Global Wandering

Today is packing day for our family road trip. As vacations go, I typically am responsible for planning the itinerary. My usual approach is to have a few hotel rooms booked, several sites penciled in that we want to tour, and a general idea of the type of activities we want to pursue, but we don’t plan out every single day.

For this trip, I have taken a different approach. Our itinerary consists of three elements:

1. Load up the van.
2. Head North.
3. Come back when we are tired of being away.

We have at least adopted a trip motto. Well, I’ve adopted a trip motto. I’ll let LaPriel and the kids read about it on this blog.

Sean Penn in the April 3, 2006 New Yorker said, “It's not an obligation of a tourist so much to observe experience so much as to have it. For me, a greater accuracy of perception comes out of that.”

So in the spirit of Sean Penn, I spent a few days in Texas earlier this week having experiences. While traveling can be eye opening, it also seems to generate more questions then it answers. I jotted down a few during my time in San Antonio and Austin.

Why did the TSA hire so many ex-circus barkers to work the security checkpoints at U.S. airports? If they insist on telling people over and over again to remove their laptops from their carrying cases and keep ahold of their boarding passes, couldn’t they at least play a recording with soothing background music and a pleasant voice gentling reminding passengers of these items. Instead, we have to be yelled at by over-exuberant TSA officials as if they are herding sheep. This is especially prevalent at Texas airports.

Why does SkyWest on two and a half hour flights only provide a baggy with twelve fish-shaped graham crackers to eat? That is only 28 calories of sustenance per hour, 672 calories per day. Is it their contribution to fighting our nation’s obesity problem?

Why do some traveler’s lug around thirty pound laptops the size of the large atlases on display at libraries? These monstrosities barely fit on the airline seat-back trays. That reminds me of an employee we had several years ago who insisted her new eight pound laptop was too heavy and she needed a lighter one. We bought her a metal cart to roll it around on. Later, we recanted after decided we were probably on shaky legal ground.

Why did the Austin Hyatt Regency offer to have me sleep in the parlor when they ran out of non smoking rooms? They said the parlor had recently been redecorated and it was definitely non smoking. I agreed and hauled my bags up to the twelfth floor. The parlor was the other half of a suite. At first glance, it seemed nice. Comfortable chairs, a large table, flat-screen television, bathroom. The only thing missing was a bed. Not even a rollaway bed or a sleeper sofa.

Do they take the shells off soft-shell crabs before serving them or do they just not have any? I had lunch with a client in San Antonio at a seafood restaurant. The server was so excited by the day’s special I ordered it⎯soft-shell crab prepared tempura style. The plate came with the entire crab, pinchers and all, covered with a light tempura batter. I was clueless how to eat it. Fortunately, my client also ordered the crab and he proceeded to eat one of the pinchers. I decided if the pincher was edible then it would be safe to eat the entire thing. Delicious.

Do attorneys ever sit when they address a small group? In Austin, I spoke to non-profit board consisting mostly of attorneys. The twenty or so board members sat at a very long table. The first speaker marched to the end of the table and gave a ten minute presentation. Typically in a boardroom you sit when presenting if there are less than twenty people, especially if they are at a table. This speaker stood. I thought that was odd, but then noticed there was no chair. Hence when my turn came I stood at the end of the table and presented for ninety minutes while my listeners sat comfortably in their seats.

Why do Tejano radio stations only play the same dozen songs? I like Mexican music, especially rancheras. It is an acquired taste. In San Antonio, it's Fiesta time. On Tuesday evening various mariachi bands such as the one pictured above played rancheras from barges along the Riverwalk. The music was beautiful. There must be thousand of rancheras, but when I listen to Tejano stations, which admittedly is a subset of rancheras, they are always playing the same songs.

I have other questions, but it is time to go pack the van.

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