World Wide Touring: 2009

Got up at 8am (maybe 8:10, since I heart the snooze button) on Monday morning, feeling ready (finally to pack) for the flight that would leave at 2:45. Ended up actually leaving apartment by 11:50, went and picked up Heather, and headed to Gma's for my sister to take us to the airport. Heather got me this stinkin cool water bottle that has a piece that fits inside for water sippage control (sometimes water bottles pour out too much water when I drink, so I'm super excited about this!). We arrived at the airport about an hour and 15 minutes previous to our flight. After stripping down at security, the rest of our travel crew was waiting right by our gate ready and excited to go.

Flight number one to KCI was uber crowded and bumpy (so much turbulence). It was Becca's first time to fly (P. Edward's too) but she said it was fun!! ...I'm not sure if either one of them ever got their wings. I got my usual ginger ale (Patricia and I have decided that ginger ale just tastes better when flying) and settled in for a quick flight. KCI was an interesting airport. It had three different terminals and luckily we landed in the biggest so we didn't need to shuttle ourselves to anywhere. But we did choose to leave security since all of the food places were on the other side and our layover was almost four hours long. Patricia's friend made an acamio while we settled in for the Taquileria's 10 cent/chip chips and salsa [or]deal/snack. The chips and salsa were great! The confusion of ordering,however, ("how many tortillas would you like?") steared us away to other food options for dinner.

After a fun get-to-know-you time with Mona ("So, is there anything else you would like the group to know about you?") brocoli and mushroom pizza, we perused the gift stores, checked out the bathrooms and made our way back to our gate. The guy checking our tickets seemed confused. He told us he was glad it was Friday (it was in fact Monday) and that he would be getting off work soon. After a puzzled look by me and a questioning "Friday?" from Heather, he clarified that it was "his" Friday and not actually Friday. I began to feel like I was in some sort of Twilight zone and that Kansas City might be in some other time zone/date zone. I wasn't entirely surprised since I have always seen Kansas City as its own entity, possibly being its own governing body, seeing how I never know what state the city actually belongs to.

Once stripping for security again, Heather and I (being the stragglers we were) met up with everyone else, only to find that our gate had changed and we would in fact have to strip for security again. We finally made it to the right gate, just in time for the 'A' section to begin boarding. Settling in for a four hour flight, I was a bit excited. I love flying and I love all of the free time that it brings...there is nothing that can demand my time except my music and my book. I did get a bit motion sickness, but nothing a little shut-eye can't fix.

This flight too was crowded like the first. It wasn't bad though. There was the occasional baby cry or drunken man asking for more beer from the stewardess, but nothing unbearable. I do have to say, there was one man in particular who made me laugh out loud a couple of times. He was sitting two rows up and across the aisle and seemed to know everything there was to know about the history of...well the history of about everything/anything you wanted to know. I couldn't help but overhear him speaking to the man next to him, who I never actually heard say a single word. I would tune him in and out during the flight and each time it would be about the civil war, some history book he just read or [fill in some other random time period]. Within a five minute period he touched on Ronald Reagan and the 1600s. Now, tell me, did Reagan have a fascination with the 1600s? Did Reagan model his presidency off of some political thought from that time period?? I am not a history buff by any means, but I just don't get it. Once we landed nicely into SeaTac airport, the excitement began to build. We were finally at our destination. The even more great news: Seattle was actually warm and the sun was set to be out the next morning. We got our van, our gps and made our trek to the hotel. No thanks to the gps we got from the rental place, but a BIG thank you to Amy's gps on her phone, we made it at a semi-decent time...enough time to get settled and into bed.

Day 2
6am - Woke up rested and ready, but I still had an hour and 45 minutes to sleep. Then I remembered the time change and realized it was 8am in OK. Once I opened my eyes and really start to wake up, I realized that Patricia had gotten sick throughout the night and didn't look like she would be making it out of bed for awhile. We hated to leave her and Mona. Having the stomach bug is the absolute worse common sickness to have and I felt so bad for her. She reassured us (Amy, Becca, Heather and I) that we should go ahead and explore for awhile. So we headed to Pike Place Market. It was love at first site. I have this idea that I am actually a city-girl at heart and this place reassured me of that assumption. If I was to describe Seattle in one word it would be 'free.' Free to live the way you want, free to explore, free to try new things. And that's what I felt like I did for the short amount of time that I was there. There were shops galore along Pike Street, including all different types of ethnic foods, local artists and of course the first Starbucks. It was definitely a novelty to go to the "First Ever Starbucks", but no more than four or five minutes is needed and you are done. Going in or leaving provokes no deep meaning or feel good warmth. You leave unchanged. The wooden floors give it a nice look, but the absence of furniture or friendly faces says, "Get your coffee and get out!" We move on...

My favorite part was the fishmongers. Not just b/c fishmongers have nice smiles, or look really good in hats, but because of their happiness to be who they are, where they are and what they are doing. I mean, they get to throw fish all day. And that is what they are suppose to do. I really wanted to ask if I could throw fish, but Heather was right, too much unwanted attention, which would lead to me throwing a perfectly good fish on the floor, or even hitting a small child or elderly lady, was more than it was worth.

On to the Space Needle. So, isn't that what we call our fancy little contraption at the OK State Fair? Or is it Space Tower? Y'all help me out here? The Space Needle was, I shall say, all it's cracked up to be...actually more than what I expected. The view is breathtaking and you never can soak enough of it in. I think I circled twice on the observation deck and another time from the inside. I found a good spot for a photo-op, right in front of the skyline, which others crowded around to wait for Heather, Becca, Amy and I to finish our photos. The surreal part was the ghost-like silouette of Mt. Rainier in the background. (Pictures to come.)

There's so much more I could say and so much more I have forgotten, but the one thing I won't forget about Seattle is how nice the people are. People say Oklahomans are friendly...sure! I do agree. Seattlians KNOW each other and share their lives together. It really does have a community feel.

Now we're in Port Angeles...beautiful drive up here. Tomorrow is a big day and hopefully everyone is feeling better due to all the stomach bug stuff, high elevation and motion sickness. My goal for the rest of this trip is to find God in as many places as possible. It shouldn't be a challenge to find the creator in such a beautiful place, landscape-wise or people-wise.

The Washington trip team is getting very antsy for our one week get-away. Countdowns have started and luggage has been sought out in the far reaches of our attics, closets, and [insert other storage location here]. April 20th just cannot arrive soon enough. More definite plans have been made, but of course there is always room for the spontaneity which all of us long for and the relaxation we crave. Pocket Edward is not exempt from all of this stir craziness and has found ways to pass the time until our flight takes off out of Will Rogers Airport.

Pocket Edward is really sick and tired of hanging out with Napoleon all day...

Soooo.....

Pocket Edward looks for Pocket Bella in AZ

He gives up and ponders the meaning of a life without her in the high reaches of the Aloe Vera treetops

Pocket Edward has had too much pondering so he goes for the excitement of cliff-diving

Who needs Pocket Bella when you have Life-Size Jessica?

Edward explores another galaxy and films a new classic: Vampire v. Alien

Pocket Edward! You must take off your jacket before you iron it!! Silly vampire!

Pocket Edward is practicing his African dancing. He thinks Africa might be un upcoming adventure for him...

But of course, he hasn't forgotten about Forks...which holds a special place in his heart.

Pocket Edward is storing up on cows...his new fave! He won't have chances to hunt on the plain, nor when we are in Seattle. Seattle is a terrible place for hunting...