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Yes, just in case anyone has been wondering, I *am* alive and well in Palo Alto.
Friday turned out to be less successful than hoped (Had to lug 28lb books to post office, so 1:45pm = too late to go to museums), only watched 2 movies (Independence Day, Empire of the Sun), and helped 2 people pack (Ashlee + Joanne). But not me.
Saturday was mass panic. Woke up late (9am), got back to Pierce by 10, realized at 10:30 that I have more stuff than expected, and would need extra suitcase. Realized at 11:30 that cannot drag 3 suitcases on CTA, so need Shuttle. Realized at 12:00 that cannot lug 3 suitcases to shuttle stop either (and still get there in time). Call cab at 12:10. Stole someone else's cab at 12:20. Arrive @ airport, 1:30, gave taxi driver $50. Suitcase overweight (80lb), charged $50. Get to gate, 2:15, for 3pm flight. Realized at 2:20 that period had arrived during taxi ride. Flight as usual (movie: Pipe Dreams). Didn't find parents upon arrival. Spent $3 on luggage cart. Called parents, no answer. Lug cart around looking for parents. Finally found when about to give up and call call another taxi home. (Had been waiting for hour by the other exit). Unpacked, marvelled, and slept.
How I should have done things:
- Since Post Office not open on Saturday, should have spent Friday shipping 3 boxes of books instead of 1, and packing.
- On Satuday, should have found friend to help lug suitcases to shuttle. (2 hands cannot drag 3 suitcases, but 4 hands can!)
- Packed some "feminine hygene products"
Interesting people met on the way: Tanzanian taxi driver (only on the weekends. Currently getting self through college in pursuit of pharmceutical degree. But really really wants to be a doctor.), people in the gate waiting place (couple from Tennessee. Have son w/ cerebral palsy in college. Visiting wife's family in San Jose), people sitting next to me on airplane (rabid Scrabble player, degree in arts, worked as graphical design executive until had son then got ditched by husband. Worked real estate until broke knee. Now working odd jobs and contemplating move to Maui or Florida. Son had eyes glued to latest GameBoy Advance). Yay for life stories from complete strangers. One of the benefits of travelling, I think. People are much more willing to talk when they know they'll never see you ever again.
Yesterday: slacked around, slept, read JinYong (parents got full edition w/ footnotes/annotations by prominent Chinese scholars), ate lots of good food, watched Chinese tv w/ parents, played w/ brother.
Today: discovered that internet doesn't work on any of the machines at home*. -_-;; Am I the only one with a healthy computer at home? Sent out random emails, webbed** resume, checked email/LJ, and now, LJ-typing and contemplating future.
Desk! in room!! Lots of new stuff at home, like a garden, and a mature brother, and a money-happy father, and of course, 2 new cars.
Wondering vaguely about job-finding-ness.
Fanime? When? (hitch ride w/ someone?) Need to go and support carrie! Plus, Lucy promised Link-goodness. But wallet = limp. ::worried::
* Since internet is currently MIA (or rather, internet requires me to carry burning hot laptop on lap for 1 hour on battery time), calling is better. Yes, amazing, isn't it? that thing called a phone... I think I can still use it. What are the numbers for again? 1337?
** Yes, I verb "web". I verb "verb" as well.
Friday turned out to be less successful than hoped (Had to lug 28lb books to post office, so 1:45pm = too late to go to museums), only watched 2 movies (Independence Day, Empire of the Sun), and helped 2 people pack (Ashlee + Joanne). But not me.
Saturday was mass panic. Woke up late (9am), got back to Pierce by 10, realized at 10:30 that I have more stuff than expected, and would need extra suitcase. Realized at 11:30 that cannot drag 3 suitcases on CTA, so need Shuttle. Realized at 12:00 that cannot lug 3 suitcases to shuttle stop either (and still get there in time). Call cab at 12:10. Stole someone else's cab at 12:20. Arrive @ airport, 1:30, gave taxi driver $50. Suitcase overweight (80lb), charged $50. Get to gate, 2:15, for 3pm flight. Realized at 2:20 that period had arrived during taxi ride. Flight as usual (movie: Pipe Dreams). Didn't find parents upon arrival. Spent $3 on luggage cart. Called parents, no answer. Lug cart around looking for parents. Finally found when about to give up and call call another taxi home. (Had been waiting for hour by the other exit). Unpacked, marvelled, and slept.
How I should have done things:
- Since Post Office not open on Saturday, should have spent Friday shipping 3 boxes of books instead of 1, and packing.
- On Satuday, should have found friend to help lug suitcases to shuttle. (2 hands cannot drag 3 suitcases, but 4 hands can!)
- Packed some "feminine hygene products"
Interesting people met on the way: Tanzanian taxi driver (only on the weekends. Currently getting self through college in pursuit of pharmceutical degree. But really really wants to be a doctor.), people in the gate waiting place (couple from Tennessee. Have son w/ cerebral palsy in college. Visiting wife's family in San Jose), people sitting next to me on airplane (rabid Scrabble player, degree in arts, worked as graphical design executive until had son then got ditched by husband. Worked real estate until broke knee. Now working odd jobs and contemplating move to Maui or Florida. Son had eyes glued to latest GameBoy Advance). Yay for life stories from complete strangers. One of the benefits of travelling, I think. People are much more willing to talk when they know they'll never see you ever again.
Yesterday: slacked around, slept, read JinYong (parents got full edition w/ footnotes/annotations by prominent Chinese scholars), ate lots of good food, watched Chinese tv w/ parents, played w/ brother.
Today: discovered that internet doesn't work on any of the machines at home*. -_-;; Am I the only one with a healthy computer at home? Sent out random emails, webbed** resume, checked email/LJ, and now, LJ-typing and contemplating future.
Desk! in room!! Lots of new stuff at home, like a garden, and a mature brother, and a money-happy father, and of course, 2 new cars.
Wondering vaguely about job-finding-ness.
Fanime? When? (hitch ride w/ someone?) Need to go and support carrie! Plus, Lucy promised Link-goodness. But wallet = limp. ::worried::
* Since internet is currently MIA (or rather, internet requires me to carry burning hot laptop on lap for 1 hour on battery time), calling is better. Yes, amazing, isn't it? that thing called a phone... I think I can still use it. What are the numbers for again? 1337?
** Yes, I verb "web". I verb "verb" as well.
