Tag Archives: TRAVEL

CONS, Eduardo Soliz, FURRY, Tails and Tornadoes, TRAVEL

Tails and Tornadoes Day -2!

August 28, 2024 – Intro / Driving to Waco

iOS has a Journal app, so I thought I’d dictate my thoughts as I take a trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the Tails and Tornadoes furry convention. So here we go!

Packed up and ready to go!

It’s been a while since I’ve taken a trip up by 35 for fun or even for work for that matter. Just getting out of San Antonio was a bit of a bear; given that I left during rush hour, that was to be expected. I looked at all the construction on I-35 while I was heading out of town and thought: “You know this is all going to be nice someday…someday.”

Of course, I had planned on making a stop at Buc-ees in New Braunfels. The drive up there made me think of my old job at the hospital nearby.

I ended up stopping at the H-E-B in New Braunfels instead of the Buc-ees since I can get a snack for cheaper there. Sign of the times, I suppose. There is another one up the road I can stop at anyway.

As I approach Austin, the question arises of: Should I take the toll or drive through town? I usually take the toll but instead chose to go through town because it’s late in the evening. I figure the lousy traffic that usually populates Austin should be manageable by now. I can also save a few bucks. Hey, every little bit helps.

One nice byproduct of having an iPhone again is that I can compare between Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze. The consensus seems to be that despite the 85mph speed limit on the toll road, I won’t save much time.

There used to be a Dairy Queen outside of Austin right off the freeway on the northbound side. I didn’t see it, so I don’t know if I missed it, or if it closed down, yet another casualty of COVID just like the shuttered DQ on I-37 in between Corpus Christi and San Antonio. I did see a new DQ north of Austin, and thus, the balance of the universe is maintained.

I started encountering some rainstorms north of Austin, which makes me realize I forgot to bring a raincoat. I did remember to bring an umbrella, though. Oh well.

Stopping in Waco has become a new strategy for me whenever I take a long trip to Dallas or beyond; it helps that I had some hotel points to burn so it won’t cost me anything. I might even make a trip to the Dr. Pepper museum in town in the morning because why not? Registration at the convention will not be open on Thursday night (a head-scratcher to be sure) so there’s no big hurry to get there for the convention. Off to bed because I’ll be seeing plenty of road tomorrow!

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Android, Computers, CREATIVE, flying, FOOD, FURRY, fursuit, JUST SAYING, MUSIC, RANDOM REVIEW, Tablets, TECH, TRAVEL, WEATHER

A Few Things I Noticed While Flying

  1. BEFORE: “We’re flying you to Columbus, Ohio for training.” I’m not sure if that’s going to be better or worse than “PowerPoint hell.”
  2. I haven’t flown since 2010, so this is going to be interesting.
  3. It will also be interesting to compare this to my recent Amtrak trip to Dallas (see previous post).
  4. I recently moved, and I’m so glad I got my new driver’s license beforehand due to airport security. The picture on the new license is also of my currently less-fat self.
  5. Dear Uber driver: This is Texas. Turn on your gol-dang air conditioner.
  6. TRIP TO COLUMBUS: TSA was quick and pleasant; any delays were self-imposed.
  7. Then again, not having to do the TSA dance is a point in Amtrak’s favor
  8. Then again, an Amtrak to nearby Cincinnati would have taken nearly 2 days.
  9. The rollers on the X-Ray scanner quit rolling so we got held up just a little.
  10. I got to be zapped by the full-body scanner so I may be a little glowy while in Columbus.
  11. You’re darn skippy I’m going to savor every drop of this $3.25 airport Coca-Cola Zero
  12. Does wearing a Green Lantern ring qualify someone as a peace officer? Asking for a friend
  13. Coughing at the airport and thinking I should have had some Vitamin C with breakfast this morning
  14. Flying Southwest. Boarding group: C I guess I’m getting a window seat.
  15. Make that a center seat, which goes to show how long it’s been since I last flew.
  16. Amtrak seats are definitely better than airplane seats.
  17. Takeoffs make me a mite nervous, dunno that I’ll ever get used to it
  18. Seatmates aren’t very chatty but I have a slight headache so no biggie
  19. Actually, I talked a little with the gal who had the window seat…good luck with the marketing business!
  20. Other passengers: Read books and stories. Me: Write some 😉
  21. While I have a spare phone battery, I’m trying to keep from using it.
  22. I wonder how long it takes the plane to get out of Texas?
  23. Pretzels and cheese sandwich crackers. Mmm.
  24. Thing I forgot: Water bottle, which would have come in handy after the snack.
  25. I feel obligated to share my ‘peanut story’ with seatmates. Sorry.
  26. We’re all “random weirdos” here
  27. Complimentary drinks are a point in flying’s favor over Amtrak, but not so much due to the 4-ounce cups that are served.
  28. Tail’s dragging today; I stayed up way too late getting ready for the trip after driving up from Corpus Christi in the morning.
  29. I would like to sleep but I just can’t nod off on the plane. Being in the center seat doesn’t help.
  30. Thought about bringing my tablet along instead of my laptop but decided not to. After trying to type on the plane all squished up I definitely should have bought the tablet instead.
  31. Slight layover at Chicago Midway International. Part of me wishes I’d bought my fursuit along BECAUSE BEARS.
  32. Home Run Pizza hit the spot.
  33. I’m jonesing for some ice cream and I can’t find any at the airport. COME ON MAN
  34. At a Chicago airport yogurt shop:
    “Finally, some ice cream!”
    “It’s frozen yogurt, sir.”
    “Don’t ruin this for me, please.”
    “Yes, sir. It’s ice cream.”
  35. I just realized I should have worn something Texan but settled for furry instead. Oh well.
  36. I should have bought a bear souvenir while in Chicago. I HAVE FAILED MY PEOPLE.
  37. Head attendant on the second flight was kind of a wisenheimer, but he was a funny wisenheimer.
  38. Seatmates were glued to their phones on the second flight up.
  39. So was I. Yes, they had in flight WiFi, which we didn’t have on the flight to Chicago.
  40. Southwest Airlines Wi-Fi had 80s music, which made for a more pleasant flight!
  41. The presence of Wi-Fi is another point in air travel’s favor, though to get actual Internet you have to pay.  I dug the site where you can see your flight progress, though.
  42. Saw a seatmate playing Solitaire on his phone. Nice.
  43. Grey and rainy in Columbus. Just as well, given that I’m here for work!
  44. TRIP HOME: Got an email saying my flight home to San Antonio is delayed a half-hour. Crap.
  45. Having a company credit card means overpriced airport food is no biggie
  46. Thanks to my Furry Invasion t-shirt, I got to explain furry to a TSA agent in Columbus, Ohio.
  47. His coworker helped out, which made me wonder if she had something to share with the class. Hmm.
  48. Nearly showed up late to my flight home because I thought the plane was delayed (see #44)
  49. Was relieved to be in Group B for boarding which meant that I may be able to avoid another flight in the middle seat/steerage.
  50. Plane was only half-filled so I got an aisle seat for the flight home…in the same aisle with a toddler.
  51. Seatmate had a small dog in a carrier on the floor. Awww!
  52. Nothing says I’M A FURRY like watching the Walt Disney version of Robin Hood on your laptop for in-flight entertainment
  53. I was the only one who ordered ginger ale on the trip home so I got the whole can. Score!
  54. Arrived back home on time, which has me slightly irked at the time goof-up.
  55. Overall, flying wasn’t bad, though I would definitely take an Amtrak over it if I had the time: No TSA, roomier seats, lounge and dining cars, people appear more relaxed, and the ability to walk around the train make the train a much more pleasant experience.
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