Sydney Day 0

Part 1- Lakers Championship

So, it occurred to me quite early that if the Lakers went to game 7 (which of course they did) this would put me in a less than ideal situation concerning my trip. As it turned out, in what was one of the biggest games in Lakers history, I had to get up and walk away from it with 5 min left in the 4th quarter. And even that was a negotiation. Luckily, it was on radio so I turned it on in the car for the ride to the airport. Sadly, the ride was much too quick as my father dropped us off with 90 seconds left to go in the game. Luckily, I borrowed an old walkman from my mom and had the game tuned in. So, as I unloaded the car I heard Wallace hitting a 3 and killing our 6 point lead. I walked in to stand in line and then remembered why AM radio is nearly obsolete. My reception went to pure static once I entered the building. Like nothing. So I put the suitcases in line and left Rachel there with the luggage (apparently missing a huge Artest 3 pointer). She was waiting in line staring at me with daggers through the window as I sat outside with bated breath to see if Sasha could make 2 free throws. Well we all know how long the last 60 seconds of an NBA game lasts... especially game 7 of the finals! So Rachel made it to the front of the line and the game was still going on. Through 10 years of dealing with me, I was able to tell her across a crowded airport via hand signals just to wait at the front of the line and let people pass until these precious final seconds clicked away. And they did. And we won. And I am still so happy. I'll never forget me relaying the call to the two random LAX workers that were staring at me for any piece of information. Down at their cell phones, back at my face... it was awesome. Seconds later they announced it over the intercom. THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS are the WORLD CHAMPIONS! Funny that they call it world champions, considering no one over here seems to care anything about it. Something called World Cup has their attention... whatever.

Part 2- VISA

So we get our luggage checked in without a problem and we walk over to security. The lady there says that we do not have boarding passes but something else and to back and wait in that huge line to get our passes. Of course, being from LA we do not bother with the line but go back to our attendant to tell him that he forgot to give us boarding passes. He looks at the paper and says that she is wrong, go back and tell her these are boarding passes. So, we go back and there is a different woman who waves us past. We wait in that long line (this is LAX after all) and when we get to the front notice that we do not have a bar code to scan on our "boarding passes." So Rachel runs back over to the desk to another person and he says that we need visas. Uh oh. Jake didn't think that one needed a Visa to go to Australia. Hmmm, plane leaves in 90 minutes. Ok, so we go back to our friend (cutting that long line for the second time now) and he says... oh, you need visas!" He hands us off to another old guy who is helping like 15 people at once. We tell him about our visa dilemma and ask if he can help us. He tells us to hold on. Not, no problem just give me a second, or sorry you guys are screwed. Just, hold on. So we wait. And wait. And then I start thinking about our bags going to Sydney, and we will not only be out of trip to Australia, but also have no clothes for a week. And then Rachel cannot take this anymore and so grabs another lady and asks if she can help us get visas. She says, "Well it will cost you $25 each." Like that is some huge price to pay for erasing an entire trip to Australia. She gets us our visas and we are home free. Wheh. Count them, that was two huge times to hold my breath in under half an hour. Sasha's free throws and visas.

Part 3- the plane ride

So, I have some sort of expectation that if there is going to be a 14 hour flight to somewhere, then the seats will probably be a little more roomier, the seats will have power outlets, there will be wifi available... and when I entered the plane I saw those first class seats with all those amenities. Then, I walked back to economy. Nope, just the normal tiny seats with no leg room. The only bonus being that there were 4 movies instead of 1. Whatever, I am going to Australia and the Lakers won- who the heck cares??? Four hours later, I can no longer feel my knees. I remember my dad saying something about developing thrombosis on those long flights. I am sure that I have no idea what thrombosis is, probably my dad himself doesn't know exactly what it is either- but I should probably walk around. I head off to the lavatory and somewhat stumble given the lack of blood in my feet. No worries though, besides a butter stained shirt from dinner- I am still doing good. Watched Alice in Wonderland, wrote an outline for an NSF grant, read a few chapters of my book. Still 10 more hours to go! Hmm, maybe I'll sleep. Slept for a few hours in and out, and then was awake and couldn't fall asleep... still 4 hours more! Turns out it is pretty far to Sydney. We finally get there and I realize that Saturday the 19th will never exist for me. While I am paradoxically typing this blog on that day, it is actually Sunday, Father's day, for me. Only thing stranger is when I time travel to return. I will arrive in LAX 4 hours before I leave Sydney... Magic.

More about Day 1 in Sydney tonight (with photos)... now it is time to experience Day 2!