the after 30 part...

March 16th I flew into Norman, Oklahoma to be apart of Rebecca Cruise's wedding week and a bridesmaid in her wedding. Rebecca is a long time friend that I had known since my days at Schoenbar Middle school.  No matter how much time passes in our lives, we always seem to pick up right where we left off, making our friendship very convenient for us, as she travels just as much as I do!  Melissa, her mother, picked me up at the airport and dropped me off at a restaurant where I met a handful of Rebecca's friends, but no Rebecca!  She was at dancing lessons with her fiancée for the wedding!  And what a wedding week it was!  From bridal showers, tea time, Bridesmaid the movie, preparing the party favors, to the rehearsal dinners, flower making and the big day itself! The very yummy and beautiful cupcakes at the Shower. New Friends: Jen, Alisha, Tracy, Rebecca, Jill and Shan Rebecca and Stefanie, the Maid of Honor Rebecca is now Doctor Rebe...

I'M SO PROUD!  My baby sister, Michelle, graduated with her Masters in Recreation from the college of Education, and Stefan, her fiancée, graduated with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. 6 years and they are done done done!  After their graduation, they packed up the Uhaul and left Moscow to live in my Kent Condo until after their wedding.  Stefan got a job with Boeing working as a mechanical engineer and Michelle is currently planning their  wedding (June 25th) and job seeking in the south Seattle area.  Congratulations you two!!!   Michelle walking to her seat! Stefan after being hooded. Michelle and I after the ceremony (I got sun burned!) Michelle and Stefan walking off campus together.

Hellooooooo! It's been a while... Yes! I know.  April is by far my busiest month, consisting of unloading containers, pricing, receiving vouchers, credit vouchers, merchandising and calling vendors who send me Ketchikan shirts and giving them my $.02.  Let's also not forget, trivia night at the RO, weekly dinners with friends, and the lovely rec center that kicks my trash into gear on a daily basis.  This is my life.  BUT now it's May... or wait... end of May!!  The season has started, and although we have those last late shipments (happens every year), the store is set up and gorgeous as always!  (If you haven't been, I would like to just say, that my store is preeettier than yooouur stooore!) This season marks our 10 year anniversary.   To think, that just 10 years ago, at the age of 22, I came up to Skagway, completely unexperienced, and interviewing 25 year olds for jobs.  HA!  The first few years were definitely a learning experience,...

Friday night Michelle (my sister) and I went to The Paramount in Seattle, WA to watch Billy Elliot !  I laughed, cried, gasped, and felt exhilarated!  The talent on the stage was absolutely amazing, brilliant, and I wanted an ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!  There are four Billy Elliot's touring.  Friday night we had  Lex Ishimoto  and he blew me away!!!  His talent was beyond my comprehension and at such a young age.  I was truly inspired. After the show, Jeff Kready , who played Tony (Billy's brother), let us go on the stage and back stage!! WOW, what a treat!  Jeff is a friend of my friend Alisa Lybbert , who I met in Skagway. It's unreal how small the stage really is.  It appears so big when you are in the audience, but it's much smaller in real life.  The mechanics of back stage are so complicated as well.  Jeff talked to us about how things are built at an angle to create dimensions and objects to appear bigger, etc......

Last Wednesday, Barbie and I went to San Fran for two days of non stop walkin' and tourist boppin'.  We walked and walked and walked and saw pretty much the ENTIRE city.  From the Mission Street Murals, to the friendly Castro district (where Harvey Milk's office is located!), to the Fisherman's Warf, we walked our feet off (literally, my shins and feet hurt for two days after the trip).  We had a blast.  Our hotel was amazing.  The MOMA was even MORE amazing.  The weather, not so amazing.  It poured (Ketchikan style) all day Thursday.... but that didn't stop us.  Check out some of my favorite pics that Miss Barbie Hull shot! Hotel Majestic and random building Museaum of Modern Art - Wine sniffing. Mission Murals Check out Barbie's blog for more amazing pictures! 

Meet Marcos .   Full name:  Marcos Antonio Cruz Diaz Nationality:  Spanish Age: 31 Occupation: Starving Artist Languages: Spanish, English, Some German, Some French Blog site:  http://inspirandomeenti.blogspot.com/ Meet the silly side of Marcos: When we first met.  Marcos is in the middle. Cheeky Monkey Mug - What a clown. Our Christmas pictures Carnaval in Cadiz Meet the loving side  of Marcos: Our first date was a rock concert! Carnaval 2010 in Mexico Mexico Meet my best friend  Marcos: Super sexy Marcos: I can't help it, I had to post this picture of him.. MEOW! Marcos is. . . one of a kind.  He's patient, understanding, super silly, smart, kind of crazy, drives me nuts on a daily basis, hugs me when I cry, rubs my feet when they hurt, listens, advices, and is always there when I need him.  Marcos is beyond caring.  He goes out of his way for his friends and family on a daily basis.  He is...

The last week of Carnaval is in my mind as one big blur.  Not because I was drinking, (I only drank a little), but because everyday there was something going on.  Choirs singing in the streets around every corner,  free giveaways (food, beer & wine all for freeeeee), concerts in the evening, costumes galore, a  massive fireworks display and more.  My days and nights were full. One of the choirs singing on a truck that moves around the city. Miki, Vane, and Marcos The bug choir singing a song in the old town. Their costumes represented the Miners in Chili. Marcos's twin Mad Hatter sister! Traditional sea food sold during Carnaval. Victorio Lucchino, a famous designer . They fry their own potato chips instead of selling lays!  They are so much better! Elin (from Sweden) and I.  We look like sisters. Alejandro (the school admin) and I All of us enjoying our free food and beer! Friends :) Concert in the square...