Rocky Mountaineer Canada Trip 2019 - Day 7, Part 2: End Of The Line

Our 2 1/2 hour ride to the airport was uneventful, but others weren't so lucky based on the 10 or so cars we saw on the way that had spun out in the median.

The Banff National Park Administration Building

Crossing over the Bow River

New York/Pet Shop Boys - Day 1

On Monday we returned from a 4-day trip to New York where we saw the Pet Shop Boys again in concert at the theater at Madison Square Garden.  This was our third trip to New York (the last was in November of 2014 - read about it starting here), so we didn't do some of the typical sightseeing this time.

Let's jump right in, shall we?

We flew American this time and were served breakfast on the plane.  I had steel cut oatmeal with shaved coconut and dried fruit, brown sugar, and butter.  It came with vanilla yogurt, a side of fresh fruit, and milk.  Todd had biscuits and gravy.

L.A. Trip - Day 5: Disneyland, P.M., Part 2

Since the Haunted Mansion was closed and we were near a train station, we decided to ride the train all the way around the park - not something we would have done had the park been crowded.  It was great though - we got to relax and see the Grand Canyon diorama and Primeval World; two displays that don't exist at Walt Disney World.

The French Market across from the depot.  We'll come back here.

NY/DC Trip - Day 4, Part 2

Coming up out of the 34th Street/Herald Square station, we saw throngs of people lining 5th Avenue.  We walked over and the Veterans Day Parade was in full swing.  We stayed and watched for a few minutes (the whole parade lasted 4 hours), then continued around to the entrance of the building.

The Veterans Day parade

Colorado Trip - Day 3

So where was I?  Oh yeah...

Up at 5:00am; Todd still asleep.  I stayed in bed surfing on the iPad and playing with the camera until 7:00am when I got dressed and went across the street to Starbucks to get a venti decaf nonfat vanilla latte.

Sleeping Beauty

Disney Trip 2013 - Day 4

An early start today - going to the Magic Kingdom.  Jacob has an appointment to transform into a pirate and join the Pirate's League, and Katie is going to get princessified at the Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boutique.

We got there early enough to watch the opening ceremony at the front of the park

First World Problems

It's official - I am a bad man.

It's extremely cold, and wet this morning.  I woke up early, watched an episode of Portlandia on Netflix on my iPad in bed, then bundled up and drove to Starbucks for coffee.

There was a line of about 10 cars in front me in the drive-through (can't make myself type "thru"), so I waited patiently, singing along to songs that I streamed from my iPhone through the Veloster's speakers via bluetooth while the interior of the car warmed up.

After a short wait it became my turn to order.  I placed my order for a venti decaf non-fat no-whip but yes molasses drizzle gingerbread latte and moved up in line.  When I got to the window I had my Starbucks app queued up on my iPhone and ready for the cashier to scan my virtual personalized Starbucks gold card.

I held out my iPhone to be scanned and the cashier handed me my drink and told me the gentleman in the car in front of me had paid for my drink.  That was unexpected, so while the cashier looked at me expectantly I said "Oh." and then "Well, thank you." and then drove off.

My thoughts while driving away were first about motive, as in that was nice but what drives someone to do it.  They were mostly self-centered:  Was it someone I knew, did he look in the rearview mirror and think I was attractive and that was his way of flirting, did he see that I was enjoying my music and my chipper mood inspired him to make my day a little brighter, or was he a mindless sheep who saw a tv commercial or an inane blog re-post ("Re-post this if you heart puppies" or "Re-post this if war makes you sad" or "Let's get 100,000 likes to show our support for people born with webbed feet - Webbies are people too" or some other silly message about paying it forward?

Then the guilt set in about me just driving away and not paying for the next person in line.  Then I started to resent the kind, anonymous stranger for causing me to feel guilty and giving me too much to think about instead of just being able to enjoy my $5 coffee and my bluetooth-streaming iPhone music.

Then I wrote a sorta jokey, sort of serious blog post about possessions, elitism and selfishness, and re-reading it now I see it hits too close to home for comfort and makes me burn in shame all over again.  I am a bad man.

Thank you kind stranger, whoever you are and whatever your motivations were.  The coffee was delicious.

South Dakota Trip 2013 - Day 2

Hotel room feels damp.  Tossed and turned a little because of it.  Up at 5:45am, back to sleep then up at 6:15am.  Watched a couple of episodes of Arrested Development on Netflix on the iPad, then got going.

South Dakota Trip 2013 - Day 1

On the road at 9:20am, later than I thought, but no prob.  Panera Bread for breakfast.  Had a spinach-bacon quiche and water, and got a blueberry bagel to go.  I drove the first shift.

Labelmaker

Up at 4:18am this morning.  Couldn't go back to sleep.  Spent the morning adding labels to all my old posts.  It's almost 8:00am now and I've finally finished.  Think I'll reward myself for a job that didn't need doing with a little Starbucks.

Chicago Trip 2012 - Day 6

Up at 5am on the 6th day, and not feeling well.  In addition to that, it was a cold, overcast day.  I lay in bed and fiddled around on the iPad until 7am, when I went down to the lobby for a decaf coffee, then went back to the room.  This was our last day in Chicago.

Chicago Trip 2012 - Day 5, Part 2

After seeing Willis Tower we walked across the street and had lunch at Giordano's.  I had the chicken oregatano (excellent), a salad with bleu cheese and cheese garlic bread.

Greetings

Up late - I blame the frappuccino (and by extension, myself). Just lying in bed in the dark with my iPad. And now with you.

Hello, you.

Chicago Trip 2012 - Day 5, Part 1

Up at 7am this day.  Walked down to Starbucks on Chicago Avenue where I unpacked my adjectives and got a venti decaf non-fat vanilla latte and a pumpkin scone.  Back to the hotel where we spent the morning relaxing.