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Good old Gustav

So I am back to talk about my stories while here in Miami Beach. It is our last day here and I decided to take a break and go to the library before partaking in my last beach day of the vacation. The sun finally came out, and I am hoping there is better weather for the beach this afternoon. I would like to be able to enjoy the beach one last time and the swimming pool.

This morning it was very windy again. The kite surfers were out in full force this morning. It was a pretty site to see. There were various little parachutes skimming along the beach in all different colors. They are taking advantage of the strong winds that Gustav's outskirts has left for us.

The day before yesterday night, I had trouble sleeping. The winds were so strong that they kept knocking the dang shutters. This had happened once before on the trip, but on that occasion it was the neighbors upstairs shutters that seemed to be loose and were making noise. But, this time I think all of the shutters of Mirasol were making noise due to the strong winds that supposedly tropical storm Gustav we were supposed to evade. Although it did not pass exactly over us, I think the outer bands of the storm actually affected us. That next morning I watched the weather channel and all of the sudden the tropical storm had turned into a category 3 hurricane. And all of the sudden it was near Cuba. I thought it was supposed to pass way under us! We decided that Saturday was to be an all day beach day. We got to the beach and saw that the lifeguard had put a yellow flag, which means medium-strong currents. I had brought my boogie board. But, not a whole lot of people were in the water and Mami was scared to get in. She was also worried for me to get in. I tried one wave, but close to the shore since I didn't know how deep the water was inside. The currents were strong. Good for body bording. I just wasn't sure if it would be a little "too good." But, I made one small body board surf onto the shore. It was good. I was excited to try more, but all of the sudden the clouds were coming closer and then suddenly a lightening struck inside the ocean. Time to go back in...it was going to rain.
:( We decide we will go to Aventura instead now, since we are not sure if the weather will change. Maybe we should have stayed and enjoyed what we could of it, but c'e la vie.

Later on that day in Aventura, my mom watches the news and says that the hurricane had become a category 5. I guess that strong current wasn't our imagination. We get back from aventura and I still want to get in a the rest of my swimming. I see a bunch of kite surfers that suddenly appeared out of no where. There really hadn't been that many any of the days that we were here. There were a lot more in the spring when I came with my friends. I guess, come to think of it, there really hadn't been that much wind this trip. And there hadn't really been much surf on the beach.

I see from the balcony in our apartment that the waves are still there, almost looking a bit stronger. I think to myself, "Yes! I didn't miss the waves. Perfect for body surfing weather! So I quickly get dressed to get down there. Mami, as usual is worried. She says, remember that when you go out there, you should go with another person. You know, just in case something goes wrong. That stays in my mind, but I also want to try it out. Hey, it may be duable. I get down there and the currents are strong. There aren't that many people swimming. But, as usual there are a few adventurous souls trying to swim. So, I think. I will try it close to the shore. I don't want to die. Plus I don't know how deep the water is. We've body surfed before, but usually it is pretty shallow. You can tell this time the waves are crashing everywhere and they are pretty high. I get close to the shore in my new tankini. The bottom is held by strings. I chose to wear this, cause I thought it was more sporty and I didn't want anything falling off. The waves near the shore are crashing with strong force. I have to get into the water when the water is calm and no waves are coming to shore. The other thing that is on my mind and making me a little weary is that when I looked at the lifeguard house he has two flags out there. No longer is there a yellow flag. It has changed to red. Why, oh why red? Now I have to be more careful. The red flag is out. And can you believe the purple one is still there too! Why is there marine life? Aren't the agua malas not surviving the surf? I also don't have my good old partner in crime, Gaby to be with me just case anything falters and to determine the danger at hand.

Anyways, I finally decide to try one wave close to the shore. I get close to it but probably a little late. The wave brings me and the board crashing to the shore. I laugh...cause it's a little stronger than i thought it would be. Plus, my bottoms have now almost flewn off! The little strong has become untied! I try to get it together before people see. I decide to try another one, and this time I get to the wave in a better position, but as I get to the shore my bottoms fly off again. This time, they are off bottom a bit. I decide that that's it for the day! It may be to strong and I don't want to die stupidly when I knew better. I decide to rest on the beach for a while to relax and enjoy ther rest of the people kite surfing...

So, today I am here in the library and I am getting off the comptuer pretty soon so I can enjoy the rest of the day. I am excited since the sun has at least partially come out again. Yay! Nothing will keep me away. I need to enjoy at least the last day. Rain or shine! There have been other funny things that have happened like the elevators not working. Is that a surprise? Maybe not, but hearing people say that it fell from around floor 24 to 7? That makes you fear for your life everytime you use it. But, hey they don't have an out of order sign posted on that one. But, today now the elevator closest to us says out of order. Too funny!

Well, I hope you enjoyed my story. I have enjoyed this trip with all of the funny things that have happened and all. It has treated me very well. And although good old Gustav decided to say hi to us. At least it's full force did not hit us and ruin the whole vacation. I have relaxed and ate a lot of good food and probably have gained a few pounds, but it has been delightful. Till the next time I visit Miami!

Now I am off for more beach and the swimming pool.

See you in Chicago! I am excited to see the whole family there!

Miami- Day 5

So I am here in Miami trying to blog about my most recent adventures. Okay, maybe not adventures but descriptive and funny things that have happened on my vacation up until now. I have 16 minutes to do this as the computer that I am at is running out of time and that is what is showing up on the screen as I write. I digress...is that the word that I should use now. Anyways, I should get on topic since I don't have a lot of time to do this.

So, far our time in Miami has been very relaxing and fun. We have tried to go to the beach everyday. Actually we have gone to the beach every day. We have gone either in the morning or in the afternoon. For the last two days we have gone in the morning and the water has been cool, but warms up quickly as you enter the water and stay for a while. I have not yet experienced the sandbars. But, I hope to soon. That is one of my favorite things to experience here in Miami. A sandbar is a ridge of sand built up by currents coastal waters. This is when part of the water all of the sudden gets shallower as you get farther into the sea. It is cool, because even though you are far out into the ocean all of the sudden the water can get as shallow as to your ankles. Hopefully I will experience that soon. It is fun to feel the waves crash at such a shallow depth and to sit on the sand with the water passing only over the tops of your legs.

But, for the past two days the water has been at regular depth, but pretty calm. The only stories I have to tell are that the lifeguard post had its flags to both "green" which means "go" and purple which means??? You guessed it...sharks? No...just wild life marine animals...to me that could mean anything. But, don't worry...we finally figured out what it could mean. Me and Mami were wading in the water talking and we felt little priks of something on our skin. We though, oh...it is the little agua malas...aka...man o wars that have either babies or particles that fall off and kind of sting you. So, I thought. Okay that is annoying, but not a big deal. All of the sudden I feel a little more than a prick...I feel a slight burn on the back of my leg. I think...wow I guess that is what one feels like...I pay not to much attention to it and go back to having a good time and wading in the water until...

Bam! Something hits me on the top of my leg and all of the sudden there is a big burning sensation on my leg. I tell Mami, I am hurting and that this was not just one of the babies. We decide to try to move off to another side just in case...when I finally get out of the water I see what looks like lashes and puffiness all over where the agua mala has strocked its burning poison over me...

I was fine in the end...but it was an adventuroues experience...I don't have much time left...so untill the next time!

I wash burned today again btw...what luck I have...see ywas

Letter to Gaby

Because the "Cache is full" I cannot send the e-mail I wanted to send to you! :( What is wrong with this computer! Hmmm...maybe I should try sending it through hotmail...ding...ding ding! I will try that first. Otherwise I will write a short version of the mail here! See yas in a sec!

Blogger Time!

So today..
:)

I just saw that my preceptor did not email me if I have to go to clinic tomorrow. Great! This is why I purposely asked him if I should email him to remind him!! Now I'm going to have to call because I don't know if I have to go tomorrow or not!! I have a fear of phones!!! Does he not know this?? Ok, totally kidding, I just don't love phones - I'd rather talk to the person directly or by email..

Anyways, so I was at the court house in Rolling Meadows today. Very interesting. First of all, I thought the judge wouldn't show.. no such luck. Another judge showed up instead.. He went through all the people like there was no tomorrow. He was throwing papers and everything. I kid you not. Papers were literally flying. NEXT!

I got supervision? I have no idea what that means. This is my first time.

But the interesting part of the whole "court thing" would have to be: I finally figured out who the person that I thought I'd recognized in church was. Maher Fakhoury! (I literally have no idea how to spell that name). Lol, I was walking around waiting until it was 1:30 pm and I saw this person walking my way and I'm like, this is that same person!!! Am I seeing things? Today I was like, no, this is not some look alike. Well, I guess he recognized me as well because he asked if I remembered him as well. So, that's all figured out. I can rest in peace now. :P He asked why I was there.. that was not .. so.. great.. 'cause my reason wasn't great. I guess he is a prosecutor. He ended with the oh so popular "take care"! He was nice. :)

Now I have to decide if I feel like going to the Pritzker Pavillion thing in Millenium Park - free concert!!!
So far away!!

Oh, and maybe I should figure out what's up for tomorrow for my rotation... maybe I'll get a free day!!
I think I may not be able to cook this week.

Maybe I'll cook for the whole family when I have time then! Mami would be very happy!

What a day today is...

:D

Just another day in the life of Gaby.. well, where to start? I feel like this could be one of those long posts that could go on forever and ever... but I think I will try and not make it that long.

Well, in my life right now:

I just got a haircut at Mario Tricocci. I showed her the picture of how I wanted it done and I asked her for suggestions and she took one look at my hair, prejudged it, and said that she could not do it. I told her that I'd like it shorter in the back and longer in the front, like with longer bangs, but apparently she thought I couldn't take it (like it would be too much of a drastic change). Great! This time I gave her a picture and everything and it still didn't work out. I think she was scared I wouldn't like it in the end because I would not like the massive change or something? She even asked how I've had my hair cut (how short) and I told her that I've had it boy short before!! She just didn't get it. I gave up. I think it was more that SHE was scared she couldn't cut my hair.

I mean, the cut came out good, just nothing different from the norm.
I should try and take a picture and post it.

She did say that I should try a new straightening treatment - but she said it costs $400. I was like, ok, thanks (but not going to help me right now!). And she went off on the fact that I used Pert Plus or whatever.. Whatever!! I tried to explain to her that it has the two in one conditioner and that I used extra conditioner afterwards and that sometimes I'll put in leave in conditioner afterwards too!! She told me to use neutragena triple moisturizing something.. I tend to use a lot of shampoo because my hair is so thick, so I will have to see how much it costs..

Also, right now I'm in my HIV ambulatory care rotation at UIC and I really like it. There was this resident there who was teaching me all this stuff. It was cool - a lot of stuff we haven't learned in class!
Interesting to note: my preceptor gave me his cell phone # faster than any friend has ever given me theirs. Sigh. What can you do?

Tomorrow I have to go to rolling meadows. I am scared.
Dang it! I was supposed to get the haircut short so I would look totally different!!! Come on people!!!

Papi just called to go eat. At least he tried calling earlier today so that he'd get to talk to me at a decent time and try to set up something for dinner. I think he got it when he didn't seen me around yesterday night at all and the incident on Sunday.

I have to figure out when I want to go out with Melinda..

Okay! I think I will try today!

Today is the big day, the Coldplay concert has arrived. And to think, a few weeks/months ago, it seemed so far away. I hope it is good. This time around we have seats in the 300 section, so it definately will be a different view. I remember seeing Andrea Bocelli at this level and he looked like an ant. I hope there are a lot of stage effects for our benefit at least. I know they had said something about taking some of the effects out of their performance, but for us way in the 300 section, it would be nice if they kept it. Can't wait to hear all the new songs and sing along with Viva La Vida. Tomorrow we will probably have more to say about the concert and our adventures!

It's summertime today in Chicago and I sat out and ate lunch on a bench by the local library next to my work. It was very nice. How I have forgetton why I used to do it very frequently last year during my lunch hour. I love nature and it is so peaceful just sitting there doing nothing but eating and enjoying the outdoors. I must do it more often for the remaining months of summer.

Ravinia we will experience again this year. I got free tickets to a concert/poetry reading? Hey, I have no idea who it is, but it's free and a good time outside. I will have to check what I actually got, but it should be fun to chillax, eat and drink while listening to some sort of music. Last year they were only giving free tickets to those who joined the book club. Luckily, they did not proceed with the same idea this year. I got the last two tickets. :)

What else??? Hmmm...I got new binoculars for the concert today. I hope they work. The last time I used binoculars was on our trip to Toronto. It was Mami, Gaby and I. I was "estrenando" my new binoculars that my mom had given me for either Christmas or my birthday. I thought to myself, "What is a better time than on our trip to Niagra to bring along these babies." They served me well, as I saw the falls really well with them. We were close, but with the bioculars I felt as if I were right next to the rushing water and all I had to do was reach out my hand and touch it. I still remember it. The water was aqua/green and so crisp and clear. It looked so refreshing. At least, if only for that little amount of time, I got use of the binoculars. But, ever since then, I wanted to replace the ones I lost, because my mom gave them to me for the purpose of seeing better at concerts. And I was never able to use them for that purpose. So, today, I will finally use these new ones for one of the reasons they were initially intended for. I hope they come in handy!

Oh well, I think that is all for today. Just a little update so far with what is up with my life. I am sure I will have more to tell tomorrow! Until then, Hasta Luego!

It's hard to keep up a blog!

With so many things going on nowadays, it's hard to keep up. Too many sites, too little time!