momma said there'd be days like this...
it was our last day in phoenix. I awoke at 8 am after yet another 4 hours of sleep and met up with kate and james for breakfast downstairs (i highly recommend staying at the embassy suits - they had a wonderful complementary breakfast and, in the evening, complementary adult beverages). afterwards, kate and i noticed some music playing so we followed the sound until we were greeted by a number of elderly women. their hands reached for ours. while shaking our hands they spoke of jesus. one backed away from kate and, looking at her strangely, said something like "she doesn't have jesus in her life." one of her colleges assuaged her concern by saying, "that's why they've come..." and we were reluctantly pulled into the room. it was your traditional southern baptist set-up (or so i thought). about 30 people were there, including a group of 4 elderly women were dressed in white traditional african garb, a drummer, bassist, and guitarist playing behind us, and a minister screaming out his convocations with deep conviction. i turned to kate, "um, i'll meet you back in the room," and i furtively made my exit.
after showering i went back to get kate, but before i reached the room i noticed that she was already leaving. i met up with her. she told of people spinning around, falling on the floor, and going into convultions - things that made her a bit uncomfortable, so she left.
kate, james, and i then decided, since it was our last day in phoenix, to climb squaw peak, the tallest peak (i think) in the phoenix area. we started the climb missing two very important things: sun block and a camera. we made our way up the rocky trail, reaching the summit after about 2 hours (it took us only an hour to descend). on our way down we were greeted by a huge swarm of bees that flew just feet away from us but, luckily, continued off into the distance. and, just as i had expected, i now have a really nasty sunburn.
we made our way to a mall to waste some time before heading to the airport. i was in borders when i noticed a long line of people. i followed the line until i saw a man at a table signing books. "there he is," some one exclaimed. i didn't recognize the man so i walked closer to get a look at his name on the book. "John McCain." "oh, i know him. isn't that the guy i voted for the other year as a way to vote against bush?" yeah, that was random.
my colleagues are all big basketball fans so we arrived at the airport 3 hours early to catch the kings game (they lost). ah, you ever notice how basketball fans speak in their own special dialect - i hadn't a clue what they were talking about the entire time.
finally, we took off only to be greeted by over an hour of turbulence. i tried a technique of self-hypnosis but it didn't work too well. i did realize, however, that my fear of flying is due to claustrophobia more than anything else. on my next flight i will have to get a window seat.
after showering i went back to get kate, but before i reached the room i noticed that she was already leaving. i met up with her. she told of people spinning around, falling on the floor, and going into convultions - things that made her a bit uncomfortable, so she left.
kate, james, and i then decided, since it was our last day in phoenix, to climb squaw peak, the tallest peak (i think) in the phoenix area. we started the climb missing two very important things: sun block and a camera. we made our way up the rocky trail, reaching the summit after about 2 hours (it took us only an hour to descend). on our way down we were greeted by a huge swarm of bees that flew just feet away from us but, luckily, continued off into the distance. and, just as i had expected, i now have a really nasty sunburn.
we made our way to a mall to waste some time before heading to the airport. i was in borders when i noticed a long line of people. i followed the line until i saw a man at a table signing books. "there he is," some one exclaimed. i didn't recognize the man so i walked closer to get a look at his name on the book. "John McCain." "oh, i know him. isn't that the guy i voted for the other year as a way to vote against bush?" yeah, that was random.
my colleagues are all big basketball fans so we arrived at the airport 3 hours early to catch the kings game (they lost). ah, you ever notice how basketball fans speak in their own special dialect - i hadn't a clue what they were talking about the entire time.
finally, we took off only to be greeted by over an hour of turbulence. i tried a technique of self-hypnosis but it didn't work too well. i did realize, however, that my fear of flying is due to claustrophobia more than anything else. on my next flight i will have to get a window seat.