Project Runway, Too

OK, OK, the title is a TV/Airplane pun and an unabashed plug for Valerie Ormond’s next book, Believing In Horses, Too. Check out my sister’s website: www.believinginhorses.com. Her second book will, once again, follow the exploits of our favorite young protagonist, Sadie, the love and healing power of horses, and the strength behind her military family. This second runway writing will follow Ping’s travels as he takes flight on the second plane taking him to Asia…

Ping's Plane lifts off for China

Made it to the connection, Yay! Once out of the plane we find ourselves waiting in line with the green tab for the carry-on luggage that would not fit onto the United Express. This made us a bit nervous about the connection flight and Ping didn’t have a watch. All the better. Other travelers were going to Gate C so, time-wise, all is OK. We had to go to another gate not far from the one we left and opted to waddle down a flight of stairs with two monstrous bags in each hand. The elevator was not available because there was a wheelchair waiting for the next lift. People jammed into that lobby quickly (more unnoticed foreshadowing) to await an “Air Shuttle” to the C Gates. OK – not bad – had some fiery ankle-biters and Fagin’s boys banging baggage, but no pockets (or, Too;-) were picked.

As it turns out Gate C123 was all the way around the corner and we just left C70 (123-70=53 that is a lot). No rush, as there was a line waiting to check in. Whew! Ping could go to the little duck’s room. Not truly appreciating that this would be the last restroom with plenty of paper towels, Ping heard the PA system calling for groups 2 and 3. Being group 7, we had plenty of time. Some people tried to board early and the officials “got” them! (Another underappreciated act in the US.) Some people were even notified that the other gate bound for Dallas was theirs. Hopefully, not another case of foreshadowing for us as Ping is very observant and hears well with those little yellow ears.

OK, Right plane - Yucky seat. Ping got stuck smack in the center of the plane; both front to back and side to side as well!

            Seats:  A   B   C   Aisle   D   E   F   Aisle   G   H   I  Seat Guess?         Yuppers, “E”

The nice girl in seat “D” was kind about our disrobing of layer after layer of clothing (packing for almost a whole year, remember) and repeated trips to the overhead storage bin. The Russian guy to the right was ignoring everyone except for the person he was speaking with in some Slavic language on his cell phone before he blew up his neck pillow. Ping had his pillow in his bag and lots of people carried theirs aboard. One chick was “spotted” wearing her pillow which was covered in a leopard pattern in line!

The time on the screen says the Arrival city Time is at 4:30 PM that would  = 16:30 Military Time. The ticket says the arrival time is at 20:30 = OMG, Hope someone calls ahead!!!!

US TO CHINA IN YELLOW!

Oh! There’s the route we’ll be taking on the screen, too! Ping will be flying over Santa’s home! Neato-ho-ho! The trip will cover 8,291 miles. Ping is fretting about that arrival time, though. People from the program are meeting us at the airport in Hong Kong at 16:30. He’s checking that he has telephone numbers of all parties involved and considers emailing Mary, too. Let it go… (This ability will be repeatedly challenged over the next few months:), but he can’t. The plane hasn’t even taken off yet and he’s losing feathers. O0op! The plane is revving up. Look, the screen changed again. Now it says the destination time is 4:33 AM! AM? Oh, that is probably what time it is there NOW!!!! Ping has found his cell and checks his phone. (Yes, he’s a modernized bird.) It is 3:37 PM here and that means it is 4:37 AM in Hong Kong. WHEW! (Forget the foreshadowing thing - Ping makes GREAT strides in letting the pressure of things go in future episodes – BUT – he still wants others to do so, for the sake of serenity, and in order to get his Zen on in Shenzhen:)

Ping's 1st. Backseat TV Appearance

Now, there are 15 hours and 2 minutes more aboard this 777 aircraft. What to do while crammed into the middle of this flight? Play with the music and look at the movie selections… Oh, there are tiny movie screens on the back of everyone’s seats so that passengers can choose different movies. “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” will be Ping’s choice! The plane is still on the tarmac… moving just now, no window like before, but it is raining. Ping misses home and wonders if it is raining there and how his pal, Apollo the Dog, is doing. Moving straight ahead now. The plane movements are uneventful as we take off. Ping doesn’t want to freak out his neighbors by turning his head back and forth to catch a peak of the window view! It’s bad enough he’s been preening, sorting, organizing and writing for about an hour. We’ve stopped the ascent and it looks really dark out there. 5:06 current time and -58 degrees F outside. Ping chose a different movie to watch first: “Now Is Good.” And it is a good time to serve dinner. “Chicken or Beef?” Ack! Ping chirps for beef!

Dinner came with a the main course wrapped in plastic and a box containing a salad with shrimp and a balsamic vinaigrette, Triple Doe Brava????????, a funny bun and butter, and a fortune cookie!

Altitude is now 32,001 ft., traveling at 569 mph, 7,399 miles to go, and it is -68 degrees F outside (foreshadowing of Harbin!)

The last part of the movie, starring Dakota Fanning who is dying of Leukemia, had a great line in it…

“Life is just a bunch of moments building up to this one.”

Well, that is so true. Especially the moment leading up to all THESE moments!

Speaking of moments, a Ping Pic (window view) was almost captured when we thought the gal next-door was leaving, but she stayed. (Skipped that, we don’t want to seem too crazy!) However, Pocket Ping’s escape plan has now been “hatched,” executed, photo’s taken, as a ‘head call’ diverted Ping's seat-mates just long enough. Now Ping is resting peacefully in the leather bound journal – all before both returned. Success!!!

We are over the Hudson River as the really good movie about Timothy Green springing from the garden begins.

375 miles to go! Guess studying some Chinese phrases would be a good plan.

Just filled out the paperwork for Hong Kong. Wow! 37 more minutes… They keep track of that on the “movie screen” We just finished another movie, “The Middle,” with Whoopi Goldberg.

Wow! China celebrates Christmas.

We have to get ready to meet Roy at the airport. Maybe Mary will be there, too. We’ll need help with the luggage as our greatly missed pal, Doug, was there to assist at the other end. My flight looks like it is right on time. Getting out the door, meeting Roy, getting luggage, finding the car, taxi?, exchanging money in Hong Kong? – so much to think about.… Time for the “Pat-Pat” as Valerie calls it, our pocket check for all needed materials before departure… Check Traveler’s vest pockets for passport, candies, phone, plane tickets, glasses, etc. Pants pocket for wallet, check for anything left in the seat netting, where is the tiny notebook from Uncle Sam? In shoes? Nope, in the first “Pat-Pat” – Vest yes! Whew!

OK, all stowed away and ready for touchdown. Oh, the screen says we just turned around some islands, Macau being one of them. Ears popping, Time to Destination 0:07, Wow!

The outside temperature is 64 degrees. There go the wheels. Ping wants to keep the airline’s blanket-not much of a blanket really. It was just a thought really, sorry. He kept an airline cookie for “breakfast” even though it is night here. Wonder if work is scheduled right away tomorrow morning? Distance traveled 8,260 miles. Wheels touch, brake, rattle-rattle, feeling pushed forward, calmer, calmer = whoosh! Maps off the screen – We’re Off!

Posted by EddyTour-In-Chief: Doug

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