The past few days have been somewhat of a blur but very long at the same time. I started to not feel well on Monday but didn’t think too much about it because I don’t get sick that often. But knowing myself well enough I could tell I was fighting something. I even went to work because I just really cant bring myself to call in sick unless I’m really really sick. Yesterday though things seemed to take a turn for the worse instead of the better so I went to the doctor, which was a ordeal in and of itself. Apparently very few doctors in my area are accepting new patients. This ether means that there are too many sick people in Greensboro or there are not enough doctors to go around. Neither one of these comforts me at all. I went to the doctors, which I shall spare yall on the details but it was better experience than I expected. Like I said, but I’m thinking of stopping saying but I think it jinxes me somehow, I don’t get sick very often, so I don’t go to the doctors very often. Lets just say, I have had insurance with Starbucks for almost two years now and this is the very first time I have used it. It wasn’t till after a very long wait for the my door of my little room to open up again, I laid down and smelled that hospital smell that is the main reason I hate going to the doctors. The smell of being overly serialized is not a comforting smell to me, even though it probably should be. It makes me nervous and think things are worse than they actually are for some reason. Maybe because that smell reminds me of the handful of times I had surgery on my birthmark when I was little and that smell is associated with that. But this whole waiting in the little room thing, Id like to talk about that for a second. I saw three people yesterday, including the doctor. Three people who whisked in and out of that room every few minutes and a long period of time between each other to see me. Its one of the strangest things in the medical field I think. You sit (or in my case lie down, I was very tired) on this table with a thin sheet over it waiting for folks in scrubs to come in and talk to you, take your pulse (and tell you how small your arms are. I actually appreciated that comment because when your sick you don’t feel pretty at all. So that thought process to me, sitting there with bed head ponytail and no make up was “I’m not frumpy!”) or get your medical history. I saw the back of that door more often than I really wished to, and couple of times to protest the back of the door’s poster of “Please do not use your cell phone” I reached for my cell phone. I didn’t use it, but I was tempted to that’s all. At one point I took a magazine from the limited offering hanging on the wall next to said closed door. Of course when I’m trying to read People’s take about Brittany being a mom is when the nurse decided to come in. People magazine is still just one of those magazines you don’t want to be caught reading, but my options where very limited. I should of just taken the high road and stayed lied down on the table. All and all, first doctors visit in a long time, wasn’t half bad. Today I’m eating crackers okay and wanting to drink more. When your sick those are like the last two things in the world you want in your mouth. I actually didn’t want anything, drank way less that I should of but when you just cant bring yourself to do it and your only cheerleader is Biscoe giving you a cute look of support most of the day, then no drinking is gonna happen. A good nights sleep did me some good I think, but we’ll see how the day goes.

Thats right, Derek’s ablum Mockingbird will be free for you on September 1st. Spread the word. Download it yourself and enjoy.

Little over a month ago Jason called me at work and said to request the night of the 30th off. I was in work mode, didn’t ask questions and put it down on the request off calendar. I asked later what it was for and he said it was a surprise. I left it alone because he hates it when I try and figure things out.

Couple days ago he asked me a question about the 30th. I hadn’t thought much about it (to avoid trying to guess what it is) but then starting poking for hints. He wouldn’t give any up much to my dismay.

This afternoon I was looking through the music pages on myspace to see if anyone had some new songs for me to download. I’m trying to not spend money right now, save money for new house things. I clicked on Peter Bradley Adams’ page to see what was new with him and saw that he was coming to Charlotte really soon. Peter Bradley Adams is one of the few artists that Jason and I both love (which is a very rare thing). I call Jason up, not even thinking just so excited that PBA is playing outside of LA (he doesn’t really). the phone call goes something like this:

*ring ring*

Jace: “Hey.”

Alisa: “JASON! Guess what! Your friend Peter Bradley Adams is playing in Charlotte on the 30th!”

Jace: “We are busy that night remember ?”

Alisa: “Oh yeah. OH! OH! Is THAT what it is?!”

Jace: ….

Alisa: “OH! I’m sorry! I wasn’t even trying!”

Jace: “You so owe me.”

I ruin surprises even when I don’t try! This is why I am a horrible girlfriend. Now I’m off to do a happy dance because I get to see Peter Bradley Adams.

Remember the saga of Gwen visiting so many Honda dealership’s along her drive from California to here? Well, in order to make me a happy customer, they are refunding me all of the towing money. That means there is a nice fat refund check in the mail, coming to me. Yay for Honda and money to buy furniture for!

Oh wait, most of you don’t know about that do you? What would I need furniture for? Well, my coworker told me about this loft on the second story of a house of friend’s of her’s dad’s business (like all those connections?). After she starts telling me about it (older antique house, hardwood flowers, big long windows…) and its lovely location (in downtown) I started to get very excited about it. Its when she told me the steal of a deal that rent it, I basically told her, before seeing it, unless its a rat’s hole, I’ll probably want to move in. And low and behold it was not a rat hole, but a cute loft type setting with characters of an older house I’ve wanted. Molding around the doors and windows and a porch. We can paint our rooms whatever colors we’d like. So I move in sometime in November. Yay!

So that fills yall in on my new search for furniture. Im gonna try and get some decent good size pieces, wood mostly and paint them fun colors to go with my room color - which at this point probably will be a dark brown and eggshell color boarder molding. Lots of fun colors can tie into those. But I will need a couch. A bed (oh yeah that…) and frame. A dresser. And maybe a bigger bookcase. That’s my fun news. If you are in the area and really like to paint, I’ve never painted a room before so Id love help. Snacks of sorts will be provided.

..are up on my flickr. Enjoy.

In the years I traveled back and forth from California to North Carolina, it was always the cheapest to fly Southwest. My family had mostly grown up on this airline, because they were the lowest fair in the sky. There’s a photo of my brother and dad holding up their group “a” tickets because we rarely got them. But this trip to California (which is very backwards… a weekend trip to Cali? Its usually to NC) thanks to Grandma I flew on Continental out of Greensboro rather than Raleigh. It is thanks to this new airline experience I have come with the newest (yes these happen fairly often) pros and cons list.

Whos got the seat power?
Pro for SW: You get their early enough or check in online early, it is up to yourself to nab a good seat.
Con for Continental: You can pick your seat when your buying your ticket on line. But if you get your ticket last minute (like I did) you don’t have choices like that.

This by no means any airlines fault, but I always seem to get those older men who want to chit chat or have no scene of personal space that they kinda spill over into my seat. I want to remind them how they did not paid for that part of my seat, if they have to please hand over my refund. Yes, I am a small petite girl, but this gives no one sitting next to me the right to lean into my spare room! That’s my spare room! I usually go for a window seat, but I may just go for the isle from now on. Since I avoid airplane bathrooms at all cost, window seats are great because I don’t have to get up. I’d gladly get up if only that means I get my seat all to myself.

Id also like to note that my favorite plane ride in a very long time was on the flight from Houston to California. I was given the middle seat (boo!) and sat and prayed no men would sit next to me (they are always creating problems. Women tend to mind their own business and stay to their seats.) and Jesus answered my prayers. Two girls about my size sat on ether side of me. Neither one of them tried to chit chat with me or get into my seat. All of us fell a sleep a one point and even the continued to stay in our own seats. We were polite to each other when turns to the bathroom happened. They just seem to get there wasn’t much point to the ‘What do you do for a living” chit chat and entertained themselves with a book, writing or sleeping.

The Food:
Pro for Continental: Actually food! One flight I got crackers with salami and spread, trail mix and M&Ms. Other flight was in the morning so they offered us Cheerio’s with the perfect size carton of milk and a banana. Although they do offer pretzels instead of peanuts. I don’t understand this switch but I did rediscover my love for pretzels this weekend. And when I asked for another bag of pretzels, I was given two.
Con for SW: Snack pack. They are fine and all, but never give me an ounce of fullness. I always brought on my own meal to get me through the long flight. But they still do offer peanuts, good peanuts too.
Both airline use coke products, so both get big points for me on that. Although I’m half tempted everytime to say “Can I please just have the whole can of Diet Coke? I’m gonna ask for more the next time you come around anyhow. Saves you some steps.”

Layovers:
Pro for Continental: Both times my layover was in Houston. The layovers where not long at all. First one was enough time for me to get across the airport (had to take a train, but that was kinda cool) use the bathroom and grab another snack or magazine. And then off I went to my gate where I didn’t sit very long at all.
Con for SW: I always seem to get the flights that stop at least twice (once to switch planes and then just a stop to get more passengers at another). Or I only have one stop but its for about two hours. Airports can be the neatest place to hang out in (people watching) or the worst, depending on the wait of the layover.

Now this was a toughie. I’ve always liked how its always sorta a guess where my layover would be. Visited lots of different states in one flight thanks to SW. I like to travel so I like the accept of the layover, but not enough to give it full pro points. And then again, SW has never made me travel completely across the airport to get to another terminal. But then again, the people working the desks in front of the gates for SW are much nicer than Continental. Oh what a great segway to..

Customer Service:
Pro for SW: I guess I have never really had issues with the people who work for SW. I’ve seem most SW flight attendance be overly nice to a man whos wanted 5 bags of peanuts with his can of coke. Also SW has a song that everyone once in a while you’ll have a flight attendant who knows it and sings it over the speaker system in the plane (always a lot of fun). Also the staff on the plane always seems happy on SW. Have a bit of fun with the safety speech the poor guys have to give out who knows the number of time a day. And whenever I’ve called SW about redeeming free flights, they are always so helpful and nice.
Con for Continental: I know I have only flown with them once, but this one employee set my mind on their customer service. On the way to California the service wasn’t unpleasant (this is where I got the extra bag of pretzels) but wasn’t anything noting (other than the pretzels, very important). But this one girl who was being the desk in front of the flight from Houston to Greensboro was just unpleasant. The flight was delayed and so another flight boarded before ours. This was very confusing to a lot of people but it is no reason to be rude. She wouldn’t even look up at them and tell them the plane wasn’t there yet. How do we know? There are no windows to watch for our plane so we rely on you for all information. And we know its not your fault the plane is delayed but with a sour attitude like that, we are gonna blame it on you. Also, I had a very heavy bag of mugs and curtains (that’s another story) that was under my seat on the little commuter plane from Houston to Greensboro but bothered the man (another story) sitting next to me. So I brought it forward seeing if they could store it for me safety someplace else since their tiny overhead bins didn’t fit it like the last one. Desk lady was there and was so rude. Thankfully, not nicely but nice enough the flight attendant put it with the crews stuff in a closet on the plane. I could rant all day about how bad customer service is, but I shall leave it at that.

Bag space:
Pro for SW: I have never had a problem carrying anything on (even three smaller items on the plane where it should only be two) or fitting anything into the overhead bin.
Con for Continental: I still don’t get why we took one of those tiny planes from Houston to Greensboro but we did. And the overhead space on those planes suck big time. They are smaller than under the seat for crying outloud! So here’s the heavy bag story. I was moving back (still on strike with the post office) a box of kitchen items, along with my bag stuff to the brim as my check ins. As my carry on, my mom and I carefully wrapped all my mugs and glasses along with one of my couch covers and curtains. It was in a duffle bag that I have had since I think Jr High, but still does its job well. As you can imagine, this thing was heavy. I had nice fellow passengers on a plane help me get my bag up and down in the over head bin, mostly them feeling bad for me that I had to carry such a load. Through the Houston airport I drug the bag because I was hurting from carrying (come to find that I have a rash on my shoulder from the bag.) giving the other travels a site to see for sure. But when a normal size bag wont fit on the plane, that is not my fault! And when asking for help and getting a rude face and comment doesn’t help ether! The guy who sat next to me on the flight from Houston to Greensboro had long legs so he was not excited about my bag taking put part of his leg space, nevermind he had the isle seat but I understood. But then he later had his legs in my leg area and we all know how I don’t like that (and always kept leaning into my seat to look out the window). I finally put my tray table down, which slapped his knee and he moved his leg over (if only I had thought of that sooner!). And then I closed the window so he’d stop leaning over me to look out! He smelled funny too, which never helps someone case.

So after this carefully analyst of the two airlines, we can see that Southwest is the clear winner. They are cheaper too, even with the drive out to Raleigh, Southwest is the way to fly. (Also, on my flight from Houston to California…the window seat girl next to me took out a water bottle towards the end of the trip and drank from it. I did not fear for my life since it seems that you’d want an isle seat if you were to pull anything. But none the less if she was allowed a water bottle, why shouldn’t have I been allowed a water bottle?)

I’m off to Cali for the weekend. Well see how this across the country in a weekend trip goes. Been using Travelocity for my traveling needs this time around (thank you, Grandma) and been very pleased thus far. Very communicated with email about my flight, when the liquid outbreak happened, etc. I like commutation from companies I’m working with, it is the key to win my heart with customer service - talk to me. Its simple I know but you should hear me rant when I don’t get such commutation! Anyways… Marla is staying home, don’t need the hassle of maybe having to check her or maybe not. Plus her travel bag strap broke and haven’t really been able to get a new one. Not that I have had time for blogging this past week or really will this weekend. Be a nice break from the ‘Bucks and to see my family (and my kitties!). Then I will be coming home. Home to Carolina (please don’t burst out into song now). I’m hoping that’s what it feels like, maybe if I say it enough it will on my plane ride home. Heres to hoping.

I’ve spent most of morning putting together some photos I took from the wedding this past weekend into a photo album. I stole the idea from Christiana who did the same for Sarah and Brandon last year. Adding a little personal touch of song lyrics that speak of love or relationships. Those songs piled onto a mix cd to share with these friends of Jace and mine. In a note I told the couple my feelings wouldn’t be hurt if they ending up using the photo album for a completely different reason. And I really do mean that, my hope is that they enjoy the gift as much has I enjoyed putting together. (My only hope that they enjoy at least one of the photos I took for them.)

On another side of all this, when I get a gift that was made for me (like a photo album or mix cd) I feel like I’m getting to know the person more. The wedding was a close friend of Jason, so there is still room for me to grow in a friendship with the newly weds. What I do know of them makes me want to share this friendship Jason has with them. In sharing a part of me, my favorite lyrics and photos I took, is my way of sharing myself. Extending myself in form of something I hope they gain enjoyment from. We do this with most people in our lives one way or another. Share or not share, we chose who we give part of our lives to. We all have our own ways of sharing ourselves with others. Whether is through a gift or spending time with them, its an expression of who we are to them. Now its finding the balance of knowing how they express themselves to you. I know I have trouble reading people, so that something I can grow in my relationships with people close in my life.

Finally made my way to the birth place of the one and only Mike and Kari relationship, Family Christian stores. I’ve been wanting to at least see the place that they met for some reason. Completely different than what I had pictured in my head for the stories. But I went in there to see if they could help me put back together my bible. You see, my bible is seven years old and has been everywhere with me. I still know what page shampoo somehow leaked on in my pack on my trip to Thailand. I have pressed flowers in there from Hungry. A pound from England a friend gave me that I use as a book mark in proverbs. A photo taken in the 50’s by my grandparents of Yosemite. Along with a few photos of my Jr Highers from a couple years ago. This bible has many memories for me if you cant tell. Even the front has a name tag of mine that’s from when I helped with 6th grade. My bible is in their hands for two weeks as they see how much it will cost me to put my precious book back together.

Now, the next thing I did was just a big mistake. I knew I should of just stuck to the original plan of dropping off my bible and walk out. But no, I had to walk around and see all the Christian retail items I know so well (Christian bookstores are really all the same). I wondered over to the Christian fiction section to see if Kristin’s new book had been released yet. No dice. But I did see another book by an author who I will not name, who I have ranted before about. This author should not be writing chick-lit. Write a novel or whatever kind of fiction book you’d like but do not market it as a chick-lit! Which she (or her publisher) is doing because the cover, I actually liked but knew better to be fooled! Even the tag line wasn’t something that should be on a chick-lit book! Just because chick-lit is “in” right now doesn’t mean you should write it! If you don’t have the chick voice or understand a chick-lit basic story line then please stay away! So many exclamations because it just drives me crazy to market a book something that is not. Then I also made the mistake of seeing what is out in the Christian music world. Before I got more worked up I left the store, stomping my feet just a little.

Over the two bowls sitting beside me (one bacon and green beans and other pineapple, how healthy is that!) I will tell you the Great Tale of the Tire Hero.

This afternoon shortly after my manger left the store she rang to tell me that my rear passenger side tire was very low. So low in fact she recommended not driving on it. This was not something that brought me anything but saddness. Another thing to have gone sour with Gwen, no surprise here. The thought of getting a new set or even just one tire didn’t strike me well. I just paid a lot of bills being close to the start of the month. Tire money is not really something I wanna do at the moment. I call Jace to share with him my damsel in distress situation in hopes he’d come and fix my tire.

Shortly after five I see a blue polo shirt enter my store. A smile spreads across my face as I hand over Gwen’s keys. As I cleaned an espresso machine, Jace worked on seeing how big the hole actually was in my tire. Not only did he go out and get a hole-in-tire-kit (unsure of its offical name) and gauge, but he filled up the rest of my tires so they are all nice and full now.

Cost to fix my tire: $6
Reward of Starbucks drink and muffin: $1.08
A boyfriend who is my hero when it comes to my car: priceless

Enjoy.

Weddings make me happy. Weddings with two of the celebrations events held outside does not make “men of girth” so happy. One of the four “men of girth” that Jace is so proudly apart of got married this past weekend. Besides the heat, think anyone who attend this wedding would tell you what a fun and joyful day to be apart of. I know mostly thought stories that Jason has told me and a whirlwind trip to the airport right after they got engaged.

I was an on looker for most of the weekend. My face behind a camera wanting to capture sweet moments for Graham and Nicole. I saw Jason enjoy the reconnection of his close friends. Stepping back and watching others something I don’t do often enough. Soaking up the joy that was in that place brought warmth to my heart. And I hope that a silly grin that was on my face for most of the weekend reflected that.