(Thanks to the Chicago Tribune for letting me borrow your front page.)
10 June 2010
08 June 2010
Photo Tour: Big Island - Hilo side
So, the Big Island – officially named Hawaii Island – is, not surprisingly, the largest of the Main Hawaiian Islands. It is also the newest, and grows a little more each day as Kilauea, an active volcano, is constantly adding to the island.
When you go to the Big Island, you will go to the Hilo side or the Kona side. Now, it’s still a relatively small island, but is far less developed than Oahu – so the trip from one side to the other takes about 2.5 hours. There are people who live on the Big Island who have never been to the other side. Our guide on the Hilo side was telling us how he and his family go to the Kona side for vacation!
Hawaii is famous for, among other things, its microclimates - and the Big Island is no exception. Hilo and Kona have very different weather, and driving around the island you go through everything from lush rainforest to dry, dusty desert and everything in between. So, in a way, it makes sense to head to the “other side” for a vacation because it will probably be nothing like home!
Because of this artificial split, that’s how I’m going to take you around the Big Island, too. We’ll start first with the Hilo side, since that’s where I went first. There is quite a bit to see and do (though it’s mostly nature-related – the Big Island has been thankfully only lightly touched by developers), but we only had one day on each side when we were there. When we go back, I’ll post more photos for your viewing pleasure, but for now let’s talk about what we DID see!
Our first stop on the Big Island was Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
This park is HUGE and has a lot of things to see. We stopped first at the Jaggar Museum, which has lots of cool geological information about volcanoes, as well as a good deal of cultural information about the importance of volcanoes to the Hawaiian people.
Madame Pele is the Hawaiian fire goddess, and probably one of the most famous of the Hawaiian deities. I won’t get into the whole Pele story now, because, like everything else in Hawaii, I have found multiple versions and am not sure which is correct. However, I do know that Pele lives in Kilauea right now. Which explains the fire and lava.
Anyways, one of the first signs we saw when we arrived at the Jaggar Museum was this one:
When you go to the Big Island, you will go to the Hilo side or the Kona side. Now, it’s still a relatively small island, but is far less developed than Oahu – so the trip from one side to the other takes about 2.5 hours. There are people who live on the Big Island who have never been to the other side. Our guide on the Hilo side was telling us how he and his family go to the Kona side for vacation!
Hawaii is famous for, among other things, its microclimates - and the Big Island is no exception. Hilo and Kona have very different weather, and driving around the island you go through everything from lush rainforest to dry, dusty desert and everything in between. So, in a way, it makes sense to head to the “other side” for a vacation because it will probably be nothing like home!
Because of this artificial split, that’s how I’m going to take you around the Big Island, too. We’ll start first with the Hilo side, since that’s where I went first. There is quite a bit to see and do (though it’s mostly nature-related – the Big Island has been thankfully only lightly touched by developers), but we only had one day on each side when we were there. When we go back, I’ll post more photos for your viewing pleasure, but for now let’s talk about what we DID see!
Our first stop on the Big Island was Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
This park is HUGE and has a lot of things to see. We stopped first at the Jaggar Museum, which has lots of cool geological information about volcanoes, as well as a good deal of cultural information about the importance of volcanoes to the Hawaiian people.
Madame Pele is the Hawaiian fire goddess, and probably one of the most famous of the Hawaiian deities. I won’t get into the whole Pele story now, because, like everything else in Hawaii, I have found multiple versions and am not sure which is correct. However, I do know that Pele lives in Kilauea right now. Which explains the fire and lava.
Anyways, one of the first signs we saw when we arrived at the Jaggar Museum was this one:
DO NOT FEED THE NENE!!!!
I have a little bit of an obsession with the Nene, which is the state bird of Hawaii. In fact I’ve talked about it here before. I’ve never seen one in the wild – just at the zoo. They are seriously endangered, though making a comeback. Anyways you don’t want to feed them because that will habituate them to humans and to places where humans and cars spend time – which is dangerous for the poor Nene. Plus I’m pretty sure that Baked Lays probably weren’t meant to be part of their diet. So leave the Nene alone!
If you’ve been to Hawaii when the famed Kona winds are blowing, then you are familiar with vog. Not fog. Vog. That’s when the winds coming from the East blow all that sulfuric stuff to the West, where it hangs out over the other islands. Nobody likes vog. It makes your throat hurt. It obscures the view. Kona winds are generally hotter than the trade winds, so it’s hot and voggy and the air seems stagnant – it’s no fun for anyone.
Right across from the museum entrance is a volcanic steam vent!
Well, this is where vog comes from! And as much as I hate the stuff, I had never seen it coming from an actual volcano in person before, so it was cool!
Depending on the temperature and chemical composition inside the volcano, it will produce one of two types of lava. The types are a’a (pronounced ah-ah) and pahoehoe (pronounced pa-hoy-hoy). A’a lava is really jagged and poke-y and makes you say, “Ah! Ah!” when you step on it without shoes. Pahoehoe is named because of its rope-like appearance. I could get all geo-nerd on you with more info, but I won’t. You’re welcome.
Anyways we left the Jaggar Museum and headed for the Thurston Lava Tube! Lava tubes are tunnels under the ground’s surface where lava used to flow. Basically the area around and above the tube/flow cooled before the lava in that channel was done flowing. Then, when the lava stopped flowing, the lava-river dried up, leaving a hollow tube behind. In some places, you can walk through ‘em!
After the blessedly cool walk underground through the lava tube, we headed back above ground and elsewhere in the park for a hike across the lava fields! If you have never walked across a lava field, you really should at some point. It’s pretty crazy seeing nothing but black, rocky terrain as far as your eyes will take you. Very other-worldly. And hot. Wear sunscreen and a hat, ‘cause there ain’t no shade. And did I mention the ground is black? And rock? So not only does it absorb all the heat of the sun, but it radiates the glare right back up to your poor haole skin.
Bonus question: can you see the a’a and pahoehoe in the picture?
After that we were hungry. I know. You’re shocked. The.Lady was hungry? NO! NEVER!
So, we left the park and headed where any sane person would head in search of food on the Hilo side.
We took the factory “tour” which is self-guided and walks you alongside the factory where you can see how mac nuts are processed and packaged below!
And then we ate chocolate mac nut ice cream. I was so obsessed with it that I didn’t take a photo. Trust me it was fab.
Then we headed out for our last stop of the day – Akaka Falls! This very impressive 422-ft waterfall is very accessible – you can get a great view only a few steps from the parking lot. Super pretty!
And with that, it was time to head back to our temporary home aboard the ship. But the best part of the night was still to come as the ship sailed past the Kilauea lava flow just after dark! We were told that Kilauea was particularly active just then, and we were not disappointed by the sight that lay before us as we quietly sailed past the flow.
I could go on and on about the amazing juxtaposition of the hot lava and cool ocean, and the poetic concept of watching an island being born before our very eyes, but we all know I’m a scientist and really just not good at writing about that stuff. So I’ll leave you with a couple of photos.
(please excuse the blur – these shots necessitated a long exposure, but the ship was, in fact, moving, so this was the best I could do with my nonexistent photographic skills. you get the idea.)
04 June 2010
Who knew?
So, my dear readers, I knew that there were a select handful of you who read this...this...well, this random collection of thoughts/photos/ramblings.
As far as I knew, those of you who read this are the people I correspond with daily. Which is only mildly amusing because, for the most part, I tell you guys about my adventures anyway. The blog is just the photo version.
Now don't be fooled, I have sitemeter, and I know that there are more of you out there - and, for whatever reason, you prefer to remain anonymous. Except I totally know who most of you are, or at least where you live :) But I also know that sitemeter doesn't necessarily capture those of you who visit through a blog reader, so I'm sure there are a few occasional visitors I don't know about.
BUT I learned today that my readership extends to at least one person outside the "we email every day" circle!
Now don't get all excited about how I've suddenly gone mainstream. Turns out, I know her too, from back in the day when Al's and Mario's were regular after-school snacks instead of something I long for in my wildest dreams, when the threat of JUG kept us (mostly) honest, and when the daily dress code forbid "extreme hairstyles." And jeans.
So I'd like to thank this fab lady for the shoutout, and let you know that if you haven't discovered her yet, her blog is entertaining, informative, and downright hilarious. And if you've ever struggled with your weight - something I know many of us 'round these parts have experience with - you'll really identify with a lot of what she has to say. I know I do.
So here you are THW. Thanks for the mention! Consider the shoutout returned :)
And also, thanks for reminding me that I have been seriously terrible about posting to this thing. You've encouraged me to get my okole in gear in more ways than one.
As far as I knew, those of you who read this are the people I correspond with daily. Which is only mildly amusing because, for the most part, I tell you guys about my adventures anyway. The blog is just the photo version.
Now don't be fooled, I have sitemeter, and I know that there are more of you out there - and, for whatever reason, you prefer to remain anonymous. Except I totally know who most of you are, or at least where you live :) But I also know that sitemeter doesn't necessarily capture those of you who visit through a blog reader, so I'm sure there are a few occasional visitors I don't know about.
BUT I learned today that my readership extends to at least one person outside the "we email every day" circle!
Now don't get all excited about how I've suddenly gone mainstream. Turns out, I know her too, from back in the day when Al's and Mario's were regular after-school snacks instead of something I long for in my wildest dreams, when the threat of JUG kept us (mostly) honest, and when the daily dress code forbid "extreme hairstyles." And jeans.
So I'd like to thank this fab lady for the shoutout, and let you know that if you haven't discovered her yet, her blog is entertaining, informative, and downright hilarious. And if you've ever struggled with your weight - something I know many of us 'round these parts have experience with - you'll really identify with a lot of what she has to say. I know I do.
So here you are THW. Thanks for the mention! Consider the shoutout returned :)
And also, thanks for reminding me that I have been seriously terrible about posting to this thing. You've encouraged me to get my okole in gear in more ways than one.
24 May 2010
Let the photo tour resume!!
Last entry for Maui, at least for a while…
One really fun activity to do in Maui is to go ziplining! I had never done this before. I am afraid of heights. My knees get weak if I get too close to the edge of a canyon or tall building – even when I know in my head that I’m perfectly safe
So, the idea of flying high over the forest floor suspended by some steel dental floss and a harness was a little scary to me.
Of course, this is why I just had to do it. I happen to believe that, the scarier something sounds, the more a person NEEDS to do it!
So one day I found myself partway up the side of Haleakala,
buckled into a harness, wearing a helmet (that our guide specifically said was only there for decoration, since it wouldn’t help us if we fell), and flying high over the forest floor suspended by some steel dental floss.
They started us off slow – a short and relatively low line – and we went through a series of lines, each named for different native Hawaiian animal species.
And then we got to the last one. HOLY SCHNIKES. It was REALLY long and REALLY high and REALLY fast. This one was the one that really made my knees shaky while I was standing on the platform waiting to go.
And IT. WAS. AWESOME.
Plus, I really like getting up to forests in Paradise. People always think of the beaches and the water here, and don’t get me wrong – those are awesome – but this places has so many micro-climates and it’s really fun to drive just a few miles and be in a TOTALLY different kind of landscape!
So if you find yourself in Maui (or in Tennessee, apparently), check out SkyLine Eco Adventures. And no, they aren’t paying me to say that – I’m mentioning their name because I recommend them without reservation. They gave a heckuva tour – they emphasized safety and fun and I would TOTALLY go again!
So – a few other things you should do if you find yourself in Maui…and no, none of these places are paying me, either – but I loved them and want to recommend them.
The Old Lahaina Luau
‘Iao Needle/’Iao State Park
Enjoy a Hawaiian Plate Lunch at Aloha Mixed Plate
Lau Lau!
the famous Road to Hana
the Ali’i Gardens Lavender Farm
One really fun activity to do in Maui is to go ziplining! I had never done this before. I am afraid of heights. My knees get weak if I get too close to the edge of a canyon or tall building – even when I know in my head that I’m perfectly safe
So, the idea of flying high over the forest floor suspended by some steel dental floss and a harness was a little scary to me.
Of course, this is why I just had to do it. I happen to believe that, the scarier something sounds, the more a person NEEDS to do it!
So one day I found myself partway up the side of Haleakala,
buckled into a harness, wearing a helmet (that our guide specifically said was only there for decoration, since it wouldn’t help us if we fell), and flying high over the forest floor suspended by some steel dental floss.
They started us off slow – a short and relatively low line – and we went through a series of lines, each named for different native Hawaiian animal species.
And then we got to the last one. HOLY SCHNIKES. It was REALLY long and REALLY high and REALLY fast. This one was the one that really made my knees shaky while I was standing on the platform waiting to go.
And IT. WAS. AWESOME.
Plus, I really like getting up to forests in Paradise. People always think of the beaches and the water here, and don’t get me wrong – those are awesome – but this places has so many micro-climates and it’s really fun to drive just a few miles and be in a TOTALLY different kind of landscape!
So if you find yourself in Maui (or in Tennessee, apparently), check out SkyLine Eco Adventures. And no, they aren’t paying me to say that – I’m mentioning their name because I recommend them without reservation. They gave a heckuva tour – they emphasized safety and fun and I would TOTALLY go again!
So – a few other things you should do if you find yourself in Maui…and no, none of these places are paying me, either – but I loved them and want to recommend them.
The Old Lahaina Luau
‘Iao Needle/’Iao State Park
Enjoy a Hawaiian Plate Lunch at Aloha Mixed Plate
Kalua Pork!
Lau Lau!
the famous Road to Hana
the Ali’i Gardens Lavender Farm
Snorkeling at Turtle Beach
Look at me go!
and the Surfing Goat Dairy, where they make amazing goat cheese!
Suffice it to say, there is a TON you can do in Maui. I don't really have a FAVORITE island - they are all so different and each have their own unique attributes that make them all amazing - but I will say that I've spent a few days in Maui so far, and I am hoping I get to go back! I think that, after Oahu, Maui has the most variety of potential activities. It's also one of the busier islands (though it's nothing compared to Oahu). But because of that, it has a big variety of places to eat and shop and things to do.
Overall, I love Maui! Next up: Molokai!
Look at me go! 
and the Surfing Goat Dairy, where they make amazing goat cheese!
Suffice it to say, there is a TON you can do in Maui. I don't really have a FAVORITE island - they are all so different and each have their own unique attributes that make them all amazing - but I will say that I've spent a few days in Maui so far, and I am hoping I get to go back! I think that, after Oahu, Maui has the most variety of potential activities. It's also one of the busier islands (though it's nothing compared to Oahu). But because of that, it has a big variety of places to eat and shop and things to do.
Overall, I love Maui! Next up: Molokai!
24 April 2010
Paradise Found...Again
Yes, yes, I know.
I'm not very good at this blogging thing.
I suppose my writing isn't the worst in cyberspace, but if I very rarely write ANYTHING, well, that's just not very entertaining, is it.
Truth be told, I haven't written anything in so long because there simply hasn't been anything to write ABOUT. As it turns out, life in Paradise is remarkably similar to life everywhere else. I work at my full-time job, I come home to walk and play with the pooch, I eat dinner, maybe clean a little, do a load of laundry, or knit for a while, and then fall asleep.
On the couch.
Yup, it's a rockin' life I lead.
On weekends, I take the dog for a long walk or two, cook some food for the week, clean a bit, read, knit, watch movies, maybe decorate a cake...
If The Good.Sport is in charge of the plans, we'll go out for a snorkel or a hike or to see something historic. But the truth is, when The Lady is left to her own devices, she is very busy perfecting the art of relaxing.
Right about now you're probably saying something like, "That girl is RIDICULOUS. She lives in PARADISE and she doesn't take advantage of it. At. All."
I know.
I KNOW.
I'm one of those people who HAS to live near an ocean or my insides start to get sad. I need to be able to get to the smell of salty sea air, the sound of waves lapping against the shore, the feel of sand between my toes, and all the healing properties of ocean water.
So here I am. On an ISLAND in the middle of the ocean. And up until today, the last time I stood at the intersection between land and sea was a whole month ago.
*shakes head*
This will not do.
The time will come when I'll have to move away from paradise. When that day comes, I don't want to have to think to myself, "Gosh, I should have gone to the beach more" or "I shoulda spent more time in the cloudy mountains, watching them make their own weather" or "How could I never have seen _______?!?" When I move back, I'll run into someone who has been here. They'll ask if I did certain activities. I don't want the answer to be, "Oh, no...you know, I never got around to that!"
So my new goal, blogiverse, and you heard it here first - to do one thing each week that I won't be able to do when I no longer live here. Sure, I'm busy. Work is busy! I'm tired! I love my couch! I don't feel like moving! Well, you know what they say about excuses...
The reality of it is, I don't care how busy and important you are. There is always time - even if it's just 10 minutes a week - to do something you truly enjoy. To take advantage of a situation life has handed you.
This week's homework took me to the beach. I purposely chose one that allows pooches so I could bring mine with me. We walked along the beach, she let all the little kids pet her (in between jumping out of the way of the big scary 4" waves!), we found a nice spot in the shade and laid down for me to read and for her to watch the world go by.
It was like a little slice of heaven.
And no, I'm not just bragging about being able to go to the beach whenever I want. I am so blessed and grateful to have the chance to live in the kind of place where people come from all over the world to do things like lay at the beach without a care in the world. But to completely ignore the opportunities available to me here is a really poor, ungrateful way to approach my time here.
So my solemn vow, dear readers, is to make the most of my time here. I'm going to stop and smell the plumeria.
And hell, if this attitude isn't a good metaphor for how we should approach life...
What are you going to do to help yourself take the time to enjoy the unique opportunities you have available to you?
I'm not very good at this blogging thing.
I suppose my writing isn't the worst in cyberspace, but if I very rarely write ANYTHING, well, that's just not very entertaining, is it.
Truth be told, I haven't written anything in so long because there simply hasn't been anything to write ABOUT. As it turns out, life in Paradise is remarkably similar to life everywhere else. I work at my full-time job, I come home to walk and play with the pooch, I eat dinner, maybe clean a little, do a load of laundry, or knit for a while, and then fall asleep.
On the couch.
Yup, it's a rockin' life I lead.
On weekends, I take the dog for a long walk or two, cook some food for the week, clean a bit, read, knit, watch movies, maybe decorate a cake...
If The Good.Sport is in charge of the plans, we'll go out for a snorkel or a hike or to see something historic. But the truth is, when The Lady is left to her own devices, she is very busy perfecting the art of relaxing.
Right about now you're probably saying something like, "That girl is RIDICULOUS. She lives in PARADISE and she doesn't take advantage of it. At. All."
I know.
I KNOW.
I'm one of those people who HAS to live near an ocean or my insides start to get sad. I need to be able to get to the smell of salty sea air, the sound of waves lapping against the shore, the feel of sand between my toes, and all the healing properties of ocean water.
So here I am. On an ISLAND in the middle of the ocean. And up until today, the last time I stood at the intersection between land and sea was a whole month ago.
*shakes head*
This will not do.
The time will come when I'll have to move away from paradise. When that day comes, I don't want to have to think to myself, "Gosh, I should have gone to the beach more" or "I shoulda spent more time in the cloudy mountains, watching them make their own weather" or "How could I never have seen _______?!?" When I move back, I'll run into someone who has been here. They'll ask if I did certain activities. I don't want the answer to be, "Oh, no...you know, I never got around to that!"
So my new goal, blogiverse, and you heard it here first - to do one thing each week that I won't be able to do when I no longer live here. Sure, I'm busy. Work is busy! I'm tired! I love my couch! I don't feel like moving! Well, you know what they say about excuses...
The reality of it is, I don't care how busy and important you are. There is always time - even if it's just 10 minutes a week - to do something you truly enjoy. To take advantage of a situation life has handed you.
This week's homework took me to the beach. I purposely chose one that allows pooches so I could bring mine with me. We walked along the beach, she let all the little kids pet her (in between jumping out of the way of the big scary 4" waves!), we found a nice spot in the shade and laid down for me to read and for her to watch the world go by.
It was like a little slice of heaven.
And no, I'm not just bragging about being able to go to the beach whenever I want. I am so blessed and grateful to have the chance to live in the kind of place where people come from all over the world to do things like lay at the beach without a care in the world. But to completely ignore the opportunities available to me here is a really poor, ungrateful way to approach my time here.
So my solemn vow, dear readers, is to make the most of my time here. I'm going to stop and smell the plumeria.
And hell, if this attitude isn't a good metaphor for how we should approach life...
What are you going to do to help yourself take the time to enjoy the unique opportunities you have available to you?
13 April 2010
Traveling Ramblings...
I like to think of myself as an experienced traveler. I can pack like a champ. I always perform the security strip-down (shoes and belt off and in bin. laptop and quart-size zip-top bag out and in bing. walk through in stocking feet with a smile that is never, ever returned by the TSA gangstaz) in record time, and I NEV.VER. stop to re-dress myself at the end of the machine - always efficiently walking a little further in my stocking feet (because I always fly in sturdy shoes that require socks) before stopping in my tracks and preventing everyone ELSE from retrieving their belongings as they come out of the machine.
I sound all high and mighty about it, but I try REALLY HARD to be a responsible and non-annoying member of the flying public, and I'm proud of my efforts.
There was a time when I'd go to an airport and the check-in person would ask me where I was going that day, and I'd have to stop to think about the answer - because I was never even sure what city I was in.
I usually even dress up. Sometimes because I'm going straight to a work "thing," but usually because I find I'm treated better when I do.
However, if I'm gonna be trapped in a metal tube for nearly nine hours overnight, appearances be darned. I'm going for comfort. I'll admit, this is a recent phenomenon. Mostly because, these days, the airline employees are probably going to treat you like crap no matter how you look. Oh, and because I stopped caring.
I enjoy observing my fellow passengers. The prim lady in her mid- to late-50s, dressed in pressed jeans with a starched blouse under her Ralph Lauren sweater, with not a hair out of place, who meticulously drapes her Mountain Hardware jacket (which I'm pretty sure has never seen neither a mountain nor any hardware) over the back of her seat as protection against the infamous Airplane Cootie. The young couple with the cute baby who take great pains to ensure that their child is not "that kid." The know-it-all passenger who strikes up a conversation with the communting female pilot - he's telling her how "it" is and she's very nicely telling him he's wrong. Love it.
Recently I found myself connecting in Houston (home of this fine woman). I had a fair amount of time - about 30 minutes - and I arrived at my new gate precisely at the "boarding time" indicated on my boarding pass. Lots of people were sitting in the gate area, so I settled in and waited patiently for the boarding process to begin.
Then I hear them announce, "All rows, all passengers..." - boarding isn't about to START, boarding is nearly FINISHED (30 minutes early)!! I hustle aboard, completely off-guard, without having a chance to complete my usual pre-boarding routine. You see, I'm the passenger who smiles calmly at the flight attendant while boarding, finds my seat, and in one smooth motion, stowsmybagsmovesoutoftheaisleandsitsinmyseat.
I felt a little less bad than I normally would for slacking on this particular day - most of the passengers had already boarded, so I wasn't clogging the aisle and preventing people from getting to their seats. Of course, the aisle and center of my row were already aboard - I walked up just in time to hear them talking about which of them was going to move over to the window seat. That's prime sleeping territory, ladies. MINE.
I very nicely indicate that I'm in seat F. They stand. THEN - and ONLY then - do I realize I'M NOT READY.
Crap.
I need to pull a (very efficient) smaller bag out of my backpack (because I didn't care what I looked like today, remember?) before I put the backpack in the bin. Now, everything I need for the flight is in that one smaller bag, so it's not like I need to fish out a book, my iPod, my knitting, chapstick, tissues, and a billion other objects of randomness. It's just one thing. Anyways, I apologize for the delay and make a lame excuse about being a bit tired from my long overnight flight.
The younger lady (I assume the daughter of the pair, and she's probably in her 50s) says, "It's alright."
Only she says it in a tone that lets me know in no uncertain terms that it's NOT, in fact, alright.
Whatever, lady.
Now, I can't decide if her reaction is spurred by the fact that I look like a sloppy college kid (no doubt an appearance she would not approve of for her own daughter, who probably wears "slacks" on casual Friday), or maybe it was because I thwarted their premature window-seat grab...and let's face it, I was rolling up with the full glory of overnight, trans-Pacific flight funk...or maybe it was the assumption that I'm one of those "once-a-year" types who doesn't know jack about flying and, bless her heart, she's actually experiencing the WORLD...
...either way, I'm tempted to go all Cameron Frye at Chez Quis and live up to the stereotype implied by my outfit (in my defense my pink hoodie TOTALLY MATCHES the stripes on my Adidas sweatpants).
Instead, I pull out my knitting.
I like to keep 'em guessing.
Plus the older lady of the pair (the one who DIDN'T shoot me a dirty look) is totally adorable with her slacks, perfectly matched earrings, and her Wordy Gurdy from the morning paper.
Who knew the Wordy Gurdy was such a promoter of peace!
I sound all high and mighty about it, but I try REALLY HARD to be a responsible and non-annoying member of the flying public, and I'm proud of my efforts.
There was a time when I'd go to an airport and the check-in person would ask me where I was going that day, and I'd have to stop to think about the answer - because I was never even sure what city I was in.
I usually even dress up. Sometimes because I'm going straight to a work "thing," but usually because I find I'm treated better when I do.
However, if I'm gonna be trapped in a metal tube for nearly nine hours overnight, appearances be darned. I'm going for comfort. I'll admit, this is a recent phenomenon. Mostly because, these days, the airline employees are probably going to treat you like crap no matter how you look. Oh, and because I stopped caring.
I enjoy observing my fellow passengers. The prim lady in her mid- to late-50s, dressed in pressed jeans with a starched blouse under her Ralph Lauren sweater, with not a hair out of place, who meticulously drapes her Mountain Hardware jacket (which I'm pretty sure has never seen neither a mountain nor any hardware) over the back of her seat as protection against the infamous Airplane Cootie. The young couple with the cute baby who take great pains to ensure that their child is not "that kid." The know-it-all passenger who strikes up a conversation with the communting female pilot - he's telling her how "it" is and she's very nicely telling him he's wrong. Love it.
Recently I found myself connecting in Houston (home of this fine woman). I had a fair amount of time - about 30 minutes - and I arrived at my new gate precisely at the "boarding time" indicated on my boarding pass. Lots of people were sitting in the gate area, so I settled in and waited patiently for the boarding process to begin.
Then I hear them announce, "All rows, all passengers..." - boarding isn't about to START, boarding is nearly FINISHED (30 minutes early)!! I hustle aboard, completely off-guard, without having a chance to complete my usual pre-boarding routine. You see, I'm the passenger who smiles calmly at the flight attendant while boarding, finds my seat, and in one smooth motion, stowsmybagsmovesoutoftheaisleandsitsinmyseat.
I felt a little less bad than I normally would for slacking on this particular day - most of the passengers had already boarded, so I wasn't clogging the aisle and preventing people from getting to their seats. Of course, the aisle and center of my row were already aboard - I walked up just in time to hear them talking about which of them was going to move over to the window seat. That's prime sleeping territory, ladies. MINE.
I very nicely indicate that I'm in seat F. They stand. THEN - and ONLY then - do I realize I'M NOT READY.
Crap.
I need to pull a (very efficient) smaller bag out of my backpack (because I didn't care what I looked like today, remember?) before I put the backpack in the bin. Now, everything I need for the flight is in that one smaller bag, so it's not like I need to fish out a book, my iPod, my knitting, chapstick, tissues, and a billion other objects of randomness. It's just one thing. Anyways, I apologize for the delay and make a lame excuse about being a bit tired from my long overnight flight.
The younger lady (I assume the daughter of the pair, and she's probably in her 50s) says, "It's alright."
Only she says it in a tone that lets me know in no uncertain terms that it's NOT, in fact, alright.
Whatever, lady.
Now, I can't decide if her reaction is spurred by the fact that I look like a sloppy college kid (no doubt an appearance she would not approve of for her own daughter, who probably wears "slacks" on casual Friday), or maybe it was because I thwarted their premature window-seat grab...and let's face it, I was rolling up with the full glory of overnight, trans-Pacific flight funk...or maybe it was the assumption that I'm one of those "once-a-year" types who doesn't know jack about flying and, bless her heart, she's actually experiencing the WORLD...
...either way, I'm tempted to go all Cameron Frye at Chez Quis and live up to the stereotype implied by my outfit (in my defense my pink hoodie TOTALLY MATCHES the stripes on my Adidas sweatpants).
Instead, I pull out my knitting.
I like to keep 'em guessing.
Plus the older lady of the pair (the one who DIDN'T shoot me a dirty look) is totally adorable with her slacks, perfectly matched earrings, and her Wordy Gurdy from the morning paper.
Who knew the Wordy Gurdy was such a promoter of peace!
19 February 2010
The Things We Don't Notice
It's really funny to me how we become so habituated to some things that we don't even notice them anymore.
What's even weirder to me is that we don't even notice when those same things are GONE!
I was talking with a colleague about the advantages/disadvantages of living here. We both agreed that we miss being able to see our families without having a full day of travel to get there. Both of us miss certain stores and certain restaurants. Then I said, "Aw man I miss road trips!" Because, you see, when you live on an island, you can only drive SO FAR.
Granted we can hop a 25-minute flight to one of the neighbor islands, which makes for a wonderful weekend getaway. But you still have to pack an actual suitcase, drive to the airport, pay for parking, get there early to go through security, get on the plane, rent a car on the other end, etc, etc. To go a distance of 40-50 miles.
So, I was telling this colleague about how The Good.Sport and I are big fans of the weekend road trip. We love to just haphazardly toss a bag or two of clothes and toothbrushes in the car, leash up the dog, fill the cooler with goodies, and go. True, we typically have a destination in mind - especially if we plan to be away overnight - but we truly enjoy just getting out of town to somewhere completely different. We love the time in the car. The loud music and my (questionable) singing. Stopping at the most outrageous rest stops we can find. Driving a mere couple of hours to do fun activities like wine tasting, hiking, kayaking, sight-seeing, cheesesteak-eating - you name it - this is one of our absolute favorite things to do together.
So anyways, these are the things I'm describing to my colleague, as she nods nostalgically.
And then she says, "Oh! And the BILLBOARDS! I MISS BILLBOARDS!"
[insert sound of record scratching]
What?
Billboards?
And she says, "Yeah, there are no billboards here."
Oh.
THERE ARE NO BILLBOARDS HERE.
I'm not disturbed by this fact, necessarily. It's more the fact that I didn't notice it.
At. All.
Growing up in Chicago, a drive down the Kennedy regularly took me past some of the best billboards of all time. The light-up Magikist lips. The blinking Coke sign. Then, in later years, the creepy (er, technolocgically advanced!) turning billboard. And who could forget the Dennis Rodman mural with the hair?
When I lived in North Carolina, I could measure how much of the drive between Beaufort and Durham (or vice versa) was left based on which billboards I'd already passed.
"Pig in a Puppy! We're almost halfway!"
"Oh, here's the first sign for Dockside Dolls. Won't be long now til we get home!"
And if you've ever driven I-95 through South Carolina, you're familiar with the billboards for "South of the Border." My all-time favorite?
"You Never Sausage A Place!"
I guess I've become desensitized to the presence of roadside advertising.
So much so that when you take it away completely, I don't. even. notice.
I guess when you're not specifically looking for something (and let's face it, here you are never more than a few minute's drive from a clean bathroom), you don't notice its presence (or lack thereof).
Fascinating!
I wonder what people who have never left this island think when they go to the mainland?
Surely they notice the billboards...
What's even weirder to me is that we don't even notice when those same things are GONE!
I was talking with a colleague about the advantages/disadvantages of living here. We both agreed that we miss being able to see our families without having a full day of travel to get there. Both of us miss certain stores and certain restaurants. Then I said, "Aw man I miss road trips!" Because, you see, when you live on an island, you can only drive SO FAR.
Granted we can hop a 25-minute flight to one of the neighbor islands, which makes for a wonderful weekend getaway. But you still have to pack an actual suitcase, drive to the airport, pay for parking, get there early to go through security, get on the plane, rent a car on the other end, etc, etc. To go a distance of 40-50 miles.
So, I was telling this colleague about how The Good.Sport and I are big fans of the weekend road trip. We love to just haphazardly toss a bag or two of clothes and toothbrushes in the car, leash up the dog, fill the cooler with goodies, and go. True, we typically have a destination in mind - especially if we plan to be away overnight - but we truly enjoy just getting out of town to somewhere completely different. We love the time in the car. The loud music and my (questionable) singing. Stopping at the most outrageous rest stops we can find. Driving a mere couple of hours to do fun activities like wine tasting, hiking, kayaking, sight-seeing, cheesesteak-eating - you name it - this is one of our absolute favorite things to do together.
Here we are at the World's Largest Shoe House.
Which is located in Hallam, Pennsylvania.
Next up? The world's largest ball of twine.
(Triple bonus points if you know what movie that came from)
So anyways, these are the things I'm describing to my colleague, as she nods nostalgically.
And then she says, "Oh! And the BILLBOARDS! I MISS BILLBOARDS!"
[insert sound of record scratching]
What?
Billboards?
And she says, "Yeah, there are no billboards here."
Oh.
My.
Gosh.
THERE ARE NO BILLBOARDS HERE.
I'm not disturbed by this fact, necessarily. It's more the fact that I didn't notice it.
At. All.
Growing up in Chicago, a drive down the Kennedy regularly took me past some of the best billboards of all time. The light-up Magikist lips. The blinking Coke sign. Then, in later years, the creepy (er, technolocgically advanced!) turning billboard. And who could forget the Dennis Rodman mural with the hair?
When I lived in North Carolina, I could measure how much of the drive between Beaufort and Durham (or vice versa) was left based on which billboards I'd already passed.
"Pig in a Puppy! We're almost halfway!"
"Oh, here's the first sign for Dockside Dolls. Won't be long now til we get home!"
And if you've ever driven I-95 through South Carolina, you're familiar with the billboards for "South of the Border." My all-time favorite?
"You Never Sausage A Place!"
I guess I've become desensitized to the presence of roadside advertising.
So much so that when you take it away completely, I don't. even. notice.
It's not that I don't look out the window. It's not that I don't appreciate the scenery here. I do! I do! How did I miss this??
I guess when you're not specifically looking for something (and let's face it, here you are never more than a few minute's drive from a clean bathroom), you don't notice its presence (or lack thereof).
Fascinating!
I wonder what people who have never left this island think when they go to the mainland?
Surely they notice the billboards...
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