June 29, 2016

 This morning I woke up earlyish and started writing in my field journal. I wrote from eight o'clock until about three o'clock, with a short break around lunchtime for a piece of pizza and a breadstick. My hand still hurts. But I got all seven entries finished.

I decided that I did in fact want to do something with the rest of my day. I briefly considered going on a helicopter ride but decided against it because it was expensive and it didn't seem worth it considering the amount of time I would be in the air and probably wasting the rest of my day traveling to and back from wherever the helicopter was. Instead, I decided to go to the Artegon Marketplace, which was kind of like a mall but with a bunch of local artist shops and stores I'd never heard of.

In anticipation of doing something today I downloaded the Uber app last night. That is how we got home the other night when we went out to dinner and it seemed pretty convenient and less intimidating than a taxi or figuring out a bus schedule. I opened it a few times just to get a feel for it and it seemed simple enough. After getting ready I grabbed my field journal and went down and slid it under my professor's door before heading out to the lobby. The two girls I went to Universal with and have randomly hung out with throughout the trip were also down there and waiting for an Uber. I think I called mine first and then watched her drive buy and head toward the convention center, so the girls' ride arrived first. I think they were going to another amusement park. A few minutes later my ride showed up.

It was a nice older woman and we had a good conversation about a lot of random stuff, like the weather and books and Florida. And then we were at the Artegon Marketplace. Right in the middle there is this aerial thing where kids can put on a harness and walk around these thin beams and things. I spent awhile just walking around and looking at the different local art and then headed to the comic shop. They had a bunch of comics and toys and there was a bar and arcade games in the back. It was pretty cool. I ended up getting a graphic novel of Benjamin Button and a graphic novel from Drawn & Quarterly.

After that I did some more wandering, looking at the various small shops, walking around an art gallery and a glass shop that had an artist working on glass art in the shop as well as a furnace in the back where it looked like people could participate in blowing glass. It was pretty cool. There was something I wanted to get for my mom but I couldn't imagine trying to get it home without it breaking so I decided against it. I stopped to look at Vagabond Traveler, which has various leather and canvas bags. I really like the convenience of the small messenger bag my mom gave me before the trip and the trip would have been a lot worse if I didn't have the bag and had to use my backpack. I looked around the small shop and the guy working there explained all the different products. I was tempted and told him that I would probably come back.

Then I went to the Book Warehouse and was tempted by a lot of things but manged to only buy a book about bread. I can only take home so many books. Then I wanted around some more and ended up at Fuddruckers. I've heard of them before but don't think I've ever been close enough to one for it to be a dining option. Until today. I got a veggie burger and it may or may not have been good. I got cheese, which I probably shouldn't have because that along with the pickles, lettuce, ketchup, and mustard pretty much covered up the taste of the burger. The wedge fries were pretty good. I was initially a little confused about how to get water but it was in the automated Coke machine. Then I picked up my tray when I was done and tried to find a trashcan but it turns out it is one of those places where you leave it on the table. When I found an employee and asked where the trashcan was she looked a little mortified that I had attempted to pick up after myself.

I left Fuddruckers and went back to Vagabond Traveler. I had scrolled through their online selection while eating and found a canvas bag I liked and wanted to see if they had it in the shop. When I first went in I saw a smaller one with leather trim but the bag my mom got me covers the small size perfectly. I wanted a slightly bigger one for when I needed to carry more stuff. When I went back I went in the other entrance and the one I saw online was on a shelf facing that entrance. I hadn't seen it before and I was pretty confident it was the one I wanted. I picked it up and looked at it to see what it was like on the inside and the various pockets it had. It had a lot of pockets. I looked around the shop a little more and the guy pointed out that he also had it in blue and tan but I liked the green and ended up buying it. I'm pretty happy with the purchase.

More wandering and then I went to the movie theater which is attached to the marketplace. I wanted to go to the boot store but wouldn't have had time unless I went to a later movie, and I didn't want to be out that late. So I skipped boots and went to the movies. I saw Independence Day: Resurgence. I didn't particularly want to see the movie but it was in 3D and on a larger than normal screen, floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. They also had cushioned reclining seats and the rows were set up in such a way that you couldn't see anyone in front or behind you when you were sitting. It was great. The movie, was not great. The special effects were cool and there were occasionally funny moments, but overall it wasn't great. But I wasn't expecting greatness, I just wanted to see a cheesy action movie in 3D on a giant screen, and that is exactly what I got, with a comfy reclining chair on top of it.

After the movie I went outside and got another Uber. It took him awhile to get to me and it looked like he may have gotten lost, at least that's what it looked like on my phone. But he made it and I made it safely back to the hotel.

When I got to the hotel I ironed my clothes for tomorrow and then packed my suitcase. It did a good job of keeping my room clean throughout the week but that consisted of just throwing my clothes in my suitcase and piling up my books and papers. It took a little work to get everything sorted. But I got there. My shuttle should pick me up before nine o'clock tomorrow morning to take me to the airport and my flight should leave at 11:45AM. I logged into the site to check-in for my flight the second it hit 11:45AM this morning and managed to get boarding position A59. I believe that is near the tail end of the second group to board. Maybe that means I can get a window seat. We'll see.

Oh, and my professor slid my journal back under my door while I was ironing. Apparently she spent the night reading journals and gave them back to anyone who was still here so she wouldn't have to mail them back to us. She hasn't posted grades yet but hopefully it met all the requirements.

Now that I am done with this, I'm going it go to bed. It is one o'clock in the morning and tomorrow morning is going to come much too soon. I am, however, looking forward to pizza for breakfast.