Word Association
- Lover:: Boy
- Ridiculous:: Joke
- Oscar:: Wiener
- Tennis:: Match
- Account Balance:: Withdrawn
- Hickey:: Red
- License:: to Drive
- Breathmints:: Smell
- TexMex:: Taco
- Stepmother:: Evil
Manny and Rachel’s Wedding
Finally back from Saginaw.
I think that Mother Nature has it in for me - our flight from Saginaw was delayed because of bad weather in Chicago. They couldn’t assure that our flight from Chicago to LAX would go through or not, since so many flights were delayed/cancelled. We were in the plane in Saginaw for about an hour and a half, and then they brought us back to the gate. After some debate, we decided to try and catch a Northwest flight (we were on United) to Detroit, then to LAX. Fortunately, the weather wasn’t in Detroit yet, so our flight to Detroit and from there went off without a hitch. *whew*.
Anyway, after my hellish commute to Saginaw, I got there in one piece, driving out there with Dave and his dad, and getting there at 4am. And the bridesmaid call time was at 6:45am, so we could get makeup and hair done. I thought I had 2 hours to nap, but then I realized that Michigan is in the Eastern time zone, so it was 5am. So I just stayed up.
I was pretty exhausted, but once the day started, I didn’t feel tired at all. It was great to see Rachel and Jen again, as well as the other girls, and to meet the ones I hadn’t met yet. I felt a little bad that I hadn’t taken part in a lot of the pre-wedding activities, but I know that they understand. It was fun to be girly and get our hair and makeup done. The guy who did my makeup was hilarious, and he was overjoyed to find out that I was from California. Turns out he lived in California for a while and did makeup for the stars. Got a lot of good celebrity gossip out of him.
It was so great to be part of the wedding party, to watch Rachel get ready and watch someone else get the pre-wedding jitters. Her dress was made in the Philippines, and it was so detailed and intricate, it was gorgeous. She looked so beautiful and radiant…I was so happy for her. When we got to the church, I could feel the excitement from Manny…it’s been a long time coming!
I think my favorite part of the ceremony was watching each of the guys come down the aisle. They gave Manny a handshake and a pat on the back. He was just so full of emotion. I speak from experience when I say that there’s nothing better than to have your best friends with you, surrounding you on the best day of your life. We were all standing in place, and then Rachel came down the aisle. She looked just like a princess (I know I used that for Jen’s wedding, but it’s true!). It was so wonderful to see the look on Manny’s face - a mix of adoration and love. He was so happy to see her, so overcome, that the rest of us all got teary eyed, too. Luckily I had some tissue hidden in my flowers. I always cry at weddings!
We had good times in the limo, and the alcohol was flowing. We had a great time, toasting, laughing, seeing the best Saginaw has to offer. Once again, we had to make a beer run at the local liquor store to stock up on drinks. You can’t get a group from U of I together and NOT run out of alcohol.
The hall where the reception was held was spacious enough for the 450+ guests they had. It was like a U of I reunion - there were so many people from college there! Dinner was super yummy, and my partner Jerry kept me entertained. He likes to call himself ‘Evil Dave’, saying that he is what Dave would be if he were from another dimension and evil. The dance floor was huge, and the open bar was open all night. Which led to some great dancing and some funny drunks. People puked, people dropped other people when dancing, there were battles on the dance floor, an impromptu conga line started with the glow necklaces, we had the biggest Casper Slide Michigan had ever seen, and Manny breakdanced. Even after it was over, people still lingered, not wanting the night to end. Fortunately, the hotel had a shuttle that came and picked people up from the wedding.
One thing that I’m left with after being at the wedding is how touching it is to see other people in love. I guess when you’re in love yourself, you see love all around you, and you appreciate it. Just to watch couples dancing, looking into each others eyes, so in love…It makes me fall in love all over again.
I’m so happy for Manny and Rachel, two people I love very much, finally tieing the knot.
Here’s my pictures:
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
The Good, The Bad, and I’m Ugly
Good: There were fresh Krispy Kremes at the airport
Bad: My 8am flight left 15 minutes late
Good: I got first class, which meant a lot of leg room and breakfast
Bad: We got to Long Beach airport 30 minutes late, and my bag was one of the last ones out
Good: My California driving is awesome now. Driving to LAX was like Heo working his way through the Matrix…all of the sudden, even through traffic, there were lanes open for me, I was able to switch lanes to get to the fastest lanes. I got to LAX in less than 20 minutes.
Bad: But then there was traffic when I got to the terminals.
Good: But I got a parking spot close to the terminals, with 1/2 an hour to spare.
Bad: When I got to the ticketing counter, the lady said it was too late. I’d never make the flight, especially to go through security. And if I wanted to change my ticket around, I’d either get there early tomorrow morning, or have to pay $1400 to change my ticket around to fly just to Chicago, rather than all the way to Saginaw. There were a lot of other crazy options, but none of them good enough.
Good: I guess I looked like I was about to break down, and I gave them my sob story, then I ended with, ‘I’m in a WEDDING tomorrow! I was supposed to be there today! I got here from Long Beach Airport in 15 minutes trying to get this flight!’ They seemed sympathetic.
Bad: But they still didn’t let me on the flight.
Good: But they DID have a 10 minute pow wow in a secret room, and came out with a ticket for me on the very next flight to Chicago, with only a $100 change of ticket charge. I thanked them and said it was the best birthday present ever. (of course, I lied, because we know that Sebastian is the best present ever, but this ticket felt pretty good)
Bad: My ticket back is at 12 noon from Chicago on Sunday, which means I have to drive back from Saginaw before then.
Good: So I got on the flight, even got a window seat. And now I’ve got a couple hours at home with my pops.
Bad: We’re driving to Michigan tonight, should get there by 2:30am. I’m missing the rehearsal dinner. I feel really bad, because I wanted to be there for Rachel and Manny like they were there for my at my wedding. But I think they’ll understand…they have better things to worry about anyway.
Good: Dave remembered to bring my bridesmaid dress.
Bad: I look liked like shit getting off the airplane. Like I’d been hit by the ugly stick.
Good: All in all, I made the flight. I’m going to get to Saginaw before the wedding. I got here safe and sound.
It’s all good in the end, right?
When It Rains…It Pours
…and they reroute your flight to Oklahoma City.
Get ready for a big vent.
So I left Pittsburgh for my connecting flight to Dallas, which I now realize is my kryptonite of airports. Only bad things happen here. Why? Because the weather was so bad in Dallas, our plane had to circle around before running out of gas and having to go to Oklahoma City to refill. Then Dallas shut down due to weather, which left us stuck in our plane in Oklahoma.
Made a million and one phone calls on the plane, trying to figure what I could do. Found out that my connecting flight from Dallas to Long Beach was cancelled. Which really didn’t matter anyway, because my flight didn’t get into Dallas until midnight Dallas time. We were supposed to land at 7pm.
So I’m at the airport, waiting in line to get my flight re-arranged. Because I was supposed to land in Long Beach that night. And I have a 6:30am flight out of LAX to Saginaw, Michigan, for Manny and Rachel’s wedding. Since my flight was cancelled, there’s NO way I’m going to make that early morning flight. So I was thinking of just flying straight to Chicago to catch my connecting flight to Michigan. But that’s a United flight. My American flight is the one that was cancelled. I guess they don’t play well together. So it was next to impossible for me to get a flight to Chicago, yet maintain my original itinerary - I’d have to buy new tickets, which would run me at least $300 more.
So the only thing I could get was an 8am flight to Long Beach, which gets me in at 9:25am. Then I have to haul ass to LAX to catch an 11:10 flight. I have no idea if I’ll make it, but I have to try. If anything, I’ll just buy a completely new ticket.
This sucks.
And since I was on the phone so long, I missed the cot-mobile, which was handing cots and blankets out to the rest of the people stranded here. So I’m on a chair. But I don’t think I can sleep anyway.
And my body is surviving on my extra special birthday ho-ho’s that I had for breakfast, the 5 pieces of pasta salad that I managed to eat before I got to busy to finish it, and a cookie that I had leftover yesterday for dinner. Tummy grumble.
I really wish I was home. Chicago or Long Beach, I don’t care.
I’m too tired to cry. This is possibly the worst birthday ever.
But not really. It could be worse, right? And for all the awesomely crazy shit ass fucked up crap that I went through today, there’s some positive stuff that has helped me not to go completely postal on my fellow travelers who are sleeping on cots with their soft, warm red blankets, snoring away in dreamyland…uh, where was I? Oh, positive stuff.
Oh my god, to log onto my site and see 35 birthday well wishes completely amazes me, and I’m just speechless. Not that I have anyone to talk to here anyway. Not to mention the emails and voicemails and text messages…I absolutely love you guys. All of you. Thanks to everyone for their birthday wishes and the kind words….my heart is smiling. And the special posts on your blogs, I can’t believe it. Even though I’m in a shitty mood right now, I still feel lucky. Well, not with travel. But with friends, and this amazing community that comes here day after day to read my rants, raves, stupid crap and nothingness…I thank you all. Thanks to all of you that posted little things on your blogs, too! That was completely unexpected! From Pridey’s Yano party to Shannon, Marilyn, and Texx and whomever else for their posts.
And to Mel, who wrote a really sweet thing…Miss you much…LYLAS (remember that?) She also posted this little trip down memory lane…
But the greatest gift that I got today, a gift that I didn’t even ask for, was that my cousin Gail, my little flower girl Nina’s mom, had a baby today! On my birthday! What better present can anyone have than to have someone born on their birthday? So welcome to the world, little Sebastian. Don’t let Nina push you around, and big brother Enzo will be happy to have a boy to play with.
So ok, maybe it’s not the worst birthday ever.
Not My Ideal Birthday
Happy Birthday to me….in Pittsburgh….alone.
Bummer.
Fun Things I’m Doing on My Birthday
- At the stroke of midnight, I’m converting a 40,000 record database so I can get to the airport early tomorrow
- Installing software, training, doing a database conversion
- Flying 8 hours from Pittsburgh, to Dallas, to Long Beach
- Getting in at 11:30pm at night
The last 30 minutes of my birthday are left up to me. And Dave, if he’s awake when I get home.
This is the third year in a row that I haven’t had a birthday at home in Chicago, surrounded by friends and family. It wasn’t too bad two years ago, when me and my family went to Vancouver. And it was pretty fun last year, when Dave had our cruise cabin decorated for me as a surprise.
Pre-Birthday Cake at Iberico
But this year, I’m away from home. I don’t have Dave here, and I don’t have my family. So I guess you can say I’m bummed. And a little lonely.
But this time alone has caused me to be pretty reflective about the first 29 years of my life. It’s had its share of ups and downs, and thankfully, more ups than anything. I really don’t fear getting older, because I don’t feel I am. I still feel like I’m 23, if not younger. Even though I’ve been in a funk lately, I never ever worry that I’m loved, by my husband (who was so awesome and picked up my bridesmaid dress and carried it like a man around Belmont Shore), by my family, immediate and those not so immediate, by my friends and even by people I’ve never met, but who give me encouragement and kind words all the time. I have met and continue to meet so many amazing people that have affected my life in so many ways. I only wish that I have touched someone’s life in the way that I have been changed by others. And as much as there may have been some things in my life that I’d love to do over again, and that I may regret, I know that the experiences of my life have molded me into the person that I am today. I know I’m so lucky to have the things that I have. Sometimes it’s easy to look at the bad side of things, be envious of the things other people have, the lives other people lead, the living in a world that I have never experienced. But when I look at all that is before me, and the happy moments in life that keep me going, I know that I’m content and blessed.
And old. I know. I said earlier I don’t feel old. But hey, I’m a Gemini, I can change my mind whenever i want to.
Next year is the big 3-0….hopefully I’ll be able to spend it at home.
If not, hopefully I’m at least around people I love.
*blows out candles*
Fine, fine, there’s no candles.
*turns off the light*
Goodnight.
Just Because…
I had so much more to say today, but I forgot. I’m just so tired today. Not getting much sleep, because the time difference is still screwing with my head. I’m feeling really restless for some reason, and a little bit off. For some reason, a little bit melancholy and homesick, too. And tired….so tired.
Anyway, I updated my Amazon Wishlist….um, just in case anyone wants to buy me anything special. *wink* Oh hey, what a coinky dink, isn’t my birthday coming up soon? *evil grin*
[updated 9:17pm EST]
OK, I think I know what part of it is. I’m so burned out with work. As wonderful as my present clients are, I’m just so tired of working, so tired of multitasking. And it’s lonely in Pittsburgh. Without a car, Pittsburgh can’t be part of my ‘Yano Goes to the Mall: The American Tour’. I had also found out that one of my favorite clients had to stop our project prematurely due to internal issues. 
But of course, some people think it’s MY fault. Fortunately I save all my emails so I was able to prove that it isn’t my fault. I also had to fill out a ton of paperwork for a drug test and a background check, fax it (after having to find a printer to print it out) to a client that I have an upcoming gig with, only to discover that they don’t need me to come out there anymore. Hmph! And I rescheduled Fatima and Melanie’s visit for these people!!! Grrr!
Insomniac, I Come Back
It’s 1:30am here in Pittsburgh, but it’s only 11pm in Long Beach, a good 2 hours before I normally go to sleep. When I try to sleep, I just lie there and think about how I really shouldn’t be in bed because it’s still early in California. My sleeping schedule is so whacked!
I’m at a cool client site. I was so over dressed in my cool black slacks and hip striped top. Everyone was in t-shirts and jeans. Unfortunately, I didn’t pack to many casual clothes with me. But tomorrow I’m doing jeans. I hate looking like the goody two shoes outsider. I told my main contact my car situation and he volunteered to be my chauffeur for the week, since my hotel is on his way to work. Don’t worry Dave, he’s a happily married older man with 3 kids, one who is as old as I am. It’s great that he volunteered, because it was $40 one way, even though the trip is only about 20 minutes. Something about crossing county lines.
I was bored today, trapped in my hotel, so I actually went to the healthclub and worked out. Dave sure is proud.
It’s All About Fantasia
You know, I’m not a regular American Idol watcher, but America, you best be voting for Fantasia. If she loses, you’ll know that this whole competition is a crock of shit.
No offense to little Diana, it’s amazing that she has such poise and talent to make it this far.
But if you hear Fantasia sing, she is just amazing!
Yano Battles IIS
OK, most of you will have no idea what I’m talking about, but hopefully this post will save someone a lot of time if they ever run into it.
So anyway, I was installing our web product on my client’s webserver, but I couldn’t run our default page. Got a 404 file not found error. Went to the root of the webserver, just plain localhost, and still got that 404. It turned out that the system wasn’t processing the asp pages. Brought pretty much the whole IT over and they couldn’t figure it out, but then again, they didn’t have anyone who knew IIS really well. Called the office, no one knew either.
If I didn’t get it up and running, I was pretty much screwed.
Did some googlizing, and I found out that they used IIS lockdown, which basically shuts off the functionality of all files that it thinks could be a liability, with .asp files being one of them. I did a lot of searching and tweaking to try and figure it out. Finally, after rerunning IIS Lockdown and choosing a different security set, I was able to fix the problem.
Yes, I’m bragging. Because there are times when you really start not liking work, or you get really burnt out and you just don’t know why you continue to work…and something like this comes along and it’s like a kick start. To know that you’re not stuck in a rut and that you’re still learning, and that you can still get a little thrill from working and troubleshooting. That, and I was a psych major, and I get a small amount of satisfaction knowing that I’m the one who figured it out, rather than the IT guys who get paid twice as much as I do.
Of course, if I didn’t figure it out, I would so be bitching in this post. And maybe freaking out.
Is googlizing a word?
Act of Stupidity #2953
So I’m in Pittsburgh right now. My flight left Long Beach at 10:20am, and our plane landed at 9:15pm Eastern time. That’s technically about 11 hours of my life that have disappeared. Luckily for me, I checked out my intinerary before heading out, because I thought my flight was leaving from Los Angeles. It would have been a pretty funny story if I was looking for my Long Beach flight at LAX.
So when I’m on the plane, I realize that I had given Dave my driver’s license to hold when we went to the Sunset Room, because my pants didn’t have a pocket. And I forgot to ask for it back.
So when I went to the car rental place, and they asked for my drivers license, I gave them my state ID. And the guy said, ‘I need your driver’s license.’ Then I sheepishly told him, ‘Um, I forgot it at home.’ Then Mr. Manager, who is standing within hearing distance, says, ‘I’m sorry, but we need a valid driver’s license.’ I then told them that I have my driver’s license number, but no go, they said that they wouldn’t know if I had it revoked or something. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t rent a car. Hmph.
So then I had to take the shuttle to my hotel, and I’m left to be taxiied around Pittsburgh.
Oh, and since I made my reservations last minute, there’s only smoking rooms left. So it stanks in here. Stank-o-licious!
I don’t know if this is representative of how exciting it is here in Pittsburgh, but one of the top news stories is how a duckling was bludgeoned to death by a 10 year old boy. Um…ok.
Sucks to be me. Argh!!!
