Got up, showered, and went to the hotel breakfast-it was a lame breakfast so we ended up going to the Pancake House where I had an omelette and pancakes with bananas. Then we went back to Post to get some Army athletic clothing for me to take back with me. Then it was off to the airport. I thanked Josh and was off. I flew to Atlanta-had to quickly get to my connection (10 minutes to spare, phew), then got to Indy. I went from sunny NC--Sunny GA--Rainy/cold Indy. Todd Goodpaster was waiting for me at my gate when I arrived in Indy. It was very sweet of him to take me back to Muncie after working in Indy all day. I got back to my apartment pretty late to unpack and get ready for work/rest of the week!

My thoughts: I loved the South. NC and SC are beautiful states. I loved that is was walk-able, bike-able, right in the middle of nature and close to the beach. Josh made mad a few times-arguing, but he meant well.
Thank you Josh for sharing this experience with me and bringing me to see the Southeast world.
My favorite part: Myrtle beach and the NC Fair.

Woke up and went to breakfast-2 waffles with peanut butter, scrambled eggs, yogurt, and hard boiled egg (I guess I needed a lot of fuel from last night). Josh joined me about 15 minutes later and then we checked out and headed to the beach. We went to Myrtle beach in SC. It was about a 2.5 hour drive, but we had a beautiful day to do so. The sun was shining the whole day!! We talked/argued a bit along the drive. I was trying to get him to share his emotions while being sober, but it was a struggle. We also had different opinions concerning random topics and we are both  very defensive, head strong people so we had come heated conversations. But we know we both cared about each other.
We arrived at Myrtle Beach--such a cute little town surrounding it. Resorts, carnival rides by the ocean front--felt like I was in Florida. We parked and headed to the water. Such a perfect sunny, warm day! We went right to the sand, I laid out and Josh took a dip. I walked along the shoreline, soaking up every minute.
Josh joined me and questioned me why I wouldn't date him and what he promised if we did date. I honestly however, see Josh as a brother and explained this to him.
We stayed on the water until about 4PM or so and then went to get a bite to eat. We found a place on the water---got some shrimp (unfortunately we got some steamed and it had a lot of spicy pepper on it so I couldnt eat it :(   (my lips started to burn after seconds of trying it--I hate being so sensitive). I got some shrimp cocktail instead which was much much better! We each had a grouper salad which was very good! Great fish-quite meaty, but tasty.
Then we went to get some ice cream at the Breyers Place--wow the best I've ever had. I got a scoop of pumpkin and sugar-free vanilla. Wow the pumpkin was to die for! We talked to the sweet ice cream man about local attractions and he told us about Broadway @ the Beach (little place not far from there which had an outdoor mall).
We decided to walk walk there--only about a mile down and we found it no problem! Wow it was indeed awesome! Had so many awesome restaurants (Senor Frogs, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, Kiss, Johnny Rockets, tons of ice cream/yogurt places), souvenir shops (Josh bought my parents some funny t-shits), a bridge to walk across with tons of crazy/hungry catfish. They were all lurking around the bridge because they probably get fed. There were hundreds on top of one another.
We walked around looking at all the neat stores, statues--what a fun place to end our trip!
There was even a mini golf place too and we played a round. It was an 18-hole Dragon course! We were very competitive but had a lot of fun too! By the end of the course you have climbed through the castle!
Then we went to King Kong Sushi for a rainbow Roll, California roll, he tried sea urchin, and I had unagi. It wasn't the best sushi, but it was alright.
Then we decided to drive toward Feyetteville to be closer to the airport. Both of us were exhausted. We found a Days Inn about 15 minutes from the airport and we were both out like lights.

I got up and made another peanut butter and banana smoothie and showered. Since it was Sunday, we chose to go to a non-denominational church with his friend Jones. It was a great service-such inspirational music, the service was very technologically advanced with screens, modern instruments, cool lights---didn't feel much like church, but very inspiring. The service started with 20 minutes of worshiping and then there was a guest speaker on cash flow. The speaker was great--talked about generosity and how subtraction in the world is something being removed, but in God's world subtraction means addition.Such a different perspective on generosity. He was very motivating!
After service we went to IHOP for breakfast and then  we were all off to the NC State Fair.
NC State Fair: reminded me of being at the Elkorn-Wisconsin State Fair. Had tons of animal barns-we went into the bunny, pig, donkey, cow barns, got an ear of corn, went on a few carnival rides--swings, ferris wheel, one that swung and spun, trick mirror fun house, and of course walked around alot past all the games they have. You could find anything and everything fried here: oreos, twinkies, Pb&J, snickers, funnel cakes, fried dough.....this list could go on and on.
There was one unique part of the fair and it was called Yesteryear---very old, colonial/pioneer part. I couldn't believe the furniture, crafts, and utensils were still being made like this---such old fashioned and culturally distinct art. It was much like a craft show--It was very neat to see pioneers at work. This area led into a botanical garden and also an apple festival--had a banjo playing, delicious apple cider, truly a pioneer village. This was prob my favorite part of the whole fair--such an authentic feel.
Then we back to the rides part of the fair, had some vanilla ice cream with peanut butter topping---not my favorite topping since it was rather grainy peanut butter. We went to a couple other animal barns and then it got dark and chilly so we decided to go.
Being at the fair made me feel like a kid again at the Wis state fair---just love the feeling of a fair.
One the way back I got to meet up with Kellie Conrad (BSU) at a local pub called Harrison's. We caught up talking and watching the Bears game. Josh and Jones were drinking a bit so I ended up driving us to Fayetteville.
Josh and I had an interesting ."conversation that evening since he was quite a bit intoxicated. He decided to tell me he likes me and wants us to date and asked me why I don't feel the same. Made me uncomfortable to be honest and he even insulted me a few times---I asked him to clarify to make sure I heard him correctly and he knew what he said---he was getting rude because I was turning him down, but claimed to understand. He kept saying "I'm going to completely be honest" and "Please be completely honest with me." I was annoyed thought and he knew it. I drove Jones to the barracks and got my stuff from his room and then we went to another Comfort Inn. He was being weird the whole night--kept rambling and then came and stood by my bed in the middle of the night. It creeped me out so I didn't sleep well that night.

I woke up around 8:45AM to get some breakfast (mmmmm make your own waffles, yogurt, peanut butter and bananas, 2 hardboiled eggs---yeah thats a hearty breakfast). Delicious!
Then it was off to Feyetteville. We hung out in his room a bit then went to the bank (unfortunately closed) so we went to a park close by and hiked/walked around. It was a gorgeous day-I enjoyed every minute of being outside! We were out there for about 30 min and then went back to Fort Bragg--meet his friends at Hooters for lunch then to Walmart to get tailgate stuff. Tonight was a private Josh Turner concert on post---wootwoot!!!
We met up with his friends to tailgate, had some hotdogs, chips, salsa. I met more Army guys there and then went to the concert. The concert was just in the middle of a huge field--nice stage about only about 500 people there. It seemed very intimate. Everyone was singing country, sitting in lawn chairs, wearing boots and cowboy hats! Josh and I went closer to the stage to get some pictures! Everyone was really spaced out so it was very easy to move up. What a great concert--I was freezing by the end of it in my jean shorts, but I loved it! Concert was about 1.5 hours long then we went back to Josh's barracks and slept there for the night. I was so tired I was out by 10PM.

On my Fall break, Josh Steele invited me to come visit him in Fayetteville, NC. Super stoked since I hadn't been to NC before, I decided to go. Matt Wells drove me to the airport. I flew to Atlanta, had a 30 min layover, and then off to Feyetteville. I had to wait about an hour before Josh could pick me up. It was a very small airport-only a few gates and terminals-bigger than HHI though. I jumped into Josh's Cadillac and headed with him to Fort Bragg. Fort Bragg is huge! Its its own community inside the gate (where I had to show ID with Josh to enter)---they had their own gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, shops, fast food chains--I was amazed!
He drove me around Post to his Baracks. These were a little nicer than where he stayed in Seattle (Fort Lewis ones). He has a little kitchenette here (sink, fridge, table and 2 chairs, microwave, a few cabinets), bathroom which he shared with one other guy, and private bedroom. His room was a bit smaller  (1/2 size) of the Fort Lewis one but super clean. Josh is very clean so everything was very organized and immaculate.
I dropped off my things in his room and then went to go meet a couple of his friends. Jones and Sulley (both in his platoon) lived 3 floors down so we just went to their room and since they were going to the fair that weekend they talked us into going too.
I was a bit hungry so Josh quickly whipped up a peanut butter and banana smoothie for me which was delicious!!! I could have eaten one of these everyday until I die and would be totally ok with that! Mmmmmmmmm! Then off to the fair.
It took about 2.5 hours to get to Raleigh, NC where the NC State Fair was--made it just in time for fireworks! The ticket booths were closed though so we couldn't enter so we ended up watching the fireworks and meeting up with his friends outside the fair and then went to some bars. We went to a few Irish pubs and Josh and I were pretty hungry so we ran over to a grill and do some dinner--I had hummus and pita bread and a turkey/cucumber sandwich with sweet potato mash!! Mmmmm
We stayed out until 1AM-ish so boy was I tired, but the pubs were very neat. On the wall there was a list of different beers--probably 40 different kinds which they had on tap--I have never seen so many on tap before.
Then Josh and I went to the Comfort Inn about 45 min away and fell asleep instantaneously.