Pre-trip Blues

My trip began rather uneventfully. Busta packed me in his bag- a little too unceremoniously for my taste! Then there was the long car ride from Bloomington to Moline. Boy, that Busta sure can't sing! Finally, we arrived at Anna's abode. Hurrah! I'm ready to fly! Wait a minute. Why don't I see any suitcases? What do you mean, the trip doesn't start for another week? What am I supposed to do in Moline for a whole week? Look at your Christmas tree?! Oh sure. Take down the tree now. For Pete's sake, this is not what I had in mind. I'll just sit here next to the telephone and wait for my life to call. Um, Anna, could I please NOT sit here by myself all week? Your cat looks like he enjoys chicken a little too much for my comfort. Ahhh. After 3 days of staring down the cat, I was allowed to migrate to Anna's bedroom. Wow! There's a lot of stuff in here! I think I'll spend the rest of the week exploring Anna's room. Better use a ball of twine so I don't get lost on my trek.

Hawaii 2009

Ok, so apparently John isn't going to write up my trip to Australia any time soon. Therefore, I have decided to employ a more reliable author to record my highly interesting anecdotes on my Hawaiian adventure. Anna, prepare to receive dictation!

Trip to the West - final post

Benny - Busta, I think you left some things out of the final post from the trip out West.
Busta - I did? Like what?
Benny - Like how you almost killed us going down the mountain to Denver.
Busta - Hey, it was a steep mountain! And it was raining!
Benny - You also left out the part where Anna didn't talk to you for 2 weeks after the vacation.
Busta - I didn't talk to her, either. It was a mutual disagreement.
Benny - You said something not so nice to her.
Busta - I apologized. Half-heartedly.
Benny - Still ...
Busta - Zip the lip, rooster! Or I won't take you anywhere else!
Benny - I'm not scared of you! I have Anna on my side.
Busta - What's she going to do?
Benny - "Ve haf vays"
Busta - Oh, I forgot. She's Fraulein Commandant. Carry on.
Benny - I thought you would see things my way. Now, when are you going to write about Australia/Afghanistan for me?
Busta - Soon.
Benny - How about now?
Busta - I said soon.
Benny - Now is soon enough. TYPE!!!!!
Busta - Yes, Mein Commandant. Heil Benny!

Trip to the West - July 16th thru July 19th

Days 12 thru 15 - It was a great night of sleeping last night. I was able to dodge the paparazzi and Balanced Rock didn't crush our tent. All is right in the world! Now, if they would only let me go West to visit Cal, that would be great. But, no! Wanda wants to go to Hovenweep, so Anna and Busta rearranged the itinerary to accomodate her. Did they do that for me? NO!!! Of course not! Why did I come on this vacation anyway? All they do is take pictures of me. They never let me wander on my own and see the great outdoors! The next time I come out West, I'm going to the Pacific Ocean. Without them!



What? We're back from Hovenweep already? But I didn't see anything! What kind of tour guides are you, anyway? Wait a minute? Who's that? Moab? Are you a raven or a crow? Oh, who cares? Let's play cards and ignore them.






I'm not sure who won the game. Before we could finish the game, we were taken away and put in the tent for bedtime. Moab and I had a lengthy discussion on how to escape, but before the plan could be put into action, we fell asleep.


The next day we were packed away and put into the car. Apparently, our trip is over and we're heading east. Again, I tried to fly WEST, but the windows were rolled up and locked. (Note to self: learn how to unlock windows.) I was kind of sad we were going home because I knew what that meant: long boring days at Busta's place while he went to work. Since I haven't figured out how to work the TV (another note to self: figure out remote and channel number for The Discover Channel). And despite not seeing Cal, I did get to see lots of interesting things: The Grand Canyon, a dinosaur, Moab. But we trekked our way through the mountains and into the plains. We stopped at Lincoln, NE for the evening, and for the first time, I felt right at home. I could smell the fresh country air. Soon we'd be to Iowa and then Illinois.


The next day we were in the Quad Cities by 3 PM. We dropped off Wanda and Moab and then stayed the night at Anna's. Not much was going on, so we fell right asleep.

We decided to leave Anna's the next day and head back to Busta's. I helped him drive.






Not much to this driving thing. We made it to Busta's at a decent hour and had Sunday to rest before he headed to work on Monday. I can't wait for my next adventure!

Trip to the West - July 15th

Day 11 - After a restful slumber where I dreamed of flying INTO THE WEST to visit Cal the Condor, I awoke with aching feet. If only these heathens called humans hadn't stuffed me into cramped quarters at the top of their tent, I would be fully stretched.






But no! They made me sleep with no room. I'd have more room in the glove compartment! Needless to say, I was a not a chipper bird this fine morning. But Busta was bound and determined to take me on a hike today! Only if he takes me in his pocket, because my feet are killing me! Must be my arches.

************************************************************************************

I interrupt this blog to bring you a heart-wrenching story about a man and his rooster. I will call it: The Hike.

Scene: Foot of the hiking trail to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. A story told from two different perspectives: one part human, one part aviary.

Benny - It took us 1 hour to hike to the end and I didn't even break a sweat.

Busta - I huffed, wheezed, sputtered, stumbled, scrambled, bumbled, struggled, gasped, cried (briefly) and panted on the way to Delicate Arch. I was sweatier than a fat man in July. Oh, wait, that was me. Benny rode in my pocket on the way up because of his foot hurting him.

Benny - It was a beautiful, sunny day. Busta took numerous pictures of me and my delicate arches.

Busta - I took about 50 pictures of Delicate Arch, 3 of which were with Benny. A lady chuckled when saw me with Benny and told her daughter she should do the same thing with one of her stuffed animals.

Benny - I had to beat the paparazzi off with a stick. Everyone wanted a picture of me and my delicate arches. A gaggle of ladies practically threw themselves at me. All eyes were on me and my delicate arches. Some people even wanted to touch one of them!

Busta - I could literally touch Delicate Arch, that's how close we could get. I couldn't take my eyes off of it! I took pictures from every angle I could think of, including from below. I couldn't get above it, though. I would've need a rope and even then I couldn't climb it!

Benny - Busta roped off the paparazzi so they couldn't get a good angle to take a picture of my delicate arches. Some tried to climb over it, but Busta stood his ground.

Busta - The ground was hard on my butt so I stood up to stretch. As sad as I was to go, I knew I had to start heading down to the parking lot. Wanda and Anna had the car and were picking us up for the rest of our journey.

Benny - Busta was excited to tell me that a car was picking us up to take us for a rest with Journey. I didn't know Journey was in Utah, but they must be at a spa, because they're resting! That sounds like a great idea, because I'm running on empty!

(at the car in the parking lot, with Wanda and Anna inside) Anna - The gas tank is almost empty!

I now bring you back to your regularly scheduled blog.

************************************************************************************

The hike really wiped me out (must've been the sun), so I asked if I could be dropped off with Journey. My request was denied, so I spent the rest of the day hanging out with Busta, Wanda and Anna at Canyonlands National Park. Not much to see there, so we did a little more hiking (I didn't leave the car for fear that the paparazzi was following us!) and then went back to camp. Outside of the hike, not much happened today. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep without the paparazzi watching my every move. Part of me was also hoping that Balanced Rock in Arches N.P. didn't fall and come rolling over our tent in the middle of the night. I slept with both eyes open that night, watching the Utah night for a sign of bad things to come. I slept AND I watched - I'm that good!

You're still not done with the summer vacation?

Benny - I'm exhausted! Your sister is much more active than you are, Busta!
Busta - Don't you know it! You thought the trip out West was exhausting! Man, her trips are worse! But she is in the army, after all.
Benny - Speaking of trips out West ... Why isn't our Summer trip done?
Busta - I'm taking time to savor the memories and depict them the correct way. You know, like a good wine.
Benny - Poppycock! Hogwash! You are just a procrastinator!
Busta - Yes. But it's a brand new year. "New Year - New Me!". That's my catchphrase for this year. Catchy, huh?
Benny - Here's my catchphrase: "Finish the trip or die!".
Busta - I think that will catch on. At least, with me.
Benny - Good. Now, start writing before I peck your finger off.
Busta - Which one?
Benny - You choose.
Busta - Lucky me.
Benny - TYPE!

Trip to the West - July 14th

Day 10 - I was up with the sun today. We get to go West today! I can't wait to see Call Condor in L.A.. He's been waiting for my arrival for years. I'm so excited!

After tearing down camp, we got into the car and headed towards Moab in eastern Utah. It was a beautiful day and the sky was - HEY! EASTERN Utah? I thought we were going to L.A. - land of sun, beaches, and hot chicks. Don't make me turn this car around! I'm not kidding! Stupid window! Busta's locked it and I can't get out! Baw-bawk! Help! I'm being help captive! Someone call the police! I've been birdnapped! Help!

They're slowing down. What for? Aahhh ... breakfast. I sat and watched as they ate ... right in front of me! I'm probably related to your breakfast! Finally - help.

Listen, Lone Ranger, I need you to "Hi Ho, Silver, Away!" for assistance while Tonto and I fend them off with a fork. Now, quick - go! Don't just stand there! They're coming! Are you made of cardboard or something? Hurry ... Why, hello, Wanda. What a pretty shirt. "Novia Scotia" - where's that? She picked me up without answering. I glared at the Lone Ranger and Tonto. "Tonto means stupid!" I squawked as I exited with Wanda. Against my will, I might add.

Fine! If I have to go east, then I'll look out the windows. But I won't enjoy the ... Hey, why is everything so gray out here? And now around this bend it's all blue? Turn the corner! I want the next color! Ooohhhh .... brown. I didn't see that coming. Busta, watch the road. There's no guard rails, and I'm not sure I can muster the energy to fly if we wreck. Don't look at me like that - Watch the road! Squawk! You're making me nervous! Are we there yet? What? An unscheduled stop? You mad man, Busta!

We had stopped at Capital Reef National Park. It was the on the way to Moab (in EASTERN Utah!) so they figured they could explore for acouple hours. We saw the "reef" and then "

off-roaded" in the Grand Wash.

I finally was allowed some air, but the sun was broiling hot, so I found some shade. At least Wanda is nice to her hostages. Busta's driving made me want to peck his eyes out. Stupid driver! After a few more minutes of echoing in the canyon (Bawk! bawk! bawk!), we left to get back on the road. It was kind of fun and I actually got to stretch my legs (my arches in my foot are killing me!) and get some sun. All against my better judgement, of course.

So we got to Moab at a decent hour (the sun was setting - IN THE WEST!), set up tent, and had dinner. Or rather, they did. Again, I had to fend for myself. I gave them an evil look when they got back. You will pay for this! You ... will ... pay!!!!! Then I fell asleep.

Polly's Big Adventure

WHEWWW! It's been a long couple of weeks. My tour of Europe was OINKALICIOUS!! Had sooo much fun. Can't wait to blog all about it, but right now there's no time. I have to pack for Hawaii. I'm leaving on Sunday and will be there for 4 days. It will be nice to escape this cold harsh Illinois winter for a few days. What do you think, one piece or bikini...Yeah BIKINI all the way. Ta Ta for now... you know you are all jealous!