A Slower Pace

Prior to getting married, I had a tech job for 2 years that required travel at least every other week and usually 3 to 4 weeks out of each month. And while that was OK when I was young, I am sure glad I don’t have to keep up that pace now, especially now that I have a wife and kids. So for me, business travel is over-rated and I would much rather stay at home with the family and be happy in my routine.

However, my job now requires a little bit of business travel which is manageable — about 6 trips a year, and not all of them are for the entire week. What the business travel does is get me out of my routine and show me different perspectives, situations, landscapes, and opportunities. Below are the observations from my day of travel yesterday.

I have blogged before about how much I love our airport – Louisville’s Standiford Field (SDF). It is easy enough to get around, not crowded, usually has enough TSA folks herding you through security, and tends to be friendly as far as airports go. Well, recently they installed those new body scanners — the ones the privacy folks are all up in arms about. They still have the metal detectors there off to the side and I wondered when they were going to completely remove them.

So it was funny when the lady pilot ahead of me in the security line pushed her carry ons through the X-ray scanner and then stepped behind me. She went over to the metal detector and waited behind the little divider slidy thing like you find at the bank. Soon enough, a TSA agent went over, officially released the divider slidy thing, the pilot walked through the metal detector, and the TSA resecured the divider slidy thing with an official click. Once through the metal detector successfully, she shimmied through a little side gate around the body scanner and on to retrieve her carry ons. I meant to catch up to the pilot to ask the “whys” of that maneuver. Was it a pilot only option? Can regular folks do that? Was it a privacy principle? Or a way for an individual to show up the over-reaching bounds of an ever-expanding nanny gov’t? Unfortunately, she entered United’s executive lounge just as I caught up to her. I’ll never know, but I think I’m going to do some research. A hunch says that the TSA is required to provide body scanner options. I just don’t want to every opt out of the body scanner and get a body cavity search instead of the metal detector. Ugh — THAT would suck! Note to self – ensure metal detector equipment is available and operational before requesting a body scanner option. Better yet, next time when traveling with a friend or work colleague, convince them to do it first as a test subject.

My next item was a very enjoyable conversation I had with my seatmate Peg. This is more suited as an entire entry for the category “The People You Meet”, so I will keep you in suspense. But I can tell you that it is people like Peg who make traveling so interesting if you are open to opportunities that are right in front of you…..or in my case, right next to me.

After saying goodbye to Peg and arriving to a beautiful Seattle day, I retrieved my luggage and negotiated my way through SEA-TAC airport to secure my rental-mobile. They have redone SEA-TAC since I have been there and now the rental agencies are off the airport property across the border in Canada…..well, not actually. But it sure seemed like it from the bus ride. Thankfully, the cheerful lady driving the bus was a joy to talk to. It was waiting in the assigned “Rental Cars” general area and she greeted me being one of the first ones on the bus. She also looked at me with a very familiar look and asked if we had worked together many years ago. While I went to school up in Seattle back in the 80’s, I was pretty certain I did not know her so I told her that was my evil twin brother. She laughed and we proceeded to converse. She used to drive buses up in “Metro” but is now cheerfully greeting weary travelers and car renters at SEA-TAC. The weather came up and a couple of other riders chimed in. She mentioned that it was starting to get “hot”, clarifying that it means the temps are in the 80’s. A lady rider listening stated it was all relative because an 80’s day in Phoenix where she is from is cool. We all laughed as folks in the back wondered what all the fun was about that they were missing. Soon enough, “Pat” (that’s what I am going to call the bus driver lady) was safely chauffeuring us to the cornucopia of rental car agencies. As we approached the large off site rental hub, she was extremely helpful in providing exit direction and setting people up for success to get on the major freeways and area arterial roads. I am sure one or two folks would still be aimlessly cycling around the rental property looking for the rat maze way out if she had not provided excellent direction to us. Interestingly, that is the only time of all my travels that I have heard a helpful pre-direction statement like that.

I have blogged before about various food places that are west coast based that we miss in Kentucky. In-N-Out Burger is the primary but there are a few others like Jamba Juice (which I enjoyed while hubbing through Chicago) and Baja Fresh. Well, I searched out a Baja Fresh by SEA-TAC and found one in nearby Kent, WA. I pulled up after the lunch rush and proceeded to order my favorite Baja Burrito, however, this time I got ono (fish) instead of the normal steak. That was new to their menu so I figured I’d try it. Additionally, I ordered chips and pico de gallo for my road trip down to Portland. The manager/order taker guy was very friendly so I also asked him if I could order some extra of their very handy, reusable, large plastic cups. They come with a lid and plastic straw and I have used them at home for years. I tend to drink a lot (luckily I don’t like the taste of alcohol or I’d be a raging alcoholic) so I like large glasses. The fact these are plastic, have a lid, and can be taken on the go is a huge attraction for me. I was down to my last one at home and it was pretty beaten up from hundreds of dishwasher cycles. So I was excited that I had found a Baja Fresh, not only for my Mexican food craving, but also for my plastic cup stock. I told the manager of my excitement of being there and how I had driven straight from the airport. He found that interesting and we started talking about where I was from and how they had to build some Baja Freshes in Kentucky. He also knew about the very first Baja Fresh in Newbury Park which was the one I used to go to. It was very nice talking to him, especially since there was no lunch rush and he could take the time. I was grateful when he threw in some extra pico and a few extra cups.

While waiting for my food and filling one of my prized cups, I walked by a young lady who was eating lunch by herself and reading a book. I glanced closer and realized I had that same book. It was the Life Application Study Bible and she had all sorts of highlights, notes, post-it tags, and scribbles. When she looked up at me, I commented that I had the same book. She smiled and made a nice comment. I replied that hers had gotten lots of use and was very colorful — something to be proud of. She smiled again and I left her to her food — physical and spiritual. We were quiet the rest of the meal because she was three tables over but as she left she walked by and said “Be blessed” which I returned to her. I quietly said a prayer of blessing for her and that the rest of her week went well.

That last observation brings me to a “Sign From God” that I saw a long time ago. It said something like (I am paraphrasing here):
“The condition of someone’s Bible tends to have an inverse correlation with the condition of their life.”

I’ll end with the beautiful sunset that greeted me as I headed to my hotel after dinner. Apologies for the blurriness.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

This morning’s sunrise was a perfect timing mix of my departure from home and the bright orange ball’s breaking of the horizon. It not only caused me to verbally respond “Wow!” but also to turn around the car, turn off my podcast, get my phone ready, and snap several pictures of a scene I drive by every day. It was truly a beautiful way to start the day.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

I usually post pictures of our beautiful KY sunsets but tonight we ARE the sunset. A weird combination of sunset and very low hanging cloud cover have tinged the entire landscape first in yellow then gold then red and now violet. The kids were even asking what’s going on.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Last night we had a string of storms sweep through. Some rain, high winds, lots of dark clouds and lightning/thunder every second or so. A few strikes hit the back property and there was not much gap between the flash and thunderclap.

As the storm departed it was very dark all around except for one section in the front yard which revealed beautiful clouds penetrated by light.

My son said that it looked like Jesus was returning to earth. I was thinking the same thing — but more metaphorically in Him being the light in our very dark world.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

This is the scene that greeted me this morning as I made my way to work. God’s handiwork for a new day.

I love living in the country!

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

My normal routine is to get up at 5:15am and do some cardio down in the basement on the eliptical machine. However, this morning my wife got up with me and we decided to walk our 2 mile country road. We have done walks together but I have never done one this early or when it was this dark.

We headed down the driveway and I took a look east to be wowed by God’s spectacular but quiet sky show. He had hung the beautiful crescent moon right above the treeline and sprinkled bright Venus and light Jupiter above it. The picture below doesn’t do it justice because in real life they dominated the eastern sky. I actually commented to my wife that I was impressed.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

This evening after getting home from work and having dinner with the family, I surprised my son with a special treat that he could bring with him to Boy Scout camp next week — venison jerkey. However, it was not made yet. So I pulled out a couple of cuts from the freezer and began the preparation process. Unfortunately, after I had sliced all the meat up nice and thin, I discovered that I did not have any of the ingredients for my super secret marinade that he loves so much. So it was off to the store in town we went. And because we have become accustomed to combining trips, I also grabbed the mower gas cans to fill up (at $3.16 no less — woohoo!) as well as an item I needed to return to Lowes.

So my son and I proceeded on our rounds: bank ATM, grocery aisle, automotive aisle, Lowes return desk, plumbing aisle, and pool supplies aisle. Now D was starting to run low on patience after the return at Lowes so my plumbing and pool supplies aisle received the response of a deep sigh and “Do we have to?” from him even though items from those aisles were on my list. So when we walked out of Lowes and I stated that we still needed to get mower gas, his response was one of exhaustion (which I thought was kind of funny).

After we filled up the gas cans and my wife’s truck I thought I’d pull one over on him and push my luck. I am known by my kids to surprise them or tell them we are going some place lame and then end up at ice cream or something. So this time, as we exited the gas station I started back across the parking lot. He immediately questioned why we weren’t going out the exit. I responded that I needed to drive by Autozone to price compare the oil we just purchased. You would have thought that I asked him to eat a field of brussell sprouts. He went into whine mode while deep inside I had to control my smile. You see, between Autozone and the gas station is a Wendy’s and I was treating to chocolate Frostys (yes, I know that plural form of Frosty is misspelled, but Frosty is a brand name so deal with it).

Even though I was going through the Wendy’s parking lot he continued whining and didn’t realize what was going on until we were in front of the drive thru speaker. He immediately saw his childly whining as completely inappropriate and broke into a sheepish, guilty grin knowing that his whining was lame and grateful that he was getting a treat. I proceeded to laugh and bask in the lesson that taught itself.

We proceeded home and stopped to take in the sunrise at my son’s request. Below is a photo I snapped. It was truly relaxing and beautiful and I am so glad I could share it with my son. It was a great way to end the day.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Tonight’s sunset from the front porch with the family was absolutely beautiful. Mom taught me to share so here y’all go.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

My day started off beautifully with the painted morning sky outside my breakfast window. It is going to be a great day and I hope all goes well for a neighbor friend who is seeing her cancer surgeon today. She and her family have been in my prayers and she can definitely use yours today as she finds out how she can continue to battle this.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Late last week there were many people on the radio, weathermen on TV and Facebook folks who were anticipating Saturday’s “supermoon” — a time where the moon was expected to be 60% bigger in the evening sky due to it being at its closest point to our planet.

So Saturday evening I stepped outside with the kids. And while the moon was full and looked pretty, it really didn’t have anything “super” about it. In fact, there have been times when it was “normal” but lower in the eastern sky as it rose where its orange reflected light really took my breath away. However, Saturday evening was not up to what was being hyped.

Maybe it wasn’t the moon’s fault, but more all of those folks who thought the extra few thousand miles closer (in a 250,000 mile distance) would make that big a difference.

My sister did post a really nice shot that was taken in Friday Harbor. I added my artistic flair to it so as to avoid any copyright concerns. Note that the shot was taken by someone else, but the perspective is artistically mine.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net