Uber Crazy but Uber Refreshing

When I have visited amusement and water parks in Germany I have noticed there isn’t quite the supervision that I am accustomed to…not that it bothered me.  Actually, it was quite refreshing to not have some sixteen year old kid telling me the rules or what not to do.

My kids and I love water slides and pools so on our last trip to Deutschland, my family and I went to a water park.

Once at the top of one of the slides I looked around for some attendant to tell me when to go—to get the proper spacing between people.  But, there was no one there to tell me…again…kind of refreshing. 

I went down the slide when I thought it was appropriate.  I came to a part of the slide where there was not much water flowing.  I came to a stop.   As I tried to scoot along to get going again, I got nailed in the back my some teenage boy.  Evidently he had damned up the water somewhere behind me and then he and all the water came crashing into me.  That got me going again. 

I went around a corner and suddenly entered some sort of teenage water slide party—a few teenagers were standing around talking, several were splashing water over the sides in an attempt to splash people on the ground below and a few were just hanging out, talking.  I made my way past them and eventually to the bottom. 

I guess this is what can happen with little to no supervision. 

I then had to change venues and go out into the mineral pool and rest from being foot punched in the kidneys.  The cool thing I remember about the mineral pool as that when you put your head underwater, you could hear classical music.  Somehow they figured out how to pump music into the water without it sounding distorted.  It was way relaxing.

I almost fell asleep while floating there.  It’s a good thing I didn’t fall asleep and need some help…again, not much supervision.

Trampled by Crazed Fans

When I was about ten years old one of my favorite shows was The Dukes of Hazzard.  One Saturday we heard that one of the stars of the show, Boss Hogg, was coming to my home town of Memphis.  He would be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans. 

My Uncle and Aunt took my two cousins and me to see him.  After waiting in line for a while, someone told all of us waiting fans that we were lined up at the wrong place.  A door opened up approximately fifty yards away and this was to be the room where we would get to meet Boss Hogg.

The excited crowd took off running towards the door, to form a new line.  My poor uncle got tangled up in the crowd somehow and went down.  Once my cousins and I reached the place the new line was forming we saw him struggling to get up off the floor. 

It turns out my uncle got trampled by the crazed fans and got his ankle broken.  He had to be in a cast for several months.

I finally got to meet short, round, little Boss Hogg and got my picture with him.  I just don’t know where the picture is today. 

To this day I have to laugh when I think Uncle George got trampled by a bunch of people running to meet the Dukes of Hazzard star.   

Oreo

I just barely made it to my South Beach hotel from the Miami Airport.  I went out onto the street to roam around and see what was around me.

I heard loud laughter and what sounded like some people having a fun time.  I looked across the street and saw a group of women coming out of their hotel, definitely ready to party.  They were hollering and gaining quite of bit of attention.

They crossed the street toward me in an effort to hail a cab.  They were obviously heading out to clubs for the night...with their low cut tops, mini skirts and their hair all done.

As our paths were about to intersect, I thought of the brilliant idea to get a picture with them.  They were happy to oblige.

As you can tell from the pic, it didn't turn out very well.  But, hopefully you can see their enthusiasm even through the blurriness.

In case you can't tell, I'm the cream filling in the middle of this Oreo.

The Fun of John Wayne Airport

This is a re-post.  I originally wrote this post on Cindy M. Hogan's blog.


A fav California destination of mine is definitely the O.C.

For starters, I love flying into the John Wayne/Orange County Airport.  Because of the noise abatement ordinance in place at the airport, I find both the landing and the take off fun.  On the landing, they slam on the brakes pretty hard because of the shorter runway.  On take off, the pilot revs up the engines while holding the brakes, then abruptly releases the brakes and everyone lurches forward in their seats then gets pushed back into them.  Once getting airborne, the pilot throttles back on the engines—again because of the noise abatement—and then a few seconds later, the engines rev back up.

It’s an added bonus when I get to sit near a passenger or two that have never flown in or out of there.  I love seeing the looks on their faces and try to imagine what they are thinking.  More than once, I’ve heard passengers asking the person next to them if they think something is wrong. 

If you have the chance to fly in or out of the John Wayne/Orange County Airport, enjoy the shorter security lines, a fake ice cream cone from the McDonalds in the terminal, the sunshine and most of all the flight.

P.S. If you’re departing flight gets delayed for whatever reason, I hope it’s not past 10 pm because they won’t let you depart if it is….again, the noise abatement!

Travel Pillow

I boarded my flight back to Salt Lake City from San Francisco late one evening.  My flight was on a regional jet, so you either get to sit by a window or on the isle.  I was lucky enough to land an isle seat, my fav.  With an isle seat I’m free to get up and use the lav without inconveniencing anyone. 

The man who got the window seat beside me was not a small person.  I joked with him and gave him a preemptive apology for my possible snoring that might be happening soon.  He joked and said he didn’t mind, but for me to be aware that he drools. 

I think I was asleep before the wheels were off the ground.  About an hour into the flight I woke up to find my head leaning to the left, and resting on his right shoulder.  His head was leaning to the right and was resting on top of my head.  We had both fallen asleep and undoubtedly gotten comfortable. 

I moved a little and was able to get out of the position without waking him up.  It’s unknown if he ever knew how comfortable we had become.

Am I Lacking Gym Etiquette?

As I walked into the gym I was talking on my phone.  It was a busy time of day so I knew finding an empty cardio machine might be a challenge.  As I was finishing my phone conversation I spotted an empty machine.

I began getting rid of the contents of my pockets when I heard the guy next to me talking.  I looked and realized he was talking to me.  He said “if you’re going to talk on your phone, then go outside.  Let us exercise in here” with a condescending smile.  I was in awe that he just said that to me.  I was there for maybe ten seconds.  I was literally ending my conversation so I could start my workout.

I said goodbye while still staring at the guy with a puzzled look on my face.  I couldn’t believe it.  The guy had ear buds in his ears; he shouldn’t be able to hear me, at least very well.  I don’t consider myself a loud phone talker. 

I’m typically the one that disagrees with people using their phones loudly in waiting rooms, planes, elevators or confined areas…but, I literally just walked up to that machine and was there maybe ten seconds before this guy so rudely interrupted me.

Was I really that rude?  Or, was the guy the rude one?  These questions puzzled me over the next thirty minutes.  I wanted my phone to ring so I could have another conversation and annoy the guy.  I began to wonder if that was a thing listed on the Do Not’s of my gym rules.

My new friend began talking to the lady on the other side of him.  I wanted so badly to tell him to take his conversation outside, so “we” could exercise in here.  I refrained.

A few minutes later he got off of his machine and I saw him getting ready to leave.  At last I caught him on a violation; he didn’t wipe down his machine after using it.  The lady on the machine next to him then wiped hers and his down.  Dang! They were a couple and she was nice enough to wipe his down too. 

What do you think?  Am I the inconsiderate one?