Airports

As of right now I am in a public library in Vancouver, Washington and it is delightful. I went ahead and decided to make my very own spring break, seeing as we at BYU aren't normally afforded the privilege, and I'm visiting a very good pal here until Tuesday. I think I'm going to be blogging a lot more during this trip, as I have so much more time to think about things and moreover I love traveling and the chance to capture people in my journal.

I was kind of worried that we weren't going to make the flight, what with the on ramp to the highway we wanted to get to shut down and all, and then there was some rush hour traffic getting out of provo. But the worst thing that could've happened is that I would have missed my flight and then had 4 days off from work and class. John asked me "You mean you wouldn't go?" (if I was still in town and took off work) and I don't think I would. A sabbatical is a sabbatical after all, and I suppose I could have one in provo just as well as anywhere, I would just meander around the libraries there, and pretend to be out of town to anyone I knew. Slightly decietful, but for a good cause, to be sure.

Airports
I love airports. Most people don't, I do, and I don't know why. I think mostly I love the shops that are there, seeing the ridiculous things people try to sell me. I wonder what that would be like, life working in a retail store at an airport.

Airport experience no. 1) In one of the shops there was a tshirt that said 'freedom' in fancy-flowy typescript, followed by a fleur de lis. I was somewhat confused. Is that the real meaning of freedom? The French? I had no idea it was so important to them.
2) I was walking past a newsstand, you know, one of those stores that sell only books and newspapers and gum, and they had two normal (15"?) flat screen tvs on each side of their walls, just inside the store, and President Obama was giving a speech on whatever channel they were on, and the funny thing was, people were stopping to listen. Around 4 or five of us were there, listening to whomever he was addressing about Lincoln's legacy, or some such thing and what that meant for our country. Now I am an Obama supporter, so I'm not enthralled with what he said or anything, that's not the point. The point is that people were stopping to listen to him. Can you remember the last time anyone did that for President Bush? If he was on T.V? Maybe, when the war broke out. But that's all. I know there are those of you who make fun of Obama's theme of 'change' but it was nice to see him actually make a change--like having people actually want to listen to their political leaders.

3) I hate sensor-flushing toilets. I'm always worried I'll remain exceptionally still for a really long period of time unintentionally and then the nouveau convenience will flush with me still sitting on it.

4) The snack bag of peanuts I was given complimentary of southwest airlines had "Produced in a facility that processes peanuts and other nuts" on it. Well, really. Thank you, for telling me. Tee hee. (ps i love southwest airlines, they're the only ones I want to fly with ever)

5) There was a young (early 20's) couple sitting across the aisle from me, and I notice the girl had an engagement ring on. They were pretty affectionate on the plane, not gross or anything, but sitting right next to each other, she fell asleep on him during the flight, etc. When we landed I leaned over and asked if they were engaged (intending to congratulate them on that, and ask when the day was--you know, the usual small talk) and I asked, and the man said "no we're married" and I said "Oh! I was going to congratulate you, but I suppose it's a bit late for that now." and the woman said "oh you're fine." Tee hee. you had to be there. (or maybe you wouldn't have preferred it.)

I love andy's house. it's old and retro and small and I have a desk in the room where I'm staying where I promptly displayed all the books I brought with me (numbered at about 10) and got to reading. The shower makes noises when you don't have both the hot and cold water on, and his Mom had to show me how to turn the curtain so it doesn't leak out all onto the floor, and Andy and I started a chess game last night which we never finished. There are so many trees here, tons more than wisconsin, and the roads aren't big and huge and it's gray and rainy when I got up this mornign I was kind of still in doubt that it was 9am b/c it looked dark outside.

I got up to take a shower and it was only when I got in there that I realized "I don't need to shower today, I showered yesterday" (sorry that cat's out of the bag, I'm an every-other day showerer) but I thought "Well, Betsy, this is your sabbatical, and on a sabbatical, and on a sabbatical you do things you don't normally do, so you get to shower every day." and in truth I'm kind of looking forward to it. If only showering didn't feel like such an inconvenience when I'm not on vacation.

I love libraries, and I am taking many pictures. I love you! Talk to you tomorrow!