Flight and first night in DC

Saturday, August 21, 2010, 10.20 am.
My flight took off at 7.50 in the morning. I sat there waiting in anticipation for what was going to come. I love flying. I always have and probably always will. Some of my favorite parts are the take-off. When I feel the G's pushing me against my seat, it always gives me a faint smile, if not an ear-to-ear grin. I also love looking out the window at all the little things. It is pretty cool. I got through security, although not unscathed. I forgot about a little pocket knife I carry with me on my keys...big mistake, it now belongs to TSA. The lady told me that she had my stuff, but when she told me this, it sounded like she took just my bag, so she was waiting for me while I was waiting for my 'other stuff' I didn't have. Finally, she asked in a rude, almost acting like I was a terrorist or something, tone of voice, "What are you waiting for?" I said, "My other stuff, or do you have it all?" She said she had it all, searched my bag and found the knife that had caused so much trouble. The time after security to getting on the plane was uneventful, although I was missing my wife, whom I had just left at the curb and was not to see her again for a few months. As we were taking off, I remember thinking to myself, "This take-off could have been a lot better!" I suppose the pilot was trying to minimize the effect of G's on our body, but I was not impressed, although maybe someone else high on dramamine was.
From SLC to DEN, (that is Denver) the flight was nice, I flew on Frontier Airlines. We flew almost directly over my old apartment, which was cool. At about the same time, the flight attendent was telling me to scan a card, which allows access do Direct TV to be "broadcast live from the air." I thought it was pretty cool, even though I didn't show it. As we were in the flight, my mind kept wondering what the process was from getting my bag, which left from SLC to end up on the same plane I was transferring to. I think the process would be cool to know. I got a gingerale while on the flight, it seems to me that when I am on a plane, that is my drink of choice.
I had almost a 2-hour layover in Denver. This was the more exciting part of the journey (if there is one). Denver is a big airport and when I arrived I just walked around for a few minutes, partly looking for my new gate, and partly just because of all that it had to offer. There were shops, all of which carrying the same things, there was a lot of food, which I did partake of after a few minutes, and then there were people, lots of people. I remember a few of the people I saw, one was a wannabe, one was probably the real thing and one who probably thought she was a movie star and that she should not have to wait in such lines. The wannabe was wearing these shorts that went to his ankles and had Bugs Bunny on the side of them. He was also wearing a white and blue hat, the one with the brim as straight as an arrow, and under the hat, yes, I mean UNDER the hat, he had light blue and white bandana on. His face was sruffy and his shirt was too big. If you have ever seen the music video "Pretty fly for a white guy" by the Offspring, then you have a good picture of the man I am describing. The guy that was probably the real thing, looked to me like a sports player. He was black, with tattoos all over. His muscles fit the part, but mostly was convinced my was his walk. He had a walk that to me, said that he was a football or a basketball player. I pegged him as a basketball player, because, although his muscles were big, they were not huge. The movie star, she had an aura about her that told everyone she was too good to be there (but she still was!), she had these huge sunglasses on that covered half of her face and a hat to detract from her anyone spotting her. Under normal circumstances I would say that she may have been a movie star, except the part that threw me off was her clothing. She wore spandex pants and a shirt that was so tight, you couln't have fit a piece of paper inside.
For the most part during my layoever I waited while I listening to Dave Ramsey. Sometime in the middle of listening and subsequently the layover, I realized that I must be a huge Dave fan. I was wearing a shirt of his I received while volunteering for a show of his, I was wearing a orange bracelet, which has "FREEDOM" etched into it, while I was listening to his Financial Peace University on the IPOD. I must be crazy. Of course, it was only funny to me, so I chuckled and texted my wife my new found observation. For me, he is my Michael Jordan. If I could spend a day with any famous person, hands down, I would choose Dave. This take-off was much cooler than the first, as the power came surging through the engines, the ear-to-ear smile came back.
The flight to DC was luckily uneventful. Once again, I got to watch Direct TV, but mostly watched the Live Flight feature, which shows you where you are, the altitude and speed of the aircraft. Yes, I listened to and finished, after a week of listening, all of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University while on the plane.
When I got off the plane, I was ready to get moving, sitting for 3 hours in a crammed environment is no idea of fun to me. My bags came off relatively early, which I was really happy for, since that means that they are not lost. I took a taxi to my apartment that cost $10.35. That price seemed high, but after a long days journey, I was ready to pay it. I got into my apartment and immediately met my at least one of my roommates, Billy. Billy is from Utat Valley University. He too had graduated and is interning with Senator Orrin Hatch.
After unpacking, I needed a few items, so Billy and I set out on a journey. We were told that Target was only 3/4 of a mile down the road. That was not a problem. Two miles later we were just beginning to find the target and get shopping. By this time it was 8 in the evening and we were both tired and hungry. I got a blanket and a towel and a pillow, along with some food to keep me going for a couple of days. PB and J's will be my lifeline. Billy got some milk and some juices and we decided if we were going to walk home, we probably would get there around 11. So we waited for a bus, it was now 9pm. In order to find out the next time for a bus, you have to call a number. After about 9 failed attempts, we finally found out that the bus was not scheduled to come for another 30 minutes. We had already waited about 15, so another 30 was out of the question. For me it was either walk, or get a taxi. Since the flip flops I had on had warn down on our walk to Target, and have given me some partial blisters, I was not about to walk home. "TAXI" I yelled, it didn't work. Actually I didn't yell that, but I sure wanted to! Luckily we ended up finding one and $9 later, we were at our residence. We ate some food, I had a banana and water at first and Billy offered me some of his food. He made tortillas with chicken and rice in the middle. Pretty good food to top off the day with.
I went to bed and 11 and woke up at 7am. Naturally, I didn't get out of bed til about 9. I got up, got ready, ate some breakfast and here I am, typing my life away. I have been at this for an hour now and my desire to write and my inspiration to keep you entertained is fading. Farewell til next time.
Mark