CALIFORNIA DREAMING

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There is nothing like an early morning flight, one so early is competes with all the people trying to catch the red-eye flight as we drive on our way to the airport.

For anyone who has ever taken an early flight from JFK International, you know how hard it is to be awake, and put up with the nonsense of driving there, parking and then going through the process of Home Security and boarding, and in the mix of all that is getting a cup of coffee, and eating a breakfast that is over-priced and undercooked. The people that work there are unconcerned that you had to get up at 2:30 in the morning to go to the airport and deal with the process.

None of the above prevents me from having a fun time of it if I can help it.

For instance, there is this event that occurred: as TLW (The Little Woman) and I are sitting in this restaurant, we could see a wall that had behind it a toilet for men and one for women. On the wall was a sign posted: ‘RESTROOM’, with what was just like the sign I am showing you. This sign sat on the wall next to the entrance to the men’s room. If you entered the entrance, the sign would be on your right, facing you. THIS was poorly placed, since there was another sign, smaller that said: ‘MEN’! The MEN sign was meant for the entrance, and there was a few feet further down an entrance with the sign ‘WOMEN’ next to it.

It seemed, every now and then, a woman, in quick need to use the restroom would mistakenly read the restroom sign with the two figures and go into the Men’s room, then a few seconds later to a minute come out totally confused and looking at the sign and realizing her mistake, making a dash for the Women’s room.

This early in the morning, and the turkey who placed this toilet sign is giving these poor women diarrhea of the brain!

There actually was a pleasant moment with Homeland Security both going to California and the return flight. Both agents were extremely pleasant and courteous, greeting us and actually being pleasant!

One of the most annoying things to go through is boarding the plane. When your zone is announced, and you actually enter the aircraft, there is the interminable wait for the people who boarded before you to place their luggage in the overhead compartments. They have to stand in the aisle and place their luggage and there is no other way. But you stand there and try to be patient as they give it a push, a tug and a little body English before they settle into their seat. Then you finally find your seat and if you have a carry on that is small like we do, you plop into your seat and realize you are either suffering from piles or are sitting on the seat buckle, as you negotiate the close confinement of the seat in front of you and your seat. If you have a window assignment, the contorting, squeezing and possible misfiring or accidental release of a fart is all a possibility as you strain a muscle or two settling in. The plane we were on had a three seat set-up on both sides of the aisle, and we sheared ours with a young man who although he was a nice guy, didn’t fart or anything like that, made it uncomfortable for TLW since she was in the middle. As they closed the doors we noticed a three-seater completely empty, and so we moved into it, with TLW spread out like it was a first-class seat, with coach pricing! Sometimes it is good in America!

Saturday: The pride begins.