The Plane Ride

Ok, the plane will NOT be remembered as a high note in the trip. After a tearful farewell at the airport the plane we took from Dulles to Newark was roughly the size of a tin can with twin prop engines. Definately not ideal for two people who aren't big fans of planes (in case you didn't know, Cristen is with me for the first three weeks while I'm on the Dig). We get to Newark and we were actually fans of the airport. We had a GREAT (albeit hazy) view of NYC from the restaurant and had a good time chatting and gossiping (fahdling??) We clear the extra security at the gate and that's when the fun began. We checked in again at the gate and asked if there were any seats available with computer plugs and were informed that the entire plane had plugs so we asked if there were two isle seats next to each other. SOMEHOW that became ME IN THE MIDDLE SEAT which was NOT fun at ALL. There was this family in front of us with little kids who just kept the seat backs all the way down all the time (including during boarding) so Cristen and I politely asked the flight attendant if there were any seats available with computer plugs. She said yes, there were, but they weren't next to each other. When we went to check them out they were the front seats of the section which means .... MORE LEG ROOM! We jumped at the opportunity and moved up. Cristen lucked out and sat between two very nice people who helped her get her stuff settled (hard to do mid flight). I, on the other hand, got placed between two surly middle aged men who did NOT want me there. They both plugged their computers in and left the computers closed and refused to let me plug my computer in (when I was using it!). They ALSO insisted on using both armrests and there was NO WAY I was going to win that battle. So I was stuck in a tiny chair between two big guys that didn't want me there with no way to get to my stuff (because cranky pants would trip me if I tried to get out of the seat). For 7 hours. Awesome.

Thankfully, I had the first seat so I was able to stretch my legs out and move them around so that I didn't go completely crazy. Oh, and they kept making me move around so I never got to sleep. Fan-freaking-tastic.

At any rate, I survived and after some stretching will be fine. I'm now at the airport waiting for the bus to take me to the dig!!! Cristen is sleeping on the marble floor of the airport (winning her some funny looks!!!) but I think that I'm going to hold off until we get on the bus and nap during the drive. DIBS ON A WINDOW SEAT!