A love letter to my Mother

This posting was meant for Mothers Day but I needed my Mom to see it first.

 

 

 

A love letter to my Mother

　Thirty-two years ago you were presented with startling news. You were carrying a child and you were only a child yourself. Not yet 16 years old and you would never know what the teenage experience would be. You choose a path that would be difficult, stressful and scary because you choose to keep me.

I can only imagine what difficulties life served you because of your choice. Thirty-two years later, I can say thank you. The choice to keep me and raise me will have ripple effects for generations to come. One day when I have my own kids and grandchildren, they will know about you and your love for me.

Our relationship was not always perfect but it was honest. You gave me advice that was in my best interest even if I didn’t like it. You loved me so much that when I needed comfort, I knew exactly where to go. Your hugs took every worry away and your encouragement lifted me up.

Mom, I want you to know that you did a great job raising me. Never doubt who you are and what your love did for me. I have become a person who is happy with her life, feels loved and lacks nothing. When I think of you I smile because I was blessed and lucky. I was lucky that in 1981 you choose to keep and love me. Thank you!

Easter in London with my temporary family

Easter it is accompanied by the thoughts of church or family. Everyone does not celebrate Easter but for those who do, the Sunday is spent either with family or at a church service. As for myself, on holidays such as Easter I prefer to be with family. As a flight attendant I don't always have a choice. Flights are departing and arriving 7 days a week and at all hours of the day. Those flights can't depart without a flight crew so we miss several holidays with the family.
          This particular Easter I worked the flight to London.When you fly away from home as often as I do, you tend to create a temporary family. My temporary family for 28 hours were my fellow flight attendants. Once we had arrived in London, we parted ways to take an afternoon nap. After several hours of rest (which was really needed) we gathered for dinner. The stores and restaurant had closed early for Easter Sunday. Instead of wandering for an open place, we walked over to a flight attendant favorite. The pub was called The Monkey Puzzle. The owner was familiar with a few of the flight attendants on a first name basis. He was a delight as he walked around and entertained us with a joke or two. We had originally planned on only staying for a pint of beer. One pint became two and finally we asked for the dinner menu.  As we waited for dinner to be served, we sat around and discussed topics from A to Z. The main topic of discussion was why some people are in your life and some are not. We all had concluded and agreed that some people are meant to be temporary. You were what they needed or they were what you needed at the moment. As I looked at the other four flight attendants I realized they were what I needed in London and vice versa. We had allowed each other to be our temporary family for the holiday. We didn't focus on being away from home because instead we laughed, ate and created memories as though we were at home.  Thank you temporary family for making my Easter memorable. Happy Easter everyone!

4 day mini in Austin, Texas.

A mini vacation serves two purposes. First purpose, it's long enough to relax the cranky work muscles with a change of scenery. Second, a mini vacation is short so you can be back at work quickly. I'm a firm believer that if you can afford to take several mini vacations a year, you should. They rejuvenate the soul and give you a better perspective of a place you have never been.
    I took a mini vacation a few weeks ago to Austin, Texas. I had friends raving about how much they loved the city and I was curious. My only previous thoughts of Texas were big hair, pageants, football and a lot of land. I was pleasantly surprised when this was not the impression I received. I was in Austin for four days and with each passing day I fell in love with the city. Individuality and creativity seemed to run rampant in the streets. The food, the culture and the people blew my mind. The people were friendly, hip and gave the impression of being very comfortable in their own skin. The food and music also impacted my impressions of a city not afraid to experiment. I tried so many places to eat that I provoked a serious food coma by the end. Since it was four days and a lot was done, I can only point out some aspects of my mini. Below I have listed seven places and why I enjoyed them.

1.  Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q.
      11570 Research Blvd
      512-418-9898
* I absolutely loved the food here. I enjoyed the food so much that I went twice. The St. Louis Ribs (my favorite), Baby back ribs and pork loin were mouth watering. The selection of Bar-B-Q was extensive and you can have a sample before ordering. Also, if you visit Rudy's, you can't leave without trying the cream corn. I believe its a mixture of corn and cream cheese. I would love to learn to make this for Thanksgiving. 

2. The Driskill Hotel (1886 Cafe & Bakery)
    604 Brazos Street
    512-474-5911
*This place is beautiful in decor and architecture. The Hotel was built in 1886. When you walk into the hotel, you feel like you belong to an upper social class in the 1800's. Inside the hotel you can have dinner in the main  restaurant while you listen to music or coffee in the bakery. The bakery is off to the side of the main lobby. The bakery waitstaff proudly announced that the chocolate cake was the same recipe since 1886. I should of tried the chocolate cake but I tried instead the Pecan pie and a cup of coffee. The pecan pie did not disappoint but I'm still kicking myself for not trying the chocolate cake. The hotel and bakery could not have been a better setting to have a sweet treat.

3. Opals Divine
    700 West 6th Street
    512-477-3308
*My mouth had a unique taste adventure at Opals Divine. I ordered the urban bubba. This is a burger with jalapenos, Gorgonzola cheese, chipotle mayo and wing sauce. My mouth felt as though a cheeseburger and a chicken wing had a child. That experience alone is reason to visit again.

4. The Original New Orleans Po-boy and Gumbo shop
    SOCO Trailer Park
*SOCO (South Congress) is a neighborhood in Austin on the street South Congress. In this neighborhood you will find a row of food trailers. This area is called trailer park. The trailer I tried had Cajun flavored boiled crawfish. The Cajun flavors were a tiny bit spicy but added just enough kick to the soft meat inside the crawfish. The crawfish was so good, it could of came out of any five star restaurant.

5. Cafe Medici
    1101 West Lynn
    512-524-5049
*Wow glass mugs and not paper. After that shock, I enjoyed the atmosphere and my chai tea latte. All over Austin, you can find many coffee shops with their own unique flair. Cafe Medici is just one of these great pop and mom coffee shops.

6. Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library
*This was my first time visiting a presidential Library. It was interesting to listen and read about his contributions to the civil rights movement and criticism of his handling of Vietnam. It was an educational experience and also inspiring.

7. Uncommon Objects
    1512 South Congress Ave
    512-442-4000
* This is the holy land for lovers of antiques, oddities and treasures. You can anything from old photographs, statues, rustic keys to antique furniture. Even if you don't buy anything, walk in and take a hidden look at the hidden gems. Your trash here is someones next decorating piece.

As I stated previously, these are only seven places of the many I enjoyed. In addition to the seven places above, I did enjoy two nights of music and drinking on sixth street. Sixth street is great for bar hopping or listening to a cool band. I hope to return to Austin next year and do it all over again.

Terminal 1 breakfast spot-Chicago O'Hare International Airport

If you were to walk down a Chicago street yelling “Cheezborger, Cheezborger”, at least one person would giggle and start to reminisce about Billy Goat Tavern food. The Billy Goat Tavern has been a Chicago institution since 1934. The words “Cheezborger, Cheezborger” became national when a skit about the Billy Goat Tavern was featured on Saturday Night Live. What some people might not know about Billy Goat Tavern is that it’s serves up a quick, large portion and pretty cheap breakfast in terminal one. If you find yourself on a morning flight with extra time to kill, walk over to terminal one. Billy Goat Tavern is located in the food court in concourse C. The food court will be in your view once you have reached the top of the escalators on the C concourse. Now remember most people might not know about this breakfast spot but a lot do. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself at the back of the line. Good thing for you is that they are like a well oiled machine and quickly crank out breakfast platters and breakfast sandwiches. My top reasons why you should visit for breakfast:
1. Breakfast option prices run from $3.00 to $7.00. This is cheap for O’Hare!
2. Breakfast platters taste homemade
3. Quick service
4. Right off the escalator so its quickly accessible.

Please feel free to email me and let me know of your favorites spots at O’Hare. I would love to try it out.

Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico

Viejo San Juan is a beautiful destination spot in Puerto Rico. The area itself is a narrow piece of land in Puerto Rico that is connected to the mainland by bridges. It is popular with locals but especially popular with the cruise ship industry. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, cruise ships dock and tourist can get a glimpse of Puerto Rican colonial heritage. Once in Viejo San Juan, your eyes are mesmerized by vibrant colors. Underneath your feet are not tar and cement roads but cobble streets lined with buildings in a Spaniard colonial style. Small plazas with beautiful fountains and a warm breeze that brushes against your cheek.

For the many reasons that Viejo San Juan is a tourist attraction, it can also be a tourist trap. Unfortunately, with any tourist destination you will receive tourist prices and a watered down local experience. Restaurants tend to serve food at prices that can break the wallet and mix local favors with other cultures. Finding that true local experience can be difficult when you only have one day to explore and no rental car. Fortunately, one restaurant can still provide that local experience with great food, service and at a reasonable price.

The restaurant is called Café Manolin. Located among the colorful buildings and cobble streets is a restaurant that is popular with the locals. According to the restaurant website, it has been around for the last 60 years and I understand why. In a recent visit with family, my cousin introduced me to Café Manolin. The restaurant is quite simple and to the point in it’s design. A space to enjoy good food and conversation. As you walk in, a snake shape bar surrounds the front of the restaurant and several tables scattered throughout. As for the food, I can only give one descriptive word and that would be "Delicious".  I ordered mofongo with camarones (mashed green plantain stuffed with shrimp) and jugo de china natural (fresh squeezed orange juice). The flavor was rich and the serving amount was large. If I find myself in Viejo San Juan again, Cafe Manolin will be getting a second visit.

Café Manolin
Address: 251 San Justo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Telephone: 787-723-9743
Website: http://www.cafemanolinoldsanjuan.com/





　

　

　

　





　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　






　

　

　

The Travel Addiction

Is travel an addiction? I have to ask myself this question as I once again pack my suitcase. I find myself needing a fix when I don't travel. The fix of meeting new people, the sound of the plane engines and allowing my mind to drift for a bit. Is this travel addiction happen to only a specific type of person? Well, the truth is that I think anyone can become addicted to travel.

The addiction catches you by surprise at first. You surprise yourself because you realize you are fantasizing about somewhere besides home. You are scared but curious. Your scared to pay to much, will the plane ride be to long, will it look the same in reality as in your dreams. Your desires get the best of you and you take the leap. You schedule your first trip that isn't related to a family visit.

You decide to go somewhere warm and sunny. Once at your destination,  you can't believe the pure pleasure you are having. It fills your soul in a way that you can't imagine going home. Once home, you can't stop thinking about it. You drive to work and your remembering the heat against your back. Your boss talks to you and your only thinking about the beach. Yup, you are definitely addicted to travel.

Travel can take you from the ordinary to imaginary. Once you allow yourself to visit places you only thought of, it changes you. It becomes apart of you and makes the world your playground.

 

The Bungee Jump

October 6, 2012

Today my travels take me to a place where the ocean is a sea blue and the scorpions hide from the heat. I’m in beautiful Cabo San Lucas and what a sight to see. A combination of lush greenery, cactus and sand. I’m told that it’s not always this green. A succession of storms graced the area for several days and provided just the right amount of water to add a touch of color to the landscape. When I close my eyes, I can hear the ocean roll against the sand as it breaks. A noise that a Women from Chicago is not accustomed to but can fear and appreciate.

This trip is extra special for me. If I had a bucket list, I would be able to cross one off my list. I experienced the great phenomenon called “The Bungee Jump”. What rush and fear all rolled up in one ball of excitement. I can’t tell you how many feet down the jump was but all I knew I was going to be hanging by my ankle‘s. Bungee jumping has always been a fascinating activity to me. One person crazy enough to throw themselves over a cliff and to just hang freely. Leaving your life in the hands of a rubber rope and the person who set-ups your bungee jump. Most people might think I’m nuts for wanting to do an activity that might cause me to be a “splat” at the end of a cliff. Well, Queen of crazy I guess I’am and was.

I have played out before the scenario of me bungee jumping in my head and wow that was not what happened. I imagined I would be so scared that my fear would paralyze me and I would possibly have the urge to vomit. After maybe throwing up several times I would jump and be great. I would jump in perfect form. My head up, legs together and as I was coming back up I would perform several flips.

Now what really happened. I actually was unusually calm and excited about the jump. I believe what helped me to feel calm was the activity before. I was at a place called “Wild Canyon” with two other friends. We originally went to zip line and we did. The zip line experience felt like freedom. Their is something to be said about flying from one cliff to another on a zip line. The air feels great against your cheeks and it’s a rush to feel the speed. Before you reach the other side, you can take a look over your side and realize how high you are. The combination of boulders, sand and the blue and white sky had never looked more beautiful to me then at that height.

After the zip line activity, the decision was made to try the bungee jump. A cage like contraption with a see through floor took us between the two cliffs.  Can I stop and say, "who thought it would be funny to scare people more with a see through floor"? 

 First, my very brave friend jumped. Now here was my turn to live out a dream.  At this point, I was still imagining myself as a graceful bird flying in the air. A complete freedom. Feet together and one, two, three ......jump!!!!!! My breath was caught and all I could see was my vision tunneling down towards the ground. As quickly as I jumped, was as quickly I hung upside down.  I'm pretty sure a few choice words tried to escape my mouth as I spiraled down but they were swallowed in silence.

What an amazing rush and experience the jump was. I completed something in my life I always wanted to try.  I just wish my fall was as beautiful as I imagined it to be. When I had a chance to see the pictures of the jump, beautiful was not the best description. I think the phrase of "A falling bird doing the split" might of been better. Nevertheless, I have no regrets.

Signed,
The falling bird!

 

The ugly and the beautiful side of travel: Sleepover at MKE

July 9, 2012

As a airline employee I have the benefit of taking advantage of the “beautiful” side of travel. I get to travel for free or for a small fee. I can go anywhere I want as long as my schedule allows for it. I sight see, explore new cultures and get to eat a whole lot of great food. This side of travel is great until it gets complicated. Anyone who travels often knows that at some point, travel can be ugly. The flight will be delayed, or you miss your flight. The percentage for travel to turn ugly gets higher when you only fly standby.

Today I was privileged to experience the “ugly” side of travel. The overnight stay in a airport concourse. For some reason or another a frequent standby passenger will experience a overnight airport stay. The reasons can be financial or the option for a warm bed that night may not be available. Today was my sleepover at Milwaukee airport. After three failed attempts from Newark to Chicago, Milwaukee became my only option. As my body physically made the trip to Milwaukee my suitcase went ahead to Chicago.

Several hours later I found myself in Milwaukee only with a phone, laptop and a sweater. The minus being a bed, pillow and a tooth brush. The ugly and not so glamorous side of travel had presented itself in full force. The next shuttle to Chicago would not be leaving until 4:15am. I had six beautiful hours to quench my boredom and frustration until the shuttle arrived.

The first adjustment was the feeling of being alone in an airport concourse. Stores were shut down, the chatter of customers had ceased. Feeling boredom and frustration I turned on my laptop. Reading the latest Hollywood gossip, world news and anything to get my mind from staring at the clock. Tick, tock and yup I’m still at the airport. Absorbed in my own self misery I forgot to see the beautiful in this travel experience. While I was wallowing, the airport concourse kept alive. I was not alone at all. A maintenance worker by the name of Robert had approached me. Apparently familiar with overnight guest, he offered me a cup of coffee. His eyes and face showing sympathy for the lonely traveler, made me realize this to was also part of what it is to travel. Not always do the travel experiences have to be museums or great dinners. Sometimes the beautiful part of travel is meeting kind people and just allowing yourself to be immersed in the atmosphere around you. After Roberts act of kindness, the airport became vibrant. No longer was I upset and counting down the time until my shuttle arrived. What seemed empty now became interesting to watch. A bird was using the airport as a playground as it flew from seat to seat. Workers were cleaning and chattering about their families. What I was able to see after hours was a privilege. No rushing from plane to plane. I was able to see those people who keep the chair’s clean and the carpet under your feet vacuumed. That realization took my travel experience from “ugly to beautiful”.

Disclaimer and Introduction

Why do I write “The standby diary”. Well the truth is, it’s for pure pleasure. I don’t claim to be a great author, illustrator, story teller or whatever description comes to mind. I write because I want to put ink or key strokes (in modern terms) to my travel and life experiences. Every time I see something beautiful or have a great experience I always get the urge to share. I want to take a picture or call someone and say “hey, do you know what I did because you have to try it”. Life is about the small and large experiences that we share with others and enjoy by ourselves. Creating a database for those experiences is the perfect way to look back and realize that you once lived.

I once attended an event that Warren Buffet was speaking at. I was so excited to see this legend from the business world. Afterwards, I was driving home with a friend and having that great sharing urge. I wanted to share the Warren Buffet experience with everyone I knew. All of a sudden I felt this sadness. I expressed to my friend that I had been pretty blessed to see and experience many things this world had to offer. I wish I would of have written down how I felt at that exact moment when I experienced something cool . As a flight attendant, I have been able to see the Eiffel tower, Mona Lisa, The Great Wall of China and Sistine Chapel. I went on to elaborate that keeping a daily journey would require to much time etc etc. He suggested that I didn’t keep a daily journal but instead when I felt something pretty wonderful happen, that I would write it down. A diary/journal of those simple and grand awe moments.

This was the beginning to “The Standby Diary”. The seed my friend planted that day continued to grow with every trip and awe moment. I decided to finally start typing away and logging into my database experience. Hence, “The standby Diary” was born!

Now the logistics, why the name? Standby is the way I usually travel. I have been an airline employee for some time. As an airline employee, I fly standby which means only if the flight has space I can jump on. This perk allows me to travel often. My writings will be from a trip or an everyday moment at home. Home for me is the beautiful city of Chicago. As for opinions and the mention of places I attend. Opinion's are exactly what I write. I’am not a fact provider or a food critic. This is simply a space for me to express myself and have a copy of the life I have lived.