Today I fly onto Seattle.

Meeting Sarah and John was awesome, very cool people, welcoming, and I cant say enough good things. Thanks you two. :)

California has been the best vacation ever. Lots of adventures, and I'm sad to see it end. I will update more when I get home and give a long detail of the days.

For now we want to get me packed, get out and cram in a few more things, hopefully the beach again. Man I dont want to go. For now, see ya later, I'll TRY and log in from parents house.

Its Tuesday 12/22/2009. I woke up around 1:30pm this afternoon, it has been a packed full of fun last few days.

Lets start with where I left off shall we? I posted about Friday, we went to bed, then got up at 9:30am Saturday morning. I am so not a morning person, so it was slow getting me going, Steph woke me up with a cup of coffee already ready, and I drank it, had some breakfast, showered, got dressed and off we went on the road trip to San Diego.

There was some traffic that slowed us way down on the freeway, there was on lady in a silver Lexus that I swear I was shocked to all high heavens she didnt cause an accident whipping in and out of traffic like she did. We finally got some good momentum going, and stopped at a Ralph's (it is like a Fred Meyers, in fact I think it is owened by Kragers)

Ok that is all for now, more later.

So today started with a long flight, the 3 hour delay in Juneau just getting out. I did get annoyed by this, but at the same time, it is all part of the adventure. My ability to talk to mere strangers, I ended up making a few friends at the airport, saw some people I already knew, and formed a few bonds with some that I didn't. Yes this includes small children as well. I got roped into reading a book to a small group of little kids while their parents enjoyed this break from chasing after them as they ran around trying to wear out for the plane. I then met an older lady, she had an amazing attitude, it was just an adventure to her, she was pretty bubbly. It was a decent time all in all.

The Seattle flight went smoothly, and got to LAX just fine. Steph picked me up brought me here, and from there I showered, we hung out, drove around San Pedro. The plus side, is today was the last day of school before Christmas break, the kids are now out of school for the next 3 weeks, so we picked Ray up about 45 minutes early, hung out with him.

I had my first taste of In and Out Burger, not bad, probably wont eat there again, as it was a bit greasier then I thought it would be. Their Strawberry shakes are to die for though. We then drove out to the beach with Ray in tow, got out there and the weather was fairly high, about 76-80 if i am remembering correctly. Out in the water were some dudes surfing, we watched for a while, got some neat pictures of one dude really riding the wave with skill and grace. Then I heard the little jingle jangle of the ice cream truck.

How can a girl from Alaska, where it is freezing, and temps getitng as high as mid 30's right now the middle of December, resisit buying ice cream at the beach in the middle of a 70degree + day, on December 18th. I mean come on, that is a concept I am still having a hard time wrapping my head around.

I want to take this time to go back to the Seattle portion of the trip. Originally I thought according the to tickets, that I would be stuck in SeaTac airport for 6 long hours, with nothing to do as the shops were all closed. By the time we actually did get there at 3am, there were a few places open, including a Starbucks. Yes I got a Venti Peppermint White chocolate mocha, YUM. Took my meds, check the gate I needed to be at, and it was changed from what I orginally thought. I made my way down to the gate, at around 4:30 I started down, and when I got there at 4;45, after a pit stop in the ladies room, taking my shots of insulin, I played a few games of Sudoku and they started calling out rows to board the plane.

Both flights (from Juneau to Seattle, and from Seattle to LAX) were full, there was not a single empty seat on either plane. We did have a star trek fan for a pilot, who called his co-pilot his first officer, and his warp drive engine was going to get us safely to Seattle. I think everyone was tired and cranky by this time, and he was either trying to be funny, or something. He was a good pilot, avoided most of the turbulence I had been expecting.

Upon arriving in LAX at 8am, on schedule for the first time all trip so far, I found out this airport is just insane. It as a LONG trek from the gate to the baggage claim and I had been up all night, worked all day, and I just couldnt make it anymore. I stood next to a wall about 10 feet from the security guys, and the exit toward baggage claim, and I swear they thought I was going to pass out or something.

They kept asking if I was ok, I told them yes, its been a long day, I was tired, sore and just wanted to get my bag and meet my friend who was picking me up (Stephanie). They said ok, asked if I wanted some help, by that time I just said yes to shut them the hell up. They brought another security officer out with a wheel chair of all things, whatever my feet hurt, I was taking the help, but I sat in it and got stuck, It was too small for me to get my fat ass in the chair. They made me wait in the middle of the area, and other people going to baggage claim kept walking around me, turning back to stare, pointing and laughing at me, and some other crude remarks, this was not helping matters. The security team came back with a slightly wider chair at this point, and got me in it, and asked me again if i needed the paramedics, if i was ok, and I kept saying, yes I'm fine, just need to pick up my luggage. Again they asked me if I needed the paramedics, and some stranger came over and asked if I needed help getting somewhere, I told him no, I was ok, so he started pushing me toward the exit, I said NONONO and he stopped, and walked off. The security people again asked if I was ok, at this point, my patience what little was left after a long day, it was now 9am, I lost it. I screamed at them "I JUST WANT TO GET MY GODDAMN BAGS, WHAT IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS?" To which I was abruptly told that I need to calm down, relax and not take my anger out on them, they are just trying to help and if I continue with the hostile attitude they could and would call the cops. So they take me to baggage claim and then asked "Do you need to pick up luggage?" Thinking to myself, havent I answered this, but out of my mouth came "No, I have no luggage, I just wanna take a joyride on the luggage belt." They were NOT amused by this. Oh well, not my fault they were stupid, and I was cranky.

I got my one bag of luggage and headed outside and Steph was there and we headed to her place.

When it was time to pick up Emily from school, we designed a plan. I would stay here at the house, and hide in the bedroom, Steph went to pick her up, Ray hid my bags, and Steph told Emily I hadn't gotten there yet. She was so disappointed till she saw me. I was immmediatly bombared with hugs and lovins. She has been very lovy dovey all day with me and has barely left my side. It is so cute, she brought her sidekick, and friend Riley over to meet me, and Riley's mom Linda is Steph's friend. So we hung out with them in the evening, played some killer bunnies, then went to dinner. Cardo (Steph's man) waiters for a place called CoCo's. It is a style of Denny's just less grease, and a hell of a lot better food.

We had to stop at Target for a few things for the house, then got back and played more killer bunnies. Cardo even joined in for a game, when he got home from work. He works two jobs, I don't remember what the day job was, so he was pretty tired today. It has been a lot of fun, but for now its 1am, and i need to get a little bit of sleep, as in the morning Steph and I get up at 9am, or so, get dressed, and take me to San Diego. I will be there Saturday and part of Sunday meeting Sarah, I am really looking forward to it. I must say here though, its been great getting to see Steph, Ray and Emily. I have missed them like crazy, and its been great seeing her home town, and just being able to hang out again.

So there is the long version of today's adventure. I will try and post later about tomorow. :) I think if anything, if I can I will try and just make one long post at the end of the day, and recap the day as I did just now. Till then.....please leave comments or email me at cori@rootaction.net :)

So, it is the middle of December its 75 degrees, we just got back from the beach and got picutres of people surfing. There was also an icecream truck serving soft serve while we were there. it boggles my mind. It is just not right to be in 70+degree weather IN FREAKING DECEMBER!!!!

So Will posted that I made it to LA. Steph picked me up right outside baggage claim, its sunny, warm, ya know typical weather for December right?

I am realizing that I am spoiled by living in Juneau. There are no freeways. Here its insane. hahah.

Its been an adventure so far. The delays, the people, the crowded planes, but I am here, I am showered, I feel like a normal human being again.

The best part, I met Cardo the guy that took Steph away from me. haha, but I get to spend days with her, so now we are off on our first real adventure of the trip.

I just got another phone call, this time from the freeway in Los Angeles. She made it okay, a little tired and in need of a shower, but all in one piece.

So I just got off the phone, and she made it to Seattle. Mechanical problems in Anchorage and weather in Yakutat delayed her flight leaving from Juneau by more than 3 hours. She said there was not a single empty seat on the plane, and the part of the terminal in Seattle that she needs to go to next isn't open yet. So thus far, the trip hasn't been so great, but at least she made it in one piece.

So due to weather issues, the flight out of Juneau has been delayed even more. Supposed to leave at 9:30 now, but we were also supposed to leave at 8pm, so we shall see, on the bright side, we get to Seattle at 2am instead of 11:30pm, so less of a layover, I guess that is the silver lining right?

So, Its morning, I got some sleep, now will be a day at work, printing off my itinerary, I will post that later today.
Then afterwork, will be dinner and then airport, and good bye to Will for a few days. If you read this and you know him, wish him happy birthday tomorow :)

Well I am all packed for the trip. I'm too excited to sleep, just have to make it to work, then essentially my trip starts at 4:30pm.

I'm nervous, because of flying, I'm putting myself out of my element, but life is about adventure right?

So here is a new adventure to add to all the rest. Yay, I get to see Steph and her kids, get to meet a few new people, and see my parents. 10 days of fun, and adventure await me.