So it's finally here, my trip to New York. Though the specifics of the trip are ill-planned, this trip has been two years in the making. I was meant to go in the summer of 2008, but instead, that summer I had the joy of going through a divorce.
So here I am, on an airplane half-way between Vancouver and New York.
I decided that the night before leaving, I should be responsible and have an early night. It was a friend's birthday, and instead of picking up a six pack of beer on the way there, I split a 4 pack of organic soda with a friend. Two hours later, I thought, "who am I kidding?", and ran over to the cold beer and wine with Tanis for some beers. Why not go out with a bang? Another friend's band was playing at the Astoria, and everyone would be there. I had been a bit of a hermit for the past few months, so instead of turning in early, continued the dancing and beer fest at the bar. It's strange to see friends that you have not seen for a while. Have they just become my drinking friends? Dance dance dance, and several beers later, it's time for me to get on my bike and ride home. I stop at the gas station on the way home for snacks, and seem to remember chatting on the internet for a bit. I set my alarm, and pass out like a light.
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Have you ever tried to pack when you're hungover? In that weird 'still drunk' phase where everything is fuzzy and time kind of warps and your brain can't seem to get anything straight? Don't ever try to pack when you're in this state. When I woke up, my brain was a mess and kept trying to convince me that I had plenty of time to sleep in. This was most definitely not the case. I am subletting my apartment while I am away, and so I still have to take out the trash, do a sink full of dishes, clean out the fridge, wash my sheets, and make a list of emergency phone numbers, internet codes, and cat instructions for while I am away. Oh yeah, I also have to run my bike over to Ayma's... and I only have two hours. Let me just start by saying that I am not particularly quick at getting ready. I usually give myself two hours in the morning when all I have to do is get my ass to work. This morning, I have two hours to complete the above tasks, but also finish packing and get myself out the door.
By the time I drop my bike off at Ayma's house, it is already 11 o'clock, which was the time that I had planned on leaving for the airport. I convince myself that this is totally ok (Also, I realize that I have just somehow magically changed verb tense, mid-post... but hey, this is a blog... and I'm lazy...). We run over to Budgies so that I can devour a delicious burrito before hitting the road, only to discover that it is not actually open until 12. Womps. No burritos here. I pick some juice from the grocery store and then make a sprint for home so that I can snag my stuff and finally get this show on the road. A bit more flailing around my apartment, and I am finally on my way... it's 11:45... I make it to the airport in half an hour, thank-you, rapid transit... I arrive two instead of the three hours ahead that they recommend, but I don't think that this will be a problem, and I'm pretty sure that in no time I will be sitting in the boarding area sipping a coffee and taking advantage of YVR's free WiFi. WRONG.
With check-in, security and customs, I make it to boarding land with 10 minutes to spare. I scarf down some overpriced greasy chinese food in record time, and run to my gate. Passengers have already started boarding, so I hop in line and am soon sitting in my seat. I'm on my way to New York!!
The girl sitting next to me is clearly a traveling pro. She is equipped with a pashmina that doubles as a blanket, a kindle, and large variety of snacks. WHY DIDN'T I BRING SNACKS?! I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that snacks are no longer a complimentary part of air travel. I remember the days when even coach came with a hot (vegetarian) meal, and as many glasses of wine and tiny bags of rice crackers as you could handle. The stewardess would great you with a hot towel and a blanket and pillow, you would have your own little tv screen on the back of the seat in front of you, and you would be lulled into a delightful sleep after a few glasses of cheap red. Not anymore! Now you're lucky if you can get a refill on your glass of soda water. They have these horrifying snack packs for sale that usually consist of nothing more than crackers and a stick of beef jerky. ALWAYS BRING SNACKS!!
As I write this, the captain has just informed us that we are about to begin our descent into Chicago! TRANSFER! We're 5 minutes ahead of schedule.
In four hours, I will be in New York. (have I mentioned that I'm going to New York??)
Woot woot!
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