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sethrakWelp, I arrived at Jacksonville Int. Airport Saturday evening. The trip went all right. Tom decided to pull an Affleck on me as we said goodbye at the gate and started singing "I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane". In the middle of the not exactly deserted concourse of Kansas City's airport. In front of the security guards at the division between public concourse and passnegers-only waiting area. *^_^*
Then the security people decided to single me out for shoe check and body perimeter wand scanning. I assume it was because of the one-way electronic ticket I had. First time it ever happened to me. Not a real big deal. Just mildly annoying.
First leg, to Cincinnati, was all right. I got a window seat, right by the back of the plane, so I was among the first to get the snack and drink. ^_^ The two hour layover in Cinncinati was ok. I had to take a shuttle bus from my terminal to the one my next plane was arriving at; evidently they have separate buildings for each terminal. Strange layout. Terminal B was a bit labyrinthine in it's setup. I found my gate all right, but attempting to venture forth from there to find a bathroom, or a food place that didn't have prices starting at 7.99, was a bit difficult. The non-food shops were *really* nice. Every bit as nice as the upscale shops in the mall attached to Kobe's Japanese Steakhouse in Omaha. Bit it would have been nicer if McDonald's hadn't been the only cheap place to eat. The line there was insane. Granted, there was an ice cream stand, which served reasonably priced items. But I wanted *real* food. There was also a place that sold organic and vegan items. Again, folks, I wanted *real* food. ^_^ Maybe McDonald's menu doesn't quite match the definition of real food, but it's filling and doesn't include strange meat substitutes.
Second leg of the flight was ok, but had a few minor annoyances. I was again assigned a window seat in the rear. When I got to my row, I found only two seats in that row - and a teenage boy sitting in *mine*. :p He looked like he was barely into his teens, though, and hadn't flown much before, so I let him keep it. His face was plastered eagerly to the window on takeoff and during a goodly portion of the flight, so I felt good about that. I've flown before, especially this year; it didn't mean as much to me to get the chance to see the window clearly. That wasn't as annoying as the flight attendant. I've had seats near the rear before, and this woman was, I swear,the most compulsive checker of the occupancy of the bathroom I have ever encountered. Walk to the rear of the plane. Check the bathroom. Empty, just as the door's sign indicatesWalk to the front, performing various duties. No passeneger move. Walk to the back again, more briskly - and please note, folks, no seats have emptied since her walk forward. Check the bathroom again. Still empty, surprise, surprise. Repeat cycle. Over and over and OVER again all during the flight.... Did I mention how loud the door opening mechanisms on this bathroom are? -_- God that was annoying.
But we made it there on time, and I neither got airsick nor had undue amounts of ear popping.
Found Steph with no trouble, had a small amount of trouble finding the right baggage caoursel for my checked luggage, and then headed for the house.
I met her pets. ^___^ I adore her pets. Chico in particular is in danger of being doggie-napped. Much more so than their parents' dog Peanut. Chico snuggles more, and gives more kisses, and even dances around on his hind legs to get attention. But the, um, I forget the name, black Pomeranian is also most cute. I sometimes have to push Chico back gently to make sure the Pom gets a fair share of individual petting. The kitties are also very sweet.
My room's bigger than I expected. The futon's very comfy, but it's a bit heavy to easily move back and forth from bed to couch positions. Not as advanced as Macrossian modular functions, Dav-chan. ^_- I need to move around some of the furniture to get the most out of the space available, but it's fine for now. I even have my own little half bath. Yesterday Steph took me out shopping and I got a couple little things to help make it homier.
The neighborhood's ok. You do have to be careful not to head in a certain direction lest you find yourself in the middle of a crack dealer shootout. But that was true of my parents' place back in Milwaukee too. There's a short walk to the local library through a much safer area, and if I recall correctly I ought to be able to get to a bridge by Doctor's Inlet that way too. So I can look out over the water and feel like I'm back in Milwaukee, looking at Lake Michigan, if I want. ^_^ . I still wouldn't want to try that route after dark, but that's not a big deal. I'm used to that.
Unfortunately that's about the limit of what's in walking distance. I think I may spring for a three-wheeled bike, the kind that have a big cargo basket between the rear wheels, so I can go farther afield. Even once I learn how to drive, my ability to use that skill will be limited to whether or not I can borrow Steph's truck or Jason's Jeep. I'll need that bike.
Hmmm.... I wonder if there are any local garden shops that still sell flowering plants for outdoors around here. WI and NE would both have finished up their inventory of such plants months ago, and have switched to holiday items or closed down for the winter. But around here, given the mild weather.... Hmmm... Maybe I could get some little flowering plants in pots for my room, or ask Steph for permission to turn a small section of the back yard into a little flower garden. I'll have to look into that.
I miss the hell out of Tom, of course, but I'm coping. I can already foresee that I'm going to want to spring for a plane ticket to see him for a day or two when he gets back. He won't be able to come see me right away because of in-processing. But I don't think I'll be able to wait two weeks more to see him when I know he's back in the country. Just a day or two to recover from four months apart, and then I can go back to Jax reasonably content until he can come in the truck for me and my stuff. Heck, if I don't come back, Steph may send out a hit squad after me. ^_^; She wants me to stay a full six months if I get the Citibank job, so she can get the 500$ bonus for referring me. Not sure how feasible that will be, but if we can manage it, it'd look better on my resume.
In the meantime, I've got plenty of pictures stashed somewhere in my luggage, and three plush toys he gave me to cuddle when I get really lonely. The most recent gift, a Chi plushie, is currently my favorite. It's just so damn adorable, and small enough to fit into a coat pocket when traveling. ^_^ I had her in the pocket next to my heart during the entire plane ride down here. But the hedgehog and turtle are still dear to my heart.
Hmmm... I'm hungry now. Think I'll pop off and eat some of those cookies I bought yesterday... ^_^
Then the security people decided to single me out for shoe check and body perimeter wand scanning. I assume it was because of the one-way electronic ticket I had. First time it ever happened to me. Not a real big deal. Just mildly annoying.
First leg, to Cincinnati, was all right. I got a window seat, right by the back of the plane, so I was among the first to get the snack and drink. ^_^ The two hour layover in Cinncinati was ok. I had to take a shuttle bus from my terminal to the one my next plane was arriving at; evidently they have separate buildings for each terminal. Strange layout. Terminal B was a bit labyrinthine in it's setup. I found my gate all right, but attempting to venture forth from there to find a bathroom, or a food place that didn't have prices starting at 7.99, was a bit difficult. The non-food shops were *really* nice. Every bit as nice as the upscale shops in the mall attached to Kobe's Japanese Steakhouse in Omaha. Bit it would have been nicer if McDonald's hadn't been the only cheap place to eat. The line there was insane. Granted, there was an ice cream stand, which served reasonably priced items. But I wanted *real* food. There was also a place that sold organic and vegan items. Again, folks, I wanted *real* food. ^_^ Maybe McDonald's menu doesn't quite match the definition of real food, but it's filling and doesn't include strange meat substitutes.
Second leg of the flight was ok, but had a few minor annoyances. I was again assigned a window seat in the rear. When I got to my row, I found only two seats in that row - and a teenage boy sitting in *mine*. :p He looked like he was barely into his teens, though, and hadn't flown much before, so I let him keep it. His face was plastered eagerly to the window on takeoff and during a goodly portion of the flight, so I felt good about that. I've flown before, especially this year; it didn't mean as much to me to get the chance to see the window clearly. That wasn't as annoying as the flight attendant. I've had seats near the rear before, and this woman was, I swear,the most compulsive checker of the occupancy of the bathroom I have ever encountered. Walk to the rear of the plane. Check the bathroom. Empty, just as the door's sign indicatesWalk to the front, performing various duties. No passeneger move. Walk to the back again, more briskly - and please note, folks, no seats have emptied since her walk forward. Check the bathroom again. Still empty, surprise, surprise. Repeat cycle. Over and over and OVER again all during the flight.... Did I mention how loud the door opening mechanisms on this bathroom are? -_- God that was annoying.
But we made it there on time, and I neither got airsick nor had undue amounts of ear popping.
Found Steph with no trouble, had a small amount of trouble finding the right baggage caoursel for my checked luggage, and then headed for the house.
I met her pets. ^___^ I adore her pets. Chico in particular is in danger of being doggie-napped. Much more so than their parents' dog Peanut. Chico snuggles more, and gives more kisses, and even dances around on his hind legs to get attention. But the, um, I forget the name, black Pomeranian is also most cute. I sometimes have to push Chico back gently to make sure the Pom gets a fair share of individual petting. The kitties are also very sweet.
My room's bigger than I expected. The futon's very comfy, but it's a bit heavy to easily move back and forth from bed to couch positions. Not as advanced as Macrossian modular functions, Dav-chan. ^_- I need to move around some of the furniture to get the most out of the space available, but it's fine for now. I even have my own little half bath. Yesterday Steph took me out shopping and I got a couple little things to help make it homier.
The neighborhood's ok. You do have to be careful not to head in a certain direction lest you find yourself in the middle of a crack dealer shootout. But that was true of my parents' place back in Milwaukee too. There's a short walk to the local library through a much safer area, and if I recall correctly I ought to be able to get to a bridge by Doctor's Inlet that way too. So I can look out over the water and feel like I'm back in Milwaukee, looking at Lake Michigan, if I want. ^_^ . I still wouldn't want to try that route after dark, but that's not a big deal. I'm used to that.
Unfortunately that's about the limit of what's in walking distance. I think I may spring for a three-wheeled bike, the kind that have a big cargo basket between the rear wheels, so I can go farther afield. Even once I learn how to drive, my ability to use that skill will be limited to whether or not I can borrow Steph's truck or Jason's Jeep. I'll need that bike.
Hmmm.... I wonder if there are any local garden shops that still sell flowering plants for outdoors around here. WI and NE would both have finished up their inventory of such plants months ago, and have switched to holiday items or closed down for the winter. But around here, given the mild weather.... Hmmm... Maybe I could get some little flowering plants in pots for my room, or ask Steph for permission to turn a small section of the back yard into a little flower garden. I'll have to look into that.
I miss the hell out of Tom, of course, but I'm coping. I can already foresee that I'm going to want to spring for a plane ticket to see him for a day or two when he gets back. He won't be able to come see me right away because of in-processing. But I don't think I'll be able to wait two weeks more to see him when I know he's back in the country. Just a day or two to recover from four months apart, and then I can go back to Jax reasonably content until he can come in the truck for me and my stuff. Heck, if I don't come back, Steph may send out a hit squad after me. ^_^; She wants me to stay a full six months if I get the Citibank job, so she can get the 500$ bonus for referring me. Not sure how feasible that will be, but if we can manage it, it'd look better on my resume.
In the meantime, I've got plenty of pictures stashed somewhere in my luggage, and three plush toys he gave me to cuddle when I get really lonely. The most recent gift, a Chi plushie, is currently my favorite. It's just so damn adorable, and small enough to fit into a coat pocket when traveling. ^_^ I had her in the pocket next to my heart during the entire plane ride down here. But the hedgehog and turtle are still dear to my heart.
Hmmm... I'm hungry now. Think I'll pop off and eat some of those cookies I bought yesterday... ^_^
