So I got to see San Diego; specifically, a lot of the downtown area.

But first things first. My experience with commercial flying was a lot more enjoyable than I had anticipated. The nervousness and 'what-if's were overshadowed by the sheer speed and power, as well as the unique vantage points and perspectives. It is truly a simple joy to watch clouds pass by from above them. On the flight home, we circumnavigated a rather terrible storm. Lightening lit the sky at eye level in displays that were both amazing and a little nerve-wracking.

The lack of transportation once in San Diego was hardly a set-back; the convention program offered free shuttles to and from various locations including the convention center, markets, bayside restaurants, and surely many other places I had not visited. There was also a rather impressive network of public buses and trolleys to get from one point to another.

I also found the hostel to be pretty awesome. Lucky D's has my appreciation and future return business. The pricing was affordable, there were free dinner nights, and everyone was so friendly and hospitable. There was a lot of personality to the place that enabled me to enjoy the environment. Don't get me wrong; it was sometimes leg-crossingly frustrating to have to wait for one of the bathrooms to open up, or irritating when I could hear the booming club music from in my bed. Then again, part of the con (and sometimes general travel) experience is all about being too excited to sleep much, and when you do, being too tired to resist despite any noise. There was a large group of us staying there, and it was nice to see friends trickle up to the kitchen in the morning, then gather again at night with some drinks and daily anecdotes.

The San Diego Zoo was certainly a nice one. It was large, with plenty to see and adequately sized, accessorized habitats. I would have been much more impressed if the Henry Doorly Zoo hadn't already imprinted itself as the new standard in my mind.

The San Diego ComiCon was amazing in itself. There was an incredible crowd during most of the time, and I found myself often heading back to the hostel before others. I know my limits, and I was careful not to burn myself out. I saw most of the panels that I had wanted to see, and I was able to personally meet and talk to many comic book artists and storytellers that I admire. I got to interact with so many fans that I had only previously known as screen-names. I also managed to get my hands on a bit of merchandise, souvenirs, and some freebies.

I was able to eat out a few times, and only once did I have something that I had eaten the exact recipe before. Deep-fried tacos and red curry crispy rolls were among some of my culinary firsts.

It was overall an awesome experience. Two days after arriving home, though, I find my attention captured by a guest chef on Emeril who owns and operates a restaurant in Key West. I can't help but to think to myself, 'I've wanted to take a road trip to the Keys for a while now. It's not really that far, and it's got excellent seafood!'

But that's yet to come. For now, here are some pictures of my San Diego experience.

( Courtesy Cut )

Well, it's been a year since I've done any real traveling. It feels like less; it feels like more. I'm apprehensive, but excited.

This will be my first time traveling without transportation. What I mean to say is, I will be flying out to San Diego California for a week, then I'll be reliant on public transportation. I'm contemplating the idea of renting a motorcycle for a day, but hoestly, most of the things I want to see and do are in the Downtown area. Nonetheless, I would like to find a west coast road and spend some time just riding.

In this last year, my life has not been stagnant. I've experienced a drastic new relationship, and I even have a career opportunity set up for January.

But my social graces? I've not had much more practice. It makes me wonder about the week coming up. I will be meeting with people that I've known for years online; people whom I've exchanged care packages with, as well as screen names that I've only exchanged the most basic of pleasantries with. There are even going to be people that I downright don't like, and I'm not sure if I should keep my distance, expecting the same blatant disrespect and ignorance in person that they display online, or if I should just feign obliviousness to online behavior.

In any case, I hope that I don't revert back to my turtle-shell condition of hanging back and observing without any real participation. I find that when I join groups and circles locally, I do this. Yet if I'm traveling, I feel more in my element and come out much more quickly. A lot of times, I can be downright silly and adventurous.

On top of this, I will be cosplaying (costuming) at a very large convention. This means that I will be approached by strangers and asked to pose with/for them. Random people will open up conversations. I'll get to meet some of my favorite people in the media, and I really don't want to come off as a mute.

There most likely won't be any journal updates during the next week, since I'm not taking my laptop.

Yes! Finally, the Iowa post. Life's been busy lately.

Anywho, I saw kay_cricketed  in Iowa. Awesome. We went to the Henry Doorly Zoo, which was THE BEST ZOO!

 

And then we went downtown. We did wine-tasting and coffee-tasting and shop-browsing.


I had a great time! Though Iowa was pretty flooded on my way out. ^^;

I'm baaaaaack!

Okay, so technically I got back yesterday. But I had been riding since noon the day before, with the exception of a heavy-downpour-nap and a too-foggy-to-see nap. (btw, never nap on a rest stop bench or beside a closed gas station during wee hours. Nothing happened to me, but it's still dangerous. Don't try it at home)

So I got in yesterday around 11am, and walked down to visit my mother on her lunch break around 12. The sight of her squealing and running toward me was priceless. I went back to her place and napped, though it was so weird being back that I didn't fall asleep intil after 1pm. Then my mother got home around 4pm, and I got back up. I hadn't eaten since the night before, so I made some cheese quesadillas, took a hot soak, and went to bed. This was after showing my mother my postcards and the pics that are on my computer but not my LJ. So I went to sleep around 9pm. My internet wasn't online yesterday, so I had to call them this morning about it. Apparently there was a glitch that they straightened out. I'm thinking that nearly two months inactive caused it to miss some updates or something.

I felt so very happy and peaceful once I got to the watery parts of Florida. How on earth am I going to live landlocked?

Okay. So the ideal plan is to work a bit here, and move to Austin before all the college kids get back and take all the housing and jobs. But I still have to get work done on the van before it will make it that far. I'm getting two used tires today, to replace some pretty worn ones. I also need new brakes, and to fix the overheating problem. I also need to replace my bike's headlight, since it went out on me that foggy morning. x_x That's when I pulled over and napped until daybreak. And there's an oil leak; granted, a rather small one. But if there's a crack where I think there may be one...that's an expensive fix.

I would like to move with $2,000. I've known people who have done it, and I have a few contacts in Austin to crash with until I find a place. I have about 1,200 right now, and the stimulus check will make it 1,800. But with all of the vehicle repairs, any money that I make by mid-july (when I need to leave) will probably all go toward that. Not to mention the internet, car insurance, and bike insurance that come out every month. And groceries. And gas to and from work. Considering the price of brake replacement, and any radiator problems, I have a feeling that I'm going to fall short. But I'm going to try, and if I don't have enough by then, I'll just keep working and keep fixing until I do. Then I'm going to call my contacts and the apartment finder agencies, and see if there's still work and housing available for my budget. One woman said that her sister works for a whole foods corporation, and would be able to get me a job in the Austin store. Of course, this is just the word of a new friend, and that's one of the things that I would want to make sure of before heading out if the college kids are already back.

If there isn't any housing or jobs by the time that I have the money to move, then I guess I'm staying in Fl for another year. Unless winter break is a good time to move. I'll have to call the apartment finder agencies, and talk to some other people about work.

But the trip is over! I would still be out there if it weren't for time and money. Gosh, I could live like that all year.

...I want to live like that all year. Just travel around, meet new people, see new places. I'm a wanderer at heart. 

But time was against me, considering my desire to make it out to Austin. I had wanted to meet an online friend in Minnesota, as well as stop by Alabama and see Woody again. Instead, I just drove straight through.

I want to travel, dammit!

*Sigh* There's so much I need to do. I got the internet thing fixed, but I still need to get the tires and put in a few applications and call the Speedway administrations office to see if they're hiring temps for the july events, and I need to call the guy who does my mechanic work to see if he can look at a few things or recommend someone who can, and I need to pick up some spring water (Volusia county tap water is a no-no) and some food stuffs...and that's just today.

I also need to do a couple of loads of laundry and get to storage soon to sort through what I want to keep and what I want to sell. I also need to get the number for the Port Orange flea market and see about setting up a couple of tables one weekend. And I need to work. And I miss my cat, but I can't have her if I stay with my mother. And I won't be saving anything if I have to move within Florida. The woman that she's staying with reports that she's doing very well. She acts like a crazy cat and darts around as usual, and she's even taken to sitting on the edge of the tub when the mother gives the baby his bath.

Well, I should go get the tires taken care of. And get to work on the other things as well. I'm also taking my mother out to eat for 'Father's Day,' so I may not be online tonight. Sorry.

Also, I'll get around to posting more (and pics!) about Iowa later.

Iowa was actually rather fun. I blame kay_cricketedfor this, for it was certainly the company.

As one would be able to guess from her online persona, she's pretty awesome. And I discovered, EXTREMELY ticklish. Like, the most ticklish person I've ever met. BUT! I didn't cruelly exploit it. I just...made use of it on occasion.

The Henry Doorly Zoo ROCKS! It's my favorite zoo yet. They have a desert dome that's a desert walk-through, world of night, a bayou one, cat complex, jungle walk through, a butterfly dome where they flutter around and land right on you...they had tons of stuff. Google Henry Dorrly Zoo, and be amazed. It was in Omaha Nebraska (where we nearly got swept away in tornadoes. All around us, but not a hit- WHOOT).

Iowa got pretty flooded. Apparently, it's the worst flood since 93 or something. Corn fields were underwater. As I drove out, I spotted several houses and cars where the roofs were the only thing visible.

I'll post more about Iowa and the zoo another time, with pics! Right now I'm in Metropolis Illinois. "The birthplace of Superman."

Whoot, pictures! There are some of stalker_of_doom , and she's so secretive...so it's friend-locked. Don't want people stalking the stalker.

I'm leaving today, on my way to Iowa. Um...yay corn?stalker_of_doomwill be missed. *sniff sniff* But she said that she'll likely visit once I get situated in Austin. Then I shall torment her on my own terms. Mwahahaha!

stalker_of_doomIs made of win. *nods sagely*

I'm too lazy to resize the pics just now, but I'll have some later on.

I have bruises! And chunks missing from my flesh! She throws me around and beats me up! And her roommate joins in! And...and...they poke my belly button!

So. We've tickle-wrastled. And gone to the Kansas City Zoo (that's in Missouri o.O ). And wrastled. And went to see Clinton lake, that's supposed to be the largest man-made lake in the US. And we've wandered Downtown. And we've seen their wetlands (Yep. A Kansan showed an unimpressed Floridian wetlands). And we wrastled. And we watched all four DVDs of Fruits Basket (Ah, Yuki. Your creepy factor is but one aspect of your appeal!) We've played Mario Go-Kart. And wrastled. And accompanied some of her friends on a "Stimulus Party" where one individual spent over $300 of their stimulus check on adult toys and novelty items. (For all of you non-USAers out there, this year on top of our returned taxes, we're getting another check of $300 - $1200 to help 'stimulate the economy') I ate a candy cockring. Yum yum. I saw a good bit of hail, that I luckily wasn't riding in.

Mmm...wheat pizza is so good. Wheatstate Pizza has awesome pizza...mmm...wheat crust, artichoke, spinach, sundried tomato, and cheese topping...mmm....

Ahem. Right. I'm having a great time with these crazy people. stalker_of_doomIs super-cool, especially in the borrowed fedora.

To the ice-skating rink!

Okay. My stay in Ardmore Oklahoma was interesting. I stayed a few days with a nice family that I had met while camping in Arkansas.

They were devout Christians who didn't let their children watch Harry Potter, the females stood or sat and waited for the males open the doors, the kids all replied with "yes/no sir/ma'am"...yeah. A lot of family structure. And they just randomly said "I love you" to one another throughout the day. It was both refreshing and a little scary.

It was a nice visit. I got the "Jesus is Lord" speech, but in a very approachable manner. Of course my beliefs are wrong, but he didn't at all harass me or anything. He just wanted to witness, and either the Holy Ghost is working on me and I'll come around, or I won't and I'll go to hell. Same old same. But he was very polite. After all, in a Christian's eyes,  everyone else is going to hell, so they want to help them. Really great people, and I didn't feel pressured about the religion at all. I enjoyed visiting with them a lot, and I even learned how to play Battleship, Parcheesi, and Pente. I plan to keep in touch with them. I just really don't want them to be like the last 'adopted Christian family' that I had, where they refused to talk to me all of a sudden until I "become a Christian" myself. o.O

But I had a good time. We went to see Indiana Jones 4, The Crystal Skull. It was...amusing. I wouldn't want to live in Oklahoma. There's...too much of nothing. And what there is, is nestled in a backwater bible-belt sort of atmosphere. 

Boomer gave me a military canvas bag that looks and handles a heck of a lot better than just the Walmart ziplock big bag that I've been strapping to the bike.

I'm in Kansas now, and am enjoying some good rough-housing with stalker_of_doom(FYI: she kicks ass) and her roomie. More about Kansas later.

I'm in Ardmore Oklahoma.

...More later. 

I've been in Austin a couple of days now, checking out the aspects of the city that would possibly interest me. The parks and recreation, the University, the housing, the people, the community, the clubs and classes and groups.

I do really like it here. It's kinda of like...what's the word? It's not a big deal at all. I don't feel all warm and cozy as if I've found a long lost home. I feel...as if I've spent my life here. But it's unlike any city in Florida I've been to. I just walk around, marveling at how it's all so damn familiar. It feels like I'm not 'far away' at all, which I was kinda expecting from being so far in Florida. Hell, I felt "far away" in Dallas and Arkansas and Mississippi. Even in Alabama and to a lesser extent, Georgia.

It's...interesting.

It's definitely a laid-back sort of atmosphere. Even in Downtown, most of the shops are one-of-a-kind or a small Austin-based chain. Cool furniture for lounging, free wifi- a bunch of places are like this. Then of course you've got your diners and 'finer food' places. But it's very chill. And I've never seen so many bicycles and mopeds in a city! There are so many people walking, jogging, biking, and scooting around town. Even the motorcycles are the smaller models; I've yet to see one of those excessive Goldwings.

I'm being exposed to a lot of non-mainstream music, and some of it is pretty good. I have a feeling that the undecided music will grow on me.

People seem friendlier thus far. I mean, the people working in the coffee shops and grocery stores are really nice. Not like in Florida! Gosh; I've always had exceptional customer service skills in comparison to other people that I've worked with...but I don't think that I can keep up with these people! Maybe if the general population is more bearable, then it makes it easier. I feel kinda like the bitter Floridian or something, in comparison to a lot of people here. Especially since I'm not very social.  But that's okay- there's all types of people here.

It IS a city, though. So the parks always have people in them, and there's no real camping nearby where you can be out there a couple of days and not see anyone. That will wear on me, in that my home will be my solace.

...Which will be bad if I have a roommate. I won't get any 'completely and utterly alone' time. Which I NEED. But you know what? It's only $100 more dollars a month to have your own place, compared to having a roommate. The problem is, moving into a palce immediately. I'm hoping that I'll find someone that will let me crash at their place for a week or less, until I find a place suitable for living. Cuz you know, I really need to check around the neighborhood, see the place, and test the thickess of the walls before signing any sort of lease. That is, if I still want to move to Austin by the time I get back to Florida.

And th clock's ticking. I need to be back in Florida by July first to get my cat from the catsitter. Now this is where it gets difficult. Really difficult.

I'll only have a thousand or so to move on, once I get the van repaired, cancel my agreement with Clearwire (they'll charge me a lot of money even though they can't offer their services where I'm moving to), etc. A thousand bucks to get me to Austin, pay at least first and security, continue the car/bike insurance payments, and live off of until I get a job and get my first check.

...

I find myself faced with possibly the most common plight among civilization. I need more funds!

The ideal thing would be to move back in with my mother for a month or two, and get another thousand or so from working a coffee shop or something temporary. But I've been told that she won't let me back into her place if I have my cat. And she's my cat, you know? I can't get rid of her because I need to make some last minute money. I don't really have any friends that would let me crash with them for that long...

At least, none in Florida. I wonder, and this is just me typing as I'm thinking...I wonder if I have any friends outside of Florida, that would let me stay with them for a while on my way to Texas, in order to get some money. Because if I have to pay a stranger half rent and utilities, I'll only save two or three hundred a month. Which just isn't efficient enough.

Sigh.

It will work out. I've got good vibes, and I'll make it.

Oh, the host I'm staying with now is pretty awesome. Apparently, I sound very earnest. I've got a slight southern accent, and the way I speak supposedly portrays an honesty about myself. That's what he said, anyway. We've had conversations and such, and last night he said that he's talked with me about things that he's never felt comfortable talking to people about. He said that I was like, the most interesting person that he's ever really talked to.

And that just blew me away. This guy's been all over the US and Europe and some of South America. He's camped, couchsurfed, Freeloaded (where you work as a hand for room and board), and he found me interesting. A girl who's not social, without real people skills, often inarticulate and awkward, have only now left Florida...and I'm providing him with quality reflection and self-analysis. Cool.

Those who really know me, understand that personal topics (sex, relationships, spirituality, identifying social/childhood factors that have led to a bias or habit, etc)...these are just topics to me. I don't see them as taboo; I don't see any topic of discussion (with the exception of "I want to fuck you this way and that way") as being taboo. It's funny how my quiet nature would lead someone to assume that I have no communication skills...yet when I do truly communicate with people, it's something deeper than the weather. Something that most of us are lacking in our daily interactions. 

And he said, "I think that's why a lot of guys think that you're sending them signals. Because you're open about topics that society likes to label as taboo. When someone talks about sex, that's where their mind goes."

Which is true. My family during childhood was...pretty open about such things. It is what it is, and knowledge isn't going to hurt you. As a matter of a fact, the more you know, usually the better off you are. I can discuss sex (the act, how society has affected it, the conflict between social norms and instinct, etc) and not get horny. I don't start imagining having sex with the person that I'm talking with. I mean...if people discuss just the topic of bestiality, are they imagining having sex with their dogs, themselves? When people talk about the emotional outcry of suicidal teens, does it make them want to kill themselves?

Then again, I've always been good at detaching myself from things. A little too good at times, but I actually like that about myself. I'm slowly learning to get closer to things, to feel them rather than think them. I am making progress. And at the same time, I don't want to lose that part of myself completely. I'm striving for balance, and I will achieve it.

Hm. A lot of rambling. I've probably been at this coffee house for a while. It's a pretty awesome place, actually. But I need to call the Capmetro, Austin's public transport system, and see about getting across town to the repair shop to pick up my Honda. There were so many delays in Dallas (plus the holiday weekend) that I didn't get a chance to get a new rear tire like I had meant to. So they put it on last night, here in Austin. I was told by a knowledgeable source that the tire needed service, and that the chain will probably get me back home all right. And my funds are dwindling. Okay, so I've only been through half of my 'trip' savings, but I'm calculating my van repairs as coming out of those savings. But anyway, I feel the tightness of the budget at this point, and I'll see what the guy at the shop says now that he's worked on it. I'm making it clear that I'm leaving Austin tomorrow, and if he still insists that I replace the chain elsewhere, I probably will in Kansas or something. I'm hoping that it's doing fine, though.

But yeah. A cab to the shop would be $20, and the Capmetro website can't find my starting point, nor my destination. I'm hoping that the 1800 number can tell me what bus to take, transfer, etc.