It was fun! We had a new shirt to match a different paper each day. Loved that :)
As always I had a wonderful time. We enjoyed nice dinners as a team in the evening at Down Town Disney and had fun chatting and taking pictures of each other. We took turns sharing our "secret talents" and our "most embarrassing moments". For the life of me I couldn't think of one....not saying that I've never had an embarassing moment---oh, yes I have. I just couldn't think of one.......That was until I was on my way home in the Seattle Airport. It was around lunch time and I decided to go and sit down at one of the restaurants, read my book and enjoy lunch and a nice glass of wine. Sounds great so far, huh? Well I had about 15 minutes until my plane borded, so I requested my bill. Again, no problem, right? I handed the lady my debit card and when she returned, she stated my card had been "reported lost". I was totally confused and had NO idea what she meant. I started digging out all of my other ID's (insurance card, drivers license, CHA badge) all the time stating "It's my card, I didn't report it lost"! She finally took me over to the computer screen to prove it and indeed it said "Card reported lost". Oh boy, I thought. I only had $11.00 in my purse because I always use my debit card and I don't carry credit cards.... The tears welled-up in my eyes. "How in the heck was I going to pay for my meal"? Totally embarrassed I explained that my husband works for the bank our card is through and that I would call him to check it out. Luckily he picked up his line right away and checked our account. Yikes. Someone had stolen our debit card number and charged $600 plus on our debit card that very morning, so the fraud department had froze our accounts to protect us. Greeaaat..... Steve said he would call the fraud department and call me right back. I explained to my waitress who due our language barrier, started yelling, "Why your husband need to call the FIRE department!!" I finally said "fradulent department" and she totally got what I meant. By this time I was panicking and had only 8 minutes before my plane left. I remember sitting there stressing..."Steve, hurry please call me back!" when I decided to just call my mom. All excited to hear from me she answers the phone, "Hi! Tess, how are you!?!" I lost it. I started sobbing (yes, this was SOOOOO damned embarrassing---I totally lost it, right in the middle of the restaurant) Sobbing, I said to her, "I am at lunch here in the airport and I can't pay for my meal!! (sob, sob)" I quickly explained what had happened with my card and she tried calming me down saying don't be embarrassed you will never see these people again. She told me to give the phone to the waitress and she would take care of it. Oh, man. I totally thought I was both missing my flight and I would be rolling up my sleeves and washing some dishes in the back. So mom to the rescue!! I paid and ran to get on my plane, which luckily was a short distance. Red faced, watery eyed I took my seat and was relieved that MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT was over.
So....I lieu of this most embarrassing moment, I challenge you to share yours here, or better yet create a layout about it....that's if you can stomach it..lol. I'll draw 2 names and RAK both of you! I dare you..lol. Yes, I can laugh about it now, but man-o-man I wanted to crawl under a rock.
Changing key here, I would like to share one of the last layouts I created for fun, just before I left for CHA. As some of you already know, I used to study opera in college and dreamed of being a famous opera singer. Um, that lasted until I met my dear love, Steve and I changed my mind completely. Do I miss it. You bet, but I wouldn't change the life I have for nothing. Here in Bend, OR we have a local opera company, so the opportunity is there if I choose. Up until last year I still worked with a vocal coach, but after much thought I stopped. I just wasn't sure what direction I wanted to go in. Going professional meant a lot of travel and being away. This was the year I was suppose to do the Met Opera Audtions. Maybe I'll change my mind before I am too old, but if I don't I am perfectly content with what memories I do have of my years singing.
This layout was about the time in my life where I worked so hard for the State competition and won "State Champion Mezzo Soprano" It was such a huge honor for me and in these pics I can't believe how young I looked..lol. My parents took these pics the day after I won the title in front of the University of Oregon Music Hall. I'll never forget that night. Sitting with my coach and other singers awaiting the placings.....3rd place goes to ____________, 2nd place goes to ___________ (honestly when I heard 2nd place, I thought there was no way I had placed.....just as I was thinking ah, bummer, but at least I tried I heard everyone in my group SCREAMING and I heard my name, "Our State Champion Mezzo Soprano goes to Miss Tessa Ann Cotton of Coos Bay, Oregon!" I barely remember running down from the balcony, down the isles on the stage to receive my award. It was so sureal and I couldn't believe I had accomplished my goal. It really taught me that if I worked really hard for something I could achieve anything.
If you have gotten to this point, thanks..lol. I meant to keep this post short, but once I get started sometimes I can't stop..haha!
Enjoy your week!
Tessa
