Blog Around the World

I'm a traveling girl

2005-10-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

So, because I'm such a slacker, I have many postings to put up, but since I don't have enough time to do all of these, then I'm going to just condense into 1. Let's see where have I been in the last couple of weeks. North and South Carolina, Texas (yes, again) and now I'm in Florida. And, yep, another hurricane is headed this way, this one is Wilma. Let's start with Carolina's. Actually, let's start with the fact that I am soooo happy to live in California where it hardly rains, and even if it does, it doesn't keep from getting where I need to go. On my way home from North Carolina, the rain was so bad that I got stuck in Washington D.C. but, nicely United, sent my luggage on to San Diego. Great! What good is it going to do me in San Diego? Yep, none. Oh, and then on top of that my cell phone charger was in my luggage. So. I'm stuck in D.C. no nothing with a dying cell. I decide, I'm not going to spend the night in airport so I get a hotel room. Nicely enough the hotel I'm staying at has a K-mart across the street. Did I mention that it's pouring? And I don't have an umbrella? So I treck across to K-mart in the pouring rain in my not so sturdy (but cute) work shoes...heals are not meant to be trucking through pools of water. They don't like water...shoes in lots of water stretch out and no longer fit. Hmmm...did I know that? Now I DO!!! Mental picture: Anne soaking wet, carrying her shoes in one hand and her K-mart purchases in the other, running across some unknown D.C. street...soaking wet.

So I finally get home Saturday afternoon, back on a flight Sunday morning to Texas. Texas was actually beautiful. I fell in love with San Antonio, surprising, because I didn't think I would like Texas as much as I did. Although, to put a damper on the situation, as I was driving from Houston to San Antonio I was surprised by the realization of Texas hunting season. One hunter was overly enthusiastic and had around 6 deer bagged and tagged in the truck. I got stuck behind the truck for a good 1/2 hr...not pretty. This kids, is why I would never move to Texas.

Anywhoo...now I'm in Florida, with the worst hurricane in Atlantic history headed this way...lucky for me, I'm leaving tonight :-)

The Battle of the Hurricanes

2005-09-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

Rita vs. Ophelia.

Now everyone knows that I'm a Cali girl through and through. This should come as no surprise to anyone. Give me an earthquake any day. At leas there is not a earthquake SEASON!!! I cannot imagine what those people have gone through with Katrina, my heart truly goes out to them. But now, I seem to be facing these hurricanes myself. Last week it was Ophelia. A level 2 storm that struck North/South Carolina and parts of Virginia. Luckily for me, I was on my way out of Virginia when it struck and had to only deal with some rain. But now it seems these hurricanes are starting to follow me. Now, i'm in Texas and we are facing Rita. Rita is supposed to be a level 4 at the minimum and this scars me to death!!! I'm in Austin, so I'm sure it will be fine, but Houston is getting madatorily evacuated and Austin is supposed to get some of the remnants of the storm...Crazy! I really can't believe that as I travel the country I'm witnessing this kind of fear and the insanity of mother nature.

On a side note...Virginia was absolutely amazing!!! The history! That will have to be for another blog...

The Middle of Colorado Nothing

2005-08-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

You never realize how fantastic quiet is until you are locked in an airplane with a screaming child. That's how my journey ended in Colorado...let's go back to the beginning.

I was excited to go to Colorado, because my bff is from there (Ciela, for those of you who don't know.) I had never been, but had heard many amazing things about it. Colorado is BEAUTIFUL, and unfortunately I never got time to really explore it, so I know I will have to go back. I really thought Boulder was stunning. A couple of interesting things about CO. First, every other channel is either a yogo or pilates channel. Apparantly, Colorado is the healthiest state in the U.S. Who knew? Second, the roads are TERRIBLE!! Every other mile is under construction and they like to shut off entire sections of ramps so you're pretty much screwed on trying to get to your hotel. Third, there is a terrible epidemic that has struck most of Colorado-- people wearing ugly shoes. I think they are called Pina's or Peira's or something...I don't remember. But they are ugly and should be outlawed. Finally, the world record holder for biggest mullet lives in Colorado. Yep, I saw her, getting off the plane. Not exactly the greeting I was expecting, but friendly none-the-less.

I think it was the first time, in quiet a while that I saw such open spaces. I would drive for miles and there would be nothing. Crazy! This is including to the airport. The airport is in the middle of nothing! And when a girl needs to gas up her rental car and there are no stations for about 100 miles, what do you do? You get stuck in the middle of the "Colorado Nothing." And while it's a beautiful state and I am in love with the metropolis of a city...at least you can find Starbucks and a gas station.

I think that because Colorado is such a "chill" state, I really learned the art of patience. And let me tell you, being stuck in a plane with a screaming child and an ass sitting right next to me complaining the whole time, I needed the patience. So thanks to you Colorado...the peace and harmony that comes from healthiness, mountains and mullets came to me in that VERY long plane ride.

Where The Players Play

2005-08-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Atlanta. Or as most famous rappers like to call it, the ATL. Pretty much sums it up...it's such a cool city that it doesn't even need a full name, rather 3 letters ring out what this city is all about.

A-Awesome food. Can I tell you the amount southern fried, southern fried I ate? The food there is amazing. Did you know that there is sweet potatoe cheese cake? If you didn't you're missing out my friends. Oh my god! It was sooooo good. I seriously wonder how these people do not weigh 800 lbs! I thought I was going to have to buy an extra seat home to fit my ass on the plane. (But I didn't--whew!) Some place I recommend if you're ever in the ATL: Dante's Down the Hatch, Sweet Aubourn Curb Market, Muriel and Ethel's (I think this was the name, Mar, is that right?)

T-Tremendous bodies. Down home cooking sure raised those boys up right! Okay, I was in wonderland, and everyone knows why. But those amazing faces and bodies combined with the southern drawl, good lord help me! I think I even squealed once...

L-Lightening. Yep, thunder storms. The weather there was not the most gracious, but what it lacks in sunshine, it makes up for in green, green country. The landscape of ATL/Georgia was insanely beautiful. You can't beat it. No wonder it's green all year long. But watch out for the flash floods.

It was marvelous seeing my dear friend Marian again (who I miss terribly since she and Wayne-o moved to Georgia.) And besides the off-ramps to the off-ramps it really was a wonderful place to visit. I can't wait to go back!

Mar-this time, no blind dates, k? just kidding!

New York, New York

2005-08-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Has it really been this long, since I've posted anything?? I guess I am now so busy and important, that I don't even have time for blogging. Crazy. Well, I guess I should get you folks caught up on my adventures (and make sure that I don't let this much time pass!)

I am back from New York City now almost 3 weeks. I looooved it. I felt so Sex in the City there, like I could bump right into SJP (Sarah Jessica Parker for those of you who don't know.) I didn't buy my Manolo Blahniks (sp?) like I wanted too, but even without those amazing pieces of footwear, NYC was an unbelievable experience. The energy of the city is undescribable--and I have decided that I really want to move there. I will see what happens and as Tina says, "you haven't even gone everywhere yet." This is true. But I've never gone someplace and felt like it was home. The hustle and bustle even at 3 in the morning...there is nothing like it. You just have no idea. So we will see...

I wish I had better stories to tell with this one, but really the love the city is all I have to report on. The food was superb and the people even more so. I was hailing cabs and talking like a real New "Yawker". Who knew a girl from Cali would fit in so well of the mean streets of New York.

NYC

2005-07-15T17:19:00.000-07:00

So. It is that time again. I'm off on an adventure. Actually this time, I'm super excited because I will be going to New York City for the first time. Ever. Can you believe it? I've actually never been east of Kansas (Dale/Chris' wedding-quite a bash, despite the rain :-) ) and I cannot wait. I've always had a fascination with NYC...maybe it's the high-rises or maybe it's the bagels. Maybe it's my obsession with "Sex In the City," whatever it is I'm ready to finally discover it. I need to go there and see what it's all about. Who knows I may even run into P.Diddy on the street while I'm there. Wouldn't that be a story to tell? My friend Natalie says: "Make good choices or have good stories to tell..."

Watch for the stories.

Mr. Murphy

2005-07-11T17:05:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer in Murphy's law. As most of you know my new job consists of travelling. This last week was my first trip. This is where my tale begins:

I wake up at the dark-o-hundred...yes that means EARLY!!! and I am on the road by 5:15am to be at the airport. What are the odds that everyone and their mother are on the road. Well, if I was a betting woman, and I'm not, I would have said slim to none. Hey guess what? That's why I'm not a betting woman. Everyone and their mother was apparantly on their way to the same piece of land I was-the airport. Lines, lines everywhere. Do you ever wonder why it is that the FAA has tirelessly devoted all their energy to hiring complete idiots to work at the airport? They do not care that I am going to miss my plane. Nope, uh-uh. They are their to walk around and look pretty in their badges and uniform. Yes, I did my make my plane. Hmmm...luggage, where's my luggage? Ya, apparantly my luggage decided it would be nice to take a detour. So I wait. Did I mention that I need to be teaching a class 45 minutes away? I wait. Luggage finally arrives so I jump on the shuttle, praying that there is a God out there who will make the driver go faster than 10 miles/hour. No such luck.
Then I made another discovery...guess what? The idiots that couldn't get jobs at the airport, got jobs at the rental car place. Great, just my luck.

But needless to say, I do get my car after 1/2 hour waiting period in which I get to listen to a lovely MUSAK rendition of "When a Man loves a Woman." Like Michael Bolton didn't do a terrible enough job in the first place.

Driving, driving, driving. I can see the bridge and I am floating, I might actually make my class! Hmm...toll bridge. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Of course. No cash. Maybe I can sell my soul! Can you believe all this happened...it really is comedy. I do finally get some cash. And oh lucky me-there is an accident. I love my J-O-B. What do you do?

Vanity

2005-07-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Oh vanity! I think that I have captured myself in this one word. Ciela said that I am a yuppy...Hmmm....I never thought that the girl from the trailer park would actually be a yuppy. I find myself to be more vain. Too bad I saw myself on video the other day. My boss decided it would be a swell idea to tape our presentation so we could replay the whole thing over, and over, and over, and over. Let me tell you...seeing your ass in 50 mm is not a highlight. I sat there in shock and wonder. Man I really do have a very wide ass. Good Lord!!! It truly was depressing. So what does one do when they find out they have a very wide ass and very small pinhead?

I called my mom.

She assured me this wasn't the case. But really, I'm not saying all this out of far-reaching hope that someone will give me a compliment. Mostly a this is a self-realization. Do I think I'm hideous? No. But I wonder--why, up until now has no one bothered to tell me that my "wobbly bits" and more than just bitty?

Yesterday is a wrinkle in your forehead

2005-06-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

So, I think I've discovered the secret to what makes you an adult... It was an epiphany... Really, I'm a genius and everyone forgot to tell me :-)

Adulthood is making your bed everyday. Woohoo...I'm still not an adult yet. I think it has something to do with my parents not forcing me to make my bed, nor instilling in me the meaning behind those wonderful hospital corners. I can go days and days and never make my bed. I think it's almost better. Your pillow still has "that spot." You know the one I'm talking about. If you remake your bed everyday, the spot disappears. How sad...

I like to visit the world of adulthood and pretend that someday I'll live there. I have most people fooled that I even have an address there. But I don't...I just visit there and sometimes you might get a postcard from me :-)

But my pillow still had the "spot" this morning when I walked out of my apartment. So. There you go.

The Brilliant Idea

2005-06-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

I received a cryptic phone call...

"I can't talk long. Just go to this website."

Lucky for me, the invention of caller i.d. proclaimed that it was my dear friend Marian. Later that night I was at this fabulous little bar chatting with Ciela and she said that she's hooked into blog too. Hmmm...I think blog is the new crack for the technical masses. Sign me up.

Why not let all my adoring fans read what's going on in my psycho head for once. Everyone thinks I'm sooooooooooo normal. Okay, well, maybe I am. But if my friends jumped off a bridge, you damn well better believe I'd be pulling on my swim suit to jump right in too. Just call me Ms. Lemming.

There is much more interesting stuff to come...Hold your breath. It's going to be a bumpy ride.