I'm a bus rider

I had no idea that airports have curfews. As my friend Kat would ask, "is the Orange County airport a teenager?". Due to high winds in Chicago (who would have thought!) my direct flight from Chicago to Orange County was delayed 1.5 hours. No big deal right? Well turns out it is a big deal when your flight will miss curfew by 30 minutes. Enter my visit to LAX. 

Although it was midnight when we actually arrived, I went with it. Other people on the plane did not feel the same way I did. The man sitting next to me murmured the F-you-bomb every time the pilot came on the speaker and each time the flight attendant passed down the isle he shot a nasty glare. Like the other hundred people on my flight, I was also slightly annoyed by the situation, but found my neighbor's behavior to be irrational. It wasn't their fault after all. As we left the plane and walked to baggage claim, he continued dropping the F-bomb and any imaginable swear word to himself. Being the only person within earshot made this an uncomfortable 15 minute walk for me. Anyone who knows me knows how awkward I must have appeared to anyone walking past. 

Soon after I found myself maneuvering my two suitcases (both about 49.5 pounds), a rolling laptop case, and my large purse from baggage claim to the bus area.  This was actually one of the most entertaining parts of the night. You see, the gate agent had informed everyone getting off the plane that the first bus would be arriving at 1230am, while the second bus would be arriving at 1am. As you can imagine, the fight for the first bus was eminent. Having always been the competitive type, I quickly strategized what the fasted and most effective way would be for me to get me and my belongings on that bus. Being an Aus, of course I made the first bus. I felt quite accomplished I had managed to sneak my way on to the first bus, until they announced we would all be taking one bus as there were not enough of us to take two.  

An hour and a half later, every seat was filled with luggage piled under seats, over seats, in the bathroom, and under the bus. Off we went down the freeway to Orange County. The bus felt like it might explode it was so full of people and belongings. Pretty sure it was unsafe...ANYWAYS, I took this time to take in the sights of LA. A factory or two billowing out steam and smoke. The train moving far faster than we were. In-and-Out Burger. Graffiti spattered along the road. And then, the Santa Ana Airport. What I had longed to see all evening. The second we were released people fled every which way. I was the last remaining passenger at the airport. In fact, several security guards checked with me to be sure I was waiting for a ride. I wanted to say "Oh no, I'm not waiting for a ride. I figured I would just spend the night here. My brother suggested the idea!". When mom and mully arrived I was ready to be home! Perfect ending to a fun week in Chicago...

Moral of the story, I am and forever will be a bus rider.

loving chicago around christmas time

I had the most enjoyable day in Chicago today. I went to Wicked...finally!!! I have been waiting to see this since I visited London and was too poor from my travels to buy a ticket. It was great and I would see it again in a heartbeat! Then I walked around shopping and sightseeing. Despite the rain and cold, it was a great time.

1 day until home!
6 days until Minneapolis!
14 days until I'm back in Cali with mi hermana y anderson :)

Great things ahead.

Back in Bama

I've made it back to Bama safe and sound. After 6 hours of delays yesterday I managed to make it back leaving both of my suitcases to fend for themselves in Dallas. Lucky for me I really liked my outfit because I was able to wear it two days in a row :) I went to a tiny gas station to pick up a toothbrush to get me by, but couldn't manage to find a single one in either of the two aisles. Finally I turned to look at the attendent, who was obviously looking at me because this place was so small there was nothing else to look at. I asked him if he had any tootbrushes. He looked at me in an odd way and said they keep them behind the counter. He asked how many I would like. I replied only one, please. He asked if I was sure and I replied yes. He then ducked under the counter and came back with two small crest toothbrushes. I said I only wanted one, so he asked me which color, green or red. I took the green one. He then placed the red toothbrush back under the counter and came back to ring me up. It cost me .98 cents. My question is, why do they keep the toothbrushes behind the bullet proof glass counter? Are they in some way more valuable or dangerous than the shaving creme and razors that they keep on the shelves?

I guess I will never know, I didn't bother to ask. That's about how thrilling my day was.

I have nobody in my contacts list

SO I went to the Verizon store today to see if they could fix the front screen that was malfunctioning a bit. Turns out I 'needed' to update to the most recent software.

'Don't worry it will only take 30 minutes' the chick told me.

So I left at her instruction to do so and came back 30 minutes later. When I returned I could tell something was not right. Somehow I knew something was wrong by the conspicuous group of Verizon salespeople huddled around my phone and the hesitation to look me in the eye.

'Take a seat, I will be with you in just a second' she told me. So I sat and sat and sat. Finally I thought, enough is enough.

'What's the deal chica?' I asked. 'You playing me?' (OK I didn't say it like that, I really am not even sure what that would mean but you get the point)

'Well you see, when I was updating your phone something went wrong. I fried your phone and now I can't find your contacts on our computer and your phone wont work.'

Just what every cell phone user wants to hear! NO CONTACTS. This means I can't call anybody but my immediate family and few friends whose numbers I have memorized. AWESOME.

Anyways...instead of telling me this straight up she just handed me a brand new upgraded phone. Then she proceeded to tell me I could just go online when I got home and all my contacts would be there. LIAR. This was not the case. She also informed me in the store that I 'was lucky they were able to get my pictures back' LUCKY. How nice of them! I got to keep my pictures?! What a treat.

So I leave Verizon with a new gray phone (my old one was black and I particularly liked it) and no friends to call.

Luckily I made the right calls and talked to the right people and now have an expensive phone I had not intended on upgrading to and really don't know how to use. So here I sit alone in my room ranting and raving about my annoying day with Verizon with a nice phone and no one to call. Feel sorry for me.

My Cat is a Dog

I have a pretty cool cat named Milo. I always tell people that my cat is so cool he is like a dog. Do you think Milo would be insulted if he knew I was equating him to the likes of a dog? Why can't he just be a cool cat? Maybe it is because I don't want to seem like a cat lady, totally obsessed with my cat. Maybe it is because I consider myself a dog person. Well I guess the cat's out of the bag then so to speak, I may be a cat person as well. Not to say I am a cat lady, maybe just a cat enthusiast. Which is worse? Maybe this very post proves me to be weird enough to be a cat collector. Anyways...here's to you Muffin Pants.

I went shopping on Black Friday

I actually did it. I stepped foot into a mall the day after Thanksgiving. I didn't get up at 4am for the HUGE SAVINGS at Penny's, but I did make it to South Coast Plaza. Apparently all it took to get to me a mall on the worst day in the year to shop was a mall full of any and every designer store a girl could ask for and a family who wanted to do some laid-back Christmas shopping. For anyone who knew me prior to today, knows I wasn't always so keen on shopping. Well folks, times have changed. This girl likes to shop. I'd like to say I accomplished some Christmas shopping, but selfishly enough I only came home with boots, jeans and a cardigan for myself. Luckily Christmas is still a month away and there's always tomorrow...

thankful

The rain has come and gone in time for a sunny day of eating and more eating! Taking Mandie and baby anderson to the airport was a definite low point to the day, but I am thankful for the extra time we were able to be together. I am sure the little guy will change so much between now and Christmas, I am already excited to see them again!

I can't help but think of Grandma Rita today. This was by far her holiday and I will always remember her more than ever on this day. In the past 2 years I have learned to be thankful for the time we were given with her, but it never gets easier :) So today I will think of you while I am eating far too much scalloped corn!

first post as a blogger

I am giving this blog thing a try. I might be a few years late on the trend, but it might still be fun! I know one person who will be checking for updates which will motivate me to keep on top of my blogging. 

I am home for Thanksgiving which could not have come at a better time. Relaxing and being around the people who know me best is rejuvenating my spirit and inspiring me to keep going. The morning walks with mom, mandie, and little anderson on the path overlooking the ocean help too! The only problem with coming home is knowing I have to leave. 

At least Christmas is right around the corner and after tomorrow I will have Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and of course N'SYNC Christmas CDs playing non-stop until December 25th. It's really the little things in life...