What would you do for a free plane ticket?

I have a layover in Denver on the way to Austin. I arrived in Denver at 11. I leave at 7. That's a long time, 8 hours from landing to take off.

The ticket was free. Frequent Flyer. Wish they had awards for longest waiter. I would get a lot of points!

Last time I went to Austin, I drove for two days straight and I arrived feeling like I'd been on a big adventure (which I had). This time, I think I will just be weary.

But I'm NOT complaining.

I'm observing my fellow humans at the airport.

There is the newly minted married couple sitting a seat apart from each other. She scarfs down McDonald french fries and a coke while he looks ahead, stoic. She puts on her headphones and plays with her IPod while he looks ahead stoic. How do I know they are recently married? I can just tell.

There's the mean lady who yells at her kid and another who eats her kid's sandwich. I'm not kidding.

There's the cute family with three young ones and happy parents, rare and wonderful to see them.

I did find the very very best place to hang out here. It's a restaurant with good food and very reasonable prices and drinks if you want them. And wifi and tables near power outlets. I stayed there for let's see....4 hours and they were very nice to me the entire time. I left because I wanted to leave, they didn't give me any funny looks or anything.

Right now, I'm at my terminal. I'm longing for a good walk around, but I'm carrying my XL1 and bag (15lbs) on one shoulder and my other bag with computer and camera and stuff on the other shoulder (10 pounds). It's a lot after a while.

Luckily yesterday I ran hard and strong on my favorite tabeguache trail. I was hot and I was sweaty. (It's rare to sweat here, you have to run fast or you dry as you sweat and miss the benefit of a good sweat, sorry if that sounds gross, it's just true.)

I'll get to Austin tonight. Dennis will pick me up. Tomorrow we'll hang out. Maybe we'll go swim and bike and run and stuff. I want to shop, too and talk and hangout. And, it's possible, it looks good that I might, maybe, possibly have an offer on my house. (hopeful grin)

I'll correspond later when I'm back in Texas, where my story continues to unfold.