It's 3:45am and I've just woken up. In just over 20 hours, I'll be in China... that's after 15-1/2 hours of flight time with 5 hours worth of layovers in Seattle and San Francisco. It sucks to be me.
It's now 5:22am and I am enjoying the free wireless here at our little local airport, Wenatchee Pangborn Field. I'm hungry, but the only restaurant here has long-since gone out of business.
It's now 7:05am and I am in Seattle eating a delicious Qdoba Egg & Potato Breakfast Burrito after having been told that there isn't a seat for me on the flight from San Francisco to Shanghai. Such is the peril of flying United where I have -zero- status with the airline. But it sure beats getting a "full-body skin rash that itches like hell and doesn't respond to any medical treatment."
It's now 7:47am and I have just spent 20 minutes attempting to find out if I am actually going to get on the flight to Shanghai. The first gate agent tells me he has no idea, and I will have to check and see when I am in San Francisco because the flight "must be sold out." But then the Customer Service Desk opens up so I try again. When I explain the situation, the lady there is completely mystified as to why I wasn't given a seat, because there are plenty available. She even manages to find me a window-seat so I can sleep (even though it is all the way in the ass-end of the plane). Part of me is a little bummed out, because it would have been great to spend the night in San Francisco so I could go eat fortune cookies.
It's now 7:56am and I am paying the outrageously stupid price of $6.95 for an internet connection. I don't have much choice, because I didn't make it through my inbox at work yesterday, and need to get caught up before leaving the country. Wayport bastards. Why not offer connection by the hour at a reasonable rate?
It's now 8:52am and my plane has just arrived. It is very small.
It's now 9:02am and I have done about all I can do with work just now. Everything else will have to wait until I get to China. For the past half-hour a loud-mouthed idiot seated across the lobby has been blathering into his mobile phone LOUDLY about random political crap nobody wants to hear. From what I can tell, the call was initiated by a rather tasteless Bush-bashing television commercial that runs through the administration's failures (up to and including the Katrina fiasco), and then puts up a picture of Dubyah with the word "LEADER" underneath. But then "MIS" drops onto the screen spelling out "MISLEADER." Get it? HA HA HA HA! Whatever. Apparently, these people would rather waste money on television commercials that tell people what they already know, as opposed to say... donating the money to Katrina victims where it could do some actual good. Dumbasses. How much does a commercial on CNN cost? Enough to buy some food and clothing for a lot of people I'll bet.
It's now 9:20am and they will be boarding my flight to SFO soon. This is a good thing, because an obnoxious bitch screeching into her mobile phone sat down next to me and I'm about ready to kick it up her ass. I'm totally doped up on Ibuprofen right now, which means my back isn't bothering me much at all so I could totally do it.
It's now 1:32pm and this will be the last entry for today. In a few minutes, I'll be climbing on a 12-1/2 hour flight, trying not to go insane from the horrors of being trapped in a tiny space for a half-day. Once again I find myself in the unenviable position of leaving the country just as a hurricane is going to hit... knowing that I won't know what's happening until I land and get to my hotel. The good news, if you can look at it that way, is that Rita has been downgraded to a "Category 3" which means potentially a lot less damage. That's something.
See you in China.
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Hope your flight to China was bearable. Strange how you keep leaving the country prior to a big hurricane…..hmm…is it a coincidence or what? 🙂 Anyways, I am presently in The Woodlands (outside of Houston) and am hunkered down with many other people at the St. Luke’s Hospital here. We are prepared for the worst and hoping for the best. Here’s to the wish that when you get to China and see the news, you won’t find what you did last time with Katrina. Enjoy your trip!
I sure am curious about what the hell you do for a living, Dave2. Since you’re on a 12-hour flight, I think all us loyal readers should post our guesses as to your employment.
We have the following clues:
1. You’re a gifted graphic designer.
2. You travel a LOT, especially to Asia.
3. You make a lot of money. You can afford to travel all over the world visiting Hard Rock Cafes (unless that’s business-related???), and would normally have enough “fun money” to go out and buy a Nano.
4. You watch a LOT of TV.
5. You have a healthy interest in music.
5. You often burn the midnight oil, and sometimes burn the candle at both ends.
5. You’re tall. That may not have anything to do with your employment, but who knows?
I’ll guess first: I think you design software packaging and promotional materials.
Bret thinks you’re a procurer for an anime cover band.
Oh wow… You’re so lucky. I know the travelling there and back is going to be a major downer, but what a wonderful time you’ll have in China! I saw your gizmo bag over on Flickr, and you seem well-prepared with plenty to entertain you during the flight. HAVE FUN! 🙂
Oooh… be safe Michelle! I’ll be thinking of you.
Well, SJ… I design whatever I am paid to design! And, since I have worked on both software packaging and promotional materials, I’d have to say you are right! And while I have never been a procurer for an anime cover band, I have been on stage with an anime-inspired rock band in Yokohama… so I guess Brett is half-right too!
Unfortunately, my gizmo bag has been drastically pared down so as not to get me into trouble with Homeland Security, AB. Half the stuff I leave at home anymore, though my laptop and camera are always with me. 🙂