Is it possible to have too much to do?

Yesterday. Although it is over, the effects will linger for another two months.
Yesterday at approximately 1245 and just by happenstance, I discovered that I am expected to attend a meeting tomorrow at 5:00 pm. Nothing like finding out things last minute. I also was informed that I am obligated to plan a going away gathering for our commander's wife. That date has already been selected, but not passed on to me. The obligation of me being the person to plan that gathering was also not passed on to me. How am I supposed to plan for events when I am not advised that I am required to plan for events nor informed of the dates of which I am planning?

Here's what's on my agenda for tomorrow. Substitute teach for 3rd grade from 7:30 to 3:00. Provide after school child care with School Age Services from 1:00 to 5:00. Attend a ladies coffee from 11:00 to 1:00. Attend an organizational meeting at 5:00 to approximately 7:00pm. Hmmmm. Looks to me like there are a few overlaps. I just don't think I'll be able to accomplish everything.

Now, this meeting tomorrow that I am required (by military protocol) to attend is for a gathering of all the commanders' wives. That shindig is scheduled for a day in June.

During all of this, I am also expected to attend other military gatherings and events, which are inconveniently planned during the middle of the work day. Although I am capable of multi-tasking, I fall short at being in two to three places at the SAME time.

On top of everything else, I have to arrange for extended family to visit for my son's high school graduation, buy a house in Kansas, pack my household and ship everything back to the United States, arrange for shipping my beautiful bright red MINI, figure out how I'm going to get my three delightful dogs back to the states without violating any temperature restrictions (80+ degrees = NO FLY), work and still do all the daily activities that I normally do.

Phew! It's exhausting just to think about.

Dinner.

A city view.

Another Barcelona building. I loved the artwork/architecture.

A side street in Barcelona.

The Sagrada Familia cathedral designed by Gaudi.

A spanish building.

Up close and personal with El Tibron at the Barcelona aquarium.

My lover in Barcelona

Drinks onboard the floating restaurant.

A boat we'll never be able to afford.

The friendly Spanish puppy.

Another dancer.

Traditional Spainish Flamenco Dancer.

I had a wonderful time feeding the pigeons in the park.

The bullfight arena.

Getting ready to eat some fish.

The market. Everything is fresh. Fresh fruit, fresh candy, and fresh fish. Lots and lots of fresh fish.

I thought this performing street artist was very clever. He received some of my loose change.

The windblown man.

Cowboy and Indian fighting for me.

Performing artists. Living statues.

Here are some of the boats in the harbor of Barcelona. Yep, boats we'll never be able to afford. We did, however, have drinks on a floating restaurant.

The World's Best Dolphin Wrangler. YeeHa!

Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

We went all the way to Spain to see African animals.

The world's most patient man, and we haven't even landed yet.

Hola! Que Tal?

Instead of a safari in Africa, my husband and I decided to take a short trip to Barcelona, Spain. We also decided to make it an anniversary trip. We've been married four years today.

We arrived in Barcelona and immediately purchased a 5 day metro travel card. This is the only way to travel. Believe me, we saved money by using the unlimited metro usage on the Barcelona Card over pay as you ride tickets.

Anyway, we spent some time on the beach. There was a little puppy romping around in the sand having the time of her life. Unfortunately, her person was missing (or so I thought). She was the sweetest little pup who amazingly discovered that I am the world's biggest dog lover and she became my best friend. Even more amazing, she turned out to be a miniature schnauzer (my personal favorite breed). I asked several folks, "Es tu perro?" My husband wanted me to leave the dog alone, but there was no way on God's green earth that I was going to leave this precious little doggy alone on the beach.

I decided that I would take her to a vet practice that was a few blocks away by way of a McDonald's cheeseburger. I invited the little doggy along and she gladly agreed to jump into my arms. Off to McDonald's. As I was leaving the boardwalk, I heard a person shout out to me. I turned around and saw an older man (who was flying a kite) beckon to me. Apparently, the little doggy was his.

He spoke no English and I spoke just enough Spanish to explain to him that I was very thankful to have found him. He pointed out the dog's tag which had her name, Gresy, and a telephone number. I acknowledged the tag and explained that I was taking her to McDonald's and would have used the telephone. We embraced and rejoiced that we had found each other. I told him how wonderful the puppy was (she was only a few months old) and he told me I was "muy guapa."

After that adventure, my husband and I visited the Bullfight arena. Bullfighting season doesn't start until April 7th, so we didn't watch any bulls die. I don't know if I could have watched that anyway. I think I could have watched the fighting, but I know I would have to turn away and the fatal moment.

Spain is also where the flamenco Dancers do their thing. Naturally, I insisted my husband, the greatest man to walk the planet, enjoy the experience.

If fish is your choice for a meal, then Spain is the place to go, especially a port city like Barcelona. Fish soup, fish salad, fish fillets, fish empanadas, fish doughnuts, and even fish pizza. Of course, there is the fish paella. Since fish isn't my favorite, I ate lots of spaghetti. We also drank our fair share of sangria.

The whole experience was wonderful. So nice, that I decided that we would travel to a new place for our anniversary each year. My fantastic husband agreed. Because Africa is a big, big deal for me, I decided and he agreed that we would do that trip for our 10 year anniversary.