Mr. Creepy Creeperson!

I am not necessarily an arachnophobe BUT when I'm looking out my window and THIS is who I see...I do tend to get a bit freaked out. Rhi was the one brave enough to go out to the patio and take this pic. I was watching from the door to the patio. 


...when in Texas...

In the news...

Well, it's been about a month since my last update. There really REALLY isn't anything for me to update on except that we've got one heck of a crazy summer schedule coming our way at the BHA. I don't even know where to begin except to say HOLY CRAP! And we're loosing two staff members (Sarah and Fernando) to slightly bigger and better things. So, we're a skeleton crew running on slightly higher octane than most people in the town. Translation: we're nuts and Brownsville just doesn't know how to deal with us. I don't mind it.

...when in Texas...

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.