User blog:Wheatgerm/BLOG: Arizona Mental Health Fun Zone

Wassup, you beautiful leather sacks of meat.

It's Thanksgiving here in the US - and do you know what that means? I'm running away from my responsabilities yet again!

I don't wanna be productive. So instead, here's some blogs about my trip.

We left for the Las Vegas airport around 6:00 p.m. Pacific time from the adorable - and cultured - Paine Field airport. My family and I had our supper there; Beecher's Mac & Cheese with a turkey-and-chutney salad.

Oh, and celery sticks. You can't have a meal without celery sticks, am I right? don't answer that. One of my favorite features of Paine was the lack of gendered restrooms. Instead, each private bathroom had a sink, urinal, toilet, and free feminine products. Amazing.

I watched a few episodes of Netflix's The Dragon Prince on my Kindle during the flight. I also read a little of "You Owe Me a Murder" and wrote a little of the prologue for "Midnight Sun and Midday Moon". Though we were not first class - and thus bereft of such luxuries as fresh cookies - we were treated to complimentary biscuits and coffee from our charming flight attendant.

I was promised turbulance. My disappointment is immeasurable. We did arrive ahead of schedule, which was nice considering it took at least ten minutes to get our rental SUV. Such a first world problem. We spent a good hour on the road, entering Arizona around midnight Mountain Time. After buying chocolate, tea, fruit, and some crickets from a gas station called "Terrible's", we had a little scare with our luggage. Someone had messed up the tags, so there was a brief moment of panic as we thought one of our checked bags was missing.

It was not.

We continued the trip. I forced some "The Oh Hellos", "The Crane Wives", and Hadestown down my parents' eardrums as they drove. I, alack, cannot drive, as one must be 25 to rent a car... but only 21 to drink myself to death. Whee.

Our hotel was a Mariott. It was warm. I remember very little, save for waking up at four o'clock in the morning listening to the next suite's television.

Around nine, the family went down to the breakfast buffet. There were pastries, breads, yogurt, fruit, oatmeal, eggs, waffles, and potatoes. 'Twas delightful.

After breakfast, we all went swimming for a solid three-quarters of an hour. Then we continued our journey.

I don't know if any of you are familiar with the geology of Arizona, but oh. my. gods.

It's stunning. I felt like we were about to drive straight into Night Vale or somesuch. As it was, by two o'clock (14:00) we reached the Grand Canyon. I might have cried. Just a little. It's awe-inspiring. Magical. Sacred.

It's also really, really cold. As I type, it's a little over 25F outside.

Lunch was some 'tater soup and a salad. I feel guilty for the bacon in it, but I am thankful for the nourishment it provided me. The whole family split a chocolate lava cake.

Afterwards, we took a frigid hike up to the geological museum. I was far too cold to do anything but stare mutely.

Tomorrow, we push on to Flagstaff, where we spend thanksgiving alone. I'll try and find some images of what we've seen so far.

turtle