San Antonio Trip Day 9 and the last....

I'M HOME I'M HOME I'M HOME!!!!! It was so nice when B and I stumbled in the door and mom and roomie were so happy to see us and my girls came a running! Smokie was also quite happy to see me! :)
Last day started quite groggy after our long day then long night of Tucson partying last nite. We headed to downtown to grab some breakfast and realized Tucson Brueggers Bagels is not as good as SoCal Brueggers. We hit the road. We're both tired, done and somewhat cranky I'd say. We trekked through the desert listening to Mo-Town and stopped for lunch at some truck stop. We had an absolutley horrible meal that reminded us both how healthy we need to eat when we return to town. Dont have anything really interesting to post for today except the long long long driving throught the desert. We both perked up and were so happy to see the Welcome to California sign.
I would say this is one of the longest times I've been away. The conference was fine, did learn some and met some great people to network with now when we need each other. B and I shared some fantastic random adventures. I got to see Texas and I doubt I'll ever be there again, unless I head out to see my girl N. I'm exhausted but so very happy to be home. Hope you all enjoyed the random bloggings of my adventure.

San Antonio Trip Day 8...

So we groggily stumbled out of bed this morning in Fort Stockton TX and headed out after a decent free breakfast and getting gas with a bit of a dragonfly battle. Today was our longest drive, we also lost 2 hours so that made it seem even longer...lord. Lots of long desert driving and me realizing I have a bigger case of ADD then I thought. We stopped at a few random spots...the Aleka tourist spot to get gas where we checked out random chotchikes and I purchased my bag of skittles. This place has a huge set of flats set up to make it look like a town...it was cheesyily awesome. We then finally had to stop at another tourist attraction...there were a bunch of billboard advertising "The Thing". It was the same company as Aleka and others we had passed but we had to see what this one was all about. We paid our $1 to check it out. It turned out to be a 3 building set up in the back of the store of random artifacts of junk and old cars...lots of weird torture set ups..um....what was the weirdest was we realized there was a whole house...er mobile home set up as well meaning someone actually lived here. B and I decided that was actually "The Thing" and started having memories of really bad horror flicks where these teenagers are checking out some random tourist spot and get massacared. Ya. Awesome. We headed back out and finally arrived in Tucson AZ. We got a decent hotel and decided to check out the town. For dinner we braved the all you can eat sushi place (yup-sushi in the desert) and the place was f-ing packed. We actually had decent sushi and totally overdosed since it was all you can eat and decided to still check out the night life. B had noticed a band Heather Hardy that was playing at a place called The Hut. I must point out - downtown Tucson is a total hippy/college town. The place is swarming with kids in "Wildcat" shirts and other artsy indie people. Its awesome. Sort of like a mini downtown Long Beach. We waltzed our fat asses into The Hut, had a drink and after I started getting extremely annoyed and tired that it was starting way later then planned...the gal and this dude started in. They were ok. I wanted to beat the sound guys head in, but I did realize the gal was awesome. Talk about a fantastic fiddle player. We then realized they were the opening act and Heather and her band would be playing after. I seemed to get a 2nd wind ( I honestly think its just I was so past tired I was now in a weird slap happy phase) so we stayed. They were fucking awesome. The guitarist was great, Heather was great, they played some fantastic blues. There was also an adorable old couple that kept cuttin the rug everytime and upbeat song played. They were so great and romantic! Damn can they dance!!! I also would like to point out the really weird long gray haired dude that was in his own world dancing as well...he was quite entertaining. We listened to the majority of thier set and the fullness set in for B since he kept drinking beers, so we headed out. I definately plan on looking her up when I get back, cuz that gal needs to play Doheny. Now I'm over exhausted, slightly tipsy on wine and saki and ready to crash out. We head home 2morow!!!

San Antonio Trip Random Trivia...

So on the long stretches of boring driving B and I would come across things that peaked our curiousity and he of course has a magic phone. Here's what we've found:
> A Mesa is the cause of hard rock staying solid while the rest of the thing erodes away leaving the flat top.
> DWI stands for Driving While Intoxicated
> Mexican Jumping Beans are caused by moth larva being laid in the bean and they cause the thing to jump.
> The Salton Sea history is fascinating and horribly sad...
> NYC is the highest populated city, LA comin in 2nd, Chicago comin in 3rd...
> Left Lane for passing only isnt nessasarily a law, but your encouraged to stay in the right lane and only use the left lane for passing.
> The "Tiki Unvealing" that is happening at The Hut is a 50 ft tall Tiki statue that was built in 1971 that The Hut has saved and is revealing 2morow night.
> There are porcupines in Texas. We have yet to see an Armadillo.
We've also learned a hell of alot about each other, listened to plenty of classic rock, reggae and other road music. I crave skittles while driving. Both of us get bored as hell when we're passengers. Bugs hitting your car constantly gets old real fast. Texas has really nice rest areas. According to my gf, during St. Patricks Day they die the entire river on the Riverwalk bright green. When you get stopped at the inspection point in Texas they will stop you and look in your car for illegals. The size of raindrops vary whilst driving thru a storm. "The Thing" in Arizona is a weird collection of old junk, but there is also someone living there and we both thing that may be the real "Thing".
That is all for now. 2 more day blogs and I will be home....yay!

San Antonio Trip day 7...

So getting up this morning was not pretty. I wanted to cry when the alarm went off. I stumbled out of bed partially hungover and showered. I get a txt from my boss "Lets meet for breakfast at 8:30". Sigh. I figure I have time to pack and load the car before I meet up with her. I txt B while I do this and finally head down to meet her. As B rounds the corner he looks only slightly worse then I do. My boss sees the 2 of us and laughs. We force down some breakfast and I skip out on the "morning session" to buy a new pair of sunglasses since mine somehow got scratched the hell up in the evening before. I also find my cowboy hat. Yay. I'm back in time to meet our cfo to check us out and we roll into our last session. B and I doze in and out while they drone on and on. We head to lunch with our crew and listen to a much too long conference wrap up. The minute we're done B and I are out the door, in the car and on the 10 fwy. Nothing to exciting to report on the trip, but we did hit some rain and saw some beautiful clouds, sun rays and a little lighting. We make it to Fort Stockton in one piece. We've checked into a Quality Inn...much less bugs then Van Horn. We grab some dinner at K-Bobs since we are dying to have some TX steak before we leave this godforsaken state. This place looks like a rec center. Its amazing. B gets ribeye and I get NY Strip. It was pretty damn good thats for sure! The highlight of our dinner was listening to some real life Texans visiting with each other behind us. The thick drawls and random conversation was amazing. Our waitress was a peach with her "Ya'll's and Darlin's". As we head out we see the craziest lighting storm starting. Not as cool as the Decatur storm I saw last year, but watching this desert sky flash and light up and huge lighting rods striking the ground is pretty f-ing cool! We're drinking our wine in our plastic cups and watchin the storm. Ahhh TX.

San Antonio Trip Txts...

This may not seem funny to you readers...but this was our txting at the conference over 4 days or so...if you read thru super fast it makes us laugh anyway.....
J Are you on your way?
B Here
J Where
J What time did we check out on Sat morn
J What time are you goin down?
B What do you have in mind?
J 20 min
B OK
J C u down there
J Keep me posted on tonite
B Do you need a pack of smokes
J I'm ok
J I just fell asleep
B Are you done?
J Ya
B We are meeting in the lobby in the bar about now
J I'll have to meet you guys later. Is everyone going?
B Just Frank and Lorraine
B Are you sure?
J Ya I wont be ready for an hour, just let me know where you are at I guess later
B Are you napping?
J No I"m straighting my hair so I wont freeze the next few days
B Should that make sense?
J I'll explain later
J Are you guys coming back for dinner
B Yes but we'll be a little later probably about 630
J Wow
J Where u
J I cant find anymore wine
J WTF
B Spirt
B This is your people's song
B Did you hook up?
J You look like your hooking up
B Where are you
B Help
J You look like your enjoying yourself
B Your a big help
J She loves you
B Probably
J I could save you but I already told married british guy I was leaving. Just tell her you have a hot date with a cowgirl
B I hate you
J You love me. I'm just chilling in my room with a glass of wine not dealing with drunk tessiturians
B I hate you
J Hey maybe you'll get lucky, she wants you
B Did I mention that I hate you
J Have fun
B Its still happening
J Thats awesome
B No
J Just leave then
B You think its that easy
J I was just out front to save you but didnt see you
B You lie
J I was!
B Do you have an extra glass?
J What?
B of wine
J Ya. But your already drunk and have a lady to take care of
B 1521?
J What time you going down?
B Who are you?
J Very funny. Are you hungover?
B Tired
J Me too
B What time are you
J 20 min
B Its always 20 min
J I know but its always true aint it?
B Ok
J I'll stop by your room
J You have internet?
B You have Q-Tips?
J Yes I'll bring them, I'm on my way in 5
J Where you
B Lynch room. And u?
J Level 4. Wheres the lynch room
J Which 4 oclock are you going to
B I"m trying to find you
J I"m way in the back
J Where u?
B Not done yet
J Us eithier
J I'm surrounded by geeks
J I'm smoking on level 3
J I mean level 1
B I'm done
B Hello
J Where r u
J are you doin a breakfast session
B are u
J no but I"m down here now
B why
J cuz i want coffee and they have normal breakfast too
J you goin to the main lunch room
B sure
J when, i'm at for havin a cig
B I'm ready
J I'll come down now
B down where
J main lunch room i'm at the other end from breakfast
J I'm coming
J hello
B drinkin wine by yourself
J bout to crash, you hooked up with your wife yet
B I'll tell you in the morning
J Ohhh
J Down at breakfast
B is that an invitation
J if your hungry
B where praytell
J i hurt

San Antonio Trip Day 4, 5 and 6

Well, figured I could combine the main conference days into 1 blog because believe me - not much happens when your at a conference. Especially a conference about a computer program. Especially a conference that has alot of geeks. No offense to these folks, they are quite proud of their geek status actually, but I just have a hard time trying to have a conversation with someone without it going into computers or how AWESOME Tessitura is. Sigh. I need a different job. But - I have a job. Blah blah. Anywhoo...
Monday was the sort of start of the conference. I realized later it wasnt the "real" start - it was a "pre-session" day. Whatev. We got up early, had a decent breakfast and headed off to my 1st session. Tuesday was actually the 1st day apparently. They had a big ol presentation after breakfast on Tue, starting with a film with clips from The Alamo and shots from the history of TX. Yawn. Then went on for waaaaaaaaaaaay too long about stuff thats just waaaaaaaaaaaay too boring to get into. This is basically how my days have gone:
I signed up for yoga, but I"m so f-ing exhausted every day I cant get up to go - so scratch that. We have breakfast, then we go to sessions. Some of these sessions I doze in. Some I do get good ideas and notes to take back with me, etc etc. We have breaks in between where they serve coffee and snacks. Then we have lunch - sometimes lunch sessions. Not a fan of these. I want to eat my damn lunch, not discuss event planning with someone having a carrot hanging out of their mouth. We then have more afternoon sessions until about 5 or 6 and then that part is done. Nights:
Monday night - B and some other co-workers left to meet a friend, me and my boss decided to go to the Tessitura dinner. We thought it was dinner. We were hungry. NO. It was a weird "block party" networking thing. We had cocktails (which of course I didnt mind) then were sent off somewhere for snacks and "networking" then to dinner and "networking". I was trying to be polite due to the fact that I was with my boss, but I loved the moment after we ate and she mentioned how sad she was she hadnt seen anything yet. I said "Well we could just go now..." Women was out the door. So we ditched out and did a little sight seeing on the Riverwalk, we did make it back to see one of our co-horts sing in the "Tessitura Chorus". Afterwards a few of us went to the hotel bar and drank and chatted with other folks. I chatted it up with a lovely fellow from London who had a nasty sense of humor like I, and we shared stories. I headed out to go back to my room when I got a panic txt from B "Help". I did notice a little gal was chatting him up when I left. I of course enjoyed this thoroughly and let him hang for a while before he somehow escaped. Ah, comedy. Tuesday night was "On our own in San Antone". Sigh. The humor of these people.....
Our CFO took us all to dinner. We found some lovely little Italian restaurant on the riverwalk, had some fab wine and fab food then wandered around a bit. Half of us ended up at the hotel bar again. My lovely co-hort consultant from Chicago was now here, so her and I shared some stories and drank. I headed back up my eyes weary from the whole thing. I think the drive was starting to get to me. Its a long damn time. Now its Wed evening and I'm bleary eyed and stupid from sessions all day and waiting for my girlfriend from HS to arrive. She's apparently a local and we insisted we had to meet up while I was here. SO, I'll be saving this as a draft and wrapping up this blog hopefully with some fab adventures from this evening....
Ok...back and slightly tipsy! :)
My high school gf and I met up at my hotel, caught up over a glass of wine and headed out. She suggested a place on the Riverwalk called Dicks...its somewhat like Ed Debevics...they are sarcastic and fun - I was of course game. We rolled in to an obnoxious gal who sold me on some pink "I love Dicks" panties...thats right and we sat down for drinks and snacks. Our waitress was fab. She's apparently moving to San Diego in October, so I totally plan on visiting the Dicks down there and showing her the photos she took of her own boobs. Yup. This place ruled. I ordered the "ghetto wine" which turned out to be some blue shit in a nasty bottle that tasted like candy. I ordered ribs, we chatted and caught up on each others lives. It was awesome. Like none of those years had past. I love her. She then dropped me off at our final Tessitura networking event where the "Tessiturians" played. Yup. We're apparently all artists who didnt quite make it and these folks put together a band. I will say this - the gal did one of the best impersanations of Janis Joplin I've ever seen. I met up with B and some fellow friends from the Center and drank even more. We hiked back to our hotel and right to the bar. We chatted and laughed and the night got late. Here I type in my last nite in a nice hotel with one more day of conferencing then off to the long ass drive home. I'll keep you posted on B and I's adventures as we trek back across a few states to my own bed I've been longing for since I left.

San Antonion Trip Day 3...

Wow is this hotel way nicer then the last 2!!!! Guess it should be since I'll be here until Thursday night. We made it to San Antonio!! Woot!
Today started with B & I takin a gander at the grasshopper situation...still pretty bad. So B loaded our luggage and gave me the go ahead to sprint to the car. We rolled out an on the road. We stopped for coffee/water in some random town. Chatted with a lovely lady from New Mexico whose car had broke down and was a quilter. She's done shows in CA so I'm sure my dad's wife has met her at some point! :) We were being swarmed again but this time by little yellow butterflies - way cuter and this I could handle. Back on the road. We stopped in Oxana or Ocana (sp?) for lunch at Sonic burger and listened to the Texan drawls around us. We also heard there was a Davy Crockett monument so of course we had to go see it and I take a picture! On the road again. Long long long drive, but we got excited when we started rollin into the city of San Antonio. Between our AAA directions and B's magic phone we made it to our hotel. We checked in, then checked into the conference where the very excited Tessitura people gave me all my stuff and my badge with a giant ribbon that says "1st Timer". After we got settled B and I booked over to The Alamo. It was closing in a few minutes but I wanted to at least check it out and take some photos which we did. It was certainly a trip walking around that area and remembering what happened there many years ago. The also have a really beautiful garden area in the back that we strolled thru. We then hit the Riverwalk. Its quite lovely. I was trippin out that there's this random pretty river that runs thru the middle of a main city! The little tour boats would go thru with the happy tour guides telling the folks about the history of the city. Sadly I dont think I'll have time during our conference week to actually take one of those tours even tho I'd like to. We had dinner at a fantastic mexican restaurant right on the river and shared a liter of sangria and chatted with our sweet waitress. We then strolled around some more takin in the sites. We found a drugstore where we stocked up on snacks and what not and I got some fun chotchkies for mom and the roomie for lookin after my girls! I'm now chillin in my nice hotel room about to open a bottle of wine and try to get organized for this conference!

San Antonio Trip Day 2...

B and I groggily wake up Saturday morning, to of course the bathroom light not working. As I’m marching into the bathroom with the lamp for light, a dim fizzy light appears…well…this will do. Sigh. I head down after to check out the continental breakfast…its decent. I make an English muffin and grab some coffee and fruit and head back to the room. We pack up and head out back on the 10. B has a plan to stop at Saguaro National Park as a slight detour. So we pull off and drive into the middle of nowhere. We turn on the dirt road to where supposedly this national park lies..well…lets just say I’ve never been on a road so bad it makes the entire car shake. I tend to panic slightly when stuff is happening to cars that I don’t understand. Even tho B tries to convince me its ok, I cant do it. So we pull over, and I take some nice photos of the Sagauro cactus that’s closer. We stop a few more times taking random photos then get back on the highway. Benson seems like a good place to stop and grab a bite to eat. A&W sounds fun! We wonder into the combined A&W, pizza, chicken, gas station kitchy central and eat our lunch. Bad idea. Oh lord was the food bad….ugh. So we head back out now with rocks in our bellies and trek on. We cross into New Mexico. I’m starting to fade. We trade off and B takes over the driving. Not much to report on the drive really…there’s a whole lot a nuthin out there!!!! We eventually make into Texas. We breeze through El Paso. Not a pretty city. It’s a mish mash of industrial, weird things. The houses on the side of the mountain you pass look exactly like Mexico. My heart tears a bit wondering what its like to live here. Our current goal is Van Horn. We figure it’s a bit past El Paso and should help make tomorrow’s drive maybe a little less brutal. We drive and we drive and we drive. We finally roll into Van Horn and head straight to Chuy’s Mexican Food. The place is full of sighed photos of celebrities – especially John Madden – and all kinds of random things. We get our order to go due to now its 10pm here (Time jumped ahead 2 hours on us) and head back to our Econo Lodge. Now. I had noticed a few large grasshoppery things flyin around the restaurant. A bit creeped out, but whatever. B and I pull into our lodge. They are everywhere. I wait in the car and B runs to check in. As we roll around the corner to where our room is there is a fucking swarm. We pull up to our door and they are all over it. I’m of course squealing like a little girl in the car, not wanting to get out at all. B runs out and deals with the creatures so I can make a sprint to the door with our dinner. God love him he gets our luggage while I stand at the door opening and closing it strategically to avoid any of them getting in. Of course, squealing every time. Ugh. I’m not exaggerating – these are the size of small children. I’m so creeped out. But – I took the bed away from the window and I’ll cross my fingers and wish for the best!! B and I are now drinking bottled mojitos – the only alcohol available in this town and regretting Chuy’s Mexican Dinner.

San Antonio Trip Day 1

Well, here I sit in Phoenix, drinking wine out of a Best Western paper cup. Thats right - I'm all about class. But I have my compadre B here with me sharin the other half of the bottle. Sadly I have to admit I was not looking foward to this trip whatsoever. I work for PSO and they have sent me to the Tessitura Conference in San Antonio Texas. I told them I dont fly because I usually barf thinking this would be my get out of jail free card. We talked about driving and they said "We'll get you a rental car and your on your way!" Well....I'm in now. Luckily B is drivin with me-bein an apparent fan of roadtrippin. I'm going to attempt to blog daily now that I actually have a laptop- but we'll see. We dont really know where we're staying or what the hell I"m doing for the most part, but we'll see! :)
Its day 1. I rolled out of bed trying to think positive about this whole thing and quelling the damn anxiety burrowing in my belly. I"m giving extra attention to the girls hoping they wont freak out while I"m gone.
I'm packed and ready to go. The lovely bro drops me off at National rent a car to meet our CFO and my co-hort. Of course they're late. Of course said co-hort has to finish a few things at the office and of course said co-hort has to drop is damn car off in Balboa. Sigh. We finally hit the road about 1:30. We head out in our Chevy Impala. As we trek out we realize...why are there random ants appearing. Whatever...we kill them move on. We of course hit the brutal 91fwy traffic but finally are on our 10 stretch. More ants. WTF!!! We stop at a random Wendys in Moreno Valley somewhere when both of us realize we havent really eaten yet. We trek on. We decide to stop in Blythe to gas up, pee, smoke, walk around etc. This is when we realize both sides of our doors have ant colonys...ANTS FUCKING EVERYWHERE!!!! We try to get rid of what we can but they're coming from somewhere we cant get to. I fight off the visual I have of why they are there...and we move on. Of course the whole drive we find a little fucker and kill it and it seems they're getting more frequent. Whatever. I get quite excited as we start to see saguara cactus and I'm bound to stop and take a photo...I have yet to. As we're rolling into Phoenix we see flashes. B thinks I'm crazy but happily he sees I"m right and super excited...we're watching a kick ass lighting storm. It starts to rain a bit but the lightning is sick! After a slight battle of B looking for a hotel..(why did this seem like and old marriage couple squabble) I pull off the hwy - whip out the tour book and find us a hotel off the 10. Best Western it is. Aside from a funny smell coming in, and a bit of a battle with the bathroom light - its do-able. B and I are satisfied. We head out for some Claim Jumper grub, plan on going and getting some bug spray tomorow and are finishing our bottle of wine here in the room in our fancy Best Western Paper Cups!!!! Tomorow we head out again!

Friendships...

Family and friends.
The most important thing in ones life in my opinion. Family and friends helped me through my bitter divorce, and the hurt and anger I felt years afterwards. Family and friends helped me through moving back home after my 10 year job went under. Family and friends are always there when I’m sad or hurt or struggling or celebrating.
I’m very lucky – I have an amazing family. I’m not a person who comes from a wacked out childhood, I’m not a person who was abused by her family. My family is very close. No, we’re not perfect. Yes, we have our quibbles but we love each other unconditionally. My family still loves me after I went through my “dark years”. I’m lucky. I’ll never ever take that for granted.
Friends are different. Friends come and go. We do have those certain friendships that will last a lifetime. It’s interesting to me to find out who these people are as life goes on. I have been surprised and disappointed. I have a wonderful circle of friends right now I can trust and rely on. Some of those I’ve grown closer too. Some of those know me so well it’s freaky. Some of those know exactly what I need when I need it. Then there are those that have drifted away. Those friendships I thought would turn into a lifetime bond but sadly did not. People change. Lives change and they move on, without me. It hurts, but its life. I consider myself so very lucky to have as many lifetime friendships that I currently have. I love those friends so very much.
Then its times like this past week, when something tragic happens to a dear friend. A stroke crippling my 37 year old friend. I do think he’ll come through. I do think he’ll be back to his sassy self, but it’s hard and it’s sad and I’ve cried so much. Its going to be a very long frustrating process. My other dear friend and his partner I’ve watched. I showed up to be his right hand wo-man. Any support I could give. Anything I could do. He’s relied on me for a lot because he knows he can. He knows I’ll be there. I’ve known and loved these two for 13 years. (Hell maybe 14 now…). Its hard to watch a strong figure crumble when someone he loves is so vulnerable right now. But I’m there. And so are so many others. Its truly been so amazing to be a part of the out pouring of support. The love, the offers, the friendships. Why – because we’re family. I’m the daughter and granddaughter of fireman. Fireman families are just that – family. We all do whatever we can for each other, whether we know each other personally or not. We’re family. The theater community is family. The Rudies are family. We take care of our own. I know its touched the hearts of my boys to see the outpouring of love and support. And its touched my own heart when some of those people, those dear friends of mine call me as well. Ask me how I am. Ask me how I’m holding up. Telling me what an angel I am for what I’m doing. It means the world. I’m doing it for my friends, my family. I’m doing it because I love them, and I would do anything I can for those I love. Its beautiful to know I’d have the same in return. I never expect that, never expect rewards or recognition, but it touches me. It just proves my point – I’m so very lucky to have wonderful friends and family. Yes, I’m over sensitive and over emotional right now, but its still so great to know we have each other in these shitty times.
As I said earlier, its interesting and sad and beautiful when friendships grow or falter. But knowing how many lifelong bonds I have makes me smile.