Home for the Holidays
Trip Start
Nov 22, 2007
1
16
Trip End
Dec 2007
Los Angeles, California
Saturday, December 22, 2007
I have received several inquiries as to how the remainder of my trip went. So here it is.
I took the midnight train to Frankfurt which was a nice three and a half hour trip. I decided to opt for my ipod tunes instead of indulging in sleep with the intention to get on California time with ease and grace. The train stops at the airport and all I had to do was take an escalator to the departure level. It was so easy - even with the extra bag! :) The Frankfurt airport though was a little difficult to navigate for me. Lots of small signs and none that I could see with the American Airlines logo on it. Thankfully, Sunny had given me excellent instructions on where to go, so I did what she said and then ate my Emmenthaler cheese and mustard sandwich on pretzel roll while I waited for the airport to open. It was several hours of chatting it up with a few soldiers heading home from Iraq, one with a purple heart, an Air Force Air Traffic Controller and a contract worker making six figures fixing cars in Iraq. It was an interesting morning.
The flight was full and since I volunteered to stay behind for the next flight, I fully expected to be bumped. A part of me was hoping I would be. I think it has something to do with all those movies about plane crashes- you know, while they set up their story, everyone is nice, friendly and exchanging email addresses... I thought, Shit, this is feeling a bit too much like a Hollywood movie. Well, I made it on the flight. My seat mate was friendly and another interesting conversation ensued between naps. I had a cold so I took Allergy pills that make me sleepy. I took them when I got on the plane. We sat on the tarmac for a while though and I slept through part of take off.. If you know me, you know this is quite something.
We flew over England and then Scotland where we had the one bump of turbulence. Yep, one bump. So cool. So for the next 11 hours I was napping peacefully and drinking water when I came to. It was far more comfortable than United has ever been. More leg room and I didn't feel like the guy next to me was close enough for a date. So, got to Dallas then to Los Angeles safely and easily. I got picked up by both Janet and Lisa who then took me on a trip to Mexican food - a hole in the wall- the best kind!
I was back on LA time from the moment I landed in Dallas, so the only difficulty I had was my cold. Nancy gave me her great Chicken soup recipe over the phone so I went out and got the ingredients and ate soup for the next week and took it really easy. Shopping online easy.
Things are back to normal. My dog sniffed Tate Donovan's dog's butt, I shopped side by side with a Desperate Housewife and I got caught in traffic on the 101. So welcome home. I am feeling better now, have caught up on Heroes and Grey's Anatomy, have some cookies in the oven and a happy purring cat on my lap. As an early Christmas present to my dear kitten, I got a laser toy. This is lots of fun for him. When he thinks he has it, he looks in his paw and there is nothing. Sometimes I aim the red light in his paw for further annoyance. My dog Ally has a Tickle me Cookie Monster waiting under the tree. Many years of enjoyment came from the bouncing Tigger, so I am thinking a Cookie Monster who rolls around on the floor and giggles is really gonna be a treat, not to mention a good laugh for me.
It has rained a bit here so I had to re-don my gherkin green trench coat. In it I found some Euros and it pained me. Not that I hadn't spent them, but that it was raining and I wasn't there. I miss my friends in Germany, the best tasting apples in France, chocolate at breakfast, paninis at lunch, cherry beer.. wait, I bought some of that and have been enjoying it! I miss their way of life, the farmer's markets that take place daily, the Gluhwein, and the laughs.
I really appreciate you guys and all your sweet comments and emails. Thanks for going along with me. I hope you all have a lovely Holiday Season. Much love to you,
Kathryn
