Category: Events

Let me begin by saying that the DMV in McAllen, TX is the devil. And now, the entry:

Two Sundays ago (3/5) we went to South Padre Island (Mario, the boys, Mary, and I) to see the car/audio show at the convention center and then spent a few hours on the beach. The car show was cool. Some of the cars from Mario’s work were there and some of the cars were crazy. The boys loved posing in front of the “big trucks” for pictures. It wasn’t hot at all out so it was gorgeous. The water was freezing and there was seaweed everywhere, but it was such a nice time.

I had a day off on Friday (3/10) due to the graduation the day before (which I attended with John. It lasted a mere 30 minutes ) and decided, after two solid weeks of preparing John for his driver’s test, that it was time to take him to get his license. He’d been driving when we’d visit Gramma at the nursing home and I had him driving me around in residential areas and down the expressway so I knew he was ready. We woke up early that day, I dropped the kids off at school (their last day before Spring Break), I gave John a practice test around the neighborhood and at 8:30a.m. we left for the DMV. Not before stopping by Aziz to withdraw money from the ATM and picking up a French Vanilla cappuccino for me and a SoBe Adrenaline drink for John. We felt good and I felt positive that he’d pass both tests.

We get there, he fills out the forms and at around 9:30 he takes the computer test. He passes with a 73. I had taken my book with me to read and just had it shut on my lap. Instead, I was praying that he’d pass. When I saw him get up and walk to the counter I glance at him and he nods. Good! He passed. We happily wait to set up an appointment and they tell us they’re filled for the day. GRR! I complain about how I go to school from 8-12, there’s no one else who can bring him and he NEEDS this license because he needs to enroll in school very soon. “First come, first serve” they say. Fine. We’re forced to go back on Monday.

Mario and I get into a fight that day. A fight where I scream, he screams and I slap the face. Yeah, that bad. Hadn’t had a fight like that in…years and I felt horrible after it happened. We sat around sulking for about 15 minutes then he starts telling me about how his friend’s going to sell him this really awesome PDA phone and he wanted me to have it. We made small talk and somehow silently reconciled and left with Jaylen (Eenan was in school but when we picked him up we got him McDonald’s too :)) to town. We stopped for some McDonald’s and then made our way to McAllen. We went CRAZY spending money that day. It felt really good to just spend and not have to worry about it (although I did make it a point to save every receipt to balance the checkbook later). We got a wireless keyboard and mouse, USB splitter thingy, Norton 2006 (finally!), and a PC to TV projector. The PC to TV thing is so awesome. It’s external and we don’t have to bother burning our movies to VCD and then just chucking them and wasting CDs; we can just watch them directly on TV. I can even update from the couch, but I need new glasses so I have trouble seeing the words .

Spent most of Saturday in Reynosa, Mexico with Noelia, Andy, Mary, and Annie pricing and picking out stuff for Andy and Noey’s wedding. They found a few things they liked and then we ate at the Parian, I think it’s called. I know they also call it El Mercado, or Market.

Annie pointed out a beautiful straight clip (don’t know what they’re really called) and I bought it. It even came with two little clips. Total cost: $1.80! Those usually cost anywhere from $5-15. I bought my birth control and once we were done with everything we came back, I made a payment at JC Penny, got Mario some drinks he asked for from Taco Bell, then went to Princess Bridal. I tried on a dress from the Belsoie catalog and everyone said it looked nice. So far, I think it’s pretty, but I’ll probably end up changing my mind, knowing me. Good thing is there’s plenty of time and I already know what the brides maid’s dresses look like so I won’t pick the same one.

I spent most of Sunday here. Mario had all kinds of stuff to do and I basically just chilled out here with the kids. I didn’t mind. I was so tired. Lately I’ve been falling asleep by 7 p.m., but I have so much stuff to do that I end up staying awake till 11:30 most of the time. It sucks! I hate feeling like I have no energy. I’m afraid to know how tired I’ll be once I have a full-time job!

I took John with me to school on Monday so we could drive straight over to the DMV once school was over to set up an appointment. We get there and lo and behold, they’re filled for the day. They tell us we should try and be there early in the morning, possibly before they open, and wait in line. We had lots of time left so we waited for Mario at his work and went with him to eat at Jesse’s. We had a botana and it was delicious. Jesse’s never disappoints.

The next day we rush over to the DMV at 7:10 a.m. I’m 20 minutes late for class, Ricci didn’t make it to the house on time so she didn’t go to school, but we set up an appointment for 2 p.m. that day. Whew.

We get some lunch at Taco Bell after school since we’re starving from leaving home so early and not having breakfast and take some tacos and a drink to Mario. Then we’re off. We’re at the DMV super early, but we feel good about the whole thing and wait. 2 p.m. rolls around and I get out of the car so John could take his test. I stood against the wall and prayed and then I see John driving straight into a parking space. I run over there and ask what happened. He says my goddamn left break light is out. WONDERFUL. I was so damn pissed I almost cried. 3rd damn day we’d been at that DMV. The light was working fine before. I blame my luck and drive to Mario’s where I ask him to check the light and what I need to buy to fix it. He checks it, says he knew it’d been messing up (gee, thanks for telling me, buddy!), and sends me to buy a clear bulb at Pep Boys. I buy it, take it to Mario who had to re-wire everything and did so in less than 3 minutes, and after thanking him immensely we take off back to the DMV. What do they tell us? “You lost your spot. Be here early tomorrow to set up an appointment.” I could have hit somebody, but there were cops everywhere. After running my mouth to deaf ears for about 7 minutes straight I just walked out. I felt a lump in my throat, my ears burning, my chest tightening and was about to cry from the rage. I hate the DMV.

Mary called when we were on our way home and we made a plan: she’d take John with her in the morning on her way to work and she’d drop him off at the DMV to make the appointment. He decided to wait there and when I got out of school I got a snack for him (sour cream and onion chips and a Nestea) and met him over there. We parked and he ate. We did a mini-inspection to make sure everything was working correctly and it was, thank God. At 1 we parked under the carport thing where you start the driving test and waited. John kept making jokes to calm his nerves and after a while I read my book while he played Solitaire on my phone. 2 p.m. rolled around and so did the clouds. My, how those clouds were dark and full of rain. But too bad, he had to do it. He did well on his parallel parking and since it started to pour I went into the building. I sat there with my fingers crossed and at the first sight of his baggy pants I motioned a “how’d it go?” with my head and he smiled and nodded. Woo hoo! I knew he would get his license. Darn DMV. 4 ridiculous days, but he did it!

I needed to stop for turtle food at Wal-Mart and since I promised John I’d make Margaritas if he got his license, I bought some cute margarita glasses. Just two, since we’re the only ones who drink them LOL.

We already set an appointment for him to talk to an admissions person tomorrow at 1:30. We’ll have to take the kiddos with us since Mom has to go too to sign papers and Financial Aid stuff so I’ll be praying for the best. I hope they don’t give him crap at school about not having a picture ID. His license will be here in 3 weeks–I hope they cut him some slack. Ooh, and since I referred him I get a free school shirt. $23 saved!

2006 is going to be a good year for the both of us. I just know it .

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We made a trip to the beach on Saturday to watch Yazmin compete. Oh, and what a trip it was! We were making good time and all of a sudden we end up at the bridge to cross to Matamoros, Mexico. As we’re approaching the “toll booths”, we’re all oohing and ahhing about how Brownsville’s growing and how they have these toll booths, and man! They’re really growing! As we near the booth I notice there’s a bridge and say, “Guys…I think this goes to Mexico.” We quietly look around in horror and when Elda asks the man if the bridge is to Mexico he confirms our fears. A security guard (mortifyingly) has three cars reverse so we can get out of there. The security guard supposedly gives us fool proof directions to South Padre and off we go. Right.

Yazmin’s first performance (the jazz dance) was scheduled for 1:08. We arrived at the island at about 1:20. We totally missed it.

We decide to have lunch since her second performance, the hip-hop one, was set for 3:00.

We head to Whataburger and I think, cool, I’ll have a salad. As I’m smothering the salad with dressing I turn the package and read: Calories – 310. Holy cow. I seriously had no idea Ranch dressing was so bad. I could have had a darn burger!

We caught Yazmin’s 2nd performance and all the girls did SO good. I’m so proud of her :).

We took the kids to the beach for a little while afterwards and they had a blast playing in the sand. We didn’t let them get in the water since it was freezing, but they did run around without shoes and their pants rolled up.

Mario will be going back to the beach on his day off with Jaylen to retrieve Eenan’s sketchers. We left them in the parking lot LOL.

It was a cool day. I was so exhausted that night that I ate my Special K and laid down. Mary came in with an enchilada plate she ordered for me. I gave the kids half each of one and ate the other. I’ve been doing so bad with the diet. Mario and I even shared a pint of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, my absolute favorite, that Mary’d bought for me.

*In Fat Bastard voice* I can’t stop eeeeating!

Mary, the boys and I went to Peter Piper Pizza on Sunday and then to watch Hoodwinked, which was cute, but kind of drawn out for me. I think my favorite character was the goat . Mario had the day off but refused to go with us because he decided to be a big baby since he couldn’t find his Matco cap. I’d like to smack him with…something sometimes…

I had Monday off, so I spent it going through the kids’ toys and separating for the garage sale. They have a ridiculous amount of stuff. I’d take a picture of the ruins so that you can see for yourself how horrible it is but CPS would probably be called on me for having so much shit. I still have to go through their bookshelf, big toybox, and stuffed animal toybox. Jesus. At least there’s a very clear path to their beds now .

I need to finish my Compare and Contrast essay. I’m comparing and contrasting myself and Mario. I’m totally stuck at how to transition from the first paragraph to the second. It’s been YEARS since I’ve written an essay. I hope I do okay in this class (Technical Writing). Our final is persuading people to buy a product, due on the 26th. Oh gawd.

I shall iron now and then I shall spend my night trying not to eat the powdered donuts that are in the cabinet.

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This weekend was pretty eventful. I dropped Eenan off at school Friday, spent the day cleaning, then we picked him up, ran a few errands and met Noelia and Andy at the movies for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. IT WAS GOOD!

Goblet of Fire Mini-Review–Read at your own discretion!
I won’t go into detail, so as not to spoil it for anyone, but it was quite different from the book. It was good, of course, but lots of stuff was changed. This is my favorite movie, and book, so far.

The kids loved it. When Voldemort was “brought back”, Eenan sort of hid his face and Jaylen excitedly whispered, “Is that the Dark Lord?!” It was much more “adult” than the other movies (as they said it would be) but the kids did well anyway. During the sad part Eenan cried, and I had a lump in my throat but was blinking back tears since I was supposed to be setting an example and kept telling him, “It’s okay, Baby. Don’t cry. It’s just a movie.”
End of review.

I spent Saturday cleaning (I had this rush of energy and I had every intention of taking advantage). The house was SPOTLESS. Mary and I went to Noelia’s sorority banquet that night, so we were all dressed up and shmansy, as John says. Everyone was in glamorous dresses and tuxes. Noelia got two awards and a gift. She had a good night.

The funniest part of the evening was when one of the catering ladies tried to steal one of Mary’s pineapple upside down cakes. She made two cakes for the evening and another lady had made two. When they served us dessert, they gave us this miniscule excuse for a cake slice, and on a napkin, mind you, no fork. I’m a slow eater but I ate that tiny piece in one bite. I look over to the catering table when I’m done (since it was right next to our table) and notice that the two cakes wrapped in celophane that the other lady brought were intact and still in their celophane. I then notice that a round catering lady was discretely sliding Mary’s other cake over to a roasting pan and set it in there. I kept telling everyone how rude it was that they didn’t even cut the other cakes and then whisper-yell, “Oh my gosh, she’s taking the cake!” Everyone was laughing at my paranoia, but seconds later they too notice that she’s carefully covering the cake with napkins and placing bread loaves on top. She thought she was real slick hiding the roasting pan behind this plastic crate, but I saw everything.

When I’d had enough I tell Mary, “I’m going to go say something.” She says, “Yes, go!” So I went. I told her I saw that they didn’t use the cake, that my mother-in-law made it and we’d like it back since they weren’t serving it. She pretends she doesn’t understand English and says, “Que?” So I repeat everything in Spanish.

She says, “Oh yes, you can take the cake.” And a waiter hands me one of the cakes covered in celophane.

I say, “No, no. Not those, the one that’s under there,” and I point to the roast pan.

She says, “What cake?”

I point again and I say, “That one, the one you covered with napkins.” She stupidly starts removing the bread loafs and napkins and says, “Oh! I didn’t even know that was there! I was just starting to pack everything away.” She shoves the cake into my hands, I smile curtly and say, “Thank you!”

We couldn’t stop laughing about it later. I told Mary, “Well, you should be flattered that they liked your cake enough to steal it.”

We chilled out all day Sunday. We started the morning by putting Mom’s futon together. Later in the evening, we met up with some of Mario’s co-workers and went to the Mud Pits. I’d never been, neither had John or Mario. It was really cool. A teeny jeep got stuck in the water and had to be pulled out, and this other huge Ford Ranger almost fell sideways into the deep water. We got video of it all. At night, people were throwing themselves into the mud and a guy on an ATV got REALLY stuck. He was covered top-to-bottom in mud and since he had the crowd in the palm of his hands, went with it and just threw himself, back-first into the pool of mud. Crazy. It was a really cool experience. Next time we’ll take the boys. A plus: it’s free!

So that was my weekend. We started a new course at school today: Accounting. It’s okay so far; I thought it was going to be dreadfully boring. I hope I can get Roadrunner to fix the internet–we’ve had no internet at home all weekend.

Tonight we shall go to the mall, to see Gramma and Wal-Mart. My feet hurt just thinking about it.

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