My trip went really great. San Francisco was beautiful, Lake Tahoe was breath taking!!! And to all my American friends on here, it was so nice to visit your beautiful country, and your countrymen were so friendly, nice, and helpful It really was the best time I've had in years.

I ended up eating a lot of gluten tho, and when I got home I paid the price. My knees swelled four times their size, and I was not very mobile for almost 2 weeks due to the severe bone and muscle pain. The most interesting part tho, however not fun, is that I went from being extremely stable to a complete emotional mess. The stability returned quickly as the pain and swelling also left. So I guess I have an answer now, that yup eating gluten for me is bad for my mental health.

Here's a couple pics...

Doing yoga in soft sand is a lot harder than it looks, but black sand....that's crazy, and sooo cool !



This is one of my favorites because it shows how amazing the lake is, I really didn't ever want to leave.

I've missed you guys lots, when I got home I had so much stuff to do, and just trying to get well again. I hope you are all doing okay?

I better do some catch up reading here, but want you to know I think of you's all the time!!

[venusss]

FIRST!

j/k... nice to see you back and you look FAB!

[faerie_moon_x]

Anika!!!!

Welcome back! I can barely do yoga standing on the firm floor, so in the sand is quite impressive. I love the pics! I'm so glad you had a nice visit to the states. It's good to see you!

And, I never saw a picture of you before, but I always had a feeling you were blond, because I know a little girl named Annika and she's blond, too! Haha...

[Confusedinomicon]

Welcome back good friend!!!

[BlueInanna]

Hey welcome back!! Glad you had a great time. Isn't Lake Tahoe brilliant? I'm so happy you got to go there! You look so happy and beautiful, thank you for sharing with us!!

[lynn P.]

Welcome back Anika. Happy you had a good time and those are great pictures. You look wonderful btw.

[Lauru]

Welcome back!! To think, you were only about 2 hours away from me. Kinda cool. And I must say, you are BEAUTIFUL. I always thought you were blonde too.

[bluemountains]

Welcome back!!!! Great pics, the one of you doing yoga is so peaceful! I am glad you enjoyed our country, although I am far away on the east coast and I have never visited Lake Tahoe. One day I hope to make a trip out west.
Bluemountains

Welcome back lol

Thanks for the welcome back guys!! I hope you didn't all think I was blonde cause You think I'm dumb haha. I can spell and stuff promise, I'm just a real lazy typer.

Lauru that's so cool, you are lucky!

Lake Tahoe was brilliant, seriously, we have beautiful lakes here in Canada, and that lake took my breath away. If you ever have a chance to see it ...doooo!!

Thanks you for the kind words. I am really working on my confidence and being less self conscious.

Ohhh and how come I didnt see any garbage on the ground in SF?? Wow they are well trained there, I thought that was pretty neat for a city of that size, all though I only really was in the downtown and bay area. Cleanest city I ever saw.

[hamster-bamster]

Anika, but you look gorgeous! I had a picture of an emaciated anorexic in my mind, but that is not you! You look spectacular, truly so! And you do NOT need a *job* !

Thank you hamster, I have been able to maintain a better weight, all the activity makes me hungry, annnd I gained muscle! And I am also liking it. Sometimes it's still hard and I'll still freak out if I think my legs are getting bigger or something. It's nice not to have my rib cage sticking out anymore, my boyfriend has finally convinced me that even tho my pants size went up it was good, because it meant I had a bum. Haha ok I still can twist all his words into " oh so before I looked bad?" I'm working on it tho.

Thanks for saying I don't need a *job*, hehe I'm still pondering, with clothing on you can't see whats truly going on there... I got these cool silicone inserts that you can put in your bikini, there my secret is out! But I'm still not sure, If it went badly then what? Ohh then I'd be real sorry I did that. So i'll just keep pondering.

[Trippin2.0]

I just woke up, and this thread is a great start to my day! Welcome back my friend, you're looking gorgeous as ever! That yoga pose is something, thatnks for sharing! Real glad you hada great time on your trip, I've missed you muchness, its good to finally have you back

[BipolaRNurse]

ANIKA!!! Good to see you back, lady!!! Although I do keep up with you on your blog on a regular basis.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Anika

But I'm still not sure, If it went badly then what? Ohh then I'd be real sorry I did that. So i'll just keep pondering.

Exactly my thoughts, and purely hypothetical for me as I do not have money to restore the shape. What if it went badly? I'd be real sorry! So here I am, the way I am after 8 years of nursing. Oh well, ancient Venus figurines also have saggy breasts, and they are displayed in museums.

uh oh BipolarNurse, I don't have a blog!! hehe really I don't. But now I'm curious and want to read it as well.. thanks for the welcome back! Missed you too! hmm is it AniManiac's blog maybe?

Haha Hamster, hmmm a museum you say...

Trippin' there you are! missed you tons, need to catch up!!

This is why I love this place, cause you guys are always so great at making everyone feel welcome, and you can take a break and come back and guess what, people will still be there for you, it's crazy.. I'm telling you.. it's just not normal. Wish the outer world was more like PC.

[~Christina]

You are back !!!!!! You look FreakingFantastic !!!!! So happy your trip went well... Sorry you had the gluten issue But so happy your feeling better.

Hey Anika, welcome back! Glad you had a great trip. Though it's been almost 20 years since I saw it, agreed, it is beautiful. As are you! (Though for that it's not 20 years since! )

I have to laugh at your garbage comment. When I was a kid, the family went to Niagara Falls (which is also very impressive and recommended to see). There is, of course, the American side and the Canadian side. I was so impressed with how clean the Canadian side was that I wrote a paper in 7th grade about wanting to live there on account of it!

[Victoria'smom]

Anika, I'm glad you had a great trip. The pictures look wonderful. I'm glad your back and feeling better.

[hamster-bamster]

Anika, since you think gluten is connected with mi for you, search for posts from Genetic on gluten sensitivity - you will find a lot of information.

[Moose72]

Welcome back. Missed you. Yoga on the beach! How lovely.