trippingly off...

I recently took a quick jaunt back to my birth country of Texas. I went to be one of my bestest friends bridesmaids. It was a busy three days and hope that everyone who was around me can forgive my inability to be truly present...it was not easy to switch my days and nights completely...but I think that by the last night I had successfully switched. That night I had a lot of fun...dancing, singing, laughing, worrying for my friends ultimate happiness. What a plunge to take. Ashley was an absolutely beautiful bride. Next time I bring some bellydancing coin belts as gifts for bridesmaids I will not be silly and demonstrate wearing it on my head instead...as we all got mani/pedi's with them on our heads...we were asked for photographs. We are such weirdo's...but it was fun. The most fun of course was our random rendition of "walk like an egyptian" during the reception. No more details...although I feel like the video will probably be used as blackmail later. Here is hoping I have enough money to keep THAT underwraps :)

On the way to TX I lost my wallet in London. No money. No drivers license. I think that it was stolen while I was waiting to pass through security from those grey bins. They located it though...thank goodness. I was supposed to pick it up on my way back through - but alas...they made that impossible. They send it to terminal 3 and my flight was taking off in terminal 5 and they would allow me to go to terminal 3. So...they have to mail it - and I have little faith that I will EVER see my wallet again. My main worries of course are the cards...resident, oman DL, Temple recommend, etc. I really do NOT want to wait in the necessary lines here to get those things again. I discovered this of course after I got off of my plane and was sitting in a restaurant (having ordered the MOST expensive breakfast on the menu!) waiting for my connection flight. I couldn't eat anymore of it once I realized it was gone. I ran across the way and gave the lady in the money exchange booth every rial I had in my bags. It came out to be just enough to pay the bill, give a tip and pay for 10 minutes of internet time to send an e-mail my husband and anyone else that might have been able to tell him to check his e-mail alerting him to my wallet and cards being missing. And I feel at this juncture that I should give British Airways a review...they stink. I hated them. The seats were small, the food was infrequent and horrid when it did come. Their customer service was nonexistent. They did not help me at all...my wallet could have easily been recovered as soon as I realized it was missing if there had been anyone around to assist me. But there wasn't. It took my husband on the phone to get me the help that I needed. In addition, their security checks are ridiculous. Which is why I lost my wallet in the first place. I was so frustrated with the entire process. After having gone through 6 checkpoints between muscat and london and losing my wallet...then on my way down to the ramp for boarding I was pulled aside and frisked and my carry on disassembled...NOW - let me tell you, I know what I am doing when I go through checkpoints. I waited for an hour and a half while I watched about 60 people go through the checkpoint leaving on bracelets, wearing shoes with metal, forgetting to take off belts, getting to the point and ONLY THEN taking stuff off causing a greater wait...and every single one of those people beeped the machine and had to have the wand and manual hand inspection...and in london they don't turn the palm away. I was so disgusted with all of these idiots...I, of course, plunked my stuff on the conveyer belt, waited for the person in front of me to be checked over because they let the machines off (I think this was when my wallet was lifted - during the wait due to the idiot), and then walked right through without any problems...just to get "randomly selected" at my plane later!!!! I was angry! I asked how they pick people. I mean, I even didn't wear heels! That is something for me so that I could get through the checkpoints faster. Then the frisker asked "how are you doing?" At this point with my wallet missing, waiting for such a long time to get through the security point previously, not getting any help or assistance - I was about to COMPLETELY lose it. I said "I would be better if you could find the wallet that was stolen from me during the last check point!" I said it with fierce vehemence...and I gave her that look...the one brimming with hate. She didn't respond. Just went through my bag. She asked one question "is there anything sharp in here." I said "pens and pencils." through gritted teeth of course. But let's be positive - my wallet was miraculously recovered!

AND, some really great news!!!! When I opened up my suitcase to unpack from my trip - I FOUND MY ORANGE UNDERWATER CAMERA!!!! It had hidden in the fold of the inside of one of the pockets. Amazing stroke of luck! So now I can take pictures again! Yippy skippy! My children can start growing again...they weren't allowed so long as I had no way to document it.

Other good news - I brought my violin back with me. I decided I needed a new violin case with a hygrometer to help me keep track of the humidity/temp that the violin was getting. Violins have been known to completely bust open due to weather changes. I couldn't get one in Texas while I was there and I was prepared to spend around 700 or 800 dollars for one. I was really worried about my violin making the trip back here - but it did splendidly. I became more worried about not being able to monitor and assist in the violin's livelihood here as far as temp and humidity is concerned. I decided just to check in that music store called Tunes. They first presented me with this humongo case called "GATOR" and it was heavy and NOT equipped with the dials. The boy behind the counter told me that was my only option. I asked if they had anything not so bulky. The lady heard this and said "check de brown one dere." He brought it to me...it was nice looking. I asked how much. She said 10 rial. He wiped the dust off. I wasn't expecting much at this point. He opened it up and lo and behold! It had a hydrometer and a temp gauge!!!! And a beautiful blue inside. This was definitely an expensive case. I asked - "10 rial?" "yeah, 10" "really? Are you positive?" "yeah, yeah, 10". I totally felt like I was stealing from them...that is a little less than 30 us dollars. And it was exactly what I wanted and needed. Insane.