should we even BE traveling??

D and I are taking a trip!  We procrastinated a bit in booking it and are now scheduled to leave in 3+ weeks...here are some of the obstacles we are currently facing:

• my fault--but we are currently booked at a hotel that is crappy.  in my own stupidity i opted to choose a 3+ star hotel rather than the 3 star hotel.  but upon futher investigation, not only was the 3 star hotel cheaper, it was also newer, and prettier.  currently trying to switch back to 3 star hotel even if it means paying a fee.  boo.
• travel agent at the travel site is being a bit snotty about making the change.  if we are willing to pay the fee to make the change then why is it so difficult...lazy!
• due to not reading thru things carefully, we just found out this weekend that we have to apply for a visa.  +$130 per person tacked on to our trip.  boo.
• went to take a passport photo for my visa application yesterday.  the guy taking the picture INSISTED that i pull  my hair back and show my ears...saying that it's a requirement.  (i've never heard of it).  my picture looks ridiculous.  i get back to investigate his "ear" claim, found nothing.  he apparently just wanted to see my ears.  weird!! ear fetish!?!?
• upon MORE investigation, realized that my passport must be valid for 6 months from the date of entry into the country.  my current passport will be valid for 5mo & 2 wks from date of entry.  it's so close, i wonder if they will notice.  submitted anyways...gonna try and chance it.  hoping it will slip thru the cracks
• my mom (who's been a travel consultant) just told me that its best to "double check" with the consulate when i DO get my visa.  make sure that its ok that my passport doesn't meet the 6 mo requirement.  oh great, now i'm gonna CALL it to attention!?  mom says that they have the right to deny me entry if my passport is not up to date when i get to customs.  DENY ME ENTRY!!
• wish i knew that earlier....cuz now there's a chance that i will have to double apply for the visa....ugh.
• IF i do need to renew the passport, i will have to expedite it which will basically cost me approx $150.  and i will most likely be forced to use that weird ear picture, and US passports are good for 10 years....10 years of the weird ear picture.  *sigh*
• OMG...with all this drama, i'm wondering if i should just cancel the whole trip.

this drama bites.  i hate drama in my life.

this trip better friggin ROCK!!!!

"its just not fun anymore"

so last nite as im riding the train home from work, i saw next to this couple who were talking.  from the context of the conversation it looked like they were long time friends who were sorta catching up.  since they were flush up against me, it was hard NOT to hear their convo.... but the part that caught my attention was this lil tidbit:

him:  so how's married life?
her:  pretty good, not much has changed.
him: cool.
her: how's ur love life?  how's the girlfriend?
him: (making a face) actually, i'm breaking up with her tonite.
her: oh no!  why?  what happened?
him: i dont know, its just not "fun" anymore...
her: oh...
him: but don't worry, i'll be sure to come up with some other excuse

ok, maybe its just me but i have a couple of problems with this conversation.

1st--these are not teenagers or kids in their early 20s, these are a couple of adults who are at least late 20s, most likely early 30s.  by this time in your life, shouldnt u realize that relationships are not JUST about fun?  that to make these things really work, u have to put a lil work into them!

2nd--why can't he own up to the fact that he "doesnt think its fun" anymore?  why does he have to lie and come up with an excuse?  maybe its me, but i'd rather learn the truth, cuz honestly if i were the gf, i'd be a lil pissed that the guy lied to me.  if we are breaking up, own up to it and REALLY tell me ur reasons for it.  dont cop out and give me some lame as "its not u, its me" bullcrap. (which was one of these "excuses" he was considering)

i dont know why this riled me up so much...maybe its cuz the guy was so unattractive (hahha, sorry, im a bit superficial), so naive, or so immature.  maybe its cuz i saw myself as the gf who wasnt "fun" anymore and was offended at being lied to on her behalf.  i don't know.  *shrug*

Alaina 6.5 months

i just can't stop looking at those big beautiful eyes...

our past is our past for a reason..

Alaina at 4.5 months

Too cute for words!!!!  (but then again im biased)