Oxygen, Dirty Restrooms and a Plea for Justice

You know what I think should be a crime? Charging someone to use the restroom.

Making me pay 5 bucks or buy a food item just to use the bathroom facilities is as ridiculous as putting a tax on oxygen inhalation. Regular access to a bathroom is a survival necessity common to all of us; like breathing.

It is a sad injustice to demand pay for a service that should be readily available to all.

Just One of Those Days

Do you ever have those days where everything inexplicably goes right? You miss your bus only to be picked up by Johnny Depp in his personal limo or you trip over a mysterious briefcase in the parking lot on your way into the office which ends up containing super secret information that government is willing to pay an exorbitant amount of money to have returned, for example. Well, so far, my first few days on the road have been down right magical. I ask and God provides. I don't even know to ask and it's already provided. Today the guy really outdid Himself. I was looking for a place to pull over to read my book in the shade while I waited for my next High School visit when, lo and behold, what should I spot in front of me? A beautiful, peaceful, shady street with the name Ellen Park. So I did.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Now that I have a GPS, I find that I am in love with driving in California . I know that sounds crazy but I love the speed, the spontaneous lane changes, and the way that the cars look like lines of thread being woven into complex patterns on a loom. I am challenged and stimulated by the creativity and planning that is required to safely navigate through traffic and I find that I feel more at home in this fast paced, almost arrogant atmosphere, than I have in a long time. That probably means I should buy a motorcycle. Immediately.

It's 5 O'clock Somewhere

After an unexpectedly long day of travel, I arrived at my hotel to check in and was pleasantly surprised to learn about the newly concieved hotel happy hour that was to be held on the following evening. Free beer, wine and appetizers from 6-7:30pm in the breakfast room. What a fascinating idea...

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to partake as I had a previously scheduled meeting during the aforementioned festivity. However, I am still intrigued and plan on coming back next year to participate in the phenomena.

Inexplicable

So, my first time giving blood did not go well. I nearly passed out 5 times, nearly vomited twice, and the nurses had to use smelling salts to keep me conscious more than once.

I felt tremendously guilty and weak as they buzzed around nervously mumbling about my dropping blood pressure and casting anxious glances my way. I tried to make them happy by wiggling my feet a lot and coughing into my shoulder which is supposed to keep one's blood pressure up. Even so, it was another hour and half before there was enough color in my lips that they would let me leave and even then it was with strict instructions to have someone else drive me to a friends house where I was to lay around and drink water; nothing more.

I'm really glad they got the quart out of me before I really started to lose it but I'm really sad whenever I think about going back in the future. I'd really like to contribute to the great need for donated blood but truly, that was maybe the most horrible experience I've ever had. I'm not sure I'll be able to make myself go back. Does anyone have a great success or similar horror story they would like to share?

Flashback

Yesterday I went swinging in the park; like on a playground, with 8 year old kids, swinging. Everyone thought I was crazy. I didn't care because it was glorious!

"My Family Made Me Do It!"

The Oregon Coast was... interesting. It made me miss being a kid and my family. :) It was also a relief to be around a bunch of people that are as crazy as I am and realize that I'm not as weird as I, and other people, think I am. I'm just part of a family that has it's own little set of dysfunctional rules in addition to all the amazing brilliance and talent. It's nice to know that not all of it is my fault and that there are some really cool traits that come along with the less cool ones. And it's nice to know that as much as I sometimes don't want to; I'll always fit in and be unconditionally loved by family.