Drink ‘n’ Dive

After getting up at 4pm, Sunday afternoon, LA time, I returned to LA at 7.15pm, LA time… yes, it was a long three flights. On the way TO the airport in St Petersburg, my friend Irina took me, at 4am – wow – I asked her where to buy an RUS sticker. She had one in her car! I was sooo very excited. At the airport, I met a girl from Bryn Mawr, who will end up at Seattle, at the UW doing some more Masters level work, that was a small world thing. The flight was easy, and pretty empty, so I spread out and slept.

In Frankfurt, they asked me if I had any lipgloss in my carry-on. I did indeed, and decided to go back out through security (and passport control) to check my smaller backpack through to Chicago. I took out my breakables and stood in line (a long line) to check it. It all was fine and my breakables were with me – without my lipglosses. I knew I’d be dehydrated b/c of the lack of my Nalgene bottle (it’s green and fabulous – everyone knows of it… I’m sure.). You now have to ask the flight attendants for water when you want it. It frustrates me, because I just sleep through the flights, and now I need to wake up to flag a flight attendant down! Argh. The flight was fine, after securing two more stamps in my passport! There were a large amount of high school kids on the plane – they were Rotary exchange students going to various places in the Midwest. They sounded super excited and I think I’d be super stoked if I got that kind of opportunity. I had the quickest travel through Customs upon landing, which was great, and then I was on my way to hang out in the Chicago airport. Kurt came and met me, to get his watch and an icon he wanted me to get for him. It was fun to see him, and strange, at the same time. I had spent SO much time with all of them, and then we all went our separate ways… strange.

My flight to LAX was fine, I had an extra seat next to me, so I wasn’t crammed in, which was nice. I slept the entire way (again, dehydration problems!), and when I arrived, I got to wait for my luggage. And wait. And wait… it took a LONG time. Shortly after my two backpacks got off the beltway, it stopped… I was about to start getting worried!My friend Linda picked me up and took me to my car. It felt weird to be in it again! But, it was fun to drive it. I drove home, got my computer and laundry and then came to a house where I was house-sitting (after a brief stopover at a friend’s to say hi). And then it was time for sleep… long overdue, I might add.

Today I feel pretty good, had a conference call with my group from Russia, about follow-up we may have to do. And now I need to run and try to get caught up with my Television viewing. Yes, it’s quite silly, I know. But, tomorrow I start my NEW JOB, so will need to do less slacking.

The Black Pearl is here in the LA area, and I was going to go see it tomorrow, because I thought I got off work in time. I don’t. How sad is that? It may move to Redondo Beach soon, so I’ll just have to go then to see it!!