Oh, the Randomness of It All.

Song: Helicopter

Artist: Bloc Party
So, Today was just a normal day... I got up, gave my brother's car to Optimus Prime (to have it shipped to Kentucky), made some pancakes (yum!), got ready, and went off to school. Things went by as usual. I went to class, went to Martha's after that, went home to take a quiz, then got ready to go BACK to school for my night class. Wednesday is a pretty boring day for me.... especially because it's the day that Thomas and I can't hang out (He studies with his group @ FIU on wed.). Because he goes to school right after work, he doesn't really have a chance to eat dinner. I decided to be nice and pick him up a snack. I went to this bakery i love on 32st and 107 ave.... picked up a pastellito for Thomas, then saw an ice cream man washing his truck outside. I was really surprised (having not seeing one in a long time), so I went and bought the best thing ever: A BLUE BUNNY SNOW CONE! Perhaps, my favorite thing in an ice cream truck...even though it's just ice and no cream. Anywho, I happened to be talking on the phone with Thomas when this happened...and he asked me..."What kind are you eating?"...I replied.."I'm eating the REAL kind! The kind that stays in the freezer for a whole year... the kind that is red, blue, and yellow (and orange and green where the colors mix).... The kind that I guess you can say looks like a clown's head!".... he started laughing... As soon as those words came out of my mouth, No Joke... A car pulled up next to me at the stop light... and when I looked in, there was a CLOWN with SNOW CONE HAIR and a glittery face! He looked at me smiling pointing at his head and at my snow cone in comparison! I swear, I was thinking to myself, "WHAT THE HELL IS IN THIS SNOW CONE?!?!?".... I started laughing so hard.... because... what are the odds of that? GEEZE! If that wasn't a SCRUBS moment... I don't know what is.  Anyway, I thought it was great, so I told Thomas... and we laughed together. I also told my Aunt Martha and she says I was probably hallucinating... which God knows I might have been with that year old snow cone... but WOW! I'm telling you... Things just happen... and well... in short... God has a good sense of humor. That made my day... and I wanted to share with you all the randomness of it. That is all. =)

The other side of the terminal....

My mood today: BLAH!

Song to hear while reading: November Rain! 

(it gives this blog a nice dramatic touch. lol)

Today was the day that Lauren and I drove Rey and my father to the airport to wish our final farewells (my dad went with Rey 

to help the moving process). We woke up at our own leisure this morning, packed up Rey's bags into my car, then went on our way. 

About 5 minutes after we left, my father realized that he forgot his bag, so we went back for it. I kept stressing to my father that it was important that they be at the airport EARLY in order to prevent the missing of a flight (like they've already done before...mind you.). 

He said, "Relax Brigitte, let Rey take his time....we have time!". I didn't believe him, but what could I say, he's my dad.  Anyway, we went on our way to the airport AGAIN, hit some ridiculous traffic, then arrived safely! (that may not seem like a big deal to most people, but man, in the traffic there was this morning, I thought we were going to get into a ton of accidents... so i was grateful.) 

 

We arrived at the airport to find that there wasn't any short term parking available, so we parked in the long term garage. While Rey was taking the bags out of my trunk, I noticed a stray luggage cart (the kind you pay for), then screamed, "YAY! FREE CART!". So I ran to the cart like an idiot than ran back with it. For some weird reason I didn't notice what was sitting in the front of the cart, until suddenly, it was clear to me. "EWWWWWW! REY!!! DONT PUT YOUR BAG IN THE FRONT!" Yeah, turns out there was a dirty diaper rolled up in the top compartment. Frikin gross. 

But that didn't stop us. I opened my trunk and found the only thing suitable to pick up such a disgusting thing: a Marlins bucket hat. I used the hat as a glove, and decided to take it out of the cart... just so we didn't have to look at it anymore. (we didn't even use that part of the cart, but the thought of it made it so much worse than it was). My dad got pretty upset with me for using a hat to take it out, but I didn't think it was a big deal. 

 

Well, we continued on our way to the terminal. When we found American Airlines, we got in line to get their tickets. There were some people standing around the line, but they were talking to someone and not going to the ticket machine, so we walked by them. About 5 minutes later I hear the man we passed saying (loud enough for us to hear), "It's so rude of some people to cut in line!"... and other stupidities. I kinda chuckled because he wasn't really in line anyway, but that's besides the matter (isn't it). 

 

We got the tickets and got the luggage tags, all that was left was taking the luggage to screening. I noticed that there was a gigantic line for screening, and guess who was in that line?!?! you guessed it, pissed off man from before. My dad saw an opening in the line, and the AA personnel asked him for his bags! (which was cool! NO LINE FOR US SUCKA!)... well, turns out it wasn't so cool. Pissed off guy got even more pissed off and yelled "THERE'S A LINE!", my dad was kinda oblivious, it wasn't really his fault since the AA guy just asked him for his bags anyway. My dad wasn't going to pass up this opportunity to skip a line legally, so he said OK! and gave up the luggage. The people looked even more pissed, and i laughed even harder. (HATERS!) Well, after all this hateration, we went to La Carreta for a quick fill of cuban bread! (Something Rey would not find in Kentucky). It was pretty great, and we finally realized that it was time to go! Rey picked up his carry on bag, as well as my dad, and we walked towards their terminal. Earlier we had been talking about when i left to Prague, and how my mom cried for days. I remember feeling terrible, but when i was gone, I felt better. Unfortunately, this time I found myself at the other side of the terminal...The side where you just get to sit back and watch your best pal walk away from the life he use to lead.

My brother in line for security check, about to go for good... this was not a happy moment. It hurt me to watch Rey and Lauren kiss as the tears streamed down her face... and my brother trying ever so hard to be strong. Inside, I wanted to die, and I knew that this was goodbye, for real. I tried to keep my composure, but my dad turned to me and said, "it's ok to cry...". That was it for me. The tears kept coming and coming and coming, and there it was, in a flash, goodbye, i love you, see you soon. My heart ached... For my mother, for my family, for myself, and mostly... for Lauren. As I thought of the pain of letting go of your closest companion, someone more than just family or friend, but your best friend and love, I couldn't bear the thought, let alone watch Lauren go through it. 

I tried hard to make her laugh... to the extent that we even took a picture while we were crying (for my blog's sake! lol)... she chuckled a little, but it didn't take long before the both of us were crying again. I guess I can say I've hit rock bottom. I've avoided the pain so long...that it's just swelled up inside of me and now I'm paying for it. I know it's just temporary, but still... letting go is the hardest part of all. 

I just have to stick to good old GnR... "Everybody needs some time...on their own". I guess I'm just waiting for that wicked guitar solo to come around my way once again. Can't wait to see you Rey! I love you! Miss you already, and boy.... don't we look awesome when we cry! ;) So there is today, the day of suck on the other side of the terminal.

I forgot to tell you! When I said in the beginning that you need to leave EARLY to the airport... I meant it. In the long run, Rey and dad missed their flight. Not because they weren't there ON TIME, but because they weren't there with ENOUGH TIME. Some jerk decided to make it hard for them to get on their flight, and ultimately won the war. They ended up taking a flight to Dallas, TX... then a flight to Kentucky. What a day.

As a door closes, another opens.....

So, today is Rey's last official night in Miami. I guess since I originally thought he was leaving in August, I've been prepped for this, but as the time grows near (by the minute), I realize how not-ok I am with it....but somehow I've come to the conclusion that Rey's leaving is out of my hands. This is just another step in his life that he needs to take to become who he wants to be, and I'm ok with that. I guess it just sucks, knowing that I'm coming home to nothing (or waiting up late at night for nothing). I must say, it's been one hell of a good run he and I have had. (and here is where i start to reminisce...it helps in the coping process)  Since birth, I've known Rey to be that amazing big brother... the cool guy whom I'd look up to forever. When we were young, I happened to be a very small infant, so Rey would stroll me around in my cabbage patch kids stroller (yeah i fit in there) around our pool table... and from that moment on... I always looked up to him for everything and anything. Like this ONE TIME.....

We had just moved into a new house after hurricane andrew... and my father asked us to pick up the big rocks from around the yard (I still don't know why...). In the process of doing so, my brother explained to me with alot of anxiety, "BRIGITTE....HE CANT DO THIS TO US! ITS CHILD LABOR!!!!!"... he continued to explain the point of child labor laws and how my dad happened to be violating them all... (mind you... we must have been 7 years old and 11)... and so he encouraged me to tell him what he (my dad) was doing wrong! I believed everything Rey ever said, so I obeyed. I proceeded to barge into the house, dirty hands, smelly, you know... kid stuff.... and yelled "THERE ARE CHILD LABOR LAWS AGAINST WHAT YOU'RE HAVING US DO!!!!". My father responded with the infamous Backhand. Yeah, it sucked... but Rey got a good laugh out of me getting in trouble for his dirty work ;) ...I have to admit though, that was pretty damn great. 

There was also this other time, I asked Rey if planting a strawberry would produce any fruit. Rey responded by explaining how if I planted a strawberry in the back yard, a strawberry tree would grow! I was very skeptical... I asked if he was just screwing around with me... but he convinced me he was telling the truth. So, I took a few strawberries.... and planted them in the back yard. When I got back in the house, Rey just looked at me and started laughing... really hard (I guess in disbelief that I actually believed him...and followed through). At that point I was thinking... what the heck is so funny. Turns out strawberries don't grow on trees (clearly)... and that planting a strawberry in my back yard (the barren land) would yield nothing. I swear, I'd probably believe anything that guy tells me... no matter how sketchy it seems. (Oh, by the way.... don't think this story is funny? Here is the "punch line".... This wasn't when we were kids... it was just some time ago that this happened.)

There was also this one time.. I was too young to remember... but my mom told me the story and I thought it was too freakin cute to not mention it... BEST STORY EVER!

When I was born, my mom would change my diapers very often (DUH.). One day, Rey just happened to be present when she was changing me... And Rey GASPED out of disbelief. He said, "MOM!!!! THIS IS TERRIBLE!" She responded, "What's wrong Rey?"... And he continued, "BRIGITTE! SHE DOESN'T HAVE  A PIPI!"... yes... pretty funny... but it gets better......"Mom, we HAVE to take her to TOYS R US and BUY HER A PIPI!" =) this is my favorite Rey story. He use to think you could buy everything and anything at toys r us... including genitalia. 

So yeah, thinking of these stories, the late night chats we have, the times i stay up waiting for him to get home, the times i tell him to go to bed cause he fell asleep on the couch, waking up to watch dharma and greg and spin city, saved by the bell, etc... eating entire loaves of bread for breakfast... playing guitar hero... playing the wii... everything! I am definitely going to miss him. So much so, that I wanted to write about it. I know it's his time to leave the nest though. I am confident that he will do well where ever he goes and what ever he does... because he puts God first. So, since this is his last official night, I thought I'd write his going away prayer. I hope when you read this, you would send him your blessings as well. 

Here it goes:

Dear God,

Thank you for Rey! The greatest brother in the whole world!!!! Please protect him where ever he goes, and help him succeed in all the things you have in store for him. I am confident that you will look over him, because he is your child. I pray that you'll bless him for his obedience, and help him adjust in his new environment accordingly. Please bless him as he goes, and keep him company when he feels alone. Thank you again for such a great brother, friend, and teacher. In Jesus' name...

-your child.... Brigitte

Cool, my first blog prayer. That was interesting. Anyway, that's all I guess. Thanks for your time in my reminiscence. See you again soon!

Rey, my hero, my best bud, if you're reading... I love you. Be careful! Beware of the haters! lol... freakin toaster haters.

PS... happy birthday Janell! yay!! 20!!! welcome to purgatory. 

PSS... have any funny Rey stories? let me know!

Catching up with the NEW YEAR.... (Longest Blog EVER)

Photos by: Peter Gregg Photography
So, since I decided to blog now, I decided that I should back track a little bit since the year just started.Let's begin with Christmas Eve....

That night was pretty awesome. I spent time with my direct family (aka every one De Armas or Hernandez). We did the traditional cuban thing and roasted the pig (funnnn!) and ate like pigs (hmm)...I also got attacked by some of my little cousins (who come in bountiful numbers)... and then... for the first time, spent the other half of my

night at my indirect family's house (aka everyone Soucy and what not). It was pretty freakin awesome! I had a good time over there! We ate the dessert I sent Tom's aunt and uncle (which would be the GIANT CARAMEL CHOCOLATE APPLE from william sonoma)...and well, pretty much every other dessert you can think of. Then we all sat down together and opened up some presents! It was really nice being with both sides of the family. Thomas read the story of Christmas, and then we concluded the evening with some awesome photos... (and a kiss of course).

Oh, I forgot to mention!!! Thomas and I did our Christmas gift exchange that evening as well! It was so cool! I guess since it was our first Christmas together, we went all out in the gift giving. I believe my favorite, most unexpected gift would have to be my nintendo Wii! How cool was that?!?! The only problem was, that since they were still high in demand, Thomas could only get a hold of a wii reserve (a paid promise of a wii in january). That was so nice though! TOTALLY unexpected. I think my gifts were kind of lame (I mean, there was no Wii involved...pssh), but he seemed to enjoy them. So the night went on as it should... and every one went to sleep waiting for the ever so near Christmas day.

So it finally came! And boy, did we wake up early in my house (not on purpose... mostly because we had house guests). We watched my cousin Michael's children open their gifts... and boy was it cute! I love watching kids scream over toys! It was hilarious! Then we visited Martha's house and exchanged gifts with my mom's side of the family. We enjoyed a nice Christmas brunch, and I enjoyed a plate of bacon. As the day went on, we visited other houses to drop off gifts... until the time finally came. We began to pack up the rental car to go to NORTH CAROLINA!!!! When Thomas arrived, he said the very infamous..."BUT WAIT!!! THERE'S MORE!" statement. He brought out another gift that he and my brother had been hiding...and when I unwrapped it, there it was. The actual Wii...in the flesh! (or...in the box I guess.) THAT was definitely something I didn't expect. Thomas explained that he originally couldn't find the wii...so he bought the reserve.... then ended up finding one a few days before Christmas... so... he basically bought two. We ended up selling the other one to Kristel...(YAY K-LO!) So yeah.... after that awesomeness... we packed up the rental ESCALADE (sounds like a dream..but boy was it hell)... and hit the road! ...which leads me to my next point... this story is freaking long... so I'm going to continue posting later... brb!

It Starts....

So, I decided to start blogging. Don't ask me why...or even better....why now... cause the answer is just going to be..."Because I felt like it." =) There are so many things happening in life right now, that not writing about it would be wrong. This first blog isn't going to be long, or awesome... I guess it's just an introduction to ME! I have to thank AMANDA for the wonderful name of my blog. She wrote a poem a while ago, and it was called THE COLOR BRIGITTE. I thought it would be appropriate. Thanks woman! Anyway... my blogs will be random. I hope to write every day, but I don't know if I'll be able to do that just yet. I'm taking  online courses from FIU for the first time! I guess blogging would be a major distraction from reading the material... but who cares. =) I just hope to enjoy this long semester. And well, I just want to write about it! I'll be blogging later today, but for now.... i guess this is it.