Quick Takes (38): An Adventure or An Inconvenience?

- one -

“An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered;

an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.”

– “On Running After Ones Hat,” All Things Considered by GK Chesterton

- two -

I usually end my Quick Takes with a quote from Chesterton, but in order for this post to make sense, I needed to start with it.  This has been long one of my favorite quotes from the prolific writer.  But, after my work trip last week, I'm beginning to question that.

I had to go Las Vegas for a training class on new database technology.  I wasn't terribly excited about the location and the time it would take to get there.  But, thankfully, the class was held at a business about ten miles north of the strip so I wouldn't have to deal all the craziness that is Vegas. 

- three -

I booked my flight on a new-to-me airline because of the timing of their return flight.  I wanted a red-eye and they were the only one who had it.  On Sunday, I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare, checked my bag, and then wandered down to the gate.  Maybe five or ten minutes after we were supposed to start boarding, the gate attendant announced that the flight would be leaving late - by three hours.  And the reason?  The plane was still in Florida and hadn't left yet!

I was flying through Denver, so there was no way I was going to make my connecting flight.  There were about fifteen of us on the flight in the same situation.  They told us to line up at the desk and they would get us rebooked on other flights.  After twenty minutes of waiting only two people were taken care of.  So, I did what any self-respecting business traveler would do - I called our corporate travel agency. 

Since it was Sunday, I had to connect to the emergency support.  Mary Ellen pulled off a miracle and got me on the airline I usually fly, and it was only an hour behind my original schedule.

- four -

When I arrived in Vegas, guess where my luggage was?  Back at the original airport.  I spoke with someone at the airline's baggage office and she thought that it should arrive overnight and they would have a service deliver it in the morning.  Sometime after midnight I got a call informing me that the delayed flight had actually been cancelled and my bag would arrive on Tuesday. 

I could wear my travel clothes one day to class, but definitely not two.  A trip to the store was now on the agenda for after class on Monday.

- five -

If the airline issues were the only problems I had on this trip, I would have chalked it up to a rocky start.  My computer, which was needed for the class, gave me the "blue screen of death."  I forgot the power cord and my corporate card was denied when I tried to buy a new one.  A family member became ill and I couldn't find an earlier flight home.  An order at a restaurant was delivered with the wrong food. 

That red-eye flight home, the reason I chose this airline, was less than restful.  The flight attendants decided to catch up on their weekend plans, loudly. And getting a refund from them was a hassle.  They only wanted to refund about a third of the cost of the flight.

Last week felt more Jobian than Chestertonian!

- six -

The trip did, however, have some good points.  I was able to pick up an outfit at Macy's, on sale, at a great outdoor mall.  Oh to have an unlimited budget and more time.  There were some really great stores there, including one of my favorites, Lucky Brand.

On the way to the mall Monday night, the road I took to get to the highway dead-ended at a small mountain.  If you have ever driven out west, the mountains will seem reasonably close, but they aren't.  Usually, for me anyways, they end up being a couple hour drive.  So, during our lunch break on Tuesday I drove back to that mountain and snapped a few pictures.  There was a new neighborhood going in nearby, so I played looky-loo and toured one of the model homes.  The prices were in proportion to the mountains viewed from the homes, big.

- seven -

Class ended early on Wednesday, and I had time to kill before the aforementioned red-eye, so I decided to take a drive.  For all the times I have been to Las Vegas, I didn't realize just how close Red Rock Canyon was.  It was maybe a twenty to thirty minute drive.  I popped into Micky D's to get some beverages and took off.

What a glorious place! I had both the feeling of being insignificant in such a large place and in awe of God's majestic design where absolutely nothing is without meaning and purpose. 

Had I had a bit more time and a traveling companion, I would have driven the thirteen mile scenic loop.  It felt just a little too remote to do by myself.  It's definitely a place to which I would like to return.  I was able to get some beautiful photos while at the visitor's center.

An Adventure or An Inconvenience? How about both!

Don't forget to check out more Quick Takes at This Ain't The Lyceum.

Have a great weekend!

AMDG

Quick Takes (34) - Where the Heart Is

- 1 -

I knew it has been a while since I did one of these posts, but it was much longer than I remembered.  Either time is going by too quickly, or my memory isn't what it used to be.  I'm not sure which of those two options I would prefer.

- 2 -

Once again, I was on the road for work this week.  And, once again, I am so glad to be home.  It was the third trip in as many months.  I'm hoping it stops for a while.  A long while.

- 3 - 

I attended a software user conference at the Aria in Las Vegas.  That place is enormous.  I spoke with a couple of women who had fit bits and one had 18,000 steps and the other was over 20,000 - in one day!  The hotel/casino/conference center puts on an exceptionally well organized event.  I was impressed by the people that work there.

On Monday, when I was walking back to my room during the afternoon break, several of the room cleaning staff were in the hallway, laughing.  They looked like they enjoyed each others' company and jokes.  One woman in particular, I do wish I could remember her name, had the most joyful smile and beautiful attitude about life.  We chatted for a while both that day and before I left on Wednesday.  What a great representative of the hotel was she!

- 4 - 

There was an expo in which vendors talked about their products and tried to generate new customers.  And, they gave stuff away.  It felt like trick-or-treating for adults.  Mostly it was do-dads like pens, paper, candy, and small flashlights.  But, there were a few really fun things.  Mimosas at 10:30am?  Yes, please!  A bag silk screened to order?  Thank you very much!  And a very cute monkey?  I'll definitely take one!

- 5 - 

Tuesday night's entertainment was a private concert by Train.  I can't say that I was familiar with their music prior to this event, but they put on one heck of a show.  I think I will soon be downloading some of their music.

- 6 - 

One of the nice things about my job is that I can work from home on occasion.  And after getting home late Wednesday night, yesterday was one of those days.  Mid-morning Himself brought me a nice treat. I should work from home more often!

- 7 -

“There are two ways of getting home; and one of them is to stay there.” 

- The Everlasting Man by GK Chesterton

Don't forget to check out more Quick Takes at This Ain't The Lyceum.

Have a great weekend!

AMDG

This and That

You know what they say the road to hell is paved with.  Well, when it comes to this blog, I picture that path being very long and quite nice looking!  I’ve got all sorts of posts started – on paper, in the draft folder, and floating around in my head.

I’ve read a lot of posts lately from bloggers wanting to get back at it.  Some do, some don’t.  I’m trying to figure out what works.  There was a link up last month, Write 31 Days, but if I can't write once every two weeks, how could I possible write daily?

Anyone interested in a once-a-week, jump start back to blogging link up?  I was thinking along the line of about six weeks, with some really easy topics.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Work travel seems to come in clusters.  I've been to our home office in Washington twice in the last six weeks or so and I'm heading to Vegas for a conference this month.  For whatever reason, some of my family seems to think this traveling is interesting and exciting.  I don't know why.  I feel like I should be mooing everytime I go through airport security and getting on and off the planes.  I don't sleep well and I don't eat right.  Home is where I'd rather be.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

On the first of the two Washington trips I figured out what my "theme" song should be.  While waiting in the Chicago airport for the delayed last leg of my trip home, I bought a "protein" breakfast box  (eggs, cheese, nuts) from one of the vendors.  Of course, just as I dig in, the flight starts boarding.  I saved the almonds to eat on the plane.  As I bit into one, something felt funny.  I busted a tooth.  Unfortunately, since it was Labor Day weekend, I had to wait for Tuesday to get it fixed.  My song after that is now Crown Her With Many Crowns!

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

What a great World Series!  The only way it could have been better is if the Indians would have made it in again.  After a really great regular season, they had a most disappointing post season run.  I was even prepared with two new, politically incorrect Chief Wahoo, long sleeve t-shirts.  Oh well, maybe next year!  Now that there's no baseball to watch or listen to in the evenings, I don't know what I'm going to do.  

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

The quilt is so, so close to being done.  There is just a lot of hand sewing to do.  The quilt shop, once again, did a tremendous job with the quilting.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Until recently, we have been having an unusually warm Autumn.  That has been great for the gardens.  Our pepper plants are still producing and the carrots are growing well.  We even had tomatoes up to about two weeks ago.  And to tell you just how dry this year has been, when Himself was digging out the potatoes, the steel tines of the garden fork bent almost ninety degrees!  

Because of the dryness, we didn't get many pumpkins or watermelons this year.  But the pumpkins we did get made for a tasty pie.  Pumpkin soup is on the menu this weekend.  

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

I am officially hooked on Pinterest.  The soup recipe that I am going to try was found there.  And, it has been terrific for finding quilting ideas and techniques.  Hopefully, more on that later.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

The Hairy Beast thanks you for stopping by.

AMDG

Walking the Labyrinth

Back in August, I was on the west coast for work.  On my last evening there, I spent some time in a local quilt shop.  I still had several hours before I had to be at the airport for my red-eye flight home.   I had read about The Grotto in Portland, so I decided to visit.

 

The property was bought and developed as an answer to a promise Fr. Ambrose Mayer made as a young boy.   His mother was near death after giving birth to his sister.  He prayed for their survival and vowed to do a great work for the church.  He found a large plot of land that, with help, he purchased and built a tribute to Mary.  A large grotto was hewn out of the cliff left behind when the land was quarried by the Union Pacific Railroad for their rail beds.

 

An elevator ride to the top of the cliff leads to a second part of the property that was developed as parkland with areas for reflection and prayers.  There are areas dedicated to St. Joseph, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, various saints, and, of course, the Virgin Mary.

 

Tucked away in a secluded spot is a labyrinth.  Designed as a replica of the medieval labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France, this is supposed to offer an opportunity for meditation and contemplation as one walks to the center and back out again.

I have to admit I was a bit dubious about the whole thing.  It always seemed contrived and gimmicky, verging on new-agism, to me.  But, since I had time, and no one was around, I figured I would give it a try. 

 

I walked it slowly and deliberately, saying a few prayers, thanking God for productive trip and asking for a safe journey home.  I don't remember everything I thought about as I moved through it.  I had a few insights to some personal situations with which I have been struggling. 

For someone who is not good sitting in quiet prayer, I can see how the labyrinth could be helpful.  Moving through the path helped me quiet my mind.  I don't think I need a labyrinth to do that, though.  Our local parks provide an opportunity to walk, enjoy peaceful surroundings, and have prayer time with our Lord. 

 

 

AMDG

Material Girl

At the beginning of the month, I was in the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington area for work.  Since I was traveling by myself, my evenings were my own.  Yeah!  It's not that I don't like my coworkers, but going out to eat and sitting in a bar every night is just not my cup of tea.

 

I had received the monthly newsletter from my local quilt shop.  They are participating in the Row by Row Experience.  Quilt shops in the US, Canada, and Europe create patterns for a quilt rows and make them available for free in their shops.  The idea is that when you travel you should find the local shops and stop in for their patterns.  Once you've collected a few, you stitch them and put together in a quilt reminding you of your travels.

 

I had time to kill my last night before I hopped on the red-eye home, so I checked out one of the local stores.

 

Oh my!  I was in heaven! 

 

Fiddlesticks in Vancouver, Washington is my idea of the perfect quilt shop.  The owner, Cheran Bee, made an old workout facility into a cozy, artistic, delightful place for me to spends wads and wads of money.  She uses old, antique furniture to display both bolts of fabric for sale and quilts, showcasing what can be done with it all.

 

That wall of fabrics in the first photo below is all batiks, my favorite, and that wasn't all of it.  Did I mention I was in heaven?  'Cause I was. 

 

If you saw my basement, you know I don't need fabric.  But really, I just had to have those three purple and teal batiks.  Besides,  that's all the I could fit in my suitcase.  I'll save the rest for another trip!

 

 

 

 

 

'Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl

 

   

AMDG

Just When I Thought I’ve Seen It All

On Tuesday we came home after visiting family in Tennessee.  It was a wonderful trip and we were pleasantly surprised at how well the drive had gone.  We hadn’t run into too many doofuses (or is that doofi?).  That is until we were about an hour or so from home.

Let me set the stage.  It was around 6pm, give or take, and rush hour traffic in this rural area was not very heavy.  The speed limit was 70mph and most people were pushing past that a bit.

We were driving in the middle lane of the three that are there.  We noticed a silver Buick Lucerne hanging out in the left lane up ahead.  Car after car came up behind it, slowed down, waited, and then finally passed on the right.

As we approached the car we were guessing that about who the driver could be.  I figured it was an elderly driver.  Whoever it was didn’t get the concept that the left lane is the high speed, or passing, lane.

The person wasn’t old, not at all.  It was a young woman with apparently better things to do than pay attention to the road.

Her right hand, which held a cell phone, was resting on the top of the steering wheel.  She had her sun visor down and the cover of the vanity mirror on it flipped open.  And, she was leaning up to the mirror putting a contact in!  All at seventy plus miles per hour!

We couldn’t get away from her fast enough.

I’m still shaking my head.

AMDG

Home, Home on the Road

I have been traveling for work more than usual lately.  If the stay is an extended duration, I unpack my suitcase rather than living out of it – blouses, pants and dresses are hung in the closet and undergarments and socks are in a dresser drawer.  I “move in.”

 

But, no matter how long I stay, it’s just not home.  The bed isn’t mine.   Definitely not the pillows.  Neither are the bathroom and living areas.   Even though Himself is just a phone call away, he’s not with me.

 

I have found one place, no matter where I am at, that I feel right where I belong – church.

 

I know when I through those doors I will see a crucifix, front and center.  Also prominent will be the tabernacle.  Somewhere will be the Vatican flag.

 

The most important part, though, is when Mass begins.  Regardless of where I am at, what country, what time zone, the readings, the prayers, the order of the liturgy will be the same.  The catholic-ness, with a little “c”, is apparent.  It is universal.

 

We bless ourselves in the same manner.  We say the same prayers, the same words, though perhaps in a different language.

Our Father who art in heaven.

Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos. 

Vater unser im Himmel
* * *
And with your Spirit.

Y con tu espíritu.

Und mit deinem Geist
* * *
Glory to God in the highest.

Gloria a Dios en el cielo.

Ehre sei Gott in der höchsten  

 Our faith binds us.  We are home.

 

Do I hear an Amen?

 

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Denver, Colorado

 

Cathedral of St. Mary, Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

St. Francis of Assisi, Chester, England

AMDG

A Most Unsettled Feeling

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go

'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane

 

Well, no I’m not.  I was supposed to, though.

 

I’ve had a work trip planned for the last six weeks or so.  I rushed to get my passport renewed.  I worked hard to complete a couple of projects needed for the meetings and trainings that were to occur.  I did laundry, bought new shoes (because what trip cannot occur without those?) and made GORP.  I downloaded videos to watch on the flight.  I packed my suitcase. 

 

What was supposed to be a quiet evening at home Friday night, before taking the red-eye the next day to the UK, instead became a night glued to television and internet news reports and sending emails to my manager who was already there.  What have you heard?  Is it safe?

 

As the horror unfolded in Paris, Himself thought it best I didn’t go.  I still wanted to try to make it, mostly for selfish reasons.  I was to have a free afternoon on Sunday and had located the Catholic church closest to the hotel.  The Mass I was going to attend was in Polish, in England.  How universal!  Afterwards I was going to go wander an old cathedral and grounds and then peruse a used bookstore for Chesterton, Belloc, Lewis, and Fletcher. 

 

Saturday morning came and the breadth of the carnage in Paris was more apparent.  Along with that came threats elsewhere.  The travel advisories were being raised quickly to the highest levels in the UK.  Emails from the company’s CEO and President were coming quickly.   And it was decided that if you weren’t in the air, you weren’t going to be.

 

That quickly changed my plans and my coworkers' plans for the week.

 

I wandered the house trying to figure out what to do.  For the last few weeks, I knew what I was going to be doing yesterday and today and the rest of this week.  And now?  I felt very unsettled.

 

All will be back to normal in a week when I was supposed to be back home.  For me.

 

But what about all those people who were there?  The ones that won’t come home, ever.  Or the ones injured and maimed.  And those that, though not physically harmed, witnessed it, escaped it, lived it.  They woke today with their lives changed.  The husband or wife who was supposed to be next to them, isn’t.  A daughter or son, sister or brother, gone or hurt.  Their plans for tomorrow, next week, next month or the years that follow are suddenly changed.

 

I can handle being “unsettled” for a day or a  week.  I thank the Good Lord that, for right now, that’s all it is.

 

Agnus Dei,
quitollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei,
quitollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei,
quitollis peccata mundi: dona nobis pacem.

 

AMDG

The things nightmares are made of

Do you ever have a bad dream that reoccurs often?  It's not so bad as to be a nightmare but it's really, really uncomfortable.

I have one in which I'm trying to leave a downtown urban area and go home.  There are several routes I can take that will get me there in similar amounts of time but one requires getting onto a bridge which is accessed by a very steep on-ramp.  Since this girl does not like high, open structures I try to avoid it.  But, in the dream I accidentally get on that ramp.  Not good!

I used to think it was one of those dreams with deep meaning, something my subconscious was trying to tell me or work out.  Now, not so much.  On my trip for work it came true!  When I drove into Portland to see the roses I had to cross the Willamette River on the Fremont Bridge.

As I started up this ramp it began to feel strangely familiar.

The further I went the more unsettling it became.

I would have driven my rental car right down that middle line if it was possible.

If I could have driven with my eyes closed at this point I would have.

The sweet relief I felt when I reached the other side was tempered by the thought that I would have to repeat the experience to get back to the hotel!

I have decided that I can never live in Portland.


AMDG

Roses are red. . .

. . . and white and yellow and peach, pink, red and fuchsia.  And so much more.

I was on the west coast for work last week.  One evening I had some time to fill so I stopped in the International Rose Test Garden in Portland. 

Oh my goodness!  It is a fairyland of flowers!  There are tens of thousands of plants of every kind of rose imaginable. 

After being stuck in a stuffy conference room all day it was a great way to refresh and rejuvenate.  I wish I could have bottled up the scent, so sweet and pretty.

"Of all Flowers, me thinks a Rose is best" 

The Two Noble Kinsmen - William Shakespeare and John Fletcher

AMDG