Fear, Flying and First Impressions

6:15 PM PST: 

I made it to LAX with a bit of carsickness. One sprite and one Pino Grigo later it was time to say goodbye to the parents and head off to the check in.  Most of you know I’m not a big crier.  In fact, I hate doing it—especially in public.  So when the water works turned on a bit as I said goodbye I had to stop talking to keep it together.  I’m not nervous about the trip, or anxious about going at all.  Well, frankly I’m just a bit sad to leave you all.  I’ve been blessed in life to have amazing friends and family.  Who wouldn’t be bummed to leave you?

Well… once the initial tears subsided I got it together in time to people watch.  Awesome LAX sightings of the day:

1. A woman wearing cat ears. I kid you not.  She had on a headband with cat ears like little girls wear on Halloween. 
2. A mass of hot Israeli guys chatting away and working on their laptops.  I’m guessing they’re techies.   (They are also on my plane.  Sadly they are sitting on the opposite end of the plane. 
3.  The Gerber Baby incarnate.  This little blond cherub is sitting only four seats away from me.  And while she is currently crying over takeoff she still just may be the most adorable living thing I’ve seen in recent memory.
4. The man sitting next to me.  Why is it that men always ALWAYS take the armrest?  Come on… I get it you have an extra appendage that doesn’t mean you get the armrest automatically.  My in-flight mission is to reclaim the armrest at all costs.  Frankly, it’s just rude to assume that your personal space is more valuable and vast than someone else’s.   Also of note: He did not respond when I greeted him and has taken turns eating what smells like curry on a stick and extra strong Halls cough drops.   (I love curry…. But let’s be honest this is a ten hour flight.  I don’t love it that much.)

Seriously, why could I not sit next to the cute Israeli techies?  On the flight with ten hours to go: 6:21 PM Pacific Time.  I’m going to pop on The Hangover now. 

6:41 PM PST:

Free wine.  Enough said.

8:14 PM PST:  Two mini bottles of wine, one mediocre lasagna, and a surprisingly good blueberry desert I am lightly buzzed and ready to chill.  Thanks to travel size everything my teeth are brushed, face washed, and ready for ridiculous Vegas antics to put me to sleep.   PS. The smell has turned to a mixture of cumen and cough drops but his previous ignoring of my greeting is forgiven as we shared a moment of confusion over how to get our TV screens up.  Gerber baby still crying yet still cute.   I’m prepared with some DROWSY Dramamine for later.  Here’s hoping sleep is in the cards and I won’t get yelled at for putting my feet up on the emergency exit door.

10:40 AM London Time: 

Awake after three hours of sleep.  I’m totally loosing the armrest war.  To make matters worse, the smell has transformed to a menthol-curry hybrid.  I fear the worst has transpired and the scent has made its way into the right sleeve of my armrest bereft right arm.   Seriously considering buying perfume at Duty Free to resolve smelly situation.

12:10 PM London Time: 

Land at Heathrow very smoothly… kudos to the female pilot with sexy British accent. 

Overall flight impressions:

1. Food: decent
2. Travel companions: unsavory
3. Comfort: I swear one day I’m going to travel first class and never look back.  Humans were not meant to sleep sitting in a full and upright position.
4. Timeliness: slightly subpar
5. Noise Level: Gerber baby has some lungs.

Lost my Olay face wash wipes going through security.  Problematic. 

1:40 London Time:

Heathrow is rather large--it even has their own mini-subway (or should I say tube?) to take you from the tarmac to the terminals.   After a quick high-speed ride and six rather slow escalators (see picture) I’ve made it to the main departure terminal.  I have no idea what gate I’m going out of yet as they wont be posting it for a few hours.  They did however caution me to not leave the airport or the terminal because “you never know.” 

Verizon did not activate international calling on my phone like they said they would.  So no phone calls for me just yet.   Shockingly (note sarcasm) I cannot find a payphone.  Here’s hoping my parents check their email this morning.  

I may go out in search of food.  I’m not incredibly hungry, but what else is there to do in an airport right?  My tush is numb from sitting too much.  It feels like I sat through a 10-hour spin class.   

Instant messaging with friends on the East Coast who are just getting up.  I’m going to go search for face wash and sustenance.

Forgive my stream of consciousness writing and sentence fragments.  I’m operating on very little sleep.  :)