THE WAITING GAME

So, I'm waiting, my passport came.  Tickets were booked and I'm sitting in the airport in Orlando waiting to fly to Bogota, Columbia then to Brasilia, Brazil, and finally Sao Paulo.  This is a long flight and I'm traveling with only my books and laptop to keep my company.

It's been radio silence on the blog for a few weeks.  I really didn't have anything to say other than, "I'm waiting."  So now we're off, but just to catch you up, here's what I've been into while waiting.

Saying Goodbye-What a great gift!

Demolishing-This monster cabinet from our living room

Building-A new, more updated, one to replace it

Buying-Books, Books, and more Books

BIENVENIDO A MIAMI

Went down to Miami with K to give the Brazilian Consulate my passport.  And all my money.  Yes, please, over $200 for a visa?  Sure.  Take it.  I swear, sometimes I think you have to be rich to be a performer and Lord knows I am not.  

I did go back to the health department and get the rest of my shots.  Mama Bear was kind enough to front me the money for the vaccines because, let's face it, it's better to owe your parents $200 than to be laying in a hospital bed in South America with typhoid wishing you had just taken the freakin' loan.  

So now both my arms are sore. On the plus side, I'm pretty sure I now have the invincibility of Superman or that girl in the X-Men whose skin was made of diamonds.  You know, Emma Frost? 

I'm waiting for my passport to be returned via the USPS from Miami and in the meantime I'm choreographing Spring Awakening with K music directing.  

No rest for the wicked, eh?  Well, rest for me because I am tired and apparently, not as invincible as I thought.  I will, however, leave you with some random iPhone snaps of the trip to Miami.  

The perfect tiny, single glass bottle of Coca-Cola to cool down

The Consulate

Something to dull my mind to the long wait

K

Who knew Miami was the cruise port capital of the world?

DO MINE EARS DECEIVE ME?

So, it's like this, I've been busy doing literally everything but blogging.  Figuring out what to pack, last minute things to complete, and a few more items to buy in preparation.  I keep telling myself to get on the computer and post a blog already, but instead I lay around and think about how much else I need to do.

Today, I decided would be a good day to get up early and head down to the health department and get my vaccines because Lord knows I'm the one that contracts the strange and rare diseases.  I can't even imagine having to deal with a "Bridesmaids" situation in America, let alone far from home.  I did my research and deduced that I would get an update on my tetanus shot and then the vaccines for Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever.  

I arrive at the health department bright and early with my book to read while I wait and surprisingly am seen quite quickly.  I explain to the nurse, Nicole, that I need shots for foreign travel for work. She looks up my record and where I am going and agrees that those shots are in my best interest.  

Then she asks me which ones I want which is weird because I just told you I want them all.  Now, excuse my naiveness but I was prepared to pay around $100 today for these shots.  Now, Nicole, who was very nice, says, "Let's talk money."  

Yes. Let's. Please. Because the following are the prices I was quoted today:

Hepatitis A $49.00

Tetanus $56.00

Typhoid $77.00

Yellow Fever $111.00

Oh, and $12.48 for the visit.

Excuse me while my brain combusts.  Did you just quote me $305.48 for four shots?  Did I fall down and smack my head on the way in here?  So, $305.48 is not in my budget at the moment.  Forget it.  

I opted for the yellow fever vaccine for several reasons and if I can afford it and squeeze it in again before I head to the land of the pampas I will get my tetanus updated, but jeez, Louise!

So I've been moody and feverish and just generally grumpy today over the way that turned out and possibly a mild reaction to the "live" yellow fever vaccine, but I did find the time and energy to do a little work on the state of the blog.  I have a header and a dear friend of mine is going to help me out with some of the other more fun options hopefully.  I want some more detail and font and other exciting things to keep y'all interested.  

In the meantime, if you need me I'll be out front of the local Publix asking for spare change to fund my vaccine shortfall.