4 days.....Life Changes

Yes, I've been absent. Ugh, I feel exhausted with my life right now. I truly can't keep up. Perhaps it is the euphoria of my youngest graduating high school or maybe even the fact that I have been working the dreaded night audit, graveyard shift in hotelspeak, training our newest Part Time Night Auditor. So far, it  has gone well. He is learning and by the second night he has learned to run the entire night audit himself. It's not rocket science, but if you don't get enough sleep it can be mind numbing. I FINALLY caught up with my sleep and this is the 4th night. I'm almost to the end of it. I'll be training for 6-7 nights in a row and I will be ready for a couple of days off.

In 4 nights my life changes. I've been all about my kids for 20 years, My entire life revolved around school projects, tests, school activities and them to be brutally honest. I was never the best mom, but I loved them so I was the best mom for them. I can see Mrs. Cleaver cringing at some of the choices I've made in parenting. Some made sense...others....not so much. So, now I receive my report card. How are my kids? Did I teach them enough?

Report Card:

BYU Girl- She is a well adjusted young lady who LOVES her life at BYU. She knows what she wants and how she is going to get it. She has decided she is ready to have boyfriend/husband. This is the way this girl works. She decides what she wants, when she wants it and then works to get there. She is strong in the church and has an intense desire to marry in the temple.....I get a B on this kid. Love Her!!!

The Marine- My son, my heart. He has finished his full time active service and has now transitioned to Reservist status. He spent a year way from home and now knows what he wants. He wants to become a high school technical drama teacher. While I was at work he went to the local community college he applied and got everything in order. He is also working full time and is looking to find the girl he will settle down with permanently. He struggles a bit with his desire to go to church, but he attends and does what he needs to do.......I give myself a B+ on this kid. He has a wonderful heart and will get to where he needs to be.

The High School Senior/Graduate- This is the girl who I held in my arms for the first time and the spirit whispered: "This is your trial in life." GULP....I wish I was kidding about that. She has been the one kid who struggled the most, but all in all she just wants to be loved and she is. She is headstrong and intelligent. She is wonderfully witty with a heart to love the world. She has decided not to go to college as she is not ready. Instead, she wants to work full time and start putting money away. She is my heart. I adore this little girl......I give myself an A on this kid just for pure effort. She has no desire right now to go to church, but she believes wholeheartedly in what she was taught growing up. In truth this kid just has a strong desire to make her own choices. I know at some point she WILL choose to go to church, but as always with this kid....it's in her own time.


All three of these kids are at home right now, but by the end of summer they all have plans to be out of the house. One to college and two moving into apartments with their friends to start their lives as adults. I'll miss these kids as I won't be concentrating on them 100% each day. Now there will be time for me to take care of myself. It's going to be odd, but it'll be good.

Changes....It's About Time!!!

So much has happened and I just don't know where to begin. 

My job was eliminated at my hotel. They changed me over to the Front Office Manager. Basically, I've gone from selling the hotel to managing a hotel. I've now had to move from managing myself to managing the entire staff. It's crazy and busy and has caused me to work a bunch of hours.

In fact, I worked one shift 29 hours in a row.......Spring Break near SeaWorld. Almost makes me want to curl up in fetal position and cry.

My son should be coming home in the next couple weeks. He will be home for a few months and then he will move out on his own. He's ready to be living on his own.

My oldest daughter has been working full time in order to put money away for school.

My youngest daughter is a senior in high school and she is all ready for prom and the military ball. She can't wait to graduate and be done.

Walking Away....

I don't know if there is anyone still out there who used to read my blog. If you are still there...I'm sorry. I truly had to walk away. I was becoming too negative and spreading my negativity....at least in my mind so I needed to regroup, rethink my attitude. Yes, I am thick headed and so it truly took some time. I often remarked to my co-workers it would take a two by four to knock some sense into me. In this case it took several months/years.

So, here's where we left off:

My beautiful oldest daughter is back for her second year in college and she is freaking amazing!!!

 My son graduated from high school and consequently left me in tears for several months.  It will make sense soon.

The bonus to working near the Alamo is getting to run off to see Phil Collins, yes from Genesis, donating his collection of Alamo artifacts back to the Alamo. Phil, you'll be in our hearts....    THANK YOU!!!

 I love dressing up like Bob the Builder to get an exclusive tour of one of the newest and most incredibly renovated venues for music, theater and all around incredible performances...         the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

 Oh what to do when your oldest decides to be an illustrator....Yeah...She's incredibly talented.

 Getting to sneak over to Houston to celebrate the wedding of one of my best friend's kids and bringing the girls along.

                I've been picking up with some strange critters while traveling this past fall.

                 AND, now you see why my son left me in tears. He is freaking amazing!!!

 Our first dinner after his graduation from boot camp. I miss this guy, but he is doing what he dreamed of....becoming a US Marine.

 My youngest daughter being her typical crazy self and entertaining me beyond all belief.
                                                           She freaking amazing!!!

 When my artist has to complete a project which takes all weekend and gets labeled "eccentric."
                                                                             Love it!!!

 New Job! New Haircut! New Me!!! Check out that sassy new Sales Manager at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Sea World Westover Hills.....Getting a job that I never applied for? Check that off the bucket list!!!

                                                    Trying to organize my new office!

                             My new neighbors....I love that I get to visit them. So fun!!!

                                What happens when Sea World is closed? I get to go play!!!

          My baby boy is now growing into a terrific young man. My son, my Marine!!!

                It got cold this Halloween....so I ended up being the Pig in the Blanket!!!

Oft times I desire to feel normal, like every other woman in church, then I look down and realize it's never going to happen....and I'm okay with it!

A Wicked Life For Me

It's not often Hubby and I get out.

It's really not often when we get to the theater.

It's truly not often that I hang out with my coworkers after a long day at work.

Last night, we did all three!

Working in a hotel can get you to get to know a wide variety of  characters/guests as they com and go. One of the best parts of my job is getting to know the guests in these groups. This week the cast from Wicked arrived. They are staying with us during their run here in San Antonio. I've met a few most of them now and I have to admit this is now one of my favorite groups I've ever had. I've also become friends with one of the sweetest men I've ever met, also known as the Wizard of Oz. They stop by and chat while they are on their way out.

Part of my job offers me some incredible perks. The company manager offered us 6 free tickets to see the show.

My coworkers and I went and were surprised to find us in the 7th row opening night. Not only is the Majestic theater and truly incredible venue, but to be sitting 7th row and not paying for the tickets are absolutely incredible.

If anyone gets the chance to see this performance....do it!!!!

5K?!?!?!?!? What was I thinking?!?!?!

First and foremost...I've survived. You see that banner behind our heads...It's the finish line and we are still smiling!!!!!

Second, you should also know it was a 5k WALK not run. I wouldn't have survived the 5k if I were running. As it was, Hubby asked me every hundred yards how I was doing. I was fine and I had my fitbit going as well.

I served on Team Wingman, one of the top ten teams. Hubby and my 130 something teammates accompanied me. We were walking for a purpose...to find a cure for MS. More than likely MS is wreaking havoc in the lives of someone you know...even if you don't know they have it.

So, today...earning my 10,000 daily steps was easier knowing I had a purpose and I had two friends in mind as I crossed that finish line. They amaze me. I hope someday I can be like them!

One Step at a Time

It's a crazy phenomenon...I can't stand it but I now find myself part of it. It started simply enough, at work of all places!!! Our manager in an effort for us all to focus on our health and well being had opted to purchase Fitbits for all of the managers. A Fitibt is part pedometer part facebook, but it focuses on making you healthy. Wearing a Fitbit keeps you alert on how many calories you've burned and how many steps you've taken each day. It syncs to your phone/computer and allows you to have friends who also show how many steps they've taken. You can cheer or taunt them. It's a fun way to make ourselves aware of where we are and from where we've come.

I received mine yesterday and find myself today walking more than I was used to. All I want is a steady gain from the day before until I level off where everyone else is at. Our property goal is 10,000 steps a day. Nothing much for my crazy marathon runner of a coworker, but she is my biggest cheerleader helping me move my pudgy feet a little faster.

How far will I get? Only my Fitbit will know!


***Update- I made it over 10,000 steps today - Now that is a WIN!!!***

Letting Them Fall

When they were babies and I stood just outside their bedroom at night listening to their cries as I let them cry themselves to sleep in order to teach them to sleep through the night....I thought that was the worst moment.

Today was much worse....BYU girl called me from school. She is failing her first class EVER. She is slightly upset and thinking I would scream and yell. My mind raced as she described her visit with her teacher. College is a challenge to her. Challenges are new to this brainiac. She is struggling for the first time. Her teacher told her to finish out the semester in class and then take the class again....and she will....and she has already added it to her schedule. She is determined to do it. She will make it through this time. My little procrastinator has learned it doesn't work to put things off in college.

She;ll catch on....and I'll be listening at the door.

Why Do We ALWAYS Dwell on the Negative?!?!?

I'm so frustrated. I am normally a positive person. Nothing brings me down..WHY?! Because I struggle with depression, that's why!!! I have those same gloomy negative days everyone else experiences. In the end, I have to push any chance of a gloomy cloud away otherwise it gets very dark in my little mind.

So what's the problem?

I work with two of the biggest cranky women I've ever met. One is pregnant and all she does is complain about EVERYTHING. From the moment she punches the clock in the morning until she punches out at night. The same goes for the woman who serves as my boss. Her AC is connected with our General Manger's office AC. She doesn't like cold. So....from the moment she gets in I hear in a whiny voice: "I'm cold. Why is it so cold in here?!?!?!" It got so bad I even brought her a blanket because I was tired of hearing it. She puts it across her lap and still complains.

I am frustrated. I want to scream. I'm tired of the negativity. I've been trying to instill positive attitudes at work. I'm not giving up....I'm just whining....Oh great!!! I'm morphing into them!!!
Grrrrr!!!!

Time for an attitude of gratitude!!!

10 Memories that Make Me Smile:

1. My youngest girl toddling into the pond at the Portland Oregon Temple.
2. The look on my oldest daughter's face the day she found out she was accepted to BYU
3. My tiny son when he caught his first froggy for his daddy
4. The smile on my daughter's face when we were ready to board our flight to Utah...BYU Bound.
5. The day my son passed the sacrament for the first time
6. Listening to my oldest reading her Patriarchal Blessing on the phone from college to me (we never could schedule it at home)
7. The look on my Hubby's face when he was offered a position as Head Custodian and given his own school
8. The day I changed into my current position at work.
9. The day Hubby and I got sealed for time and all eternity.
10. The births of all three of my children.


Yup....I think I'm in a  good place now!

What Was I Thinking?!?!?!?

Seriously, someone explain to me what I was thinking!!!! I agreed to this as it was our outing for our 21st anniversary. A certain guilt follows me as I don't really think too much about anniversaries. Yes, I adore Hubby. Yes, I am thrilled to celebrate, but why can't we just celebrate the big ones!!!!

Well, with a couple of twenties in hand we went out to explore. This place is about an hour from our house. It's on the opposite side of San Antonio. It's actually a pretty cool little place. The best part...I didn't have to pay at all!!! Being a Certified Tourism Ambassador here in SA I occasionally get some discounts and freebies. Therefore I cashed in. Hubby only paid $20. Not bad if you ask me.

My biggest mistake....I let hubby decide which tour we should go on. He wanted the Hidden Caverns tour. I was fine with that. 185 steps down doesn't really sound too bad when you think about it quickly. BUT when you find out it is 3/4 of a mile down under the ground....HOLY MOLY!!!! It is the equivalent of 18 stories down. Again...it doesn't sound to bad to me. That's only 5 more floors than that hotel I work at. To me, it sounded doable.

Then I realized.....

Eventually, I would have to come back up.

GASP!!! Too late...I was already at the bottom!!

Updates

So much time has passed. I feel guilt...but not too much. I've been paying attention to my family...go figure. Most of all I've been missing my Rinni, my girl, my BYU Girl.

First and foremost, it was literally the best and the worst trip of my life. This kid who crept into my heart the day I learned I was pregnant has tortured me beyond even what she knows...but she will someday. I sobbed uncontrollably as I watched this daughter of mine who was willing to walk out of my everyday life. How could she?!?!?!?!

She did. And she has set up her room. She's gone to dances. She's gone to parties. She's joined the Residential Housing Association as their publicity officer. She's gone to SLC without me and gone with her fellow RHA peeps. SHe's gone to school. She's endured a cold. She interviewed with her bishop and got her temple recommend. She's received her new calling. She helped her RHA peeps with the homecoming float and today she rode in the homecoming parade. She freaked when a boy flirted with her. She has gone to get her Patriarchal Blessing since all of our schedules were a mess in trying to get her there. She's been responsible for her finances and watches her money like a hawk. She even went into the dentist for a root canal all on her own.

My baby grew up...when I wasn't looking. I'm proud of the young woman she has become. She is INCREDIBLE! I love her and I am so proud to be her earthly mother.

My Son, Sigh, has opted to go into the Marine Reserves. He will go off to boot camp and will return home in late September. In his own words he is over senior year and just wants to get going with his life. After all these years. he owes me a graduation.

My little Molly has grown into a wonderful young woman and I am truly proud of her for standing up to even her own friends...even if it means ending a friendship. She's a good kid.

Hubby has opened his school and now preps for the dedication. He saved a little girl from choking a few days ago and I know his principal is grateful for his actions. He had to do the Heimlich maneuver on this scared young lady. It's been a blessing for him to be there.

Me? I've endured Book of Mormon the Musical staying with us at my hotel. I will say most of the performers were wonderful young men, but there were enough of the others that nearly drove me insane. My boss was so thrilled with how I handled them especially with my faith being tested and tried....he has offered to purchase two tickets to Wicked which is coming next March.

2-ish Days and Counting

Yup...it's almost here. Rinni and I fly off to Utah to bring her to college. She is getting ready to join all of her new friends at BYU. B to the Y to the U. Boom!

Seriously, where did the time go? Has 18 years of this kid's life passed so quickly?!?!?!?

At work I am exhausted. I'm so tired from dealing with all the craziness that I am so ready for some time off. I am getting to do something I haven't had a chance to do for quite some time...travel alone. I know there is a stigma and fear for some about traveling alone...but I LOVE it! It's so much fun. I am truly a people watcher and I love not having to pretend to be happy. I can just relax...totally and utterly relax. I am going to drop Rinni off and help her get her dorm together. We will attend some orientation stuff together and then I will bring the car back to the airport, grab a taxi to the train station and then board a train to California. It's going to be fun. I love the fun of travel. It's going to be a blast!!!

And this is my gorgeous BYU girlie with her YW President who happens to be the best hairdresser ever. She did Rinni's hair to send her off to college with. I can't stop singing Little Mermaid Songs. So fun!!! More pics to come!!!

4 Hours a Day Saved....Along with my Samity!!!

Here's how my day normally started:

4am-Wakeup, get showered and ready for work.

5am- Leave the house, walk 1 mile to the bus stop.

5:25am- Bus Picks me up

5:45am-Arrive at Transit Station

5:55am- Catch bus headed for Downtown

6:15am- Arrive at stop Downtown- Walk 1 Mile to work

7am- Start shift at work

4:10pm Finish work-start one mile trek to bus stop.

4:25pm- Arrive at bus stop-wait until 5:15pm until next bus

5:15pm- Climb aboard bus

5:45pm- Arrive at transit center

6:23pm- climb aboard next bus

6:45pm- bus departs transit center

7:15pm- Arrive last bust stop

7:35pm- Arrive home and collapse into chair

8pm- go to bed and get ready for the next day.

First observation...yes, my schedule coincides much better in the morning on the to work.
Second observation- During the summer heat the trek home is miserable.

Now, for the good news!

YES! That is right....I've got some new wheels. Mr brother-in-law and Sister-in-law just bought a new car and offered us their old one. Combined with my pay raise and affording the gas and upkeep....it is a BLESSING. I now am allowed to lseep a bit later and I can actually get home within about 30 minutes.

Can we say...HAPPY DANCE!!!

I Admit....I Failed

Some have heard the saying: "The person with the brightest smile hides the biggest sadness." I admit wholeheartedly this was the case for me. I was working 40 hours a week, carrying a full load and attending school full time as well. I found myself, more times than I can count, working all night and then completing a full day at school last semester going a full 48 hours before actually getting to sleep. I admit hating my life and breaking down to ask what I did to deserve this. Yes, I hit rock bottom....and smiled through it. I posted for a promotion at a different location and expected to be treated with support. Instead was called a traitor by my manager. For two weeks I endured her harsh treatment. I vowed not to let her win. The job I'd applied for was canceled and I was forced to think why I had to go through this? So frustrated I nearly wanted to throw my hands up and cry out to the Lord. And then I truly opened my eyes. My son has found his calling in the Air Force ROTC. He has been appointed Chief Commander and has taken on immense responsibilities and I am truly proud of him. He plans on attending college and enlisting in the Air Force as an officer. My oldest daughter completed a small hurdle in making her dream come true. When she was 5 years old she spoke with one of the kids in our ward about BYU. He played football for the Cougars at the time and told her what BYU was. She decided at age 5 she was going to BYU. Knots formed in my stomach as we waited for the answer. First I watched her dance around the room after being accepted to BYU-Idaho. Then much to our shock....BYU accepted my baby. The girl can't stop smiling...including picking her dorm room. Bee has been developing her talent in photography. She has enjoyed being herself and hanging out with me. Hubby and I enjoyed our first vacation. We dropped the kids off at EFY at BYU and we enjoyed our own adventure. We spent a day with friends at temple square....my first time ever. We even went ziplining. Yes...I screamed and laughed like I hadn't laughed in so long. It felt good. Then I came home...and it was back to the grindstone. I continued to work my fingers to the bone working all odd hours rarely having a holiday or weekend off. Finally, after long hours of craziness, torture and going nearly 4 years without going to church....I was given a promotion to Property Coordinator. This means I work majority days with most weekends off. It means I get a pay raise. It means I regain my sanity and most of all I get to spend time with my family for once. I come home to my kids. Yes, I crumbled....but I make a great comeback!!!

5 more weeks....somebody wake me up

5 more weeks... 5 more weeks... 5 more weeks... This is my mantra. as I count down to the end of this terrible semester. Let me just share with you my schedule this week: Monday:3-11 Tuesday:4am wake up and run to catch bus to make it to my first class by 7:45am Finish my last class by 2pm Jump on the bus and head back downtown and change in time for my night shift. Work 3pm-11pm Wednesday:wake up at 4am to catch bus in time...work7-3pm Thursday: Wake up again at 3am to grocery shop...then be back by 5am for my bus run again Out of last class by 2pm Friday:wake up at 4am....catch bus to get to work ...Work 7-3pm...pass out!!! Oh yeah...trying hard to work it....and survive. Why did I do this?!?!? Oh yeah...to be a good example to my kids. Sigh....we'll see how this works. Only one more semester and I will achieve my goal of my Associate's Degree. No, not a Bachelor's or anything but it's a step.

Then...and Now....20 years in the making!!!

It started 20 years ago...a fairytale romance...sorta. Well, we had dark forces trying to tear us apart. We had to fight to be together and it ended up in a marriage...Sounds like a fairytale romance to me. Anyhoo!!! This week Hubby and I celebrated our 20th anniversary in the a remarkable manor...we worked. Oh yeah, we were into the anniversary. Basically, what it boiled down to is that with me in school neither of us could take time off for our celebration so i would need to request off on Saturday for us to be together. And so we did....and I got the day off. Of course with everthing else is our lives there was one catch....it was the Saturday of the Children's Miracle Network Torch Relay. So, Hubby and I trotted off this morning with one of our kids who surprised us by volunteering to help at the relay. We had a blast. We celebrated our anniversary in style by walking a 5k with a couple hundred of our closest friends. We even had some of the guests from out hotel come along for the fun. As always we had fun in anything we do. It's never dull and we partied like rockstars. Afterwards, we signed the bus and grabbed some lunch.

Tonight we dine for a quiet night away from the kids and then we will come home and relax the rest of the night. 20 years wears you out dontcha know?!?!?

D-Day.....**sigh**

Well, it finally happened. I've come into the realization my baby is leaving. While sitting at home spending my free few seconds of my life I found out Rinni's Graduation was scheduled. My daughter...that cute little face I've loved since being yanked out of my womb. Apparently she was happy right where she was.

Just a few days from now she officially puts in for BYU and BYU-I. This has been her dream since she was 5. She even had a BYU Cheerleader Barbie she carried around everywhere. Now, she is a confident young woman ready to take on the world. Seriously...a Mama couldn't be prouder.

The only saving grace is that I am graduating 2 weeks before she does....unless this schedule kills me. Ugh!!! Until then..look out world....Rinni will be unleashed on the world. Good luck world...you've got some stiff competition!!!

So...you're going to pay me to play on Facebook?!

I go by several names at work: Queen of Hsopitality TripAdvisor Darling Associate of the Year (There is no such award at our location) Obsessive Travel Freak I'll go with any of those, but now I am adding on a fun title I never imagined and most likely never expected. Residence Inn in an effort to help travellers is using Facebook to discover our local recommendations. You are allowed to ask questions and wait for a local or expert to answer. Oh yeah....San Antonio is MINE!!!! Mwahahaha!!! Yes, you can go to the Residence Inn Facebook page and look for Thrival Guide. Once you click on that image and pick your city You can look for a variety of information ranging from Dining to Farmer's Markets. This being said....it is new...in its infancy and I haven't had a chance to thoroughly take it over. I'll be creating reviews of locations here in S.A., but for now...I am slowly gathering my info to start invading the web. If anyone has any questions, leave them for me and the the other S.A. locals. We've got ideas for everything from finest dining to a local haunt where we all go for breakfast tacos. From the Alamo to Sea World. For now, I will add on title on Thrival Guide Expert. Boo Yah!!!

Summer Lovin' Havin' A Blast!!!

Ok....So I've been MIA for awhile. It was part mental exhaustion and part just being too busy to want to move when I got home. So, here's what I've been up to. Working....oh so working!!! I am just going crazy working and happily doing so well. The summer was busy with families coming to San Antonio to spend their fun times at the Alamo, Sea World and of course the world famous River Walk. It is a delight to behold. Through all of it I was blessed by the people staying at our hotel how they shared smiles and I was in many of their family pictures because they wanted to to make me part of their memories. It was a blast. I so enjoyed making memories with them all. Then my big day came....VACATION!!!! This has been the first vacation we have been able to go on since losing everything. And this was a vacation that I thoroughly enjoyed. The kids were going off the EFY at BYU....and we were driving from San Antonio. Oh yeah, now THAT is a road trip. Almost 24 hours of driving. We left early in the moring with the girls. We were headed over to pick up Bryan from his scout camp on the way out. We drove about 8 hours until we were able to pick him up and then it was off to Albuquerque.

Ahh New Mexico...the Land of Enchantment. And the most enchanting thing was this picture here. So sweet. We made it to Albuquerque and found our way to Provo the next day.

Now, my oldest, Rinni, has held a dream of going to BYU-Provo sicne she was 5 years old. I am not kidding you when I tell you she asked me how she could go to BYU when she got older. I told her she would ahve to get good grades and work hard in school to make it. The day she stepped foot onto campus I nearly cried. It was amazing to see her light up. To be honest I cried after we drove away where she couldn't see me. We'll find out later how she does when she applies in a few weeks. Once the kids were gone and Hubby and I were left to our own devices that is when the fun begins. Luckily, our friends from Idaho joined us for a few days...here is some of our fun!!!

Everything is Bigger In Texas!

Why yes....it is the truth. EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas.

Why yes, that IS a 3 1/2 pound Cinnamon Roll. We dined on in for a few days. Lulu's Diner is the place we picked it up. Fantabulous!!!! We really enjoyed it!!! And the Chicken Fried Steak...bigger than a plate...DeeLish!!!

Now for the yummylicious on any block. Big Lou's 42 inch in diameter pizza. Oh yeah! Hubby was excited when I brought it home. Big Lou's started it out as a gimmick to bring people in...But their pizza...so worth driving across town to eat at. I had one of my guests bring me some to take home to the family. Oh yeah....sausage and pepperoni. So grateful for my guest, my friend. I appreciated him and the kids' eyes...well they got big too!!!

Death by Cascarones!!!!

Well...living here in San Antonio and moreso now than before since transferring to work at a downtown property...I've been blessed to work an incredibly crazy amount of hours when you try to remembr that I ahve three teens AND I am still crazy enough to be going to school full-time. Getting out....doesn't happen much here. However I've learned a few things about San Antonio since movng downtown. First and foremost....San Antonio is all about celebrating life and all the good in it. I was working during the Fiesta hours readying myself to go home, my relief standing right next to me when my Supervisor snuck up behind me and slammed a Cascarone over my head sending bright colored confetti everywhere, my hair, all over my uniform, the floor and inbetween the keys on our computers. Now, for those of you who haven't experienced a Cascarone it is an eggshell, brghtly colored and filled with confetti and sealed with a piece of tissue paper....like in the picture. Another fun thing about Fiesta is the collecting of medals. There are some truly crazy people here who collect these medals as if it would save their lives. In my first Fiesta I was lucky enough to collect a fair few. P

You don't buy them, you are simply given them. My work gave me 2, the dance club next door gave me two, A city worker, aka an Amigo, gave me one and a few others handed them to me. I was surprised as when they saw you wearing medals people would simply hand you a medal. It was probably the funnest part as my suitcoat I wear at work was covered in medals and I loved like a loon...well, no more of a loon than I usually look I guess. There is a downside to Fiesta, but to those who go to enjoy the mariachis wandering along the Riverwalk, the luminaria, the Night in Old San Antonio festival....it is fun.