For better or Wurst....24 hours in Texas

A synopsis of the last 24 hours;

Cars, Ferry,Train,Planes,Security Issues, Tornado Shelters, Brave Little Toaster (this would be my Hostess's Element:), Lost in Woods, Flash Flood stuff, Oh Deer, Prickly Pears, Mockingbirds, BIG boots, Longhorn in Residential Areas, Swarming Masses, Oom Pa Pa, Beer, Pretzels, Faux Bosoms, Dancing Bananas,FRIENDLY Texan Men, Flying Pigs, Deep Fried Pickles and Many Meats on Sticks.

I'm sure I missed a great many things somehow.

That's all for now....





Kidding !!! Ha!!  That'd be just cruel really wouldn't it?

Yesterday started with an extended walk through the Leon Creek Parkway System http://www.sanantonio.gov/sapar/?res=1366&ver=true

Please note that , for certain people (you know who you are ;) I will TRY to make this little space actually Educational in future )

Said walk was 'extended' because, despite being new and very impressive, this is one of the most poorly marked trails I've ever seen.  Put two geographically challenged people in the woods with multiple and repeated forking off options and ?........you go for a LONG hike !!

That said, it was beautiful and I still haven't mustered up the words for the WOW that accompanies seeing Prickly Pear cacti, Lantana, Agave and Yuccas literally growing ,en masse, as weeds basically(!) Toss in a Mockingbird and some Cardinals and the contrast between here and Home is astounding really.

Short break for an absolutely sinful and incredibly fat laden late Tex Mex lunch and off to:

http://www.wurstfest.com/

Ten DAYS of Oktoberfest, in TEXAS.  They take this very seriously here and, being a German/Prussian Canadian via Vancouver Island had more than a few chuckles over just BEing there in the first place !

Absolutely massive crowds, which, oddly enough, did not completely freak me out.  Perhaps my various phobias are mellowing with age (feel free to comment on this one Mr. Matrix ;) I have now, in less than 48 hours done public transportation repeatedly AND voluntarily submitted to the crowd of cattle in a chute syndrome. Maybe it's Just Texas ?  I am LOVING it though !

Several hours of flash backing to a childhood frequently spent hanging out with musicians at the Edelweiss Club in Toronto (still thinking of you  Mr. T :) wearing itchy pink wool Dirndl Dresses and praying to Jesus I never, ever had to do the Chicken Dance again later........WOW.  I had no idea that we were capable of quite that much recall !! Scents, sounds......faces.......all the way back to when I was about 4 years old and being swung around on the dance floor by some kindly and seriously portly musician who's name eludes me entirely.  Back in a FLASH it all came :)

Sentimentality aside, it rapidly became time for a good stout Oktoberfest Lager to wander amidst the masses with.  That we did, taking in a good many different bands and talking to a good many different people.  FOOD was absolutely everywhere.....most of it Many Different Kinds of Meat On a Stick and/or deep fried.
I had what I think was THE best soft pretzel, covered in mustard, in my life......followed later by another favourite and long lost treat, The Funnel Cake.

Funnel Cakes were nearly as popular as the potato pancakes (I will NOT stand in line, for anything, ever, for more than 10 minutes) and I managed to run into a family of  Dancing Bananas.  They were actually kids with dancing bananas, frogs and a Medusa Wig too but,no matter.  There were SIX of them ,accompanied by clearly brave parents, also in The Funnel Cake Line.  Lovely people and highly entertaining. He was an MD and she was a little teeny weeny, very cute, blond.... former MARINE with a degree in Psychology who said "you just KNOW you've lost it when you're in the bathroom with two Giant Bananas and you have to ask a complete stranger to hold your banana so you can pee".

Precisely !

Said Funnel Cake eventually acquired,then  I proceeded to put my foot in it again, Texas Size,by asking a fellow who was admiring it if he'd 'like a piece?'.  Traffic stopper for sure.  I then had to share said cake with two seriously amusing  Texan gentlemen who's only real indiscretion ( likely due to serious beer intake ) was to actually brush some of the icing sugar off my shirt (!)

No worries, our Canadian reputation for civility remains unscathed....so far anyhow ;) and said taker of liberties remains breathing with all his limbs intact LOL.

It was, overall, GREAT fun !!  I've crossed boundaries and borders in epic fashion in a very brief period of time.  I am both absolutely amazed and Blessed to be in the company of such wonderful  people, current provider of shelter no exception.  (YOU are one seriously impressive woman Pekes :)

The magnitude of my new environment and the kindness, generousity and overall grand humour of the 'natives' is overwhelming.....................

I am, quite simply , LOVING it !!

Off to get up to something else now.....hopefully that doesn't involve any form of meat on a stick, flying pigs or deep fried pickles....I'm just getting too old for that sort of thing !

Tschus.

the Cattle Chute

Fine Dining

Primed Texans & yes, that IS a flying pig on his head.....

,

via Denver, Colorado...Plane 2

Well then............I've missed a bit and am now combining info into one, probably not concise, entry :P

I successfully landed in Denver, greeted by the sun setting over yet another set of Rocky Mountains.
Fair Trade really :)

Several things, briefly about Denver (because that was yesterday and much hath happened in between)

It's FLAT.  REALLY flat .  Who knew?

It too has those lovely wee moving conveyors (I seriously could just run up and down them all day...put them on a FERRY?  Heaven ! )

It also has Lavs that aren't miles apart !! 

Imagine my surprise to be, nearly immediately, greeted by a Lav with a large yellow "TORNADO Shelter" sign attached to it? 

I've crossed the Arctic Circle on skidoo, braved Ontario winters, BC Earthquakes, Wave Hazard warnings and Tsunami Evacuation routes.........NEVER, in a million years would I ever have thought to find myself in a situation where hugging the White Porcelain Bus could actually save my LIFE . LOL.

WILD.

That said, I proceeded on yet another 'quirky' United Airlines 319 (the first one experienced random electrical issues....as did the second one, same Crew, different plane....very ODD) to my Ultimate Destination of ......

San Antonio, TEXAS !!

Greeted by a lovely friend, whom I'd never actually MET before (YOU are a truly incredible gal Sista Pekes :) and carted off to her lovely wee home, Deep In The Heart of Texas (please clap thricely, thanks :)

This would be where I currently am, having the time of my Life thus far.......details pending.

For now though, I must say G'Night......I've rectified the 'comment' issue for those that mentioned it, Thank You :) Sorry but I'm new to this and seriously challenged by poor electronics and time constraints .....fill you in SOON but for now I must let this wee puter rest before it actually catches Fire (which , in itself would make an interesting story but I can do better at the moment and will save the San An Fire Department card for later)

So much for combining.....today deserves it's own entry anyhow really....WOW.

Laterz,

;)
  

Plane 1

Alrighty then.

Things have changed, a LOT in the year it's been since I've last played in an airport.

Express check in? Scans my Passport AND pulls up all my info?? WOAH. Follow that by rather intense security. For the record, NEVER admit to being unemployed when they ask. Apparently it means you have no real reason to live and/or return to your country. I had no idea really..here I thought I was a pretty Happy Go Lucky kind of Gal actually ! After having my digits scanned and identifying an actual photo of my luggage (!) I managed to narrowly avoid a cavity search and was allowed to 'leave' my chosen country.

Funny that, I still feel very much Canadian staring at the Rockies :~D

I managed to sit for awhile, touch base with my FB buddies and the lovely gal that's been gracious enough to offer me a place to stay at the other end......You ROCK sister.....and have A Beer. Never drink the stuff but seemed a relatively harmless way to settle the nerves after my adventures just this side short of the No Fly list (!!)

Having traipsed ten miles across the airport to the appropriate Departure gate I honestly hadn't given much thought to where the Lavs were......and then there was The Beer......apparently they are about 9 miles apart !! WTH? I honestly do not understand why, when we can pull off the OLYMPICS (!!) the Vancouver Airport can't manage to have more than one Lav for every 20 departure gates !

Thank You Universe for giving me the good sense NOT to wear The Heels (despite not helping me pack properly) and for providing those lovely rapidly moving conveyor belts that have actually allowed me to catch my plane after actually locating the lav. Thank You again, to the absolutely stellar Aeromiles Gal that, after hearing my Tall Tale, pre-booked me into THE most awesome seat on this little 319. Not only do I have all three seats to myself, I'm at the back of the plane so if she goes down , the tail will snap clean off and I will be FINE and just have more stories to tell :)

I remain entirely unconvinced about the “Snack Box” however. Hermetically sealed box filled with hermetically sealed little packages.........Hummus in a squeeze tube?? Olives in a foil package?? I have never, in my life, seen anything quite like it.

Oh well, the flight attendants are having fun with The Tale (I need a Flat Stanley !) and with my obvious amusement over my Snack Box. Serious FUN.......Off to figure out what “Grissini” is LMAO......having big giggles and very much looking forward to the next descent in to....................????

Toss me something shiny, I am clearly very easily amused and hope you are too.

Back at you soon ;)



Trains.........

Vancouver has a very elaborate transportation system that, for the most part, entirely eludes me.

My claustrophobia and general overall aversion to being tossed amidst the teeming masses hath pretty much kept me OFF most forms of public transportation for the better portion of the last twenty years. There's a reason I live on A Rock after all :)

The Ferry does not count...there's plenty of space on it and I spend most of my time up top, weather permitting, on the “Sundeck” not that there's a whole lot of that on the Wet Coast at this time of year. Planes also do not count.....the seat backs are generally high enough to allow me to largely ignore most of the other occupants of my space and my iPod and/or puter further allows me to patrol my borders effectively.

Buses ? In Vancouver ?? OMG. Last time I took one I ended up alone and deposited, at NIGHT, in one of the worst parts of the city. The ONLY thing that saved me from being rolled by the gang that was staking me out was my obviously tangible RAGE after missing a ferry, spending 40 minutes in a moving sardine can and then being unceremoniously dumped by an ill informed transit worker in the Eastside. They'd take turns approaching me, get about five feet away, receive THE stare and retreat. I have never, in my life, ever been so happy to see a little white Beemer........THANK YOU again for saving me by the way !!

Self same little white Beemer is also owned by The Hostest With The Mostest who hath, this time, saved me from The Bus entirely and deposited me directly at The Train......”Canada Line”, Olympic exclusive LOL..... Bus can wait for the return trip.....SO not looking forward to that, but such is life.

I hadn't been on a train in a good very many years. Aside from nearly squashing an elderly fellow (apparently I've lost the hustle in my bustle since leaving Toronto...those trains stop and go quickly !)

it was a clean, safe.....SPACIOUS and very rapid trip to the Vancouver airport !

Even my 'geographically challenged' self couldn't possibly mess that one up.

Sweet !!!

Next up ????? does she go left or does she go right ? ........either way, this gal's getting WINGS.

Tally Ho,

R

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Well, not quite. Automobile and Ferry thus far.....leave it to Me to do everything backwards ;)

Well then.....let us start with The Ferry portion of the program.....despite the fact that, by the time I actually am able to POST this, I will more than likely already have Arrived . Somewhere completely different regardless. LOL.

To refresh, again for those that may not actually KNOW me, I live on A Rock. A BIG one. It's mine, I LOVE it and most people call it Vancouver Island :)

Travelling OFF the rock is much, for me anyhow, like leaving the country. It involves a bit of travel , to either one of the smallish airports here or to one of several ferry terminals for those of us unable to find the appropriate connecting flight.

That'd be Me this time.

This is entirely fine, mostly because I managed to hitch a ride with an absolutely lovely friend AND I also LOVE The Ferry. Frankly, if I had my way I could spend (and have actually) the entire day just going back and forth......BC Ferries, can you HEAR me? I'm seriously employable and already love you ! LOL

I enjoy queueing up for The Ultimate Big Boat, watching all the cars and people/pets therein. It's fascinating and never the same way twice. From those Fast Times At Ridgemont HIGH type Hippie Vans (yes, they still very much exist here and they do indeed spew smoke of questionable organic origin) to your regular generic family type vehicles with adorable children playing peek-a-boo from the back seat and giggling furiously......it's well......LIFE :)

Seeing as there's absolutely nothing that tickles my particular fancy more (yes, I can well imagine where some brains rabbited off with that one ;) than being on or near my ocean......two hours spent people watching on the ferry can be pretty much Purrrrfect really.

BUT

There is often one spoiler in every crowd. Could be the car that stalls permanently in front of you whilst loading, a small child that gets sick (I sympathize, honestly, but please pass me a bag too) five feet in front of you , or , this trip anyhow.....The Walking Dead.

I'll never understand why people that are clearly SO ill they should be in bed and/or hospitalized, feel perfectly entitled to get on public transit and sit in in the middle of densely populated spaces to spread their Joy. No staying in their car or hiding in a corner for them...

There was, THE sneeze. A real attention grabber to be sure and followed by the turning of many heads.

Then another......followed by much hoarkling and what I am certain was a Death Rattle. He's got everyone's full attention now and I can't help but notice that he is clearly not inclined to even cover his mouth let alone spew into a tissue or elbow..... the viral effluent filling the air space around him is visible......

OUTBREAK !!

Visions of biting monkeys and men in Hazmat suits dance through my head and I can't scramble fast enough for the sanitizer in my bag.........my WORD.

What the heck are people like that THINKING?

Had this particular NOT Gentleman attempted to board an aircraft he would simply not have been allowed. The ferry , unfortunately is much like a bus or train and anything goes.....I still shudder to think about that one.

THANK YOU to the very dear and very lovely friend who not only reminded me to insure my possibly soon to be rather ill fanny before departing the country but also had the foresight to provide me with enough Cold FX 'Defence' to last me for the duration.........you clearly are psychic Kit Kat !!!

Next stop....other than a shower (!!!!)........the Bright Lights, Big City of Vancouver. Similar to Toronto but cleaner, friendlier, surrounded by mountains and sitting on the ocean......whoops, maybe not so similar LOL

I've been blessed by a Hostess with The Mostest and shall spend the night by the water, gazing at the lit up wee boats in the harbour, prior to my actual departure tomorrow. I shall rest my head trying not to think much of said Outbreak Man and , rather, Ferry memories of the sun setting on the mountains.

Step One, Ferry, complete.

All is well and exceedingly exciting in this, my own wee world :~D

G'Night and Sweet Dreams................

for Those That may ask WHY ??

In as much as this actual "Blog Initiating  Road Trip"  has been kept Top Secret  , there are several people that were privy to the original wee thought that will lead to my actual physical flight less than a week later........I soon depart for a destination to be disclosed LATER....for reasons which will become obvious once I actually arrive there :~D

Aside from the initial "What the hell are you THINKING ?!!" (I wasn't really :) reactions, for the most part this particular Adventure has been embraced in the Spirit in which it was initially conceived.  THANK YOU for that and I am SO looking forward to unraveling this particular act of travel WITH you :)

For those of you that haven't actually experienced my somewhat 'quirky' way of doing things at times, this is how 'it' works and WHY I do things this way as frequently as possible.  

 (For the record, it's been WAY too long ! )

I Believe.......

That we can trust our instincts.

That Thoughts can and DO become Things if they are what you truly intend.  For better or for worse. 

That anything IS possible and that we are solely responsible for what that actually looks like.

In Every Little Thing :)

That the ENERGY surrounding POSITIVE thought , positive action and positive results is entirely contagious and needs to be SPREAD, without reservation, expectation or prejudice as frequently and with as much fervor as is possible.  

In never looking back, unless with fondness or appreciation and in looking forward, with a *GRIN* 

This is, usually, Just ME.

I freely admit to doing a lot of seemingly peculiar things over the years. 

Most of these have resulted in phenomenal learning experiences (again for better or for worse) and a great deal of personal growth.  I appreciate the patience of my Spectators, hope I mostly entertained and apologise for any of the bits that must have been truly painful to watch......much like.......

This past year, as known to those that actually BLESS my life with their presence (Thank You ) to have been a  largely  for 'worse' experience.  Quite a Bugger really , no 'Smiley' sticker on that (!) It's been absolutely brutal and very nearly Spirit crushing and I've been unable to see my way clear of it for some reason that has , thus far, entirely eluded me.

THAT is not, even remotely,  Just ME.

So, heading into my 43rd year and quite frankly exhausted by this apparent inability to Do, BE and Do anymore......THIS was an excellent opportunity !!

It was once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.

SO.

I had A Thought.

THE Thought.....

It was, to be certain, VERY different  *GRIN*

It was completely random, seemingly inappropriate (considering my current 'situation' and the time constraints) , as well as more than a little bit unusual. LOL.  It was however, without TOO close of scrutiny, seemingly DOable.  

A to Z please and we'll worry about the other  24 when we have to right?

It felt GREAT  !  

The initial energy surrounding that small thought and the truly lovely people involved in actually DOing it,thus far,  has been AMAZING.  It's  made that wee thought GROW.....

I have NO idea WHY I'm really DOing this  (other than that it FIT in that particular moment)  not at the time this was actually written in any case.  I do know however, that it feels RIGHT and that Very Good Things (if not even for myself really) will eventually BEcome of all of whatever 'this' IS.

THAT works just fine for Just Me;)  and should  put me back on track to my usual Do BE DO self again .....hopefully with much merriment and many tall tales , shared with truly remarkable people, in between.

It can't ever possibly get any better than that really........and so it BEGINS......

Namaste.

(written two days before my actual Road/Ferry/Train/Bus/Plane TRIP.....a spitting camel or two in there would have made it WAY more interesting though......  Follow the bouncing wee ball ......the BE to Y bits......We shall SEE  where 'it' and I,  end up THIS  time ;) 

Watch this space......

Something entirely new for me, thanks DG for the inspiration to go about it in this fashion.

Brilliant idea !!

In preparation for the first "official" Random Act of Road Tripping........(THIS one's going to be the proverbial Doozy).....my apologies for the poor form but there's not enough time, to be apparent WHY shortly *LOL*

Road Trips are Random, are meant to  be FUN and absolutely, always, should be SHARED.
Every Little Thing along the way, be it to the corner store or another country entirely is the STUFF of my life......

Aspiring to Inspire ..........with any luck and, on a whim and a prayer......my own small adventures will hopefully do so for you.

At the very least I hope they make you laugh a little, better yet, a LOT.....Think, DREAM....Life happens, best to just Play with that .

See you soon ;)