11:18 (central)

So I'm here in Cali (Santa Barbara), waiting for this guy named Skip to come in on a later flight so we both can take a shuttle to Solvang. I landed a bit ago and wandered around and took pictures, but of course it's dark, so I can't take pictures of much.

This morning I woke up at a little after sunrise and got up to the chilly morning and spent a huge chunk of time watching recorded South Park on the TV. Shannon got up quite a bit later and a while after that I got up and packed and then showered and all that nonsense.

I came downstairs and joined Shannon in watching the tail end of a episode of Enterprise and then we watched, An Evening with Kevin Smith. Or at least most of it. Somewhere in the middle I had to start cooking our late lunch/early dinner, which turned out to be Chicken Alfredo Pasta. Which was good. But Jerry was right, the Smart Chicken tastes quite a bit better then the chicken from CostCo...but my cheap man inside of me is still wondering if it's worth the few of extra dollars a pound. I guess we'll make that decision after the several packages that I split the chicken up into and froze are finished.

After we were done with dinner, I ran off to get some traveling money and some money for Shannon (in case she has to park while picking me up/dropping me off) and cash in a lottery ticket ($4 whole dollars, *unethusiastic yay*) and buy more tickets for the growing jackpot (yeah, I know, it's like lighting money on fire, or a snowballs chance in hell, but hey...it $300+ million). I got home, parked my car in the garage, took my razor off it's charger and put it in my suitcase and headed towards Shannon's car.

She dropped me off and we said our good byes, and I got sad :( I know it won't be too long, but I've really gotten used to having her there...

Anywas I checked in myself and my bags and went to go get probed by the various instruments of detection, and had to wait a while in line. It wasn't too long I suppose, but it was still annoying. I guess that's what we have to put up with. Unlike the last time I flew, I took my laptop this time, so that was an extra challenge.

After that I sat down and started to read the book I barrowed from Nathan, Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norell (which apprently is like a Jane Austin novel (never read anythign by her) with magic and fantasy thrown in). I was about 30 pages into it already, so I tired to read, and quickly realized how distractable I am (which is why I usually wear the headphones connected to the iPod at work). So I did get some reading done, but was distracted by various things going on around the airport, people moving, talking and what not.

I board the plane and I was on my way.

Now normally when I fly, I'm the big guy that crowds other people, but on my flight (in the exit row, thank goodness for the extra leg room), but on the seat next to me, I was right next to not a guy of similar size, but one that was bigger then me. Needless to say the ride was crowded. I read most of the trip. Took a few pictures, talked a bit. All in all wasn't too long of a flight, but not too short either.

12:44 AM

The lay-over in Pheonix wasn't too long either. I called Shannon to tell her that I was safely in Pheonix and that I the trip was going ok so far and to see how she was doing. I wondered around for a bit and thought about getting something to drink, but I didn't.

One thing I did get a kick out of was a guy with a suit on that was wearing sandals.

I borded a little bit later in a bigger plane then the one from Des Moines (and they were calling it small). and sat in an exit row again. This time was a bit nicer. I had plenty of room and sat next to a California who was a tiny little think. She was in her late fourtys and unlike normal, I actually sat down and talked to her.

She had left her job to take care of her mom, who had Alzhiemers, and they were on their way back from Venice. So it's not like they were dreadfully poor. But we talked about real estate (Des Moines vs Santa Barbara), marriage (my upcoming), travel, and the lot. It made the hour or so flight go by fairly quickly.

I got to see something that I have never seen before, and it was pretty cool. I got to see lightning from above the clouds. It was a kinda cool light show.

The land was smooth and I called Shannon to tell her that I was safe and sound in California. She was just getting to sleep, so I let her return the rest of the way to sleep.

The thing I kinda like about the small Santa Barbara Airport is that it's pretty much almost all out in the open. The luggae is hand loaded where people pick it up in a covered, but open area.

I got my stuff, and I took a few pictures of the Airport. It's nice having such a big memory card that I don't have to be so selective with what I take pictures of.

So I settled in and started to wait for Skip.

Airport Story: So I know that you aren't really supposed to park there. But some kid came up in his truck, parked and left to get a packaged. Within, and I am not exagurating here, 45 seconds one of the cops wondering around came over and started writing him a ticket. The guy got back and had to wait for him to finish writing the ticket.

I eventually, around the time that we were supposed to be picked up, went up and talked to someone from the shuttle service to get it all sorted out. Apprently they had us on the AM schedule, not the PM, but after I got that cleared up, That guy headed off and we, after Skip got there, had to wait for a woman to pick us up.

She needed to stop for gas, and Skip needed food (he hadn't eaten in 12 hours) so I got some food at Taco Bell, and then we picked up a couple on our way out of town and headed towards Solvang.

And thats where I am now. Sitting in a 12 or 14 passenger van, filled with 5 people, riding in the dark, running down my battery. Listening to a strange mix of music that includes a whole lot of country (in California, who knew?). But who am I to complain to a bunch of people I don't know.

I am kinda bummed that I dont get to take some pictures of the scenery flying by, cause it is kinda nice.

I miss Shannon too. I should be sleeping next to her, but I won't be...not for days. *sigh*

No wireless networks in range either...Like they would in the middle of the country.

It's about 1 in the morning (central) now so I am getting tired.

More tomarrow I suppose.