A Quick Overview of my Phenomenal Summer of ’09!
My summer began with a trip to Barcelona. “P” (my teammate from Spain…the one from Estonia) and I traveled to Barcelona for about 3 days after our last game of the season back in May. We had an awesome time! Barcelona was beautiful! We met up with my other teammate that lives in Barcelona and she took us around and showed us lots of fun things! We went to the beach, shopped, ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, spent an outrageous amount of money on taxi’s 
, but overall…it was a blast! (see pics below) It was a pre-USA trip for sure. Lots of tourists so a ton of people spoke English…made things a whole lot less stressful. Obviously eating at the Hard Rock Cafe should cause a little light bulb to go off in your head because the Hard Rock Cafe…is an American restaurant!! yay!! “I’m getting closer to being home!!” The architecture was unbelievable and that in and of itself was worth the trip. And I must say, the thought of playing in Barcelona for 8 months did cross my mind…and that, I think I could most definitely handle because it’s basically a mini-America, but with much prettier structures. But, sadly…Barcelona does not have women’s professional teams. We got to see the futbol (soccer) stadium. That’s like NBA bball over there. They worship those guys. That was neat to see! But, overall…awesome trip! A great way to end my experience in Spain. Flew home on Mother’s Day! Great way to spend Mother’s Day…getting to see my lovely mom and giving her a big ole hug .
When I got home I didn’t miss a beat with my workouts. Thomas, at the time, was working out at XPE (a workout facility in Roswell). He was working out with about 10-15 NFL players about 4 times a week before it was time for him to go back to Alabama for summer workouts. I tagged along and got great workouts in. It was a good way to stay in shape and continue on with my workouts once I left Spain. Right before it was time for Thomas to head back to Tuscaloosa we took a trip to Pensacola Beach (just the 2 of us)! It was a blast!! We had lots of fun and the beach was awesome. We stayed in the good ole Super 8 Motel, but it was surprisingly decent . It did it’s job and we were not ready to leave once Sun. rolled around. (pics below) He left for T-town the next week and then I began working camps for Coach Tucker. (Collegiate Prep Bball Academy) I worked a couple for him and then headed to Athens to work a few of the bball camps for Ga. It was good seeing everyone in Athens. (Jon and Julia, the Smith’s and the Ross’s…always good to see you guys!!) Worked a few camps there and then headed back home to prepare for my trip out west!!
Left for Las Vegas on June 25th and got in at like 2am. Gill (my roomie from Spain) and her friend Kristi picked me up from the airport. Gill greeted me with the lovely news that she was engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, engaged!!! to Cleve (the guy she met in Spain). Crazy, I know!! But, I guess when you know…you know. The date was set for July 9th when she told me the news. Great way to start my vacation out west huh? Unfortunately though, I was flying out on July 3rd to go back home and I was going to miss the wedding :(. We stayed up and chatted for a while then hit the sack to then wake up very early the next morning to get on the road to San Diego to see my bestest friend, Amy Chapman! It took us about 4 hours. That was the same day that while we were stopping at a gas station to get snacks, we heard the news of Michael Jackson’s death…isn’t it crazy how you will remember forever where you were at certain monumental times in history? (twin towers, Michael Jackson’s death, lots remember Elvis’ death, etc.) that’s kind of mind blowing to me. We got to San Diego in time for dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant. Amy’s place is within walking distance to the beach so it was a great way to start our time in San Diego!! Kristi, Gill, and I went to the water park the next day while Amy worked. The little kid in us came out in all of us and we had a great time! (pics below!) We did a little shopping and ate at California Pizza Kitchen that night and then saw “My Sister’s Keeper” after dinner. Saddest movie ever. If you haven’t seen it…don’t go see it… 
The next day we went and did some more shopping and then hung out at the beach for a while! Amy then took me to this great hamburger place with the best french fries in the world! I didn’t believe her at first, but these fries…ahh! so delish! We headed back to Vegas the next day…short, but sweet trip to San Deigo!
Got back to Vegas in time to relax a little and then we got ready to go out to Body English (a night club in the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel)! It was lots of fun and it was a sight to see for sure….the night life of Vegas, nothing like it. (see pics below) The next day we went and played pick up at 24 hour fitness! It was a lot of fun! Great to play with Gill and Kristi. We ran the court… 4 games straight That night we just rented movies and relaxed and chatted for a while. We played pick up the next day as well when Cleve (Gill’s fiance…at the time) came into town. We went bowling that night. Kristi won both games…she rocked it!! Wed. night we went to Blue Martini. Lots of fun! I met a guy in the Marines. He was pretty cool and we hit it off, but he lives in Vegas so…yea…. Anyways The next day (Thurs.), Kristi and I went down to the strip and hung out for most of the day! It was so fun, but so hot!! We watched the water show at the Bellagio and then by that time it was too hot to really do much else so we went and saw “Public Enemies”. Good movie! I recommend it! Went back to the house after the movie and then decided we wanted to go see another movie. So we showered and then went and saw “the Proposal”! I have now seen that movie 3 times! ha! I flew out the next morning and was happy to be going home, but very pleased with my trip out west.
The fam picked me up from the airport and we headed to Blairsville for July 4th wknd. We stayed with the Smith’s for the weekend! Love ya’ll!!! It was a great, relaxing weekend. Yummy food and good times. When we got back home I worked a camp for Coach Tucker that next week and then Mom and I took a trip down to Jekyll Island for the weekend. She had a conference for school, so I was like well…free trip to the beach…of course I’ll tag along! It was also a very relaxing and fun trip! Mom and I had a good time and we were able to spend some good quality time together, not to mention…we had some great seafood while we were down there.
When we got back from Jekyll, I worked one more camp and then headed to Nashville, TN to see my presh, Angela!! Ok so…Nashville….I LOVE IT! I had never really gotten a chance to experience it because we would always fly there, stay in the hotel, go to the gym…play Vandy, then fly back. So needless to say…It was a pleasant surprise! I had a great time! We stayed with Suze and Freddy (Ang’s aunt and uncle). Their house is gorgeous! (see pics below of my trip to Nashville). Ang is doing well. She is adjusting, slowly but surely. It will be tough on her this year having to sit out and all, but she will make it. On Monday I drove to Tuscaloosa straight from Nashville to visit Thomas. We had to get some things done with his school stuff, apt., etc. I had a good time in Tuscaloosa despite the stress of the scholarship situation and everything else we were having to deal with at the time. I stayed for like 4 days and then drove home to then go to Athens with Liz to visit Rebecca and David for the weekend. (see pic below). It was great seeing them and we also go to hang out with Shannon Becker, our trainer, for a while as well. We went to Athens Church on Sun. and then ate at the Last Resort with Dr. Hutchinson…always good to see her! Drove home Sun. afternoon and then headed to Tuscaloosa on Mon. night. Mon. was the day that Thomas found out he would not be getting a scholarship until Jan. so I drove to Tuscaloosa to start trying to figure things out. Within a matter of a few days we had a place to live, had all the numbers worked out from a financial standpoint to make it work for Thomas to stay at Alabama for the rest of his college career and for me to attend grad school there as well. We moved all of his stuff and my stuff into the new place this past weekend with the help of Mom, Dad, Nan Girl, and Pop Boy…thanks Nan Girl and Pop Boy for your help!! love ya’ll!!! and as of today, Wed. the 12th…we are somewhat settled and functional. Thomas is in fall camp right now and is doing well! He will be done on Sat. Mom and Dad are coming this weekend for my orientation on Sat. and then for a “yard work day” on Sun. yay! THomas and I start classes on the 19th. We’re very excited, but a little nervous about how tight these next 4 months are going to be financially. I know it will work out because God is in control, but it’s always difficult to stay calm and collected in situations such as these.
A sports marketing internship with the university is in the works right now. I should be starting that within the next week or so. I thought it was going to be with the academic office, but I think it has changed to Sports Marketing now. I am excited about that!
First fball game…Sept. 5th in the dome against Va. Tech! We’re all excited about that!
Kenna is loving Buford High School…so far so good with that.
More updates to come, but until that happens… all is well with the Darrah’s. Now that could change within the next 5 min., but for now…all is well! ha!
Keep reading!
Love, Love, Love,
Meg
P.S. Sadie is more fabulous than ever! She will be joining me in T-town this weekend! Can’t wait!!!
