And We (rather I) Are Off

As I prepared to leave from Tucson things were going well; for me at least.

The woman behind me in the efficient baggage check line of Southwest Airlines was panicking. There was an unattended bag behind us and she would not shut up about it. "Oh, oh my. There's a bag there. No one's attending to it. It's an unattended bag. Oh. Oh. There's...It's alone...it's...should I call..."

I ignored her and texted the story.

And then a little girl walked into the terminal. She was carrying two bags, each two times her size. She was alone. And because she was alone, she had something to say about it.

"MOM. Don't leave your kid alone. Don't leave your kid alone. Don't leave your kid alone..." she repeatedly announced. I'm still trying to decide if this was adorable, tragic, or CPS worthy.

This was the beginning of my voyage.

Arrival in Los Angeles was simple. Cousin Jamie picked me up and it was off to what had been described as "not so great tickets" to the Pac-10 Basketball Tournament. The only part that was "not so great" was the talent level. Other than that, the "Ernie Kent Farewell Tour" was incredible. Any time you can say you sat in better seats than Jeremy Piven, they're great seats. We had floor seats for a half of the surprisingly good basketball game, but I digress: They. Were. Floor. Seats.

Yes, those are my feet on the floor.

Floor seats were followed by road trip with Cousin Jamie to Vegas for the 311 concert on 3/11. While I am versed on 311's music, I don't know much. So when it's 311 Day at the Mandalay Bay events center, it is best to be better than versed. When their 60 SONG, 5.75 HOUR SET was complete, we established that I knew 5% of the songs (that's 3 songs if you're counting).

Also worth noting, the Planet Hollywood Hotel gives you a free bottle of liquor upon checking in. Only in Vegas.

We road tripped back, not without filming the World's Tallest Thermometer, of course, and returned to good - not as good - seats at the Pac-10 Tournament.

The remainder of LA was fun. Saw old friends and new. Had two fantastic brunches. Experienced a brief panic attack thinking my flight was at 9:25 am as opposed to pm. Remembered how little I liked daylight savings. And overall thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Yes, I'll repack my suitcase and yes, I'll have another panic attack that I have forgotten something; but by 9:25 pm, for better or worse, I'm off.

Unless of course I forgot my passport.