Getting to Phoenix, being in Arizona
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 05:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
afunaI am safe in Phoenix!
I have this immense love of window seats, because I can look out the window at any time and see what's out there. Usually it's clouds, but there were very few clouds on the two short hops that I managed to get a window seat. Every time I looked down, I'd see gorgeous islands, or gorgeous sea, or gorgeous gigantic landmasses, beneath me. And the clouds! While scarce, they were pretty, like stepping stones.
I like window seats because if you're in an aisle seat, all you see are bored and tired travelers. If you're in a window seat, you see the world that you pass over \o/
Funnily enough, I'm normally scared of heights though that's more when I'm not in an enclosed structure. I can't ride ferris wheels; the last time I tried, I panicked and begged to be allowed to climb out. But airplanes? Despite how much higher up they are, airplanes are a different matter entirely.
On the first flight, I even managed to sit directly behind the wing, and I got to see this thick line of air curving over the top of the wing as we took off. I was gorgeous and made me so very happy :) So was being able to watch the wing flaps move about on take off and landing. Then also I got to see my city (♥) shrink away underneath me, and then my destination coming up ahead. Mmm, window seats.
Oh also, I just found out something that's been bothering me for ages: you usually get asked to close your window seats as part of the landing procedure. (Stow the tray tables, put your seat back in an upright position, put away your carryon baggage, close the windows), and you never hear why. This time, on all three of the flights on the way to Phoenix, I got an explanation! It's to block out the heat of the sun, so that the airplane will be nice and cool for the next batch of passengers. Also, this time, I got asked to close the window shades before leaving, but not during landing, which was a plus. I got to enjoy the view that much longer \o/
On the longest leg of the trip, I got an aisle seat, squashed between two other people, which makes me a bit sad. I can't remember if the flight from east to west gets you any actual night time outside the plane, or if it's just day time all the way through. There was plenty of legroom, though, so I just slept through most of that trip.
(Mom texted me a couple of times, reminding me not to forget my connecting flights which amused me. I can't imagine how I'd forget! The other thing that amused me, I thought that two hours would be plenty of time to get to the next connection, but each time it was just barely enough to be comfortable)
peoppenheimer met me at the airport. There was a slight mixup: I didn't realize they'd let non-passengers in as far as the security check, so I thought he'd meet me outside, so I went straight out as quickly as I could. He, meanwhile, knowing more of how things work in Phoenix terminal 2, was waiting for me inside. But we eventually found each other, whee! Really glad that he didn't have to wait outside in the summer heat for me all that time *g*
Speaking of the summer heat, we'll probably have to skip all of the outdoor stuff, like the Desert Botanical Garden, because it's way too hot. 115 F, which, I don't remember the conversion to C anymore, but is way higher than a high fever. That's how I've been doing most of my mental mapping to Arizona temperatures right now -- is it higher than body temperature? Then it's not so all right. Is it lower? Then it's okay! I can't be bothered to do the conversion, so all I need to know is whether it might be dangerous.
Tomorrow may be bookstore + museum. Or it might be just hanging around the house geeking out. (He said a magic word: Arduino. Also logic. Hah :-))
Before heading home, we dropped by the Scottsdale Public Library, where I was introduced to the works of Maurice Sendak, and given a grand tour (I think the whole library is awesome; I am jealous!). We wandered around the ... civic? center? and the surrounding park for a while, just hanging out, and also using whatever water fountains were at hand).
peoppenheimer's mom cooked us some chicken in cranberry sauce (and I think I like cranberry sauce :D) \o/, and I introduced them to the various ways you can eat a mango. I got three ways :D Maybe four, if you count the eating of the pit as different from the eating of the cheeks. I find it funny, almost, how mangoes are an exotic fruit here, while peaches are common, whereas back home it's the other way around. And it makes sense! And yet also tickles me.
I was pretty punch drunk through dinner (capped with my pronouncement at the end that "hey, the center of the placemat moves". Peo says that no, it doesn't. :x), So headed to bed early. Which also means that I'm up very early, and trying to be check my email and my read page and post this entry very quietly so I don't wake up anyone.
Have talked to a couple of people; have some hugs that I need to pass on topeoppenheimer :D
I have this immense love of window seats, because I can look out the window at any time and see what's out there. Usually it's clouds, but there were very few clouds on the two short hops that I managed to get a window seat. Every time I looked down, I'd see gorgeous islands, or gorgeous sea, or gorgeous gigantic landmasses, beneath me. And the clouds! While scarce, they were pretty, like stepping stones.
I like window seats because if you're in an aisle seat, all you see are bored and tired travelers. If you're in a window seat, you see the world that you pass over \o/
Funnily enough, I'm normally scared of heights though that's more when I'm not in an enclosed structure. I can't ride ferris wheels; the last time I tried, I panicked and begged to be allowed to climb out. But airplanes? Despite how much higher up they are, airplanes are a different matter entirely.
On the first flight, I even managed to sit directly behind the wing, and I got to see this thick line of air curving over the top of the wing as we took off. I was gorgeous and made me so very happy :) So was being able to watch the wing flaps move about on take off and landing. Then also I got to see my city (♥) shrink away underneath me, and then my destination coming up ahead. Mmm, window seats.
Oh also, I just found out something that's been bothering me for ages: you usually get asked to close your window seats as part of the landing procedure. (Stow the tray tables, put your seat back in an upright position, put away your carryon baggage, close the windows), and you never hear why. This time, on all three of the flights on the way to Phoenix, I got an explanation! It's to block out the heat of the sun, so that the airplane will be nice and cool for the next batch of passengers. Also, this time, I got asked to close the window shades before leaving, but not during landing, which was a plus. I got to enjoy the view that much longer \o/
On the longest leg of the trip, I got an aisle seat, squashed between two other people, which makes me a bit sad. I can't remember if the flight from east to west gets you any actual night time outside the plane, or if it's just day time all the way through. There was plenty of legroom, though, so I just slept through most of that trip.
(Mom texted me a couple of times, reminding me not to forget my connecting flights which amused me. I can't imagine how I'd forget! The other thing that amused me, I thought that two hours would be plenty of time to get to the next connection, but each time it was just barely enough to be comfortable)
peoppenheimer met me at the airport. There was a slight mixup: I didn't realize they'd let non-passengers in as far as the security check, so I thought he'd meet me outside, so I went straight out as quickly as I could. He, meanwhile, knowing more of how things work in Phoenix terminal 2, was waiting for me inside. But we eventually found each other, whee! Really glad that he didn't have to wait outside in the summer heat for me all that time *g* Speaking of the summer heat, we'll probably have to skip all of the outdoor stuff, like the Desert Botanical Garden, because it's way too hot. 115 F, which, I don't remember the conversion to C anymore, but is way higher than a high fever. That's how I've been doing most of my mental mapping to Arizona temperatures right now -- is it higher than body temperature? Then it's not so all right. Is it lower? Then it's okay! I can't be bothered to do the conversion, so all I need to know is whether it might be dangerous.
Tomorrow may be bookstore + museum. Or it might be just hanging around the house geeking out. (He said a magic word: Arduino. Also logic. Hah :-))
Before heading home, we dropped by the Scottsdale Public Library, where I was introduced to the works of Maurice Sendak, and given a grand tour (I think the whole library is awesome; I am jealous!). We wandered around the ... civic? center? and the surrounding park for a while, just hanging out, and also using whatever water fountains were at hand).
peoppenheimer's mom cooked us some chicken in cranberry sauce (and I think I like cranberry sauce :D) \o/, and I introduced them to the various ways you can eat a mango. I got three ways :D Maybe four, if you count the eating of the pit as different from the eating of the cheeks. I find it funny, almost, how mangoes are an exotic fruit here, while peaches are common, whereas back home it's the other way around. And it makes sense! And yet also tickles me. I was pretty punch drunk through dinner (capped with my pronouncement at the end that "hey, the center of the placemat moves". Peo says that no, it doesn't. :x), So headed to bed early. Which also means that I'm up very early, and trying to be check my email and my read page and post this entry very quietly so I don't wake up anyone.
Have talked to a couple of people; have some hugs that I need to pass on to
peoppenheimer :D
