Leaving on Jet Plane

[lithle]

Well, I think I've already mentioned this in the C-box, but it's time I said it here.

I'm going on a family vacation. I'll be gone the 11th-18th.

I will have internet where I'm going, but, vacation. Family. It's unlikely, but not impossible, that I'll post while I'm gone. You may, however, see my name pop up. I might even poke around the C-box.

Noz will be handling any and all admining issues while I'm gone. If, for whatever reason, you have to get in touch with me, a PM is the best method. I'll be checking those every night, most likely.

Everyone have fun while I'm gone and try not to cause too much trouble!

When I get back, we'll start up the touching. Yay!

[lithle]

Alright. Leave tomorrow at 4 AM. I'll be checking in, but again, anyone I owe tags, sorry, they won't be forthcoming. I'll be back soon.

[lithle]

I need a place to share my adventures. I have no friends! So you get my travelog! And there will be a test. Whoever knows the most about my adventures impresses the rainbow magic dragon.

Okay, no.

Also, I'm lazy, so this will probably be a bulleted list of random things written as they were in my head as they happened.

-If you need someone to drive you the airport at 4 am, I suggest offering donuts and candybars. Maybe also unlimited access to your cat, if you have one. It worked for me!

-LA airport has no food. At least, not in the terminal I was in. There was one seafood restaurant, one burgerking, and two Starbucks. That's right. 50% of the available food was Starbucks.

-Said seafood restaurant? Sucks. If you find yourself in an LA airport terminal, don't get the seafood. My breadbowl was stale and cost me ten bucks. Sad.

-My older brother's new girlfriend is shorter than me. And younger than me. And I don't know how to talk to her. Very pretty though. Except from a distance, she looks like my little sister. They are the same height with similar hair.

-Mexico feels like getting slapped in the face after the sweet, mild weather of Seattle. The air is thick and wet. The heat is oppressive. Suddenly, it all feels like a bad idea.

-Holy hell, why am I being forced to walk down a corridor of people thrusting things at me? I think they want me to take a taxi. I do not need a taxi!

-Family! There are twelve of us, all told, including Boy and I. It's too many people. They break us into two vans to get us to the resort.

-We get out of the van and immediately someone thrusts a towel into my hand. I'm confused, but the towel is cool and wet and smells like lemons. It might be the best thing ever invented.

-It's hot in the lobby too. The lobby smells like cotton candy. Someone thrusts a drink into my hand that tastes like cotton candy and coconut. I can already tell this whole super special all inclusive resort thing is going to make me uncomfortable. I like to fade in the background and everywhere I go, someone is handing me something.

-The room smells vaguely of wet socks. I find this almost comforting. It's also cold, which fills me with joy. We have a jacuzi in the room that could probably fit four. I doubt we will use it, except that would be a waste. I find myself eating, drinking and doing things for that reason. To not to would be a waste.

-Dinner at one of the resort's restaurants. Random grabbag of Asian food. We're speaking English to a native Spanish speaker, ordering things with Japanese names. It gets complicated very quickly, but the food is good.

-Everywhere I go, someone offers me tequila. I wonder if they do this with the Mexican guests, or if they just think the Americans expect it.

-I can't spell the word restaurant. I spell it so poorly, the spellchecker can't even figure out what I'm trying to write.

-Tomorrow, ziplines!

[nozomi]

I learned to spell restaurant by breaking it down to rest-au-rant. Like some weird french word. Works for me!

also, MONSTER LOVE for the commentary. <3 It's epic. I am glad for your cold lemon towel.

[maggie]

A restaurant is where you rest at the rant! Rest au rant! I learned to spell medieval, that way. You pronounce all the letters, in french.

If you can, Lith, try some Jamaica water. It is delicious, cooling and full of vitamin C. Just remember the magic word "Gracias" and you can thank all the people shoving things at you. Take the time to rest and relax and soak in some rays!

[Spiffy]

Gracias goes a long way
Also "Bese mi asno" if you want the opposite effect (although not in polite company xD)
"No hablo espanola, soy americano/ingles" also works wonders xD (I've used that one in norway, but with the norwegian equivalent, obviously xD)

And your dinner experience is totally parallel to what we had in Egypt xD

[lithle]

More on my silly thoughts! Kinda working backward, tonight.

-Went for a walk on the beach. Concluded after seeing a number of them on the beach, that limes may actually be some sort of sea creature that masquerades as a fruit.

-Do we have a dead fish cleanup crew? The beach in front of our resort is deadfish free. In front of the others, not so much. Saw a dead pufferfish. Gone when I walked past the spot a second time. Did someone take the dead pufferfish? Is someone's souvenir a rotting fish? This disturbs me greatly.

-Oh, gods I am not equipped for flea markets of any kind, especially Mexican ones. I do not like being called out to. I do not like being noticed or called pretty lady, or asked to buy things. End up buying a slingshot because I want it and a knick-knack because it's pretty. Don't barter beyond staring dumbly at the person selling it. Why quibble over what is essentially a couple dollars? If they want the money, more power to them.

-Our city tour guide is awesome. His name is Victor, a name I've always found slightly disturbing. It seems like such a harsh name to try and pull off. A lot to saddle a kid with. He's nice, though.

-My last name is on a lot of 'elect so-and-so' banners around the city. Hell, may be a distant relative from five or six generations back, who knows? All the people in the banners look lighter than I am. Is everyone running for elected office pale skinned? Are the images photoshopped? If so, why? The same reason President Obama is sometimes photoshopped on magazine covers? I wonder this but decide not to ask Victor.

-Someone comes in and cleans the room and makes the bed. Then someone else comes in later in the evening to 'turn down' the bed. Person A puts on a heavy blanket. Person B removes said blanket and leaves it rolled up in the corner. WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS BLANKET? It seems like there'd be an easy way to remove the need to go about rolling up superfluous blankets.

-Zipline? Fun, not as terrifying as I expected. Left my hips a little bruise. Beautiful view. Crew is funny if a bit on the chauvinistic side.

-Why does everything I do in Mexico end up leaving a chauvinistic taste in my mouth? Cultural differences? I guess. I'm trying to tune it out.

-Bus to zipline? We're all going to DIE! DIE! Who converts a flatbed truck into an open bus and sends it up a narrow mountain trail full of people? Well, this zipline company for one. By the time we reach our destination, we've got no adrenaline left for the actual 'adventure'.

Tomorrow? Canal tour and romantic dinner on the beach. That's officially romantic. Only couples are permitted. Which leaves me with questions like what about same sex couples and why can't I go with my brother and what if I've got two people i'm in a 'couple' with. But I do not ask these questions. I just schedule the dinner.

[Spiffy]

Did I hear someone say zipline? I love ziplines!