Tales from the Dark Side: Day 0

I awoke before 8 am, got ready to go work out, then did my dishes. Eventually, I ordered my taco, then set out to go to my building downtown for one last workout. After that, I went up to my floor to check my timesheet and send my farewell-until-May message to a few more people.

Then I set out for the Walgreens for an errand, but first, I stopped at a bank for another errand. I nearly changed my route to go to my apartment first and meet the pet sitter, but she would get the key in the afternoon. So I went back to my route to Walgreens. There, I checked out their electronics to see of they had travel converters, but they only had adapters, so I only left with what I went there to get. I opted to walk to the train station instead of home because I was running out of time and I was nearing 9,000 steps already. When I got off the train, I walked first to the H&R Block to pick up some paperwork and after finally getting it, I went to my apartment front desk area to get some mail and check on packages that I knew had to be there, but the apartment staff were busy, so I went to my apartment to continue to clean, pack, and get ready. I finished up dishes, got the key ready to drop off for the pet sitter, assembled some garbage, and went down to the front desk, dropping the garbage down the chute on the way. There were two packages, a small box from Amazon, and an envelope from Sharing Machine. Up in my apartment, I opened the box, and to my delight, I learned what my friend Crazy Generous meant by "Alex Smith cushion".

This is where my day got a little frustrating, because my new backup battery/travel charger/what have you did not charge my phone with either of my cords. It also did not charge my Fitbit, as I learned while on the phone with tech support. The most likely verdict was that the USB ports - both of them - were bad. I would have to return or exchange it. At that point, I needed a break, so I sat for an hour and made my post from my trip with my mom to NASA Johnson Center since those photos were then available through Google Photos. When I finished, I shared the link with my Rocket Scientist friend, T, but opted to not share it with my greater Facebook world. I had begun laundry earlier, starting with my sheets. I put the clean sheets on my bed and felt momentarily sad that I could not enjoy them at this time. I continued to do the needful while more laundry finished, and when all the parts of my travel outfit were clean, I was ready to go to Best Buy for a travel converter and another backup battery.

As seen while leaving the highway: "OHGAWD"

Traffic was fine until I got closer to 610, then I waited forever at the Newcastle exit to get onto Richmond.After doing a U on Richmond, I turned into the Best Buy parking lot, wondering if a place that sold shampoo was in the same area - there wasn't one - because I didn't have any to take with me. I went into the Best Buy, and after some initial confusion, found someone to help me find what I needed. I selected a backup battery that came fully charged and we were able to open the case and test it first. It began charging my phone, so I bought it and a travel converter. The time I spent in Best Buy was shorter than the time it took to get there, and on the way back, I opted to take Richmond, which was not a good idea, so I decided to get on the highway at Greenbriar, but as I entered, I saw "stall on right at Fannin" on a sign, then backed up traffic on the highway. Le sigh. I still got all the way to the left to take the exits to downtown, got off on Travis, and made my way back to the apartment building. I grabbed the container of kitty litter that had been in the back, my purchases, and my purse and went inside to finish up my packing.

Between 4:30 and 5, maybe later, I was ready to go to Natachee's. I had also been arranging with my friend Smiley, who would like be working at Natachee's on Tuesday night, when my mom would need to pick up the key, to get the key from the pet sitter and give it to my mom. He was also going to get first pick of the magnets I got from Sharing Machine after I gave Big Butt* his magnet. So I had Big Butt's magnet wrapped up and the rest of them in my hands in case he was still on the block. I did see Rocket Scientist at Double Trouble and told him about my upcoming trip, then went to Natachee's where my friends Jarhead and Hawkeye were working. They were appalled at my exposed hair. I wanted mac & cheese, but decided that I should get some chicken nibblers for protein too, but it was getting late. I showed off the magnets, declaring that Smiley got first pick. But Smiley was in the Montrose, so I sent him a photo.

*So named because he is a big butt, not due to a large posterior.

Jarhead really liked my favorite, the blue water allergy magnet, and Hawkeye liked another one. Smiley eventually picked the green one in the bottom middle, so I wrapped it in a napkin and used the hair ties that are held in the "ladies emergency kit", behind the bar, to decorate. Then, I wasn't sure if I wanted to give away the water allergy magnet, but that didn't matter as much because my food arrived. When it had no spoon, Hawkeye stuck a straw in it, then posed to be in the photo. I ate, and asked for my check while I ate, Then decided to give Jarhead the water allergy magnet after all. On my way back, I said goodbye to Rocket Scientist T and allowed him to pick a magnet too. Then I rushed home and did the last few things while calling the cab company. I finally cleaned Bruno's litter box, turned the TV to cable but left the computer audio on to ease Bruno's fears of abandonment. I packed up the final things and the cab was at the front door, so I left my apartment for two weeks. The cabbie was very talkative and the traffic was crazy on account of a Dynamo (Houston Soccer) and Astros (Houston Baseball) game in the route we chose. Eventually, we were on the highway, then at Bush Intercontinental Airport. The person from the World Affairs Council of Houston that was organizing us all (also my roommate) just texted that she was going to security as I walked in the door, so I called her, met up, and got my luggage tags.

Then, I checked in and the Turkish Airlines employee asked if we were going to Isfahan, and she was very happy that I was because that was "her city", as in her favorite city. Then I checked my bag, got my boarding pass, and went to the security line. After following an airline crew and another guy into the crew line, I got in the right line and went through security. Once again, they had to further inspect my Chromebook, but soon enough, I was ready to recombobulate. I walked to my gate, but stopped first and got water and a neck pillow. The clerk and I talked a little, then my roommate showed up and got some drinks and food items as well. We found our gate and some seats and chatted for a while before it was time to board. It was very confusing because I was in group B, but the lines were not very clear. Then they boarded groups A, B, and C together, and it was like a free for all. First, we went through one area and down some stairs, then we were in a hallway.

Catch ya later, America!

Then the hallway became or actually was the tunnel to the plane. My seat, 37B, turned out to be in a row in front of a wall, so my seat didn't recline. Fortunately, it wasn't a full flight, so the guy in the aisle got up and moved to a different row, leaving me and the woman in the window seat. While we were still preparing for take off, she asked a flight attendant for water, but never used the call button. I checked out the entertainment selection and created an audio playlist, starting with Beck's Mutations, then some Queen, Amy Winehouse, Morrissey (of course), Johnny Cash, and some other artists. Then I read through the Turkish Airlines write-ups for the cities they go to that I know (Chicago, Houston, NYC, LA) and the ones I would be visiting (Shiraz, Isfahan, Tehran) before checking out the "My Flight" map.

I was shocked to remember that we were still flying over the US! We were right over Arkansas, and it doesn't get much more 'Merican than that. Really, I felt like I left the country almost as soon as I got in line to check into my flight. There were very few Americans around me, I'd never been to IAH before, and a lot of people were in headscarves. That and the chaotic boarding situation just had me thinking that I'd already left. But nope, right down there was Little Rock and the non-Egyptian Memphis. I wasn't gone yet.

At this point, the flight attendants were doing the part of their job that makes people think that they are in-flight waitstaff and the woman next to me mentioned that they still hadn't brought her water. I suggested using the call button again, but she didn't. Finally, the food arrived, and the choice was between beef and potatoes and a trio of vegetarian pastas, so I chose the latter. After dinner, I moved over to the aisle seat and curled up to try to get some sleep. The lady in the window seat asked me to get out so she could us the restroom, and I suppose that it was good for me to get up too, but I was reminded of another reason why I prefer the window seat: I would so much rather be the annoyer in that situation than the annoyed. I did venture back and ended up using the facilities. Then I went back to my seat and listened to more Johnny Cash as I fell asleep.

Everyday Adventures: Selfie Walk

On a Sunday, I was hanging out at my local eatery and planning a walk to get my 10,000 steps in for the day. I told my server that I was going to go for a walk and needed my check. He asked if I was going to take my check for a walk, then suggested taking selfies with the check. I went for it, and took the first selfie before I left.

Having recently walked down Alabama and Elgin/Westheimer, I decided to simply go south on Main, where the first sight, a dead bird, greeted me before I had gone a single block.

I continued south and got another selfie in front of the sign for the South Main Baptist Church.

I went further, past some not-so-pleasant parts of Houston, including a doorway with what may or may not have been human waste. As I approached a couple people sitting out on stoop, the woman called out to me, "hey mama," she said, and asked where I got my bag because she liked it. I paused and told her that I got it in Berkeley, CA, and that the fabrics were African, then thanked her for the compliment and walked on. Then, I saw a building covered in little grey blobs that looked like they had googly eyes on them. I stopped here for more selfies.

This is my favorite of this batch.

Here is a wider shot of the building.

Soon, I found myself in a much nicer part of town because I was entering the Museum District, which also included several large, well maintained churches.

This is outside the First Presbyterian Church of Houston.

The oak trees in this area are quite spectacular. I continued to the Museum of Fine Arts, and decided that it was time for another set of selfies.

A couple blocks further, I came to the roundabout that connected Main and Montrose with a series of fountains in the middle. There was also a photoshoot going on with a young girl in a cute white dress. I took some selfies here, and this is where I should note that it was very, very windy.

In the first shot, I was facing one direction, roughly northwest. In the next, I turned around. I should also note that I look surly in these photos because of "resting bitch face". I opted not to smile for many of the selfies because I've observed that I end up looking too weird - sometimes cross-eyed - a lot of times when I smile for selfies. Also, it was hella windy.

From this point, I almost continued down Main under the canopy of oak limbs, but instead, decided to walk up Montrose. I stopped right away to take photos of the tree in the Museum of Fine Arts sculpture garden that must have been struck by lightening or otherwise split, then painted gold inside. Sadly, the selfie didn't capture the tree very well.

For the record, it wasn't as windy over here, so the selfies were easier to take.

I ended up crossing the street a little later because part of the sidewalk was closed off. I was then on the side of the Museum of Contemporary Arts.

This face is saying, "okay, I got the sign in the shot, now I push the button here."

Now, I was ready to walk up Montrose, walk, walk walk, until I found a place called The Jung Center. I had some friends in school with the last name Jung, so I decided to take a selfie there. I walked by "Prosperity Bank", then I grabbed a shot in front of the Christian Scientist Church.

Eventually, I reached the Highway 59 overpass and got photos from three different locations while crossing.

I really like this one.

In the photo on the left, I turned my head before the camera got the photo
because a guy on a bike asked me to move. Then I clothes-lined him, lol, jk.

At last, I crossed the overpass and was heading toward Alabama. I stopped for a moment in front of the University of St. Thomas for more selfies.

Selfies are taken at a lower resolution than regular photos, so I took a non-selfie version of the background too.

I contemplated walking to Hawthorne and Dunlavy to see if a very friendly cat was hanging out on the sidewalk, but it would have been another hour's walk there and back, so I opted to go back down Alabama in order to get a selfie in front of Pak's, which a convenience store frequented by a couple friends. My first photo is of the street across from Pak's, because I had the camera pointing the wrong way.

I refer to my face in the second and third photos as my "American Gothic" face. After this, I walked down the street to the east of Pak's and around some other streets to see what was to be seen and to get in more steps. I eventually made it back to my local haunt just as my Fitbit buzzed for 10,000 steps.