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I was in a crappy-with-a-capital-Y mood on Saturday.  I have no reason for it, I just was.  I got out of the house for a bit sans family because I thought 1) it would help my mood to have a little “me” time and 2) I figured I could kick my own ass at the gym if retail therapy didn’t help.

I went by Garden ridge for some planters and when I pulled into their busy parking lot, a Enterprise rental van was cutting through all parking lanes in a rather dangerous manner.  I, being the passive-aggressive driver that I can be, did not even slow down a bit.  I thought, “go ahead, hit me!” and kept my pace up the parking lot lane.  As she looked right at me, waved her arm at me, not slowing down even a little, cutting through parked cars and across lanes, risking people’s vehicles and safety…I laid on the horn and continued right for her.

At that moment, I truly wished that money was no object for us because I would have broad-sided her.

So, she saw myself and two other cars driving where we had the RIGHT OF WAY and proceeded without caution.  I was pissed anyway so this really bothered me.  I nearly took a parking spot near the entrance to the store but I knew it would burn a hole through me if I didn’t say something to her.

I circled around and over a couple of aisles where she had parked and pulled up next to her with my window down and ever-so-rudely asked her, “Do you think the fucking rules don’t apply to you?!?” and drove away flipping her the bird.

Now, I freaked her out a bit by pulling up next to her, but by no means do I believe that my action, or in this case REaction, has changed this woman into a more considerate, safe driver…I’m not kidding myself.  But it did make me feel better instead of holding it in for it to fester into something ripe and nasty.

I also had a few revelations this weekend, including:

1. I think there is barbecue sauce on my ceiling.
2. I really hate my chosen wordpress theme.
3. Only one of my kids toenails ever grows.  Just one.
4. Bananas make my kid poop like grown up.

That is about it.

Oh, and I started a new craft project this weekend but I can’t tell you what it is…or I’ll have to kill you.

I am alive and well.  Sorry for the hiatus, but pregnancy and jetlag don’t mix well.

To recap, Cybr saw me off on the airport bus at 11:30 am Monday June 30th.  He watched as I pulled away, it was all I could do not to cry.  My friend, Teresa, rode with me to the airport to schlep my large suitcases around and see me off.  It was so considerate of her to go with, since Cybr couldn’t…he had to return to our flat to meet the pet exporters.

I flew out of Hong Kong at 1:30 pm and after an untold number (simply because I have not the capacity by which to actually calculate how long I traveled, including layovers and time zone changes) of hours in transit, I arrived in Kansas City, Missouri at nearly midnight on the same day.  I had to wield my luggage around in LAX while going through customs and if it weren’t for a kind older man, I probably would have hurt myself or my baby by lifting those things.  Thanks, kind guy!

My Dad was waiting outside my gate at the KC airport, he was a sight for sore, blackened eyes.  They weren’t really blackened, just appeared that way from lack of sleep…I was not able to sleep for more than a few minutes at a time in flight.

He handled my luggage and drove us back to his house where I think I slept for about 4 or 5 hours.  I tried to get things situated for the fuzzy kids at his house during the day on Tuesday, then at about 10 pm we went to the cargo hold and retrieved Chini, Guinness, Francis and Burrito.  They all looked good, but desperately wanted out of those cages.

We were able to let Chini and Guinness out to take care of their business at the cargo hold.  We took them to a patch of grass and let them out.  They both peed forEVER, or so it seemed, then Chini proceeded to roll in the grass for about 10 minutes…apparently her way of kissing the ground post-flight.

We all came back to my Dad’s and the fuzzies seemed to settle in right away.  Chini, Guinness and Francis all seemed to remember my Dad and his home.  Even Burrito (who is quite the scaredy-cat) was exploring his new digs within just an hour or so.  They are all quite content and comfortable here.

I will have to leave Francis and Burrito behind when I return to St. Louis in about a week.  I am not looking forward, it will break my heart to leave them.  I am trying to think of it as an extended vacation where I would be away from them anyway.  I know they will be fine here with my Dad and will not miss me nearly as much as I miss them…but it is still going to hurt me.

So, the fuzzy kids were all fine, but I had a bit of a health issue this week…you can read about it at Baby Barie if you so desire.

I will slowly be getting back to regular posting, so please check in regularly.  Again, sorry for the lack of posts, but life and getting healthy has been a priority for the past week.

See you soon!

After traveling for what feels like a week, it sure is good to be home.  Especially to see all my fuzzy kids.

I seem to have a suitcase missing in action, apparently it didn’t make it on the correct flight.  As long as they find it, I don’t care.

I was all but body cavity searched in St. Louis and Los Angeles by airport security (not just for fun).  I had a minor disagreement with LAX security but wasn’t detained, so it must not have been too bad!

Lots of fun.  Can’t wait to do it again.  *deep sigh*

Must go love on my babies, bye for now…

I have spent so much time in airports in the past month that if I never see one again, it will be too soon.

I have been delayed everywhere except for Kansas City, that flight was on time and I only spent about an hour waiting to board. 

Everywhere else has had delays, so far none due to weather only due to maintenance issues.  I have had plenty of time to think and what I thought about is why there isn’t an extra airplane or two hanging around that actually work for just such an occasion as “maintenance trouble”.   If there was an extra working condition airplane they could use while they fix the troubled aircraft, then there would seemingly be fewer delays…unless, of course, all aircraft have maintenance issues and/or repairs that must be made making it impossible to have enough extras hanging around to do any good.

Although, I must say, that doesn’t make me feel any better about getting on a plane.

It is the best public transit (PT) system I have yet to see.

Inexpensive. Safe. Clean.

But, DAMN!!! I hate it!

I miss driving so much. So, so much. My gripe with PT is that it is sooooo slow and I am almost always in a rush.

It is not unusual to waste a large portion of a day sitting on some form of public transportation or another just to get from point A to point B.

For instance, yesterday I spent 3 hours traveling via PT for a 25 minute appointment for acupuncture. That annoys the hell out of me.

I took bus #7 from our flat to the DB Bus Terminal and waited for the DB03. I took the DB03 bus to the Sunny Bay MTR station where I waited for the train to arrive. I took the Orange Line train from Sunny Bay to Lai King where I disembarked to wait for the Red Line train to arrive. I took the Red Line train from Lai King via 7 or 8 stops until reaching Jordan station where I exited the MTR station. Once out of the MTR, I proceeded to walk about 6 blocks to the building where the Chinese Medicine doctor practices. I literally met with her for 25 minutes and then did the entire trip back.

Three hours.

Today, I went to Wan Chai Immigration Tower to pick up our visas. This entails a lot of travel as well. Bus 7 to DB bus terminal, walk to ferry pier. Take ferry 3 to Central District. From the ferry I decided to take a taxi instead of the MTR. I have chosen poorly. I got the cabbie from hell. He refused to let me out where I was dropped off last time and said he had to take me around to the back. I said fine and when we get there I pay and ask for a receipt. He gets the receipt in his hand, I open the door and he then pulls it back and begins to pull forward with my door open. I say, “Stop. My door is open. Just give me the receipt and I will get out here”. He says, “I need to pull forward. We are blocking traffic”. I say, “I just need the receipt”. He says, “No. I pull forward”. He is a very angry man, so this is much more freaky than I can type it. We weren’t blocking traffic until he already had the receipt in his hand and the car in front of him pulled away. Me getting out (since I have paid and he is holding my receipt for ransom for some creepy, odd reason) would allow him to pull away. Instead, he wants me to stay and I refused. No one was honking, no one was flagging us forward, I should have just been allowed to exit with my damn receipt. I said, “I am not closing the door. Just hand me the receipt”. He yells, “NO!” and that is when I yelled back “Just give me the fucking receipt!” and snatched it out of his hand. He began screaming insanely at me as I exited. Did I mention that I had already paid fare and there was no traffic blocking issue? He was loud and angry with me from the beginning and I don’t know why.

So, I think that went well…

And that, folks, is my public transportation in Hong Kong experience. I said it was clean and safe, right?