So, I am totally excited. The plans for Oz are almost complete and ready and all set up. I’m looking at the flight times and realize that I haven’t been on a plane ride that’s lasted for more than 5 hours in almost 10 years. I don’t remember what in the heck I did when I was younger, taking planes abroad and whatnot.
The trip from LAX to Sydney takes 18 hours. 18 HOURS! That’s like 2 days at work. What in the hell do you do on a plane for 18 hours? Any ideas, anyone (comment, please)? I’m thinking about getting a little DVD player or something, but I’m afraid the batteries will run out too quickly, and I don't want to carry 10 lbs. of batteries on my person. Do they have plugs on 777’s? I don’t think so. Hmm…
I’m off to get a piece of paper notarized so I can get my birth certificate sometime this month so I can eventually get my passport. My last passport expired back in ’96, and since my mom can’t find it or my birth certificate, I have to go through this whole deal to get everything done. I was born in Santa Clara County, California. When I was living there, all I had to do was drive down to the County Registrar’s office, ask them for my certificate, and be on my way. Now that I live in Podunk Idaho, I have to send them a fax with my name and all this blah blah blah crap so they know it’s me that’s requesting the stupid thing, along with half of my bank account. Then I get to wait a lovely 15-20 days for processing. Like I couldn’t look this thing up in the computer and print it out in 5 minutes. Then I have to wait for them to mail it to me.
But it doesn’t stop there, folks. Boise, being the growing metropolis it is, doesn’t have a passport office. So when I get my birth certificate, I get to fill out forms and send them off with another huge amount of money, along with some pictures that for some reason cost one billion times more than what they’re worth, and start the waiting game all over again.
Yeah, so I’m impatient. Instant gratification. Now.* I think that’s going to be my new slogan.
*I promise I’m really not actually this bitchy and whiney in real life.
PS. So I was totally Miss AwesomelyTruthfulAndHonest last night. I went to go change my stuff into the dryer (we have shared laundry facilities), and my neighbor's stuff was still in there (after 4 hours). Since her basket was right there, I made sure her stuff was dry and smushed everything into the basket. As I was cleaning out the lint trap (bowl? net?), I touched something that felt familiar. Money. It was a $10 bill. "Woo!" thought I. And I almost stuck it in my pocket. But I didn't. I folded up nicely and put it in the pocket of her jeans. Aw. Now see who's a bitch. Yeah, not me.
1. what to do on an airplane - well the time on the longer flights goes surprisingly fast i've found. but you can purchase bamboo knitting needles and take those on planes, you can read a book, they will most certainly have at least one movie showing (probably one you've already seen) and tv shows playing the rest of the flight, sleep, or wank off in the bathroom (which can aid in the sleeping).
2. Passport - you can get your passport through Ada County. Just bring them the forms and they'll do all the mailing for you. ...unless I was confused about what your biff was, it's reasonably simple. When I got my passport it only took two months. (...only?...)
Posted by: fern at April 8, 2004 3:30 PM