Appreciating: Empty Airport

Miami International Airport J  concourse

I arrived at the airport as per my early usual.  I have anticipation anxiety.  That means I get so excited by going somewhere that my nerves are all on end until I get to the place I need to go.  For me that place is the airport.

I arrived to an empty counter at Air Canada.  I walked through the priority line, I figured that was me.  When I got to the counter, I asked "Are 2 checked luggage included in the upgrade?,"  He said yes and checked both my luggage bags.  He printed out a boarding pass and notified me that the gate was J7 and that the VIP Lounge was Avianca.  This was so cool.  

I walked over to TSA check-in and I was third in line.  I took all the time in the world to get out everything and un-robe. I even helped the man in front of me tuck in his bookbag straps and get two more bins he needed to get his laptop and tablet out.  The TSA lady was not in a good mood.  He made it through ok and when I went through, it was easy breezy.  The Scanner said You are free to go.  That rarely happened.  This is a great day.

The walk to the concourse was kinda long. I wasn't dragging around my carry-on.  This is great.  I stopped by the Tumi store to check out the new items.  The lady looked at my bag and immediately treated my like a Tumi customer.  I felt like this is what heaven must be like . Only the airport is missing the cats.  Cats are heaven to me.

I stopped by Starbucks and unexpectedly had a balance on one of my Starbucks gift cards.  So I only owed 2.90.  Wonderful.  I proceeded to the V.I.P.  lounge. It was empty for the most part and the greeter was super nice.  The V.I.P lounge has a bar.  Since I don't drink hard liquor I was a little like gosh I wish I could mix a drink for breakfast!  I opted for the only thing that I felt would serve me... A small bowl of  roasted potatoes.

I had finished the potatoes and was going to use the same bowl to get seconds when the server came and put her "work gloved" hand in the bowl.  I told her I was done and decided that was probably a sign that I didn't need more potatoes.

So, I am typing this on my mini keyboard and using my Amazon tablet with the free secure WIFI from the V.I.P Lounge in the Miami International Airport.  All the moments of my life have led me to this place.  I am smiling.  I love my life.

I am calm now.  I am at the airport.  The anticipation anxiety comes back the closer it gets to boarding time.  Since I am first to board this will ease the anxiety greatly and the fact that I just have my backpack makes this all the much more easier.  Totally loving sitting at a table in this lounge with the sweet sounds of soothing music and the soft  murmur of conversations being spoken in languages that I do not recognize. And the clank of silverware and ceramic.

I still have about two hours until I board.  I am kinda hungry, but I would like to save room for the in flight meal.  I hope I can make it partly vegan.  If they have warm nuts I will be happy and a cup of hot water for tea and the leg room and the comfy seat.  I have a window seat.  Awesome! I get to look out the window. The thing about the window seat though, it is cold.  I feel how cold it is to be so high up.  I can smell the winter in Montreal as I type this.  I really am looking forward to saying "Bonjour Montreal."

I downloaded a book and some videos about Montreal.  I will attend to that now.  

Day 27 - Go Vegan because even people who don't want to do it - try it

I would  say  everyone knows that  being a vegan is good for you and the planet, but that it  not true  everyone  doesn't know  about eating vegan.  I met one of these people in a doctor's  office, it was the secretary.  I was talking  and I mentioned that I was vegan and her immediate reaction was," What's vegan?"

More than ever  the words Vegan and celebrity and being put together in headlines.  People just want to be better.  They are the role models society look to for trends and  how to live. More and more people are becoming aware of what  vegan means.


Ne- Yo the musician - entertainer  is reportedly made his 2013 New Year's resolution to want to try to become  vegan.  People  stuck  in a certain  mindset  may  not  find living a gentler kinder way easy at first after  eating  like the cruel masses  all their life...We will see if Ne-Yo  can do it,  I know he can if he is serious  about being more humane.

Live Science 2013 article  about more people  resolving to change their diet.

Day 26- Go vegan - food trucks

People  ask me  with  frequency  the  same question:  Where do you eat, like what  restaurants  do you go to?  And it is true  unless you live in a place  like Montreal, Canada  or  some other vegan/ vegetarian  wonderland, the options  of eating  out are slim if you want to be a purist and eat in a vegan only establishment.  Vegguide.org and Happycow.net  offer listings of vegetarian and vegan restaurants.   I also  eat at Whole Foods. Food  trucks  are now offering vegans another option.  Trucks travel  (you know that) so that  is great!  They practically  come to you.

I ate from  Mushaboom  food truck.  They are not organic  unfortunately.  I tried the
Chickpea Parmigiana Burger

Chickpea patty with marinara and Daiya mozzarella

It was quite tasty and  from  my days  of eating Chicken Parmigiana, my  taste buds said, "This tastes like Chicken Parmigiana."  I need to add  I am not sure how accurate by taste bud memory is, so try it for yourself.

Mushaboom is a more of what I think of as a junk food vegan truck.  They serve fries and soda too.

If you are trying to go vegan,  try finding and eating at a vegan  food truck to try the recipes  and possibilities.

Broward and Dade County Based Food Truck.
http://www.mushaboomvegan.com/  


Peta  link to food trucks

Organic and Vegan  Food Trucks in LA

Vegan Food Trucks Sweeping Nation -  lists  food  trucks  across main cities in USA

Day 25- Go Vegan Know your herbs & spices

As a Vegan,  I tend  not to want to put  toxins  such as aspirin, and pain pills in my  now delicately  balanced  system -out of respect for all the hard  work  that  I have done and out of respect for my body.  Knowing the healing powers  of herbs  really  can  help  reduce the uncomfortable  moments  in life that  everyone experiences  from  time to time.  The remedies are right in your  grocery  store or local  farmers  market..

Here are a few  links.  My  favorite  herb  is thyme.

BBC  Good Food  The healing power  of herbs

The Healing power of herb and spices

5 spices  with incredible healing power