Wowzaa...what a week!

I feel like I have to "talk" a million miles per hour to get this all out in such a short amount of time (...that's nothing new for me, you say?) But seriously....

So I got back from my incredible cruise on Saturday. I've decided that planes, boats and cars are all turbulent ways to travel, but I ain't walkin' to Europe! I'm still rocking from the cruise because it was so stormy. One night, the audience stood up during a music number and you could see them all swaying in unison. Kind of like a concert, but it was all coordinatingly in sync--which would never happen in real life. People in general aren't that coordinated. On the way home via air, we were diverted to CO Springs because of the "massive gusts" at Denver International. (Can I just say that getting in and out of Denver between November and April is such a crap shoot, whether by plane or auto--maybe I'll ski in and out from now on. But I digress--I'm moving to NYC anyway.) So of course, with Springs only 45 minutes away, it was also rather gusty and it was the bumpiest landing the pilot had in his 20 year career. (And hopefully the bumpiest landing in my career that hasn't even started yet.) Which brings me to why I am stressing and "talking so fast." Oh wait, I'm not done with Bermuda. Stay tuned for my stressful career change info.

So, back to the cruise. Spending 10 days with my family was truly priceless, meaning no one could pay any price for me to do it again. OK, it wasn't that bad, but I have decided that I hate five-letter words (despite my use-albeit diminishing--of four-letter words): HURRY. Is that not the rudest word in the English language? ESPECIALLY on vacation? They always wanted to hurry back to the ship by 6pm for free dinner. Hello! We're in Bermuda and they're all worried about cruise ship food? Whatever. Despite my irritation, I maintained my agreeability quotient until they brought up my next favorite five-letter word: STUFF. I love "stuff," but I hate when I get profiled as a packrat for it. And then they go off on how I shouldn't have so much stuff because I don't have a husband or kids or a house to justify needing it. Hello... (again!) Who said anything about needing it? A girl's just got to have her stuff to be happy--single or not. I keep it in my giant "HOPE" chest (as previously explained) so what do they care? Hope is a good thing, right? (And why am I defending myself?!?) So my agreeablilty quotient went down a few notches during that discussion. (And for the record, I think my agreeability quotient is way above average, except around my family--aren't we all more impatient with the ones we should have more for?) Some more five-letter words I hate: DIETS, SCALE, BILLS, STRESS. All of which are a part of my "back-to-reality" re-induction into the real world.

Once again back to the cruise. Oh heaven! The bed alone was worth it. Or maybe I just slept well because of the Dramamine I was taking in ridiculous doses. (I think we hit a few whales.) It didn't hurt that I had my own stateroom either. (How can a girl fit all of her stuff into one of those sardine cans if she has to share her bathroom and closet? After all, beauties are made, not born, right?! OK, so really I was just the odd one out and had no one to room with. But it sounded glamorous, didn't it?) There was a karaoke contest on board which was surprisingly addicting--like American Idol every night. I joined in and sang Cher's Shoop, Shoop Song ("Is it in his kiss...?") and Madonna's Material Girl ("Only boys who save their pennies make my rainy day-ays...") I wasn't really in the contest, just having some fun. I think I probably suck, but it was fun and life is short so I try to live each day to the fullest. Besides, it was just a bunch of stampers and families. It's not like there were any hot, single guys on board. And even if there were, shouldn't they know where I stand? Ha ha! Although I'm sounding rather high maintenance, you all know I'm not that shallow. But great kissing and cash sure don't hurt! The weather was rather cool and I didn't even need the bikini waxes I got because I didn't don my bathing suit the entire time. Not even on the one really warm day--still too cool for me. But I loooooved Bermuda. It was so quaint and clean. Beaches are great and all, but I need a little more to keep me interested in a vacation spot and Bermuda delivered. There was so much history and the architecture fascinated me. Which brings me to my explanation of why my brothers now think I'm a "doork." (Yes I spelled that right). I started seeing all these cool entry ways and doors and it reminded me of some really cool photos I saw by a guy who travelled all over Europe snapping pictures of interesting doors. So I decided to do the same to spice up the photo ops a little more--not that I needed to with all the gorgeous scenery but it gave me a quest of sorts--and to help me appreciate the uniqueness of the culture and architecture. It was great fun and I found a plethora of interesting subjects much to the dismay of my family who just kept walking while I stopped at every other doorway to take pictures. Again, whatever. That seems to be my new favorite word with my family. It's like the "Mahana Syndrome" where you respond to the way you're treated by reverting back to the way you were with your siblings and parents when you were fourteen, despite all the growth and change you have made in the years since. It's just so hard to resist that power to forget who you've become when those relationships were forged at early ages so long ago. Sometimes I feel like I have to apologize for the mature person I have become because the fourteen-year-old version is much more fun, though probably more volatile-you know, 'cause of the adolescent hormonal surges that shaped those years. No one seems to appreciate maturity, at least not when we're all together. That brings me to another abhorred five-letter word: penis (I can't bring myself to capitalize it like the other ones.) What is it about boys ("men") when they are together, despite the presence of their (unmarried) sister/daughter, that they have to continually talk about their genitalia like I am invisible? Without going into any detail, I'm leaving it at that and getting back to the subject at hand. (But lest you think differently, I really do love and enjoy my family more than ever. I play more, am myself more, laugh harder, and am more shocked(!) with them than around anyone else.)

Bermuda was amazing and beautiful and breathtaking, despite the cool weather. There were old forts, these amazing underground caves with a lake, and of course, the buildings and beaches I have already mentioned. And to boot, the shopping rocked, although pricey. But I was able to find a lot of European chocolates that I can't find here. Can you say Kinder Bueno? Yum! I would consider it a great honeymoon spot because it is so picturesque and romantic with just the right amount to see and do that you don't have to get up early and rush around to see it all. You can "sleep" in, go out for a few hours a day and still fully enjoy everything without getting bored. I give it 5/5 stars. And now, back to reality.

I found out the day before I boarded the cruise ship that I will start my training with Delta on April 15 in Atlanta. Yep. That's in one week. I will be getting all my STUFF packed up this week as well as figuring out the mess with fixing my car, writing all the stuff down for the drunk dude's sentencing which I will no longer be able to attend (on the 16th of April), and trying to wrap up ALL my paperwork to get reimbursed for the gazillions of pennies I have spent on doctors. I think with Victim Restitution I might be lucky to get a monthly $7 check for the rest of my life...you know, just enough to remind me each month forever of something I'd rather forget. Getting in an accident is seriously a full-time job if you take into account the time, energy and paperwork to get everything resolved. (I don't recommend it.) Can't you hire someone to do all that? ...like an "Accident Resolver" or something. Or maybe that's what attorneys and personal assistants are for--I'll work on that. Anyway, I'm a tidbit stressed about all that. Then there are my taxes -federal, CA, UT, and CO- that I have yet to start (darn it, where did all those W2's go?!) Oh, and did I mention I left my Visa card somewhere at La Guardia Airport? Not to worry, I cancelled it in time (after an hour on the phone with Visa... do they really think I would have the number of the card I LOST? OK, so I do at home, but not on vacation.) Anyway, my replacement won't come until after I leave for Atlanta. Furthermore, I have to contact the cruise line since their charges won't go through now, as well as all the companies I have on auto-pay (for the CC points.) Arrrrgggghhhh! But one day at a time, right? Despite it all, I feel refreshed and excited for this new chapter in my life. Besides, what fun would it be if everything ran smoothly all of the time? This is the stuff life is made of and it gives me something to laugh (and blog) about, right?

I'll get some pics up later today or this week of my trip. But for now, I'm off to the dentist. Blog on! ~P

Special thanks to the cast and crew of the “Love Boat” a.k.a. my Family Cruise: Mom, Dad, Ryan, Andrea, Moi, Mike, and Charlie.

P.S. (4/08/08) The pics are now up! I know this is ridiculously long but thanks for sticking with it until the end. I hope you like the photos. You may have to click on some of them so you can see them larger. Oh, and as for my dentist appointment...I'm having a root canal tomorrow morning. So now this is a wowzaa, wowzaa week! Wish me luck. :)