I'm not dead yet! I promise! Things out here are pretty much the same old song, dance, and routine. Fernando is moving this week and Sarah's last day was last week...so we're all going bowling tomorrow to give them a decent send off!
...when in Texas...
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
whirlwind of insanity
Certain sights, phrases, etc. are absolutely iconic-everyone knows them regardless of if they think they know them or not-example: Luke Skywalker's famous NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! (just after Darth Vader admits that he's Luke's father)
Well, I had an 'oh the humanity!' (newsreel from the Hindenburg becoming a rather impressive fireball) moment and actually said it out loud...and a couple people heard me--one got the reference and started chuckling and the other looked at me like I had gone mad..I need to remind myself that I'm just that unusual in this town.
I was working an event at the BHA and I'm impressed with the strange logic people have when they think a $5 admission entitles them to a ghost hunting program complete with spectral evidence and a poltergeist hanging out in the painting of Charles Stillman. No. We had a ghost hunting group in with all their cameras and gizmos--very cool people by the way. And they were showing our guests how they hunt for ghosts--the rules, patience (which I actually have very little), keeping as silent as possible, and listening and following all instructions.
One group came out after a short hunt and were complaining that they didn't catch anything and wanted to do it all again just to see if they could catch something. Others in this group were equally bummed -and verbal- that they didn't catch anything or see anything or experience anything 'spooky' (insert 'oh the humanity' here). I had to gently remind everyone that regardless of believing in ghosts--they are not trick ponies and will not perform because we want them to. Needless to say, the inner monologue still has some learning to do because it does become external from time to time...
Other than minor to moderate glitches in the program--planned for 15 people...ended up with 83. Had younger kids when we'd set an age limit. Etc. It was a relatively decent program.
...when in Texas...
Well, I had an 'oh the humanity!' (newsreel from the Hindenburg becoming a rather impressive fireball) moment and actually said it out loud...and a couple people heard me--one got the reference and started chuckling and the other looked at me like I had gone mad..I need to remind myself that I'm just that unusual in this town.
I was working an event at the BHA and I'm impressed with the strange logic people have when they think a $5 admission entitles them to a ghost hunting program complete with spectral evidence and a poltergeist hanging out in the painting of Charles Stillman. No. We had a ghost hunting group in with all their cameras and gizmos--very cool people by the way. And they were showing our guests how they hunt for ghosts--the rules, patience (which I actually have very little), keeping as silent as possible, and listening and following all instructions.
One group came out after a short hunt and were complaining that they didn't catch anything and wanted to do it all again just to see if they could catch something. Others in this group were equally bummed -and verbal- that they didn't catch anything or see anything or experience anything 'spooky' (insert 'oh the humanity' here). I had to gently remind everyone that regardless of believing in ghosts--they are not trick ponies and will not perform because we want them to. Needless to say, the inner monologue still has some learning to do because it does become external from time to time...
Other than minor to moderate glitches in the program--planned for 15 people...ended up with 83. Had younger kids when we'd set an age limit. Etc. It was a relatively decent program.
...when in Texas...
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Hurricane Alex--the day after again
Something I totally forgot:
Wal-Mart is a great asset for many things--hurricane prep is one of them. However, the day after you realize just HOW CRAZY some people can be--there were entire sections of shelving totally empty: canned food, lunch meats, etc. Now, I do realize that these things are necessary for storm survival and such, but WOW! I was truly entertained. It really is the little things that make me laugh. :)
...when in Texas...
Wal-Mart is a great asset for many things--hurricane prep is one of them. However, the day after you realize just HOW CRAZY some people can be--there were entire sections of shelving totally empty: canned food, lunch meats, etc. Now, I do realize that these things are necessary for storm survival and such, but WOW! I was truly entertained. It really is the little things that make me laugh. :)
...when in Texas...
Hurricane Alex--the day after
Ok, so today we were supposed to still be doing the hurricane camp out...that didn't really happen. Alex blew through and well, the BHA staffers were called in for un-plastic sheeting everything. That really didn't take too long for all of us to un-plastic sheet/duct tape everything. :) We are back on schedule of everything tomorrow.
All in all, Hurricane Alex as a great practice hurricane for a very long season. We all know what to do, how to mobilize, where to get things, etc. But really, the worst damage we sustained was limbs down. My flat didn't even get a power outage, loss of water, or any problems. We got a lot of rain in pulses--nothing constant, and wind. Things could have been a whole lot worse. I'm actually a little disappointed. oh well. There's one more natural disaster I've lived through and in hind sight said, 'this is it?!'
...when in Texas...
All in all, Hurricane Alex as a great practice hurricane for a very long season. We all know what to do, how to mobilize, where to get things, etc. But really, the worst damage we sustained was limbs down. My flat didn't even get a power outage, loss of water, or any problems. We got a lot of rain in pulses--nothing constant, and wind. Things could have been a whole lot worse. I'm actually a little disappointed. oh well. There's one more natural disaster I've lived through and in hind sight said, 'this is it?!'
...when in Texas...
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Hurricane Alex
Well, I think at the present moment Alex is a Tropical Storm still. But anyway, Brownsville is right in the path of said storm. This really sucks for me on so many levels. So, we've done all the plastic sheeting and wrapping and moving stuff at the BHA locations (all of them...). and I have my provisions at my home.
Me, personally, I'm looking forward to a storm, a big one. But I'd like to be safe about all of it. So, I'm camping out and waiting for the storm.
...when in Texas...
Me, personally, I'm looking forward to a storm, a big one. But I'd like to be safe about all of it. So, I'm camping out and waiting for the storm.
...when in Texas...
Sunday, June 13, 2010
just for kicks
I changed the colors of my blog. I think I like this better than pinks. I don't know why I had that up for so long.
...when in Texas...
...when in Texas...
not really news...
Well, it's the middle of June, I've known for a while that it's not really worth keeping this journal, but I do it anyway. I don't have news. I don't mind it. But really, my life is pretty well slated under routine. I get up, I make my lunch, I go to work, I read, research, write, type stuff up like it's going out of style. Maybe things work out like they are supposed to. Maybe people get back to me when I call with questions.
However, because Fernando is leaving us at the end of the month, I'm slowly taking over his stuff--this includes any involvement with both the Mexican Consulate (here in Brownsville, Texas) and the American Consulate (in Matamoros, Mexico). This does mean I'll be making a trip or few to Mexico courtesy of my job. In the words of the great philosopher Jagger: You can't always get what you want but if you try sometimes you get what you need.
...when in Texas...
However, because Fernando is leaving us at the end of the month, I'm slowly taking over his stuff--this includes any involvement with both the Mexican Consulate (here in Brownsville, Texas) and the American Consulate (in Matamoros, Mexico). This does mean I'll be making a trip or few to Mexico courtesy of my job. In the words of the great philosopher Jagger: You can't always get what you want but if you try sometimes you get what you need.
...when in Texas...
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