Needing an east coast trip

Thankfully there a couple east coast trips coming up for me in the next few months - unfortunately not to NYC.

I was just talking with someone at work the other day how we love the east coast. We enjoy how people dress up - people wear suits, people have amazing shoes to go with their suits. We enjoy how people know business casual for an after work bar.

I need me some Eyewitness News with Sade and Diana. I like the sounder for WABC... lol... nerdy, I know.



I am thankful in the next few months I will likely get to visit Philly more.

I enjoy always going to NYC and imagining I am a local. I enjoy just walking around, the humidity, the rain. I am always enthralled where people come from, how they live, and what it must be like to live there.  And all of this makes me want to travel around the world more. There were many cities in Germany I visited, which would probably give me that feel.

Summer of Travel

Back home after a long month of travel.

Went up to Central California, then home for a few days, flew to Munich, then did a river cruise from Basel to Amsterdam. Got to explore German countryside and culture.

Here's a few observations and things of the like:
- I forgot how in every European country it seems you have to pay to use the bathroom (remember to drink less)
- I love how cheap wine, beer, and alcohol is ($3 euro)
- Amsterdam has the best gin and tonics with rosemary. Yes, it was amazing.
- Amsterdam had a great WW2 Museum that was very interactive and done from the perspective of Amsterdam
- After all the German beer everywhere I still don't like it. And I don't care I get looks for not ordering it. I don't want heartburn.
- Met a lot of new friends from the south and my partner's European work counterpart

In the US now in the airport. My flight is delayed, and I am glad, actually. I finally have a few moments to sit, relax, and decompress. I've been reading all of my blogger friend's posts to see what is new in their lives since I had limited internet access.

10 years of blogging

I guess my blog is about 10 years old - that's according to Dan in OKC. Met up with him last week.

So here's what's been going on.

School ended, the following Tuesday I headed to the DFW. Such a good time. I went to see my best friend, invited DaninOKC, and went to a teaching conference. So I had a night to myself where I went to Round Up in Dallas. Had a blast. Good country music.

Next day was the conference at an AMAZING high school - this school had everything - I was so jealous. I had a great time learning new things, networking, and enjoying a change of scenery. Second day of the conference was equally good. Thursday night DaninOKC drove down. As he said, we chatted in my room at the hotel, then headed to dinner. Dan was nice enough to appease me and go back to Cedar Springs for a bar called JR's, which had a great patio. Had a few drinks, then headed back to the hotel. It was great to swap stories about work, hear about his college kids, talk about guys, his gardening, and random chitchat. I'm glad he stayed with me since it was nice to have the company and get some sleep. That was the only night I got sleep while in the DFW. Dan is just a nice guy overall, easygoing, into shoes, clothes, and so it made for a great night.

Dan took off in the early AM and I headed to my best friend's house after hitting the fabric store for an art set for his son's birthday. Went to Joe T Garcia's for lunch and had that everclear margarita. We talked a lot about work and what we are both doing specifically. We went to dinner at Root Burger near North East Mall. His kids were all over me and loved me, which was great. They were such well behaved kids at the restaurants. We went back to the house, put the kids to bed, had 32 oz. fuzzy navels. Good times. Met the family back at 11am and we got ready for lunch. Went to McAlister's sandwiches, his wife had green tea for the first time, then went to put the kids to nap. Watched as my friend finished his patio pavers and chatted. Dinner was chicken enchiladas. Friends of theirs came over for his son's birthday party and we watched an episode of Veggie Tales. It was great to reconnect with my friend and his family. He's one of those we can hang out and its like time hasn't passed.

Had an early AM flight to Vegas. Barely made it. Barely. Stupid rental car shuttle didn't drop me off at terminal E like I expected. Shuttle driver was nice and took me. Made it with about 10 minutes to spare. Had a slight delay in Denver before making it to Vegas. Spent the day with my partner and his coworker. Did dinner wtih all his coworkers in the PM. Monday I went to the mall, walked the strip. We did dinner at Giada's, which was amazing. Tuesday was good - much of same and dinner at Gordon Ramsay's, which was terrible. Terrible food, service, and lying about the drinks being ordered from the bar. Yesterday we did brunch buffet, then outlets, and dinner at Rio poker bar/American bar. Home today. Great start to the summer!!!

Keeping up events

Usually I am the friend in contact with everyone - always messaging asking what's up. I did it all through undergrad, graduate, and now my 2nd graduate credential I seem to be slacking.

I am fine with that. My partner is now our social coordinator - not that he wasn't before - I just went with the flow, but he knows the what and is making the plans with all our friends. I'm the person suddenly that takes hours to respond to a text. It is kind of interesting. I appreciate the random texts/hellos I get from friends who notice I am incommunicado.

We've got some good times coming up -
- Last weekend we were in the desert visiting some friends of my partner's
- This past weekend we were in LA and spent the night there for a flight my partner had this morning. Had a nice brunch yesterday.
- We've got something planned nearly every weekend for the forseeable future.

Honestly I am loving the travel, it is just what I need to keep me sane. It provides an escape.

Quick update

Super busy. I've been pulling 10 hour days, as opposed to the usual 7. I'm not complaining. It hasn't been bad. I've got a bunch of new duties now that I'm going toward my admin credential. I am in charge of several new programs at school. I'm getting to play administrator too by serving as admin designee. I also teach sometime in between all of this. I'm on 5 different committees right now. I have yet to feel like I'm spreading myself too thin - soon, I'm sure I will. A couple of these things, 3 of the committees, are required requisites for my admin credential. I haven't been stressed or feel like I have a lot of extra pressure. I know how to work hard and work efficiently. I know how to use my resources, and I am doing all of those right now. I don't have stress, it is just physically exhausting.

SUPER DUPER EXCITED FOR ALL THE TRAVEL COMING UP...

 Labor Day Weekend, last weekend we were in Phoenix. Hung out with my partner's coworker. Metrosexual straight men amuse me. He hugged and kissed both of us before he left when we said goodbye for the night.

This weekend my partner is gone and I'm doing an LA day trip with my parents.

The following weekend is a concert in San Diego, so we will be down there all weekend.

The weekend after that we are staying at the LA County Fair

We haven't traveled this much in months, and I am so excited.

Christmas Break is planned. NY/PR

Spring Break is also planned. México

Summer is in the works.

My whereabouts

Been super busy working on my admin credential and a bilingual credential course.

Went to Vegas for about 4 days. Lost $200. All. Boo. Saw Reba, Brooks & Dunn, which was an amazing show.

Went to San Fran, met my partner's best friend, then did a roadtrip down the state stopping in wine country, and Santa Monica.

I am in LA this week for my state committee, and just met up with my wine women, and 2-3 other people I met. We are all partying it up in my room. Seriously, I have a huge room. We all have 2 bottles of wine we brought to help us through what will seriously, during the hours of probably at least 8-5, will be intensive debate and scrutinizing.

My partner and I had a brunch for a bunch of coworkers a few weeks back. Loved it. Always enjoy having them over and entertaining. Too bad MB couldn't come since family came in to town unexpectedly. He is like "I'm straight, but I discovered I really like brunch."

Expanding my horizons

Thanks to my awesome partner, he has expanded my horizons, and we are discussing a Christmas Euro vacation. It saddens me I may not be with fmaily, but the thought of spending Christmas in a cute little German or French village sounds amazing and quaint.

I also would love to be en Espana durante that time.



I listen to this song about a dozen times a year - even when it is not Christmas. I'm on round 3 of it so far tonight.

More Hawaii

Because I spent a week there.

Kiluea volcano steamflow

Black sand beach. Coolest thing. All of the volcanic rock decomposing to create this.

Part of the 80s lava flow

Lava flow from December descending on the town Pahoa. One of the other trip highlights. Amazing to see the destruction up close. We were here the day after this article was published. We saw the house that was caught in that lava flow. All the signs throughout town talked of how they plan to stay.

Hawaii Photos

Because I'm late.

Maui

Hibatchi grill on the ship - best hibatchi grill I've been to, and that's a lot coming from a Cali boy. Hibatchi grills are all over.

Northside of the big Island, near Princeville

36th floor view of Waikiki from our room

Champagne bar, where we had a date with Pam and our Aussies each night.

Kiluea Lava Tube

Toes in the water ass in the sand

Tomorrow I will. In Hawaii on a cruise around Hawaii on NCL.

Cruise is ok. Cruise workers here are a mix of like McDonald's equivalent workers in the US and Applebees bartenders I would say. It has its mix of white trash workers, too. The unique thing about this ship is the majority of the workers are Americans, a rarity in the cruise business. The cruise has been ok - hard to meet people on NCL with freestyle dining. Also, none of the service has been over the top, which my partner equates to having all of these Americans. Same with the service at the resorts - too many Americans - not that great of service.

We are trying to get used to this laid back pace in Hawaii. Seriously, 3 minutes or 4 to go a mile? WTF? It should be a minute a mile. And people drive so slowly. And they drive some real buckets here. We did Road to Hana, which I don't recommend, and seriously, there were random cars like at the side of the road that were all beat up. We ran into an old Isuzu Trooper in the WalMart parking lot on bricks, hood missing, and windows shot out. There's some nice cars. We got a sexy Cadillac to rent and drive.

Currently we are in Maui, and that hasn't impressed us much. Slow pace. Nothing that has just been so pretty or so amazing.

I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
Life is good today Life is good today
Well, the plane touched down just about three o'clock
And the city's still on my mind
Bikinis and palm trees danced in my head
I was still in the baggage line
Concrete and cars are there own prison bars like this life I'm living in
But the plane brought me farther
I'm surrounded by water
And I'm not going back again
I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
Life is good today Life is good today
Adiós and vaya con Dios
Yeah I'm leaving GA
And if it weren't for tequila and pretty senoritas
I'd have no reason to stay
Adiós and vaya con Dios
Yeah I'm leaving GA
Gonna lay in the hot sun and roll a big fat one
And grab my guitar and play
Four days flew by like a drunk Friday night
As the summer drew to an end
They can't believe that I just couldn't leave
And I bid adieu to my friends
Because my bartender she's from the islands
Her body's been kissed by the sun
And coconut replaces the smell of the bar
And I don't know if its her or the rum
I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
Life is good today Life is good today
Adiós and vaya con Dios
A long way from GA
Yes and all the muchachas they call me big poppa
When I throw pesos their way
Adiós and vaya con Dios
A long way from GA
Someone do me a favor and pour me some Jaeger
And I'll grab my guitar and play
Adiós and vaya con Dios
Going home now to stay
The senoritas don't care-o when there's no dinero
You got no money to stay
Adiós and vaya con Dios
Going home now to stay
And put my ass in a lawn chair
Toes in the clay
Not a worry in the world a PBR on the way
Life is good today
Life is good today
- Zac Brown Band/Toes

Spring Break

And I have already consumed the following:

1 wine margarita
3 bottles of wine
2 margaritas
2 mimosas

It's Britney, Bitch

That's right, It's Britney. Saw her in Vegas with my partner last night. Total last minute tickets. We were in row P, paid about $100. Definitely a lot of lip syncing going on, not a lot of artist/audience interaction, so it seemed very staged and she seemed distant from the audience. Those in the pit didn't really seem to be doing anything crazy other than standing there.

After 3 Southern Comfort and Sprites, 1/2 bottle of pinot grigio, a glass at the theater, and Voco (vodka and coconut water), I became quite the philosopher (I was not drunk - I hold my alcohol well,) but at that point I'm loose enough to let my realizations flow...

Britney's songs are like my life story. I relate to Britney so well. We all have those naive moments (I'm Not A Girl... Not Yet A Woman), Sometimes we love, sometimes we hide (Sometimes), when we try to leave our parents and become (Overprotected), and I'm not perfect and sometimes repeat things I shouldn't do (Oops I did it Again!). Then when I hit 21 I was suddenly Toxic. And that's about the time I came out, and in the gay world, You Better Work Bitch, and maybe I had some of those in the bedroom "I'm A Slave For You" moments. And we all have those moments where "I Wanna Go" all the way tonight, and I'll keep dancing or working "Until the World Ends." And life's experiences make me "Stronger" than yesterday.

Pics to come.

NYC NYE 2015

Home from 2 weeks in/near the Big Apple... A look at the higlights

The First Few Days...
- Great business class flight to NJ with plenty of drinks and pleasant flight attendants
- Watched 2 shows - Jersey Boys and Saving Mr. Banks

- Off to Jersey City to shop and spend time with our friends A&E
- Hit up the outlets at Jersey Gardens
- Spent time with BF's parents going shopping, getting mom a new phone, ate out at lots of good restaurants
- Drove around the hometown

Brooklyn Bound...
- Met our friend, L, at EWR for us to return our car
- We drove through the city and to Brooklyn to our new hotel
- Ventured down to Mike's other friend, K, who lived in the city last year
- Ate out with her a few times

- NYE we did a bunch of shopping to the tune of $300 for our appetizer, lasagna, and drinks NYE celebration
- Enjoyed the house she is staying at
- Spent time talking with friends and mingling during the NYE celebration
- Went to the roof for a very Brooklyn NYE
- Ventured into a mostly closed New Years Day Williamsburg
- Went to the movies to see "Into the Woods" and saw Big Boo from OITNB
- Dinner at a nice restaurant

Manhattan... 
- Went to new hotel
- Ventured uptown to shop and explore Hells Kitchen
- In and out of bars for drinks
- Saw "Motown: The Musical" - Great music and songs - hated that they only played snippets of the songs
- Saw Wall St., Theo Roosevelt birth house, A Coop Firehouse, across from that where Poe wrote "Cask of Amontillado"
- Shopped MOMA, many of our favorites in or around Union Square
- Said goodbye to L

- Had the most amazing Indian food
- Met up with friends we met on our Alaska cruise last July in NYC who are from my BF's hometown
- Got my NYC snow... for like an hour... then it turned into rain... it was cold enough to snow, though.
- Deeply disappointed we left the day before the snow arrived

This Christmas

Merry Christmas!!!

Started off Xmas Eve at a swanky hotel in the area getting our photos taken by the music teacher from my old school - he is a photographer on the side. Photos turned out well I think. My sister was in a mood the whole time. She didn't want her photo taken, she wanted to go to bed, she didn't see why we had to do this. It was part of my mom's Christmas gift, so tough it out, dumb bitch sister. My mom was so annoyed with my sister after a while that my mom spanked her and said that she was going to behave or she was not going to have a good afternoon. THAT MADE MY CHRISTMAS. It wasn't hard, but it was hard enough. She shaped up, and was good after that. Sis returned to moody after.

Soooo... my dad and I hung out this afternoon, talked, drove around and ran errands.

My dad made dinner.

My sister is apparently selling a bunch of random shit on craigslist, and we had a constant influx of people coming to buy things she was selling. She sold a jewelry box, chopped wood, and something else. There was some guy who came as we were opening gifts to pick up something.

So I really don't get my sister. She got me a 5lb bag of jawbreakers, which I gave to my mom. I don't need all that candy laying around. Every gift she gives she has to use an index card to write some snarky comment, or inside joke, or something that doesn't make sense. I guess maybe she gave me jawbreakers a few years ago because the card said "don't you need a refill?" My sister was giving my parents their christmas gifts back in mid November. She I guess bought them a Kitchenaid mixer. Last year she gave my parents a camera and put some snarky index card on it. Tonight she gave my dad tongs and my mom a bag of jelly beans. WTF?

My sister used every opportunity she could to paint me as a polar opposite of her - I only care about material things, fashion, celebrities, and she is a saint who gives back and helps everyone. She loves her animals. She threw a fit that I scare the dogs when I am around and how the dogs had to be outside because I was there. Dumb bitch.

Apparently she is collecting kitchen utensils and received a lot for Christmas. She still lives at home? I don't know.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful - I told my parents this back at the beginning of November. They were insistent I gave a list of what I wanted for Christmas. I listed stores I liked and didn't like. I listed brands I liked and didn't like. I gave internet links. I told my parents I would rather have things on my list, or a really nice gifts, and not a bunch of things I wouldn't use. I mentioned a few specifics I wanted - a few pairs of Vans shoes, a couple scarves along with links/photos of prints I liked. What did I get? Horrific Burlington Coat Factory shirts and sweaters. The sweaters are godawful and weigh a few pounds each with all the yarn used to knit them. Do you know how impossible it is to return anything at Burlington without a receipt, even if the tag is still fully intact? It is crazy hard. Did I make it too hard by listing things I liked and didn't like? My mom said she was worried I will freeze in NY. I got an electronic hand warmer that can be charged by USB. I got a bunch of thermal shirts and long underwear and knit gloves. I told her I don't freeze like she does. I don't like sweaters that weigh 10 pounds. She asked me after we opened gifts if she did a good job picking out gifts for me. I told her no. I felt bad saying it. I said I don't like the Burlington clothing. I said I want a few nice gifts from places I like - even if i is not stuff on my list. I like a few surprises. I got a few, and told her those were my favorite. She gave me some mixes for cooking etc. But I guess my question is how do you tell your parents to lay off on the gifts, or at least get you stuff you like? I probably sound ungrateful. I know. I tried to tell her in the nicest way I appreciate the thought...

My NY Wear

And my quintessential NY song to go with it.

My clothes surely aren't as exciting as Dan's - I love the color of his, and his shoes. His shoes he is bringing along put mine to shame. Probably my Guess black boots with laces and a pair of dress shoes. Going to bring my peacoat that I don't get to wear enough.

Undershirts to match... lol. Going to wear sweaters over the shirts - a navy blue sweater, purple, and pink.

Nearly a month

I've been meaning to blog, but I've been so busy. Here's the rundown:

- Thanksgiving was good. Mike brought spiked cider to my cousin's. My uncle is very anti-drinking, so that was his way of getting some in. Just so happens my cousin had a friend there who was opening up bottles of wine. The wine hardly got drank, so Mike had to polish it off at the end. I didn't really hang out with my parents at Thanksgiving. My mom could hardly walk, so she was pretty stationary in one of the chairs. I did go and talk a little bit to her. Felt kind of bad.

- Spent some time in the hospital - only an evening - esophagus constriction - glad that's over

- My mom's hip replacement didn't go so well she found out - she's been in excruciating pain for over a month. Turns out the hip wasn't cemented into the joint properly. She has an appointment later this week to find out what, if anything, they can do to fix it.

- Last week of work. So excited. Lots of grading. Lots of teaching. Lots of high kids.

- New admin, both principal and VP. Lots of feeling everything out.

- Spent the weekend, Saturday, with J&B, exploring Newport Beach. We don't need to go back. We ran into a bunch of Santas doing the Santa Pub Crawl. We started off with lunch at a seafood place. Good to catch up.

- Went off to the Christmas party for my old school - the party for my new school was at the same time, but I didn't want to go to that one as much. EXCELLENT time catching up with old friends. Apparently there was some apple pie cider spiked with moonshine that got me talking. I apparently knew everyone.

- Yesterday morning we had brunch, everyone was probably hungover from the night before... good to have my coworkers over. Love them. So glad Mike helped and did all the cooking and buying. I cleaned.

- SOOOO excited for this weekend. Going up the coast, then spending some time with Mike's cousin and hopefully aunt. They're both really fun to be around.

- Christmas should be a blast.

- NY is so near. Cannot wait. So many people to see, things to do, and places to go. My list is mainly eating places - a couple of restaurants and bars. I am so sad Mike's friend is no longer in the West Village. I loved it there. She's now in Brooklyn. I feel like that's so Miranda from Sex and the City, and what happens in Brooklyn? Want to go to some of the popup shops. Want to visit my favorite shops - Century 21, ABC Home, Fishs Eddy, and a couple more. NYE is gonna be a big dinner with a bunch of friends, cooking, and celebrating.

Thursday mumble

Watching Project Runway. Sandhya is my fav this season.

Looking forward to a weekend getaway. Going to the fair and seeing Jennifer Nettles. Excited.

Hopefully meeting up with our friends J&B.

Currently dreaming of living in NYC one day. I need to make enough to eat out all the time, hang out at the bar, you get the idea.

I made the best Manhattan the other night. Pure deliciousness. And it was strong. Make a good Manhattan, and make me swoon. Oh, btw, daninokc, I know the best place to get a Manhattan in NYC. It's a must. I really want to get in to making custom cocktails. I made my own concoction with pineapple vodka, coconut water, and pear juice. Tasted like a margarita with probably a lot less calories. I am convinced I was a drunk in my past life.

I bought tickets to see my man Luke Bryan the other day. Invited my fav bartender along with Mike and I.

Tempted to sell my car. A coworker at my old school wants to buy my car, will pay top dollar. Mini Cooper as a replacement? Maybe. I doubt I will part with it. I really want an SUV, one that doesn't require gas. Tesla, hurry up, please.

Going to be getting a new boss at work. Not thrilled. I really like my current.

My sister may be getting married. That's the word from my mom. That threw me for a 180. WTF? That mess? Really?

Oh, and someone wake me up at 3am please. I need to buy my iPhone.

3rd cruise of the summer

This is summer on the water as I call it. 3rd cruise of the summer. Mike and I booked a last minute to Alaska. We got a great deal, but the cruise was more like being in steerage. Never have I had such a horrible room attendant. Never had such horrid service on a  cruise. The ship was alright, but the cruise line we took that books themselves as "modern luxury" has a lot to live up to.

We did meet a lot of fun people, though, and I am trying to overlook the service issues.

Got to spend the 4th of July in Canada. Uneventful. I can now say I spent the 4th of July in Canada. Too bad we missed Canada Day.

This is a Woman's World

And I will be celebrating that with Cher tonight!!!
Along with Cyndi Lauper!!!



Have reservations at a new Italian restaurant, hotel next to the venue, and we can't wait!!!

Cruise photos

Taken with my iPhone as that was what I had around me most of the time.

My room - an interior cabin - I thought I'd be paranoid - thoughts of what if the boat sank, but I was fine. I really enjoyed that it was pitch black and I could watch my favorite drunks, Hoda and Kathy at 7am with the Miami feed in pitch black.

The view down my hall that I saw every morning. It has a Vegas casino feel to it.

 From the deck.

 The lobby

 The buffet.