Update

So, yesterday, I was all happy and cheery because it finally started to feel like Spring.

But in the later afternoon, as I was sitting in my office, I happened to look out the window. Snow was falling.

Snow.

It started coming down a little harder. And then, as quickly as it started, it stopped.

Very strange.

I feel kind of bad, posting on Good Friday. Me entire childhood, I wasn't allowed to do anything on Good Friday - no tv, no radio, no jokes, no rollerskating. No unnecessary lights on. No unnecessary speaking. Codfish for dinner. It was the way my family observed.

It feels so wrong - to be using technology today. But nothing is like is used to me. I have to work. There's no observance anymore.

For my Christian readers out there - how has Good Friday changed for you?

How Can It Be?

On Tuesday, it was nearly 70 degrees in New Jersey.

Today, as I type this, we are in the midst of a snow/ice storm that should last through the night and into tomorrow morning. Luckily, the office closed early and I made it home before dark.

As I sit here, all I can think about is how tomorrow I can sleep in. Then wake up and make a nice pot of warm chilly which we can devour when we come in from shoveling the snow.

Heather's Wedding

Back from South Florida and already missing the sunshine and warm weather. We returned late this morning to more snow, slush, and ice. Somehow the humidity we experienced this weekend wasn't *that* bad.

More on the weekend in a future post. For now, I leave you with pictures from Heather's wedding...

Leaving... on a jet plane

My long-awaited trip to Miami is finally here! And while I really don't like Miami, I am looking forward to getting out of the freezing temperatures and gusty winds.

As far as I'm concerned, the stress of traveling began last night. It was nearly midnight when we finished packing, something I blame on myself due to a long week at work. But anyhow, as I was saying, the stress began last night.

Me: Have you taken out all the things you need for the weekend?

Mike: Like what? I have jeans and t-shirts out already.

Me: How about your suit, a shirt, and a tie that doesn't make you look like the biggest Republican in the place? And your square-toed shoes and dress socks?

Mike: Oh yeah, a suit.

Me: I can't wait to see Little Owen. I'm so excited.

Mike: We're going to see Owen and family? I didn't know that.

Me: Duh? Didn't I mention that we were going to a wedding? The wedding of a former college roommate? A roommate that I had when I was a student at the University of Florida and was a bleeding orange and blue gator? A roommate that was also roommates with my bff?

Mike: Oh, I must have not been listening.

Ugh.

The stress continued when I mentioned that we would be bringing my parents presents. Two carry on suitcases! That I got for free! Because if I actually went to Miami and bought my parents two suitcases, they wouldn't like them. But, since I told them I got them for nothing (FREE! GRATIS!), they are excited to receive them. Actually, I told them I had one, but with my excellent packing and organizational skills I was able to pack one into our regular suitcase and use the other one as a carry on for us.

Let me explain this: the thrill of getting a good quality anything is a success to Cubans, namely my parents. It helps even more if the good quality anything was free (FREE! GRATIS! NO TAX!). The other thing is that both my mother and I feel that the gifts we bring eachother are the greatest, most ingenius gifts ever known to man. We never stop to think that the pajamas my mom brought me could easily have been bought in my neighborhood mall or that the shampoo gift basket that I brought her could have been bought in Miami. We've been doing this for years, including the time I regifted my father a Waterford crystal eagle that I received at some charity dinner (I carried that baby on the plane with me, folks!).

But I digress... what was I talking about? Yes, stress. I am sure it will continue through the weekend. I have already heard word of my father cooking for us and packing his home cooking up in containers for us to bring back to Jersey (we can't get food up here, apparently). And there's no arguing with him, so we'll be eating his specialty dish for a few days after we get back.

I suppose I should just enjoy the attention from the family. Afterall, I'm their baby. And Mike, well, he's the greatest gringo they've ever met. I can't wait for my aunt to hug him and kiss him all over.

More on our adventures next week. And photos of us sweating in the hot south Florida sun and doing the white man's overbite to the Electric Slide!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

This Friday, I Got a Fever... and the only prescription is more cowbell

This week has been busy and full of stress. And that's only because of the weather. I shouldn't complain, as I know that other areas had far worse weather than we had in Jersey, but still, this was my reality for a week, and it seems like it will continue into the weekend.

Currently, my car is parked over a sheet of ice. It's not that we were lazy and didn't shovel it, it's that it was shoveled, then it rained ice over it and it's so compacted and frozen that it won't budge. Luckily, the car is a 4x4, so there is no sliding when I park it. The roads are relatively clean, but the rements of this snow/ice storm have started to look drappy. Very dirty and grey. And even though NJ isn't the most beautiful state, it now looks dreary and deathly.

Valentine's Day was good. I'm not really a Valentine's Day kind of gal - I prefer something simple to a huge bouquet of red roses delivered to my office. I think it stems from years of terrible Valentine's Day that were full of expectations and letdowns (I could go into the many stories, but I'm trying to be upbeat here - although... one year I made shrimp parmesan for a 'friend' - I slaved over it, cooked it perfectly, and then the 'friend' asked if we could go to the all you can eat buffet. ALL. YOU. CAN. EAT. BUFFET. I've never made shrimp parmesan since...).

Anyway, back to the upbeatness... VDay was good. No complaints. Just love. Cheesey love. That's me - a cheese whiz.

The weekend doesn't hold any exciting plans for me. Maybe a visit to the in-laws, some housecleaning, some shopping. Nothing strenuous or taxing.

Maybe I'll sleep in tomorrow. And Sunday too. *That* would be the life for me (See? The little things make me happy. The little things, people!).

And next week, I'll be looking forward to going to sunny Miami for a long weekend. Ahhh, sunshine....

For now, I leave you with this piece of funniness that never fails to crack me up...

V Day

As I sit at home this morning, watching the snow and rain and ICE come down from the sky, I wonder why is my office open today? You would think that in my profession, I am saving lives or finding a cure for a deadly disease or something, where life cannot stop for a single minute...

But, no, we are open. And so I'll be heading out shortly, probably increasing my commute time significantly.

Oh yeah, and the by the way, Happy Valentine's Day! I hope it's all lovey dovey for you...

Update: it's now 9 am, and I made it to work. The ice storm - ICE STORM - is awful. It took me over an hour to drive 17 miles to work. Along the way, I witnessed the hydroplaining (is that the right word?) of a tiny Honda right into a concrete median. The ice on the ground is about half an inch thick and it shows no signs of letting up. Oh yeah, and it's freezing too.

The Cold Creeps In

Last night's weather report said that it's finally going to feel like winter in my neck of the woods.

It's about freakin' time. We're talking about lows in the teens and some flurries.

This morning, as I was dressing for work, Mike reminded to wear something warm.

"Of course. Although next year at this time, we might be sitting in weather that is much more tropical. Or, better yet, you might get to experience your very first Noche Buena," I replied.

As the cold arrives in the Northeast, hellish conditions make their way toward a hospital in Havana.