The Longest Day

Saturday, 21 April, 2007. It started (think 12am) like this: Pat and I met Adam at the pub and we drank some beers. I think around half of my nights in Sydney started this way, might as well do it again one last time. We left and went to get some pizza with Pat, said my goodbyes to him and told him he better come up to see me in August some time. He probably will, he wants to see the Mallrats filming location. And the Mighty Ducks.

I took a quick sleep on Adam's floor and then went shopping at Woolies for TimTams before my flight to LA. Adam helped me lug all my stuff to the train station where I caught a train (as you do) to the airport. 4 stops, $9. Reason number one that privitisation of public infrastructure and services is not always the best. I cheated them anyways by claiming a concession fare, so I guess I had the last laugh. The check in and screening process went by without much of a hitch, only that now Australia has started enforcing the no gels, liquids etc over 100 mils in carry-ons. So I was asked by just about every security attendant in the airport if I needed a plastic bag to put my things in. The advances in airport security.....

By 11am I was drinking free Bailey's in the duty free shop fretting over U.S. alcohol quotas. For US$40 I could have had myself 2 litres of the stuff! Australia had been good to me and I already had too much alcohol in my bags, though in hindsight I could have waltzed into the country sans problem with as much as I wanted. 20/20 The flight was chock 0'block and I was in the middle seat. I wouldn't have the luxury this time of 3 seats to myself and 8 wonderous hours of sleep on a plane in economy. I got maybe 4, watched some movies, read a book and listened to my iPod (something I didn't have on my 2 months of backpacking). You know, all those plane type activities. You'd think after sitting next to someone for 13 hours you'd know there name and lifestory, but I didn't know his until he filled out his US customs and immigration cards. I think "tea please," "chicken," "yes," and "hot breakfast" were the only words that came out of my mouth the entire flight. Funny how that works, but unsurprising when each passenger has there own distractive world of on demand entertainment to fall into at the push of a button. I myself watched a couple of Aussie movies I wanted to see.

After napping a bit I woke up it was ready to start the descent. Touchdown and I was in Los Angeles. The plan was to txt Ben with my Australian phone when I got there but to my surprise it wouldn't hop onto another network. Fuckin' Vodafone! So I had to use a payphone. When was the last time you used one of those? I left Australia at 13.25 Saturday. By 13.00 Saturday I was eating lunch in LA. God bless the international dateline. We took a scenic drive back to Ben's apartment and I got all my stuff unloaded. LA is not exactly what I expected. I think I was only thinking about all the bad things you hear in the news or see in movies. It is an OK city from what I can gather after only 2 days here.

I've discovered Wii! How fucking cool is this little box! It's halfway to virtual reality. A new gaming system that uses sensors on the control pads. So if you are playing a golfing video game, you actually take a golf swing with the controller in your hand to hit the ball. Or you can box each other. I'm hooked and delighted. After playing that for a few hours we headed off for my first meal back in the states. In and Out Burger! Cheeseburger, fries and a vanilla milkshake. Delicious. Ben had movie coupons so we went to see Hot Fuzz. I highly recommend seeing this film in the theatres while it's still popular. It is a riot! You will clap, cry from laughing so hard and give standing ovations at the end of the film.

Afterwards it was late enough to take a drive up into the mountains to watch a meteor shower. We lied in the car with our heads poking out the window (too cold and windy to stand outside. I know, we're total pansies) and watched the stars with the lights of LA spread below us. It's still Saturday. Only saw a few meteors because the clouds eventually moved in and covered our view. Somehow this day has gone on for 30 some odd hours in each of the 4 hemispheres. I fell asleep on the short drive home and when I woke up it was finally Sunday.

I'm not quite home yet, but I'm getting close and American culture has given me a good beating these past two days. And if anyone was wondering, his name is Tony.