FIJI!!!

Bula!
Just wanted to drop another quick update. First and foremost, I'm still loving Fiji!!! It's so nice to be in this hot and humid weather....big change from the snow we left on Sunday. I'm still having a blast to say the least.

Tuesday night we were both in bed and asleep by 6:30!!! It had been a long day. Yesterday, Wednesday, we had our white water rafting trip. We are staying in Pacific Harbour, which is the adventure capital of Fiji and an adventure we did have! We met our transport at 6:45. We met up with the others rafting at the main office and piled into a little bus. The guide was Rob, who I was convinced was my soul mate. He is American and I could easily move to Fiji and help run a white water rafting place!!! Rob told us that it was an hour and a half drive to the put in place on the river. The 1st thirty minutes were smooth, the last hour was a little rougher. Rough was an understatement. We turn onto this gravel/clay one lane road....oh, but it wasn't one lane because we passed 2 other vehicles. It's through the mountains so the majority of it was extremely steep. I thought we were going to have to push as some points. The first part was through the logging area, where they log mahogany trees and take to town to sell and mostly ship overseas. Mahogany is not natural to Fiji though. We then get to the River Fiji conservation area, where they roads weren't kept up as good as the logging roads. WHAT!!

We get to the drop off and have about a 15 minute hike down a hill, which was steep and muddy and then back up another hill, which was just as steep and muddy. No worries...I didn't fall on the walk in!! We get our guide Stevie, who is from one of the local villages in the mountains. He was a wealth of knowledge. We were in the raft with two Aussies, Sarah and Ashley. Ashley is actually from L.A, but went to study abroad for a semester in Australia and never came back. My parents were lucky that I came back after my 7 months in Australia!!! Most of the villagers have to take a boat to town, which can take up to 2 days and then walk back to the village! Crazy. The quote of the trip was when Stevie asked, in all seriousness, So, do any of you guys hunt wild boars?!?! WHAT!!! Yes, Stevie, we do!!! Such a random questions. I wanted to tell him no, but my family kills pigs for meat once a year, but didn't have the energy to explain all of that. They hunt at least once a week to eat the wild boars on Saturday. They use only a knife and dog....no guns! And, sometimes when they chase them, they jump into the river and then they have to jump in after them! No thanks!

The river was beautiful. We did 16 miles in about 4 and a half hours. It takes us 2 days to do 16 miles on the Buffalo. It was through a canyon wall and everything was so lush and green. I imagine it would be like rafting the river in the Grand Canyon with the the scenery of the Amazon. So beautiful. You could even see the fall of the river. I always know when we are rafting we drop, but it was crazy to actually see that you were going down hill. In the currents, Stevie would have us do doughnuts and it was so much fun! The Ocoee is going to be boring after this trip!!!

The biggest adventure when we stopped for lunch 1/2 way through. They reminded us of the slippery rocks. Well, I had to pee, so I bebop out to the water and I'm walking, walking, and then I'm not!!!! The ledge ended and I was under water!!! Well down I go!!! I come back up and was like, ok, this water is calm, I can just climb back up...NOPE...it was a pretty strong current and mind you, I had taken off my life vest and helmet for lunch. So, I decided to grab onto the boat and pull myself up...NOPE...the boat wasn't attached and started floating with me. So, I decided since I was by myself I should probably call for someone. I called for Rob and my knight and shining armour came to my rescue!! He pulled my out and I told him that I was pretty clumsy and he said he was too. I'm sure he was trying to make me feel better. I then told him that we needed a little Rescue 911 on this river!!! I realized later that I had lost my sunglasses, but we found them down river, minus a lense. So after this email I'm off to buy new sunglasses.

The trip was amazing. It rained off and one, so when we got to the village where we take out, the bus had gotten stuck and could not make it down to pick us up. We had to hike about 10 or 15 minutes to the bus...what they didn't bother to tell us was that it was straight up the side of the mountain!!! Every turn I expected it to get flat...but no, it just got steeper. It stunk....but I reminded myself, at least I'm climbing a mountain in Fiji!!! It was so steep...I don't care who you are!!! My legs are pretty sore today!

We got back and we stayed up til about 7:30 and went to bed. Today we are doing the zip line. I'm really looking forward to this. Hopefully there won't be any mountain hiking on this trip. Afterwards we are transfering to Mango Bay, which is where we'll stay for New Years Eve. The 2 girls we rafted with are staying there and said it was completely booked out. We got spoiled with our first hostel with a room to ourselves, so it's not going to be fun giving up our privacy...but, we are in Fiji, so it's ok!!!

Still an awesome trip. Looking forward to the many more adventures to come. Keep us in your prayers for no more Rescue 911 scenes and for perfect weather. It's been raining off and on, but luckily it doesn't last long and at least it's not snow!!!

Love you all!

Becca :)

Nashville Tennessee Flood 2010

So, as most people know, Tennesse was hit by a massive flood on Saturday May 1 and Sunday May 2. It was just so surreal! For about 3 days straight I was glued to the local news watching Nashville sink further and further under water.

Nolensvile flooded Saturday and then again on Sunday, but the water receded fairly fast, which a lot of people can't say. We were all fine, but mom and dad couldn't get out of their driveway on Saturday. Below are 2 pictures from Nolensville from Saturday afternoon.

Mom and dad had a total of 14 inches at their house between the 2 days. Nashville doesn't even average 14 inches of rain in the month of May! Papaw would say that when it rained on the first of May, it would rain for 2 weeks....lets hope that's incorrect!

Nashville was hit the hardest. My exit for work was completely covered and I think it just reopened today. The back parking lot was flooded and Monday the few who did venture down here, which did not include me, was sent home at 11:00 because the water was still rising and the front of the office was under water to. We did go back to work on Wednesday, but it's just so quiet in Nashville, so unreal! The 2nd picture is from my back parking lot at work Monday morning....and the water was still rising!!!

Lastly, I posted a video. It shows everything in Nashville. The first bridge in the slide show is the bridge I take to work everyday. It's crazy. I'm just waiting to break down and cry. This is my city and I love it. I'm proud to call Tennessee home and so proud of the way people have stepped up. This weekend I'm planning on volunteering with work to help some of the people here who've lost everything. We have 5 people who lost their whole house and cars!!!

If you ignore everything else on this page, watch the video....it's amazing!

High Lights of 2009

So, it's officially 2010....8 days into 2010 to be exact. I've been thinking about the past year and wanted to do some highlights.....to help me remember. I think 2009 was a GREAT year. I think I said it in an earlier post, but most people want to stay 29....I want to stay 28!!!!
So, to 2009....cheers!
* I spent New Years at The Corner Pub in Nashville with some of my favorite people
* I turned 28.....which was a lot better than 27
* I took my first trip to Miami, with a day trip to Key West.....which was AmAzInG!!!
* Got somewhat of a promotion at work.
* Made a trip to Atlanta for the 1st time since Ben moved there....enjoyed seeing his new home.
* I made my first diaper cake and easter bunny cake
* Leah came home from traveling around the world for a few months, and she came to Tn for a few weeks
* Field Day 2009 rocked....and I didn't fall down, but Michael, Leah, and I are officially the Flip Cup Champions....we stomped everyone!!!
* I went canoeing almost every Sunday during the summer and always had a blast.....met new friends who happen to Love canoeing just as much as I do!
* One of my good friends had her first baby, Congrats to Megan and Daniel on Kylie!!!
* Going to see the said above new baby for the first time, Jenna, Angie, and I almost got stuck in Chapel Hill due to the flooding.
* Had 5 baby skunks living under my neighbors house that liked to play in my yard.....saw dad catch one by it's tail and John Post catch 2 and release them to the wild....away from my house.
* Did Relay for Life for the 2nd year in a row. I raised closed to $1500 myself and our team raised over $5,000!!! Go Vandy Rad Ladies!
* I gained a new neice. Anne Claire Street made her debut June 4, 2009 and was a doll!!! Love being an aunt times 2!
* Took a road trip to my dream destination of Nebraska for Aunt Odessa's 90th birthday. Met lots of family memebers who I now cherish so much.
* On said trip, spent the night in St. Louis...went to the arch....but we were all too scared to make the trip to the top!
* Spent another long weekend in Bekah's cabin in Gatlinburg and had a BLAST!
* On road trip to Gatlinburg, stopped in Baxter for a winery and discovered there is a shopping center, with a Liquor store, shooting range, and a church.....my new favorite place.
* Also in Gatlinburg, went to my first Toga party....Angie made my flower hat on the way up there...decided it was my gang symbol because nothing says bada$$ like yellow flowers.....and instead of a tear drop tatoo under my eye for everyone I've killed....I had a star!!! HAHA
* Oh yea....got my first pistol.....never killed anyone....star was just a joke, promise!!!
* Went to my first glow in the dark art show.....have since asked my artist friend Stevn to paint a picture of Angie and me in glow in the dark paint from one of our random night's out!
* Spent another great week at a beach house in San Destin....actually right outside...perfect spot. Loved watching little Caroline playing on the beach.
* Went to my 10 year H.S. reunion......yes, I'm old!
* Went to a hog BBQ for Earl's 60th birthday/retirement party....1st one in about 10 years!
* Started back at school at TSU for Non Profit Management.....made a "B" in the class....very happy!
* Strutted on a catwalk......at the Street Tuxedo Fashion Show
* Celebrated Caroline's 2nd birthday....she is so grown!
* Celebrated Anne Claire's baby dedication
* Went to multiple Titans Football games
* Road tripped it to St. Louis with Heather for her step mother's 40th birthday party
* Saw the world's largest Superman on way home from St. Louis during a detour to Metropolis.
* Started going to Boy's night out on Thursday's with some of my favorite guys!
* Had another amazing Christmas with my family
* Enjoyed a college reunion with one of my favorite people from Chatty, Amanda, who know calls Portland Oregon home.
* Had a Christmas dinner with my family, including grandmother, step grandfather, and grandfather....it went good!
* Saw Nolensville gain it's first stop light....GASP
* Spent a great, calm New Years Eve at Shelby's watching the UT game.

So....the list is a lot longer than I thought it would be, and I'm sure I forgot some things as well. The crazy thing is.....my life has calmed down majorly!!! I don't feel like I'm nearly as busy as I use to be....but life is good.

My goal for 2010 is to get my crap together....to put it mildly......physically, mentally, spiritually, financially.....and anything else that might end with lly!!! I'm turning 30 in a 384 days.....I need to start going in the right direction. My new thing starting this month....I'm taking a cake decorating class!!!

Believing for an AMAZING 2010!!!