I took the first leg of the trip-drove all the way to Biloxi, Miss., which was about like 513 miles. We stopped to eat and Robert took the wheel. 

Friday June 22nd

We arrived in Corpus about 5:30 AM, and found where we will be staying at, and went to a 24 hour Walmart to sleep.  Hey, wasn't about to spend money on a hotel for a few hours! The check in was at 4 PM, but the office was supposed to be open at 9-right. There was people trying to check out and couldn't b/c the lady wasn't there.  So we drove around about 45 min. and it was finally opened. She gave us the key but said that the rooms weren't ready yet, to call in about 1/2 hour to see if it was.  Okay, so we went to a gift shop and spent like an hour there.  I tried calling and got no answer.  We drove back to the condo (it was just around the corner)and it was ready, so we lugged our stuff in the room-only to find that the condo (whole condo not just our room) had a broken water main! They weren't sure if we'd have water by the evening! I called my mother, who got the timeshare from us, and she called RCI and complained.  I got a call from them-in all places-Selena Etc.-where the phone ring was a Selena song! We also visited the grave (instant tears)and then went back to the condo.  Lucky the water problem was fixed.

We also found Selena's houses and went to eat.  I must of had a "spirital guide" because the last time I was in Corpus, I couldn't remember a darn road! We used the GPS just to get to Selena's house because going thru neighborhoods are a little more difficult. The rest was just guessing.

Sat. June 23rd

woke early...not b/c of the difference in time (only 1 hour) but I seem to on trips.  I also woke to Tejano music on the radio-Kumbia Kings!! Overcast outside.  We visited the Mirador De La Flor aka Selena statue and took some pictures...also did some shopping and lots of driving around.  Q-Productions is closed on weekends. One of our visits was to both malls there. One was a smaller-half closed stores one, but I took Robert to a Rock and Roll store that I remembered visiting last visit.  They just fell in love with Marlena! One guy was saying that I really looked like Selena alot.  Another worker there, named Alma fell in love with Marlena.  Her step father was Selena's cousin!!! I nearly fell thru the floor!

Sunday June 24th

we scrapped the original plan on going to the aquariam. It was raining cats and dogs, so we thought we weren't going to be able to enjoy the dolphin shows...so we went to a flea market (indoor trade center). We picked up a bunch of t-shirts and other stuff.   Also helped a guy at Walmart (corner of Everhart and SPID)that couldn't get his car started.   Visited the Padre Island Beach (we stayed on Padre Island) and let Marlena pick up some shells.  Since it had been raining it wasn't good day for beaches anyways.

Mon June 25th

Went to Q-pro, saw the muesuem and shopped....not much other happenings today

Tues. June 26th

Went to Mexico today, and it was beautiful weather! Went to Nuevo Larado and bought some different things for the house and some beautiful clothes.   On the way there, my phone rang, and I didn't know who it was.  I then noticed it was Corpus' area code, and I asked Robert "who on earth knows me from Corpus???" Come to find out it was the lady who works at Q-productions telling me the blankets were in.  I had brought the blanket to use on the trip and noticed that there was a hole and an area where some of the "fur" was coming off.  I had the first defective blankey! I had spoke with her about it, and she had gotten my cell number...it threw me off tho!!!

Wed. June 27th

Went to Selena's grave site, left some stuff for her...cried...and also visited the "washing machine" scene spot from the movie.  You know the place where the bricks are? Also visited the South Texas Music Hall of Fame on Water St. where Selena's star is at along with other Texas singers such as Jennifer Pena, Micke Nesmith (Monkees), Kris Kristopherson, etc.

Thurs. June 28th

went to San Antonio...it rained-no poured! Went to the Alamo and then went to a rainsoaked Riverwalk.  I found the restaurant where they did the beginning scene to the song No Me Queda Mas at...met up with my dear friend Manny at the mall, and went to eat at Hard Rock Cafe. By the time we were finished the rain stopped and we went to the NMQM spot again and took pictures. Went to Sunset Station (where Selena filmed NMQM at too) but couldn't get into the part where the stairs were at-seems a bunch of Math nerds were having some sort of convention there. Damn. But we did find a Selena mural on the wall that wasn't there before when I went.  See, Selena made it possible for us not to get 100% left out!

 

Friday June 29th

My kittys birthday. My cat Gracie turns 4 today...We had to check out of the condo and into a hotel.  We ended up staying at THAT Days Inn, and the room we stayed in was NEXT DOOR to the room that Selena got-well, um, you know...After checking in, we couldn't put our stuff in the room yet b/c the room was-u guessed it-not cleaned yet. So we went to Q-productions again to take the blanket back to exchange.  We were walking up to the door when lo and behold there was Mr. Q! marlena made a beeline towards him and started talking.  He asked were we lived at.  After about a minute he politely excused himself b/c he was working out side by the bus.  So then we walked inside and took some pictures in the lobby and went to the muesuem. Marlena knew by now, no cameras...no cell phones with cameras-and she told everyone this...The lady who worked there laughed and told her she was hired! lol! Today we didn't get led thru the recording studio-guess they were doing something in there.  We went into the muesuem and then we see Mr. Q and Suzette and her son...Suzette said "hello" and walked into her office.  After a few minutes, I was overwelmed and burst into tears.  After a while Mr. Q. came out and started talking to different people.  He then talked to me and Robert and another couple.  He asked us all where we were fron.  Then asked us how we ended up in SC.  Robert told him and then I told him it was due to military.  I told him that I was really Japanese american and he looked at me and said "I would of NEVER guessed that!". He talked for a long while and shook our hands and walked away.  Robert ended up talking to him again,a nd we mentioned to him that I sent some drawings to him about 3 years ago.  He said that they had boxes and boxes of drawings people sent and it was hard to tell who sent what when.  But he told us to follow him, and he took us into an office. He said that he was planning in the near future displaying some, and he had a little pile leaning against the wall.  I noticed my friend Steven's work, then about the 5th drawing I FOUND MINE!!! I don't know if the other was in there or not, but one was, and I nearly fell thru the floor!!!! We then walked back out to the muesuem and about 5 min. later he suddenly told us to come on.  We thought he was "kicking" us all outta there-that they were closing or something...but he told us to follow him that he was going to show us something.  There was about 3 families that went altogether.  He said he was getting ready to release a Selena DVD in concert and wanted to give us a sneak preview.  He took us all to a break room, and told us all to have a seat.  He turned the lights off and the door opened and I saw a head peek in.  Funny, I thought, that looks like Ricky! Sure enough it was!!!He got the show running and in surround sound and I tell u I had goose pimples and the tears came flowing in parts of it!

Afterwards we said thank you and bye and shook his hand and then I went to get the blanket (after spending money on some more stuff). Marlena also wanted to get a drawing that she did for Mr. Q.  He was sitting in the lobby behind a desk and Marlena started talking to him.  She mentioned she had sang Dreaming of You at her school and he said "sing it to me". And she did! Everyone in there applaused...he also signed my copy of the Unforgettable box for me.  BTW, Selena was 6 1/2 years old when she sang Feelings on the thru the years cd.  I had mentioned to him that my mom recorded me singing that song when I was little , and that is when he told me. I will never forget it! When we said goodbye the final time, he shook my hand and said have a safe trip home.  There was a look in his eyes, so sad. I wanted to cry...

We also ate at Rositas too-a place that Selena used to eat. I think Hi Ho's is closed down...looked that way.
We stayed until the 1st of July, and then got home on the 2nd. I will never forget this trip. I am already planning my next trip in 3 years, and guess what??? Robert said we may move there in the next few years!!!!!! Hope you enjoy my trip too by reading it...it was better than the last except I didn't get to be with my other Selena friends...glad that Manny met up with us tho!!

Congratulations to Dawn from Selena chat, btw, for the reason she couldn't go on the trip was she got married!!!

Enjoy the pictures!