Day 2

OK, I just woke up about an hour ago. I still have 7 hours of flying left. I really had hoped it would have been less, but oh well. So far, so good. I haven't had serious leg pains (I have had some problems with my right leg and what I think is possibly sciatica in that leg and nerve) and I was really surprised. I had to take some drugs to stop my sniffles, but that's why I packed them. :) I will admit I am getting better at planning and packing for these things. I don't think I overpacked too much this time, and I shouldn't need Colleen to bring me anything with her when she leaves in two weeks. I wish it hadn't had to be that way, but her here while I am working wouldn't be valuable for her, and would cause a lot of tension, because I'll likely be working 12-14 hours per day for the next two weeks or so.

So, I watched the remake of the Bad News Bears as part of my in-flight entertainment. What a horrible film. I can't say I'd recommend it to anyone, to be honest. I like Billy Bob Thornton, and I loved the original, but the new one just stunk.

I finished the first of two books I brought. I still haven't broken out the SuDoKu puzzle book, though I probably should. I knew I'd be addicted to it, and so far it hasn't disappointed. Now that I have the laptop up and out (thanks to Qantas for providing real power outlets in Business Class) I will likely watch one of the DVD I brought. I still have 6:27 minutes of flight time left according to the map. We're about to cross the International Date Line. That means I am just about to lose Thursday. A very interesting premise, really. Maybe I'll try to keep writing this until I know I have crossed. It looks to be inside an hour until we cross, so maybe I can make it.

How do you prep for a flight of this length? To be frank, I don't think it is possible. I know I have tried two methods now. The first was to stay sober and keep things light. Catnap as I could and then go from there. This time around, I got hammered, really mostly passed out from the booze, and woke up about halfway through the flight after about a 4 hour rest. Neither has prepped me for hitting the wall with this flight. I mean, I have been on the plane 8 hours so far, and still have more than 6 remaining. That sucks. I know that at one time, one of the guys on our team had put together a tongue in cheek prep guide for this flight, but it involved taking a fistful of prescription pills and pills to counteract pills taken along the way. Pass.

I am not quite as punchy right now as I thought I'd be. I am sitting here with the iPod in full force and the laptop banging away at my blog. I just wish I wasn't hungry. I started out eating well, having a grilled chicken Caesar salad in Raleigh, but it has since gone downhill. Potatoes, breads, and likely some sugar. All total diet wreckers, but oh well, I blame the booze. I know my hunger is really glycemic cravings (for God's sake, I had 3 meals on plane flights so far, plus breakfast and lunch in Raleigh) but I am also bored and captive, so eating is an easy way to at least fill some hours. :-)

Well, believe it or not, dear reader, I just crossed the International Dateline. That means it is now the 13th. Friday the 13th. I didn't really consider that when I booked, and I am generally not a superstitious person (I have deleted chain spam and the like more than once) but there's not a lot of room for error in a trans-Pacific flight. I mean, there's a lot of water, and some islands, but not much in the way of emergency landing space. I'll be fine. That whole thread just sort of popped into my head here, which is probably an indicator I am really punchy despite my thoughts otherwise. :)

OK, going to sign off for now. Day 3 will be on the Ground in Australia, and should be distinctly punchy. Talk to you then.

Cheers!