In the Airport Prison

So I thought, on this Friday, with the country's economy in the craphole and the muckety-mucks in DC in shouting matches, that I'd share with you a funny/annoying story from our trip to Barbados.

When you come back into the U.S. from another country, you have to go through passport control. You show the border officer your passport, they look at your picture and your name and your customs form, they stamp your passport, and you go off to collect your bags to recheck them in the US.

When we came back into Miami from Barbados, Jim presented his passport to the border officer. There was a problem. She couldn't process his passport. Without explaining to us what the problem was, she said that the "main office" would have to process it. So off we go (I had to go, too, I couldn't just leave him), escorted by another officer to the main office. Which was locked, and the officers inside had to buzz us in.

Inside the main office, there were torn-up chairs to sit on like a doctor's waiting room - in hell. Most of the chairs were full. We were told to take a seat. Thank goodness for a 9-hour layover.

No one told us why we were here. Someone came by and asked us what flight we were on, and if we had a baggage ticket. Still, no explanation.

I had to go to the bathroom, but they wouldn't let me out of the "office." There was a bathroom in the office, there was no lock for the door, and there was no door on the stall. I'd never been so humiliated and mad in my entire life. I was an American citizen, and I felt like a drug smuggler.

Finally, they call Jim to the counter. They tell him his first and last name is the same as someone they're looking for. Now, here's what makes me mad. His middle name is VERY unique - it's Japanese. The officer who checked us out of prison said that Jim's middle name is what let him off. DUDE! His middle name is on his passport. The original border officer could see it clear as day. So we had to go through all this anyway?

I'm all for security. But stupidity is a whole different ballgame. Especially when I have to pee with no doors.

Happy Friday!

Barbados Memories

Here are the Barbados pictures I promised. Enjoy.

Did you know that Barbados is a major cruise port? Visit www.cruiseshipcenters.com/CarmenandJim to find a cruise there. Sign up for our email newsletter, and be entered to win a free cruise.

Squeaking Through

Well, blog fans, it looks like Hurricane Ike is going to sneak south and leave Miami alone tomorrow, meaning our flight just may make it out in time. Did you ever see Independence Day, where the president's plane is taking off just as D.C. is exploding, and the flames are chasing the plane? That's the way I feel, except the flames are hurricane bands and I'm in the plane. So wish us luck!

When I return, I'll have more information on some big things going down. Now you want to come back for another visit in a week or so, don't cha?

I'll also hopefully have some cool photos and stories to tell.

So stay tuned, and I'll see you when I return!

The Price You Pay

We got a great deal on our upcoming Barbados trip, which starts in 11 days. However, I'm now wondering if I took into consideration the price of worrying about the actual GETTING THERE.

So here we are, closely watching the tropics. We've got Gustav threatening the Gulf Coast, which doesn't affect our trip (because it's all about me, you know) - but makes the oil speculators go nutso. And you know the price of oil never comes down as fast as it goes up. Grrr.

Then, we've got tropical depression 8, to be known as Hanna. Its current track keeps it in the Atlantic until Monday, but it's really too early to tell what's going to happen there. If it's going to do something, I hope it does it next week, because NOTHING needs to be stormy on September 8. Like it is here today, thanks to crappy old Faye. I know we need the rain, but I don't have to like the soggy.

Once we're there, I don't know that I care so much about getting home on time. Ha! If my choice is tropical paradise or flying home in a hurricane, I'm going with hammocks and drinks with umbrellas in them. I just don't want to be stuck on a little teeny island with a big ol' storm coming at me. Barbados isn't typically in the hurricane belt, but never say "never."

In other Carmen news, I have started the book self-publishing process. The manuscript has been submitted, the cover illustration has been designed, and the wonderfully talented Goofy Girl has started work on the blog design. I've been researching and researching and I'm so excited to share my book with the world. I'll definitely have a virtual book signing so that you guys can get an autographed copy. I'll have a virtual launch party, too. If you guys are on Facebook, I invite you to invite me as a friend as well! (just be sure to tell me you're from the blog world in your message, so I know you're not a stalker.)

And the BF and I are leaning towards getting into the travel biz. I think we're close to deciding to become travel agents, selling mostly cruises. I'm just going to go out of my way to help people book their trips, and hopefully use my vast travel know-how to get folks the best trips ever. More info to come on that as well.

Going south, ya'll!

Well, my trip to Barbados is a mere three weeks away, and I'm getting pretty excited. I need a vacation badly.

But you know me, I can't go on a trip without having another one planned.

So in October, the BF and I are heading to Charleston, S.C. The trip has a two-fold purpose. First is just a tourist purpose. We've never been there, and we're looking forward to seeing the old city. The second purpose is to scope it out and see if we'd maybe like to live there. We're both tired of winters, and the BF really misses coastal living, so we'll see.

In other news, you may be interested to know that I have decided to self-publish my novel. It will be available on Amazon.com, and I'll have a blog for it, a Facebook page, a Facebook book club for it, etc. Prepare to be bombarded! :) (And to answer your questions, yes, I'll do a virtual booksigning for anyone who's interested. My blog buddies will definitely not be forgotten! I'll even give away a copy on my blog, which I'll post here when everything's set!)

Wish me luck!

And the Next Trip Is . . .

So I dangled a teaser about my next vacation in my last post. I know that you've all been thinking about nothing else, possibly even losing sleep over it, so I'm going to tell you where it is.

Are you ready?


Are you sure?


Here it comes . . .


We're going to . . .


BARBADOS!

We found an excellent deal on Cheapcaribbean.com, and then did some extra research and found an even better deal on Travelocity.com, and booked that deal! For about $850 per person, we're flying through Miami (with a horrible layover) and then to Barbados, staying 7 nights in the Bougenvilla Resort there and then flying home.

The reason we got such a deal is because we're going in September, which is the low season in the Caribbean, thanks to hurricanes. Barbados, like Aruba, is set outside of the hurricane belt, so the weather ON the island should be okay. We're taking a chance mostly with the travel to and from the island during September, but we've got travel insurance, so we should be fine. Let's just all cross our fingers that Miami doesn't get hit in September.

The Crane Beach here was named one of the world's 10 best beaches, so we'll be sure to visit that one.

Now, I just have to make sure I don't get sun poisoning while I'm there. I got fried in Vegas, and had problems for a month after. Jim will be introducing me as, "this is my girlfriend, the girl who is sitting on the beach in long sleeves and jeans."