Congrats to Fernando's sister...

Fernando is one of the people I work with at the BHA. He's a Programs Coordinator (or guru as some of us like to refer to him). He' a really great kid to work with (yes, I said kid, he's 23 and I feel kinda old around him sometimes). Well, anyway, his sister got married yesterday and Rhi and I were invited to the after party by Fernando's mother. She is a very nice and refined woman. So we went to the afterparty--at 1:30am. At the Zamora ranch in the outskirts of civilization. It was great! :) We had tacos and talked with other guests for a good two hours before we came back home. It was really nice to get out of the house even if it was really really late.

By the way, tacos here are NOT taco bell! They are very small tortillas with meat, cheese, and various other things you put on them. You usually get three or maybe four at a time. :) And they taste wonderful! But the tortillas are pretty greasy. the meat and everything else--not greasy. Just the tortilla.


...when in Texas...

finally, I have news...

Last week, I moved into a flat and bought a car. I have my own space to call mine and a means of transportation that does not rely on when everyone else is going somewhere I'd like/need to go. :)

...when in Texas...

5 minutes from Mexico

Matamoros, Mexico is the sister city to Brownsville. Literally speaking, the museum is a five minute walk to the bridge to get to Matamoros. The US Consulate's house is about five more minutes just off the main drag once you get into Matamoros. Why I was in Matamoros...at all. There was a concert at the US Consulate's house that was pulled together by Fernando Zamora (one of the BHA programs people) and he had 10 invites to pass out to members of the board, and his family/friends he thought would enjoy the event. Rhi and I were pretty much the only 'not quite adults' on the invite list. AKA: he wanted someone he could talk to at the event. Basically the who's who of Matamoros was invited and about 80% of the invited actually came to the event.

Now, why am I even doing a post on this whole thing. Good question. Considering I've been to more dangerous places in Bahrain. This was a walk in the park for me. We were escorted by black suits with Ray Bands and ear pieces--it kind of felt like overkill. But it proved to be a great excuse and a bit of a realization that I'm never going to be an adult...so why bother trying.

...when in Texas...

Texas State Aquarium..

I was greeted by happy looking sting rays, birds, etc. But this was one of my best shots of the bunch!

If you look closely, you'll find a lot of sea horses...

I found Nemo! ... and Dory!

Dolphin show!

And the otters! Always a personal favorite at the zoo or aquarium.

Tortuga!

USS Lexington

Welcome to the business end of an engine...

This engine to be precise!

Even flight decks come with warnings... Some more important than others...

Lots of knots! and some of them I could ID pretty easily!

But because somehow along the line, I had an epic fail, I ended up in the brig with Rhiannon.

Easter weekend recap...

We had a 4-day weekend at the BHA for Good Friday through Easter Monday (which we'd normally have off anyway). So, Good Friday the collective we slept all day, Saturday I did laundry kind of things (and was slightly productive on jewelry type things), Sunday we tried to go to Mass at a really nice cathedral down the road from us--it was a bust...the room was a bit packed and the service was in Spanish...needless to say, I can do the Mass in Latin and English but that's about as good as I get when it comes to a religious ceremony not my own. Then Monday, oh did I love Monday. Fernando (fellow BHA staff member), Rhiannon (room mate/BHA staff member/friend), and I all hopped into Rhi's car and drove all the way to Corpus Christi to the USS Lexington museum and the Texas State Aquarium. Pictures will be posted some time in the relatively near future. I had a great time and it was a much needed 'field trip'.

This week we are all back to the grind stone. 


...When in Texas...