Part one: FLYING BABY!

I have now discovered that I do indeed like to fly.  Now I had no particular fear that I would hate it, I only worried that I would be freaked out if I couldn't move my feet ie: will I be claustrophobic.  So, yeah, I enjoyed the whole experience.

At MSP! 

Nervous much?

Taking off

So we were booked on Spirit airlines- and while the reviews of this airline were somewhat mixed (one called it "Break your Spirit" airlines, which cracks me up even yet) but it was the cheapest price so that was that.  Now a few little things- both flights were delayed because poor old Spirit is apparently the uncool second cousin airline who gets bumped off the tarmac at times.  But they were delayed less than an hour, so that was all good.  Second, some of those people are hilarious!  The guy who did the announcing at the Minneapolis Airport was FUNNY,  MAN!! He had a cute little spiel that I enjoyed both times I heard it.  The people on the airplane gave their best shot at humor as well- one mentioned the six hour flight when the captain had just said it was an hour and 50 min.  Lol, and then she said for those of you who were paying attention, the flight is actually only 2 hours.  And then we did airplane yoga on the way back- I have good feelings about this airline in a nostalgic sort of way- my first time:  funny, what more could you ask for I guess.

Our pretty airplane in Denver

Crop Circles and not quite patterns

Speaking of airports, which I was  moment ago, I went through two of them.  And while the Denver airport was perfectly fine (and the gateway to an amazing 4 days of mountains) the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport is pretty darn awesome.  It was like a shopping mall inside the Minnesota airport, and it was bright and clean and very well organized.  Denver, while not hideous, is not particularly bright and was not nearly as appealing.  But whatever.  The cool thing about Denver is that we got sniffed by a drug dog and didn't have to have too much to do in the security line.  Anyway, other than sitting at the respective airports for a plenty long time, it was a fairly positive experience.

Fly through the clouds

Flying under a contrail

Rivers below

Those of you who know me well, know that this sort of thing rings my little ole bell.  I had SUCH a good time.  It was enjoyable getting to the airport, and walking through and seeing all this stuff.  I hadn't been in an airport since I was a young girl and we went to pick up my uncle John at O'Hare who knows when.  The 60's is my best guess.  I barely remember that.  Anywho, my enjoyment was enhanced by the fact that my travel partner, the Mad-English teacher loves doing stuff like this as much as I do.  We were like giddy children in the tram on the way to the actual terminals.  IN FACT, I have been accused of being like a little kid when I talk about this trip, an accusation I will not deny. I was so excited and nervous when I was sitting there waiting for the plane to taxi.  Yeah the whole thing from take off to watching the ground get farther away and chewing gum and having my ears pop..... was plain old awesome.  It was so nice to have a travel buddy who could tell me when things were normal and perfectly fine.  As you can imagine, I had my face plastered to the window almost the whole way, looking at the patchwork patterns down below, seeing the winding rivers, the little tiny towns dotting the landscape, the grid of roads and the circles made from the use of irrigators in farm country.  The visual experience was so rich and satisfying and hit all of the right notes for me.  I absolutely am craving to see other parts of the country for the air.  Ah yes.

More clouds

Almost to the Twin Cities at dusk

OH WOW and the freaking CLOUDS!!!!  The CLOUDS were spectacular.  You may know that I do like clouds and now I really HAVE seen them from all sides now.  On the way home we flew right THROUGH a cloud and on the way to Denver we flew under another jet's contrail.  That was AWESOME!!!  LOL, if you were with me now, you would see that I am grinning from ear to ear.  My eyes were probably as big as saucers- the clouds are probably the most memorable part of the whole thing.  

Who knew I could write a whole post about flying, eh??  I could seriously go on and on about this, but most of you have done this already, so y'all probably think I'm a nut case, but I don't care!  :)  It was one of my most memorable life experiences.  (Another will take place in a post to follow!) I kept thinking about how much this is stepping out of my actual comfort zone and was so satisfied to know that it was such a right thing to do.  It just makes doing things that scare you a little bit become something you actually begin to seek out.  So many things I could say about this, but I will defer for now.  So, here are a bunch of flying pictures- I really had to stop myself from shooting a hundred of them so I could actually watch and look and experience the view.  See the shapes and colors and mostly the fact that there was no real pattern- it was a somewhat organized random that I loved.  sigh.  It was just awesome.  

And one joy that I will never forget!

Ready to go!!  I'm so glad that I had such a helpful travel buddy too.

If you look close there is the tiny little shadow of the plane!

Adventures and firsts

I will be experiencing some firsts here in the next day or so!  I am going to actually fly for the first time and also see mountains!  Mountains not through the window of a bus, or just felt as we slid up and down the seats (or one time the aisle) in the middle of the night.

It will also be the first time I have been west of Missouri, unless you count the middle of freaking no where North Dakota, which I try to blot out of my childhood collection of memories.  But that is a different story all together.

I am headed to Denver on an airplane and my friend and I have exactly 3 missions.  To hike in the Denver area.  To drive in the mountains.  To eat as much ethnic food that we can possibly fit in.  And I have one more mission and that is to see my friend Lori, who I miss with my heart and soul and I can't wait to see and hug and talk with and laugh and smile at.  :)  We do  not want to over plan this trip, since it isn't a long one.  But we want to have a list of alternatives and ideas.

This trip all started when I hesitantly admitted to the Mad-English teacher that I had never flown, this was probably 2 - 3 years ago.  Before I booked my trip to Italy last fall.  He said to me then that I should tell him when and he would meet me at the airport and we could fly somewhere- even like Florida- where we could arrive, walk around the area a little and then get back on a plane and fly back.  Now at the time that sounded fun, but obviously that didn't happen. So this idea has cropped up here and there, Seattle was discussed along with a few other places.  Denver was settled on because of the whole mountain thing, but I am getting ahead of myself.

When I booked my trip to Italy next summer, I knew that I really really needed to be on an airplane before I flew for 12 hours in one shot.  It just seemed like a good idea for me, personally.  Originally the plan was to stay just overnight and then it was stretched out a bit, because for heavens sakes, if you are going- you might as well stay a few days.

I am a little hesitant about admitting that I have never flown before at the age of 50 something, as someone in my past found the need to ridicule me for such a thing. And I think I was my 30's - I don't even remember who it was, but it sort of stayed with me.  I realize now that really that is no reason to feel bad, the trips I have gone on were by bus.  It isn't that I have never gone anywhere, I just never had a chance to go on a plane!  Whatever!  Wouldn't it be nice if all people were as encouraging as the folks in my life are right now??  I have had so many people tell me how I will love it, how it is like a big bus, that I won't have claustrophobia, and even sent me pix out the window from an airplane ride in progress.  I have amazing friends and relatives.

So I have thought through this whole thing, and I have decided I am not really afraid to fly.  I am a little nervous/anxious about it, just because it will be brand new.  I have had enough people talk to me about what will happen that I know I will be fine.  And I have an awesome buddy who will be there to talk to- undoubtedly without stopping for the entire 2 hour trip.  :)

So, mountains- I have been to New York twice and to Florida twice and each time I have barely seen the eastern range through the bus window at night or in the early morning when everything was fuzzy.  Or, I felt the bus rolling up and down as we headed south....  I have always been bummed out about that. So it will be mountains with a vengeance for us!  YAY!  And if you have been following along, you know that the Mad-English teacher and I are all about the hiking (or kayaking or biking or snowshoeing) so we will be in a good place.

I have had to have a sister consultation about this whole packing for an airplane thing- she is such a peach!  So I am all ready for the adventure, this evening before departing. I am a bit nervous people!! I am not worried about any of it other than I am just plain old anticipating a new experience.

So as you can imagine- pictures will be forthcoming.  Stay tuned!  :)

There will be some joy involved!  Have a fantastic week.