Arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico today for a week of classes and other fun at the Rio in Motion event at Rio Grande. I was pining to go to this and Brian was able to set it up so the kids would be taken care of in order to allow me the time to do it. I’m trying to maximize my opportunity by scheduling the week chock-full of classes. I don’t know how I’ll keep up with it all, but I’m motivated and excited. I know I’m going to seem like a mere amateur next to so many of these people, but I’m hoping my enthusiasm will make up for my lack of experience.
This is only the third time now that I’ve flown anywhere and I will admit that I was more nervous about missing the plane or getting lost somehow than anything else. I did manage to get through security without being pulled aside and molested, despite the fact that I hadn’t realized I needed to pull my laptop out and have it in it’s own plastic tray. You know, they should tell you this shit on the website! I looked up all the “restrictions and regulations” on both the United and TSA websites before I even packed my bags, trying to make myself familiar with all the things I couldn’t have in my carry-on and what-not. But, hey – I made it through without being arrested anyway. Meh. I’m probably on someone’s list as “least likely to ever become a terrorist” as I’m so compliant when it comes to being on the good side of the law. Too good for my own good sometimes I think…
My poor ankle has been put to the test today, as they make you walk a LOT when you are going through these plane terminals. Moving concorses or not, it’s still a haul! Nonetheless, I did make it and I’m hoping my ankle is all the stronger for it, as I chose not to bring either the cane or my brace with me for this trip. I overpacked enough as it is. Seriously, I KNOW I overpacked and I’m not even a “girly girl” so WTF? I guess I just like to plan for all the contingencies. As it is, I’m happy I packed skin lotion as my hands have gotten really dry today for some reason. Maybe it was just from the knitting…
Yes, knitting. That’s what I spent my wait at the gate for the plane and most of the flight doing – working on the scarf that will one day be mine. I’m not sure if it was the knitting or the small plane that made me so comfortable with the flight today though. I know I like little planes better than the big ones, and this one was a small 70-seater with only about 28 people actually on it. For some reason the little planes take to the sky with that feeling like they are racing up because they want to flyyyyyyyyyy! Whereas the larger planes I’ve been on in the past had that feeling like they struggled with the ascent, the engines pulling them hard to just get them off the ground. I’m hoping I’ll have the same plane on the way home too.
So I’ve made it here to Albuquerque, gotten my luggage and rental car successfully, checked into the hotel, and accessed the free wi-fi at the hotel. My connection strength says it sucks, but it seems to be doing the trick well enough, so long as I don’t want to live stream anything. I’ve got a fridge in the room, so I made a run to the local Albertson’s for some bottled water, tea, and vitamin water to stock the fridge with for a week. I have to watch what I eat/drink while I’m out here as on Friday I got the results of another blood test and it’s been confirmed that I am diabetic now. I’m bummed about that, but I don’t know how bad it is yet so if I fudge a little this week I don’t have to feel guilty about it. I’ve already got the doctor’s appointment right after I get back so I’ll find out the nasty details then. I’m at least hoping they don’t try to make me take insulin again, like I did when pregnant with Kayla. We’ll have to see. Meanwhile, I skipped dessert at least and I’ll aim for more salads and lean meats than usual until I know more.
There’s a pool at the hotel and I went to dinner early, fully intending to hit the pool afterwards. However, I’m realizing I’m utterly wiped and probably going to crash early if I want to be up and ready for the first class at Rio in the morning. Tomorrow is Basic Stone Setting, I believe, something that was never fully covered in the classes I already took and so I feel very nervous at doing it just based on a video I watched and some literature I read. I do better when I can see, feel, and DO the things as I’m learning them, so this should be really good for me.
Not sure if I’ll blog every day of my little trip or not, but there’s day one. Jareth is calling this my “adventure” so we’ll see what all transpires! 