Journal of Trip Pt 1

Well, I'm going to try and backdate my entries so that they correspond to the days I wrote them in longhand on hotel stationary. Yeah, so it should be interesting.

Morning of July 2
Was a madhouse. I was up at around 8, and did a visual check of my stuff I was taking compared to my list. Then I was trying to figure out which pages to print out for Alan's camera b/c he didn't give me the manual. Then the printer ran out of ink after 2 pages, so I was killing my hand trying to write/draw everything pertinant. The cabbie arrived at 11:00 when I was still trying to write things down, so I had to hastily shut down the computer.

Going thru Customs
It was wierd to take off my sandals. But no hand wanding even though I was wearing shortalls. The customs official asked me where I worked and what I did. Then she dinda asked how the Federal DOJ worked b/c the US DOJ has FBI and Immigration under it. I told her we didn't cover CSIS...not that I knew of.

Flight to Denver
Well I was assigned to the exit row, so I'm there w/ 3 other guys. The little Chinese girl was going to help open the emergency door. Ha ha, that must've been a sight b/c the guy next to me was huge. Anyways, he started snoring. I was also exhausted but I was waiting for the stewardess to come back to take the empty tea cup so I could put up the tray and get my music. Not to drown out his snoring, but to get me to lsleep too. And then we could be in concert with our snores. But I never got to sleep b/c the flight was getting ready to touch down. While we were waiting to get up, the aisle passenger in front of me thought the armrest moved up, so he wrenched it until it did go up, sending a metal piece flying and making a lot of noise. Then he looks around nervously and asks the other aisle passenger if that was supposed to happen. The other guy tried his and told him that he didn't think so. I helpfully ponted out the fallen metal pit, and so they picked it up and looked where it came from. I told snorer guy that maybe the airline will check to see who sat in there and charge him for it. I wonder if they would?

Flight to LA
So I'm waiting at the carousel and it's so bloody hot and muggy. I hear my name over the PA along with a few others, but it was just "mumble mumble xxx, xxx, xxx mumble mumble go to mumble". There was only 1 United person working there and she had a huge line up. I asked a security person and she directed me to the Baggage counter. Turns out that my bag is another flight & will arrive in at about 9:25. I sure didn't want to wait an hour, and I thought that it would take a while to get to my hotel and check in, so with great reservation, I decided to agree to let my bag be delivered. With the expectation that it would arrive that night. The guy at the service counter didn't know what a hockey bag was or how to spell it. Not that I thought he was dumb, just the typical American ignorance.

Getting to the hotel
Although they do give assistance with some prodding. I was going to take a cab, but I saw an airport guy sitting there by a sign about courtesy shuttles. Anways after I clarified w/ the airport guy, Now when I was inside the airport, they had a touch screen for Visitors. It was so confusing and really just about selling services, not information. And you had to rent a baggage cart! It's all about money with Americans, isn't it? Anyways, after I clarified w/ the airport guy, I headed to the red sign for shuttle buses. The first sign I saw was for "Prime Time" and it was $15 to get to the hotel and I really didn't feel like asking all the other shuttle operators their rates, so I went with them. There was already someone in there, a black-haired Asian guy. I was pretty darn sure it wasn't anyone from Japan (hint, hint on who I'm wishing it was) but I asked him if it was also his first time in LA. Turned out he'd lived in Vancouver, BC before. We started talking about why I was in LA b/c he saw my Genshiken pin. He told me how he used to watch Gatchaman when he was younger and saw Naruto a few times. He also didn't think Afro Samurai was that good. And told me to try the real Mexican food here. I'm just sad that I rushed out the shuttle and didn't have a chance to say goodbye.

Wilshire Grand (10:22 pm)
I'm exhausted. I've already called Housekeeping b/c the closet lightbulb died when I turned it on, and now the floor lamp doesn't work, even though it was working when I walked in. But I decided to turn off the floor lamp to save electricity. Ha. Anyways still waiting for front desk to tell me my bag arrived and for H to show up. My hand is dead from writing, and the knitting and crochetting from before. I so want to sleep. Can't take a shower b/c my face stuff is in the luggage!! And I thought of putting it in my backpack but I didn't want to deal w/ their stupid liquid policy. Couldn't even take my drinks w/ me b/c of it. Swear it's more so that you have ot pay the insane airport prices. $2 for Coke from the vending machine and the store was even more!!

Wilshire Grand (11:01 pm)
So I called United and after the IVR got me to some Intl agent who didn't know anything and was very rude, I got to the right dept who told me that it would be delivered tomorrow between 5:30a - 9:30am. Just freaking great!! I needed the clothes and razors (very important as I'm feeling fuzzy) Oh and the only clothes I brought w/ me on my carryon were shorts. Gaaaahh!! I have no pjs and there's no bathrobe to sleep in. All the restaurants are closed! And it turns out H's luggage is delayed too!! CauseI was hoping to borrow some clothes off her. And now the floor lamp is working again! WTF?! Looking on the back of the United claim form, says that United was supposed to provide me w/ a toiletries kit. Bastards!! Good thing the hotel was able to provide me a razor, toothbrush and toothpaste.