Lonesome Traveler

I am at it again... traveling by myself. Those of you who have been keeping up with my blog might be surprised to know that I was/am pretty nervous about this one. I flew from Minneapolis to Milwakee then to DC. The volunteer conference is all this week.

Upon my arrival I had to take a taxi cab for the first time ever. and yes... i was alone. I always have tried to convince myslef that nothing happens like it does in the movies. well... this experience was only shy the blood on the seats. Don't get me wrong he was a nice guy... but hollywood has it pretty accurate according to (all) my experinces in taxis to date.

I got to the hotel (hampton inn) only to find that it wasn't paid for and I had to pay for all 5 nights before entering my room. Needless to say i ended up using my (emergency) zero balanced credit card to get into the hotel. I ended up maxing it out. So hopefully... all will pan out when the rest of the group gets here. Oh yeah... I just found out... the rest of them don't get here until TOMORROW. So I just spent the last 3 hours wandering the streets of DC by myself. I found a lot of stuff to do.. only I didn't have a credit card to do any of it. But it was still neat to see all the different things. They even have an Urban Outfitters here(my favorite retail store).

Those of you who know me well are probably waiting for this next story. I DID in fact find a nice stranger to sit and talk to. His name is Seargant Charles somthing somthing somthing from the US Navy. He is homeless and was sitting on a park bench that I can see from my 240$ a night window. Ironic huh. Anway... I had some good conversations with him and he told me all the things that I could do if i wanted. He told me that he would take me out to lunch. But i would have to wait till tuesday. Since monday (memorial day) is a big day at work (begging) for him. I smiled and split my $5 footlong with him while toursists pass by on this weekend where they are supposed to be honoring the very man i was sitting next to. He showed me some of his previous war pins that he hides in his pocket as well as his wallet with a picture ID of a much younger looking him in a Navy Seal uniform. He couldn't get over the fact that my name was Toni so he started calling me Soni and i just let him. After all... it is memorial day weekend. :) He told me about a thing called Rolling Thunder where people with Motorcycles from all the surrounding states go and give rides and show off their bikes to everyone in the city. As tempting as that sounds... i better stay away from that. Or i may never make it to conference. Oh, by the way... it starts tomorrow at 1pm. So ... I am a little early.

Once again... in a different time zone....

Toni