"I want a fire-lizard!" ~ I say this every time I read a Pern book
Saturday - First. Our plane was late, so when we got to Dallas we didn't have an hour. We had like... Five or ten minutes before boarding. We find out that the website was wrong and the plane doesn't have sandwiches (big surprise there). So we have to scramble around to use the bathroom, get some lunch, and get ready to board. Oh yeah, the plane snacks. They've shrunk again and now they're a snack mix instead of pretzels. Now they do have snacks, but they're charge you 3 bucks for 'em and all you have to choose from are trail mix, lays potato chips, a giant cookie, and plain m&ms. What the hell. So needless to say the experience with the airlines wasn't pleasant. The quality of American Airlines seems to get worse as the years go on. Yes, I know all airlines are doing the same sort of thing when it comes to food, but AA always seems to be rude about it. At least whenever I've experienced it. Pretty views and fast travel, but airlines have nothing more and sometimes less to offer. This is why I don't like flying. bleh. Anyway, travel stuff aside, we got to the hotel (which was absolutely gorgeous!) and checked into our room. We were in a little bungalow sorta thing. It was cool. Then we went off to see my Aunt Terry, Uncle John, and my cousins Russ and Cope. I haven't seen them in a two and a half years, so it was fun to see them again. I also had the pleasure to meet their Shih Tsu, Oscar, who is a sweetie. Great food, marvelous conversations, and wonderful weather. It was so much fun to talk to the boys again. They've really matured, too.
Sun - Went to the zoo in Palm Springs called the Living Desert. Actually, it's more like a mix of a zoo and botanical garden. We'd have to go to at least three or four separate places to get the same experience in St. Louis. We hiked around and saw all manner of animals. Unfortunately, the Mexican Gray Wolves would not grace us with their presences, but I did get to see the Swift Fox, Fennec Fox, and Meerkats. We only saw about half of the place, but it helped me discover something about myself. I don't like to miss out. It actually bothers me when I go to a place like a museum, a zoo, etc. and I don't get to see everything. I'm one of those people who turns a simple trip to the zoo into a death march because I like to visit EVERYTHING. Even if I get tired, I rest, and then continue. I think it's a smallish obsessive compulsive sort of thing with me. Anyway, we had lunch at the Meerkat Cafe (love the name), and then went back to the hotel to relax and pack up because we were gonna head out to Borrego Springs where my grandparents live. Drove out there and the moment I saw the front of the house. *ding* I gathered faint memories. The last time I was at that house was when I was four years old. We had dinner with my grandparents, talked, and went to bed. I had a rather sleepless night because I get nervous in new places, especially if they're houses... and in rural areas. My rational side knew that nothing could get in the house, but I was still on edge. I drifted in and out of sleep and suddenly a loud howl erupted outside my window. I had to cover my ears because I get really freaked out when I hear Coyotes howling. I'm fine with wolf howls, but coyotes... I dunno. They sound so eerie, but I just froze and I was shaking in the bed as they sung outside my window. I do not know the origin of this reaction, but it just happens. After that I drifted in and out of sleep with dreams that seemed to clash with reality. I kept looking out that window in my dreams. First time I saw the coyotes, second time I saw Meerkats, and then the third time I was looking down from a 15th floor apartment. Weird, no? My dreams are wacky and for one wild moment I thought I had really seen those things. @_@
Mon - We went to the visitors center, viewed exhibits, a slide show, and wandered around. Had lunch and headed out to check out the small mall area. I found tea. ^^ <3 Borrego Springs is such a quite little place. I've lived in STL for so long that the background noises of the busy suburbs no longer bother me, but in Borrego... It's silent. I could hear a bird that was singing from a tree that was atleast a mile down the street from my grandparents' house! That might be what made me a little nervous. The quite is peaceful, but it scares me. --;; We went to dinner at the country club and I had salmon. Oh my god was it delicious. It was really neat that the staff knew my grandparents. It was like when I visited my aunt and uncle in San Antonio. Interesting experience. Wandered back for bed. I had another rather restless night, but I made myself listen to the coyotes when they howled. They were further away, which is probably why it didn't scare me as much. There is a beauty to their singing, but I think I prefer it to sound distant. --;; I think what helped is that my dad and I had taken a walk in the evening and talked about it. oh yeah. I also swam in a pool for the first time in.. um... years I guess. >>
Tues - This was one of the best days on the trip. We drove to Julian, CA. It's a cute little town full of all sorts of neat little shops and places to eat. Sort of like Kimswick. A little country town. I really want to go back there and see the rest of the town. We only saw a portion of it because my granpa gets tired easily. Still, the sights were gorgeous and they had a really awesome store called The Birdwatcher. We drove back, relaxed, took another swim, and had dinner. Then when we dispersed for the night. I heard the coyotes again, got in bed, and just conked out. I was gone. XD
Wed - Took another walk with my dad and observed the birds. Saw a male roadrunner wooing a female, which was really neat. We packed up and headed back to Palm Springs after lunch. It was a rather rocky afternoon because my mom and dad argued about the directions and driving. Stopped in a mall area so my mom could check out a fabric store. My dad and I wandered around laughing about all the gyms they had. There was a place for sports medicine, injuries, etc. right next to the Golds Gym and a chiropractor next to a pilates center. We thought about getting some ice cream from Baskin Robbins and standing in front of Golds Gym, just eating it as we watched people exercise, but we decided not to. I have nothing against those who exercise, I will soon be one of those regular exercisers, but it's just so much fun to mess with those who pay to go to a gym. We stayed in the Hyatt in the old part of Palm Springs and I had a great chat with our bellhop as he helped us with the luggage. We had dinner at a lovely, but casual italian restaurant. Delicious. Absolutely delicious. Wandered around town and then went back to the Hyatt. My mom and I watched Criminal Minds and CSI: NY before going to bed.
Thurs - Plane travel again. Got to the gate without a hitch and we got to sit for a while. They had a Freshens so I got a Mango Beach smoothie. ^^ <3 yummy. Chilled for a while and then traveled to Dallas. Plane ride was uneventful... Save for the fact that they did not have any water except for bottled water which they charged 2 bucks for. Got to Dallas and had to leg it from gate C8 to gate C37. Bought a sandwich at a bakery deli place and sat for a bit. Then we boarded and took off. The sandwich was great and it was a short flight anyway. We shared my headphones because they were charging 3 bucks for a puny little earbud set which causes ear damage. Then we arrived home, got the luggage, and a taxi. The taxi driver was a marvelous man from Poland. Very charming and friendly. We chatted about all manner of things. Finally we were home and I lugged the suitcases upstairs, so my mom wouldn't have to do any of the work.
Note: My dad had a kidney stone taken out several days before our trip, so he was not allowed to lift anything or carry anything that weighed more than 10 pounds, so my mom and I did all the luggage stuff... Well, mainly me, but that's okay. I'm a college student who lives on the fourth floor of a dorm. being a pack mule is something I'm good at. XD
All in all. Marvelous trip. Loved it. Had lots of fun.
So, I'm back from California. It's certainly colder and wetter here, but I still don't mind being home. 'Cause I got to see my dogs. We picked 'em up this afternoon. They're such cute, fluffy, little furballs right now. ^^ <3 they get groomed on Wednesday.
Saw Dracula at the high school tonight. Oh my god. Very impressive. The actors who played Dracula, Renfield, and Van Helsing were brilliant! The set was amazing.
I'm gonna be sad to go back to Kirksville on Sunday, but I'm also excited. There are people I wanna see, but I am not excited about the work I'm gonna be doin'. I have two presentations to work on, one requires a short paper, and a research paper. All of 'em are due in April. 'Cept part of my World Music presentation is due late on the 27th.
Meh. That's all.
Catch ya' on the flipside, mates!
~Marty / Shin~