How are you? I'm amazred and pleasently surprised to hear that Mizza is ready to come here. WOW! Seem's like yesterday that you were still trying to get on that plane.

Ya know what? Back in August '00, my wife and I travelled from Houston to Ft. Lauderdale on a Greyhound. My first time in 20 year's. My wifes' first time. Well, 20 yrs. ago, thing's were o.k. on a Greyhound. They allowed cigarettte smoking and there was alway's a party going on in the back of the bus. People drinking, getting high etc.. I knew thing's were different now, of course, (no smoking now and that tend's to curb the partying), but I didn't know how different.

The first bus was too full, a grandmother was kicked off the second bus before leaving Houston for speaking spanish to the driver, another lady was kicked off in Louisiana for asking about the wherabout's of her luggage, and all of us were yelled and screamed at all the way until crossing into Florida. We even had a Filipino driver from Tallahasee to somewhere (?), who tried to mess w/ Criselda and I about rest break times, but I could see him smile everytime he turned around. I called him Gen. Ramos. When we had an axle problem, he made a five minute announcement repeating the same stuff over and over in a strong Filipino accent. Like this, "Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh, latiieeesss, ant gentelman's, we are habinnnggg a problemmmm wit de bushhhhh, deeee, aaaahhhhh, axle, ant aaaaaahhh, it ees broken......", well you get it. I was craking up, as I KNOW only my wife and I could understand this guy.

That was the only real humourous part, the rest was a nightmare and we both swore we would never travel Greyhound again. God willing, we never will. I told Criselda (she know's your story) on more than one occasion, that I don't know how Darrell could turn around 3 times after going all the way to L.A. (I felt sorry for the folk's going on to L.A. after we got off in Houston on the way back) and get BACK on that thing! LOL! I would have much rather caught a plane after that nightmare!

Anyway, have been wanting to tell you about that for a while. Really happy for you both. I can't believe it's almost over for you. I had my doubt's for a while that you would, but you did. I'm real glad. All the paperwork and visa is done, huh? Very fast.

I hope you can use this as an example to yourself that you can get past anything if you try.

God bless you both,
Good-luck,

Jay

1) I was traveling to nevada after a serious bout of homelessness I was broke no money spent it all on a bus ticket. The bus broke down in GrandJunction Co. They told me I didn't pay for my extra luggage. It was carry on when I got on the bus when it broke down I had to pay extra for my carry on. I didn't have it so I had to leave it.

2) I was picking up a friend but the location had changed about 4 times since the last time I used the bus stop. 4 hours and 100 miles worth of driving later I found the new bus stop.

If I had to take the bus again I'd seriously consider walking no matter how far

You’re right, some people are forgetting that Darrell has to fly her all the way to Florida, so her ticket is subject to the new “swinging chad” tax :-)

For comparison, my wife purchased her ticket in Cebu last week. The one-way rates from Cebu to Los Angeles were $380 for PAL and $360 for Cathay Pacific (plus taxes). But on April 1st, both airlines’ fares increase to $490 because it’s high season (Holy Week coming up). With taxes and all, she paid $422. I have no idea what the fare from the West coast to Florida is, but I know it’s not free.

How’s that little one of yours doing?

Ray