Bailey’s Travels

On  strangely mild Christmas Eve, Bailey and I were on our way to San Antonio, to Grandmother’s house we go. Well, Bailey’s grandmother, my mom.

It started at 4am!! Yes, I know, that’s super early. Our flight from DCA was at 6 am and I wanted to make sure we had enough time since it was our first time traveling. Lindsey dropped us and on our adventure started. Funny thing was that the security gate still hadn’t opened so we had to wait a bit. But Bailey was cool as a cucumber.

Okay. She was really hating the carrier. But our first flight was from DCA to Atlanta. It being such an early flight was I was beat so I feel asleep fast. But little to my knowledge I had left a little opening in Bailey’s carrier because I hadn’t zipped it all the way closed and she got out!!! Thankfully I woke up just in time because she had just gotten up. I wrangled her up and stuffed my poor little girl in her carrier. Needless to say, she tried to scratch her way out but to no avail since I made sure I zipped up the carrier.

And then we made it to Atlanta!! Home of Chick-Fil-A and Diet Coke. I had a two-hour layover which worked out great because it was plenty of time to (1) take Bailey to the airport dog park, (2) come back to my gate and (3) get some food!! After what felt like hours of walking, I’m sure it was more like 10 minutes, Bailey and I made it the dig park.

The dog park was a great size and little Bailey got to walk around for a while.  Unfortunately for Bailey, I forgot her collar so she couldn’t walk in the terminal.  (I left it on her retractable leash that was left at home.) But she was able to sit in her carrier with her head out of the top which she really seemed to enjoy. 

And off we go on our next flight from ALT to our final destination of SAT.  One of the stewardesses saw me board the plane with Bailey and immediately started talking to me.  She said that she didn’t have a problem if I took her out of her carrier during the flight.  I sat next to a young couple with their baby girl who loved animals so they didn’t mind either.  So into our 2 hour flight, I took Bailey out for a bit and she sat on my lap.  She really liked being out and enjoyed the view.

But sadly after a while of this, we began our decent and Bailey had to go back into her carrier.  She wasn’t too happy about it.  A short 40 minutes later we were in San Antonio and waiting for her Uncle Emilio to pick us up from the airport.

Bailey had a great time in San Antonio playing with Ita, her grandma, and her cousin Nyk.  She got to run around, without a leash and bark without being shhhh’ed.  She also had a few adventures escaping from our yard and played in the back of Nyk’s power wheels truck.  She also gained a bit of weight but who doesn’t over the holidays.  I know I did. 

It was sad to leave but I think Bailey was ready for it after 9 whole days of constant play.  She, once again, tried to escape on the plane but she didn’t.  And she did try to scratch her way out too.  I was also smart and bought her a new collar so she could walk around in the terminal.

Once we got home,  she jumped on the couch and fell asleep for an eternity in dog years.  I’m sure it was more like a week in dog years.  It’s been 3 days since we’ve been back and after our trip to San Antonio and to the office, she is ready for a few days of quiet relaxation on the couch.  Oh to be a dog, what a life!!

Sweat Ceiling

So when I moved to the mid-Atlantic almost a year ago I thought I would be greeted by snow in the winter and milder summers than what I’m use to in Texas. BOY WAS I WRONG!!  DC and the surrounding areas have broken records today.  This is how it right now…

Yes, the feels like is 117!!  In case you have never been in that heat, it’s like an oven.  No seriously, it feels exactly like when you open your oven to put in a tray of cookies and you get all that heat in your face.  Just like that.

I have no problem with the 100+ degrees.  Come one, happens all the time in San Antonio.  I worked outdoors for a summer.  I can deal with it.  But living in an oven not so much.

So now, my plans until the Sweat Ceiling is lowered will be to stay indoors with the A/C on the coldest setting ever and cuddle with Bailey on the couch.

Disclaimer: I did not come up with the term “Sweat Ceiling.”  I’m not that creative.  The Washington Post is calling this heat wave that.  You can imagine why…

Why, Hello Summer/Warm Weather

Living in San Antonio and Texas, you have a ridiculously long summer.  It usually starts around March and end in October.  Yes, summer is 8 months.  But June, July, and August are hell.  No seriously, it’s 95 by 10am!!  Going outside is not an option, unless you’ll be by a pool or river or some other aquatic body. 

Any who, when I moved to the Mid-Atlantic area I was introduced to this thing called seasons.  It’s when the weather shifts from cold to warm, warm to hot, hot to cool, and cool to cold.  Yeah, crazy, I know.  But in May, it starts to get warm, people start doing things outside, and the use for heavy coats is finally over.  YAY!!

With Memorial Day around the corner, the unofficial start of summer is here and this girl couldn’t be happier.  All those pairs of shorts, skirts, and dresses that were shoved to the back of my closet since November has started to reemerge into my wardrobe.  I couldn’t be a happier person!!

And because it’s not Texas and one can actually be outside, there are outdoor events during the weekends.  Crazy thought!!  A ton of places around town have outdoor movie nights which I think is just genius.  The BF and I went to one last night to see Casablanca.  It was great to see this huge crowd of people just outside, on picnic blankets, having fun.  Now that’s something you don’t see back in San Antonio.  Totally something I’m going to take full advantage of.

In the end, I am thrilled that the sun is out, the birds are chirping, and the smell of hotdogs is in the air.  I could do without the allergies though.

Bad Things to Good People

Sergio Antillon was someone I met about 5 years ago, give or take.  I worked with him when I was working at Sea World when I was 18 or so.   He was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.  He was a true gentleman.  A patient person.  Had character and conviction.  Would never do a person wrong, even if they wronged him.  Dedicated to serving others.

I recently found out that he joined SAPD.  I recently found out he was hit by a drunk driver.  And today I found out he passed away due to it.

The back story: Sergio was going home after his night shift as a cop when he saw a fellow officer at the scene of an accident.  I’m sure he would have stopped if he was an officer on duty, off duty, or a regular citizen.  He was that type of person.  At the scene of the accident, while outside helping the other officer, Sergio was hit by a drunk driver and pinned against a guard rail.  He was taken to the hospital in very critical condition.  Almost two weeks later he lost the fight for his life.

All this is very saddening to me.  Not just because I knew him but because he was one of those people who you knew would be going places.  Who stand up for good.  Who would do the right thing, no matter what.  Who could make the world a better place.  Unfortunately, because of one person’s bad decision this will never happen.  Because one person, Sandra Briggs, thought she was okay to drive.  But because she was intoxicated she did not have control of her car as it slammed into Sergio.

The truth of the matter is that this story isn’t a rare occasion.  It’s far too familiar for many of us.  We hear about it daily on tv, on the internet, and on the radio.  We all know what we should not do, drink and drive.  But for some, they continue to think it’s okay.  That they are the exception to the rule.  That they are invincible to it all.  That it won’t happen to them.  But when it does happen to them, they are able to walk away from it while someone else has to fight for their life, and even lose sometimes.

A question I’m sure everyone at some point in their life has asked themselves is “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  Anyone who has gone through a personal struggle can attest to asking this.  It’s a question that you want an answer to because you feel that with an answer, it will make things better.  I asked it many times after my dad passed away.  Constantly to my mom.  Her response put things in perspective for me.  She said,

“It’s not that bad things happen to good people, it’s that the good people are people we care about.  It’s people we know.  It’s not that bad things don’t happen to bad people, it’s that we don’t hear about them because we don’t care about them.  Bad things happen to everyone.  It’s who it happens to that matters to you.”

Rest In Peace Sergio Antillon

I Hate You Humidity and Texas Heat!!

For as much as I love Texas, I really hate the weather. I am at the Botanical Gardens, before noon, and it’s already like 90 degrees with a high humidity. Oh and mind you, the so called “breeze” is just hot wind blowing by. Of course, being still sunburnt from my tubing adventure on Wednesday doesn’t help. Whenever the sun touches my legs, it burns a bit more.

And the bugs!! I feel that the insects, bugs, and mosquitos are out with a vengece this year due to the colder and longer winter we had. I swear, I can be outside for 15 minutes and be bit seven times. Needless to say, I look like a red itchy mosquito bite from head to toe.

The joys of summer in San Antonio.

When the Parents are Away, the Children will Play!!

My parents left yesterday to Mexico so I have the house to myself for a WHOLE month!!  WHOOP!!  I am so excited about this.  After living away and alone from my parents for four years while at A&M, I got use to not being here.  Then after graduating and moving in, it’s been totally different.  It’s just weird having my mom do things for me like cooking, cleaning, and doing my laundry.  I’m just not use to it.  It’s that I like my privacy, my alone time.  I like having the option to walk around naked or pee with the door open when no one is home.  I know these things sound funny but I know people out there do them.  I can’t be alone on that.  Finally, I can do them again.

I attempted to take care of my speeding ticket today.  It was the productive single effort I did today.  You have to spread things out when you don’t have much to do.  Anyways, I talked to the front officer as I walked into the office because I was confused about the paperwork I had to do for defensive driving.  He asked to see the ticket and said it was a “chicken shit” ticket because I was only going 12 miles over the speed limit.  He was super nice.  After looking at the ticket, he said I could fight it by asking to see the judge on my court date because the officer didn’t write my license plate correctly.  My plate has 6 characters but the officer wrote down 7 because he put something for a space.  It’s something small but it could get me off the hook.  What’s the worst that can happen?  The judge says no, and I still have to pay.  Whatev, it’s worth the effort.

On the Lush front, I’ve been using the Angels On Bare Skin and Gorgeous skin moisturizer for about a week now and my skin feels great.  I am in love with Lush.  I think I am on my to be a Lushie!!  HAHA

Looking but Nowhere to be Found

Why is it, and this always happens, that when you are looking for something in particular you are never able to find it yet when  you don’t need it/want it you can find it?  My world is just like that.  My current search, even though it should be finding a job, is looking for a brown, dark brown not tan, waist belt or clutch. I know for the fashionistas out there, this might sound like a pretty easy task.  Brown is a basic color and thing always come in it. WRONG!!  I’ve spent the last day and a half going to the malls in San Antonio, into almost all the stores that are trendy or classic and have found nothing.  I’m going to the wedding of my childhood best friend this coming saturday and need/want a brown bag or belt to match my shoes.  I know, matching has become pase but whatever.  I’m sure that the Sunday after the wedding, if I go into any store, I’ll be sure to find exactly what I want.  That’s my life for you.

I guess my dilema can be applied to other aspects of life too.  My love life is a prime example.  I was in dry spell some time ago and as soon as I got into a relationship, it seemed that every guy I meet wanted to date me.  Now, even though I’ve been in a serious relationship for over a year and half, it seems that some people don’t quiet understand that relationship equals not interested, even if you are super cute and probably good in bed that doesn’t mean I want to date you.  Now, with my current problem of not finding a job, I’m willing to bet that as soon as I get a decent offer, I’ll get more.  Isn’t that life for you?