mothwabit droppings

When I say that, I don't mean like cakes and ice cream kind of fun and exciting day.  More like I-learned-a-lot-today sorta day.

First, it started off with some a mad scramble at packing from evening to a little bit just before my flight.  Liz did Rockewell shopping.  Not much sleep nor sustenance a few days prior either.  My in-laws were bait enough to want to bring me to the airport.  The little one was not in a good mood as he slept past midnight only to be woken up at 6am which was when we left the house.

I got in early at the Centennial Airport and one of the first people to check in for my flight.  The airport rep was worried about my connecting flight at Pu Dong Airport in Shanghai and kept me for like 20 minutes.  Supposedly, there was a four hour minimum for the layover.  Thankfully though, they got one of their reps in China to do a "meet and assist" for me because they couldn't give me a protective booking.

I love the moment the plane lifts off.  I had a window seat but scrunched up with a son and his mom.  Fortunately, when I go to the bathroom, i spy the empty seats.  Whoa!  There is a guy sleeping on three seats with his bare feet up.  I copy him and move my stuff to the back seats.  The attendants were very friendly and even gave me a blanket and pulled down the windows so the end half of the plane was in darkness.  A few other businessmen copied and I was just cozily sleeping the 3 hour-flight away on a mound of pillows.

Getting off at Pu Dong, my adrenaline pumped like crazy all the time.  The meet and greet guy was there but did nothing except mumble a few things in Chinese English and draw arrows on two pages of maps.  It was cold.  I couldn't breathe very well and I felt heavy.  Heavier still when we were walking past deserted corridors and vast hallways.  I had no visa so they scrutinized me very well before letting me pass through.  I got my luggage easily enough but it was running running running from there.  I understood about the 4 hour minimum.  It was a very long walk.  Fortunately, there were conveyor belt thingies but even those I ran on.  I thanked God for Marlon, my trainer, and all the tortuous things he made me do but even then, I was still gasping for breath heavily whilst I ran and ran and ran.  I covered a lot of ground.  After some getting lost, I finally found the right terminal.  A few minutes' wait and then we were on the plane. 

Thirteen hours flight.  I hoped I had an aisle seat but I was in between a big American and a small Chinese lady.  Later, it would turn out okay as we had seats between us and we had some leg room.  Also managed some sleeping room ha ha.  I slept through some meals but woke up to some bad turbulence.  No biggie.  I thought of how I was going to manage passing by 13 hours when I was used to constant activity.  I caught up on sleep, watched a few movies, and read my new book.  The plane got very cold but we had a delicious warm red blanket.  The meals were one of the high points of the flight.  Lunch was yum.  Salad, beef and noodles, choco cake, and something else I just ate but wasn't sure what it was haha.  Loved the OJ.

Finally, the thirteen hours was over.  Egads another 1.5 hours to make it to the next flight.  Excruciating wait for my bag as the conveyor would stop always.  Finally, my bag came and I got it checked in again for the next connecting flight to O'Hare.  I got a bad feeling when I let go of my bag but hey nothing I could do but follow security.

I go on to Terminal 3 via a train.  Half-walking and half-running to the next flight to MO.  But at check-in they said run run run.  Man it was so far and I ran as much as I could.  Stopping to walk and gasp at certain periods.  Just couldn't run anymore.  I am going for endurance training after this.  The lady at the counter was surprised I was supposed to go on the plane.  She got me in fast and told me to run inside.  The guy had just closed the plane door.  "I have to get on that plane!" I gasp.  After a couple of questions, he pounds on the door and yey!  They let me in!  Everyone is looking up when I come in, still gasping.  I see that my seat is between two suited women so I just walk along to the end where I spy an aisle seat beside a good-looking guy.  haha. 

A forty minute flight.  Easy one after what I've been through.  Soon enough it was touchdown and I was waiting for my bag.  True enough, it doesn't show up.  I check with AA baggage and they said it hadn't arrived and was still in O'Hare.

Rats!  Ah well, I call Drury and they pick me up in a yellow-polka dotted bus.  Wonderful to be at the Inn but man it sucks to have no baggage.  Met up with Aldous (who had his luggage damn)  because I was mighty hungry but Lombard's next door was next door and whoa, there was no convenience anything nearby.  So here I am eating vendo food and wrapped in the hotel's towels for want of food and clothes.

Good news is I go back to the airport at 6am and get my bag.  Yes!  Joy doesn't have to lend me clothes.  Kakahiya!  Waking up in three hours so gotta get to sleep.

Gnight all!