traveling is always an adventure!

I recently was fortunate enough to take a quick little trip to California to visit loved ones
The destination was amazing but I think getting there was almost as good!
The trip started earlier this year when I was lamenting our tanking Canadian dollar...  thinking travel was not in the books for a while but a $49 flight (thank you Alaska air) I jumped on it and booked!

I left the house at 4am... yes still the middle of the night, to make the familiar drive down to the  beautiful Seattle/Tacoma airport. I love this airport, maybe because it has some amazing *cough hipster* people watching in the early hours or it has a great Starbucks in the middle of the big food court surrounded by tables and chairs that allow you to enjoy the ambiance if time allows.

So I made it in record time hit the "bubble" of no traffic that if you manage to hit it lets you pass through the city and past Boeing Airfield without running into rush hour traffic and shift change at the Airfield. So I landed up in Seattle with plenty of time to pump my tired body full of legal stimulants.

Checked in and got the upgrade! Love the upgrade button on that self check in page! So first class seat 1A... the adventure only started once I passed through security full body scanning always makes me feel good... suck it in! hope the pattern of moles on my abdomen don't trigger some random full body check!
While riding the escalator down to the train that whisked me to the Alaska terminal I was standing in front of a lovely couple, as we rode down the art installation in front of us on a sharp angle on the wall/ceiling caught their attention, it was shiny, tile, and on an impossible angle...
man 1: isn't that beautiful?! so many colours
man 2: it would be impossible to dust
man 1: how do you think they do it?
man 2: maybe they use a machine to lower someone down
man 1: no that's crazy!
man 2: well you asked!
man 2- to me: how do you think they clean it?
me: I think they hire Spiderman to come do it for 10 bucks an hour
man 1 and man 2 smile nodding to each other: that might be it

on that note we parted ways at the bottom of the escalator and boarded two different trains... we could have been best friends.

I found my gate after wandering past a Hudson News, I bought some water and a book, every trip needs a new book. (like I need another book)
This one was "Yes Please" by talented writer and comedienne Amy Poehler, her writing style roped me in by the first few pages, it is written with the witt and style of someone I would love to have coffee with.
So book in hand I sit waiting to board reading... people watching... giggling and wishing I was more stealth at taking pictures of strangers to illustrate this journey!
I swear I saw one of the 1D boys I mean who dresses all in black beautiful half trench, backpack, and ear flap hat...
I was sitting minding my own business sipping my second coffee of the morning, which I swear was molten hot!, but a man came and stood to check his phone... I heard a little something... kinda sounded like a squeaky door... or balloon loosing air... yep he was tooting! and I use the term toot because it most resembled a horn of sorts. it was the strangled sound of someone trying to not break wind... it went one for at least 3 Mississippis... yep I was trying hard not to giggle, so I sat right next to this man standing there awkwardly clenched appearing to check something on his phone.
My advise to this man: dear airport man, if you are at the point of "breaking wind" in public and you have started down the horn section road... just let it rip and own it, say excuse me and move on. We all do it. We all heard you, and no you probably wont ever see any of us again, you're welcome.

There are just so many people at the airport.

The nervous traveler: checking and rechecking their boarding pass against the gate, standing, pacing checking their watches, looking exasperated and checking their watch again, lugging huge backpacks and overstuffed "carry-on" roller bags.. you hope these fellow fliers are not your seat mate as they tend to rummage through this jumbo backpack mid flight jamming it under their seat several times.

The entitled flyer: those looking pristine regardless of the time of day, the designer roller bag, huge handbag and "traveling suite" usually accompanied by heels if you are a woman and very shiny black shoes for them man...who has a large leather briefcase in place of designer handbag. They line up in the "first class" lane early they wait in the lounges and "first class elite" sitting areas. This morning I caught some shady looks as I stood with them to board my first class seat in my jeans, t-shirt and soft hoodie... yep I'm a comfy traveler!

The family: The family running through the airport lugging toddlers, car seats, luggage, usually a stroller with an infant in it, or a stroller full of bags and luggage and a baby strapped to one of the parents... they look tired, frazzled, late, and like each parent thought this was a better idea on paper not in actuality.

Whomever you are as a traveler, you are out there! You are going places! You are setting off on an adventure! I was among them, the hum of excitement in the air, the happy Airport people helping you get where you need to go from helping you through security, to making you a beautiful cup of coffee, the scanning your boarding pass and pronouncing your name correctly! (10 more points for Alaska Air), and the lovely ladies who graciously help you pack your overstuffed carry on bags into the already full overhead bins... for these things I thank you!

2 hours in the air, 3/4 of a book read, one life story of my seat mate listened to, and I landed in beautiful San Jose California to be met with Superbowl Fever the second I stepped off the plane!
GO SPORTS TEAMS!

Life is a journey, remember everywhere can be as fun as an airport for people watching :)

It's been a while

I have been challenged by one of my best and oldest friends and mentors to get back to blogging....

Why? I’m not sure. I am reminded daily that I don’t always see things the same as others--

half full-half empty- as long as the coffee is still hot I’m happy..... 

Challenge Accepted!

2016 has brought many amazing things with it:

I have completed my Masters in Education, it was a long hard 2 ½ years full time but looking back it was worth it. I am a firm believer of post secondary education, if you want it go out and get it! I just don’t recommend working full time while you are attempting to conquer the mountain. *please note I am also a believer that university is not for everyone and some of the most amazing and rewarding careers are without degrees and added letters behind ones name

 I have free time.

o   I’m not sure what this means

o   I don’t remember free time being this busy

o   I can read books now that are not written by PhDs!!

o   I have read books written by funny women! Very encouraging and challenging!

I need to remember how to take time for me, stuff I WANT to do vs. Tasks that I HAVE to do.

o   I took a mini holiday to California to meet a new baby Eden, spend some time in the sunshine (which came out just for my visit) visit with the sweetest funniest people I am not related to, drink coffee, wander around Target (I miss target) and beach comb.

  I am turning over a new leaf each month of the year February will bring with it health and happiness…. More to follow

I am learning to cook. Cooking has been a reoccurring theme of my writing here or just in my journal… I laugh at the notion of becoming a good cook.

o   I read cooking magazines like some people read people magazine… reading about the stories of food… looking at the beautiful pictures….wishing I was one of the wonderful folks in the pictures laughing and enjoying the tasty foods in the pictures.

I love the notions of a beautiful year waiting to unfold before me, I love the promise of adventure, quiet times, surprises, friendships, and good times had by all.

So let this be the first of many conversations I share with you my dear friends—cheers to a new year!