Tuesday, January 14, 2014

About my trip to Kansas and Day One


So at the end of 2013 my boss reminded me how many vacation days I had left to take before the end of the year. It was a lot and I posted on Facebook that I had a boat load of vacation time to take..

Amy from http://www.seabasscat.com/ said I should visit Kansas during my vacation time, to which I replied I had not been invited. So she invited me. ;)

Well I am not one for traveling. I am a horrid introvert, I'm shy, and I am basically a cat.. but the chance to spend time with cat people, and the opportunity to meet Harvey, Lowenstein and Evelyn was just something I could not pass up. I also had hopes that I would get to touch Faraday, Maxwell and Allie from http://www.atonkstail.com/ and I knew that this would be a once in a life time opportunity (well OK, it isn't. I'm sure they'd be happy to have me come back and visit.. but it felt like one at the time I got the invite.

So after a bit of negotiating with Amy about dates and with the airlines about the prices, I booked a flight and waited.

Now I have to tell you, being a horrid introvert and horribly shy and basically a cat I can't tell you how many times I wanted to back out. I adore Amy and Lisa.. I met them in person for the first time when I went to Kansas to visit Hills and I spent a great deal of time with them at BlogPaws this past year. I knew I would enjoy my visit.. but would Amy like me for an entire weekend?? I mean come on..

I soothed the annoying little voice in the back of my head with "well if it doesn't work out there is a hotel near the airport, you can rent a room and get room service for the remainder of your stay.. and that seemed to shut it up.

On the way to the airport, as we rounded the corner and saw the airplane up close that voice inside my head once again balked at going.. Only the thought of never meeting Harvey, Lowenstein, Evelyn, Faraday, Maxwell and Allie made me pull up my bootstraps and continue on. (again as much as I adore Amy and Lisa, they can come to me.. or we can meet up again at blogpaws - which I am probably not going to this year or barkworld, etc.. )

So I got on the plane.. I flew Southwest. I confirmed my flight early so I was able to board pretty quickly on the way out and sat in the first row. I listened to "Cat Daddy" on the way out (and on the way back) and kept myself entertained with games on my kindle and with free wifi at the layover airport.

I landed, found Amy pretty quickly, and we headed to her house. I actually unpacked my suitcase (which I never do) and got the once over from Lowenstein and Harvey..


We had a nice dinner, and I met Yaz - Amy's parent's dog, and Dottie - Amy's guinea pig. I also learned that Amy's dishwasher is used as her breadbox. This amused me to no end since my father fixes appliances and has my entire life so the fact that it leaks so she doesn't use it just wouldn't stand in 'my world'..

I was lucky enough to be visited by the boys after I went to bed. I was afraid I wouldn't get company and thus never be able to fall asleep, but the boys were willing to accommodate me long enough for the sandman to find me.

Day two: Lowenstein goes to PetSmart to see Santa..

18 comments:

  1. My human says you are "really cool," which she doesn't say about a whole lot of people, and wishes you were able to get out more and visit and feel comfortable about it! You have so much kitty wisdom to impart and you're a nice person - we know that Amy really enjoyed having you. And clearly the kitties did too.

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    1. Sparkle, that is really kind of you to say.. Thank you.

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  2. Oh he reminds of Red - what a beautiful boy - they both are but that's a real nice second photo.

    I'm the same - like a cat - i have big difficulty talking myself into travelling somewhere and once I do I must deal with second thoughts pretty much until I am there. And then, no matter if I am having the best time ever, in the evening when I am alone I wish I was home already :)

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    1. So nice to see you comment Red! ;) Yup.. sounds like you and I are pretty similar..

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  3. sounds like the start to a great weekend. the hardest part for mom for most trips is the "getting ready and getting there part" :)

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  4. Looks like you got a wonderful welcome! And we're so glad you went on this trip!

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  5. Oh wow. How neat. I'm sorry you won't be going to barkworld that is the one conference I am able to attend since its so close. It would be so cool to meet you in person. :) can't wait to read about part two of the trip.

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    1. Christina, I'll probably be going to barkworld.. I am probably not going to blogpaws..

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  6. We think that you are much too hard on yourself that said I cannot wait to hear all about the rest of your trip!

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  7. Sounds like you had good company during your trip!

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  8. How sweet the boys checked in on you to be sure you were okay.

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  9. What a great trip! And to meet the kitties as well as the peeps! Funny, you didn't seem overly introverted at Blogpaws at all, and I was so glad to meet and talk with you. I'm really glad you overcame everything and visited Kansas!

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  10. Faraday: HARVEY MONSTERRRRRRR!! That is all.
    Maxwell: *eyeroll* And you're *sure* you wanted to come see Faraday...?
    We're sure glad you came!

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  11. That is really special that you did get away and had the chance to visit Amy, Lisa and the kitties. Glad you had a wonderful time.

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  12. I love this… i am so glad you went and got to meet / spend time with everyone!

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  13. Ooooh! This is exciting!! Want to hear more :) The Staff says blogging is the best thing if you're shy!

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  14. If we're being completely honest, I had some jitters too! What if you didn't like me or if you weren't comfortable in my house? What if you didn't have fun? What if you were weirded out by the fact that sometimes I just don't talk much? You know what? I'm so glad you came! None of that crazy stuff that I came up with in my anxiety-ridden brain ever happened.

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    1. I had a feeling you'd appreciate my sharing my anxiety.. :)

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