Jamaica

Just got back from Jamaica last week.... 5 days in the sun was so wonderful. Well, 5 days in the warmth. It was not all that sunny while we were there.

This was the second wedding I've attended in Jamaica. The first was my aunt and uncle getting married, when I was 14. The second was Caleb's brother, Gabe, getting married when I was 22. It was a very different trip, but a lot alike, too. I went with my family when I was younger, and we had a lot of fun.... snorkeling, playing in the ocean with cousins, climbing Dunn's River Falls, laying out under the sun. This year I went with Caleb's family to a couple's resort, where we mostly laid out in the sun, drank, ate awesome food, climbed Dunn's River Falls, took naps, and spent some quality time as couples. Both fun trips, just different kinds of fun.

I brought back some cool souvenirs from both trips too - on my first trip I bought a wooden giraffe (Marlene), on the second trip I bought her a wooden elephant friend (Delano). I bought wooden boxes and cool metallic jewelry on both trips too. This time I also bought some more things for Caleb and I's future apartment... I can't wait to start my cheap-but-original decorating.

I'll have to get some pictures up of the trip, especially the wedding, which was beautiful. We all cried. Except for Caleb, I think. Just kidding - his dad didn't cry either. But my camera thought it would be fun to only take pictures of the outlines of people against the bright sun, so I will have to wait for copies from Caleb's family.

Another great thing I brought back from the trip was confidence that Caleb and I can spend days on end with each other and not go home wanting to kill each other. We spent time with his family, but we also spent a good amount of time by ourselves, as well. Granted this was Jamaica, with room service, but hopefully we can spend lots of time together in Clear Lake with the same amount of happiness. I think we can.

And last but not least, I brought back some more hellacious bug bites! To clarify, in September I got some mosquito bites and had my first ever allergic reaction to them. They then became infected and I had to go on antibiotics and use a special steriod cream. In Jamaica I was EATEN ALIVE by mosquitoes at night, and once again, they swelled up and got very gross. I was not going to a doctor in Jamaica, so I toughed it out with layers of bug spray and hydrocortizone. They itched so badly that Caleb said he would wake up in the middle of the night and have to stop me from itching in my sleep.

The bites are healed now, and after going to the doctor, I am now instructed to start taking an antihistimine EVERY DAY as soon as it gets warmer outside, coat myself in bug spray all the time, and go straight to the doctor as soon as I get a bite. Fun. We'll see how closely I stick to that. Probably not that well until I get bitten again.

Anyways, Jamaica was awesome, but I'm now back to the grind. At least it's getting warmer out so I can really start thinking of summer!