Christmas Travel

I'm at the airport in Denver right now participating in the Christmas travel conundrums. It has been snowing all day, from light to heavy. After spending an absolutely wonderful Christmas in Monument with Molly and Ben and Ben's family, Marc delivered me back to the airport about 4 this afternoon for what should have been a 5 PM flight. We were already aware that the time was delayed until 6:25, but left at 2:30 anyway as we were unsure of traffic and snow. The drive to the airport took twice as long as usual, and it probably took longer for Marc to get back home. He even told me to call if my flight was canceled and he would come back and get me. And he would!!! But there is not way I would ask him to make that drive again..and in the dark!!

I have had an enjoyable time here at the airport with the other delayed passengers. I have been visiting with a lady who is here to see her mother-in-law, who is 83, off to visit her daughter in Kansas City. I told them I was a long term care nurse and the elderly lady said she hoped she would never have to meet me again!!!

We are watching the snow ploughs on the runways. They seem to think we will actually leave at 6:45 and the plane is now arriving at the gate.....so I guess I will sign off for now.

Christmas in Colorado

It's a beautiful Christmas Day in Colorado. We awoke to gently falling snow....just like the song dreams of. My flight on Sunday was uneventful and after the weather mess in Northwest Missouri on Saturday, I was a little nervous. The weather here was sunny and warm Sunday and Monday and there is a nice shopping area about a mile from the house. I made a trip to Wal-Mary on Sunday afternoon and again on Monday for yarn. Marc, Susan, Ben and Adam went for a hike on Monday morning. Molly and I thought the walk to Wal-Mart was sufficient to meet our need for exercise, especially after they told us about the 75 foot incline back to down that might be ice covered. I don't like going DOWN without ice!! I really didn't want to try it WITH. Susan is working this morning. We will have out Christmas this evening. Tomorrow we are taking the train to the top of Pike's Peak and I head home on Thursday. So far, the weather man is reassuring about that leg of the journey.

Merry Christmas!!

Catching Up

I was complaining to Hillary because she hasn't posted new pictures of Mira and Grandma Betty taken yesterday and I haven't posted ANYTHING since December 3.

It's been an uneventful month travel wise, but an eventful month overall. The first week of December found me in Florida doing a Mock Survey. I had been to Orlando once, long ago, when Hillary's high school band went to the Citrus Bowl. There were way too many people at Disney in December and generally I decided I really wasn't fond of Florida. That impression remains, even though I was in Boca Raton and Delray Beach this time. It is very pretty, but way to many people cluttering up the highways. It is obviously a retirement area. A wheelchair with a 'For Sale' sign was sitting in front of the little diner where we went for breakfast one morning.

I was there with another consultant. We decided we needed to see the ocean since we were there, so one evening we left the facility around 5 so we would have daylight. We were just west of I-95, so very close to the ocean, but I couldn't believe how much trouble we had finding it. All the streets lead to houses, hotels, apartments, condo, etc. lining the coast and you can't see beyond. We finally found a street to cross over to the outer strip of land and by then it was pretty dusky. We peaked between foliage and were able to see the ocean, but never did find a beach. Probably need to try that again when we have more time and more daylight.

Travel was limited last week by the ice storm on Tuesday. I was without electricity for about 12 hours and no cable for 36 but had trouble getting sympathy from the rest of my family who were without for days on end. Ann and Bob finally got electricity back on Saturday. Todd and Missy weren't back in the modern world until Sunday afternoon. A little bad weather didn't stop Hillary and I. The streets were not really slick, just wet, on Tuesday as the temperature never dipped below 32. We went to the mall and finished Christmas shopping.

This week I am back on the road. I hope the weather holds, as I will be in a car much of the week. I drove from Des Moines to Cedar Rapids this morning and the scenery was beautiful. The trees were frosted with snow over the ice and looked like they had been sprayed with the snow we used to spray on the Christmas tree. But the sun has come out and melted it all away until the next time.

A Dare

I was at Chicago O'Hare waiting for my connection, quietly embroidering when the the gentleman two seats over (you know you never set NEXT to anyone you don't know while waiting at an airport) tapped my shoulder and said, "Look at that!" It took me a minute to find the target, but when I did it was a site to behold!!

A gentleman, a large gentleman probably at least 6 feet tall, was walking along wearing an interesting ensemble. He had a white turtle neck with a long plaid skit. Now, I know all about kilts, but this was NOT a kilt. Kilts are usually knee length and pleated. This was long and straight. Hit about mid calf. He also had on white tights with spike heels. I mean the little skinny heels that were at least three inches high, if not four. He was carrying a bag across the shoulder. His hair was cut in a crew cut and he had dangling ear rings that actually hung to his shoulder.

DO YOU HAVE THIS PICTURED?

The gentleman who so kindly alerted me, supposed he was surely fulfilling a bet. If he was, I hope he got lots of money.