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!

Jet Blue Experience

Up at 5AM. Got a taxi to JFK for the flight to San Diego. It only took 20 minutes to get there. Checked in with Jet Blue. This would be my first time on this airline. I was sort of looking forward to quirky, funny flight attendants of the kind who took the emergency exit, beer in hand a few weeks earlier. Didn't happen. The attendants were competent but no stand-up comedians in the lot. As people were boarding the plane, all of a sudden there was a load noise from the undercarriage, the plane bounced and swayed. The attendant came on and announced,"Don't worry. They're just changing the tire." I thought this was his attempt at humor but shortly after, the pilot came on and announced that they had just changed a tire and that as soon as the paperwork was completed, we would be off.

I know that this must be an unfair impression but I swear to God I had a flashback to old war movies when the soldiers were in the cramped troop carriers and were preparing to parachute into enemy territory. I guess I'm just used to the wide open spaces of 747's. I really have no complaints about the service. I didn't need anything.

Rob picked me up at the airport . On the way to his house we stopped at the supermarket. I told him I could spend my entire vacation there. It was heaven compared to what we have in the Philippines. Matt welcomed me when I arrived and later we had a great dinner - corned beef and cabbage.

The Moment of Truth

Today was the big day. I remember thinking, when I was back in Manila, "Please God, Don't let me be the worst looking. Just somewhere in the middle would be good for me." I got a taxi to the venue which was Hurley's Restaurant on West 48th St, between Broadway and 8th Avenue. Went upstairs and found about 20 ladies and 4 husbands already there. Now, some looked vaguely familiar, some I could recognize right away and others were a puzzle. Thankfully name tags were given out and I was able to recognize more people. It would have been a help to have their old photos on the ID but then again, it might have been unkind. At one point I turned to Chris Callanan who was seated next to me and referred to a lady at the next table and asked,"Are you sure she was in our class?"

There was a photo taken of the group which I shall post after I receive it. We all put our cameras on a table and the husbands volunteered to use them and take the group photo but somebody goofed and didn't use mine. We reminisced about the people who were unable to come, those that couldn't be found and those who had passed away.

We spoke of the pranks we had committed that we would have punished our own children for. We spoke of the career changes and the husband changes. We spoke of the accomplishments of our children and the numbers and activities of our grandchildren.

I won the prize for the longest trip to get there. The second furthest was Chris Callanan coming from New Mexico.

Hopefully, we will now be better able to keep in touch. With e mail and Facebook, it should be a breeze. We hope to be able to upload our fotos to a Facebook page that I will start when I get back to Manila.

When the gathering broke up, it was around 4 PM. I couldn't get a taxi so I had a good long walk to the hotel. I was not wearing walking shoes and breathed a sigh of relief when I got back to the hotel and kicked them off.

No rest for the weary as I had to go down to 42nd St. to photograph the building where my mother grew up. The building was not to be found as again, offices were on the site. Walked back to the hotel to prepare for dinner with my Aunt Jean,cousin Jeanine and cousin Gerard and his family. When I got to the hotel, I found a message from Jeanne that we would meet at St. Bartholomew's Church Park for dinner. Dinner at a church? I was able to get a taxi to the site and found Jeanne waiting there. Turns out the park has an out door restaurant. Everyone arrived eventually and I was able to meet all of Gerard's family. A lovely wife and beautiful offspring. Unfortunately I spilled champagne on his daughter. (Better than ketchup!) We had a good dinner and again, I had brought old family photos. The younger generation were most interested to see the photos of their grandfather as a young boy.

When the dinner broke up, Jean said that she was walking to Grand Central to get the train back to Conn. I offered to walk with her. Talk about the Energizer bunny!! So again, I was walking in dress shoes back to my hotel. Did my packing, set the alarm for 5AM and stayed up until 2AM watching TV.

On the Way

When my children found out that my 50th Nursing school reunion was about to take place in Manhattan, they generously offered to foot the bill. My first leg was on Delta from Manila to Tokyo. A good flight, little turbulence and good food(Read noodles!) I was able to use the free computer service at the airport to report my arrival in Tokyo.

Next flight was also Delta, Tokyo to New York. The pilot announced that we would probably be arriving an hour earlier than scheduled. Great! Some shopping time gained. Again good food - more noodles. We arrived at JFK 1 hour ahead of schedule. We taxied off the runway and taxied and then stopped in the middle of nowhere. Sitting in silence and yearning to get off. Then the captain announces that due to the fact that we had arrived early, there was no gate available for us. We sat on the tarmac for 1hour and pulled into our gate at exactly when we were supposed to arrive - 3PM. Marathon walk from the gate to Immigration. As the area came in to view I was shocked to see about 1,000 (a lot anyway) people lined up in those snaky lines to get to the Immigration officers. Thankfully, these turned out to be visitors. The citizen's line was only about 60. Got through that. Got my luggage and picked up a taxi to get to my hotel. The driver was not a happy camper when I told him I was going to Midtown.

It turns out that the U.N. General Assembly was in session and dignitaries from myriad countries were in town and guess where everything was happening? Midtown near my hotel. Gridlock ruled in the area. Streets were closed. Traffic lights were turned off and policemen were directing traffic. My taxi was not able to get to my hotel so he dropped me at the corner. I, having just completed a marathon flight, had to now drag my luggage to the Fitzpatrick Grand Hotel. Outside the hotel were police cars and mucho limos. Turns out the Gabonese Delegation were staying there. Checked in and went up to my room which was very nice. It had all new bathroom fixtures and was nicely decorated.

Unpacked a few things to get out the wrinkles (live in Hope) and I walked up to 48 St between 3rd and Lexington to see what had become of my father's boyhood home. No tenement anymore. Just office buildings. I took a photo. Did some shopping on the way back to the hotel.

My niece Peggy and nephew Brian were making the trip in from New Jersey to visit. I suggested we have dinner in the Wheeltapper Pub downstairs. Well, it was friday night in an Irish bar in NYC. It was not quiet. More like TGIF on steroids. We did have a nice dinner and then we went up to my room where I gave them some old photos of my sister, their mother. I'm very glad we were able to catch up. Tomorrow was the big day.