LAX to Tokyo

Never a dull moment! Rob drove me up to LAX for the Delta flight to Tokyo. It was an early Sunday morning so traffic was mild. He got me all checked in and then made the 2 hour trip back to San Diego. I hope the traffic was still good.
Last year on my trip from LAX to NRT, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Due to heavy headwinds, we no longer have enough fuel to reach Tokyo.(Gulp) We will be making an unscheduled landing at Sapporo to refuel'. What could happen this year? About 4 hours out of LAX, one of the attendants came on the intercom with this announcement -"we have a critical situation here in the rear of the plane. If there are any doctors or nurses aboard, pls come immediately to the rear of the plane". Well, as it had been more than 40 years since I had practiced, I felt that I might be more of a threat than a help. I was waiting to feel the plane start a banking turn back to maybe Anchorage. I was thinking I'll never make my connection in Tokyo. But evidently, someone was able to deal with the problem and we contnued on to Tokyo.
Upon landing in Tokyo, we were informed that nobody could leave the plane until Japanese authorities had decided that this passenger posed no threat of communicable disease. Oh the pleasures of air travel!
The trip is over. The memories remain. It was good to see so many people from my past (including relatives) I hope to be able to set up a Facebook page for the reunion people so we can share the photos from the lunch.

Last Supper

Tonight was my last night in San Diego as my flight leaves Los Angeles at noon tomorrow. Rob and Matt cooked a fantastic dinner- roast prime ribs, baked potatoes, asparagus and popovers! I am stuffed. The planes were flying over today because of the air show. Hoping for no traffic on the 2 hour drive to LAX and clear skies for the flights to Tokyo and Manila.

Back to the real world tomorrow. Thanks to Rob, Matt, Tom, Angie, James and Pia.

Winding Up

Today would be my last day with my own wheels so I did a bit of shopping at the local supermarket area. I just had to get a bone for Skippy for Christmas, a few things at the drugstore - books to read on the flight. At around 4PM I drove to the car rental place following Rob. When we got there, the parking area and I had to parallel park that monster! Luckily, the space was big.

On the way home with Rob, stopped at Best Buy where I bought a treat for myself. Dinner of fresh salmon and sidings. Watched my last "Judge Judy". Tomorrow it's packing time after doing laundry. There is an airshow at Miramar today so the fighter jets should be overhead soon.

Smaller reunion

Today my old friend from television days paid me a visit. She now lives in Upland, Ca. Ida arrived at 10 and she looks none the worse for wear. She has now embarked on her second career-nursing. Our careers are mirror images. I started out in nursing and went into television, she started in TV and went to nursing. Go figure.

We had a great lunch of pot roast. The meat here in the US 9is really of superior quality compared to what is available back home. Ida left around 4PM.

The weather has really been interesting while I have been here in San Diego. My first day was record-breaking heat 110 degrees fahrenheit. My second was capped by a beautiful sunset. Third day brought rainshowers followed by a huge double rainbow. This morning woke up to dense fog. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Going Further Afield

Today I was scheduled to take the van on a longer drive to the upscale Fashion Walk Mall in San Diego. Thanks to the Twit, I made the trip with no problems. I found a good parking place for the van where I could pull out forward. No way was I backing that thing out. Went to J.C. Penney where they were having a big sale. The next place I needed to go was Bloomingdales which was at the opposite end of the mall. I didn't want to loose my good parking place so I hiked to the opposite end and back. Thank goodness I had my new comfortable shoes on.

Rob made grilled steaks for dinner. Yummy. Tomorrow my dear friend Ida is driving down from Los Angeles. Looking forward to that.

First Van Adventure

Today I started using the van in earnest. Had to go to Citibank and had to use the GSP. I didn't realize that the citibank branch was in Poway not San Diego. The GSP wouldn't let me put in the correct street address. I finally got it to take me to the street and then I just looked for the number. I forgave the GSP(henceforth to be known as the Twit)

The Twit behaved and got me to Michaels successfully and then to the shoe store. My shoe had started to disintegrate yesterday. Rob glued it together but it was already popping open by the time I got to the store. Got 3 new pairs of shoes. Thank goodness this country has shoes that fit me.

Got myself home in one piece to the relief of Rob. The air conditioning has now been fixed so the house cool and welcoming. Rob made sea scallops and rice pilaf for dinner.

Tomorrow I am off to a mall that's located about 20 minutes away.

Heat Wave

Today the temperature reached 110 degrees fahrenheit! I think it might be cooler in Manila. I didn't have my car yet so I spent the morning starting my blog. I stepped outside to shoot a video and was amazed by the oven-like heat.

Rob and I were to get the car at 4 PM, after he got home from work. When we got to Hertz, instead of the compact with GPS that Rob had reserved, what was waiting for me was a full sized van! I am finally a soccer mom. I could see the distress in Rob's eyes. Am I really gonna trust her with this behemoth? Adding to the problem was the fact that the rental location had a brownout and they couldn't add my name to the rental agreement. We had to go on a hunt to find another Hertz location to do this. Finally we get back and I get the van.

After a run through of where all the necessary bits were (gas, brake and foot brake) and successful programming of the GPS, I was off. When I finally got back to Rob's house I explained to him that I followed the Italian rules for driving. I just ignored that long expanse behind me by applying the Italian rules for driving -What's behind me, doesn't count!

Also, when we got home I found out my shoes were falling apart. I think it was all that powerwalking in New York. Rob glued them together. Tomorrow, my first stop will be to drive my truck to a shoe store. Hope they hold together til then. Stay tuned!