41 Days After 40

Posted on October 31, 2026 by TheJessicaness

I started on my stormwater runoff project, and I’m using Ms. Frizzle and Drake’s Hotline Bling meme for some of the required photos. I have to take five photos of me presenting to prove that AI didn’t do my homework and submit it for me. Now that I’m in the geriatric screening age, I talk with some of my neighbors about the importance of doing so. All of them have been under the scalpel for various body parts, some preemptively and others to remove cancer. I let them know I’m getting my first mammogram on my mom’s birthday, even if she isn’t celebrating this year.

I’m given a pink folder and a pink gown that will come off in the room. The nurse seems overly talkative, but I let her ramble as I’m learning that some nurses don’t think they get enough time with patients, especially those with questions. I know what to expect, or so I thought. Women tell you that your boobs get smashed, but your face also gets pressed up against the machine so that every last tissue, whether fatty or dense, can be put on the plate and slowly compressed. I’ve got to keep my arms out of the way, so I get to do a half hug while the machine rotates. My eyes wander into the light, where the dust has settled, and I wonder how long it’s been since its last cleaning.

I have that same curiosity about the gym on campus that has hairballs and cobwebs, like the place has been abandoned, while two students sit at the check-in desk and the janitor sweeps the lobby again. I’m told that if I need to come back, I will have to go to another facility that has an MRI or ultrasound, but in a few days, I’m cleared until next year. I reward myself with a coffee and a green smoothie from Escape Root before going home to take an exam that I’ve been given two hours to complete.

We picked up a museum pass from the library, good for two adults and three kids, so we can visit the Florida Holocaust Museum. As a local student, the museum would let me in for free, and I think Caleb is eligible for a discount, but I’m glad we’re using the public services we pay for. I loved going to the library as a kid, and they still bring me joy. I’ll need all I can get as I hear Hitler declaring his virtues while listening to a mother talk about the atrocities that her family succumbed to around her. I’ve heard sad stories before, but these exhibits are usually shared by the individuals, and they have way more impact that way. What really got me was the train car, and just as I’m about to let my face go through a wash cycle, I’m met with a sign that makes me laugh out loud.

Caleb says that’s probably a first, and then we go upstairs. We visit the Cultosaurus toy store across the street to cheer me back up. The window said books, but we left with a magnet of Feathers McGraw instead. There was also an adorable shark holding his squishy human leg proudly, but I think he’ll fit better here rather than finding a shelf at home. We stop at a night market in the hot afternoon in a parking lot and overpay for some noodles and lumpia.

Sarah invites me over to make seasonal cards again this year, and I enjoy creating things, and then she decides on bookmarks for our book club. It’s fun to color and listen to her talk about her many shenanigans for hours and watch a video she and some other teachers made years ago. Caleb comes to check on us, and he’ll make me a tart pink lemonade later with fresh strawberries. On Monday, one of my classmates has her mom as a guest speaker, and I think how neat that must be. I thought about inviting one of my neighbors since she used to be a nurse, but she can be a bit flaky, and then my classmates might know how old I really am.

My tiny yellow umbrella comes in handy to keep my bag mostly dry and my feet wet on the way to class. The health event on campus is canceled due to rain. I’ll have to jog with the little dogs later to keep them from getting soaked, but their mom leaves a towel by the door for this reason. I’ll take a break from my resume and job-hunting homework the next day and do a lap in the rain. Sarah invites me out to Bandingo along with four other women who decline. We have a great time, and Sarah got a bingo, but I lost the tiebreaker.

I forgot to complete one of the modules that would be on a quiz, so I have to finish that before taking two exams. Both classes are online and on the same schedule. I’m grateful they’re open notes, so I can scan my notes before, but that doesn’t always guarantee that I’ll answer all the questions correctly. I’m all about skimming or reading a book that I can get through the library or a copy from another book club member, but I’m not going to buy one that I might not like. I do this with Mona’s Eyes and West with Giraffes, so I can get back to reading about neuroscience, sea creatures, and cemeteries. I do appreciate the art lesson, but the second book had me wanting to know more about the first female zookeeper than the poor animals bound to be under her supervision.

Caleb and I stop at Moccasin Lake Nature Park to visit with the wounded birds of prey before joining our friends for my belated birthday lunch celebration at Mellow Mushroom. Luckily, they brought mosquito spray so we could enjoy dining al fresco. We’ll spend about two hours at Al’s pool and skip out on a game invite to ensure an earlier dinner, and try chocolate sake for the first time, after getting food for Macaroni. Terry and Karley stay the night at ours and leave the next morning so Karley can go to work and study for a test.

I’ll learn about seven weeks in about the school calendar that shows when all my assignments are due. I have the syllabus and a written copy too. It’s around this time that my tuition gets paid. AI is showing up everywhere, and instead of getting a notification, I get surprised when the app updates. I have a professor who requires that all assignments be submitted with a statement that AI wasn’t used for content, but I see the common errors in presentations and rubrics that other professionals are putting forward. The technology can be used to great effect, but it can also be argued with like a toddler, so it’s important to be the more reasonable one during these exchanges.

I return for another night of Bandingo with Sarah, and we are joined by Linda and Susie. I win three out of the ten rounds, earning a dessert and two drink vouchers. Caleb has the dehumidifier set up when I get home, and it works. I don’t remember it being this humid last year, but I can still remember my surprise at feeling the Florida heat for the first time back in Pensacola in January of 2005. I’m glad that I don’t let the threat of a little moisture or the little bastard bugs it attracts stand in the way of adventure.

Sarah gifts me some apple strudel and emails me an AI-generated image of an EPA employee by a river for my stormwater runoff presentation. I’m also working on a paper about alcoholism in Australia, as it seemed one of the gentler global health topics to choose from. Another class has me writing about the details of a future job prospect. I chose a radiologist and learned that 90% of them go to school for 15 years, because the last two years are only recommended, but who wants to have that missing on their resume? My medical terminology class is very visual, and some of the things our bodies are capable of doing are gross, which is why I can’t work around body fluids.

I had a dream about a clown who made me wear meat sandals, like I was sticking my foot in someone’s legs. It made me gag, so I put one in a locker and tried to lose the other. I wonder if this is how surgeons dream because there’s a reason I stopped watching scary movies. I ride my bike in front of Caleb and Rick so they can chat. I was hoping to visit Wall Springs Park but gave up at the detour and turned around to get some writing done while the guys went ahead. Caleb makes apple fritters without the sugary glaze, which I think makes them easier to eat.

I asked the teacher’s aide, who usually grades assignments, for some help understanding why I did poorly on a quiz. She directed me to the professor, who sends me a list of random answers, which isn’t helpful at all. I’m glad this higher education is a game and not an opportunity to learn. We have our first male guest speaker, and after class, he says that I look familiar; Caleb says he meant age-appropriate. I wore pants to class and brought shorts to change into for the gym. I won’t realize until I get home that I forgot my fancy pink tights in the bathroom. Lost and found and the university police are of no help. I called the veterans’ office because they are in the same building, and my pants will be waiting for me!

Sarah made dinner plans with a neighbor she doesn’t see often, so she will miss the first book club dinner since I’ve been here. This gives me the opportunity to drive Linda and Nancy to Flamestone, where we meet Debbie and Jen and have a great time. Smaller groups in quieter dining make for better experiences. Caleb went out to dinner with Rick and Bill and talked about fishing and police while we chatted about books, boobs, and birthdays.

I had wanted to go to the Coffee and Art Expo last year, but we didn’t for some reason. I made a point to go this year, and the coffee disappointed. Caleb and I couldn’t find a coffee that we liked, though I didn’t try the pumpkin spice mushroom. The one with cereal chunks in it was too much. I did like a Blue Heron original painting and an octopus in a tub print. There was a table with typewriters for people to use, and they seemed to be having the most fun. We spent the most time talking with a local artist, Kostar Kustoms, and waiting in line for tacos.

On Sunday, Caleb’s gear cable on his bicycle broke, so Rick rode without him. I saw two flying squirrels; they are usually nocturnal. I found two dollars; one of them was wet. I walked Zeus two miles while his family was away for the day. We watched The Nightmare Before Christmas while Caleb baked three loaves of bread. I don’t remember the last time we saw this movie, but we still love the songs. I went to another round of Bandingo, so I could use my voucher and meet another neighbor, Cindy, who likes to go bowling.

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Select Spirits

Posted on September 30, 2026 by TheJessicaness
campus fountain

I was doing well keeping track of the months as they passed. Then I went back to school and pretended to forget about September, which reminds me of a song about when September ends, so I will be writing about the one day in fall for Florida. I start the month helping out Randy and Teresa by walking their dog, Tequila, first thing in the morning, and I’m the last one she sees at night, while Christine is in charge of her feeding schedule. Caleb is still in Michigan with his brother.

I take breaks between homework sessions to walk outside, raining or not, or to appreciate it from inside. I still have stitches in my back, and perhaps getting Fallon to take them out on the fourth, as buried as they were, was too soon, but four weeks later and after two dissolvable stitches making their way out, I can still see a gooey spot. If I’d known that, I should’ve gone diving with it, since my hand seemed to heal better from our trip in 2024. That small biopsy was ridiculous, but the results came back with clear margins, so I’m good for another few years.

Zeus

At school, I get coffee, donut holes, sunglasses, an incense diffuser, a succulent, and stickers since I don’t stay long enough to fill out a bingo card to earn a sandwich that a squirrel gets for free. I learned that a watergoat is a floaty on the water placed in front of a drain to help prevent stormwater runoff from polluting the waterways, but the boats in the harbor next to the school or people passing by must be adding to the debris I see when I get time to walk by and look for striped fish, busy crabs, playful dolphins, quick pipefish, and loving rays on my way to class.

I was checking mail for a neighbor and left my phone at their place. It’s a good thing I had a key because the entry code was on my phone. I have been busy reading my online textbooks and required articles, and listening to lengthy lectures, but I still find time to read for pleasure, not that I don’t find 2% of what I’m recommended to take notes on for future testing interesting. I finished Dreams from My Father and enjoyed the multicultural background; The Literary Life had some interesting anecdotes; The Cold Moons was a different bloody animal tale; and Mona’s Eyes was a peek into art and relationships.

how school is going

I was hesitant about having to take Honorlock quizzes and exams at home due to the strict requirements, but my professors must be more lenient, as I’m able to just take a picture of my face and ID before having my face and screen recorded during the session. Karley has to video her surroundings and can’t be near her phone, watch, or anything plugged in. I just put my phone on silent and put it face down so it can’t be a distraction, because looking away from my screen can be considered cheating when AI could be waiting silently for my signal. I’m averaging a 92 across my classes.

Doodle

I get invited out to lunch with Helen and Frank, who is a bit of an introvert, so it’s nice to see the more talkative side of him when he’s given the chance. After getting my stitches out at Fallon’s, I came home to fill out 13 invites for Caleb’s welcome home party that Christine is throwing. I tried to imply it was just a community gathering, but she ordered a cake too and agreed to wait until after the weekend of his return to demand his presence. It was originally going to be at her place, so she only planned for six of us, but that wasn’t why I changed the venue to poolside, which worked out better anyway. More about that later.

I hand-deliver the invites, and while chatting with Bill and Debbie, I get a call from my doctor’s office confirming that they will mail the necessary form for my first mammogram. They do not, at least not to me or the imaging office, which I can call and self-refer to, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, which ensures insurance companies will pay for preventive screenings. I’ll dream about my hair having an electric mix of colors and then that Caleb and I are back on the dive boat in Cairns but getting off before they left port. We were there with someone, and there were fish everywhere.

And not a dream; I had seen something shiny in the road a while back, and stopped to move the box of kitchen knives in a greasy pizza box. I can only imagine the Florida Man scenario that left this situation, but I wouldn’t want new tires just yet. Apparently, my neighbor, who just had her hip replaced, saw me move them and thanked me for doing what she couldn’t while she heals. That didn’t stop her from ordering a new single-handed sailboat so that she can look forward to getting back on the water. It’s not every night I get a video call from Caleb since he’s usually busy playing the UNO No Mercy version with the family.

greenhouse frog

Caleb calls me on his way home when he should’ve stopped an hour ago and had plans to drive another 93 miles. I book him a room four miles from his location, and just 13 hours from home. I would be excited to see me too, but I want him to get home safely. He appreciates the ability to rest and shower. The next morning, it takes me an hour to get to school, which is why I leave when I do, so I’m not in a rush, and so that if a company is having a giveaway, I can get some goodies before class. I get out a half hour early, visit the gym, and stop at Raining Berries for a Coastal Colada that looked just like the picture!

Caleb gets home, and when we get back from Costco, I notice that one of the ice cream sandwiches is missing from the box. It’s a good thing that they are individually wrapped and that someone got hungry and not in the mood for poisoning. The employee I reached on the phone offered to replace the box, but I wasn’t going back for one. I went over to Helen’s for half an hour while Caleb hid at home, and then I took him to the store for milk and got myself some probiotic sodas because, whether or not they help my gut biome, my mouth likes the way they taste, and they have way less sugar than some lemonades and other drinks.

Caleb went to bed early, as I expected he would, and then made us biscuits in the morning. I’ll spend most of the day doing homework and then take a two-hour break at Jen’s, who has gifted me a bagel and some peanut butter drinks that she’s allergic to. We finally meet Chantal, our neighbor’s 50-year-old daughter, who lives in San Francisco but seems to visit often. I meet the new neighbor’s Deb (that makes five), and her husband, Mike, of whom there are a few as well. I’ll walk with Mary Jo to the remnants of an accident where a car hit a wall and left car parts, bricks, and trash behind. I’ll walk Sarah’s dogs early so that Caleb and I can go to dinner with Randy and Teresa, now that we’re all back in the same state.

I changed the venue because Christine cut the party time to only one hour. I grabbed a burnt banana coffee or some new fall flavor and a warm muffin for what I think will be a breakfast for one in class, only to have a few classmates and the guest speaker get there early too. Cathy tells the class that there are three poison control centers for Florida, and they are monitored by toxicologists and doctors, unlike the emergency line for police and fire, because their response time is more critical. I’ll go over to Christine’s at 3pm to help set up and be done with cleanup by 630 after walking the dogs. I’ll have warm lasagna on a sweaty day with some blackberry tea that Jen made, with little blue-salted rim cups. I have two slices of Welcome Home Caleb! cake.

Sarah calls about a sound coming from outside. It sounds like an owl to me, and Caleb blames me for getting within reach of the security lights for us not hearing it upon arrival. It’s a good thing we were out there, though, so that Caleb could put out the hot coals that were still cooking on the grill. I got a warning on campus for parking in a compact-only spot. Sarah picks me up for book club with the ladies at some place while a few of the husbands go for pizza. A few nights later, I’m having pizza with grape beer and melty M&Ms at Tina’s.

I find a clip of Susan Rice, the comedian, to keep me company on a ride to school and talk with Fallon on some of the rides home while she’s shopping or working out. I submit a paper twice in hopes that I don’t lose points for layout. It is helpful having Word on the school’s Cloud so I can just submit from there. I hear from Mostafa out of the blue, asking if I remembered him from Kuwait ten years ago. I even have a picture of us, but it isn’t worth sharing. We ate at Layali Al Helmaya with some other people, none of whom I was couch-surfing with that night.

Dar

I learned to check my email Monday morning before leaving for class since I drove down there and got sweaty in the ridiculous humidity, only to find out from another classmate (there were four of us) that the guest speaker couldn’t make it, so the professor canceled class since she couldn’t find a replacement on Sunday night. I got gas on the way home and had an unplanned chapter to read to prepare for a quiz because it’s in the syllabus (that I printed out and don’t look at much), but it was also noted in the link. An evening at Sarah’s to meet the new neighbors, Ben and Shayna, and there is more pizza, but also blueberry goat cheese. We’re home early, and I sleep in the next morning.

I help Sarah get out her Halloween decor, and she gifts me a wooden ghost. Caleb and I take what we thought was a cool morning opportunity to walk to the beach, but I’m already moist when we get there and can feel the humidity and UV actively climbing. I have a donut at Brad’s memorial. I only met him twice, and I only wave to his wife when she walks her dog, but it was nice to talk about diving and travel with one of the guys who showed up. I’ll get a cupcake later too. Caleb struggles to find a book, so he invites me to a library that has way more perks than when we were kids. We have access to the military online database and our old library, and I’ve been to the campus library, but not online yet.

masked chafer beetle

It was so much fun exploring the new and old books and the ones for sale. Afterwards, we stopped at a park nearby to see a giant art installation, and Caleb had to remind me that it was a temporary exhibit. Caleb had cut bagels and made coffee, too. It was a great morning, and we spent the afternoon reading. I still do crosswords, and Caleb helps sometimes, even though they put him to sleep. I got inspired to pick up one of my partially done cross-stitch patterns and wasn’t sure how I got so much yarn through such a small hole. One of the girls in my class asked if I went to a local high school because the kid who sits next to me asked if I dorm here. He commutes from Ruskin (where my friends live!)

Of course, I took the compliment in stride and answered their questions and then looked up the age limit online. Most universities allow adults up to 25 years old to maintain a vibe (to use the current lingo) and encourage those going back for their master’s or doctorates, who would by default be older, to get an apartment off-campus. I’m still smiling when I see a kid who looks lost. I help him find the nurse’s office, and he asks if I play Pokémon Go (only if I were 20 years younger and a geek instead of a nerd). I call Karley to let her know I found her a carpool buddy, and Terry sends me a link to a $1,000 mosquito laser (that I would need to get a job to justify buying from Photon Matrix Lab).

blue-green citrus root weevil

I take Caleb to FedEx to return his faulty KitchenAid mixer after the company sent him a replacement. I’m glad we were still within the warranty period, as those things aren’t cheap, but I like the way they look, and they make us both happy, in different ways. Then we went to Best Buy to get a new laptop. The last one I remember Caleb having was a Ramadan special from a Bahraini dollar store. He was upset that it didn’t work in America, so he bought some other knockoff during COVID. This time I’m hoping he found something that better suits his needs – emails and shopping vs. constant updating. I know I don’t use my laptop to its full potential, but that’s because I don’t use any technology that way.

I like that the things that stand out are: Caleb talks about pesticides with me. We talk about all kinds of things, which is another reason we’re married, but this is a school topic, and we both remember reading about DDT when we were in school in Jacksonville. I knew it was fun to make memories, but I didn’t realize how enjoyable it would be to look back on other little things that I didn’t think stood a chance of lasting through the years. I can only look forward to what the next dozen years have to deliver. I’ll watch a few bats circle above the trees later before craving cream cheese with lunch meat — something my mom used to eat often. I still cry for the lack of her sometimes.

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Back In School

Posted on August 29, 2026 by TheJessicaness

The first week is over.

I spent months preparing for the first day, making sure I had approval from the VA and acceptance from the school, USF St. Pete. I still have forms to submit, and some of those will be on a per-semester basis, along with classes to pay for. I’m on the veteran deferment plan because the process takes so long. I’m taking Medical Terminology, Intro to Environmental and Occupational Health, Public Health Programs and Policies, and Intro to Health Professions (in-person) this semester.

The last class is a requirement for receiving the GI Bill that Caleb spent 21 years earning. I’m the oldest student in the class, but I’m not the only one who didn’t just graduate from high school. Omar likes to look at sweaters online while the teacher is presenting. She has two daughters, and I can’t imagine being a parent, even though at one point, I wanted nothing more. I’m also not the only student who traveled over the summer, as I would learn from our introduction discussion board, but one of two who shared in class. Some students are living in Florida for the first time.

All my books are online, and each one is through a different company (just like when they were printed). I brought a bag expecting to carry a book to class and left with a coffee coupon and a class code to access the textbook. One professor participated in the discount-book program offered on campus. There are so many apps available, and I’m delaying downloading as many as I can get away with. I’m glad these students have so much at their fingertips and think it would be amazing if everyone had this opportunity, whether as a work program or in the military, etc.

I left for class early the first day, and it took me 50 minutes to get to school. I left as scheduled the next day, and it only took me 40 minutes, so I will see how the second week plays out. I haven’t struggled to find parking yet and always seem to find someone new to talk to, even if they’re just passing through the campus. I found the Veteran Success Office, which has MREs and coffee, and realized I was on the wrong internet browser to access certain school links and websites. I found the gym, and it is much larger than the little window in the locked door had me believe.

So far, I’ve introduced myself five times (one of the intros didn’t get submitted or got erased) and taken multiple syllabus quizzes and academic integrity quizzes. My first discussion was about the effects that diabetes has on the environment, such as plastic waste and transportation emissions, and how managing the disease can lower diabetics’ carbon emissions by 7%. Multiple studies are being done in the medical field to reduce single-use plastic, introduce telehealth, and educate patients on positive lifestyle changes (such as less red meat and more walking) and proper disposal of medical equipment.

To help combat the idea of AI taking classes and writing papers for people, the school has multiple ways to deter cheating. In class, leave your bag against the wall and mind your business during testing, and submit papers via Turnitin. At home, or wherever I can find a quiet place (as no noise is allowed), I need to take a picture of my face and ID, say something to test the microphone, and allow a website to have complete access to my computer so that it can record my screen and surroundings, after I send a video of the room to make sure I’m alone with no contraband within sight.

Sarah’s table

I think every building has snacks available for purchase. The library allows talking and has access to 3D printers, sewing machines, puzzles, board games, books, computers, and archives (not available for checkout). The first week, the campus has tables set up with water bottles, magnets, handouts, etc to make students feel welcome. It is helpful having so many people available to ask questions to, but it seems all the dorm residents moved in last week and spent the weekend getting familiar with the campus layout and learning how far away the other campuses for this university are.

Outside of school, I treated myself to a croissant sandwich (with a free coffee), had more surgery than planned (I thought one suture, not more), and had the water turned off when I got home (due to a leak in the community). I’ve been getting intermittent rashes on my hands (red and burning) and on my legs (red goose bumps) that appear at night and are gone in the morning. I have afternoon tea with some of the ladies, Sarah, Jan, and Deb F., and they will be taking me out to brunch to celebrate my 40th birthday in my husband’s absence.

I have plans to walk the neighbor’s dog, Tequila, for a few days while still walking Sarah’s dogs. I am invited to celebrate her son-in-law’s 50th birthday with cake and karaoke. I try the Café Quindío coffee that was gifted to us from Mary Jo and Roberto when they got back from Colombia. It’s a fine grain, so it doesn’t take as long in the French press, and it gave me the energy needed to do some studying while listening to the rain. Caleb is still in the Upper Peninsula helping his brother and is definitely missed. I’m grateful for the support (conversation and food) that our neighbors and friends share.

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Roughly Two Weeks Later

Posted on August 18, 2026 by TheJessicaness

I was taking time to readjust my circadian rhythm, and my feet needed to be covered in socks because the amount of peeling in the shower was grossing me out, and I didn’t want to have to clean the floor or bed more than usual. The internet says that repeated exposure to the ocean can help loosen dead skin. I might need pedicures just for the epidermis removal service so I don’t have to see that again.

I’m prolific with my posts, knowing that I’m returning to school soon and may write about that experience or be too busy doing homework and watching the sunset. Caleb finds out he’s still struggling to make knitted pant legs the same size, so he undoes them again. One morning he makes English-style muffins and a lemon hollandaise sauce (it does catch me off guard).

The neighbors say it’s been raining for a week, and it rains for another, which only helps my writing. I say hi to Elaine, Anita, Jim, Jill, Nancy, Deb Y., and Deb F., who just got back from Michigan a week after Caleb went up to spend a month with his brother in the Upper Peninsula. It’s only fair that since I missed his birthday this year, he wouldn’t be home for mine.

I hang out with Jen, walk a lap with Linda, and share some meals with Mary Jo and Roberto. I go out with Randy and Teresa, stroll with them through First Friday in Tarpon Springs, enjoy the sunset on the Dunedin Causeway, and then spend a few hours at their place. I get bitten by mosquitoes at Tina’s and brush kitties at Christine’s.

I submit my residency forms for school, take a two-hour nap since I don’t sleep as well when Caleb is gone. Kris now has two axolotls in addition to the rotten-mouthed dog that constantly accompanies guests. Sarah shares some food with me, and Fallon takes me for ice cream, then we get to watch Zeus try to keep his paw dry while also touching the pool for the lizard that already ran away.

I find out, only too late (for this last trip), that obviously GoPros come with camera settings that I didn’t bother to look into, so all my photos are low quality while the other divers share their GoPro captures with more clarity. Caleb video calls me to show me the project he is working on. It’s going well, but the more that’s done, the more seems to be needed. He’ll be home in time for his appointment either way.

When I’m not writing and doing other things, I pass the time by doing crosswords, reading, running, and eating ice cream. I find an afternoon to put a couple of miles on my bike and sweat through enough clothes each day to necessitate using the washing machine. I’ll spend hundreds of dollars on campus (my second visit) in preparation for starting classes on August 24th.

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Going Back In Time

Posted on July 31, 2026 by TheJessicaness

We’re up at 345am, instead of 4am, since we already had our bags packed; oh well. Our checked bags get marked “heavy” again, which explains why there’s a quarter of empty space in my carry-on. The stewardess says she needs to only check our boarding passes for security, no one else; usually it’s for seat assignments or ensuring the customer is on the correct flight. I don’t quite look like a zombie yet, so I’m not sure what her concern was, besides wanting to slow down passenger flow. Only to have a staff member come on the plane looking for a person who’s not there.

Perhaps their training and customer logging system is down. I see the safety issue there. We make it to Brisbane, wait on a bus because each staff bus only waits for one person, but they have so many buses running, to eventually show up and take us to another terminal. It seems a bit convoluted, but that’s what I get for being rundown already. We have to go through security again, and one man has a large full tube of toothpaste, and another has over 90 batteries. I didn’t know the limit was 24, but the agent offered to cut one of the packs in half so the guy could be on his way with his “very heavy” bag.

We walk past all the dining options and find a place to sit. Caleb will wander off to find us sandwiches and me two donuts because he loves me. He sits behind me, and that gives me an extra seat and a half to stretch out (while people walk by aggressively) in an attempt to nap, twice. Thinking about it now, I’m not sure why we didn’t ask the strangers in our rows if they would switch with us so that we could drool on each other and they could continue as they were. Caleb signed me up for Asian vegetarian meals, which was fine until I got the medu vada (lentil donut) for breakfast.

The good thing about the flight not being full is that I also got the pancake breakfast. My eyes are burning when we land in San Francisco, magically 25 minutes after leaving Cairns after 15 hours of flying. We get coffee in Denver, and then I read on the flight to Tampa, where we land at sunset. I’m exhausted and want to take a shower, but the hot water heater breaker decided to burn out, so that will have to wait… over 24 hours. I had the luxury of sleeping all but a few hours on Saturday so I could walk my neighbor’s dogs while Caleb did laundry, washed our dive gear, and made dinner. I’m up at 3am on Sunday to shower and get on with my day. Hooray for jet lag.

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