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.

I like a window seat in the back. You may have to wait a little longer to get off, but you have a shot at getting your stuff in an overhead bin with a minimum of hassle. I have no idea how many times I've flown, but I still like looking out the window and I also like something to lean again. I'd also rather step over other people than have them stepping over me. I've felt pretty queasy in very small prop planes, but not in a jet. All the hard part about flying to me is on the ground, particularly these days.

(I'm a dork and booked all window seats because I want to see everything.)

I've flown countless times and I still bend over backwards to get a window seat. I still look out the airport window before I board to try and see the aircraft's name. I still tell the joke (in my head now) that I always used to tell my Mom on the taxi-way "Gee, Mom, we're so high up those people down there look like ants." "Those ARE ants, Honey." I still try and recognize places I know for as long as I can as we move further and further from the airport. I still look for angels peeking from behind the white mountains around me when we fly through cuumulus clouds because even though I know better the darn things look so solid. I still marvel at the airfoil that keeps this and every damn plane ever aloft. I'm still amazed when we ascend or descend through different weather -- my last flight I gasped aloud when the world went from beautifuly blue and white to soaking rain on a steep landing into Kennedy in a rainstorm.

And Lilty, if you do have any turbulence don't let it freak you out. You're still incredibly safe, safer than in a car, the pilot isn't going to do anything dangerous. Just enjoy the bumpies.

Lilty, you might find the book Window Seat: Reading the Landscape from the Air helpful. [link]

When I was ten I was given Science from your Airplane Window. [link] It taught me a lot, and I have fond memories of it.

e. g. B-727, L-1011, DC-9/MD-80/MD-88/MD-90/B-717, DC-10/MD-11

Somebody knows their US airliners. You got them all (of the non-commuter airliners), as Airbus planes all have wing-mounted engines.

Unless you wanna start considering Russian-built airliners....

I usually take the window seat so I can shut the shade because watching everything go by makes my motion sickness much worse.

At least part of me remembers that all I do on the plane is sleep, so window seats are best. I really envy people flying with a loved one, who can trade off shoulders for leaning. Missing that, I need to lean on the wall. I also despise airplane toilets, so sitting in the aisle doesn't avail me anything -- I'm probably not going to use them. So, for me, window seat as far from the toilets as possible.

I'm swearing off exit rows, though, because the last few I've sat in have had non-reclining seats. Did I mention my need for sleep?