Xuan's Howdy Days

Howdy Days, Take 4 ….

29 Jan 2008 5 Comments

by Xuan-er in Austin, Baby Talk, Food, Travel

The long journey started at 6am check in and short breakfast with family then off I went into the airport. Flight on JAL was great, the service was a-typical Japanese and see, they even have a metal heating plate to keep your food warm. Went mad at the Narita Airport, went on a major shopping food spree when I was there and luckily I did even not I would be so hungry through the long haul flight on AA.

Yup, in less than an hour, I spend almost 10,000 Yen on food…

Things got a little too exciting for me from there. The flight was damn shakey and the food wasn’t too great. I was in the row of 5 seats so it was kinda hard to go to sleep but luckily it was 2 skinny Japanese men that I was squished in between so I wasn’t fighting for seat space. Upon arrival, the plane was stuck on the tarmac due to unavailability of the gate as there was flight delays in the morning. I was starting to worry then since I only have 2 hours in between my connection. By the time I got through the fast immigration but long wait for the bags, it was already 450pm when I got to the customs line. Then the guy wanna me to be checked into the “special” custom line cos I have 1 big bag of cookies and chocolates from Japan. Luckily, the Xray was not up then I went thru it in 10min as he did a eye power check and just asked if the green tea is tea and not some plants.

But my flight is taking off at 535pm and the flight status says that is still on TIME!!!!! But I have to recheck in the bags and the domestic security. The line was super long too so I went to “deh” at the custom off icer but she did not allow me until I showed her the ticket and told her the flight is still on time. Then she allowed me to cut through using the priority line. But my gate is at Terminal 1 and I am in Terminal 4….so imagined, I had ran from custom line to check in line…now I have to run to take the sky link then run to the gate…..I was so tired when I reach the gate at 534pm! (in case, all are wondering….I was at DFW)

The excitement did not stop there. Though I was able to catch my flight but my bags did not and the baggage service did not know if the bags made it on the next flight or when. Just told me to either wait for call or wait till the last flight come in at 950pm. So by the time I got my bags, it was already 10pm.

Welcome flowers, so sweet of Mr PB!

Checked into my apartment, I requested to be back in the same apartment complex cos I felt that it was pretty good the last time I stayed there though it is a little far from work but there is a lot of greenery in that area so I liked it. Amazingly, the apartment is bigger than the previous one by 96 sq.ft. It was pretty nice and it even came with a working desk due to extra space. No more sitting in front of the coffee table to use the computer

Met up with Uncle Norm and Aunt Sandy briefly in the evening after work to catch them before they head back to NH. I met Nathan for the 1st time!!! He is sooooooooooooo small but chubby and just like to eat, sleep and make small meow-ing noises but he is a pretty good baby as he don’t make too much noise or cry too much. Guess what, he has GRAY EYES!!! OMG, I always think gray eyes are sexy……I bet he will be Kang Kang has grown up alot and he remembers me (I think) since he is not shy with me. Bridget is getting prettier by the day.

Apparently, a lot of new places had popped up the past 8 months after I left and some of the places I went before moved. This is a new pizza and brewhouse called BJ’s that I went for dinner with George with. Quick farewell dinner before he heads out for vacation The pizza is different as the meats are alot and the crust thick..but most of the food are too salty for my taste

People said, I lost weight…..so I better make sure I don’t gain back the 2 kg that I so painstakingly lost of the months. Yeah, older people tend to lose weight more slowly due to decreased metabolism rates.