I prefer aisle seats as close to the front of the plane as possible, only not right behind the bulkhead, because I want the under-seat storage in front of me. But I'm the type who gets achey and numb-legged easily, so being able to get up and move and having just that little extra bit of stretch room trumps enjoying the view.

The only type of motion sickness I get is from trying to read in the car on a sunny day when there are a lot of trees directly alongside the road. The resultant rapidly-changing shadows flitting across the page are dizzy-making.

I vote front-of-plane, too, if you have the option.

Also, if you have one of those crappy, older planes, it's much quieter in the front. I prefer the aisle, as it makes me feel less closed in and I don't have to step over people to go to the bathroom.

I prefer the aisle, as it makes me feel less closed in and I don't have to step over people to go to the bathroom.

I used to go for the aisle, but then I realized it's so much easier to tune out everything and everyone around me from the window seat.

EGAD!!! Five??? Only six more months till world domination. Tell the boy wonder I said Happy Birthday.

I did. Thanks, Cashmere. I don't know how five got here. I remember Ben turning five.

It's like the thing with olives, I guess -- I'm very happy for you all to like aisle seats better. Me, I find sitting on the aisle makes me feel more crowded, because there are people on every side.

t waves

I am so on the wrong coast now. I'm all sad and pouty. Apart from the California Death Plague and a couple of crossed signals that caused me to miss some of the people I wanted to see, I had the most fabulous week I've had in...I don't even know how long. It was so incredibly wonderful to see everyone!

Yes, there are pictures of the corset and of the Jag and of the PCH etc etc. ND has them on his camera, but he's teaching a class in NYC for the week and may not have it with him. I'll ping him and ask him to upload the pics once he gets back home.

Happy birthday, Chris! eta: and welcome back, Kristin!

I can't wait to see what the ground looks like as you get further away from it. (I know the novelty will probably wear off, but whateva.)

I've flown a lot, and the novelty hasn't worn off yet--not entirely, anyway. I think it's really cool to look down at a place you've become familiar with and see from above how it all fits together. Or if your destination is somewhere you've never been before, it's cool because it's your first view of it, and there's so much to take in.

I've had a very good weekend. I went to the wedding of an ex-boyfriend and had a great time. The best part was that his family was all there, of course, and they were so sweet to me and clearly still considered me to be someone they cared about. (We dated for a year and broke up six years ago, but have remained good friends.) God, but I can't believe he's married! Weird.

What I did this weekend:

Friday - made split pea soup and about 130-150 cookies.

Saturday - cafe, work , swing dance

Sunday- more or less stayed in bed until 11, watched some tv, went to a organ recital at a friends house( J is in her 70's and plays really well) , stopped by another friends house ( briefly) to admire thier arbor, took a drive to admire the early evening light.

and there is a list of 4 or 5 other things i could have done. My life since moving to CA is better and fuller than it was in CT. I really like my life.

OW. Not only did it cost me $200, the typhoid vaccine? Hurts like a MOFO. Hep A is not hurting nearly as much, in the other arm. But at least I have that done. I did not go to the gym, or the thrift store, or do laundry. But I did go there. And to the used bookstore. (Um, priorities here people!)

You know, being asked questions like that (the "does your boyfriend hit you" or "do you do drugs" or "how much do you drink" questions) always makes me feel defensive and nervous

Yes. Heck, I don't even have a boyfriend (or a girlfriend) and those questions make me feel defensive! Also, when they ask "do you drink", I always want to be like "So? Not that much!" but then that sounds super-alcoholic or something.

process to clear the Going-to-the-Sun road in Glacier National Park

I just love the name of that road. I read the Nevada Barr book set there, and so wanted to go back (I went backpacking there in high school, once, and it was gorgeous). Even though the book was about being eaten by bears.

unless you have a partner who is poking you really hard with their finger, over and over

Heh. My mind is very dirty. I really want to say something about poking. But I won't.

I've flown a lot, and the novelty hasn't worn off yet

Heh. I've flown a hell of a lot, and it's still kinda cool to get in a box, and a couple hours later be FAR FAR AWAY! WOW!

Is there an end on the plane where you'd choose to sit over another?

For the best view out the window you should be as far away from the wing as possible. The seats all the way forward are best, but there aren't many of them, and they are often expensive (first class).

In the seats all the way aft you will hear more noise and feel more motion. On planes with rear engines (e. g. B-727, L-1011, DC-9/MD-80/MD-88/MD-90/B-717, DC-10/MD-11) the wings are far enough aft that they will still block a lot of your view even if you are in the last few rows.

Being over the wings somehow cuts down on the vibratyness of things.

Being over the wings puts you closer to the center of gravity, so there is less motion when the plane pitches or yaws. On the other hand, you will hear (and feel) more clunks and thumps and whirrs and whines, which some people find more scary than motion.