a logical place to start an afternoon of walking.  While most Redlands hotels are located closer to the freeway, I was able to catch a buss to the 'mall' (which proved to be a glorified strip mall) and walked over from there.  Much of the museum is still under construction I was able to see the historic building it is located in, which includes some of the original fixtures. 

From the museum I walked South West 1/2 a block to the AK Smiley Public Library, a beautiful red building that has recently been restored to it's original condition.  The dome on the top had been removed for concerns about earthquake safety, however it is now re-built and I was excited about being able to see it for the first time.  Inside the library I was disappointed to find out that the dome is closed to the public and used mostly for city board meetings.  I asked the volunteer at the desk if there were any way I could see it and I was shocked that she (it was not a busy day) willingly took me up there immediately.  It is a beautiful room and the windows that look out in every direction give some lovely views of the surrounding countryside.

In the Library's 'back yard' is the Lincoln shrine and memorial. It has very limited hours and I was saddened that I did not get a chance to go inside.

Across from the library I enjoyed a visit to the Redlands Bowl, which is a lovely historic structure home to the Redlands Community Music Association.  The Music Association puts on community music professional concerts and an annual amateur musical every year for the citizens of the town.  If you come during the summer, plan on staying over a Tuesday or Friday night so that you can see one of the excellent, and free, performances.

Redlands, CA is my hometown so it is only natural that I speak on this adorable locale first.  Growing up here was a pain, because it seemed like it was hard to find things to do.  Then I grew up and found out that the lack of things to do was due to my teenage-hood and not the town.  If you visit Redlands, there are a lot of great places to stay and unique, romantic and interesting things to do.

Redlands Historical Tour
For tourists, the Redlands Chamber of Commerce offers an audio tour with guided signs around the historic locations and homes of the citrus kings who founded the town on orange and avocado groves.  Many of the groves still stand today and you can see other remants in the long rows of palm trees that line the streets and once marked the boundaries of the orchards.  I never took this tour, figuring that as a local I knew everything about my town, until after I had left for college.  My father got a copy of the tapes and one winter we drove the tour.  It was an amazing tour and facinating.  The narrator turned out to be the guy who had taught me High School Government/economics and I never remembered him being that interesting before.  Probably another result of being a teenager.

Redlands Historic Houses
Any visit to redlands isn't complete without a tour of it's extensive historic houses.  These homes are mostly victorian in style and rambling abodes of the rich persons who migrated West from the cold and humid East Coast for a variety of reason.  Make sure to see the Morey Mansion and Kimberly Crest if none others.  I've been to both several times and on my most recent visit I made a point of taking my camera (saddly not digital!) and got some amazing shots.  If I can get them digitized I'll post them here later...

I woke up this morning and it finally hit me; I leave tomorrow night! Today is my last full day in Redlands, tomorrow I go home to Riverside and Wednesday morning at 1am I board a plane to begin my adventure! I will be visiting family and staying in New York for a few days and my big flight leaves out of JFK at 10:00pm on August 27th. I'm nervious, excited, scared, and a bit sad to leave all of my friends and family back home, but hopefully I'll have a fun and safe semester! It still hasn't really hit me that I'm going to be in Jordan in almost a week, maybe it won't really sink in until I'm there. Well I'm not going to write too much here since I'm not really doing anything, there will probably be an update from the East Coast and hopefully pictures.