James and Susan Get Sic

*vom vom vom*

Could it be the change in water?

edit: just to clarify we are properly sick. not hungover. i've spewed 4 times today. and suze nearly twice that. we both feel like absolute shit. suze commentating on what's going on outside is about the only nyc experience we're getting today.

Imagine

On the way home from the Television gig, walking through Central Park (which is gorgeous) we stumbled across the ' Imagine' shrine.

Several months ago I read some 'secrets of new york' article and it mentioned a story about a homeless man who is donated flowers each day from a florist and then places them in a different arrangement like this (this is just beside Strawberry Fields):



It was really nice to come across this without expecting it. And to know what it was straight away.

Novelty Dogs

All the dogs we've seen so far (about 6) have been what Suze and I have labelled 'novelty dogs'. They're all quirky and interesting looking. The type of dogs you want a take a photo of and post on the internet. But we're too timid to take photos of someone else's dog.

We're here!

So the plane arrived. One hour late due solely to peak hour on the runway. Spent over half an hour just waiting for a terminal to free up.

Caught a taxi. Tipped the driver. Found the apartment. Walked around to find an internet cafe. Didn't. Decided we were being public nuisances on the footpath with our luggage. Came back to the apartment facade to see if we could get any internets on the laptop. And huzzah!

The lady who owns the apartment is at work, but is currently arranging for us to get in.

It's surprisingly cold here. I was prepared for major heat. It's only slightly warmer than Brisbane at the moment.


BTW...blogs from plane flight will be posted (when I get time) below this one. i.e. when I wrote them.

LA --> NY Blog (Bitter Aftertaste)

Getting through customs/security at LAX was surprisingly easy but also stressful as we had 1.5 hrs to get from one plane to the next (inc. immigration, baggage pick-up, customs, baggage check-in & finding the right terminal/gate).

It all went through quicker than expected and we were happy campers until a very friendly big black American gave us directions to our terminal and then forcefully asked for money. Being in a foreign airport in a foreign country I start to get in the mindframe of abiding by intimidating men in security outfits and in my haste to make our plane I unwillingly donated to some fuckwit conservative christian Americans*. Probably in my bottom 10 list of organisations to donate to.

Yes, I'm weak. It's a flaw. I'll admit.

Oh, and LAX is absolutely shithouse. Worst. Airport. Eva.

P.S. I have a copy of the New York Times. US$1 + 8.25% GST

* 'fuckwit conservative' was my own assumption.

Bris --> LA Blog 2

6.30am L.A. time.

So the last two thirds of the flight didn't fly (pun) as fast as the first. On the whole, though, it's been a pretty painless process.

The food was good sans lack of vegetarian options. I realised vodka
+ lemonade is pretty good. And retickled my funny bone with old eps of The Nominees ('We Can Be Heroes' in Australia), Kath & Kim and Little Britain. Not much sleeping seemed to happen, though it's hard to tell.

We're about to land now and my head feels funny. We've just 2 hrs to get baggage, stealthily past through customs and recheck-in.

Over and out
-James

Bris --> LA Blog 1

It's 12:50pm. I think we've been on the plane for 1hr 45mins. Doesn't seem like long. I had a little nap, watched a short movie on customs documentation, played with the in-flight entertainment, got a vodka + lemonade, tried to watch Happy Feet (movies...argh!) and filled out my customs forms.

I'm currently trying to work up the courage to press the host/ess button and ask for a plate of whatever everyone else seems to be having (it looks like more packaging than food, but I'm hungry) and another vodka. The little 'pretzel snacks' they gave us didn't really cut it (though suze and I have supplemented it with Wasabi Peas :D)

I'm currently listening to Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things on the 'pod. Have been in a much better mood since. Unfortunately, it's only going to last half the trip, but the in-flight entertainment has enough food shit (an 'alternative' section...lol) to tide me over.

Everything is smooth thus far. I got a little excited while writing 'New York' on the customs forms. Will probably blog again before we land.

-Love
James

James and susan pwn security

We got through. Very painless. There's an extra security area for US flights. Suze got a pat down. Think she liked it. I missed out :(

Sorry, we overbooked your flight.

But would you like a direct one that shaves 4 hours off your trip?
Okay. thx.

Thanks to this nice phone call today, we're now leaving Brisbane at 11:05am direct to Los Angeles at 7:00am.

I'm actually going to get some sleep. Novel!

Carbon Offsetting

A few weeks ago while at STA Travel, I picked up a small brochure advertising carbon offsetting for travel. For those unaware, Carbon Offsetting is the concept of calculating the carbon expenditure of an activity or process and then contributing enough money towards a carbon reduction scheme to neutralise the emission.

Given that I was already uncomfortable with the negative effect my holiday was going to have on the environment, I was really interested in the idea. The travel agent this morning informed me that it would cost $180 (equivalent to approximately 5 tonne of gas) - more than expected, but I bit the bullet without too much thought.

The idea of individuals being responsible for (and neutralising) the greenhouse gas they directly or indirectly produce is one I strongly support. Anyone who can afford a holiday, can also afford to offset it. According to the last explanatory step on the carbon offsetting process:

5. You feel bloody fantastic because you've made a positive change to the environment.

But I don't, because I haven't. I've just stopped feeling uneasy about the fact that my beloved holiday, that I can afford because I am fortunate, isn't further destroying the environment.

More info.