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!

What a weekend in Vegas...

So, as you know, I don't always have a lot of positive things to say about AZ... but a nice thing about living here is that long distance travel takes you to other states pretty quickly!!

Brian, Adam and I drove down to Las Vegas (Henderson actually) late on Friday night to help his mom finish up packing before she moved back to Portland, OR on Saturday afternoon. It just so happened that a bunch of B & A's college friends were in town for their Spring Break and I have just recently gotten back in touch with family, so after Sara left for Oregon, we had plenty to do to keep us busy.

On Sunday, I went to church with my Aunt Linda and her husband Mike. Then the whole family met over at Caren & Jay's house for a fabulous lunch before B, A & I headed back to Tucson.
On the way back we drove through Needles, CA (which someone thought would shave off some time... it doesn't just in case you were wondering), got stuck in lots of traffic because of a yucky accident, and because I was trying to make up time, I got pulled over for speeding through some small little town. The highway speed limit was 65, I was going 64, the town apparently is 45... oh well.

So, here are some pictures from this weekend.

Brian & Catherine at brunch on Saturday morning!

Catherine, Caren, Cherri, Bridget, Coby, Aunt Linda, Christine, Kenzie & Jamie


Catherine, Caren & Cherri


Catherine, Caren, Cherri & Aunt Linda


I can't wait to be back in Dallas this weekend!! YEAH!!!! :)

St. Patricks Day & the Blue Angels

So, it has been over a month since I have even looked at my blog. Everything has been fine.... I still am not overly excited about living in Tucson but I do really enjoy my job. It has been such a blessing to continue learning so many new things. I am now producing the live morning show for our Phoenix market and within the next few months we should be taking the program live over the whole state of Arizona... that is pretty cool!

Saturday afternoon Brian, Adam and I went to the Air Force base and watched the air show. It was really neat to see all of the planes and watch the Blue Angels. It is fascinating to see what all these planes can do!





The pictures do not do the show justice at all! They were so fast and so loud! Later that evening, we met up with Brian's cousin and a bunch of his friends. I spent the rest of the night watching a lot of stupid people get drunk on green beer, wearing clothes they SHOULD NOT have been wearing. Then Brian, Adam, myself (and anyone that was sitting at our table) did a lot of laughing at the people we were surrounded by.

On Sunday afternoon (man I wished I have pictures for this...) B, A & I went to a driving range and hit golf balls. It was so much fun... I have never done this before, Brian is pretty good and Adam is very good... so lots of laughs and lots of coaching! :) It has been nice getting to enjoy the sun and warmth in the afternoons but we are all anticipating the excruciatingly hot summer that is to come if it is already getting into the mid 90's.

That's all I've got for now!
Later...

Some recent pictures...

Brian and I had a very enjoyable Valentine's Day. We went to The Melting Pot for dinner which was super yummy! He also bought me some beautiful flowers!

Brian's uncle/boss (Curt) took Brian and I, Brian's step-brother (Curt's nephew), Curt's wife and three kids, his mother and the parent-in-laws to a nice restaurant.  Here a a couple of pictures of Brian and Curt at the bar before we got to the table.



That's all I got for now!

Peace out...

The excitement of my apartment complex...UPDATED per the mom

So, I got home from a long Tuesday at the radio station and then Starbucks. As I pulled up to my apartment complex I noticed someone standing at what could be my door waiting. I thought that maybe he might be waiting for a neighbor of mine but standing by my door... he was walking back to his truck when I was walking to my apartment. I came in, flicked on the lights, and started organizing things when I heard a knock on the door. It was the same man I had seen earlier. I cracked open the door and this is somewhat how the conversation went:
"Is Alejandro something here?"
"No."
"Does he live here?"
"No... I don't know who that is."
"I am a court marshall here to serve him papers. How long have you lived in this apartment complex?"
"Five months...why, what happened?"
"He's in trouble with the law... written some bad checks..."
"Oh. Well, I have received some mail for here since I moved in but I always just put return to sender on it."
"Okay, thank you."

And on that note, he left and I locked the door.
Man, life is exciting in Tucson!



and... for the mom:
Gavin, Brian's cousin who also lives in Tucson, was oh-so-wonderful as to just give me his old TV. It isn't anything fancy at all but it is a lot bigger then the 13" that I move back and forth daily from the living area where the couch is to the bedroom where the treadmill is! It is a very nice addition and it that much wonderful since it was free! I think it is about 25" wide so I can actually see the picture from any angle I set in the living room now!! YEAH!! :)

Colorado Springs and Snow in Tucson

This weekend was quite enjoyable! I was able to head to Colorado Springs this past Friday for one of my dear college girlfriend's wedding! Melanie Knox got married to an Air Force boy she met in CS... Matt Larson. It was a joy to finally meet him as well as be together with some of my most cherished friends to now live all over the US. The group that was just attending the wedding had a lot of time to play in the snow, enjoy the indoor hot tub that looks out to Pike's Peak, walk around downtown, chill at Starbucks... just have time to catch up. The whole bridal party headed back to the hotel late Friday night after they were done with the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. We all stayed up super late chatting it up in the lobby.
The wedding was beautiful and the reception was a lot of fun. The whole weekend was early mornings and late nights with all of us trying to spend as much time with each other as possible. What a joy to spend whatever time I can with these kids!!

Cat & Mel Larson!


Chez Dishman & Catherine Goode


Cody Dishman, Taylor Hemness, Daniel Carlson, Katie Hemness, Cat Goode, Mel McRay, Lindsey McCrary


Lindsey McCrary & Catherine


Cat, Mel M., Katie H., Lindsey M.


Lindsey M., Katie H., Shiloh Jones, Chez D., Cat, Mel M.


The gang at Starbucks Saturday morning!


Outside Shove Chapel (where the wedding was)


Pike's Peak, taken from out front of the hotel


Beautiful mountains in Colorado Springs

After a very eventful Sunday of trying to get back to Tucson, Brian picked me up at the airport and with the luck of all of my airport and airplane enjoyment... I ended up without my suitcase.
(It has since been delivered to my door step; thank you Frontier Airlines!!)

We went out to dinner after I got home and was trying to not cry (I was very tired and very frustrated). As we were driving down the road... it started to snow. (It doesn't snow in Tucson... it snows in the mountains we are surrounded by, but not the actually city...) And then it continued to get heavier and heavier. By the time we got to Texas Roadhouse, everything around us was white. I guess all of us that were waiting out the snow storm in Denver brought all of the snow with us. Needless to say, for someone who does not enjoy being cold, I was surrounded by cold and snow all weekend long.


Brian and Catherine in the snow in Tucson!!


My backyard in Tucson... all of the mountains surrounding us are so beautiful right now!


My car... I bet she's cold...brrrrrr


From my porch on Monday morning


What happened when I got back to Tucson???


Snowy catcus... I bet these guys are confused!!!




Pictures from outside of my apartment

It feels like Sunday

So, I am tired... which I normally am after a week full of work and a weekend full of Starbucks, and a week full of work and a weekend full of Starbucks, and I think you get the picture...
Last Saturday a woman I work with at the radio station invited me to go walking with her and another woman in Sabino Canyon. Sabino Canyon is a place that I have been meaning to visit since I moved here... but it is hard to get around to those things by yourself. Either way, I went, it was beautiful and I would like to start going out there to excercise more often once it is a little warmer.
Here is one of the views from Sabino Canyon...

When I got home this afternoon I was greeted by a beautiful surprise.
Brian got into my apartment while I was at Starbucks this morning and left beautiful roses for me with a really sweet note. He is fabulous and so thoughtful to give these to me!

He is on his way over so we can go visit a new church... I am hoping that this is one that will be enjoyable and uplifting!!

Holidays, Snow & Brian

I had had such a wonderful time being able to go home for Christmas. Valerie and I had a great time catching up since we haven't seen each other in so long! It was wonderful to be back in the FB at my parent's house, and spending time with Phil, Trina & Bridgeport. Christmas day is always a little unique now since Lyndsey can't come home any more. So, Trina had a great idea to make cookies with everyone's name on it and send a picture to Lyndsey with her stocking! That was really sweet. Philip and Trina also brought along their dog, Bridgeport. This is the only time I believe my father has ever allowed a dog in our house... this is a big deal. So, Philip, you can never say again that dad doesn't like you! :) You know you have to have a special place in his heart if he lets you bring the dog inside.








After opening presents at our house in Farmers Branch. Philip invited Trina to come along since her family lives in California. He also invited to friend, Craig, who didn't have plans to do anything else for the holidays.

My big gifts were a Sonicare toothbrush from Brian and a full set of luggage from my parents. Valerie got a bunch of books to help her succeed now that she is a college graduate and Philip got a bunch of Dickie's pants... aparently his favorite!! Lyndsey received her packages from Big D just in time to enjoy Christmas day with her roommates. You can read all about that on her blog.

After present opening, going through stockings and enjoying a fancy breakfast together, we all headed out to Burleson where we had Christmas afternoon and watched the Cowboys game (awful) at my cousin's house. Since all of my cousin's are married now and everyone has young kids it is easier for us to go to them then how they used to come to us.
My cousin Craig is a police officer and took Valerie and I out to shoot one of his hand guns. We had so much fun!!! Veeves and I have both shot a bunch of different long-barrelled guns through out our days having family that hunts, Girl Scouts, and/or Indian Princess'. I don't remember where all of the experienes came from... I just know they happened. Either way... here are our best shots!!














Here is also a cute couple of pictures of my trip... I know there are a bunch more but these are the only ones' that I have.















This is a picture mom took of Dad and I on Christmas morning. The this one is of Catherine, Valerie and Philip on Christmas day in Burleson. We just aren't the same without Lyndsey's cute face sandwiched in there!!!

And lastly, here is a super cute picture of some of my most wonderful college girlfriends!! We were all able to get together for breakfast right before I had to head back to Tucson!! I love these girls so much and miss each and every one of their faces!!!
Top: Cameron Slack, Chez Parker Dishman, Melanie Knox, Elizabeth Robinson
Bottom: Catherine Goode, Carisse Brown

So, on to the snow. The last couple of days have been beautiful. The mornings have been chilly and we I leave at 4:55 am to be at work by 5 am (Starbucks) my windshield has been frosted over. The afternoons have been warming up quite nicely though. With all of this weather we have had snow on the mountains and other parts of Arizona so it is a pretty view though nothing has fallen in the city of Tuson.

Brian is finally back after being in Las Vegas and Mexico for the Christmas holiday. It was so good to see him again and get to start hanging out!
Last night, (New Years Eve) we went over to one of Brian's co-workers house. There were about 12 people there hanging out. We played Scene IT (Brian and I won!!!!!), chatted, laughed, and watched the ball drop at midnight!!

It has been a great break but tomorrow begins the hustle and bustle of grown-up life!
Yea!

Happy 2007!

I never doubted that cool people come from R. L. Turner High...

However, after Robby VanWinkle, aka Vanilla Ice, came and went from Turner you just never could be quite sure.

And then there was Socheata... one of Lyndsey's dearest friends from Turner, whom I knew through passing...

She has been working on a documentary and the last thing I really heard about it was when HBO & Showtime (?) picked up her idea of a documentary of her family's history... here is the rest of the story:

Lyndsey Goode's blog

International Documentary Festival Amsterdam - IDFA
New Year Baby Wins the Amnesty International MOVIES THAT MATTER AWARD.

There is good news. By a unanimous jury decision, New Year Baby is awarded the Amnesty International - Movies That Matter Human Rights Award. The award is the highest human rights honor the film can win. The jury also named New Year Baby a "tour de force" with "universal appeal."
Over 200 films are selected for the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) each year from across the world. Only 5 awards are presented to feature length films and only the Movies that Matter competition includes films from every competition.
In addition, New Year Baby is also a top ten audience favorite of the 172 audience rated films. Screenings sold out solid and festival goers waited for empty seats even after screenings were full. IDFA then scheduled an additional screening due to audience response. New Year Baby now has festival invitations around the world. New Year Baby will also be theatrically screened in the Netherlands to share the film across the country. Even greater, Amnesty International has expressed interest in supporting to bring the film to Cambodia.
The future is bright. Please celebrate as we do. So many worked very hard toward this.

IDFA Movies That Matter Jury Report-"New Year Baby (is) a deeply tender and poignant film about a Cambodian-American's journey with her family to uncover the secrets of a tragic past at the hands of the Khmer Rouge... It was a tour de force for anyone, and particularly for a young, first-time filmmaker...We also agreed unanimously to award New Year Baby with the Movies that Matter prize. We are confident that the universal appeal of the film will give an international audience emotional access into the impact of the genocide, and may help pave the way for the potentially forthcoming tribunal in Cambodia..."-IDFA 2006 Movies That Matter Juryhttp://www.idfa.nl/idfa_en_content.asp?pageid=407

Way to go girl!!!