Ireland Part 1
Feb. 12th, 2004 09:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prowler1971I'm actually writing this while on the airplane. According to the computer clock, it's 21:22 PM EST. (Yes, it really specifies PM). I have no idea what time zone I'm in. I'm finally using my iBook.
They've served us drinks, I had Bailey's and ice. But this isn't really where the story starts.
After worrying about my passport for a month, and finally getting one, I'm on my way. I managed to leave work early so I could finish packing and take my time getting to the airport. I picked up my parents on Wednesday night from the airport in Warwick, RI. Both of them were sick. I was counting on my father to take me to the airport and he was took sick to drive. My mother couldn't get out of work. Luckily, my roommate was home. We took my car into the airport (I nearly got there on autopilot) and he drove it back for me.
The line at the ticket counter was short. The line at security... was not. When Michelle went, the lines were all short and she got through quickly. This looked like one more obstacle I had to deal with. But the lines moved quickly enough. I got through about 6:30. 15 minutes before boarding. The guy in front of me got out of line because he thought another line was moving faster. He was right. The girl who was now in front of me got "randomly picked" for a more thorough search. I thought it was just because she was there when they finished the previous one. I wasn't sure what it was thinking it was the "plane boarding soon line" so I asked. The guy told me I didn't want to go into that line. I did if it meant getting through sooner. But I went through the normal line. To make matters worse, my tendonitis flared on me and I had what felt like kidney stone pain.
The guy in the regular line was telling everyone NOT to put their shoes or bags into the trays. I thought he said to. As we got closer he said to someone "what part of don't put your shoes or bags into the tray don't you understand?" I said, " I thought you said TO put them in." The guy had a sense of humor and jokingly said it get me pulled aside. But he was very happy that I got everything into trays (or not into trays) and through quickly. Nice people those security guys.
I checked out the Duty Free shop and was unimpressed. It's only worth bothering with for cigarettes and booze.
So, eventually I got on the plane. The line to get on the plane kind of formed abruptly. No real line, just people getting up and standing where they want. No order. Kind of bugged me. But we all got on.
The plane was overbooked. Apparently they were offering people $200 to get bumped. Nobody asked me but depending on what flight they would send me on, I might have taken it. But certainly not if it would have delayed me more than a few hours. Anyway, nobody asked me and I was on the plane just fine.
There was a guy weighing about 300-350 lb. No taller than 6 feet. The guy was squeezed into the little seat. We talked about how the airlines are good at accommodating him but the fact the flight was full made it tougher. He was sitting with one of his kids (I assume they were his) so, as he said, nobody else had to suffer.
Next to me was a nice lady from Ireland and her daughter. Apparently, her father died the night before and she'd had to get moved to an earlier flight. The kid was naturally jumpy but eventually fell asleep. They served us dinner as I was starting writing this.
Both the lady and the gentleman kept talking to me about various things. I was reading my book but distracted by the TV. The guy thought I was engrossed in my book so he asked me about it. I wasn't really but it seemed odd. I'd rather talk to people than read the book any day. It just seemed weird. "Hey, you look like you're really enjoying what you're doing why don't I distract you from it." Anyway, it didn't matter just odd.
They showed an episode of Third Rock from the Sun that I hadn't seen. Then some music videos. Then they showed an episode of Grounded for Life that I had seen. Two favorite quotes:
"The Ramones are more important that the galaxy."
"It's the Ramones farewell tour. We see all their farewell tours. This one might be their last."
Then more videos. Then Everyone Loves Raymond. I don't really love him all that much. Right now they're showing "School of Rock" with Jack Black and I'm watching while I write.
The woman in my row how now fallen asleep like her daughter. I seem unable to sleep and that bothers me. I figured I'd sleep on the plane which would make me well rested for the 5 hour time difference. We'll see. It's now about 22:25 EST. That would make it 02:25 GMT (in Ireland). She and her husband are divorcing. Her daughter is about six. She looks like she's in her late 40s, early 50s. Late in life to have a family.
I get about 3 hours on my iBook's battery. Not too bad considering I thought I'd have zero battery.
I'm going to watch the movie now.
They've served us drinks, I had Bailey's and ice. But this isn't really where the story starts.
After worrying about my passport for a month, and finally getting one, I'm on my way. I managed to leave work early so I could finish packing and take my time getting to the airport. I picked up my parents on Wednesday night from the airport in Warwick, RI. Both of them were sick. I was counting on my father to take me to the airport and he was took sick to drive. My mother couldn't get out of work. Luckily, my roommate was home. We took my car into the airport (I nearly got there on autopilot) and he drove it back for me.
The line at the ticket counter was short. The line at security... was not. When Michelle went, the lines were all short and she got through quickly. This looked like one more obstacle I had to deal with. But the lines moved quickly enough. I got through about 6:30. 15 minutes before boarding. The guy in front of me got out of line because he thought another line was moving faster. He was right. The girl who was now in front of me got "randomly picked" for a more thorough search. I thought it was just because she was there when they finished the previous one. I wasn't sure what it was thinking it was the "plane boarding soon line" so I asked. The guy told me I didn't want to go into that line. I did if it meant getting through sooner. But I went through the normal line. To make matters worse, my tendonitis flared on me and I had what felt like kidney stone pain.
The guy in the regular line was telling everyone NOT to put their shoes or bags into the trays. I thought he said to. As we got closer he said to someone "what part of don't put your shoes or bags into the tray don't you understand?" I said, " I thought you said TO put them in." The guy had a sense of humor and jokingly said it get me pulled aside. But he was very happy that I got everything into trays (or not into trays) and through quickly. Nice people those security guys.
I checked out the Duty Free shop and was unimpressed. It's only worth bothering with for cigarettes and booze.
So, eventually I got on the plane. The line to get on the plane kind of formed abruptly. No real line, just people getting up and standing where they want. No order. Kind of bugged me. But we all got on.
The plane was overbooked. Apparently they were offering people $200 to get bumped. Nobody asked me but depending on what flight they would send me on, I might have taken it. But certainly not if it would have delayed me more than a few hours. Anyway, nobody asked me and I was on the plane just fine.
There was a guy weighing about 300-350 lb. No taller than 6 feet. The guy was squeezed into the little seat. We talked about how the airlines are good at accommodating him but the fact the flight was full made it tougher. He was sitting with one of his kids (I assume they were his) so, as he said, nobody else had to suffer.
Next to me was a nice lady from Ireland and her daughter. Apparently, her father died the night before and she'd had to get moved to an earlier flight. The kid was naturally jumpy but eventually fell asleep. They served us dinner as I was starting writing this.
Both the lady and the gentleman kept talking to me about various things. I was reading my book but distracted by the TV. The guy thought I was engrossed in my book so he asked me about it. I wasn't really but it seemed odd. I'd rather talk to people than read the book any day. It just seemed weird. "Hey, you look like you're really enjoying what you're doing why don't I distract you from it." Anyway, it didn't matter just odd.
They showed an episode of Third Rock from the Sun that I hadn't seen. Then some music videos. Then they showed an episode of Grounded for Life that I had seen. Two favorite quotes:
"The Ramones are more important that the galaxy."
"It's the Ramones farewell tour. We see all their farewell tours. This one might be their last."
Then more videos. Then Everyone Loves Raymond. I don't really love him all that much. Right now they're showing "School of Rock" with Jack Black and I'm watching while I write.
The woman in my row how now fallen asleep like her daughter. I seem unable to sleep and that bothers me. I figured I'd sleep on the plane which would make me well rested for the 5 hour time difference. We'll see. It's now about 22:25 EST. That would make it 02:25 GMT (in Ireland). She and her husband are divorcing. Her daughter is about six. She looks like she's in her late 40s, early 50s. Late in life to have a family.
I get about 3 hours on my iBook's battery. Not too bad considering I thought I'd have zero battery.
I'm going to watch the movie now.
