i’m so jealous- he goes everywhere on someone else’s dime!
the newest “dance” video.
the out-takes video.
log off and live!
By Jillian
i’m so jealous- he goes everywhere on someone else’s dime!
the newest “dance” video.
the out-takes video.
By Danny
Recently I received complaints regarding this blog and the fact that I’ve yet to post.In reality, the reason for my neglect is that I was waiting for the right time.That time has now arrived.I recognize this is a long post, but you really do need to read the whole thing.
I’ve taken many bus rides to New York from Washington, DC.Many were on Greyhound and once other less expensive options became available, notably BoltBus and MegaBus, I switched.Our Brazilian Couchsurfers needed to get to New York, so I showed them the options and helped book the fares online.They ultimately selected MegaBus based on the schedule and availability, I’d never taken it, but I hadn’t heard anything bad, so they booked.Needless to say, it was a hassle getting MegaBus to email us the tickets.We spent over 2 hours on the phone with them, bouncing from city to city trying to figure out why their online booking system never sent us the tickets.MegaBus’ customer service is a nightmare, but finally we got things worked out and expected smooth sailing from there.We were wrong.
We arrived at the D.C. MegaBus stop a few minutes before the bus was scheduled to arrive.As the bus pulled up, there were cars illegally parked, blocking the bus’ loading space and the driver refused to let any passengers on the bus.Immediately people began calling the city to get the cars towed.
One car quickly drove off, creating a single parking space and as a new car moved to park there I walked up and told the driver it was a no parking zone.The driver wasn’t very surprised and drove off.
There was still space on the curb for a single car, but not a bus.Seeing this, one of the girls waiting for the bus went and stood in the space with her luggage to ensure no one else would park there.Seeing the space, a Lincoln Navigator pulled up and began to park in the space.The female driver realized someone was standing there and a “gentleman” got out of the passenger side of the car and instructed the driver, presumably his girlfriend to park anyhow; never mind the girl standing there…he would take care of her.He began to yell at the girl to move out of the parking spot and yell at his girlfriend to back in and run the girls over. I walked over to see if I could help and walked toward the passenger window to tell the driver it was a no parking zone.
I never got the chance.The next thing I knew the gentleman was letting some frustration out on me.
“What are you doing by my car, don’t go by my car.”
“Just wanted to tell her it’s a no parking zone.”
“You want to die today”
A little surprised I answered,: “No, just want to tell her it’s a no parking zone”
“You want to die today”
Right, because asking someone if they want to die is my usual reaction to someone approaching my car.He didn’t care about the no parking zone and didn’t allow me to pass him to get back on the curb. Taller and larger than me, but not exactly monstrous, he continued to yell at me as the group of bus riders behind me grew in their support behind me.I ignored him and got away from the car as best I could. Jillian stepped up next to me and, along with several other passengers, told him to calm down. Although more MegaBus passengers stepped into the parking space to block his girlfriend from parking, he kept yelling at his girlfriend to park the car. This continued and since I was now the focal point of his rage, and his car wasn’t getting parked, he decided he needed to change his strategy.Still yelling at me, the next words out of his mouth were “let me get it out.”Then he opened the car door and searched for something inside.
Meanwhile, everyone one the street, thinking he was getting a weapon, began to yell at him to calm down.One of the bus riders had already been on the phone with some city official trying to get the other cars towed and yelled to the gentleman that the police were on the way.The gentleman replied that he hoped the “cops came” because I was going to “need some help.”He was serious, although I’m not sure why he wanted the police to come because he likely would have been arrested; clearly we were dealing with a highly intelligent individual.He reached back into his car and another bus rider, probably about as big as the jackass stood next to me.Expecting a gun or a knife to come out of the car, I had backed away.Instead, after some serious searching, out came… an umbrella.
Let me be clear, I hate umbrellas.People walk around town when it is barely misting with these huge beach umbrellas to keep the slight drizzle off their raincoat and pay no heed to the eyes they poke out as they force others out of their way.I hate umbrellas.Having lived in a city for over 8 years now I have often vowed that if I ever grew to a position of power in city government I would outlaw umbrellas in pedestrian areas.Umbrellas are horrendous contraptions.
In awe that he was going to threaten me with an umbrella, our dialogue continued as he approached me brandishing the umbrella.
“Say another word, I’ll kill you.”
“Just don’t park here.”
“Just say another word.”
“Just get out of here, just don’t park here.”
“I hope those cops come, you be need’n some help when I’m done with you.”
“Just don’t park here. Drive away.”
Clearly this guy was trying to be very tough, with his umbrella.He shook it at me.He swung it in my direction.He said would poke my eye out.He stayed close to me.He looked me in the eye and threatened to kill me.He was so close to me, I could feel his breath.The little bit of Krav Maga I’ve had prepared me to block the umbrella coming at me from the left (where he had it) and I was ready to strike with my other hand and put a knee in his gut at the same time.I was completely relaxed, which was shocking to me, but also completely ready to defend myself and strike back.Then I chuckled to myself. He was shaking.Once I saw that he was shaking, I wasn’t so concerned anymore.I had given him his chance to strike me on countless occasions at this point and he hadn’t done a thing.There were close to 40 people on the sidewalk behind me, and I knew that if he hadn’t struck me yet, he wasn’t going to. I hadn’t responded how he wanted and he’d lost some steam.He was trying to talk a big game, to scare me, but he scared himself more.
This guy was not backing down however, and he continued to taunt me.
“Say another word, just one word,” he said.
I replied, “Word.”
“Say something, I dare you,” he continued.
“Something,” I said.
Next thing I knew the other car blocking the curb pulled away and his girlfriend, who out of no where suddenly appeared ushered him back into the Lincoln and drove off.Talk about anger management problems!
I really don’t know what his issue was but the bus pulled up, we waved good bye to our couch surfers and walked away. Five minutes later, well away from the scene, still shaken a bit, we started laughing about the whole thing.
By Jillian
We’re back in the cold northeast. Just in time for a little snow later this week. Yay! (can you sense the sarcasm!)
Jamaica was a very necessary vacation. Ever have those days when it feels like you’re always running around and never get anything done? Well that’s been the last two months for me. Life has been chaotic with work, traveling and planning, so going to Jamaica was a light at the end of the tunnel!
Although getting there was less than stellar (air jamaica felt that by posting a 3:25 departure time that meant that they could show up at 3:15 to board the plane and the not take off until 4:30), there was free champagne on the flight!
We stayed at the Iberostar Rose Hall outside of Montego Bay. It’s your typical all-inclusive resort: beach chairs, fruity drinks, buffet food, etc.. A great type of resort if you have 15 people ages 18-88 with you, but probably not the best place for a romantic honeymoon or couples vacation. They only had two of the hotels open when we were there- the third is going to be couples only, or as we heard through the grapevine a “nudist” resort. Hm… that might not mesh well with the family vibe they have going there. Anyway, not too much adventure at the resort- they limit the amount of time you have to sail and snorkel, but we got in what we could. We went sailing twice and snorkeled, although there wasn’t much to see at the man-made reef.
With all of the family we didn’t get off the resort much. And by much I mean once.. and yes, I admit it- it was to the rastafarian craft village next door. In addition to certain substances which are not legal here in the US, but are definitely plentiful in Jamaica, they also sold lots of wood carvings and t-shirts. Most of it was hand made and they were certainly willing to bargain. Since we live in less than 600 sq. feet and are trying to get RID of stuff not ADD new stuff we didn’t buy anything.
Not much else to report on- it was your average Carribean vacation. Here’s a cute picture to finish with though!
Few holidays are more important in our family than Thanksgiving. Growing up, our Thanksgiving consisted of a enormous Thanksgiving supper- served usually around 2pm that consisted of any number of strange and unusual dishes depending on which house we were at. There was the year of the squirrel dumplings (Grandma’s in Arkansas) and the year of the deep fried turkey (Aunt & Uncles in Illinois) and the year the power went out and we had to finish the meal on the charcoal bbq (Philadelphia). Now that I’m married, we always do Thanksgiving with my husband’s family… in Florida… about 1000 miles away from the cold, snowy Thanksgivings I knew as a kid.
Thanksgiving in Florida is different. Its more like the 4th of July for me, only without the fireworks. My husband’s family & friends gets together around noon at a local park, has a big potluck picnic (including turkey!) and plays a little touch football or beach volley ball. Inevitably my husband attempts to throw someone into the lake… usually his younger cousins, and that’s Thanksgiving. I love having the potluck at the park, but even after three years of it, it still doesn’t feel like real thanksgiving to me. Maybe its because I can’t eat copious amounts of turkey and then pass out on the couch! 🙂
Instead of heading to warm and sunny Florida this year, we’re heading to JAMAICA to celebrate Grandma Florence’s 85th Birthday. While it will probably even feel less like thanksgiving in Jamaica, I’m looking forward to the vacation. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!
By Jillian
This has been an incredibly difficult week in terms of trip planning. As you can tell we’ve been working non-stop on the website, hoping to actually pull this thing together before thanksgiving so we can really start publicizing it to our friends and family. I’m just completely shocked at how long it takes to build a website, I mean I know its very labor intense and granted I’m a complete novice, but I have a new found appreciation for graphic designers and website designers.
So back to the topic of this blog, which I am clearly trying to avoid. I told my work this week that I was leaving. Besides being very difficult for me because I actually like my job and my coworkers it was difficult to get up the courage to say something. Shaking like a leaf I told my immediate supervisor and second line supervisor who were both as supportive as they could be given the situation. I guess I expected them to be outright mad or angry, but they both could appreciate why I was leaving. They offered to discuss a leave of absence, but for the length I would be gone it just wouldn’t work out. I guess it went as well as it could have, but it was still one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I do feel relieved in a way that I told them because at least we can be open about it, and I think they appreciated the 90 day + notice, but alas it made the trip very, very real. More real in every sense of the word. No matter what happens,we are out of here sometime this winter… or atleast I’m out of a job. 🙂
In many ways telling them I was leaving was liberating because I’m actually doing something that I really, really, really want to do, not something that I think I am supposed to do just because it’s on the life path. Until this point I feel like I’ve done everything that I should have done with my life…graduated high school, gone to college, met a boy, graduated from college, got married, bought real estate, etc… without any blimps along the way. This is a step away from that predetermined life path, a big step away, but I think a positive one. I’m sure virtually everyone things we are crazy for doing this or at least naive, but I’m glad we are following our own path and not just doing what is expected.
For today at least, I am positive and upbeat about taking this trip. Determined to see it through all the way through no matter what may come our way. Courage is the word of today. 🙂
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