My TRAVEL Bucket List

I have a lot of interests..... and I go through phases with them.  I guess you could call them "hobbies."  I like reading, drawing/painting, photography, scrapbooking, and general arts & crafts.  One thing that I have always had a passion for is traveling.  I love it!  I once made a statement that I wanted to visit every continent (even Antarctica) before I die at least once. 

D's family is from Argentina - and his parents moved back there a couple of years ago.  We booked tickets to visit them this June (God willing - so long as we don't have another San Francisco/Monterey debacle).  And that got me thinking of all the places I want to visit...... my Travel Bucket List if you will. 

I'm pretty much all over the place as far as places I want to visit...... and I am reserving the right to add and/or amend any of these places as I see fit. 

1.  Machu Picchu - Peru.  I've been talking about this one for some time now.  I'm trying to convince D to take a side-trip when we're in South America so I can experience this!

2.  The Galápagos Islands - Ecuador.  Not too far from Machu Picchu! (hint, hint)

3.  Cinque Terre - Italy.  Of all the times I've traveled to Italy, I've never been!  Usually we're too busy visiting with family and friends - although last time we visited (2008) we managed to take a few days and visit Venice and Rome (my first time to Rome!)

4.  Seychelles.  A couple of years ago, they went to Seychelles on The Amazing Race and I was breathless!

5.  The Maldives.  While we're talking about random island nations in the Indian Ocean, I'd like to go here too!

6.  Santorini - Greece.  B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.  So romantic.  I'd love to honeymoon in Greece.... I'm just sayin!

7.  Cappadocia - Turkey.  I love places that are different and unique.  Cappadocia definitely fits the bill!

8.  Egypt.  I know, I know..... not right now - obviously - but I'd love to visit - you know, when things calm down.  I've had a few different friends who have gone and they have loved it!  Oddly enough, a few weeks before everything happened in Egypt, D mentioned that it's a place he'd like to visit one day.  Key words - ONE DAY.

9.  Barcelona - Spain.  My mom was lucky enough to visit Barcelona a few years ago - as a chaperone on a high school field trip.  I was so jealous!

10.  Lake Tahoe - Nevada.  In the winter.  I've never seen snow.  Born and raised in South Florida and I've never gotten to experience true coldness.  I'd love to go skiing one day in beautiful Lake Tahoe.  Truth be told, I'd probably try it, fall and/or hurt myself, and then spend my time sipping hot cocoa in the jacuzzi at the lodge - but so be it!

11.  Japan.  I want to see cherry blossoms.  And Mount Fuji.  And eat lots of sushi! 

12.  Sydney - Australia.  My best friend's cousin moved to Sydney for work and he absolutely loves it..... so who knows - maybe this one will pan out!  When he was living in New York City (also for work) we visited him and stayed in his apartment - so why not Australia?

13.  Savannah - Georgia.  This one isn't too far away - it's practically right at my fingertips.  I'm thinking it would be a sweet, romantic, long weekend.  I'll have to throw that idea out tonight - who knows......

14.  Hawaii.  Okay - first of all - doesn't this picture look like it came straight out of a travel agent's office from 1989?  Seriously.  Or is it just me?  Anyway - I've always wanted to got Hawaii - I think most people do.  Who wouldn't? 

15.  San Francisco - California.  I'm slightly bitter (okay - I'm a lot bitter) about having to STILL list this one.... but it is what it is.  One day, one day.......

I'm sure I will continue to add more places to my bucket list, but for right now it's pretty ambitious - and I'm totally fine with that.  Now to start planning my time line!



It's T-Shirt Time!

I'm sick.  Bleh!  D got sick New Year's Eve night and it lasted about a day or 2 - and he's back to normal.  I woke up sick Monday and it's gotten progressively worse.  I've got a runny/stuffy nose, swollen glands, sore throat, and now I've got a sweet dry cough to go along with it.  I sound like a man when I speak, and I don't think I've slept for 3 nights.  I was on Advil, Mucinex, and Nyquil to no avail.  I'm armed with Puffs Plus with Vicks tissues and a bottle of orange juice, and I'm fighting through it as best I can!  Hopefully I'll start to feel better soon so we can enjoy this weekend since last weekend was sort of a wash.

On another note - I saw today that Virgin America is offering $119 one-way tickets to and from San Francisco from Ft. Lauderdale between January 17th and May 4th..... so we're thinking about it. 

On yet another note - Jersey Shore is back tonight! 

I don't know why, but I can't get enough of this show.  It literally feels like Season 2 just ended and already Season 3 is beginning.  Hallelujah!  It's definitely my guilty pleasure and I don't care who knows it.  Now, I have to get ready..... it's almost T-Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiirt Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime!!

Stick a fork in me.......

I'm done.  Really.  I'm so physically and emotionally drained from what's happened in the past few weeks and I get exhausted just thinking about it.  I've put off typing this post because I don't even want to go back there.  Since I already shared my post about having to put Morgan to sleep, I'll skip that part.  Yes, I'm still upset about it, but I truly hoped to start off 2011 with a bang.  We had planned a trip to San Francisco and Monterey - 6 nights - and we were so excited about it.

That is, until JetBlue decided to totally screw us over.  Thanks, JetBlue - I really needed that.  We decided to fly JetBlue instead of Virgin America - both offer direct flights from Ft. Lauderdale, but the timing on the JetBlue flight was better - I would have time to go to work in the morning, get everything settled there, and then fly out at 5:02pm.  I don't know if I previously mentioned my paranoia about this trip from the get go.  We purchased our tickets through Expedia because they were already sold out on JetBlue.com.  We weren't assigned seats at that time and wouldn't receive them until we checked-in.  Well, you can log on to JetBlue's website up to 24 hours before your flight to check-in.  Naturally, it wouldn't allow us to check in.  So the morning of our flight, I logged in again - and this time, it worked - BUT, it only checked ME in - not D.  And naturally, it assigned me some random middle seat - 16E - which is like my worst nightmare for a 6 and a half hour flight.  So, I called the 1-800-Jet-Blue number.  After waiting on hold for over 45 minutes, I finally got someone who basically told me there was nothing they could do due to security to change my seat.  Huh?  Whatever.  She told me I'd have to speak to someone at the check-in counter at the airport.

So we were packing and getting ready and I decided to head to the airport a little early to beat the crowd to get our seat assignments worked out.  I hadn't been feeling right all day - my stomach was iffy, and I was dizzy for some reason, but I kinda bit my tongue about it - I didn't want to spoil our trip.  Then I see that our flight is delayed.  AAARRRGGGHHHHH..... not what I wanted to see.  It was now delayed until 6:05pm or something. 

We had a brainstorm - since we had nothing better to do - we'd drive down to the airport, check-in, drop off our bags, and then head back home to wait.  So we did that - there were no crowds, it worked like a charm.  The ticketing agent assigned us seats 1E & 1F - bulk head row with nobody in front of us - perfect.  They took our bags and everything.  She told us that the plane we were on was coming in from Newark and probably wouldn't leave until around 7pm so not to even bother going through security until around 5:45.  Sweet.  We headed home.  We finished up with our carry-ons, took the dog for a walk, and finished getting ready.  I told my dad to come pick us up around 4:45ish.  Checked our flight online 100 or so more times (or so it felt) and it had a new departure time listed as 6:35pm CONFIRMED.  I checked the Newark flight - it was still en route.  Life was good.  We left for the airport around 5pm.  Got there, marched in - all smug since the terminal was a MADHOUSE.  We were like - look at all these schmucks waiting in line - since we breezed through with our boarding passes.  People were literally EVERYWHERE - some were yelling, some were crying, it was mass hysteria. 

Then I had another brainstorm - we needed to check the monitors before we went through security to make sure we were still at Gate F7.  So as I am peering at the monitors, what do I see?  Oh yes - Flight 277 from FLL to SFO - CANCELLED - in huge red letters.  Huh?  Wha????  I poke D - I can feel my bloodpressure rising, and I'm like - WHY DOES OUR FLIGHT SAY CANCELLED?  He's like - what are you talking about - no that's probably because it was delayed.  Well - then it would say DELAYED, not CANCELLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Now we have to join the line of hysterical customers.  While we're in line, we're greeted by Rick who is JetBlue's FLL Manager and basically he tells us the flight is cancelled because they "don't have a crew due to the blizzard" to fly the plane, we had zero options as far as rebooking as everybody is already sold out, and that we can wait in the line to try to reschedule - we'd be lucky if we could get out by January 6th or 7th, OR we can just take the full refund they're offering.  It was like someone slapped me in the face.  What the hell crappy airline runs a business like this?  I have never, in all of my life, had to deal with such an awful, incompetent airline.  And I've flown some real doozies - Air Aruba, Pan Am, Aer Lingus, etc. 

At that point, it felt like we were in a daze - a bad dream - we opted for the full refund because it was the only realistic option at that point in time.  That's when I asked where my luggage was.  Oh - it was at baggage claim carousel 8.  We trek downstairs to carousel 8 (which if on the other side of the terminal of course) and there are our bags, just thrown into a pile - with nobody around to monitor them or keep an eye on them.  FLL airport is set up so that pretty much anybody can just walk in to baggage claim - it's right across from the short-term parking, so a lot of times, people come in there to wait for people they are picking up since you can no longer wait at the gate due to security.  So that's when I started getting really fired up.  How dare these assholes cancel my flight AT THE LAST MINUTE, and then leave my bag thrown into a pile somewhere that anybody can just walk into, grab, and walk out with. 

I'm a reasonable person, I understand that things happen.  But to not have any other option for your paying customers other than a full refund after you've ruined their travel plans, is just pure incompetence by the airline.  And then to continue blaming the blizzard in the Northeast that was 5 days ago is ridiculous as well.  You knew about the blizzard - you knew you had displaced crews - SO YOU MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE EXTRA CREWS ON RESERVE TO DEAL WITH HOLIDAY TRAVELERS.  You arrange for another flight to get out within 24-48 hours.  If this was truly a crew issue, they would have known hours, if not days before - not one hour before the flights scheduled departure time.  And then you leave your own ticketing agents to deal with the mess - so basically JetBlue has no respect for it's customers OR it's employees.  These poor people were left to deal with screaming, hysterical customers who were left without a means to get to their destination for at least a week.  Way to go, JetBlue.  You're a true gem.  Screw you.  I hope your company crashes and burns.

I could get into more specifics, but I'm drained and tired of thinking about it.  Basically, we went home, we tried everything - every airline, every airport within reason - Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Monterey, even Reno.  Nothing.  My friend who works for Delta tried to see if she could get anything - and she wasn't able to.  Then we began the process of canceling all our reservations - we had to cancel our hotels at the Westin St. Francis, The Monterey Plaza Hotel, dinner reservations, Alcatraz Tour reservations, etc.  It was exhausting.  Everybody was very understanding and didn't give us a problem, but it almost went too smoothly.  I wanted someone to give me a hard time so I would have an excuse to get mean and scream and take it out on someone.  But no. 

It's really amazing how a trip that took weeks for us to plan was so easily destroyed in a matter of hours.  It was heartbreaking - I don't have another word to describe it. 

Some good friends of ours invited us over for NYE - they didn't have any plans so instead they asked us to come over and they made us dinner - fliet mignon, asparagus, salad, potatoes, spinach dip in a bread bowl, bruscetta, selection of cheeses and crackers, cheesecake for desert - and we brought the alcohol.  They really went above and beyond and we're lucky to have such good friends to cheer us up.  While I was hoping to have had pictures to share of us on NYE - all snuggly in our winter clothes standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge or Bay Bridge with fireworks in the background, sadly I do not - I only have this one:

Here's to 2011 - good riddance 2010, I hope this is a much better year!

Memories, Dreams and Reflections 2010

And more to come on why I'm blogging when I SHOULD BE ON VACATION!

Just breathe.......

This is what I need to keep telling myself.  I'm still a little emotional over Morgan.  I drove past her vet yesterday when I was picking up my lunch (it's literally right down the street from my office) and I started to tear up..... wondering if her body was still there, if they've sent her out for cremation already, etc.  I had a dream about her last night - not a bad dream.  I dreamt that I went to her vet with one of her toys and told them I wanted to lay it in her box with her so she wouldn't be alone - and in my dream, I saw her -  but it wasn't an upsetting dream.  Every night when I close my eyes, I try to keep the image of her laying in pain and crying out of my mind, but it's hard. 

We're leaving for California tomorrow.  That stresses me out.  I want to go - I want to get away and enjoy myself, but it's hard right now.  We're flying JetBlue - and we haven't been given seat assignments yet - we get them when we check in.  Which I am going to do exactly 24 hours ahead.  It's a 6 and a half hour flight, so we better be sitting together!  Not having my seat assignment scares the crap out of me.

Work is stressful.  I was supposed to have gotten a new assistant December 1st, but that was put on hold, so I'm sort of in limbo.  My old assistant was promoted a few months ago - and it's just been so hard without him.  He sits right next to me now - but everything has changed.  My new assistant is my boss's son, and it's just not working out the way I want it to, which is why we were going to switch things around.  Of course, that gets put on hold when I plan to be out of the office for a week. 

My old assistant went home to visit family in Connecticut for Christmas, and got stuck when they canceled the flights.  He flies in tonight to Tampa and then has to drive down here - so he won't be in at all this week.  He sent me a really nice e-mail though - basically telling me not to worry about things - that he'll take care of everything for me.  He's the best.  I was truly blessed to have gotten the chance to work with him for the past 4 years. 

I haven't packed anything.  I haven't even done laundry.  I don't even know if I have a suitcase that will hold everything.  I'm not even sure what I want to pack.  Packing really makes me jumpy.  I need to make a list. 

I realized this morning that I am almost out of my makeup.  My boyfriend has generously offered to stop by Sephora on his way home from work - granted I give him my makeup to take with him so he can hand it to someone and have them get him whatever it is I need.  Thank God for that - the nearest Sephora is about 20 minutes away and I just don't have that kind of time to spare today. 

I should be working - I have so much to catch up on, but no - I'm blogging.  I just need to breathe.  In, out, in, out, in, out.  Trying not to stress out is really hard for me.  I have to remember to call the hotels and the car rental place to confirm our reservations.  I feel like there is so much to do. 

Last night - around 11pm, I decided to pull down the Christmas tree and vacuum the whole house.  What a mission.  But it's done.  I didn't get to sleep until after 1am, but it's done.  I need to run to Target (again).  I was debating whether I should buy Dramamine - not for the flight to California, but for the red eye back.  I decided to buy it.  I can never get comfortable to fall asleep on a plane, but since I'm going to come into work the morning I get back, I need to rest.  I've only taken it once before - on a cruise - and not because of motion sickness - I took it because my friend got sea sick and took it and I was bored so I just wanted to fall asleep.  It worked like a charm, so I'm hoping it will have the same effect on the plane.  I didn't buy the Dramamine last night - so I'll have to run back tonight to get it.

It doesn't help that the weather report is still not looking so hot for our trip.  It's supposed to be sunny in San Francisco the first day, but then rain, rain, rain, rain, rain.  Fabulous!  Just what I wanted to hear.  But you know what - it's still a vacation, and I still need a break from my life, so it will be great no matter what.  THAT is what I keep tellnig myself as I try to keep breathing! 

Ahhhh - so much to do, so little time!

Day 9 {of 30}

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

This might sound cheesy, but I'm super proud that I was able to sit back, chill out, and actually book a quasi-last minute vacation!  If you know me, you know I am super tense and uptight - ALL THE TIME!  I can't help it.  I'm a total Type A and try as I might, it's super hard for me to ever go with the flow.  I despise change - I live for routine.  I need to have my days planned out hour-to-hour.  I'm an incredible at over analyzing - I can scrutinize details for days. 

Long story short (or not), we have been talking about flying down to Argentina to see my boyfriend's family.  They moved back there about 3 years ago and we haven't seen them since.  Originally we were going to try to go around Labor Day so we could enjoy their cold weather (since it's their winter), but due to work complications, we posponed.  At the time, tickets were about $1200 each, round trip.  Not fantastic, but not terrible. 

We recently started looking again - to see how much it would cost to go at the end of this year or the first few months of next year - umm yeah - tickets jumped to $1900 each.  So we decided to postpone yet again.  Because of that, my boyfriend decided he HAD to have a vacation or he would go crazy and started thinking up ideas and came up with San Francisco.  His original idea was to do San Francisco, Yosemite, and Monterey.  I kind of brushed him off at first - sometimes we can both be all talk.  But the more we started thinking about it, the more we wanted to go.... but when?  He originally wanted to go the first week in December - which is way too short notice - plus my dad is out of town so nobody would be able to watch our dog. 

I was talking about it at work one day, and a lady I work with - who used to be a flight attendant for Delta - told me that Delta flies to San Francisco.  I was all - YEAH I KNOW - and then she told me that she has about 8 buddy passes she needs to use up before she's no longer employed by Delta and she'd give us 2 if we wanted to go.  (I honestly don't know how she's still employed by Delta when she hasn't worked a single day for the last 6 years, but that's her business!)  So I told her if she's giving out buddy passes, I'd rather have 2 to go to Argentina.  So we looked up some prices and they come to about $430 each round trip.  HELLS YEAH.

Told the boyfriend, and we talked about going there for New Years.  I told him it was totally up to him - wherever he wanted to go - I'd go.  But after all the California talk, it just sounded so appealing..... so we decided to do the California trip now for New Years and use her buddy passes for Argentina sometime next year.  And that's what we did!  And we actually booked and planned everything!  (The only thing we changed is that we dropped the Yosemite stop from our trip - we figured for 2 people from South Florida who have never even seen snow in their lives, it would probably be best to visit Yosemite at a time where we wouldn't have to drive over 200 miles in a rental car in "heavy snow/chain" conditions through the mountains.)  I'm so incredibly proud!!!!  We never do anything for New Years - except for go out downtown or something - so this will be super fun - and we deserve it! 

On a side note, the lady I work with also gave my dad a buddy pass for a round trip ticket to Italy - she's awesome - and I'm incredibly THANKFUL for her.

Having said all that - Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I'm missing my family this year and can't wait for Christmas when my daddy comes home!! 

Day 7 {of 30}

Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Without even thinking twice, this would definitely be my dad.  I was definitely a daddy's girl growing up - and I still am.  My dad moved to this country on his own with hopes of finding a better life for himself.  He's the hardest worker I've ever known, and even when times were tough, he managed to give me the world.  He's my best friend - someone I can talk to about anything (believe it or not), and he's also the smartest and most talanted person I've ever been blessed to know.  I'm incredibly lucky that I get to call him MY daddy!

I just have to add - this was NOT the picture I intended to post when I read this day's headline - but due to my computer issues, it's the best I could do tonight.

On a completely unrelated note, I missed blogging last night because we were busy planning our New Years vacation to these SWEEEEEEEET places in San Francisco and Monterey!  I can't wait!!