New Zealand here we come

The flight to New Zealand had its ups and downs. (So bad but couldn't resist.) This was a plane with service - Toothbrushes! Pillows! Movies on demand! Free movies! More than 30 movies that you can pause, take a nap and watch some more!

So did some guilty movie plane watching - broke rule number one - don't watch a movie till I've finished reading it. Brought the book Julie & Julia with me though I'm 3/4 of the way through it couldn't resist watching the movie.

Short book review - Julie & Julia by Julie Powell: a memoir of a quick-witted, slightly manic young woman who decides to make all 524 of Julia Child's recipes in 365 days and blogs about it. Craziness ensues - including her preparing gelaten by cooking a pigs hoof (yick) and killing a lobster by dismembering it live with a cleaver (double yick) - per directions from Julia Child.'s recipe book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Next movie - rule #2 try not to watch cheesy movies. I totally admit I watched Michael Jackson's movie, "This is it." (Watched at 4 a.m. in the morning airplane/New Zealand time and about 10 a.m. my time - the few East Coasters awake were offered orange juice.) Would never rent the movie at home but somehow the fact that is was On Demand! Free! made me give in. Well, the gods of good taste must have been watching because within a minute of the movie starting an orange juice was spilled all over my tray and pants. (Not to give any names but it was someone under ten flinging a plane blanket as he tossed in his sleep.) Fortunately, as the flight to New Zealand is 12 hours 45 minutes, I decided to pack an outfit for each person in a carry on bag just in case. Thank goodness. Though, if you've ever tried to change clothes in the bathroom you can imagine the challenge I faced.

Speaking of airplane bathrooms. Does anyone else consider it a feat of accomplishment and feel you should get a spot on survivor when you flush the airplane toilet and are once again not sucked out of the plane by the violent flushing action?

Well, made it through another plane ride to arrive in sunny New Zealand. Only about 15 more plane rides to go. Looking forward to a nice long sleep tonight.

Love to all,

Jackie