A day in photos

Let's take a look back at the fun we had with Heidi and the munchkins yesterdy!

Anika really, really wanted her picture taken.

Then she wanted to get one with her tongue sticking out.

We can't forget about Jayden!

They both wanted me to take one of myself.

Anika was completely passed out when we got to Fudruckers.

Jayden got his hands on some silly whistle teeth.

Let's not forget about Bamma.

Or Aunt Heidi with a silly Jayden.

Anika really loved her cookie.

Bamma took one of me with Anika!

Anika wanted her own pair of silly teeth.

Anika and her rotting teeth!

Jayden showing us all what happens when you don't brush your teeth.

Anika really wasn't too sure about the mist screen at first, but she really loved it by the time we left.


Jayden was waiting in line for an Indiana Jones bouncy-maze.

There wasn't much for Anika to do there, but she spent a lot of time in this Martian-Matrix ball pit thing.


Anika and Aunt Heidi while we all waited for Jayden to go through the bouncer a second time.

Anika gave me a big hug before we went through some virtual reality tours.

Jayden and Anika trying to land a space shuttle without crashing (I crashed).

Anika and Jayden took me through a display of what the shuttles look like on the inside.

We even landed on Mars.

Back at the house, we made some new ears for Anike.


After that we all went swimming, but it's kind of hard to get pictures with an expensive camera when you're in the pool!! Jayden even got a haircut, but I haven't gotten any pictures of it yet. Today we're off to get pedicures and have a movie day!

Laptop-less

For some reason I am having horrible luck with electronics these days (among other things). Ever since my vacation officially started it's been one small thing after another. The big, big error though involves my laptop. After my flight, on my first morning here in Texas, I went to turn on my laptop so I could upload the photos that I took on the plane and nothing happens except this weird clicking noise.

My heard drive is dead. Insert really bad word here. I am not happy at all because until I can get it fixed and get Photoshop/Camera RAW up and running again I won't be able to view any of my photos. Not to mention if I run out of space on my memory cards with my camera (which I will) I have nowhere to transfer them to so I can take more. Big, big headache, and an even bigger downer. It's a shame, because we're having so much fun and I wish I could share photos of what all we're doing.

Today we had lunch at Fudrucker's - the layout of the restaurant we went to and the decor is so completely different that what I am used to at home, but it was so awesome. It almost reminds me a little of Red Robin with all of the framed photos and art on the walls. But the burgers and fries are just as tasty as I remember them. Then it was off to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center for a very full afternoon of fun. My little cousins Jayden and Anika were pulling me left and right to show me everything that they could.

Throw in a couple of hours in the pool and you have yourself a pretty awesome day!

In air commentary

Going Away, Coming Home, by Oakland artist Hung Liu
** 6:36 (8:36)
The fasten seatbelt sign was officially taken off! I can’t really hear what the Pilot is saying when he makes announcements but I’m sensing a slight southern drawl if I’ve ever heard one before. I'm really enjoying his many apologies for not being on time after getting held up in San Diego. Darn those San Diegoans!!!

Took a couple of photos from the window. Beautiful view, and I can’t believe I’m actually looking at how high up we really are. I even watched from the window during takeoff! You had all better be proud.

** 6:45 (8:45)
-Snack time, ya’ll! The Flight Attendant (Stewardess, whatever they are now called) just came by to take our drink orders. It was very tempting to get me some alcohol, but I’m thinking that wouldn’t go so well with the Ativan. And now I have a nice little baggie of animal crackers. Not my favorite snack by far, but better than Ritz cheese sandwiches and some 100 cal. Oreo packs.

** 7:00 (9:00)
There isn’t really anything going on at the moment. Drinks are just now starting to make their way around to all of the passengers. I was going to take a nap but that isn’t happening just yet. I think I’ll get my soda (yes, I did ask for a coke, so sue me). Did I mention where exactly I’m sitting? I’m actually in the front of the plane pretty much; just above the engine I am guessing. You can see part of the big blue thing out of the window. I don’t remember previous flights being this loud, but if we are indeed sitting next to the engine and that could be a big reason why it’s so darn loud. But I’m not really complaining about it. I’m simply making an observation n the matter.

** 7:28 (9:28)
What I want to know is why do you get turbulence when you fly through a cloud. They’re all light and fluffy, like marshmallows, right? Wrong. Somebody please research and give me the exact cause of it, because we sure are experiencing it. And I’m still not stressing out. But I am tired out of my mind. Waking up at 7:00 yesterday morning (which is sleeping in for me) and then only getting that quick 2 hour nap before heading to Target at 10:00 at night for my overnight shift was a real bummer. I was so sore when I got home this morning. But I do have to say that the additions on my brand new Crocs were absolute lifesavers!! My feet have never felt that good after 8 whole hours or running too and fro throughout the store to get all of my work done. Then after getting home at 6:15 this morning I found out that I wasn’t going to get the chance to go straight to sleep. Nope, no siree! One of my cats (who shall remain nameless since I did not catch her in the act) pissed in my bed again. And I didn’t even notice this until I actually climbed under the covers and stuck my feet in an icky wet spot. **Enter shrieking Jazz here** Oh, it was so disgusting. Running everything off to the washing machine was no fun either. But Heather let me borrow a sleeping bag that she had, and I was finally able to try and get some semblance of a nap. I woke up again at about 10:00 and that’s when things swung into full gear. Shower time, packing time, let’s act like a fool on drugs time! Then we finally left the house and got me to the airport and the whole 1 ½ wait for our flight. Stupid San Diegans.

**8:00 (10:00)
The seatbelt lights have turned back on and the Captain has lowered the lights. It’s definitely dark out. I’m sitting here watching Mamma Mia (it felt more upbeat than Twilight, and it’s doing the trick so far – I love it!!). I’m going to lean back and relax and see if sleep comes to me. There shouldn’t be too much further! It’s 8:00 my time, which means it’s about 10:00 in Texas. At the most I think we are now 2 hours away. We’ll see!

‘Nighty ‘Night!

**8:44 (10:44)
This whole sleep thing is just not happening! Mamma Mia is just too fun to start watching that I just have to finish it. Besides, there will be plenty of time to sleep-sleep-sleep! But I’m still going strong. No anxiety to speak of. Every now and again we’ll get a little bump in the road, but otherwise it’s been completely smooth sailing. Ha! I’m flying in a plane and making comparisons to driving a car and sailing in a sailboat. Three very, very different things from each other – beside the fact that they can all be used as modes of transportation.

The annoying thing is that I am drop dead tired. I can feel it when I take a deep breath; each breath is coming pretty slowly. I’m going to actually count this out now …

Saturday 7:00 a.m. – Sunday midnight

2 ½ hours before work
3 hours after work

^ That has been my life of non-sleep since Saturday morning. It could be a nightmare, couldn’t it? What on earth made me think that getting on a plane with no sleep after pulling an all-nighter could possibly be a good thing?

AH! My favorite line from Mamma Mia a la Christine Baransky – “little boys who play with fire get their fingers burned!” She’s awesome.

Oh, and one very big crap should be listed here. My battery died on my camera! I really wanted to get a few as we start our descent and the city lights get brighter, and not to mention going out to Baggage Claim and get the first moments on camera. This is really not ideal. It was a big mistake not charging the battery pack last night while I was at work. I was just afraid that if I didn’t have it packed then and there I would end up forgetting it altogether and leave it at home, which would be even worse. At least I will have access to the charger as soon as we land!

**9:02 (11:02)
Now, I am no expert (not by a long shot) but I am getting the feeling that we are in the beginning stages of our final descent into Houston. It’s hard to explain but there was a definite shift going on and it felt like we went down ever so briefly. I really, really hope that this is it, even though I know that the entire descent can take up some time. We’re really almost there!!

**9:09 (11:09)
Officially 100 miles away from the airport!! Captain’s orders, we should be landing in about 20 minutes!!

Oh yeah, I can feel it. We are definitely going down (in the good way)! Lots of twisting, turning, and dipping. It’s so weird that I’m actually enjoying this. I’m so close to seeing Bamma I can just taste it!!!

Live from OAK

** 3:00

Does it surprise anyone that I'm sitting here at the airport - a full hour and a half until my flight is supposed to depart? I like getting to places early to give me a chance to mellow out. We did a drop & run. Mom and dad dropped me off, said goodbye, and then I was on my own! So far we're good on the anxiety levels I've been taking my Ativan since about 6 this morning so I'm hoping to keep a cool head for quite some time. Mom says it's I'm totally loopy and she now knows what I would be like drunk. But I'm just enjoying mellowness. I don't get to feel like this very often.

So what am I doing right now? I'm sitting at a little island they have for fliers with laptops and the wonderful world of free WIFE and I figured rather than wait until tonight when I will be exhausted, I'm going to start this trip report now!!

I was so, so, so bad this time. Normally I start packing 1-2 week prior to my actual departure date. It gives me a chance to be absolutely sure that everything is in its place and make sure I have everything I need. As of this morning I was barely packed at all. I had stuff thrown into my luggage with absolutely no rhyme or reason. It was interesting trying to make sure I had everything I need, and I am almost positive that I forgot something. Only time will tell though.

There was a surprise stowaway though ....

There will probably be more to come in a short bit. I am desperate for some food, so it's off to find a bite to eat.

** 4:22

Joy, oh joy. My flight was supposed to depart at 4:20 and that so did not happen. Our plane has been delayed about an hour. You know, I would really, really love to make it to Texas before it officially becomes Monday. In my head that just makes it all feel like one less day. I want all of my bamma-bonding time. All of it I tell you.

So I'm bored now. Bored and calm. Dang, I love Ativan when it's working. I'm doing good with now freak outs to speak of. Just breathing in and breathing out. I did grab something to eat (they have a CPK express here - I am in heaven) and picked up a new crossword puzzle book because I just devour those. Chomp chomp.

I've taken a few photos of the airport that I'll get around to putting up here at some point. I like taking photos of random things from different perspectives. But as it stands I have about 3 hours of battery life here. I've got my screen on it's lowest setting so I can milk that battery for all she's got but no way am I opening Photoshop. My battery will be G.O.N.E. before you know it.

I really want to go to sleep right now *insert yawn here*

** 5:24

And we have a plane! We ahve a plane! Better be boarding soon or I'm going to pull my hair out. I want to land in Texas before Monday.

Ups & downs

It's now less than 4 days until I will be in the air on my way to Texas. So far, the week has already been full of the good, the bad, and the ugly - mostly the bad and the ugly, unfortunately.

(1) The good.
There have been a couple of pluses thrown in here and there this week, sprinkled into my days. Probably the best part of the week though was opening my mail yesterday to find a little check for $74 - as it turns out I overpaid on my taxes this year and after an adjustment, that is what I got back. Whoddathinkit, really. The money went to my lovely new hair cut (aw, Lisa is so awesome), an early dinner with my cousin and Heather, and the rest is being put away to be saved for Disneyland in September!!

(2) The bad.
Work this week has been terribly frustrating. I repeat: work has been sooooo frustrating!! It doesn't help that I haven't been able to sleep very well the past few nights, or that I put so much pressure on myself at work that it backfires in my face a lot. Tuesday was really the pits, though. I was absolutely up to my ears in my tasks for the morning, and trying to delegate what needed to be done first and what could be put off until the end because I can't do everything at once - especially not by myself - and someone has to act like it's the end of the world that what she seems necessary to be done the second she says it is at the tail end of my priority list (because in the scheme of things, it was). I know I can't stop her from fretting about getting everything done, but I was working my butt off that whole morning trying to make everything go as smoothly as possible and making sure all of her work is up to her standards and nothing is ever good enough. Never. I'm not kidding when I say I had to step outside for a few minutes to just cry.

(3). The ugly.
A picture is worth a thousand words.

My first official accident. How joyous. The good news? I'm not at fault. I was in a parking lot, coming to a stop sign next to a parking space where the other person was starting to back out. The bad news? The estimate on repairs is about $1200. And only $150 of that is for the actual parts. We're still waiting to hear if their insurance company is going to accept liability so we can get it fixed. If not, well, it will probably be left as is since it doesn't hinder the performance of my car. So now it's just a waiting game. All of this insurance stuff is really annoying.

Recycling

Yesterday mom and I took in our recycling - that we've been stockpiling in the side yard for months and months and months ... No joke, it's been longer than I can remember since the last time anyone has taken in our recycling. We had to load everything up into the Blue Bus, which ended up being pretty packed. Dad helped us round everything us so we could get it in the car. Mom and I had fun though, sorting everything into the different trash cans so they could be weighed. What wasn't so fun was all of the caps still on the plastic bottles which we had to remove. We had about 10 times more plastic than we did anything else so taking off every single cap took forever! I learned a lesson there; take off the caps as your sorting them in your house! Your hands will thank you for avoiding the abuse.




Two other downsides to the fun:
(1) There were too many slugs and snails mixed in with everything for my liking, I screamed like a girl.
(2) My shoulders got burned, which made work last night a real pain!

How much did we rake in? Over $90

Graduation night

Last night was my cousin Haley's high school graduation. She's the last cousin on this side of the family to reach the end of the high school years. How crazy is it that it also means that I graduated a whole 5 years ago (as of June 10). Heather had the great idea of making some posters for her name for us to hold when it was her turn to receiver her diploma, so that's how she spent the afternoon while I was taking Ella to the vet so she could finally get rid of her stitches.



I worked on the E. I should obviously not be a painter.




I ended up taking a lot of photographs, and as soon as I'm done editing them I'm going to try and make sure I can get them to my cousin and the rest of her family before I leave for Texas in 8 days!!! 1 week from tomorrow, wow. But I'm on a roll with the photos, so she'll get them in plenty of time. But just to share a few ...


Me and the Graduate's big sister.


Me and my little sister.


The four cousins!