Brian Goes to Ikea, Buc-ee Builds a Bookshelf

With some changes going on at our Houston base, our number of reservists has shot up, which has a negative effect on me since I'm at the very bottom of seniority. Basically, I can't expect many calls to fly over the next month. And as much as I despise going to places like Ikea, it gave me purpose. Now at least I had some work to do. My niece has a small plush beaver named Buc-ee, who is the mascot for a truck-stop style convenience store chain throughout Texas. I enlisted his help in building the overly complicated Ikea bookshelf.

Buc-ee consults the instructions

The work begins

Buc-ee struggles with the wooden dowels

Buc-ee shows those dowels who's boss

Buc-ee positions the shelves

Buc-ee lifts the side

Buc-ee begins to struggle under the weight

Buc-ee collapses

Buc-ee attacks the instructions with rage

Buc-ee is instructed to go back to task

After protesting, Buc-ee continues work

Buc-ee positions the bottom

Buc-ee screws in the final bits

Buc-ee lifts the bookshelf with all his might

Buc-ee gets cocky after getting the shelves upright

Buc-ee shapes the boxes

Buc-ee puts the top on

Success!

Time to Celebrate

Subtle Changes in O-Town

Stemming from a most unfortunate schedule which essentially begins this week and won't end until at least the end of April, I had only two days off on my reserve schedule. It was too short an amount of time to try and make it back to LA, since Nicole was going to be in New Jersey anyway, so I hopped on over to Florida to see the folks. The crowd outlook was not good. For whatever reason, the Disney parks were projecting large crowds throughout the brief duration of my stay. As a result, we ended up going to Epcot where waiting in line was not a real requirement to exploring the countries at least.

Also going on at Epcot was a transformation of various open areas into character-themed topiaries. They were all quite elaborate, but again, this is Disney. Throughout the countries, they also had hidden "easter eggs," which I successfully tracked down with some help from the folks, who had naturally done all of this before. All things considered, the crowds weren't horrendous. It was relatively easy to walk around without being trapped behind a Brazilian school group and a column of rascals. After our brief trek around the world at Epcot, we visited some of the Disney resort hotels like the Polynesian and the Floridian.

The latter had elaborately designed chocolate eggs decorated as either scenes or characters from Disney films. My favorite was of course BB-8 as you see here. I wonder how they actually taste since they are made from chocolate. I imagine they are only "edible" in about the same way that kindergarten paste is safe for consumption. Nevertheless, a very impressive display of artistry in the medium of chocolate. Believe it or not, the real Disney fun had not yet begun!




The main area for shopping all things Disney used to be called Downtown Disney, but has lately gone through a few renovations and renamed itself Disney Springs which somehow equates to massive crowds. It was ten times worse than anything we saw inside the actual theme parks. Why were they here? What were they doing? These are questions I could not find an answer to. I could merely hypothesize that the skewed ratio of New Jersey license plates in the parking garage had something to do with it. After all, if people are frustrating me and being loud, there's a 50/50 shot that New Jersey is to blame. I won't be returning to "Disney Springs" anytime soon.

Update on Austin: Still Weird

After receiving a call on short notice, I was assigned a flight back to Austin, Texas. We arrived around 1pm, so I had the rest of the afternoon. This time I had my running shoes, so I went for a run along the trails next to the Colorado River. Despite some rather strong winds, it was a very enjoyable excursion, but naturally I did not have my camera. I did learn something from that van ride in, however. The Frost Building pictured here is modeled like an owl. Don't see it? I didn't either at first. But if you imagine that the two circles toward the top of the building are eyes and the corner is the beak, you can sort of  . . . see it . . . if you try real hard. And now you know. For dinner, I went to Gus's Fried Chicken, the same chain I visited in Little Rock. The atmosphere of the one in Little Rock was superior, as was the quality of the chicken. Austin overcooked theirs a bit. I should have known. This is beef country. Whereas I had an easy day in Austin that entailed a mere 26 minute flight from Houston, the following day would be a bit more challenging starting with my alarm going off at 3:50am.

After flying the return leg to Houston, I took us down to Mexico City, which is historically one of the most challenging airports for any number of reasons. This time, the GPS did not lose signal and the controllers didn't throw any abnormal procedures at us at last minute. In fact, it was a fairly pleasant experience. The weather was uncharacteristically clear and smog-free. I could actually see the airport as I banked away from the mountains and lined up with the runway from 7 miles away.

As we departed, we were afforded clear vistas of the nearby mountains and volcanoes. The captain expressed that it was the easiest experience he ever had going in and out of Mexico City. I guess this is a good thing? Adios for now.

Second Chances for Charlotte

I am no stranger to the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. I found myself stuck here on numerous layovers particularly in my college years when I resided on the east coast. None of these layovers went according to plan because US Airways was involved. The airline formerly known as US Airways had abysmal customer service, terrible connections, and its hub at Charlotte consistently had some of the worst delays in the country. When US Airways was absorbed by American Airlines, nobody appeared to have any whiffs of nostalgia for the airline that at one point or another ruined someone's day/s. Needless to say, I have spent far too much time in the Charlotte airport throughout my life, so the city it serves had a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. When it appeared on my schedule this week, I wasn't terribly enthusiastic.

We arrived around 5:30pm, and thanks to the recent change in the clocks, the sun was still up. Despite being quite tired, I decided to head out for a run because I spotted what appeared to be a trail on google maps. I was pleasantly surprised. From our hotel in downtown Charlotte, I was just a couple blocks from an entrance, and other than the constant drone of vehicles and sirens on the streets nearby, this greenway trail was sheltered from the concrete jungle of the city. Named the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, the path criss-crossed a creek numerous times, passed some restaurants and shops, and eventually emptied into a place called Freedom Park. Many folks were outside cycling, jogging, or just enjoying the moderate temperatures. At just shy of seventy degrees, it was perfect running weather. Cherry blossoms were in bloom, and I was reminded how nice the world can be outside of Minneapolis.

For dinner I struggled to find a place in downtown that was open. The area seems to cater primarily to business workers who promptly leave at 5 or 6:00 in the evening and the restaurants close along with them. The only thing that seemed open was a Bojangles Chicken and Biscuits. It was inside the Charlotte Convention Center, where a Mary Kay Convention was happening. Perhaps excited to not be dealing with another Mary Kay rep, the Bojangles employee tossed in an extra sweet potato pie in my bag. I scarfed down my cajun filet and two sweet potato pies and promptly felt like I had gained 20 pounds.

While delicious, it is no surprise that southerners are the most obese in the country. It's a good thing I spent a little time on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway prior to eating. I didn't think it was possible, but the city of Charlotte seems to have a lot more going on than I would have expected. Tripadvisor doesn't really offer up any exciting sights to see unless you're into Billy Graham or Nascar, but the overall atmosphere and energy of the city seem promising. I like being able to walk outside the hotel and see other people walking about, exercising, and exploring. It's unsettling to be the only person walking around for miles. *Cough* Dayton and Wichita *Cough* The following morning, with the United Airlines logo painted prominently on the side of our aircraft, we departed on time and without incident. Had it been painted with US Airways colors, we would still be at the gate, delayed, and angry.

Island Escape

Ten years ago, I spent a brief time living on O'ahu while I "studied" at Hawaii Pacific University. After a stressful week of learning that I would be spending at least another month in Houston and away from home, it seemed the perfect time to get away for a few days and try and forget about these issues. Both Nicole and I had been to O'ahu before, but on separate trips. When I lived there, I didn't have a car, so my transport around the island was limited to a K-Mart bike and the bus (known as The Bus). Neither of these methods was particularly reliable. The Bus tended to make up its own schedule and my K-Mart bike lost a pedal while on a bike ride on the windward side of the island. Having acquired a luxurious Chevy Spark, we had more efficient access to the island and tried to see some things that the average tourist would likely miss. We drove up the Pali Highway from Honolulu toward the windward side, but stopped at the top of the top of the Ko'olau Mountains to explore a bamboo forest. We were the only ones exploring this offbeat trail.

Once on the other side, we continued on to the Byodo-In Temple in Kaneohe. I had technically been here once before, but it was probably 15 years ago. It was the only time during our brief trip that it rained. That being said, it created a mystical atmosphere that shrouded the temple in a nice diffused light. We continued our journey in the car toward the North Shore, where we decided to try and get lunch in the town of Haleiwa. Every time I've been up here, it has been relatively deserted with just a few surfers and the occasional Japanese tour bus.

This time was a little different. The town was absolutely packed. Traffic was a mess. We were just trying to find food at a grocery store or market for lunch, but even finding a parking spot was a challenge. This was not the carefree North Shore that I remember. I'm not sure if it was a sudden influx in tourists due to spring break or other factors like a rebounding economy, but it certainly wasn't relaxing. When we finally got a sandwich and some sushi at a market, we resolved to get the hell out of the town and eat it someplace else. I drove us to a nearby beach park, where only locals were having picnics, and we found a bench where we could eat in peace.


In an unusual twist, we began to think that our hotel in Waikiki might actually be more relaxing than our trek around the island. We were a little off the main drag of Waikiki, closer to Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head Crater. The beaches were much less crowded as a result. After the sun set, we walked by my old apartment building, which is surprisingly one of the few things in Waikiki that has remained the same. Many of the shops and restaurants that were familiar to me have changed or disappeared entirely. The L&L Hawaiian BBQ that was just a couple blocks away is no longer there. Many of the surf shops have been replaced by upscale fashion stores like Prada and Louis Vuitton. Finding dinner quickly became a challenge because my usual spots were gone and to make matters worse, there was a festival going on with a never-ending parade. Later on, there were fireworks over the ocean. I never remember Waikiki being that crowded, and that's saying something.


We completed our night by snapping pictures of the Waikiki skyline, where I accidentally achieved this bizarre effect you see here. I had set it on a rock wall so I could use a long shutter to try and capture more of the waves rolling in. However, in the middle of my four second exposure, I noticed a larger than normal wave rolling in and picked up my camera an instant before the wave crashed over the rock wall drenching the spot where my camera had been sitting.


The following day, we just relaxed by the beach in front of our hotel. I decided to go for a brief swim and caught a glimpse of some humuhumunukunukuapua'as swimming around. Despite the crowds we encountered throughout our trip, it's still easy to relax on O'ahu as long as you know where to look. Next time I return to Hawai'i though, I think I will go back to one of the other islands. Things are changing a little too quickly on O'ahu for my liking. Either way, it was a nice escape from the daily grind of both of our unusual jobs. As disappointing as not getting my transfer to LA was, my little trip to Hawaii would not have been possible without my current job, so one has to look at it that way.

Grand Ole Disappointment

The disappointment is more in reference to some unfortunate news I received today as opposed to my feelings about the city of Nashville itself. I had been diligently watching my standing bid to transfer to Los Angeles throughout the day. I was convinced that if they had estimated five vacancies and two people had already transferred out of LAX, then surely they would bring some people in to replace them. Not a single first officer was transferred to LA for this month, which was a devastating blow to my morale to say the least. To further disappoint, not one person was brought in to Houston, so the status quo remains: another month of unpredictable reserve away from home.

We arrived in Nashville around 1:00 pm. Our hotel was in the Opryland area away from downtown Nashville. My room was quite dark and it lent itself to a nap. However, after coming to, I felt obligated to walk around the area even if the area was just commercialized country fluff. I walked over to get lunch at the Opry Mills Mall. Right next door is the famous "Grand Ole Opry." I had to do some google searching to see what all the fuss was about. I was tempted to take a tour of the facility, but when I saw they were asking $26, I promptly did an about face. I've never been much of a country fan, so its significance is a bit lost on me.

By now, I needed a restroom, so I walked into the nearby Opryland Inn & Resort. I could see that it was large on the outside, but nothing really prepared me for the interior. It was like I had walked into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. There were boats taking people on tours on the fake rivers that flowed around the convention center. And what you see in this picture is just a small fraction of the rest of the hotel. As I continued to explore, I found there were entirely separate wings of this indoor/outdoor extravaganza. There were fountains, waterfalls, and elevated catwalks to view it all. To me at least, it was far more impressive than anything I would have seen inside the "opry." After taking a lap, which probably took me over an hour, I headed back to my far lesser hotel across the street. A couple hours later, a friend I had met during a trip to Israel years ago, met up with me to go back to the superior hotel and grab some hummus for old times sake.

It was a nice temporary distraction from the disappointment of what I thought was a very good chance of getting a transfer home. I was hired in June and have been away from LA more than I have been in it. It is a sad reality of this career that many tend to portray as glamorous. I would like to think I have been honest in my writing. If you think otherwise, you should refer to some of my posts like Iron Mountain, Michigan. Along with the excitement of travel and seeing new places comes the sad reality that none of this is home -- a place I have not been for quite some time.

How 'bout them Packers?

Before I had even completed my last Houston trip, I was assigned an additional trip with just two days break in between. Like some sick joke, the first leg took me back to Minneapolis. Fortunately, it was a "warm" day in Minneapolis at 37º when we landed. From there we did a short hop over to Green Bay, Wisconsin. Despite growing up a mere 30 miles to the south, I can probably count on one hand how many times I've been to Green Bay. There was never any real reason to make the trek up north. Appleton had just as much if not more.

Contrary to what some may think, Green Bay is not a large city. The only reason anyone has even heard of it is because some sports team plays here. It was always a bit odd growing up amongst such diehard Packers fans when I myself was rather indifferent to the whole thing. People would always discuss the Packers in the first person as if they were on the field squaring off against a 350 linebacker. "Oh yah, we shoulda concentrated more on da runnin' game this week." This obsession with the green and gold is evident throughout the city. Before I had even landed, I pulled up an approach chart on my tablet and noticed the name of the final approach fix is "Favre," named for the former quarterback of the Packers turned quarterback of the Jets turned quarterback of the Vikings turned Wrangler Jeans salesman and dick pic texter. Streets, parks, and businesses throughout the city are named in a similar fashion. For lunch, I walked across the Fox River to a brewpub called Titletown Brewing Co. Naturally, there was a giant statue of a packer player out front. It just won some award for best brewpub in the United States. Such an honor comes with high expectations.


I ordered sweet potato fries and I got regular fries. This is not how you climb your way to the #1 spot. Any establishment calling itself "Titletown" should know this. The red ale I ordered was flavorful and the burger was fine, but it didn't blow me away. This is the risk you face when you tout the fact that you're #1. After my lunch, I walked across the street to the Neville Public Museum. I feel as though I may have been there once before when I was in elementary school, but can't remember for certain. It was a relatively small museum recounting the history of the region.

To summarize: the ice melted, the fur trade began, and the Green Bay Packers showed up. There were a couple other exhibits in the museum such as shipwrecks that occurred in the nearby waters, some examples of area architecture throughout the centuries, and (I'm not making this up) an entire room of artwork devoted strictly to cats. By 2:00, I had run out of things to do. I took a short nap and headed out to find more food. The Yelp reviews for a place called, "Taco Burrito Mexico" were quite high, so I decided to try it.

The outside was rather unassuming, as seen here in this Google street-view image, but I was quite happy with my food. I had a sort of combo plate with a taco, tostada, and chimichanga. I washed it down with some horchata. Admittedly, it rivaled some of the better Mexican establishments in Los Angeles and was considerably cheaper. And best of all, there were no references to the Packers.