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Later...same day....

I'm disappointed! They didn't hassle us at Security! I ALWAYS GET HASSLED AT SECURITY. Oh, well, we still have to get through LAX (Los Angeles Airport) and Auckland (New Zealand) airports, so the airport people still have an opportunity to search us.

It's 4:00pm now. Dad and I are both getting antsy. Our plane just arrived and we should be boarding by 4:35-4:40 for a 5:00pm take off. Time for a pit stop and then we are off.

Ok, you gotta understand. Every time I have flown since 911, I have to remove my shoes and stand with my arms outstretched while some Godzilla-woman in a security uni waves her magic wand and gives me the evil eye. At first I was patient. You are selected "randomly" so it just might be my turn. But, after the third or fourth trip, getting stopped coming AND going, and after standing in line in the Sacramento airport behind 300 people, and after being systematically treated like a criminal, I became a bit miffed. You try to do all the security people ask of you and they send you back through that damn xray gate and STILL want to do a cavity search!??? That trip from Sac last year really irked me! I got really put-out (must have been out of hormones as well as patience that day) and loudly asked the security folks why they don't start an Express Line for NAKED PEOPLE. I would gladly volunteer to go first! No luggage! No Shoes with (supposed) bombs! Nothing to hide! Just let me pass through without all the harrassment. I'll put their eyes out with one glance at my "fishbelly white" tail! There were a whole bunch of people cheering and ready to shuck their garments in favor of my suggestion! Anyway....

Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 7:40pm LAX (Los Angeles Airport)

The flight was uneventful. (Thank you, Jesus!) The pilot didn't bounce the landing, but it felt like an hour passed before we got to the terminal. That has to be the longest taxi-way on earth. Why is it that the gate you arrive at is farthest from the next gate you need to leave from?

We had to switch from domestic to international at LAX and didn't have a clue where that might be. We found a couple security guards that pointed in the general direction of the international terminal, but we had to get clear outside the domestic terminal before we saw the international terminal building kitty-corner to where we were standing. More walking. Luckily, we only had our carry-ons to lug. Our checked bags were already securely on their way to our next flight.

    Left the domestic flights terminal and walked to the internationl one next door. It is strange suddenly. I recognize the voice, or rather, the language coming over the loud speaker. Japanese. This building has a decidedly multi-national feel. People we pass speak strangely. They are dressed somewhat differently, and it smells "foreign".

     We found where we need to go (for our flight to Auckland)...through security again, but WE'RE HUNGRY! Burgers! Dad wants a hamburger. (I didn't write it down earlier, but we ate at a Deli in SFO at 2:30pm. Dad had a hot dog from W.W.I. That thing looked petrified! He said it was "not good". For dad to say that about his favorite food tells me it was HORRIBLE. Your normal person couldn't choke it down with a gallon of liquid! ick!)
     Back to the hunt for a burger. The only thing we found that looked recognizable was a MacDonalds. A couple "Big'nTasties" and some fries and a drink each, put us back on our feet. (Dad said he never thought he would LIKE a MacDonald's burger. But, it was better than WWI hot dogs and the other unrecognizable stuff he had seen. Barely.)

     We made it through security again without so much as a glance from the pesky screeners. How come when I go by myself, they check me at EVERY stop!!!??? Maybe it is a sign. I need to take dad on more trips.
     Ok, a long wait now until our flight leaves (@9:40pm). My behind hurts ALREADY. More later...
(P.S. Watching the full moon come up over the terminal was beautiful. Hopefully, it will light up the ocean as we fly over.)

Sometime later on the flight, midair between LAX and Auckland, NZ....

According the the flight monitor, it is:
Thursday, September 29, 2004 - 7:03am @ LAX.
Friday, September 30, 2004 - 2:03am @ Auckland, NZ
And I have no idea what day or time it is where the plane is now.

     Writing in the dark, 5,126 miles from LA @ 36,000ft. Outside temp -59F. Three hours to go to Auckland. Cramped up like cattle.
     We crossed the equator sometime while I slept. Writing is difficult when you are elbow to elbow with 400+/- people! We are about to cross the Date Line, so I wanted to be awake. Dad found the light switch so at least I can see a bit of what I am scribbling. Let me back up and begin where I left off....waiting for our flight to leave LA.
     We met some retired folks from Florida and New Jersey while we were all waiting to board the long flight to Auckland. They were on a tour going to New Zealand then to Melbourne. The lady from Florida said all the storms missed her place.

To refresh everyone's memory, Florida was hit with four HUGE hurricanes in the space of a couple months. This lady had spoken with her son and he gave her the good new. Most of the people in her area didn't have much damage at all.

The guy from New Jersey was a kick! He said everyone was so worried about dying in storms, getting shot down or hyjacked by terrorists, and all kinds of terrible things. His attitude was, you're gonna die sometime, so live a little now! Who cares!!!???

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