The day after I last wrote/rambled I spent one week in Orlando visiting friends, and working at Walt Disney World. I spent several days in the Magic Kingdom working as a member of the parade audience control (PAC). I’ve come so long from my first PAC shift where I left the park feeling defeated, and crying. This past time I can honestly say I was able to remain composed and even smiled while waving my blue light wand and yelling, “You cannot stand in this area, this a walkway only.” As I was doing this, I was also having various strollers rammed into my shins, and being called a blankety blank Nazi by Mr. Father of The Year. Oh the magic...
I was FINALLY able to see my friend Liz, who is currently doing the college program, and had an awesome time exploring Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival with her. I was also privileged enough to introduce her to Earl of Sandwich’s Holiday Sandwich (think Thanksgiving between sourdough), YUM! Visits to Orlando always include lots of laughs and great life chats with great friends. In a weird kind of way, Orlando always feels like home to me, of course in a different way than White Hall. Mainly because it doesn’t smell of hog manure, and there’s really not too many corn fields, and no one there is related to me….but none the less home :)
After spending nearly a week in Orlando, I returned to Fort Lauderdale where I met my friend Eric who had flown in from Chicago. That evening, I worked a red eye flight to Niagra Falls, returned back to Fort Lauderdale the next morning, and then left with Eric a few hours later, and flew to Cancun, Mexico. I’m all about laying on the beach and being served unlimited margaritas, so naturally I’m a fan of all inclusive resorts. We spent four days and three nights there, and had a blast! The only down side to the trip was the weather, as it pretty much rained the entire time. Regardless of the rain we still had an awesome time seeing all of the evening shows at the resort, and enjoying the unlimited food and beverages! One of the best parts of our trip was going to Coco Bongos. The best way I can describe this place is if Vegas, Lady Gaga, and a raging nightclub had a baby, it would be Coco Bongos!

After four days of fun we flew back to Fort Lauderdale, enjoyed a nice classy all American dinner at Hooters (not my first choice), and then went to two different Halloween parties thrown by some of my friends. Thankfully the parties were not black tie affairs and we were able to continue wearing our vacationing outfits. ;)
After being home just long enough to dump out one suitcase worth of clothes and repack it, I was on a plane again, this time headed to Virginia for my cousin Lindsey’s wedding. Lindsey is one of my very favorite people in this whole world, and someone I’ve always looked up to and admired. After she graduated from college she randomly moved to South Africa to bar tend. While she was there she met a hunky South African, they fell in love, the rest is history. My entire immediate family was able to attend, as well as almost all of my mom’s side of the family. I seriously love being with my family, and am thankful to be part of a family that genuinely loves being together and is so stinking fun! The wedding was gorgeous, and so unique. It almost felt like the day after Christmas once it was over with, and I was a little bit nostalgic for the weekend as soon as I left. Great times!

Flying standby on a Sunday is always a little tricky, but this past Sunday, when I was trying to leave Virginia, was especially difficult. After missing several flights out of Richmond heading to Atlanta, I finally decided I would try getting on a jetBlue flight to Orlando. Luckily, I made it on the flight, but after I arrived in Orlando, the buck stopped there. The only two flights going from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale were completely full. As I was trying to figure out how to get to Fort Lauderdale, I discovered the first officer on the flight I had just been on was also in the same predicament. To make a long story (semi) short, myself and this random jetBlue first officer rented a car, and drove home. I figured if I had trusted my life in his hands for two hours in the sky, then what the hey is another three in a car! The car ride wasn’t too awkward, aside from him getting somewhat creepy around minute 45 of the trip, with comments such as, “So what types of things make you attracted to a man?” and “You possess a lot of qualities I would want my wife to have.” Call me crazy, but I was under the impression polite conversation for two strangers consisted of topics such as, What do you like to do in your free time? Or maybe even a simple, “How bout them Cardinals…” I yi yi, the situations I get myself into.
After thankfully arriving home safely, I was home for a grand 12 hours before heading back to the airport for a four day work trip. The first layover was in San Juan, and I was able to go for run on the beach, one of my very favorite things to do! Two nights ago I was in Detroit, and last night I layed over in NYC. Life is good!
A couple of weeks ago I saw a bumber sticker that simply read: Wag More, Bark Less. I think I’ve decided that is my new personal mantra, it should be yours too :)



