All for a little blue bag

Let's start at the end. The end of my fabulous NY trip that despite how short it was (and seriously, NY cannot be done "short") - I ate great food and visited great friends. Clearly I need a round two.

But today is about the end of that trip. About my worst airport experience, ever.

I was prepared for it. My friend had just warned me that because of the federal cuts = less air traffic controllers = big time delays in NY.  I took a not-so-cheap cab to the airport just to make sure I arrived on time. This is the part I tell you that one of my bags is carrying my clothes and the other is my carry-on bag (that I am glued to) carrying my camera equipment (subway is not an option). Anyway, I get there on time. And not just on time, but security was not a hassle, and I even had 20 minutes so spare before boarding. I was feeling good! No delays here!

Ha.

Five minutes before we are set to board the intercom comes on to announce what I was hoping would not be announced: delays. But I have a 2 hour layover in Charlotte. Maybe I'm ok?  Still, those traveling to Phoenix and San Francisco are asked to head to the customer relations counter. The customer service rep then proceeds to tell me that if I want to leave TONIGHT this is my only option:

-Take a cab to another airport 30 minutes away (in rush hour - hope you catch that next flight!)
-Catch direct flight from different airline that they'll set up for me
-Oh, and no we are not responsible for HOW you get to the other airport (i.e. cab fare out of my pocket)

I tried arguing my way into a voucher but had no such luck. FYI, if it's weather or air traffic control related, no one owes you anything. The girl beside me, fortunately, was in the same situation, overheard my interaction and asked if I wanted to split a cab. YES. But first we have to go back and pick up our checked-in bag from the carousel and wait 15 minutes! Awesome.

Our checked-in bag finally gets pulled out and into our hands. We hurry off into a cab, split the fare, rush out of it, into the airport, and to our new counter. I have to pay for ANOTHER checked-in bag but am comforted that the previous airline will be reimbursing me (headache). The security guy helps me with my heavy blue carry-on, I put my laptop bag in, and get through security. I grab my laptop bag and shoes and start booking it to the "shuttle" I have to take across the airport. Ten minutes later I am booking it across the airport when all of a sudden....

I realize I am not rolling my heavy, blue carry-on bag with me. My camera bag.

My heart is about to leap out of my throat and I have the horrible realization that I left my carry-on bag SOMEWHERE in this airport. I know for sure it had to have happened either at security or the shuttle I had to take to my gate.

No, no, no. God please no. This is all I can think after this horrible flight delay. Not my gear. I rush to the first airport worker I see, fighting back tears, I tell him my situation. There is not doubt that there is desperation in my voice and he speaks very comforting to me that I should first tell my gate I am here before I pursue looking for my bag. I run to my gate (oh, I can't even tell you how FAR this gate was on top of having to take a shuttle here) and tell the people at the desk in a very panicked voice. They try calling the people at the shuttle to find out if I left it there and tell me to wait. I try waiting for a few minutes but I just can't. It might be in security and if I keep waiting, I'll probably ALSO miss my flight. I start running back to the shuttle area. When I get there the woman tells me "do NOT take the shuttle. You WILL miss your flight." I say that I won't get on that flight ANYWAY without my carry-on! At this point, I don't care if I miss it ... I just need my bag. The shuttle finally arrives and when I run in, a worker sitting by the driver asks me if I'm the girl looking for her blue bag. "Yes, I am." And halfway into the trip back to security check-in she yells to the back "Hey! They didn't find your bag!"

Oh, thank you for yelling that across the shuttle to me. Thank you. Ale, don't cry. It has to be in security.

I run off the shuttle when we finally get to our stop. I run up to the TSA person and he announces that they have MY BAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the pressure, the exhaustion, the stress - it is all filling up behind my eyes as I've been trying to push it back. Fighting it's way to become tears, I hold them back, grab my bag, thank him profusely and book it back to the shuttle area. I just want to go home now. I run to the counter and ask if there's any way to get a cart to take me back to my gate instead of waiting for the shuttle so I can make my flight. The women at the counter (one of them being the one from the shuttle) just look at me and one says "all you can do is wait. You probably missed your flight." And it's pretty obvious from my face that I'm devastated and as I turn around the other woman mutters: "All for that little blue bag."

[[ Dramatic Pause ]]  Excuse me? I don't have words. In fact, I think I see red but really I only see blur because my tears can't hold back anymore. All I do is turn around to look her in the eye and express so much distaste for her lack of class. Tears start to shove their way past my eyes. I turn back around to walk to the corner and at least give myself a moment to cry. As I do this the woman yells "M'am, just sit down! You can't do anything else!" And I turn back, also yelling throwing my hands up, "I'm not going ANYWHERE!" UGH. I mean, I freaking need a minute to CRY over my "little blue bag" that carried ALL of my equipment worth THOUSANDS that I thought I lost after having to switch AIRPORTS. And YOU have the nerve to say "JUST" for this bag?!  If she only knew. Boy, did I cry. Pretty much hyperventilated because every bit of stress and anxiety I was holding back just crumbled down at that moment.

Phew. Those tears clearly needed their debut. So, the shuttle comes, my puffy eyes and carry-on bag get on in silence, willing that plane to still be there. I text Jose that I have my bag but I might not be home. He has been so good to me throughout this ordeal texting me words of comfort and reassurance. As soon as the shuttle stops, I start running - so uncomfortably with not-made-for-running shoes and heavy bags. I see a man waiting at the edge of my gate and when I see him wave me down, I burst into a faster run of happiness. I'm going home! I'm the last passenger, only making it because of a slight maintenance delay. I get on the plane and sink heavily into my seat, sweating and catching my breath. Let's go home plane.

Jose met me at my gate with flowers. I met him with tired eyes, heavy bags, and 4 cookies from NY. He wrapped me tight, I closed my eyes.. and I smelled home.

Till we are old and gray

Yes.. it's the Notebook but last night was beyond the all-time famous love movie.

Last night my husband and 2 guys surprised the wives with one of the most thoughtful acts of love. They set up an outdoor screening, a fire pit, a table with take-out food, a section for making smores, and surrounded the fire pit with pillows and blankets with the sounds of Sam Cooke filling the backyard.

It all started when he came home from work and he started packing things into a duffel bag. I wasn't allowed downstairs. He yelled upstairs for me to grab some gloves, dress very warm, and bring my kindle if I wanted. I was SO confused.  I will admit I am pretty perceptive so I can sometimes get an idea of what my husband is up to. I was completely stumped at that moment.

THEN we got on the road and we were driving so far! He kept saying "I shouldn't have made our reservations so early!" but the funny thing is that I completely noticed he was wearing his work shirt (polo shirt with the company logo). I knew there was no way we could be going to a restaurant so I was like "what is he up to?!?!"

As we pull up on a street in Chandler, I quickly recognize that we are going to a friend's house. I get out of the car, he hands me a bottle of wine, knocks on the door -- my friend Allison answers -- then he waves and says "you girls have a good time.. I'll see you later!"

Wait. WHAT?!

Allison is laughing and all smiles, so I think she MUST know what's going on. Then she proceeds to tell me that her husband is meeting up with Jose and it dawns on me that this is no longer just Jose and I. YES!! I am one of those people that loves to celebrate things with friends ... not necessarily a very large group, but I'm definitely a person that loves to include others. After 30 minutes of chatting and drinking wine (on an empty stomach which is another story of its own!), our friend Janean rings the doorbell. Her face says it all - utter confusion.

After about an hour, we finally get a text that says we should hit the road and Allison knows our "destination." Uh-huh, way to keep it on the DL Allison! So we get on the road and arrive at Janean's house. I see a huge extension cord plugged near the front door leading to the backyard.  We get inside and our husbands hand us a wine glass and despite my already slight lack of coordination from the earlier 2 glasses, I take it. They escort us outside and my jaw DROPS. The fire is roaring, a huge screen is staring back at us, and the music completely sets the mood.

Dang, guys. Slow dance to Sam Cooke? WHY NOT?! Ryan Gosling who?! I mean, get out of here. This is where I would insert one of those memes that says "LIKE A BOSS." But I'll try and keep it classy around here. I don't know what we did to deserve that much thoughtfulness, but I will sing his praises. I'm beyond blessed to get to wake up looking forward to the life I get to live with Jose at my side. When I'm tangled in his arms and we see the old Ryan Gosling and the old Rachel McAdams' characters on their hospital bed on the screen, he squeezes my hand, and I just know that is exactly where I'm supposed to be. One day those hands will be wrinkly and weathered with time, but they will be together, holding on to a life that we were blessed to share.

She

And that right there is a page from a book I bought this weekend.

I had just bought this book, and as soon as Jose and I got into the car, I began flipping through it.  In love with it's simplicity, I read the words aloud to Jose.

"She turned her cant's into cans, and her dreams into plans."
"She not only saw a light at the end of the tunnel, she became that light for others."
"She colored her thoughts with only the brightest hues."

And oh God.  The tears.  They started to form.  On our way to the Honda dealership to pick up my car from getting an oil change, I had this pink book in my lap and a world of thoughts rushed through me.  I turned to Jose.  This is me.  Every bit of it!  Jose smiled at me and said "I know."  And then I got even MORE emotional.  I feel like if we had a little girl, I would give her this book when she was old enough to understand and say, baby... this is your mom.  This is how she dreamed and lived. 

I imagine moments in life like trailers.  Movie trailers.  Visuals that in a matter of 2 minutes tell you a story and typically make you feel something.  This book created a trailer of words that described me to the core.  Things I wish to be, things I already am, things I believe in.  I imagined my kid flipping through the book and making up adventures in her head of her mom.  Running with no reservations, and dreaming - sometimes foolishly, but always courageously.  A courageous, stubborn loving fool :)

The kind of woman I wanted to be

I can't believe it.  In about 4 weeks... I leave for  A R G E N T I N A.  Argentina!  My dad is from Uruguay, so we will also make a short stop in Uruguay to visit family.

And of course, what would a trip be without me randomly searching for artists on Facebook that live in Argentina or Uruguay that I could collaborate with?!  I mean, it will be that or me slipping into a tango studio and asking a pair of dancers to let me film them :)  AHHH.  How AMAZING would it be to film tango dancers?!  I need to make it happen.

We are going to be gone a majority of December and the challenging part is that the New Year will be here in an instant when we get back.  The New Year will bring about changes to my business.  I posted that quote up there because it is further pushing me to be specific in my business.  To start letting go of things I like so I can do things I long and ache for.  I posted that quote because I want my clients to feel that way -- that they may not always "have it together" but they KNOW the kind of woman they want to be and FEEL like.

I guess this is courage... like the saying that courage is simply one step ahead of fear.  Because I have NO idea what next year will be like so you better believe fear is right at my heels.  I'm just squeezing my eyes shut, pinching my nose, and jumping into something.  And when I come up for air, I hope to see you there :)

My little second shooter

That FACE.

Dapper.

I'm such a sucker.  Oh well.  Now I have a new little second shooter who wants to be paid in treats, tummy scratches, and lots of love :)

Our life this past week

So I've been losing a little sleep this past week.  This is why...



I will go ahead and admit that not every little thing he does "I adore."  But when he gives you those little beady eyes while he looks up at you... he goes from little pee monster, to little Dapper.

The other day when Jose and I were gone for 2 and a half hours, we got back home to see that he peed and pooped on his puppy pad and we couldn't have been more proud to see little turds!  I mean, really proud.

We finally made our decision after months of talking about it and discussing a breed.  Dapper is a mini Schnauzer and is about 8 weeks old.  I am open to whatever advice y'all may have on having a puppy cause Lord knows we need it!  And I will admit this has totally given me perspective on having a baby.  Oy :)  

My Vegas Experience

 (taken with my iphone, that's me on the far right during practice)

This was my first ever salsa congress.  Never did I imagine that I would be PERFORMING at the first congress I ever attended!  With only a month's notice, our instructor confirmed that we were on for a Saturday afternoon performance.

We practiced intensely the weeks that followed, but nothing like the week right before Vegas where we met almost every day of the week.  We even met at 8:30 in the morning on the 4th of July (after having ended an 11:30 p.m. rehearsal the night before) to practice.  Mind you, there are dancers that do this ALL the time and way more vigorously than us.  But it's challenging when you're not doing this professionally -- more so for fun.  Still, we wanted to attain a level advanced enough to feel like we belonged in that spot.

Soon enough, Friday came and we hit the road, four chatty girls.  Let me tell you, EVERY female needs to take at least one road trip in her life with a group of women.  This leads to some of the most hilarious, gross, insightful, challenging, and TMI moments you will experience.  I loved every bit of it :)

I'm thrilled to finally... FINALLY share with you a video of our performance!  So thankful that my roomie Magda recorded us on her iphone! You'll have to forgive the poor quality, but hey, at least I got something to show you! :)

I come in on the left side (in yellow) and end up in the front row on the left.  Three in front (L to R: me, Dani, and Marietta) and three in back (L to R: Yen, Yanais, and Cyndi)

Aaaand, that was exhilirating!! One of my favorite parts was backstage.  The waiting room was FREEZING and I don't know about you, but when I get nervous I get cold.  The last thing we wanted was for our muscles to be cold and stiff.  So the girls and I started dancing for fun.  Then the minute right before we went on stage, we let loose and were doing a dance off!  Too much :)  It helped so much with our energy and keeping our muscles warm!

And the social dancing? OH MY LORD.  I told Jose about this when I got home, re-telling the dancing with my arms and legs.  There have been 2 moments in my life where I have danced with someone that I felt like we had been dancing for 10 years together.  Salsa is about partner work.  There have been many great dancers I've been able to share a dance with.  HOWEVER.  There have only been 2 moments in my life when the connection between my partner and I (a complete stranger) has been SO riveting, that I felt like I was PERFORMING for the entire audience.  The music completely took over and we danced to every beat of the song.  I was flying in the air, I spun, our movements synchronized beautifully and it MADE me a better dancer.

It happened once in Atlanta, and it happened again in Vegas.  I will NEVER forget those 2 dances in my life! And soon I realized that I had been dancing the entire night with a bad shoe.  My heel cap decided to jump ship and left me with a screw sticking out of one heel.

But after that dance, there was no way I was going to stop :)  I took 2 workshops the next morning before heading back to Vegas where I learned about Tango and Salsa fusion.  Oh, I'm in love.  How desperately I want to dance tango.  Back in the car we went on Sunday, the craziest conversations took place yet again, and we made it home safely.  I wrapped myself around Jose, and the story telling began...

And that?  Well, that was my Vegas experience.

One fine beach day with my boys

After all the commotion of graduation died down and our families drove back to Dallas, Jose and I stayed behind in College Station with my brother Vladi (the now, A&M graduate :).  Ignoring the online weather messages of predicted rain, we hopped in the car the next morning and drove to Galveston -- the coast of Texas.

I talk with my hands

We made quesadillas and they turned out sooo good.  Jose was back in town, we sat on the couch facing each other -- talking.  Our specialty.  I was recounting the girl's day at the pool on Sunday, highlighted by my delicious cheesy concoction.  Lord knows why I needed to tell him the details of these quesadillas... BUT I DID.  I wanted him to taste them.  On some of them I just put slices of the gouda cheese, slices of tomato, avocado, and sprinkled them with pepper.

Jose bursts out laughing.  "You..." -- he motions his hands twisting a pepper shaker. -- "sprinkled them with pepper?"  The boy was imitating me!  I didn't even realize that as I described this quesadilla... MY HANDS WERE MAKING THEM.  Like, I was literally sprinkling imaginary pepper on my imaginary quesadillas.  And I'm not talking about a one-handed pepper shaker.  I'm talking about the two-handed, twisting pepper shaker.

I sank into the couch, pretending to ignore him.  The extent of my talking hands are out-of-control.  I sighed, surrendering to my habits and gave Jose a face for STILL laughing.  But then I brought my hands to my face, rubbing my cheeks, and tried to hold back the smile that was forming.  Well... that's who you married! 

And, well... that's who I've always been.  Thanks to my upbringing, my experiences, and intrinsic behavior -- I'm destined to be expressive.  I've realized more and more why I can't help myself.  It's because I want people to feel something.  When I talk.  When I shoot.  When I write.  Which brings me to a very known, but very favorite quote of mine:

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou 

Goose bumps: the bumps on a person's skin which may involuntary develop when a person is cold or experiences strong emotions such as fear, nostalgia, pleasure, awe, and admiration.  Or as JLo would say -- goosies.  I LOVE THEM.  Because it is there, in that moment, when someone's way of expression has made your body involuntarily respond to an emotion :)

Today...

Heading to Sedona for the first time with Jose since we moved to Phoenix today!  Sedona is up north a couple of hours and the weather drops about 15 degrees from the Phoenix average.  And guess what else there is? GREENERY.

My sweet friend Kim visited me from Atlanta this week and I remember driving by this neighborhood with tons of trees and my face was glued to the window thinking: I need to shoot here!  I proceeded to tell Kim how finding greenery in Phoenix is always an exciting moment -- especially for photographers.  Basically if we had girl scout badges in photography -- greenery would be one of them.

While packing, I ran around the house barefoot and snapped these in my newly painted toes...

Time to zip up that little suitcase and get on the road!

Creepers at the Grocery Store

I'm standing in line with two packs of cookie-dough for our married's small group that's meeting that night...

Man behind me: That's a nice dinner you got there
Me: *laughs* Yeah... it's gonna be quite the meal! *politely smiles and waves the cookie packs in the air*

[slight pause]

Man Creeper behind me: ...Makes me wonder what's for dessert *raises eyebrows up and down, up and down*

Cashier: Um, Borders?

As creeper went from funny to you're-too-old-to-say-that-to-me, I'm busy giving the Safeway cashier my Borders rewards card. THEY'RE THE SAME COLOR. Did you not just see this man's eyebrows dance for me?! And YES, I know Borders is out of business. No, I don't know why that card is still in my purse.

Real smooth.

Jose Vidal

Where do I start with this guy?

He turns on the latest Willow Smith song for us to dance to while we're brushing our teeth, I call him at least 3 times a day to ask "okay, what do you think about this?" Nine times out of ten when he says he has a "surprise" for me -- it's food. The man knows me. Let's not mention the fact that he looks THAT good assisting me at a wedding. But even more than any of that, he has made me so proud of the leadership roles he has taken on these past few months.

We're leading our own small group! It will officially start next week. I've come downstairs quite a few nights to find Jose sprawled on his stomach - propped on his elbows (his favorite "working" position) - staring at and scribbling on his notebook. He is setting goals, he has reached out to people, and I love and admire the fire in his heart for this group.

Ok. So maybe sometimes his interpretation of hip-hop moves scare me a little. But this guy... he makes me pretty happy :)

It's a hard life when you're almost 3

I mean, who makes you go to the park for an hour and a half? Then takes you on 5 trips to the elevator. And makes you try out at least 4 different swings? Play soccer on a mushy ball so things won't break around you? And watch DORA?!

What a cruel world.

Oh let's not kid.

I'm an awesome babysitter.

Especially the giving the kid back part. What a pro! Joshua and I... we bonded on Tuesday afternoon. I ran into my neighbors on my way out and Joshua announced to everyone we were heading to the park. In case they were wondering. However, I had this odd feeling most of them were actually wondering "where did this little one appear all of a sudden...?"

We'll leave them wondering. We're moving out this weekend anyway.

The Sweet South

One thing you have to know about Jose and I's trip to the cabins is that the experience is created by his family.

His family from Alabama.

That right there is when I feel I am part of the South. If I had to sum up my thoughts on what the South is to me, well... this would be it:

Sweet Tea: You shouldn't be surprised that I drank this every day in Tennessee. No need to ask what Ale wanted to drink. Served from a glass jar. That is done the correct way my friends.




Lush Trees: Maybe it's cause I'm a desert girl now -- but the trees remind me of the East Coast and the changing seasons. A place for the boys to be boys, Alejandra to be a little monkey, and slow hikes to be had.















Comfort Food: Lots and lots of food. Ribs, fried okra, hot dogs, burgers, kale, collard greens (hello Alabama). I had to be rolled out of my chair every night. At some point it's just best to wear loose pants so you don't have to unbutton anything. Yeah, I just went there.



Fishing: Not going to lie, this was a first for me. But guess who hooked her own line with a real worm AND her husband's?! Just imagine two little thumbs pointing at me ;) Perhaps it was my stubbornness, but I could've been out there for hours waiting for one of those fish to take a bite. I wanted so badly to have caught something but those fish were either smart or just not hungry. All they did was nibble my worm. Freeloaders.






Slow: Things just move slowly -- no rush. Though I can't say that about the speaking. I'm still working on the vocabulary of "git" or "lit" (i.e. get and let).



Marrying Jose means that I've married a piece of his Alabama roots as well. Need I remind you of my declared love for fried chicken?

Some things were just... well... meant to be, I suppose I reckon.

These boots are made for walking

As Jose and I were walking back to our place after taking some Outfit Chronicle photos, we heard these pitter patter steps coming towards us....



As soon as we saw this cutie I was SO glad I had my camera on me! Apparently he's not strutting these shoes for his own outfit chronicle post, but because the concrete is so hot here that it protects his little paws.



Hope that brought a smile on your face. I could really use one because my mind is distracted by my grandma =\ I received news yesterday that she is in the hospital due to a break in her spinal column. She didn't have a fall so they have no idea how that happened -- it's challenging enough that she's 96. So I would absolutely love your prayers. Happy Friday everyone!