Blame it on Mercury retrograde

[ellienihon]

Well, it's 2pm, and I'm still in LAX. This was not the plan. And well, apparently I didn't know what the plan was supposed to be. I hate 24 hour time schedules. I don't think in 24 hour time, I think in AM/PM, particularly in the states where only the military uses 24 hour time.

So anyway, I get up to the ticket counter, and the lady tells me I was supposed to check in yesterday. I was very confused, but after a couple of moments, I understood. My E-ticket said 0115 departure, meaning that my flight took off last night at 1:15am, shortly after I left H's birthday party. My heart dropped, and my ears started buzzing. A sudden gulf opened in the floor right there in front of the ticket counter. I kept on thinking, "I can't believe I fucked this up." And it occured to me that I have been thinking a lot about how I really want to stay in the US, and this was a hell of a way to sabotage myself. I also realized that I really do want to go back, and there are things I'm looking forward to.

The ticket lady was very kind, and told me it would be okay, and started working to get me to Nagoya. She gave me two choices, I could leave on the soonest flight, spend the night in Taipei, and fly out of Chiang Kaishek International at 4:20 on Tuesday; or I could wait until past midnight at LAX, arrive in Taipei at 5:30am Tuesday and take the 4:20 flight on Tuesday. I would have to get a hotel if I took the overnight option, and she seemed to think that I would take the second option. I decided to take the overnight in Taipei choice, because the thought of lugging my checked luggage around LAX for 12 hours was pretty dismal. Also, I arrive in Japan at the same time, but one option has me in a bed for 12 hours... hmm, hard choice. It cost $50 for the hotel, but still not so difficult.

So, I've had a couple of hours to think about this now, and I'm king of excited. I get to spend a day in Taipei! I'm also nervous and scared. My Chinese sucks. And I've never done anything like this. I had considered doing a day or two in Taipei when I originally scheduled the trip, but decided not to because I don't know anyone there, and don't speak the language, and it was scary. Well, I'm doing it anyway. I'll have about 20 hours in Taipei. We'll see how it goes.

I wrote this at 2pm PSTon Sunday, Aug 15th.

Comments

[notofthistime.livejournal.com]

so sorry that you missed your first flight, but at least we now know why you flight wasn't listed ;-) very glad you made it home.

[darkwombatdude.livejournal.com]

Hey, I use 24 hour time. I've done so since Jr. High school. I am further supported in it because all of the *nix machines from Furby to Mib work in it as well. When I verbally talk to people, I use 12 hour times as a courtesy for them. :->