It’s been a while since this beautiful child has graced the pages of my blog. Here she is, turning two, and in full force.

*Sorry for all the typos I had on here. I was blogging from my phone; which is never a good idea.

Dear Delta,

Most of the time, I like you. But today, I hate you. I’m laying on a nasty green carpet as we speak praising God that I have a sweatshirt with a hoodie to protect my precious head from the filth. I refuse to sit in the grey pleather segmented chairs any longer.

There is a guy laying next to me and no he is not some awful decision made out of boredom and/or despair (I’m not the type to make those decisions anyway). He is a stranger; at the end of his rope, like me. Except he’s rapping about smoke and office work and using words I would never dare to.  I wonder if he can hear himself through his headphones?

I’ve been here since about 5:45PM (it’s now 10ish) when my Heathy dropped me off. I made new friends at Tipperary’s Irish Pub (the one bar past security here at tallahassee regional) but then it closed (at 7PM). Along with every other vendor at this airport. I couldn’t buy a bottle of water if I wanted to- or a beer for that matter. So essentially, I’m trapped in a watered down version of hell. I am missing holding my niece on her second birthday and I’m having to wait one more day to see my mom.

But all is well. I’ve explained to my new friends, who are headed to the hip hop music festival in Miami, that it’s not Delta’s fault that we are all still here (although now I’m starting to change my mind). I’ve napped, read and journaled and I know that through this, God is good. The same rainstorm that made it possible for me to leave work a few hours early is the same storm that holds me here now.

I can’t wait to hopefully board this flight soon, hold my Kaitlyn, hug my sister, kiss my mom, and thank my stepdad for being so patient in waiting for my arrival (he’s waiting for me in a Fort Lauderdale diner right now). Safe travels this weekend. Talk to you soon.

Love,

Jovi

**BTW, I did board the flight soon after. Got on the plane, put my travel socks on and got excited. That is, until the captain came on the loud speaker to tell us our flight had been cancelled for unknown reasons. Fun. Heather came and got me, my step dad left the diner and I stayed in Tallahassee. Got to Miami the next night.

my niece. K.

Kaitlyn & Ella Kate

Drewski and I roadtripped it to Georgia this weekend.  His brother John (#44) and Logan’s brother Eli (#84), had their Homecoming football game at the University of West Georgia in a quaint little town called Carrollton. They just got a new stadium and watching the game gave me an opportunity to take some snapshots with my Rebel, which I am still learning to work.

The Wolves won their first game in two seasons, 10-9 against West Alabama. Maybe we were good luck charms? Below are some of my favorites from the game.

Click on the images to enlarge.

If you’re ever in Carrollton, make sure to stop in at The Border (NOT to be confused with On The Border) for the best Mexican food you will experience your entire life (seriously) and at Empire Grill for chili cheese fries and burgers (wow, doesn’t that sound like a healthy weekend?)

The Border Mexican
770-214-2912
1210 Maple St.
Carrollton

Empire Grill
Adamson Square
770-214-1996

This past Saturday, my little cousin Tony became the second Gomez to ever graduate from college. We’re moving up in this world!

Momma and tia Esther came up for the big to-do. They were very impressed with Tallahasee. I realized it’s easy to be impressed with Tallahassee when you’re only here for three days! I took them to Chez Pierre for Friday Happy Hour, Bella Bella for dinner, then to the Winery for some jazz. Saturday we had lunch at Masa, dinner/drinks at 101 and for desert, got to go to the swanky film school after party thanks to master planner Ashley.

I hope my momma realizes there will be no where to take her next time she comes as we covered all the good/decent places already. Am I missing any?

[I'm so proud of my little primo: don't I look proud]

[And so are mom and tia!]

[Look how excited they are!]

[Oh and pops too! Can't forget pops]

[So grad, any words of wisdon for us?]

[And Sara, my roommate-til-she-got-married friend graduated from grad school! I Where's Waldo-ed her out of a group shot]

Congrats c/o 2009!

oh mama

I don’t tell you enough-

I don’t show you enough

but, I love you.

I’ve never given you enough credit.

For those days when it was just you and me and Jessi.

We were still so little

And I bet you were scared

After all, how much longer could we, would we make it

But you never faltered.

never defaulted from the strong, happy woman that you are

And we made it.

Day after day

you proved to be enough.

And I never gave you enough credit

And Jessi didn’t either

Because dad was my hero

and I had him on a pedestal.

When the true hero was right at home

working full time

having great meals ready

praying for Jessi and I

and never tiring.

In my arrogance, I’ve wondered how we made it.

How you were enough to push Jessi and I forth.

But I know now

it’s not degrees

it’s not language

it’s not money or titles or houses or cars or vacations that ensure thriving survival-

it’s love

and

it’s strength

and

it’s courage

and it’s facing ever day with a bold determination

you were and are an arsenal of love and strength and courage and determination.

But we never gave you enough credit.

Remember that van you used to drive?

The ‘84 Aerostar?

Always overheating, never enough steering fluid.

We’d hear you coming from afar

and we’d wish you drove something else.

something better.

But you were always there

always coming for us

and that’s what’s important.

And when I turned 16 dad bought me a brand spankin’ new car

he was my hero

And you said I couldn’t keep it

that we couldn’t afford it

and I made you a villain

and I kept the stupid Jetta

But today, I know you were right.

And I just wanted to tell you.

we never gave you enough credit

And today, I want to give you buckets of credit

buckets galore mama

Because you were perfect

Because you are perfect

You are the main ingredient in the recipe that is me.

I wish I could give the world a healthy dose of you, mama.

and my, how the world would change

We’d be a happy, loving, strong, courageous, giving world.

And I wish we lived in the same city

So I could have more time to pour those buckets of credit on you

now that I know you deserve them and all.

but you know, life has a funny way

of being a slingshot

pulling us far, far away from ground zero

until the point where we can’t bear but to lust to come back

And I know today is just a regular Tuesday

like any other Tuesday on any other calendar.

But on this any-other-Tuesday

I remembered

I don’t tell you enough.

I don’t show you enough.

I love you.

Presenting to you, Mr. and Mrs. Sam and Salime Weatherford! Aren’t they beautiful?

All these posts look better in Google Reader because my 3-column theme limits space. If you have GR, look at it on there. If not, you should get it!