Long Haul Flights (and Happy Thanksgiving)

I just got back from a lovely visit to my family in the western USA. Great trip. The only downside is the 22-odd hours I have to spend in airplanes/airports to travel from Hamburg to Las Vegas. We all know the drill - having to get to the airport 3 hours early, going through a dozen security checks (why I still wear shoes that are hard to remove is beyond me...), fighting over overhead bin space. But the absolute worst is being crammed into economy class seats for hours and hours. I know all sorts of "airplane pilates" exercises that really do help. But the problem is that they all look ridiculous. Pride versus comfort. Pride always seems to win (same concept for wearing 3-inch spike heels). And then there are the bathrooms. Usually 4 of them for, what, 200+ passengers? Let's just say that after 9 hours, those places are hazardous waste areas.

The reason I'm still dwelling on these long flights is that I'm off AGAIN to the US - California this time - for a business trip. Found out very suddenly, and am quite happy to attend the conference. But, like most companys do these days, I got booked economy. At least the heads of my company also fly economy, but that's little comfort during the 12 hour stretch from Frankfurt to San Francisco. BUT, I have about 40,000 frequent flyer miles, so I applied for an upgrade to business class. I'm "waitlisted". Which means that I probably won't get it, but I might! Just might! Oh, the joy of being able to stretch out a little bit, and to use the "forbidden" business class bathrooms!!!

German news: Angie is Frau Chancellor!!!! This makes me very happy.

Happy Thanksgiving, all! It's the holiday that I miss most over here. Meeting with family, eating turkey, watching 2 football games...and then getting a good nights sleep to prepare onesself for Black Friday, the first official day of the holiday shopping season. If you've never lined up at Best Buy at 5:00 in the morning, you haven't lived. Sigh...and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade is starting as I write this!