Anyone bring the jumper cables?

Well, it's finally here!  The big vaca started with a round of alarm clocks at 3:45 AM. Got to the airport in plenty of time (thanks, Austin!).  Unfortunately, our 15 minute flight to Milwaukee was delayed 30 minutes.  The plane had no power, no heat, and essential stuff like that.  So, we waited until the plane was juiced up enough to power itself.  I was a little nervous considering our layover in MKE was only 15 minutes and we were already behind schedule.

Perhaps it was the nerves that prevented me from sleeping, so I read the (huh huh huh) Wall Street Journal.  There was an article about toilet-training your cats. Apparently with enough time and patience, you can actually get your cat to do its duty in the big white bowl.  Great, the last thing I need is a kitty soaked in toilet water.  I think I'll stick to the traditional sand box approach.

We made it to Milwaukee in one piece after an unsettling desent through the clouds over Lake Michigan. On top of a late arrival, we waited on the plane for what seemed like another 20 minutes.  We deplaned onto a portable staircase in the frigid cold air.  Matt claimed his checked carry-on luggage and we made a mad dash for our next flight. Good thing we had our running shoes on!  Of course, the next gate was at the end of another terminal.  As we approached, I heard our names being called "...passengers Starzewski, please come to gate 49..." We ran even faster and made it just in time.

The flight to LA was tolerable, despite the 4 crying babies, hacking coughs and random whiffs of a poot (which Mattie owned up to after the fact).  After a short 2.5 hour nap, I read the newest edition of Cooking Light from cover to cover and listened to the soundtrack from the new movie "Nine".  No idea what they were singing about or what the story line was, so I think I'll have to see the movie to get clued in.

Upon arriving in LA, I quickly noticed two things. 1. The weather was a gorgeous 63 degrees (sorry all you Wisconsinites stuck in a cold snap). 2. There were a crap-load of people everywhere you went. Even when you were out of the way, you were in someone's way. And for that, I'm glad to live in the midwest.

We made our way to Terminal 2, passing Ohio State fans traveling home after their victory at the Rose Bowl. By 12:30, we arrived at the Air New Zealand check-in counter where there was already a wrapped line of eager passengers. We checked in and went through security with relative ease. It was fun people watching.  There were people of all backgrounds, speaking in various accents of english, french, spanish and japanese. Some were carrying decorative bags of Christmas gifts. A father said goodbye to his family with a secret handshake that ended in a jazz-hands.I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.

So, what's next on the itinerary for today? Get some grub and wait another 6 hours for our the final leg of our flight.  See you in NZ!