It has become my goal in life to visit every single state in the US. All 50 states, Washington DC and maybe, maybe all provinces of Canada. Not sure yet. I could ‘Magellan’ all of the continent and do Mexico. But I don’t know about that yet.
And the stops have rules. I can neither count an air transport layover, nor the drive through. I’d prefer to spend a few hours in each place, and not just see the scenic tour as I am leaving.
Although it truthfully may suck in those places I can’t think of a reason to go to right now. But I won’t say them, so as not to offend anyone.
But anyway, the first “out of state” adventure I’ve had since my decision is Wisconsin. When I scheduled my visit there many people could not understand. “Why Wisconsin? Why there? What’s there?” But I went to visit my friend who went to school there (she moved back to NY shortly after I left because graduation already took place, so why stay there any longer?)
So I booked a flight to Milwaukee for a Thursday night after work. It would be my first time flying in 3 years, and my first time flying domestically in 9 years. Wow! It’s a big deal because I was afraid flying. But for my friend Mel’s birthday, I planed my fear and settled on flying, as compared to a 39-hour car ride. Midwest would be my airline, and I was ready to go.
On the evening of, I took a grownup cab all by myself, and paid with a grownup 20 and a coupon. Walked out of the car like I knew where I was going. And paused with a second of panic because I had no idea where I was going. Deep breathe and looked up and there was the Midwest counter. Walked right up and checked-in, like it couldn’t have been any easier.
LaGuardia airport has an enormous food court set against huge floor to ceiling windows giving a great view to the planes taxiing. I strolled around for a while, pretending that I might buy something. I bought Melinda chocolate covered gummy bears, which sounds disgusting, but apparently she really likes it. (Truthfully, I was hesitant to buy more than a few because I really didn’t believe it would taste tasty). I sat by the windows and made some phone calls. “Networked” between my friends on my cell. And then I went through the security with my shoes on my feet and sat on the “other side.” And read my book.
My flight was called and I was nervous! So I boarded and walked to my seat- my cushy leather seat. I got comfortable and looked at the sunset outside. And I was ready. I felt very happy to be flying. And the plane ride was smooth and easy. I can’t remember flying and being able to see land below. The borders of and waterways.
And in the air, the airline serves you 2 homemade warm cookies. They didn’t taste so great, but the novelty was wonderful.
And before I got too comfortable, we started to land. And my ears began to pop. It hurt so badly. And we landed like I would be picked up and laid onto my bed when I was a child.
And I walked out of the plane, once again acted like I knew where I was going, and there was Melinda waiting for me with a sign, and I had arrived!
Earl’s a funny guy. He likes TV a lot. It’s his hobby. He’s great for conversation because when you hang out with him you can talk about most popular TV show and he’ll know what you’re going on about. The funny part about him is he doesn’t only love sitcoms and reality series, he also likes BBQ University and will watch gardening on Sunday mornings even though he would never do either of those things. On Wednesday night he’ll watch black and white episodes of classic boxing. Every night he will take a nap on his chair with the remote cuddled in his hand. And if you want to speak to him, he calls you back during commercials.
Earl is a funny guy.
I was at his house last week. Sitting in the dining room, Earl was eating breakfast. And we hear the TV turn off in adjacent room. He turns around and is like “Not again!” He gets up, clomps over in his flip-flops to the remote across the room and turns the TV back on. And goes into the kitchen to get the coffee.
From my seat I hear the TV again. It turned off. But then it turned on again. Earl brings me coffee and sits down. Conversation continued. The TV turns off again. Before I could say anything he jumps up and runs across the room again to the remote. On his way back to the table, he stops at the TV gives it a little tap and grunts “Stop.”
This happens three more times. “Why don’t you just leave the TV off for now? Or just let it go, since it turns back on itself also.”
“Nah, it just does this for a while.” He’s a little out of breath.
“Or why don’t you bring the remote over to the table, so you don’t have to keep rushing over there.”
“No, its ok, it’ll stop.”
So the remains of breakfast finished in a relay race. I don’t understand the TV’s possession. But after cleaning up, we sat down in front of our main character and watched Regis and Kelly with no more mishap.
“The television just does that sometimes.”
I need a hobby. I need to do something other than search the Internet and watch TV. I am going to end up like the rest of my lazy neighbors and I don’t want that. I need to take up knitting or dog grooming. Or according to certain people: feet rubbing.
I could make my boyfriend my hobby. On the off hours of not sleeping and eating I could be spending my time thinking of and doing things for him. I could make frilly trinkets to put into pretty boxes decorated with love phrases. Heck I could even learn something about creating sound technology and make these boxes spout love letters. That would be appreciated. I would probably get a phone call immediately after receipt “Rachel, you need to get a hobby.” Maybe even in email form.
I could make personally grooming my hobby and brush my hair 100 times each night. But that I don’t think is good for my hair. And it sounds boring. Or I could make scrapbooks. I could! But no. Boring.
Can exercise be a hobby for someone like me? Someone who exercises as a requirement? Can going to the gym for 1 hr as much as possible (2 times a week) count as hobby? Habitual yes, but hobby no. I could take it home and do pushups while watching real world road rules challenge.
I could even paint my nails for fun. Paint my toenails, fingernails. Look at it for 10. Remover comes out and I start all over again! Or when I am done with mine I could go into the living room and start filing my dads nails. I could open up a nail salon. Call it “Sir Nails A Lot” “Nailson Mandela” “Nail me now” or “TsuNailme.” I could even make up store names for fun!
Ok, what would really be fun is a nap. I think I am going to start napping for fun. I will try that out now. Let you know how it goes.
