Current mood:

tired

back to reality
Well I'm home. I couldn't go to sleep last night even though by all rights I should have been utterly exhausted! My flight landed in Boston at about 9:40pm. Effectively I'd been flying somewhere around 30 hours - and awake for 36 minus a 5 hr nap on the flight from Sydney to LA and a 1 hr nap from LA to Boston.

My flight plan:
I woke up at 3:00am in Auckland on the 26th of February (about 9am the 25th in Boston). Caught my shuttle to the airport at 3:50am. Was checked in and through security by 5:15am and settled into the Qantas Business class lounge where I had some cereal and juice. Boarded the flight at 5:55am and we took off at 6:30 to Sydney. I saw Banger sisters on the flight. We landed in Sydney at 9:30am Auckland time, 7:30am Sydney time and I saw something as we were coming to our gate that reminded me of my mate Sarah which made me homesick for my trip and NZ.

I went through the transfer security and was in the Qantas Business class lounge there until 11:45am. Grabbed some coffee and a snack and a bit before I left a glass of Shiraz since they have a self serve wine bar and they'd put the wine out and really for me it was lunch time. Security was tight getting onto the plane - we went through another security gate right at the gate and EVERYONE had their carry on stuff searched. I didn't mind a bit. Then used my - go straight to GO and collect $200 card (aka Business Class ticket) to board the plane rather then wait in the crowd. Got on the plane but we were a little late taking off. The pilot said not to worry we had a pretty fast flight plan and if we landed in LA before 7am we'd just sit on the plane since Customs wasn't open until 7am. Had a glass of champagne that I added oj too halfway throgh because it wasn't that spectacular. Some dinner and then after a while they made like it was night and turned off the lights. I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Sweet Home Alabama and took a 5 hr nap inbetween the two before we were 'woken' up for breakfast. Landed at about 7:10am (PST) so the pilot knew what he was talking about.

Went through security, customs etc etc and headed up to the American Airlines Lounge and they let me in - unlike the trip out - strange rules - but since I'd flown in from Sydney I was allowed in. At any rate Got into the lounge about 8:30, grabbed some coffee and settled in since my flight wasn't to board until 12:45pm. Talked to ornoth to keep myself awake at one point as I nearly fell asleep over a glass of beer (Sam Adams draft - ick I miss my Tui) and some chips and chilicheese dip from Chili's in the airport.

From there I got onto the plane and settled in. American Airlines Business class is no where near as nice as Qantas. Ah well. I shouldn't get to comfy my next trip will no doubt be back in coach. Didn't watch a movie, had dinner - something chickeny - and a glass of wine and after dinner a glass of port and tried to stay awake and read but I was nodding over the port and the book. Ended up taking a 1 hr nap somewhere in there and we landed in Boston at 9:30pm EST. Grabbed my luggage after a 35 min wait by the luggage carousel, 10 min wait for a taxi and made it home by 10:30pm.

I had gotten my umpteenth wind by the time I got home so I wasn't ready to sleep so I checked email, sent email to Sebs my best mate from my trip and touched base with my sister who I told to about how depressed I was to be home. Not that I didn't miss folks - I did but I want to be back there. Talked to a friend for a bit because he was still up and online when I couldn't sleep then went to bed thinking I'm bound to be tired enough to sleep by now - and ended up reading until 2:30am when I finally crashed.

I had set my watch alarm to try and wake me about 10:30 to try to get me back on EST time but I didn't even hear it go off and I woke on my own about 2:30pm. Got up, made breakfast, tried to catch my father in Canada but he was out. Got dressed and ran out to get my mail from the Post Office and get them to resume delivery. Picked up a DVD from the video store and found out they will be able to transfer my NZ sky diving video to VHS for me then stopped for some more groceries.

Going to the store made me sad again because there were so many times on the trip that the whole bus would stop at the store on our travels to pick up supplies for dinner at the hostel or snacks. I fell in love with these little smoked cheeses and would get them in the stores - kind of like a baby bell sort of size but a tube rather than a mini-round. So I picked up some brie, some smoked gouda, some hummus and crackers to snack on at home. Then picked up some makings of a smoothie cause I loved them in NZ but when I got home I found my blender was on the fritz - well the blender works, the choppy/spinny thing is locked up and won't spin so I'll run and grab a new pitcher piece at Target tomorrow.

Now I'm going to watch the movie I picked up - I can't even remember what it is right now. I'm feeling tired but I'm going to try to stay awake til at least 9pm and then set a few alarms in the morning to get me up at a normal hour.