May 5 – travel day

Today has been a surprisingly great day.

We found out yesterday that we are flying into the wrong city. Our hosts are in Genoa but we are flying into Bologna. That's a three hour drive from one city to the other. But no problem, we can catch a train. It will take us four hours and cost us 65 euros, but that is a relatively inexpensive solution to our big problem. So that incident could have dampened our spirits, but it didn't.

We left for the Kiev airport via taxi and the drive was easy. There were few people at the airport so going through security was a breeze. We were fed sausage, bratwurst, and mashed potatoes on the plane and they were delicious! Then we arrived in Vienna and it was rather grey and cold out, but the airport had some great places we could do some window shopping at. After we got to our gate, Kev went off in search of food and found that there was free wireless. Sweet!!! And then it started to rain.
It didn’t just rain, it poured. They were big fat drops coming down in sheets. It was incredible. I haven’t seen rain like that in years. And then it thundered. And then there was lightning. It was a beautiful display of Mother Nature flexing her powers.
And then our flight was canceled. Apparently there was a malfunction with some of the wiring on the plane, or something of the sort, so we would be re-booked on the next available flight. Many people were not pleased; however, this potentially provided us with a chance to get rerouted to Genoa without an additional cost to us. A stewardess lead the pack of nixed-passengers to the departure which required us to leave the airport and then reenter it.
I somehow managed to stay at the front of the cue of people so Kevo and I were helped out first. And life just got better and better. Not only were we going to be rerouted the following day to Genoa (albeit we’ll now have a transfer in Munich), but they were going to put us in a hotel, get our luggage for it, and give us food vouchers! Yeah!!! Oh yeah, and the hotel was across the street – 50 feet across the street!! And to top it off, it was a very, very lovely hotel. The bathroom is in my Top 10 List of all time great Hotel Bathrooms, ever.

I watched the news and took and nap while Kev indulged himself by taking a bath. After a wee bit, we headed back to the airport to pick up our luggage and to get free wifi. After about 30 minutes, we headed back to the hotel, got our workout gear on, and headed down to the Wellness Center (i.e. that is code for gym). We did some light cardio and some stretching. Life was good.
But then things took a turn for the worse. My luggage was damp. No, not damp, wet. I would say that 90% of my clothes were wet in some way or another. The bottom and the entire left side of my luggage must have been sitting in a puddle. How depressing. Kev and I were cheery customers and were flexible….why was I thanked with wet luggage? Yes, it was raining cats and dogs, but come on. Sigh. I spent the next half hour hanging up my clothes (t-shirts, performance outfits, pants, and all my socks) around the room. Some of them were over lamp shades, near the tub, and on hangers in the closet or the bathroom. The only hope was that everything would be dry by morning.
We had to move on from this unfortunate moment, so we headed downstairs to eat dinner. OMG, it was lovely. There were three platforms of food: salad bar and mini fixings, hot food, and dessert. Kevin made himself a monumental salad and I grabbed bits and pieces here and there. Highlights: lasagna, grilled vegetables, a breaded tomato thing, pesto-crème vegetables, chocolate pudding, and the satisfaction that I was able to order drinks in German with a flawless accent (the downside of that, of course, is then I was presumed to speak German and then when I was further questioned about something or rather, I couldn’t answer). I felt like I was making progress towards my goal of being a secret agent who, naturally, spoke six languages fluently. Note: I don’t speak any languages fluently….English pending. :-D

Then it was off to bed. We’ll be getting up in less than 5 hours. I will need to repack my luggage, eat, and check my luggage in.

Goals for the Three Weeks

Work on our fast dancing – increase our endurance
Put together some mini-routines – hopefully 5
Finish our routine

Learn some jazz off of some of the videos I have
Work on Flash
Go through video collection – edit/pair down
Strengthening and conditioning

Create/polish Charleston routine
Work on girl routine
Work on the Big Apple (new version)

The Three Week Adventure Begins

Yesterday (or today really; I haven’t slept yet) Kevin and I left for our trip to Sweden and it was off to a great start, until I realized that I forgot my jacket and gloves! Total amateur hour! How could I, Miss I-am-cold-all-the-time, forget my jacket when I am going to Northern Europe and the Easter Block? Oh yeah, that’s right….because it was hot in Pittsburgh when I left!

Well, there has been lots of flying since that discover and still no new jacket in sight. At PIT I tried to find a jacket and couldn’t; at DTW I tried again and found a sweatshirt (I have one of those already, btw) for $120 which is WAY too pricey; and here at AMS I have found some sweatshirt things, but they are in Euros and I just cringe at the thought at how much it will really cost me.

The flight from DTW to AMS was pretty easy. I watched a movie and then watched some dance clips on my iPod and now I am pumped to dance! And guess what?! I have 4 hours until my next flight, so realistically, I have the time to dance before I take off for Sweden.

I didn’t sleep on that flight. I think it was the fact that I was thinking about dancing, choreography and all the things I want to accomplish, or I could chalk it up to the fact the seats were uncomfortable. Highlight of the flight: Kevo stopped by a Japanese restaurant before we left DTW and bought some sushi (which I got a bite of) and a bean cake for me. Delish!! He’s so thoughtful!!!

Currently, Kev and I are sitting in the internet area typing away at emails. After we write a bunch we are going to hop online, send these guys, upload the new ones, sign off, write some more, sign back on, and do it all again.

Last thing (this is amusing/ironic for me). I don’t like to check luggage because I feel wherever you go (unless you are moving), you shouldn’t have to check luggage. This trip required that Kevin and I check our heavy and oversized luggage and I was betting that my luggage would be delayed because that would make life even better (forgetting the jacket SUCKS, but having my luggage go missing on top of that would super suck). Yet it isn’t my luggage that will be delayed; it’s Kevin’s! It’s sad to hear, but oh so ironic.

More later. Cheers.

Getting out of the cold

We are so ready to leave this cold weather. It's like it never goes away!

The snow is still novel to me; it reminds me of Christmas. In fact, I'd prefer it to snow than rain any day of the week. However, snow requires cold weather and I am not a fan of cold weather. I feel like I have come a long way since my Southern California days and am now able to bear the cold weather. 40 degrees no longer is all that bad! But when it gets down to 30, I have a hard time with it.

Kevin and I are normally traveling and we go visit other weather climates, and then we briefly return to ours momentarily. These days, however, we've spent a significant amount of time in Pittsburgh (we'll, for us it has been) and it's just plain cold. The cold seeps into the walls at night and my legs and feet get so cold that I can hardly fall asleep.

But no more!!! We are going to Baltimore!!!

This weekend we are teaching at the Leap Year Lindy Weekend and we are looking forward to different (and hopefully better) weather. We are leaving very early tomorrow (7:45am - eeeppp!!!) for a warmer climate and to go see Dr. Ron (a chiropractor) that Kevin knows in DC.


Hopes for this weekend:

warm weather
cute brick buildings
a "cultural" experience
seeing Semi-Pro with Sommer and Dorry
teaching students who have a great sense of humor and are ready to learn
eating some great food
lots of laughing
hearing great music
having some great social dances

Gaaahhhhh!!!!! The longest Wednesday Ever!!!!!

I am sitting at the PIT airport and it's the 3rd time I've been here in 24 hrs.

Quick recap: I flew in from Boston at 6pm yesterday (Tuesday), met up with Kev and then went home. Kev did some laundry, we ate some nachos and talked about what we wanted our new year to look like, pondered over the meaning of life, played on the computer, and packed. Notice, I did not mention sleeping.

So 4:40am rolls around and I need to take Kevin to the airport so he can leave for his flight to Australia for the month. This is the 2nd time in 24 hours.

I was very tired because it had been a very long day (because I hadn't slept yet, that means it was the same day still) and now it was snowing and I had to drive home in it. Are you kidding me?!?! I had never driven in snow before and my license had just expired, 2 days ago. Illegally driving in snow for the first time, while sleep deprived. What a way to start off the New Years, huh?

Well, as much as a huff as I made about it, I made it home fine. I rotated my laundry, cleaned up my room, unpacked and repacked my suitcase and then took a nap; I think I got 3 hours of sleep.

And then I had to get on a bust at 2pm to head back to the airport. OMG, NO MORE AIRPORTS!!! I am so done traveling. Oh and guess what? Someone forgot which bus she needed to take to get to the 28X.... was it the EBO, the EBA, or the EBX? Was there an EBX? I got on the bus that was supposed to take me down town and help me connect to the 28x. I of course picked the wrong bus, but I did manage to make my transfer and get to the airport. I also got to enjoy my first standingonastreetcorner-lettingthewindblowthroughme moment while waiting for my bus transfer. Less than pleasant let's say.

So I thought I was in the clear. It had been a rough 24 hours (and 3 airport visits), but I was there. What else could go wrong?

I realize I booked myself on an Alaska Airlines Partner and not an NWA partner (trying to move my miles over) meaning I wasn't going to get the miles in the correct mileage account and I didn't know if there would be personalized TVs on this flight. Normally I don't care about that because I ALWAYS sleep on flights, but for an 11 hour flight across 2 continents, it matters. Ok, fine, so I am on the wrong partner, whatever. But I still had to get through security.
Well, I was a retard and gave the "check-in" guy my newly expired license, so he had to write me up and then I was sent through the special blowing-air machine (which was kind of fun but mostly amusing). Sigh.....what an amateur I was!!

So I am here waiting at the airport and I have sooooooo much time on hands! My computer has been freezing on me and my flight has just been delayed. Super. Super duper.

Well, here-here to the start of a New Year! The only great thing about the beginning of this year being such a disaster is that it can only get better.

I am off to Buenos Aires again to teach and vacation. Kevin is off to do the same thing in Australia. Perhaps we'll see you guys with some nice tans!!

Boston - the adventure

Kev and I had an awesome time. We were picked up at the airport immediately after we arrived, we drove back to Aurelie & Tony’s house. After unpacking, meeting their cat Belle (who was not terribly friendly, but awfully curious), and checking out their old school photos in their dance room, we were off to dinner.

We tried to get into a Mexican Restaurant but it was packed, so we headed over to Ruby Tuesdays. Kev got sliders and access to their salad bar and I had soup (and I don’t remember what T&A ordered). I did, however, get to steal food from Kevin – and this just makes my night. Food often seems better when it is on somebody else’s plate. But the really-really of it all is that I fill up quickly and I only want a few bites of many different things. I am a happy camper when I get to nibble!

After dinner we headed back home, hooked up to the internet (which was an event in itself), did some homework (all work related), and then headed to bed.

Saturday morning we got up, showered, ate, and headed off to the workshop. Kev and I drove separately; we got to take their Prius (wish Kevin calls Pious after seeing a South Park episode) and use Tony’s navigation device. It was an easy 35 minute drive and the car was quiet the entire way. Not only that, but we were getting 99 mpg during part of the trip. Kevin was learning how to coast and speed up in order to get the best gas mileage, but he was still paying attention to the road.

If you haven’t driven around Boston, you might not know about the tolls; they are freaking everywhere!!! It felt like every 10 minutes or so we’d have to pay a new toll, and we were driving at least 30 minutes everywhere we went. I couldn’t believe it! So many tolls!!! I guess they were instated in order to pay off a bridge, but the committee that was created in order to oversee the budgeting and the project found a way to funnel the money around to various projects, whereby never really paying off the bridge. It’s something like that; mostly, the people behind the organization don’t want to look for a new job, so they have found other ways to make the company useful so that it cannot go out of business. Genius.

Class went really well; once we found our students’ rhythm, we cranked through material at an appropriate pace, we fed them one liners all afternoon (there was lots of laughing, just as we prefer), and they were asking intelligent questions about technique (they were obviously thinking about the material instead of just trying to do the move). It was fabulous!

After class, Kev and I grabbed some food with some buddies at an upscale pizza joint. We ordered salad (which were sizable) and three different thin-crust pizzas that were just amazing, and the boys indulged in a blueberry flavored beer which was outstanding. And the waitress was so nice – she basically read me and Kev the menu (which was short, but still….) and gave us recommendation while the boys (Davis and Dave) parked the car. The service in Boston is outstanding; the best I’ve seen actually.

Oh yes, and another FYI – there is NO parking in Boston. The streets are parked up for miles! It felt like a super-duper cold San Francisco.

The dessert menu was rather limited at that restaurant, so we headed out to a chocolate shop. We didn’t get very far because Kev found a tea store and then decided that he needed some Bobba. What you might not know about Kev is that he is a fan of bobba. If we drive by something that says the word “Tea” on it, we almost always stop in (or he jumps out of the car) and see if they’ve got some. He got his drink, I grabbed a mochi, and then we headed to the chocolate store.

Now this was no ordinary chocolate store. No no – this was a Chocolate Delicatessen. I saw chocolates in the shapes of penguins and mice (as well as the standard triangles and squares) and they were about $3 a piece (holy moly). Not only did they have a lovely window display of truffles and treats, but at the other end of the store they made hot drinks. Apparently the best hot chocolate in the city was at this store.

After hearing such a statement, I then HAD to see for myself. A small hot chocolate was ordered for me (you had the choice of demi, small, and medium) and then I got lost staring into the pastry window. Low and behold there were macaroons (but they called them Luxemburg’s). The last time I saw these delicate cookies I was in the south of France, and they were expensive! A cookie the size of a half dollar (picture it looking like a petite ice cream sandwich) cost 3€! However, the lovely treats that sat before me were a mere 75 cents. I told the lady behind the counter what I was looking at and she just gave me one. I was shocked; again a staff member took time to talk with me and bothered to listen to me, and then gave me a free cookie! In my mind, Boston is the best Service Oriented City in the world!!!

Hot chocolates and Bobba drinks were enjoyed on the way back to Davis’ place. Once there, we got ready for the Saturday night dance. I begrudgingly got dressed (it was really cold and I didn’t want to get out of my warm clothes into cold ones) and then convinced Davis that he needed some eye makeup for this evenings soiree.

Kev and I, plus the boys, headed out to the dance. After finding parking, Kev and I couldn’t locate the entrance to the dance venue. We were running up and down the street, with our luggage in tow, freezing. It was about 30°F out; I was dying – I was not built to live in this kind of weather. After banging on what appeared to be a door (we were able to see dancers checking in at the front desk) there was a mild sense of defeat. I felt more like Rick Moranis in Ghostbusters when he was chased down by one of the stone dog-creature things, made it to a restaurant, couldn’t get in, and ended up sliding down the outside of the window before the dog got him. The “dog” in my case was the cold.

But we finally got in, finished getting dressed, threw an aerial, and then performed. We did Swingin at the Cotton Club again and the audience loved it. We did not, however, do our new ending; I wasn’t feeling up to it.

After some social dancing and cake, we headed back to Davis’ place to chill. After a cup of hot water and a good stretch, Kev and I finalized our Sunday material and headed back to T&A’s place. Bedtime: 4:14am.

Sunday

We wake up, shower, pack our bags, grab breakfast, and head out (and all of this was done in 40 minutes). We got to class, Kev warmed up the students, and then we did some jazz. Again, the students were great and worked really hard at learning the choreography.

In between classes, I got Seth and Davis to sit on the children’s benches in the bathroom. They were too big for the bench, but they decided to amuse me anyways.

Lots of great 80's movie references were made as well as some potentially inappropriate ones. Most of the students laughed; it was awesome that they were all on board with our humor.

After the four classes had finished, the boys decided to do some calisthenics which eventually turned into playing basketball and then hanging from the hoop.

After game time, we got dressed and headed out to dinner with T&A. They took us to Legal Seafood which was phenomenal. After reading the first page I was afraid to turn to the next because there was so much good food! I narrowed my choices down to 10 dishes and then decided to go with the New England Clam Chowder ("When in Rome...."). T&A and Kev ordered salads and a main dish; I got to nibble off of them.

After our meal, we begrudgingly looked at the dessert menu; and thank god we did! We got 2 orders of Bananas Fosters and a Boston Creme Pie (again..."When in Rome...") and stuffed ourselves. It was one of the best dessert nights I had all year!

After our meal, we headed back to Davis' house, watched Dogma, and did emails. Then it was off to bed.

Monday

We got up, ate breakfast, and headed to the gym. The boys did 20 minutes of cardio and then hit the weights; they did chest, arms and back. I did 30 mins of cardio and then flitted from machine to machine; I did arms and legs. After rolling ourselves out on the pilates rollers, we realized we had to get going in order to make our flight.

As we walked home, it started to snow. It was almost like we were in the movies. The streets were a little bit slushy, but there was a fresh batch of snow on the ground and flakes were floating down from the sky above. It was cold, but it was lovely.

We got to the airport with 40 minutes to spare, or so we thought. Our flight had been delayed 45 minutes so we decided to pony up to the counter and eat at Johnny Rockets. We had a strawberry-banana milkshake, fries, a burger and a tuna melt. We were happy little piggies.

And then we flew home on Jetblue Airlines, which is one of the best airlines out there. The direct TV rocks and the flight attendants are always nice. Oooh, and there is more legroom in coach than anywhere else!! Support Jetblue if you can!!