Getting there

Man! So, what a long flight over here. I got my paperwork together on the flight to LA. The flight seemed surprisingly short even at the time. After a quick layover in California I boarded the plane for Melbourne. I had never realized before that when airlines make a big deal about "non stop service" that it actually is a big deal. We took off from LA and I fell asleep. I woke up in time to see that I had missed dinner and the girl next to me helped me wave down some pasta. I had a brief dinner of pasta with meatballs that I didn't eat, a roll that I didn't eat, a salad that made me feel a little weird and a butterscotch brownie(nothing close to what my aunts can make^_^ but it was ok) then back off to sleep. I woke up briefly when we stopped in Hawaii. I moved around a little because my legs were starting to hurt and fell back asleep. I slept through another snack offering and finally woke up at about 6EST. I watched some west wing. Studied for the business quiz I need to take when we land and then played cell phone games for a bit. At about 5am Hawaii time the girl next to me headed to the bathroom. To minimize disturbances I went too. When I got back a new movie was starting. It was sweet I have to look up what it was. During the movie i peered out the window. There was a georgious sunrise. 


It was even better than the picture. The next movie that came on was the walk. It had Martin sheen so I tried to watch it but it wasn't capturing my interest so I switched to reading. In between chapters I looked outside.

Sometimes it was breathtakingly beautiful other times we were inside a cloud and I couldn't see anything. They served us breakfast just before we got to Sydney. I had pancakes with apple and cranberry. They were pretty good, the grapes weren't bad either. There was turkey sausage that I was too scared to try and an apple pastry that I got half way through and some mint that made me gag. I don't know if airplane food is really that bad or if I'm just to motion sick to eat on planes.  I need to pack differently for my next trip. I don't know what I want to bring but I do know that I either brought too much or need to be in first class. A big coat was fantastic. Much better than the blanked they provide. My computer was good while the battery lasted I might buy a back up battery for subsequent trips. Other than that my things mostly got in the way I didn't have enough room to maneuver so I couldn't use most of the items in my carry on. Instead I think I need a stress ball and some slippers next time.  My fingers started to swell so I took my ring off. I dropped it as I was trying to put it away it was impossible to find while in flight. I stayed on the plane after everyone got off but it was no where to be found.  Another unfortunate circumstance of my travels is the lady infront of me smelled horribly of Bo. I wanted to offer my deodorant but couldn't bring myself to be that rude. Let me reiterate the that my flight was most definitely not nonstop. I booked a flight from la to Melbourne on continental airlines. It was instead operated by united which is no big deal since united bought continental but we went la to Honolulu where we didn't get to exit the plane. We just picked up fuel. Then Honolulu to Sydney where I changed planes and then sydney to Melbourne. Most people would call that a lay over but aparently things like this happen from time to time. Anyway to keep me from throwing a fit they directed everyone on the flight to a website where we can get free stuff. Can't wait to see what it is. We landed in Sydney.

I had a quick dash from my gate through customs, down the terminal and to my connecting flight. Now the flight from Sydney to Melbourne is the way I should always get to fly.  I had three seats to myself. I could have had more but I couldn't figure out a way to use more than 3 seats.  

I sat down and had enough space to repack my bag. I found my ring. Yay!!! But my fingers were still too swollen to wear it.  We finally landed in Melbourne and I went through 3 stages of customs.  It's not too bad they just checked my passport and had dogs sniff my bag.  Then a nice younger grandfather named chris picked me up along with a law student from Ottowa.  I wish I could remember his name but it's escaped me.  We dropped the law student off at a YMCA type place and headed to South Caulfield.  It's a Jewish suburb similar to Shadyside bordered by North and East Caufield which sounds a great deal like Squirrel Hill.  My house mum is lovely.  She is spunky with red hair.  The two dogs are manic and the cat looks like a very very very fat old version of Saji.  He even has the black streak down his back.  So Katie made me a sandwich.  I worked on my homework.  That took me up to dinner.  We had a lovely salad with a ton of extras on it.  I unpacked my room, took my business quiz which I had been studying for on the airplane, and I'm off to bed.