Day 1

Our day started early with a wake up call from a meowing Nero. Luckily it was only about 15 minutes before my alarm was to go off anyway. Up and about at my usual 5:45am work day, I started getting ready. We were factoring in some extra time to grab a breakfast sandwich at Panera in O'Fallon, which we did. Wanna start the first big travel day with a warm full belly. When we arrived at Rosalie's house (The Alongi version of Park 'n Fly) we had about 30 minutes before the cab was to arrive, so I took a moment to call Mom with a few last-minute instructions and over-the-phone hugs. When we arrived at the airport we weren't sure exactly how long the lines would be in security as it is all over the news about TSA being understaffed and people missing their flights due to horrendous wait times. We felt pretty confident because we have global entry, which gives us TSA pre-check, but you never know if they will pull you as the "random check" and make you go through the regular line. When we got to the airport is was pretty much crickets and the same for the security line, but as guy was getting "the wand" after beeping the X-ray machine I chatted with a older gentleman in a suit who was going home to Dublin. Guy told me to ask him what to see while we were there, so of course I did. I told him we were only there for a day as we were going on a cruise, but for future reference of a possibly longer Ireland trip I asked if it was easy to drive around the country by car. He said in a very humble tone, "I'm the US Ambassador to Ireland so I have a driver", but he went on to say that the roads are tiny and combining that with driving on the opposite side of the road it can get a bit tricky.  He and Guy chatted until we got to our gate and he was fun to talk to. He said it rains all the time, not storms, but short-lived drizzle. I read on an online Frommer's guide that locals in Ireland don't carry umbrellas, they just pop into a local pub until it passes. Ha Ha.

Since we were really early, I had time to get on my phone and start dumping a bunch of photos (there are only 5,000 on there) and most of them are already downloaded on my computer at home. Some I just couldn't delete tho, such as a video of Nero holding on to Guy's leg or the photo of the receipt from my most expensive meal ever (with my sister on New Years Eve... I sent it to her just for a laugh). But I did have time to get several images off. And yes, it is the only camera I brought. The MCMA department at SIU is cringing right now - a photography degree and using just an iPhone???? Yup. --So as we got ready to board the plane, Guy was like "HEY!!"  For the past few weeks he has been telling me about two guys from Italy who were in town doing something at the cable factory. They were in to eat at the restaurant several times per week and the Alongi's have had a good time visiting with them. One gentleman, Gian Luca, is from Lake Como, Italy (f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s) and he was giving sightseeing tips to some of Guy's employees who are headed there on vacation soon. So these guys have been quite popular and often the topic of conversation around my house lately. Anyhow, Gian Luca is on our flight and when he saw Guy he said "The Earth is small" in broken English.Very cute. So finally, I got to meet this mysterious Italian guy I've heard about for some time now. Who knew it would have been on our flight? :)

Also on our flight is a Middle Eastern family with 3 stair step boys from the ages of probably 4 to 7ish. They keep flipping back and forth between perfect English and Arabic. Cute as buttons and were a hoot to listen to as the plane was taking off. One boy said "I can see everything!!!" And as the plane made a sharp left turn there was a symphony of OOOOOOOOOs. I'm typing this on the plane, so I'm waiting to see if turbulence stirs up something funny.

So packing...  I told Guy there was no way I could pack several sweaters and stay in our usual European packing method of just one carry on and a backpack per person. So I switched to a big bag and figured I'd have tons of room. Um, no. So then I moved to the I think I'll try not to have to do laundry method. We are gone about 18 days. Now I have SO MANY CHOICES on what to wear, but I had to sit on my big bag to get it closed. At the airport check in counter my bag weighed 49.5 pounds! SCORE! No extra fee...but only by the skin of my teeth. Whew!

Once we get to New York, I'll have my usual pre-long flight dinner of a slice of cheese pizza, diet Coke, an aspirin to help prevent DVT since I don't move around on the plane, and finally my trusty Xanax. Immediately after the plane takes off (and after completely sanitizing my area) I'll blow up my pillows, put in my earplugs and set my watch alarm to wake me up for pre-landing Sudafed and Ibupfren. Sounds like a lot, but when your routine ain't broke, don't fix it. Our flight to Germany is less than 8 hours. For me it will seem like about 1 hour. :)

Signing off for now and am happy to report an uneventful yet already fun Day 1.