My "accidental" trip to Dallas

Brian has decided that we need to start praying today to the travel gods for the next time we ever decide to go on a vacation... For those of you who did not know, two weeks ago I was suppose to go to Dallas for Jason Webb's wedding. My flight was canceled as soon as I got there and I was going to be able to make it out to Dallas until Saturday night... which would completely defeat the purpose for my trip. So, I got reimbursed for my ticket (two weeks later), cried, and went on my way.

So this weekend Brian and I had planned a trip to Charlotte, NC to watch his little sister play in her last home lacrosse game before she graduates from Queens University. We got to the Tucson airport with about 15 minutes to get to our gate. When we walked to our gate we found out that our flight had been delayed 40 minutes... we only had a 40 minute layover in Dallas to make our connecting flight to Charlotte... see where I'm going with this...

We took off, had a smooth flight, and then had to circle around the Dallas/Fort Worth skies for one hour until a storm blew through (which shut down the airport, the airplanes that were on the ground out pelted with 2'' hail and two tornados hit not too far away). Once we landed we taxied to the terminal in which we sat for another 1.5 hours until we could pull up to the terminal to get off the plane. During this time I was on the phone with a AA customer service rep trying to figure out our ticketing issues. Since we wouldn't be able to make it to Charlotte until Saturday night now we decided just to get tickets back to Tuscon on Saturday (the earliest flight we could get was 7:20 pm). Praise the Lord that I have family there that picked us up... so the blessing in disguise was that I was actually able to see my family!! I was so upset two weeks ago when I wasn't going to see them until the end of May!!

Dad, Valerie, Bagel, Brian and I had a fabulous time together, though I wished I could be longer. We picked up Mom from the airport on Saturday afternoon from her library trip to San Antonio. We all hung out at the airport until closer to Brian and I's flight out. And of course, that flight was delayed for 40 minutes!! We finally made it back to Tucson late last night!

Here are some pictures from the weekend!

Catherine, Dad, Valerie & Mom in Terminal D before Brian and I went to our gate


Veeves & Cath on Friday night


Cat & Brian on Friday night hanging out at Sherlocks with Veeves


Kathy met us for lunch at Cuba Libre on Saturday!!!!! It was so so so so so good to see her!


Veeves, Dad & Cath at lunch


Veeves, Mom & Cath at the airport


Veeves & Brian trying to be the same height (she's 5' 3'' and he's 6' 4'')

And the moral of this story... I WANT TO BE BACK HOME!!!!!

Saturdays adventure

Brian and Catherine on Easter Sunday at the El Conquistador Country Club (I know my necklace is crooked but if you can see it this is the necklace Brian bought me in Austria!!)

After nearly three weeks of time away from Barista-ing at Starbucks life got back to its normal pace on Saturday. Friday was an early night, the 5 am shift I was working came bright and early (except not that bright considering it is still pitch black at 4:45 in la manana) and then I was done by 10:30 am. It is a weird feeling at times that I battle having gone to work and still be completed by 10:30 or 1pm. However, I am not complaining so have no fear!

I went and got a mani and pedi after Starbucks to give my nails some help... I've been trying to take care of them myself for a while to save some money... The nail place is close to Brian's condo so I stopped by there afterward. I was wearing blue jean shorts, a white tank top and my chaco's (strappy yet outdoorsy flip flops). Adam and Brian wanted to go hiking at Sabino Canyon so I decided to tag a long.

Well, when are in charge it is safe to say that most likely not a lot of planning when into the activity. We started the hike (WITHOUT WATER) at 1:30 pm in the afternoon. The high yesterday was 84 and very sunny, remind you. We finally made it to Seven Falls and at that point I really wished I had brought my camera... actually I really wished I had brought my camera when we first started on the trail and a big brown snake slithered across and the only reason I saw it, as I was so caught up in one of my usual debates with Brian and Adam, was because Brian grabbed my arm to stop me before I stepped on it. Needless to say, I paid a lot more attention to my surroundings after that.

The hike was beautiful but difficult... more difficult than it should have been since I had just gotten a pedi and was in sandals and none of us had water.

I think we got back done to the car around 6pm and were completely pooped after that. The three of us just sat on the couches for the rest of the evening not moving.

And as I post this morning, my legs are extremely sore and I have about 5 beautiful blisters around my feet. But, have no fears, my mani and pedi are still beautiful and were not destroyed in the stupidity of that hike!

Have Resurrection Sunday!

Jason's wedding...

Well, last weekend was Jason (college friend) and Julie's wedding. I was at the airport at the appropriate time. Since I had already checked in and recieved my boarding pass online I was able to walk right on through to the gate. I noticed a long line at the American Airlines counter and thought to myself, "Man, I'm glad I didn't want to check any bags!" I got through the security line quickly (the blessing of living in a smaller city) and walked immediately to the monitors that show you which gate your flight is at. As I focused on the screen I saw something that no one ever want to see... blinking red C-A-N-C-E-L-E-D. My heart just sort of stopped. I walked to the gate that I was suppose to fly out of and got put on the stand-by list for delayed flight that was still going to make it to Dallas.

I waited for an hour and a half, didn't make the cut, then went back to stand in long AA line to rebook my flight. By the time I got up to a Customer Service rep. the next flight they could get me on to Dallas, on any airline, would not have plopped me in that fabulous city I call home until 10:45pm on Saturday night.

Sad times... through all of the emotions and tears, it ended up being a nice, quiet, relaxing weekend. Brian and I finally got to spend some quality time together. Since my schedule has changed to super early morning we haven't been able to spend as much time together.

Well, I should be home next month for another wedding... can't wait!