Nicks Dream Vacation Journal

Nick New Zealand Dream Vacation Journal.Doc

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November 17, 2005

USA – Friday Day 1 – September 23rd, 2005

Well, I woke up and it was hard to believe I was finally going to New Zealand. So

off to work I go – it was fun today had lot’s to do, preparing the systems for my return.

Had Mark turn Password audit on the RVG environment so we can change the Siebel

default passwords. So, before I left I also prepared a PowerPoint for Larry to present to

the managers to show the change of responsibilities for the IT Siebel environment. Actually

kept busy until about 2:00pm when Larry came by my office and said Nick you’re driving

me crazy get out of here

–

Yeah vacation has started –

So, stopped by Albertson to get the last item I would need – tanning lotion just incase

?

I

see the sun – LOL. Off to home and wrap up the packing, really not much to pack as I

did that last night.

Well, Pam is home and we load up the car. I packed pretty light – my new suitcase –

yellow travel bag and my back-pack. I did rearrange some of the items from the suitcase to

the yellow travel bag – my day kit with my meds. The drive to the airport was not to bad

– usual LA Traffic. Just as many crazy drivers!!

The Airport

Ok for those that know me I wanted to get to the airport early – well plane leaves at

9:40pm – I was there at 4:15pm, just a tad early, check-in doesn’t open until 5:00pm. So,

I just yakked with a couple from Georgia on an education business trip – the man was a

professor of Entomology (stuff of bugs) – in Auckland for a conference and a New

Zealander bloke – ah – I’m getting that Kiwi lingo down -LOL.

Well security was the usual but forgot when I repacked that I had left my big toe nail

clippers and small Swiss Army pocket knife in my kit which was in my carry-on pack but

had been in my luggage. So, they were lost to the ATA garbage gods – yeah right – those

make it to someone’s pocket.

So, now into the terminal and a little something to eat – oh I forgot Airport food – yuck!!

So, I had two hot dogs. The new water bottles I bought are awful they make the water

taste awful and they keep falling out of the back pack. So, with nothing much to do I

relaxed and listened to my iPod.

The flight

Well, we’re on board now and everything is put away – these seats are very tiny and

remind me how I

missed American when they gave us an extra

two inches leg room,

12.5 hours in this seat – got to remember to

not put so much stuff

in my back-pack or even better upgrade to

Business class for me

and Pam on the way home.

So, I curled up and

put my head phones on and watched “Monster