Border Town Barista

It's very obvious that I have not updated my blog in over a year. So, I might as well just act as though writing in this is an everyday occurance. But, first I will give you the short version of the last year. Lost 30 pounds, ran a few triathlons, met Gustavo, hated my job and quit, moved to Texas with Gustavo who is here in pilot training. Meanwhile, I am reinventing myself. And, might I say...it is fun.

I have this vision that sometime in the very near future my blog will be just as entertaining to readers as Chelsea Handler's audiobooks are to me. I dont have nearly as much sex with total strangers or have an affinity for high price vodka - BUT I have been spending a lot of time with Mexicans lately. My comedic timing needs work. I must admit I am much more funny in person - it'll get better I promise. Anyways, back to the Mexicans. I spend a good 6 hours a day working as a barista in a local coffee shop in the Mexican border town of Del Rio, Texas (that is a picture of me working). 6 hours, I know right? Dont stress myself. Well the few dollars I do make I have only a few option to spend them at. For example, if you were to look up department stores in Del Rio in the phone book you would find Bealls and JCPenny, followed promptly by WalMart and FAMILY Dollar. WHAT?! Family Dollar? Anyways I prefer to spend my $10 in tips at Walmart. Just last week I was waiting patiently in line at Walmart witnessing a transaction transpire in front of me completely in Spanish. Not shocked as over 90 percent of the population in hispanic and Mexican license plates are common on cars driven in the area. But, BUT when it came time for legal tender to exchange hands the women paid in PESOS. Pesos at a walmart? In the United States? I was shocked...did their registers even have programming software in place to handle such a transaction?

3 more months. Gustavo has his second solo this week with his second check flight to follow sometime next week. That means we are half way done here in Del Rio. We will be in Corpus Christi sometime in January. It will be here in no time. His schooling puts me on an emotional rollercoaster. When he has a bad flight I feel overwhelmed with anxiety and when he has a good flight I want to go out and celebrate. He makes me so nervous sometimes, but I know that he is going to be a great C-130 pilot. Which is interesting. He already knows what he is going to fly. I cannot imagine what the spouses of the active duty guys are feeling - they fight for pilot spots everyday. Gustavo's last day of Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) here is Del Rio is December 11th.

On a not so happy note, I found out that one of my very dear friends from college is dealing with Hodgkins Lymphoma. It really has effected me in a way that I would have never thought - especially since I have not talked to her through any of her journey or in the last 4 or so years. She was always there for me when I was struggling through hard times in college and I am feeling a little bit of remorse knowing that I could not and am not able to return the favor now. I have read her blog outlining her journey since May of 2008 and I try and parallel to things I was doing at those exact times she was in such pain and agony. I thank God that I am able to make these miniscule parallels instead of wishing that I was able to reconnect with her before it was too late. But, I know Tara, and she is a fighter - therefore I know that we will be able to hang out again one day and relive our True House Shenanigans. I pray that God be with her and give her the strength to carry on and survive.

What is the all time best Patrick Swayze movie? Dirty Dancing all the way - with a special mention to the SNL Chip 'n' Dale skit with Chris Farley. RIP Johnny Castle :)