The Travel Ghods Smile

[smofbabe]

Because you all have had to listen when my travel has gone horribly wrong, I feel obligated to report that my trip across from Melbourne was as near perfect as it gets. The short flight from Melbourne from Sydney was uneventful (except for two Hollywood types traveling to LA who decided that the entire Red Carpet Club lounge had to listen to their business meeting on speakerphone). For the flight from Melbourne to LA, not only did I have my favored upstairs window seat with a locker at the seat, but the seat next to me was empty, which meant that I could actually hydrate myself without having to worry about the trips up the aisle necessitated by the hydration disturbing a sleeping person next to me. Dinner was actually decent, fish with lemon/myrtle sauce and roasted potatoes that weren't soggy. And I slept! For hours!

As a result, while I had to shower when I got to my brother's place, I didn't need to nap. We went out for brunch and, due to the crummy movie season, also went shopping. I am now happily ensconced in the Hampton Inn in Arcadia, at nearly 5 pm body time and 10 pm local time, still relatively awake.

The one fly in the ointment is the fact that I had to rush on Friday to get a replacement phone for the one I left in a taxi on Thursday night. The plan I have with Telstra gave me a choice of a Nokia 6150 or a Motorola v9x. Even though I like Nokia's interface better than Motorola's, I went with the V9x because it looked sturdier and the keys are not exposed. However, there was a problem with Telstra's initialization software so the phone wasn't working in Australia when I left, and I have had no success getting my contacts onto the phone. But, at least it's working in the US. Now, I'm off to try to get familiar with it and enter numbers by hand if I can't get the automatic transfer to work.

Comments

[dinogrl.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the nearly effortless flight. We often stay at that Hampton Inn you're staying at, but lately the rates at the HGI a block away have much better rates. We'll be there next weekend (and you'll be in FL??)
Have fun wherever you are!

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

HGI was more expensive. I'm paying $125.10 with the AARP discount here. I'm actually only here two nights - driving down to San Diego for an election party on Tuesday. Thanks for the good wishes!

[dinogrl.livejournal.com]

We're getting $93 (ah, the year we met...) through the AAA rate at HGI, (plus the brekkie is free because we're Diamond HHonors). A much better deal. HGI is my fav Hilton property for short stays.
Let's hope we have something to celebrate during the journey!

[lauriemann.livejournal.com]

Have a good visit! You're here during quite a week (as you well know).

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Guess you missed an earlier post - I'm specifically here this week *because* it's an interesting week. The conference that's the original reason for the trip isn't until next week. I came in early to be here for the election. Stephen isn't getting here until Friday.

[sethb.livejournal.com]

I tend to consider a loud conversation in front of me to be an invitation to participate.