cindy's world

… 1) the troops, for protecting us and our ideals so we can have peace at home;
2) the delivery people working so hard to bring our greetings and gifts to and from loved ones;
3) my friends, for enriching my life and reminding me what’s important;
4) my family, for putting up with me;
5) the Universe, for lighting my way and showing me the splendor that is this world, fighting to push through the dark spots for the ultimate good.

Happy holidays, everyone. <3

I’m well known for being able to sniff out bargains, for not paying full price for anything, for always getting a better deal on something than the next person. People have fallen over when they found out what I paid for my Lexus, my first house, my vacations, my wedding band (that’s a great story in itself, cuz that diamond-covered band came out to be better than free — as in, the jewelry store gave me money after they handed me the band). The list goes on and on. Today, that bit me on the butt. Just a little. *rubbing insulted tooshie*

My employer is a member of a discount program, and if we sign onto this program, we get deals on amusement parks, prescription pills not covered by insurance, jewelry, shoes, restaurants, all sorts of stuff. I was exploring the restaurant option online when I saw that I could purchase a gift certificate to a local Japanese restaurant we’d eaten at a few times for a great price: $100 gift certificate for $28. I’ve known restaurants and events to do this, sort of like seat-fillers (which is how I’d gotten deep discounts to shows and plays before, too), so I looked it over for “catches,” didn’t see any, and plunked down my credit card for a $28 transaction. I figured if there were some horrendous service charge or convenience charge at checkout, I’d simply abort the purchase. There wasn’t and my transaction went through. I clicked the option to print my $100 certificate right away, the site redirected me to the printable version, and that’s when I saw it, filling up my screen. My mouth formed a giant “O,” and not in a good way.

$100
GIFT CERTIFICATE
…Special Instructions: Minimum purchase of $200. 18% Gratuity added prior to discount. Valid for Dine In ONLY. Excludes: Other Offers/Promotions. Excludes happy hour. 1 certificate per table. Valid with parties of 2 or more.

HOLD the phone. I have to have a party of 2 or more before I can redeem this gift certificate? So I can’t go in this restaurant alone? No wait, that’s not a problem. The problem is, WHO THE HELL IS GONNA SPEND $200+ AT A LITTLE CASUAL JAPANESE RESTAURANT?! How much sushi am I gonna eat?! Why wasn’t this disclosed before I purchased the darn thing? Or maybe I should’ve read all the tiny print that wasn’t on the screen (cuz I would’ve had to click “Read Terms and Conditions for Use of this Site” and be redirected to another screen) before I clicked the only thing that was on the screen, which was a little box next to “I agree to the terms and conditions for the use of this site.”

Mr. W had warned me that a deal like this sounded too good to be true, and to make sure I don’t get slapped for all kinds of surcharges at the end of my order process; little did he expect that the trickery comes AFTER that. And if you’re thinking that I can just use this certificate little by little over time, well, they thought of that, too. “Restaurant-Specific Gift Certificates are redeemable in their entirety only and may not be redeemed incrementally.”

Sometimes bargain-shopping is inversely effective. The bigger the bargain, the more I pay. BUT, as I tried to argue with Mr. W when I had to tell him I was tricked, it still is a $200 dinner for $128. That’s still 36% off. =P Anyone want to join me for a group dinner at a sushi and teppan restaurant at our neck of the woods?

Okay, NOW I’m a little disgruntled.

I went to Verizon on Sunday just to make sure my phone really was dead. At home, plugged in, the most I could get out of the LG Ally Android phone is a couple of red blinks on the indicator light. It wouldn’t turn on. I was hoping it was just a battery issue, so that if I replaced that ($40ish, I estimated), the phone would work again. At Verizon, even with a new battery in place, the salesclerk couldn’t get beyond the couple of red blinks, either. So now what are my options?

I could get a new Android phone. But as I was only 3.5 months into my new contract, I’d have to pay full price for the phone. There are a few new Android models out that I would try, but I was unwilling to pay the $500 (average) price tag. (I already knew I wouldn’t re-buy the LG Ally. It was an okay phone and the initial battery short life had improved exponentially over the intial weeks of use, but the phone had other issues. It’d freeze up when a couple of applications were running at once. Random application would turn on and run on their own even tho I’d set them to not turn on automatically. The touch screen wasn’t very precise, or maybe it wasn’t very sensitive. The camera had an insane delay and didn’t take great photos. The detail was fine, but the colors were often off and the flash would go off too early so that the photo was dark again by the time the camera took it. Photos I was uploading to social network sites would seem to be uploading successfully, but never appear on the site. And the reception on the phone was significantly inferior to that of last phone, the LG enV2, also on the Verizon network. Of course there were good things about the Ally, too; it was pretty and I liked that I didn’t have to jailbreak it for a personalized look and free apps. The apps were cool, and full internet access was cool, altho that’s more to the credit of the apps and not to the phone itself. I also liked how the phone organized photos and videos.)

I could get a certified used Android phone. But the discount seemed minor compared to the price of their new counterparts, the selection was very limited, there really wasn’t a model I wanted so I’d be settling, AND none of these phones were in the store; they’d have to be ordered and delivered later. So, no.

I could start a new contract by adding a new line of service to my account, and with that, I’d get the new-customer price on phones. But I’d be paying monthly for TWO Android lines and only be able to use one, so that just seems dumb. And I’d have to terminate one line a couple of years later, anyway.

I could reactivate an old phone I had, and adjust my phone plans for the old phone. I happened to have my old beloved LG enV2 phone in the car still from when I upgraded the LG Ally Android phone 3.5 months ago, and this is the only free option, so I went with that. Since the enV2 is a feature phone and not a smart phone, I expected to save money monthly when I switched back to that. I’d keep my minutes/text plan the same, and I can now come off the Android system add-on plan. Turned out, the plans had changed since I left them 3.5 months ago. Now, to go back to the same plan I had mere months ago, it would cost exactly the same as what I was paying for the Android phone, without the Android benefits. This is because what used to be free and/or unlimited is no longer free or unlimited. In fact, if I decide to keep VZ Navigator, a GPS program I love and had used quite a bit, it’d cost an additional $10/month. Total bill: $90/month. For a REGULAR PHONE. Plus whatever usage and downloads may cost, because “unlimited” data ($29/mo) doesn’t mean unlimited data and unlimited features anymore. NOW I’m disgruntled.

But I’d forgotten how great this LG enV2 phone was until I restored it by putting my old microSD chip back into it, and all the old addresses, text messages, photos, videos, mobile email and other settings were still there. The bluetooth connection between it and my car was still there, because for some reason I’d been reluctant to delete or discard anything related to this phone when I’d “upgraded” to an Android phone.

I’m not sure what to do between now and when my contract expires in 17 months and I am again eligible for a new (subsidized or free) cell phone. I suppose if some irresistable piece of technology comes out, and it doesn’t cost too much, I’ll considering buying it at full price. Switching back to an Android system is free and the monthly plans cost the same anyway. Actually, less since I’d have the free Googlemaps app and won’t have to pay $10/mo for VZ Nav.

I’m comforting knowing that at least I didn’t pay a bundle for the LG Ally that I drowned. It ended up being free from my New Every 2 program, altho I did spend $50 on random accessories. Oh, well. The important thing is, the DSLR is safe.

Some cool stuff about owl symbology I found online:
* “The Wise Old Owl has all the kn’owl’edge, you are on the ‘edge’ of discovery and recovery.”
* It is a major Illuminati mascot, and appears in Free Mason symbology, including in a little hidden corner of your U.S. dollar bill.
* Many cultures associate owls with the bringing, warning, or symbol of death. (Of course, death to me is not the end; it is stepping through the veil to connect me from this side to the Other Side, i.e. Home.)
* In Greek mythology, Athena (goddess of wisdom, the Arts, and skills, and as a result, owls also became symbols of teaching and of institutions of learning) transforms into an owl. Athena frequently had her companion Owl on her shoulder, which revealed unseen truths to her. Owl had the ability to light up Athena’s blind side, enabling her to speak the whole truth, as opposed to only a half truth.
* As a totem animal, owls represent deception, clairvoyance, insight (often referred to as “the Night Eagle”). “Owl is at home in the night. It has great awareness of all that is around it at all times. It has predator vision, which means it sees clearly what it looks at. It has great intuition: it is the totem of psychics and clairvoyants. It has the courage to follow its instincts. Owl’s medicine includes seeing behind masks, silent and swift movement, keen sight, messenger of secrets and omens, shape-shifting, link between the dark, unseen world and the world of light, comfort with shadow self, moon power, freedom.”
* “The Ainu in Japan trust the Owl because it gives them notice of evil approaching. They revere the Owl, and believe it mediates between the Gods and men.”
* The White Goddess website says “The Owl, symbol of the Goddess, represents perfect wisdom. Owls have the ability to see in the dark and fly noiselessly through the skies. They bring messages through dreams. The Owl is the bird of mystical wisdom and ancient knowledge of the powers of the moon. With wide-open, all-seeing eyes, Owl looks upon reality without distortion and acknowledges it, yet is aware that with ancient magical and spiritual knowledge, he or she can make changes.”

Now that I have more background, this owl thing connects many dots through my life and points to a consistent path. I’ve always known of my connection with the moon (earliest memory of attraction here: at a jewelry store under the age of 6, instant love with a tiny silver ring of a crescent moon with a star, which was purchased and sized down for my little finger; ever since then I associated myself with that kind of thing) and my body’s biological response to the moon phases, the 3 goddesses (hence my immediate attraction to the Celtic Trinity knot upon my discovery of it almost 10 years ago), my current belief systems. Just too much to say here.

I have all these events to blog about, but this topic is faster, easier, and more immediate.

Last week (June 28), I noticed on a social networking site that I’m involved in that my elementary-school age nephew (Mr. W’s brother’s son) had changed his profile picture. The new photo was just him making a goofy face at the camera. He had labeled the face on the picture as himself, and then labeled his brown T-shirt “Mr. Owl.” Upon closer inspection, I recognized the owl as the owl in the Tootsie Pop commercials of the my childhood. On the T-shirt was even written “Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take?” So the following conversation ensued with regard to that photo.
Me: “Boy: Mr. Turtle, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Turtle: I never made it without biting. Let’s ask Mr. Owl.
Boy: Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Owl: Let’s find out. A-one…*lick*…a-two-hoooo…*lick*…a-three. *CrUnCh* Three.”
Ryan: “haha”
Ryan: “=DDDD
nice shirt right =DD”
Ryan: “the front of my hat looks so awesome but i look stupid with forward hats, which yah…”
Ryan: “imma take a picture of my hat, and show and upload it
(the front) wow i just have a convo with myself…”
Me: “…and it was very entertaining to watch you talk to yourself.”
Ryan: “HA HA….”

And then, 2 days later (June 30), Ann and Claudio were involved in an online conversation about my then-upcoming July 4th BBQ.
Ann: for the record, i think u suck bc ur not coming.
Claudio: I know, I know. I am a horrible human being. 🙁
Ann: nah. i wouldn’t go that far 🙂
Claudio: 🙂
Cindy: how do you do an eyeroll in a smiley?
Claudio: &_&
Cindy: o.O
Claudio: ?_? [ascii picture of indignant-looking eyeballs]
Cindy: Geek.
Claudio: ??? [ascii picture of large round eyes with a dot in the center of each, meant to look bespectacled, but I thought it looked like an owl especially given that the nose was an ascii symbol of something with a downward droop that looked beaklike]
Cindy: Mr. Owl. How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Claudio: Let’s find out. One! Tahoooo. Thrrreeee.
Claudio: *crunch*
Claudio: Thrrrrreee.
Cindy: How many licks DOES it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? *sadly* The world may never know.
Claudio: ?_? [ascii picture of big tearful eyes]
Cindy: argh. I can’t out-Ascii you.
Claudio: \m/ *.* \m/

(I thought the Ascii face Claudio made above looked like an owl. Hopefully all the ascii comes across on this post.) I need to note that Claudio and Ryan do not know each other, so they did not see each others’ conversations on this site.

And then waaaay earlier today (past midnight), I announced on the site that my plan for the night was to medicate my cat (Dodo’s getting eyedrops and antibiotic liquid meds), get ready for bed, and them come downstairs and fall asleep to the TV. My UCLA friend Ansen (who does not know Claudio or Ryan) commented, and this followed.
Ansen: um. its almost 2am fellow owl.
Cindy (just now): You know what’s funny? We just came back from visiting at my parents’ house, and my mom was all, “We have a gift for you!” It was a little pendant of an owl. I was like, “Huh? Why would she get me an owl?” Now it all makes sense!
Brigitte (Gym Trainee): She knows you better than you think. Yeah Cindy’s mom!
Cindy: she’s weird like that.
Ansen: hoot hoot. how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
Cindy: OMG. This is the 3rd [social networking site] reference to that commercial I’ve had in a week. And you guys are all not friends. I think the universe is talking to me.
Ansen: dunno what to say? i go on tangents alot. all this talk of owls and my sweet tooth remembers the old commericial ;p haha
Cindy: actually, all 3 references began with an owl. the 1st was actually THE Mr. Owl on my nephew’s shirt on his new profile pic. the 2nd was an ascii picture my friend Claudio put up in convo with me [on here]. And third is you! Hmm.. what do owls mean?

What DOES it all mean? Ah-let’s find out. A-one…a-two-hooooo…three.

So I may have inadvertently ruined the battery from the new LG Ally cell phone. Since all cell phone batteries have become universal and my old LG EnV2’s charger plugs into the new phone, I’ve been using that charger. The first day I had the phone, the battery drained in 8 hours. The second day, it lasted about that long with little to no use, and I tried using the USB charger that came with the new phone. After plugging it into my CPU, I checked it in 45 minutes to find that it had DRAINED 3%. I left it in all day and in almost 8 hours, it had charged 60%. This means that the phone drains at a faster rate than it charges on USB, and this is even with my Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi, and Syncing turned off. I was so irritated I took the phone back to Verizon. They tested the phone and gave me a new battery. One of the salesguys says that these new batteries take about 2 weeks to “season,” so with regular use in about 2 weeks, I should see a noticeable improvement in battery capacity. I happened to ask about using the old charger with this phone, and one guy said that’s not recommended because the old phone and this smartphone are so different, even tho the charger fits, it may be the wrong input capacity or whatever and having the wrong amount of voltage (I’m probably using all the wrong terms here) would ruin the new battery. Oopsie. When I got home I put away the old charger and pulled out the new one. It charged the phone MUCH quicker than the old one, and now that I’ve had the battery a few days, even with heavy usage playing online and downloading apps, the amount of usage time has at least doubled. Whew.

Now I can be properly excited about a new phone.

My LG EnV2 (which I LOVE) has been giving me weird problems in the last couple months. It’d shut off by itself and I wouldn’t be aware of it until I come back to my phone and see that it’s been off for who knows how long. Sometimes it’d shut off when I’m in mid-text-message. This happens even when the battery’s fully charged. It was driving me nuts so I looked it up online and found numerous complaints from others with the identical problem on this phone. Turns out the culprit is the battery not making perfect contact with the phone. I had a case on the phone until fairly recently, and when I took the case off, this started happening, so the case must’ve kept the battery in place. The solution is to remove the battery, clean off the metal points of contact carefully and gently with a pencil eraser, then put the battery back in. Some problems are more severe in that the battery is too short to fit the phone so when the battery slides up the millimeter, the contact is broken and the phone shuts off. People have resolved this by putting a sliver of cardstock (such as piece of a business card) between the top of the battery and the case to push the battery downward toward the base of the phone, maintaining contact between the metal parts. Altho my problem seemed to have gone away with just my eraser-cleaning, I started looking into the new-every-two program just in case, and discovered I’ve been eligible for a new phone for about 2 weeks now.

What to get? I definitely was not gonna cave despite the pressure from coworkers and people at home to buy into Apple for the iPhone. Besides, I was happy with my LG enV2’s capabilities (especially Vcast and the VZNavigator system), and wanted to stay in a similar realm. I didn’t want to pay a bunch of money for crazy access to apps and data downloads and supernatural capabilities of a phone which I mainly used for phone calls, texting, and emailing. If the iPhone could come up with an app where a little chauffeur pops out and drives me around so I can nap in my morning work commutes, I’ll buy in. But I probably couldn’t afford that app. So I researched what phones would be free for my new-every-2, that had a qwerty keypad, and that worked without changing my current data and phone package. After reading many positive reviews from people exactly like me and even going from the same phone, I decided on the Samsung Reality. Another perk that I read from the reviews is that this phone uses the same charger as my enV2, so I don’t have to buy new accessories! Yay.

So hubby and I went to Verizon after work yesterday. Somehow, somewhere between the door and the cash register, I ended up with a purchased LG Ally, which is an Android phone. It’s larger, heavier and bulkier than my last phone so it no longer fits in a specific pocket on my purse, but oh well, that just means I need to get a new purse. =D I was warned of a few drawbacks of this phone (sort of a hybrid between a feature phone like my last one, and a smartphone like the Blackberry or Droid), things that aren’t as great compared to the Droid, but I have friends who aren’t entirely happy with their Droids AND its price tag and 4-month waiting list crossed it off as a possibility for me. Plus, I didn’t like the smoothness of the qwerty keyboard on the Droid; I need tactile feedback to know where the keys are. (This is also a problem on the Samsung Reality, I found when I finally touched one.) I also wasn’t sure I wanted such an extreme phone. Hubby pushed for the Droid Incredible (most similar thing Verizon has to the iPhone) but I was clearly reluctant. Somewhere in there I was talked into compromising with the LG Ally, and I’ve been playing with it off and on since I got it. It does require the costlier separate data access plan, but the difference between my old plan and this one ended up being about $8/month, and the phone was free with the new-every-2. Additional perk: turns out that all phone chargers have been standardized! So I still don’t have to get a new wall or car charger for the new phone.

The new phone has a learning curve for someone who isn’t used the Android OS or smartphones, and I also think it’s much more phone than I need. Having 1/4 of the battery life I’m used to is gonna suck. Not having a detailed phone user’s manual was uncomfortable (I’m actually one to spend a couple of hours going over the manual with my new phones), but the box does include a Tips, Hints and Shortcuts booklet that I’m gonna read. I was advised to check out the video tutorials online to learn the phone features. So far I’m still pretty confused because I don’t know what a lot of the symbols on the phone displays mean. I plan to take advantage of the 30-day return policy to see if this is something I could love. Oddly, Mr. W is almost giddily happy that I got this. He keeps talking about switching to Verizon for an Android phone if he finds out through mine that it’s better than his iPhone. I think he just sees this as free opportunity for him to play with a new tech toy that he wasn’t able to get for himself.

By “my,” I mean Diana’s new fiancee, Eric. We all love proposal stories, and this one is quite epic. Eric’s not a blogger, so this is his first post anywhere. I welcome my new guest blogger Eric, and here is his side to Diana’s European Extravaganza (see previous two posts). Like I’d alluded to in the first post, sometimes it all comes together…in Europe.
~ * ~
After a long week in Scotland for work I was looking forward to a week in Spain with Diana. Scotland was unusually sunny and beautiful during the week due to a high pressure area that loomed over United Kingdom creating the nice weather, which is very unusual. April 15, 2010 was the day ash spewed by Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano quieted the skies of Europe. I knew that getting down to Barcelona would be no ordinary trip since I had a flight out of Scotland that evening to London and the next morning leaving London to Barcelona to meet up with Diana … Eric’s Amazing Race Begins.

Our meetings ended in the afternoon and after hearing that all Scottish airports were closed my coworkers and I decided it would be better to be farther from the epicenter of the ash and we’d have more luck at a major airport like London Heathrow. So I drove 9 straight hours to get to London so I can make my 7 AM flight the next day. That evening the news reported that flight cancellations migrated to the busiest airport in Europe, London. After speaking with the Spanish Airlines Iberia they rebooked me on a Sunday morning flight. When Diana arrived in Barcelona I told her the bad news. I could tell she was pretty sad but the whole day she was pretty calm about the situation even though that meant that I wouldn’t be there for the start of our vacation.

With the volcano still erupting I didn’t have much hope that flights would resume so I looked into alternative means of transportation. Without airports there are only a few means to get off of the island. Friday morning I checked out of the hotel determined that I was going to get something that day to travel down to Spain. Most of the day was spent in long ques (British term for lines) visiting two bus stations, two train stations, and rental car companies. The earliest they could get me out was Monday & Tuesday to Spain. I declined the offers because deep down I was hoping my flight would open up because on Monday we had a side trip to Seville, but looking back I should have taken those alternatives at least as backup. That was one of the low points of my journey; I wanted to see Diana badly, was missing out on our vacation, was homeless, and felt defeated. Hotels were impossible to find because of all the stranded passengers. Luckily, the hotel I had just checked out of just had a cancellation right before I called, so I went back and got the same room I’d checked out of. So I headed back to downtown London, had a nice dinner with my other stuck coworkers, and then retired defeated to my hotel at Heathrow. I realized, like thousands of other people did, that being stranded on an island leaves you with limited choices to get off of it. I knew I had to do whatever it takes to get down to Spain to give her a “special surprise”. I felt bad that Diana had to spend the first day of our vacation apart, but at least she got to experience the 5 star W Flagship hotel.

Saturday morning I was re-energized and determined. I was headed to the Eurostar train station to see if I can get a train to Barcelona or at least to Paris. Knowing the ticket office opened at 5 AM I headed to the Subway station at that time. 10 steps out of the door I remembered the Eurostar employee telling an irate passenger that they weren’t letting any more passengers in the lines for the ticket office and that they open at 5 AM or they can buy it online. So I had a gut feeling to look. To my surprise they had availability on a 7 AM train (which was too early for me to get to the train station) and a 2 PM train. When I was in the middle of booking I hit refresh and to an even greater surprise they added a 9 AM train to Paris. It was a clear sign that they added this train just for me (haha) and I’d be a fool not to take it. Looked like I was going to the romantic city of Paris, France … alone.

I called and woke up Diana and told her I was able to get a ticket to Paris, her favorite city. While on the train I was determined to go to the bus stations, train stations and car rental companies to do whatever it took to get from Paris to Spain. While I was in transit to Paris she felt so sad I was homeless in London she booked me a room at a hotel next to the Paris Nord Train Station. That was a nice surprise because I needed a home base to work out of and it would have been one less thing for me to stress over. At that time I felt fortunate that Diana was also looking out for me; she was my “lifeline” on my amazing race.

After dropping off my bags I went to the train station and stood in line for 2 hours; I got to the counter and already this French lady seemed annoyed. I asked about the earliest ticket to Barcelona and she rolled her eyes and sighed. She pounded on her keyboard a few times and chatted with her coworker next to her, ignoring my request for trains to Barcelona. Too bad I couldn’t speak French because I had a feeling she was talking mad shit about me. After 10 minutes of making me wait and doing nothing on the computer I asked for the third time and she said the earliest booking they had was Thursday. I seriously wanted to complain and yell at her but that would have done no good. So I picked up my notebook and what little sanity I had left. I didn’t believe a word she said so instead of standing back in line to get another teller’s opinion, I snuck to the counter at the end and stood behind the people who were being helped. The young man who was assisting them seemed really helpful. After getting to the counter he spent the same 10 minutes with me and in those 10 minutes he was typing away and found me multiple options. The earliest he could get me out was on Tuesday night, arriving in Spain on Wednesday. I was relieved and booked that train. I told Diana the good news and she was happy that I had some conformed way to get to her.

Feeling pretty good I accomplished something I decided to head to the bus station to see what they have to offer, I had nothing to lose. The line was longer than the Nile River and would have taken me three hours to get to a teller. So there was an end teller booth next to a lot of people standing around waiting to check in for their bus. I am not proud of this, but I snuck behind the people in line at the end teller. This gentleman was able to get me a 15 hour bus ride to Barcelona leaving Monday afternoon and arriving Tuesday morning. Of course I took it because it meant I would see Diana a day earlier. On the way back I treated myself to a nice dinner because I now had two ways to get to Barcelona. While I was doing all of this Diana spent the whole day in the business center at her hotel helping me book a hotel and looking online for options to get me down to see her, also options to her to get to me. I told her to go sightsee and enjoy Barcelona but all she could think about was me.

I felt relieved so the next day, I was able to finally relax and enjoy a free day in Paris. I spent the day sightseeing and enjoying the busy city of Paris; too bad it was Sunday and most of the places were closed. I had an afternoon bus ride on Monday which I wasn’t looking forward to. Seeing how crazy the bus station was I knew it would be an adventure. So on Monday, I headed to the station early and it was just as busy as a few days before. There were two lines, one to buy tickets and the other to check in for your bus. I didn’t realize that even though the check in desk said ‘to Rome’ everyone was standing in line for Barcelona and two other locations which had a check in at 2:00 PM. Fearing that I might get stuck in the check in line I snuck to the front and waited for it to open. When the registration booth opened the water gates flooded. People were pushing, yelling in different languages and shoving to check in. Since I was in the front I was able to get in and out quickly. So on my way to the buses.

When you check in you get a bus number. Mine was 8, so that means you go to stall 8. I went to stall 8 and a bus to Lisbon pulled in. We all asked him if his bus was going to Barcelona and he kept saying nope, Lisbon. So we were all confused. A bus pulled into slot #9 saying it was going to 3 locations and one of them was Barcelona so everyone started rushing for that bus thinking there was a mix up. Well other people start showing up with ticket number 9 for Barcelona, so about 20 people were totally confused. Then the #8 bus to Lisbon pulled away and the right #8 to Barcelona pulled in. We were all relieved that we were getting on the right bus. I didn’t want anyone sitting next to me if I could help it so I resorted to some tricky measures so people would pass up the seat next to me. I sat on the aisle seat so they would have to get past me, I put my backpack on the other seat, I pretended I was saving it for someone else, and I even started coughing pretending like I was sick. There were only 4 extra seats on the bus, so I was lucky that the seat next to me was empty. So my 16 hour journey to Barcelona began. Even though the bus AC didn’t work all the time, there was a group of chatting Spanish people, there was a baby crying off and on, and I was on very uncomfortable seats, I didn’t mind because I had my Nintendo DS, had my noise canceling headsets, and most importantly was finally on my way to see Diana.

I arrived to Barcelona Bus Station at 6 AM. Diana had already sent me instructions on how to get from the bus station to the hotel via the subway. I got off at the subway station and looked for the hotel. It was early in the morning and kind of sketchy. I finally saw the hotel and then I heard these clanking sounds on the pebblestone streets of La Ramba. I saw Diana in the distance running to me; that moment was the happiest moment of my entire trip. We hugged for a long time on the dirty streets of La Rambla. Now our vacation could officially begin.

Even though Diana had already spent 4 days in Barcelona she didn’t do much sightseeing. She mainly spent them trying to help me get down to see her. The next few days we spent seeing the sites of Barcelona and enjoying tapas and Sangria all day. The last two days we decided to forego our reservations at a place downtown and stay at the five star W on the beaches of Barcelona (where Diana had stayed alone). It was perfect because we could relax and lounge around enjoying the state-of-the-art facilities and hotel.
One of the most enjoyable moments we had was on Wednesday, April 21st. We took the gondola up to the mountains of Montjuic. Up on the mountains above Barcelona there is a Spanish fort with canons which I got to stand on, it also had an amazing view of the city below. There was also the Olympic stadium which hosted the 1992 Olympics, which we snuck into. And at the top was the National Palace, a beautiful building with fountains around it. We sat at the top and enjoyed a beautiful sunset with a Chinese person playing the Spanish Guitar and watched the sunset go down while enjoying the music.

Thursday, April 22nd we had a nice dinner on the beach having tapas and a pitcher of Sangria. So we walked back to the hotel along the beach. Of course I brought my digital SLR and tripod to get some nice shots of the hotel. While we were walking back I told her we should walk along the water so I could get a nice angle of the W Hotel in the background. The hotel was right next to the pier where cruiseships come into port to visit Barcelona. So I set up my tripod and camera and took a few shots, I had the ring in my pocket and was about to propose. Next thing I knew, fireworks were going off right behind our hotel. The fireworks were for the cruiseships about to depart to the Mediterranean. It was perfect. I took a few pictures and then got down on one knee and proposed to her. I was so caught up in the moment I couldn’t remember if she said yes, all I remember was how happy she looked and the tears of joy.

In those 4 days of stressful travel, extra money spent, and lost vacation time, we realized a few things. There were signs pointing me in the direction of Spain. For instance, in London when a hotel reservation opened up just before I called, the added Eurostar train to Paris, and opportunities for me to cut in line or jump in front of others.

Throughout the whole crisis neither of us freaked out, got upset, or complained. It was like coach Wooden in his coaching years at UCLA. We worked as an efficient team, never questioning the other person’s decision, always looking out for each other, always communicating, had persistence to see each other, and passion to be with each other. We won’t have 10 NCAA championships but no doubt we will have a dynasty.

~ * ~
*wiping tear away*
Ahem. Well, I’ve now learned that I would’ve hated Eric when I was a kid, cuz…line-cutter! But desperate times call for desperate measures. I’m honored Diana and Eric chose to memorialize their momentous vacation to guest-post on my blog. I’m excited for them, and happy for my college roommie-slash-non-biological-sister for finding a great guy — one who brings her to peace, to joy, to crazy European vacations; one who gets her, balances her and complements her personality, and who’s a Bruin. 😉 That last one’s an extra happy bonus. Congratulations, Diana & Eric!
(All photos courtesy of Eric)

Memoirs from guest blogger Diana’s European Extravaganza, Part II (immediately preceding post is Part I):
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After Eric arrived, we went all over Barcelona, and no matter what we did, it was fun. Probably because I was just dying for some company. 🙂 But there was a moment where I felt everything was just perfect.

We had take the gondola up to Park Montjuic, where the olympic stadium is from the 1992 olympics. We caught the last gondola up shortly before 7 pm, and walked around the old castle for a bit first. It had a great view of the city and sea, but it was a little quiet and deserted, and slightly eery.

We then started walking towards the olympic stadium, which was pretty far down the hill. By then it was 7:30 or so, and although the sun was still up, I knew we only had less than 2 hours of daylight. I was afraid that we would get stuck or somehow get lost in this big park in the hills, and Eric kept on saying, “Don’t worry, I know where I am going. We have plenty of time.” I was still a little nervous (Eric will tell you that I was VERY nervous), and even raced down a steep trail that was a short cut, compared to the long trail that went around the perimeter.

When we saw the olympic stadium, I knew we would be safe. It was a lot busier in that area, and we even crawled through an opening in a fence into a work out facility, because it was even more of a short cut. We finally arrived at the National Palace, which is now an art museum. we heard a Spanish guitarist playing, so we took a seat on the steps in front of the museum, which overlooks the many fountains below, the city, and the Mediterranean. I always loved Spanish guitar and think it is one of the most romantic sounds. By this point, the sun was setting, and it was breezy, and Eric wrapped his arms around me as he sat on the step above the one I was sitting on. We looked to the distance, admiring the surroundings, I then looked back at him, and felt like I was in some kind of movie.

p.s. The Spanish guitarist is actually Chinese, from China. I bought his CD. I never buy touristy things, but I was really moved by his music, as it was the perfect accompaniment to that sunset.

College roommie Diana was due to meet her boyfriend Eric in Spain a couple of weeks ago. He was already in Europe on business, and the plan was to have Diana fly out and meet him in Barcelona; Eric would be coming from London. And then, the heavens and the earth moved between them in the form of Iceland’s volcanic eruption that grounded all planes for days, and what followed was an Amazing Race type obstacle course in travel for Eric to find his way to Diana’s side. As it was going on, I received updates from Diana via text message and status updates on a social networking site. She cursed the Eyjafjallajokull volcano. She made observations about Spain. (“There sure are a lot of naked people at the barcelona beach.”) She ate a few dinners alone. Eric offered, via the social networking site, to have dinner with her, and then interrupted himself with, “Oh wait. I’m stuck on this stupid island.” The stupid island of England. The story does have a happy ending, due to enormous effort on Eric’s end. I texted Diana, as it was happening, that I was very impressed by Eric’s tenacity. She texted back that she was, too, and if she ever had a doubt as to being with him long-term (not that she did), this experience would’ve clarified everything for her. I invited Diana to be my guest blogger to talk about this crazy trip, so here it is, in her own words that she wrote on the flight back:
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This trip to Spain started off rocky (literally). On the morning of my departure, I heard from Eric that his flight from Glasgow was canceled due to the Iceland volcano eruption, sprewing massive amounts of ashes high into the atmosphere, and that he would drive to London with coworkers. I didn’t know how far that was, but it turned out to be something like 6 hours. He had no idea if he could fly out of London to meet me in Barcelona, but the further south he could go, the better.

As I arrived in Barcelona Friday morning, I was greeted with more bad news. Much of European air space was shut down, and definitely no flights out of London. Eric said he would head to the train station and see what his land options would be. Since I had so much time to kill, I made my way to the hotel via public transportation. It took a little exploring and time, but only cost me 6.4 euros (as opposed to a taxi, which is like 35 euros).

The W Barcelona is amazing — trendy and offers a not-stuffy-type of luxury. I got upgraded to a room facing the mediterrean with a view of the city. But I felt alone and empty. I had no idea when Eric would get here, as flights were canceled, and buses and trains and rental cars were full. His days consisted of waking up very early and going to bus and train stations to figure out how to get out of London. Sometimes he would make multiple trips a day. Rest of the time he would be on the internet reading about the options as well as the news updates on the travel restrictions. I, on the other hand, forced myself to at least explore the city a little, mostly along the beach areas, where it is not as crowded. I was barely hungry and ate only one meal a day, even in the midst of delicious catalan food, and time suddenly seemed to go by very slowly.

Saturday morning I was woken up by his call — I knew he had gone to the train station to try to get on the Eurostar from London to Paris, but those trains had been packed because everyone was trying to get out of London via train. Eric said he had gotten up around 5 and was heading to the train, but had a feeling that he should check online, and when he did, he noticed there were tickets available that morning so he rushed to pack and check out to board the train. Although he didn’t know what he would do after he arrives in Paris, as Paris airports were closed and french rail (SNCF) may be on strike. But Paris is a little closer to Barcelona.

I jumped out of the bed and went to talk to the concierge, who told me SNCF is on strike until at least Monday, so no trains are running, and buses are full until Tuesday, and same with rental cars. I was so disappointed, and my glimmer of hope was nearly extinguished. But I was determined to see to it that even if Eric couldn’t get out of Paris, he would at least have a place to stay. So I went to the business center to book him a hotel near Gare du Nord — not ideal, but that’s where his Eurostar arrives. I also decided to read French news on the strike, because I had a hard time believing SNCF would strike at a time when air travel was crippled. Nothing about the strike on French24 news channel. Thank goodness for the little French I was able to read.

Indeed, when Eric arrived in Paris, he wasn’t able to take a connecting train or bus that day out of Paris. So he headed to the hotel, and search for a way out started. It was disappointing, because that meant more days apart and cuts into our vacation. Still, getting out of London was a great move, as flights remained canceled and more and more people tried to take the trains.

The next day he was able to get a train ticket leaving Paris Tuesday AND a bus ticket leaving Monday. Both are overnight trips, and he kept both tickets in case one didn’t work out. So at this point, we at least knew when he would be in Barcelona. But this also meant we had to cancel our Sevilla trip and miss April Fair, the biggest party (week long) in Andalusia.

Eric’s bus was to arrive Tuesday around 6 am — I was not able to sleep the entire night, and was awake before his bus arrived. Then it was about a 15 min metro ride to the hotel. I actually walked out of the hotel to meet him at the metro station, but half a block from the hotel, I saw a guy in a baseball cap across the street with a suitcase and backpack, looking around. It wasn’t quite daylight but I knew it was him. I ran towards him, my flip flops hitting the cobblestone street, making a distinctive sound that resonated in the quiet morning hours.

We hugged for a long time, and for the first time on this trip, I cried. I had held back tears the whole time I had been here, because I wanted to be strong. Otherwise he would be even more anxious and worried about getting here, when he already was doing all he could. But it didn’t matter anymore, and we could finally start our vacation, 4 days late.

The rest of the trip was great — lots of sightseeing, eating, walking around, and relaxing. We never got sick of tapas, paellas, and I have a newfound love in jamon iberico (cured ham made from iberian black pig fed with acorns). We enjoyed the siestas very much and took a nap every day. (I think we were both sleep deprived during the time we were apart.) We didn’t get to visit Sevilla but we will be back.

In some ways, this trip was inconvenient, a lot of lost vacation time, and extra money spent. But significantly, it gave us a chance to see how we behave in time of crisis. And we both did fabulously. There was never any complaints or anger. Rather, we worked as a team to try to solve the problems, despite being sad and anxious. Most importantly, we trusted each other’s decisions (such as when he was on Eurostar, I booked him 2 nights in a Paris hotel and when he arrived, I just told him where to go.). I think this is a key to a successful partnership, and I have no doubt that ours will be a successful one.

(P.S.: During my moments of uttermost darkness and total despair a couple of years back, CT always said that in time, I would meet a great guy, be married to him and have kids like I always thought I would. And everything that made me sad would just dissipate and not matter anymore. Even during those times, as hard as it was to look forward, I remained hopeful that she would be right. I guess it pays to have that kind of faith.)
~ * ~
Happy ending, didn’t I tell you? As this was going on, I gave Mr. W occasional updates of their progress. He said more than once that if it had been us, he would’ve been content to just stay in Paris or London, and I could enjoy Barcelona, and we just won’t bother moving mountains to come together. Hmmph. He tried to pacify my displeasure by saying that the above would never happen to us because we’d never travel separately like that, but still. I’m happy to see that Eric understands what we go through when our loved ones are not where they’re supposed to be, especially if where they’re supposed to be, is by our side. Good job, Diana.