Since I was chastised today

It has been a good month since I updated this little spot. I was swamped with classwork from one of my summer classes. After spending 4-8 hours working on the computer for class, I wasn't too involved in goofing off on the Internet. I finished the classwork on Monday last week and teachers reported for work on Wednesday. So, I've been a bit distracted. I promise to get things caught up around here though.

When last I wrote, we were in Quebec City. It was a nice trip although I think 8 days is too long for the city. It would have been nice to be able to spend some time in Montreal as well, maybe split the trip between the two places. But since there was a specific reason for being there (Paul's conference), it wasn't possible to do that.

Getting home was an adventure of epic proportions. We had to be at the airport at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday for our 6:00 a.m. flight to Newark so we got up at 3:00 (1:00 a.m. NM time). Our flight was delayed about 20 minutes in Quebec because some genius forgot to fuel the plane. We already had a tight connection in Newark between customs and security and this wasn't helping. We landed in Newark, ran through customs, and then waited about 20 minutes for our bags. So far, we were OK but then we did the worst thing possible. We actually listened to someone at security. The first security person told us to go to the next gate because it was closer to our gate; at that gate, the security person sent us back to the first gate where once we got in line, they closed one of the lanes so that only one line was open for security. We knew at that point we were screwed. We managed to beg our way through security and grabbed a cart. We got to the gate 10 minutes before the door closed but after they'd given away our seats.

We were confirmed on the next available flight--at 6:30 the next evening. It was 8:30 in the morning. The lady at customer service kept telling us "We've done all that we're required to do" when we asked about other possible flights. We even asked about getting us to Denver, thinking that at least that was within driving distance of home. No such luck, "We've done all that we're required to do." Whatever. I told Continental customer service here that I would have been less frustrated by the whole thing if she'd even offered us a piece of paper that had been copied 700 times and was barely legible with local hotel, shuttle, and restaurant information on it. Instead, Paul asked the other person at the counter if there was WiFi (we both had our laptops) and we set off on the task of finding another flight home.

This is where we messed up. I wish we'd taken about 10 minutes to just gather our thoughts. We were still so frustrated and had gotten hung up on getting to Denver that we didn't even think to look for other flights to ABQ. There was a Delta flight from Newark to Denver leaving at 11:30 and so we set off to find the Delta counter which was at another terminal and involved leaving security and taking the airport train over to it. We got the flight and through security with no problems. About midway through the flight between Newark and Minneapolis, I asked Paul why we hadn't booked a flight to ABQ. As soon as we landed in Minneapolis, we started calling Delta to get on a flight to ABQ but we couldn't change our flight without going to customer service and we didn't know if we'd have time.

So, we boarded the flight to Denver hoping we could get on a Southwest flight to ABQ but knowing we could drive is nothing else. We knew we didn't have seats together on this flight but had just planned on asking the flight attendant to change seats or just not sit together for 2 hours. As we were boarding, the gate agent told us we'd had a seat change--"and these are better"-- and handed us our new boarding passes. I was so tired and out of it that it didn't even dawn on me that seats 1 A and 1 B are in first class. I asked the flight attendant is numbering started over in coach. :) It doesn't and it would have been great to enjoy the seats if we knew what we were doing in Denver.

In Denver, I frantically finished the midterm exam that was due that afternoon (a mix of procrastination and it taking longer than I thought to complete) after we checked with Southwest. There was only 1 seat available on the flight to ABQ. So, as I was working, Paul was calling every rental car company about getting a car, telling our sob story to all of them. They didn't care but we were finally able to find one company that would let us drop off in ABQ (for a pretty fee). We finally set off for ABQ about 4:00. We finally got to ABQ about 1:30 a.m. Monday morning which if you do the math means we were up for over 24 hours. To say we were exhausted is an understatement.

All of this was because 1) we wanted to get home and 2) I had a doctor's appointment at 8:30 on Monday morning that we didn't want to cancel/change. More on that later. After the doctor's appointment, we returned the car and retrieved our luggage. I went to customer service to get the credit for our flights--explaining our sob story to them. They apologized but I don't know. I guess I would think they would want to do something to keep us happy customers. Then again, they also know that there are two other butts that would fill those seats. In the meantime, we've got some flight credits on Continental that will only cost us $150 to use.

So, that is how we got home from Quebec. And happy to be home we are.

First Impressions

After 36 or so hours in Quebec City, I'm ready to pronounce it quite lovely. Everyone we've encountered has been very friendly and helpful with a couple of people telling us they hope we enjoy our vacation time. The primary language is French so all signs and most menus are in French but as soon as you answer Hello! to the greeting of Bonjour! they switch to English. So far, I'm getting a (very) basic grasp of French as far as food items and other basic needs (exit, bathroom, ticket office). Our waitress at brunch yesterday very sweetly offered to explain the French menu to us although "omelette" is fairly easy to understand and I was able to decipher "oeuf Benedictine" as eggs Benedict.

Quebec City is hillier than I expected. I'm not sure I'd really considered that it would be hilly. We spent much of yesterday wandering around the old city, walking down to a wooden promenade that overlooks the St. Lawrence River. We didn't go down to the water because we couldn't find the stairs or a road leading down and didn't know that "funiculaire" was the elevator that goes from the boardwalk to the water. Now we do. We were here for the last day of a 10 day summer festival, just missing the concert by Sting on Saturday night. As we were wandering around the area, there were street performers and artists performing at various stages.   We are on the 19th floor of the Hilton Quebec and our room overlooks the Quebec Parliament building and the St. Lawrence River. It's a gorgeous view although there was one downside that we discovered last night. The Parliament building was the only thing separating us from the main stage where Placido Domingo wrapped up the festival last night at around 11:30 or so.

This morning, I went on a two-hour bus tour of the city. Our driver gave us bits of history as we drove around the old city area (helpful since the signs are in French) as well as some areas that are a little longer walk (Paul and I didn't get a car for this trip). Tomorrow and Thursday, I am participating in the companion tours as well which include a tour of the countryside and Montmorency Falls followed by a tour of Ile d'Orleans and a sugar shack. Maple syrup for everyone (no really, everyone will probably get some in their stocking from us this year). In the meantime (instead of writing this), I've really got to get to work on schoolwork, including a ridiculously long mid-term due on Sunday. Unfortunately, I didn't bring my class notes with me since I was trying to conserve space in my backpack and I really need them. I've got to get as much done without them as I can and will then work like a crazy woman on Sunday when we get home around 3:00 or so.

But the best story by far is the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel. The conference information said the taxi ride would take about 30 minutes  We arrived fairly late in Quebec, landing about 10:30 or so.  After customs and retrieving our luggage, a porter let us know that more taxis had been called. Paul and I shared what was smallish minivan with a coworker and wife who had been on the flight with us. There was little room for luggage in the back so the driver had to lie one of the backseats down. I was in the very back next to some suitcases, Paul and Alonzo were in the middle two seats, and Alonzo's wife was in the front seat. She let the driver know where we needed to go and away we went. Quickly. As in, the driver didn't touch the brakes until ABSOLUTELY necessary or use a blinker at all. The posted speed for the stretch of highway was 70 kph. From where I was sitting, I could see the speedometer. I leaned forward and asked Paul how fast 140 kph was aside from double the speed limit. Needless to say, it didn't take us 30 minutes to get to the hotel. When we got to the heavily trafficked area because of the summer festival, he just squeezed through ridiculously tight spaces and continued on our way. Paul said it was like MarioKart without power slides. It was a crazy ride to the airport. We all thought the driver didn't like us but I don't think he spoke much English and he was concerned that his GPS was shaking a bit at top speed. As we were waiting to check in at the hotel, a woman who had left quite a bit before us got in line behind us. She wanted to know how we could beat her. All we could do was say "140 kph is how."

It's late but who doesn't love the Muppets

I spent most of the week prior to leaving on vacation frantically trying to finish up all my school work so I wouldn't have to be frantically finishing up assignments when we got home yesterday (the due date for several assignments). When I wasn't doing that, I was making lists of what to pack, stacks of clothes, removing clothes from said stacks, and still over-packing.

It was a great week. I will admit that I had VERY low expectations going in to the vacation. Considering the fact that I see my siblings in limited amounts throughout the year, I wasn't sure how 7 days of relatively close confinement was going to work. Turns out, it wasn't so bad. Personality quirks aside, we all tend to get along pretty well and the ship was big enough (or at least we had our own rooms) that we were able to spend some non-quality time together as well. Some of us were even started talking about doing it again in a few years. I've got to go through pictures still and will hopefully get that adventure written up before we head out on our next trip on Saturday when we head to Quebec City for the annual conference Paul attends. At least then I'm able to take my computer and don't have to stress quite as much about deadlines.

Paul and Carrie's Pizza Adventure 1

When we drive home from church our usual route, we pass a local pizza joint.  And for what seems like forever, every time we've driven by the restaurant Paul has commented that we should do a tour of all the pizza places in Albuquerque.

Last week, we finally started the pizza-eating adventure.  We decided that we should stick to local places or smaller or local chains (in other words, no Papa John's or Pizza Hut).  We would order the same type of pizza (sausage and mushroom) at each location so that it would be a more even comparison.  If extras were on the menu, they could be ordered but it wasn't necessary.  And if we were just jonesing for a pizza, we'd go to the old-standby of Dion's.

We devised a ranking system:
10--best ever; stop looking for alternates
9--really really good; would never turn it down
8--one of the best
7--very good
6--good
5--it's good but. . .
4--meh
3--nononono
2--oh hell no
1--would eat my own arm first

It's a very scientific ranking system, as you can see.

Our pizza-eating adventure started last Friday with a pizza place called DaVinci's Gourmet Pizza, which is located a couple of miles from our house in a little strip mall. It doesn't seem to be designed for eating in although it is advertised.  Seating is minimal with only four tables. Drinks are bottled sodas, teas, etc.  It seems most business is carry out (which is what we'll probably do in the future as well).  They also deliver in our neighborhood.
We initially placed our order as a to-go and then decided to eat in the restaurant.  Paul had brought along a card game so we had something to do while we waited the 20 or so minutes.  The teen girls behind the counter were "disinterestedly friendly."  Not unfriendly or unhelpful just teen girls with better things to do than much more than the required steps of their job.  Even though we changed our order, it was still brought in the box.  Not a biggie and it saved us from needing to ask for a to go box later.Our (totally unscientific, totally our own) opinion of DaVinci's pizza (subject to change as we eat at more places):

Crust: 8 (we both liked it; good thickness and just the right crunchy)
Sauce: 7 (both liked it; didn't skimp on the amount on the pizza)
Cheese: 7 (an appropriate amount with the other toppings)
Toppings: 8 (really liked the Italian sausage on the pizza; a generous yet appropriate amount of toppings)
Overall: 7.5 (will definitely add this one to our repertoire of pizza places)

Staff: 6 (disinterestedly friendly; not enough to deter us from going back; see above)
Cost: $21 for 14" pizza w/ two toppings & six bread knots
Value: 7 (seems like an appropriate amount to pay)

Notes: Italian sausage was very good; breadsticks were good but don't have to get the again; pizza sizes were 10", 12", 14", or 18"

Texas our Texas

My recent nine days in Texas was the longest I've been back at one time since I moved in 1998.  I miss it.  There is a different vibe to the state than there is in New Mexico.  Not that NM is bad; it's just not Texas.  And Texas is home.

My classes went well.  The first class was the introductory class which is actually the first class I should have taken.  Then the overwhelming feelings of panic I had in January would have been avoided.  This class is an overview of the program, explains how to use the online learning program, introduces a variety of instructors, etc.  Unfortunately, it wasn't offered in January.  Since many of us were already familiar with the online program, the professor let us leave a little early.  I had time before I had to meet up with Stephanie and Hagen for dinner so, nerd that I am, I went to Sonic and finished the novel I was reading while sipping my Coke.

The second class I'm taking is Information Access and Retrieval.  This is going to be a great class--some of it is a refresher for what I already know but much of it goes deeper into the pretty basic surface knowledge I have of various programs and research tools.  There is quite a bit of classwork involved and with a one-week family cruise in two weeks, I'll be busy getting all the work due by 7/12 completed.  The professor is a large, vivacious woman from Alabama.  She kept it entertaining for four days.  She'd be hooting and laughing and having a grand time and then switch right over to business during the lecture.  We could tell when the lecture was over because she'd start joking again.  Between her, the woman from Georgia that I befriended for the five days and being back in Texas for nine days, you can just imagine what I sound like when I talk.

I got in to town early enough on Friday that Donna and I were able to spend much of the afternoon and evening just hanging out and doing a little shopping.  I wasn't nearly as worried about classes in Denton and finding my way around  this time as I was in January plus I knew that the evenings were more open than what I'd expected on my first visit.  So really, the five days of classes simply served as an interruption to all the visiting I do whenever I go back to Dallas/Ft. Worth.  I didn't get to see everyone but anymore with work and kids, if I can see about half my friends, I'm doing good.  

Donna and I had dinner with Stephanie and Hagen on Saturday evening.  Hagen thought the Abuelo's statue looked like Sir Topham Hatt from Thomas the Tank Engine.  I have to agree.

Sunday, I had dinner with friends in Fort Worth and their two little girls.  I stayed *way* past my curfew and my phone was dead.  Oops!  Thankfully, Donna didn't ground me when I got home.  :)  Unfortunately, the next morning, I woke up with some kind of plague and missed the first half of the day.  Not sure what it was--some stomach funk probably caused by all the excitement and fun of being in Texas.  I was a bit panicked and emailed my professor three times and left a voice message as well as emailing my friend in class to ask her to talk to the professor for me and let her know I'd left messages.  Probably overkill (OK, definitely overkill) but I didn't want her to think I was ditching and I couldn't find anything about absences.  The professor didn't seem too concerned when I got to class after lunch.

Wednesday evening, Donna and I met up with friends from long ago for dinner.  Christi was one of my best friends in elementary school and Shannon (who is Christi's niece) was a year ahead of us in school but still a very good friend.  This is the joy of the Internet and all the social networking sites--finding these people who were so important at that point in your life once again.  Even better--finding out that you still like them!  (Hey, not saying we wouldn't like each other but it could happen/has happened.)

A big, nasty, ugly, hairy storm when through the area while we were having dinner.  We lingered a bit longer than we might have otherwise but Donna and I were able to drive home through just a little rain.  When we got to the apartment, the electricity was out.  It was out for about two hours but happily/surprisingly was back on before midnight despite the lingering storms and lots of lightning.  And there was lots of storms and lightning all night and through much of the next day.  Donna had a job interview Thursday morning (fingers crossed) and it wasn't *too* bad when she left.  But there was flooding across the Metroplex and some trees and lots of branches down in the Trophy Club area (Donna said she later heard that there was a F-0 tornado in the area).  Thankfully, we didn't have anything else to do that afternoon/evening so we were able to just relax a bit.

Friday, Paul came into town for a little getaway.  I'm so glad he was able to come visit.  It was very last-minute that he decided to even come.  We had been talking about going to a Rangers game when we saw that they had a home stand.  We've gone to 7 other games in our quest to see all the MLB stadiums.  I don't know if we'll ever see all of them but it's a fun thing to do.

I have seen a game at the Ballpark when I was in school at UNT.  It was the first season it opened and in fact, I went to the second night game ever played.  And I pretty much napped through the whole thing.  In my defense, it was during finals and the friend I went with was a baseball nut and wasn't one for chatting when the game was going on.   So I told him to wake me up for the 7th inning stretch.
The new Dallas Cowboys football stadium.  It's interesting talking to all our friends in the area--none are big fans of the new stadium. 

A little photo op before the game.  What you can't see in the picture are the dark ominous clouds looming in the background.
With some of our friends at the game (names omitted to protect the innocent and give a little privacy).  We'd invited everyone but it is hard to take little ones to a night game even when fireworks are involved.  Alexis was funny, telling her parents that it was after 9 and she really should be home in bed.  Her mom convinced her to stay since there were fireworks after the game.
And during the first few innings of the game, Mother Nature provided some fireworks of her own in the form of lightning.  There were quite a few big streaks in the night sky that made us surprised they didn't call for a delay.  I've been to other games with lightning farther away and fewer between that were delayed.  There was a lovely rainbow during the storm.  But the storm passed to the (I'm guessing here; I have no idea on directions without a mountain to tell me east) west and the game continued on.
Paul laughed when he looked at this picture and said, "We're shiny."  It was a little hot and humid during the game and after the storm passed and the breeze died down, it felt a little hotter and stickier.
The game only lasted a little over three hours, Rangers beat the Dodgers, and we were rewarded with great fireworks.  We were glad we didn't go to the Saturday game because there was a 1 hour 40 minute delay during that game due to an issue with one bank of lights.

On Saturday, we piddled around Donna's apartment for the most of the morning.  After lunch, we went to Texas Motor Speedway which is about five miles from Donna's apartment.

We did get to go around the track a couple of times in the tour van. That was a blast. To get up on the banked turns, you have to be going 75-80 mph. I was teasing our tour guide about how he must really like his job.
This is coming out of turn 2. The track is 1.5 miles and even though we were going half the speed of the race cars, it's crazy how whipped around you get. Then again, we were in a high-profile, 12-passenger van too.  Not quite the same as going around in a race car (which I would totally do some time).
After the laps, we got to get our and see Victory Lane as well as Pit Row. There were about 10 practice cars out on the track, taking passengers around and some other something-or-other going on that day so we didn't spend much time on Pit Row. It was really hot and humid that day so we were OK to head back to the air-conditioned van after a little bit.
Paul checks out one of the practice cars on Pit Row.  They are definitely not designed for people his size.
We got to go in one of the suites (lingered for a while in there because it was nicely air-conditioned) and then wandered out into the stands as well.  This marks the start/finish line under the stands.

When we finished there, we didn't really have any plans.  Paul had found a shaved ice place the day before and we'd gone with Donna before the baseball game.  We went back there and then just decided to hang out a bit.  Paul wanted to see if there were any board game stores in the Metroplex and we started to head to one in Dallas but changed our minds on the way when Paul said he wanted to see water.  We drove out to Lake Lewisville to just drive around a bit.  Paul wanted to get out and walk but I balked at the idea because it was again hot and humid and there are bugs.  We stopped in Lewisville at a game/hobby store.  It didn't carry the strategy board games Paul likes but it was moving so things were 50-75% off.  I called Amy when I saw that it included all the Thomas the Tank Engine toys.  We loaded up for them as well as some other friends with a Thomas-crazy little boy.

From Lewisville, we drove up to Denton so Paul could see the UNT campus.  I showed him my old dorm and where I'd had classes during my recent visits.

We left early on Sunday morning for the airport and stopped for breakfast while we waited:
Yep.  One would think he'd finally get over the fascination of doing this but he doesn't.  And probably never will despite my best efforts.  We made it home to a much-cooler, much-less-humid ABQ with little ado and a cat who wasn't even that happy to see me.