Gretchen and I broke out the sidewalk chalk one Oklahoma afternoon. Naturally, my first instinct was to create a giraffe.
I constructed this giraffe myself using old-school media... cheap construction paper and Elmer's All-Purpose stick glue.
One of the original additions to my collection. I believe it was given to me by Sue Mitchell.
This giraffe was bought by my grandmother "Mahmoo" at a thrift store in Kansas, an original to my collection.
I have actually amassed an entire family of these Pier 1 coffee mug creatures, but the original two were each gifts from my boss Michelle and two of my best Baylor friends Amy and Elizabeth.
This was THE first giraffe of my collection. This beanie baby is well loved.
Mahmoo bought me this huggable stuffed giraffe, which came in a peculiar red hue rather than the typical safari orange and brown, at another thrift store in Kansas.
Mom and Dad gave these beauties to me for Christmas 2009.
These three wooden giraffe statues were also part of my original collection, procured by Mahmoo.
This metal statue (made of soda can scraps by some African craftsman... I don't remember the details) was the only giraffe I bought when I was in the UK. This one is from the gift shop at the British Museum in London.
This is the actual view (surprisingly, not a black-and-white photo) I had of the North Sea from wherever I was on the Fife Coast between Crail and Anstruther.
The Baylor in St Andrews cohort atop a natural formation, somewhere along the Fife Coastal Path.
After walking the Fife Coastal Path between Crail and Anstruther, we ended up at the Anstruther boat dock, which was across from the restaurant voted Scotland's best fish & chips.
Sunset seen from atop the Hill of Tarvit, near the Scottish town Cupar.
Another view from the Hill of Tarvit
The Baylor in St Andrews cohort in front of the Edinburgh Castle.
We happened upon a wedding that took place outside St Margaret's Chapel inside the Edinburgh Castle.
The Baylor in St Andrews cohort enjoying an aerial view of Edinburgh proper. Arthur's Seat can be seen in the background.
This is the Scott Monument in Edinburgh at sunset.
This is a photo of me, about 3/4 of the way up Arthur's Seat. There was still snow at the top of the hill!
A late winter sunset on the West Sands in St Andrews.
While on a weekend retreat at the Burn House manor in Edzell, the Baylor cohort learned how to play Snooker.
At the Burn House manor they had a Scottish dress-up bin and a croquet set. We mixed them together.
Here, Bond and Tyler pose while we were hiking along this river in Edzell.
Seth, Bond, and Tyler were clothed in traditional tartans for Scottish night at the Burn House retreat.
This was the best Haggis, Neaps, and Tatties meal I had the whole four months. Gourmet! And verrry delicious! Part of Scottish night at the Burn House retreat.
A classic! Part of "Scottish Night" at the Burn House retreat.
A 4:30am sunrise as seen from the west shore in St Andrews
Same sunrise. Breathtaking.
Same sunrise, reflected from the North Sea.
Here I pose in one of the unearthed tombs in the St Andrews Cathedral.
Notice the Element Fusion Spring 2010 shirt I am modeling.
Here I am posing in front of St Andrews after climbing St Rule's tower.
While the St Andrews castle isn't much of a castle, the castle greens are rather gorgeous in their own right.
A spring sunset over the Old Course in St Andrews.
The Old Course bridge at sunset!
Here I am posing with the St Andrews Old Course Hole #1.
Here is my view from the dorm... yes, that is the Old Course. No this photo isn't zoomed or cropped or otherwise altered.
While the Edinburgh zoo did not have giraffes, the city itself did have this substantial giraffe sculpture. I love it.
From the Decker family photo shoot.
New blonde hair, wearing my favorite shirt (bought it in Scotland!)
