Hello, lovely, lovely readers!! Apologies for woefully neglecting this blog; I’ve been going non-stop for the past week. But I have time now, so I can throw a KAGILLION updates at you! I’ve been recording thoughts and little experiences since I left Houston, so I’ll do a little entry for each of those days I missed. Let us start with my journal entries on my flights…
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Houston
After about an hour of waiting at the gate, Ive finally boarded my first flight ever across the pond. Harry Connick Jr.s dulcet tones are humming through the airplane speakers as I wait for take-off. I feel rather lucky tonighttheres hardly anyone on the plane. I have a window seat and the rest of the row to myself. This bodes well for sleeping.
Speaking of sleep, I felt a little bubble of excitement as I approached my seat, because I noticed that each person gets a complementary blanket and pillow! See, this one time when I was little, when I was on a flight with my parents, a flight attendant gave me a little pillow for free. I was obsessed. I thought it was so awesome, the best freebie ever. After that, I always hoped Id get a pillow on a flight, but never did. Basically, I lost all hope in the airline industry. I mean, you charge me for a second bag, but dont even have the decency to give me a soft cushion for my tender head?! Absurd!
My faith is restored. I, in fact, get two pillows since the seat next to me is open. Actually, Im not completely sure about that. They might charge me $50.00 for the extra.
I just noticed that Im sitting next to the right wing of the plane. Ill let you know if I see any gremlins. Hope Im spared that spectacle, because Id hate to have a William Shatner moment (or a Bugs Bunny moment depending on your reference point).
So, this flight was delayed 30 minutes originally, and weve been waiting in the plane for a fair amount of time. People are getting antsy. Luckily the captain came on the speaker to explain the delay:
Hi, this is your captain! I guess you noticed how
were not moving.
Thank you, Captain Obvious (maybe thats actually his name
).
In other news, I sat across an Englishwoman with two kids in the airport while waiting for the flight. Is it sad that just hearing her speak made me happy? I love accents. A Welsh man came and chatted with her, and I tried to keep it cool and pretend that I wasnt gleefully listening to them speak.
Plane is moving! Finally! Im off to
Later that flight…
Just asked for a Wallstreet Journal. Dont really want to read it but everyone else is reading a paper and I feel I must blend in
Oh! Safety video! The BEST!
Enjoying Mr. Flight Attendants sweater combo: navy v-neck sweater, blue button-down, and a striped, silk tie in light blue, navy, and light yellow. He looks oh-so classy. Also, he just did an elaborate pantomime to the flight attendant behind him and doesnt know Im watching.
Cheers for now! Take-off!!