Fourteen

This is supposed to originally have been posted on 1/22/2010. Due to lack of internet, I had to post today.

So, my trip to the ship in Acapulco was crazy:

empty stomach + long wait - appropriate paperwork = very frustrated me!

So after being told that there were parts of my medical that were missing, and I'd have to make my own way to the clinic once we hit Huatulco, Mexico.. I was a little peeved! But it's all part of the experience, right? It was actually a nice day, so it was nice to be able to get off the ship at this particular port. I had been here before, so it made for some great memories...

I made it to the clinic via a shady taxi that cost $4 USD and waited a while for the results of the test. My view of the waiting room follows.....

I had to pay in pesos, so I walked about six blocks to the nearest ATM and made my way back. I was actually tempted to stop at one of the restaurants along the way, cuz I was super hungery, but decided against it and continued on. I waited a little while longer for my results ($7 USD) and finally made my way back the the port, $2 USD... earlier guy overcharged me (?) hmmm.... .

So back on board, I went through some job training, and get to go back to work around 5-ish... should be interesting once I have to start doing this on my own. I haven't really met anyone, so I'm hoping to start making some friends soon... cuz being on here for 6 months alone, will really suck. Tomorrow's a sea day, then we hit Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

Thirteen

Ok, so seriously the trip to Acapulco was H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E!!! I won't go into all of the annoying details, but let's just say, that what should've taken um, I don't know.. 7 hours (including 1 stop), ended up taking more like 12 hours!!! But I did take some great pics along the way! (Mostly)

So Orlando at night apparently looks like the opening credits of Sleepless in Seattle.. a whole of little lights on a black canvas.. pretty cool, I thought. Although it wasn't technically night.. it was more like 6am, and I was super tired. But thought in it would be neat to take some pics of my home town.

When I finally got out of my groggy stupor, I took some great wing shots! I was obsessed with the clouds for quite sometime... I'm sure a lot of people were thinking it was my first time on a plane....

I couldn't get Internet access in Dallas Fort Worth, but I did find an Au Bon Pain!! Excited? Just a little! My sandwich was a lot bigger before I decided that I needed to document that moment....

So.. waiting forever finally got me on the plane to Acapulco... Unfortunately I had an aisle seat and couldn't take pics of the awesome views :(

After landing, I hitched a ride with two American dudes who were going to the same hotel I was going to. (I was safe--they were gay) We piled into a taxi, and again saw some awesome views.. too bad my camera was in the trunk. Again, I waited forever for the port agent to figure out my hotel arrangements, and I finally got in! So, here are some views from my room.... #611 facing the beach.

Twelve

OMG! So here I am sitting at the airport sipping on my Starbucks and feeling super nostalgic and melancholy... I'm heading off to Acapulco, Mexico via Dallas Fort Worth, Texas to join Celebrity Constellation. Hopefully my six months will fly by, and I'll be back home with my family and friends. Not that I'm not super excited to get the chance to go back to ships! It's definitely bittersweet, but will be worth all of the tears in the end... For now, it's time to go through security! I'll probably be writing again.. as it does get a bit boring waiting around the airport.....

Eleven

Yay! Today's my Lovey's and my 2 year anniversary!! Can't believe we made it this far, considering all of the craziness we've been through together.. and now there's going to be even more craziness, with me leaving for 6 months at a time!! Oy vey! I'm sure it'll all work out in the end though!! For now..... I'm just going to bask in my glowiness!! (Yes, I know that's not a real word)

Ten

Well, it's about time!! I'm finally officially joining Celebrity Cruises on Thursday Jan 21, 2010!!! As you know, I've been trying for a ship job for quite sometime, and I'm not letting this one go this time!

So, now I'm in the process of packing, saying my good-byes, and getting all of my finances organized... Other than that, I'll keep you posted!!

xox

Nine

FINALLY!!!!!

After all the waiting, I'm finally in the process of getting my paperwork completed to join the Celebrity Cruises team!! Excited?? Yeah.. just a little bit!!

So I'm to join in January. And although I don't have a specific date or ship assignment yet, I'm thrilled to finally have something good happen in my life! 2009 was a crappy year. 2010 is sure to be the beginning of a great life!

I'll definitely be missing everyone, but like I've told them, this is really good for my career. Six months as a F&B Marketing Admin will definitely help to get me up there. I'm already starting a bit higher since it's definitely not an entry level position. Of course, I'll probably have to stay on longer so I can go to Andraya's wedding... definitely can't miss that!

Eight

::sigh::

I mean ::SIGH::

Being unemployed is the pits! Can I tell you, it's now going on to six months of searching for a job. It's a bit disheartening to go through years of university, and mountains of loans to pay for it, to only end up living with your mom!

So, how have I been filling my time, you ask? Well, between the job searching, I've made a little herb and vegetable garden, started making jewelry, signed up at the gym, volunteering at the local animal shelter SPCA of Central Florida, and of course, I've continued with my writing. On the up side, I've had a couple of interviews, and should find out by the end of this week the status on one of them; and by next week the status of the other...

Unfortunately, that's not the only drama going on. During all of this time, my boyfriend's been going through his own troubles which have been way more tragic than my own. His father passed away six months ago, and his mother (who's been in a nursing home with Alzheimer's and dementia), is now in hospice care. Oh, and his aunt (in Italy) is in the hospital with heart issues. It's a lot to deal with for both himself and I. And, while I try to keep him positive, it's hard to ignore the fact that I'm going through all of this too, plus my own issues.

Again ::SIGH::

But I have faith that it'll all turn out alright. All the other friends are still there, living their lives. Andraya's still in the midst of planning her Sarasota wedding, Yomi is working, working, and being a mom. And Donna's working, working, and being a mom. I'm just.... baking.

Seven

So... awesome news!! I'm officially going to be a bridesmaid!! Now, I've never been one before.. but considering the fact that I've been planning my own wedding since I was, I dunno... FIVE!! I'm sure I know exactly how to be the best bridesmaid ever!

My friend A, a sales manager for an international hotel, has been engaged for a few months now. Just recently she made her decisions on her bridal party. I can honestly say that I was more than happy that she chose to make me a part of her special day. Since I've had so many ups and downs these past couple of years, it's nice to have some good news. And although I would love to be planning my own wedding, I'm glad that my best friend is finally getting married... (after 8 years!)

But all of this wonderful news, makes me think about my own relationship. Will I have to be with my guy for over five years to get to that aisle? Not that I'm in a major rush... considering the fact that I'm unemployed and broke. But it would be nice to know that I might not have to wait as long. It will be two years for us this coming January, and unfortunately I'm already getting antsy for that commitment. The funny thing is that even though it's something that I want so much, I know that it'll be something that will make me completely freak out.

It makes me wonder, why do we as women (and even as just plain human), always want to have our cake and eat it too? Can't we be happy just the way we are (whatever that may be)?

Six

Wow.. how long has it been?! I do apologize for the extra long hiatus!

So, a quick update!

Well, I took the teaching position... and what a mistake that was! I ended up in a school teaching "at-risk youth." Just the memories of it make me want to crawl into a dark corner and cry! Between the hour-long commute, constant yelling (from students to me!), absolutely no management to help, and the ever-existing threat to my life... it was by far the hardest position I've ever had! Everyday there was a new fight.. between middle school kids who were old enough to drive... everyday there were at least two new kids (if not more) entering our school because they were kicked out from their zone school.

By the end of the school year, I had 52 students in my homeroom alone, I gained 10 pounds, and absolutely no money saved up! So, June 2009 I was laid-off, and I've been unemployed ever since. And here I am, in November still looking for a job.

Looking back at my past posts, it's kind of depressing that I was in such agony over this huge decision! I guess that's what Rod Stewart was singing about when he said, "I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger..."

Five

Well.. it's interesting how things can change from one day to the next... During my physical for the ship job, I found out that I apparently have a thyroid problem.. a couple days later, I'm invited to an interview at a school to teach middle school English.  They ended up offering me the job!!

Well.. after much soul searching and asking around.. I decided to take the school position! So now, I'm supposed to be on a plane to Quebec, but I'm still waiting to get my start date for the school position.  After a week of being super anxious, I've decided to calm down, and trust that God's taking care of everything for me...  Afterall, I definitely believe the only reason I got the ship job, was so that I could find out about this condition I have.

So, this is what you can expect from my life:  sudden decisions, crazy changes, and don't believe anything that happens to me (and I mean ANYTHING) until you see it! Oy vey!

xox