Recap of Vacation

Florida 2008:
Told my father about his Scimeca side of the family; that I am in touch with his nephews. I told him that they are responsible parents so things are working out well for them regardless of the relationship with his brother. I told him when my mother was not in earshot. He was ok with it after all!

Went to Epcot Center and Bush Gardens with my parents. My mother almost had a heat stroke at Bush since we were mostly outside and getting dehydrated from the heat. Otherwise, I enjoyed the quiet environment for my knitting and didn't take my laptop from work with me. I made my father a pair of socks (photo will be on Ravelry shortly) for Father's day. He loved them so I am working on monm's pair now.

Had dinner with my work colleague Frank. He makes great Italian sauce with sausages with casing. I bought him a bouquet of flowers before I arrived at his house; he insisted he is not gay. I said, "I know, put them in water!" He claimed he didn't have a container but he eventually found a biscotti ceramic jar and the flowers looked great on the table. Yes, I know he's not gay but it was as though I was in the house of Felix Unger of the Odd Couple. Holy shit if I didn't put the fucking lid down on the toilet after MY visit to the bathroom. No clutter, everything in it's place and prestine. He said his mother helped him with the interior decor which included nice draping and color combinations. He says he likes the color purple - the guest room. It's all about him in his surroundings. Had a great dinner, great minimal conversation while I was there but in the end it is all smoke and mirrors afterwards. He would rather be by himself because of himself. I must erase the memories!! I took a great photo of him over the stove, I forgot to take a photo of my flowers and now I am regretting that mistake. So much for my distraction of a potential relationship - WTF!!

Back to work and still not enjoying my time without the knit sisters. :(

Bad Travel Karma

Returning from Florida yesterday, my traveling bad karma begins. First, I left my parent's home 4 hours too soon. I stayed in the Orlando airport knitting one of my mother's sock as I waited for my flight going through Memphis and continuing to LAX via Northwest. A hyperactive mother was walking around with her also hyperactive toddler until the little girl tripped and fell forward splitting her bottom lip open. Needless to say, the mother is frantic, baby girl screaming because mother is screaming "Where is a first aid around here?". This being at the gate. There was unit of emergency workers arriving once they got through security only to give the baby tylenol. I said "give her some ice to numb the lip and stop the bleeding". I also said, "that mother needs to calm down to the baby can stop crying. Baby senses the frenzy so the baby cannot calm down." A mother of 2 school age kids jumped up and became the heroine with these actions and told the mother to calm down. I guess I was too lazy to jump out of my chair with knitting at hand. I was enjoying the drama. There was a guy who claimed to be a doctor where the frantic mother seemed to not stop talking to him for advice. The guy gladly gave her the medical advice she needed. Obviously, this is a mother of only one child and she was traveling by herself - no wonder she was frantic!

Once we started boarding the plane, I missed my call to board for First Class passengers so I made it in before the steerage came on board ;) Unfortunately, the crew made us continuing passengers get off the aircraft in Memphis. I didn't want to deplane since it is a complete burden of having to board again. I made the mistake of pushing my way through the crowd at the gate to reboard since I though they called First Class and missing it again. I pushed myself in front of other First Class passengers where 2 of them made a stink of my movement. I had no lunch so I was cranky in addition to following deplaning activities I didn't want to go through. The other disgruntled passenger gave me a nasty dirty look as she was trying to get in the seat next to me. She dropped her shit down in the aisle and said her seat assignment looking at me with disgust. I said, "ok, I can stand up"...as I was waitin for her to move her shit out of the way. She made a comment of how rude I was pushing my way through the crowd when they were all waiting a long time. I said I was apologizing, she said I wasn't...can you guess how this day is going? During the 4 1/2 flight, I insisted the flight attendant to serve me last on everything! I was not the last row but I made sure people in plain view sees that I am not pushing my way in to be rude. I even was the last one out of First Class deplaning in LAX because I didn't want to appear pushy and rude.

Today getting back to work, my United flight was cancelled. I tried to work from home this week. Manager of the project says Kaiser is a big client and they want people on site no matter what it takes or costs. Ok...so off I drive from Ventura to LAX 70+ mileage...chaChing! Realized at LAX that I didn't pack a complete knitting project: 2 sets of sock project and either yarn is missing or a 5th DP needle not in my bag - Phuey!! Parked in Lot C of LAX...chaChing! Get on Southwest air which surprising didn't have any long lines - truly shocking! Got into Oakland - they lost my fucking luggage!!! Get to Avis counter, they didn't have my name/car ready for me as a Preferred traveler. But getting my own rental car this week is a cost that the client wants me to be here on site for the work....chaChing!! So far, they are getting what they want. Meanwhile, my client site has not given me anything to fucking work on since I finally arrived in the office at 3 PM. Not that I am complaining of nothing to do but that was a shit to go through for absolutely nothing. This is the Murphy's Law of traveling experiences.

Getting to the hotel, they didn't find the right phone charger that I left here before I left for vacation - living with a dead phone...chaChing goes the phone calls on the hotel. So....I am writing this now still waiting for my whereabouts of my luggage. I do not plan on going into the office tomorrow AM if I do not have luggage/change of clothes. Unfortunately, they usually deliver luggage at 1 AM so they make us stay up all night for this delivery to the hotel. Those who travel know all about this annoyance.

Am I having a good time back from vacation? Fuck no!

When things come back down to normal I do plan on posting my pictures from Florida. There is a rainbow at the end of the madness. For a preview, I did happen to mention my Scimeca contact to my father. He was ok with it - I said it to him without mother around; that's what makes a difference with couples.

Scimeca.....knocked out for now!

Parental Unit Visitation

Off to visit the parents in Florida this evening. Can't wait to tell my father about my contact with his nephew with the long-term Italian estrangement between he and his brother. Yes, I decided to disclose this information and I realize I have a haven to go to in Florida in case my mother wants to use a butcher knife on me.

Here today, gone tomorrow - not much of a difference for me anyway. Can't hurt by asking or telling at this stage of life. Don't want to leave out any missing pieces. This is my decade of closure for EVERYONE in my life. :)

I have lots of sock yarn to work with this trip; and the rest of my baby bamboo to finish my Blossom pullover. I updated my Ravelry site with my current projects and near finished projects so I am ready for the time off!

Will post an update on my dinner with the Mambo Italiano when I wipe off the humidity and sweat; from the weather!