Oh the flight back was a doozy. My first leg from Milan to Frankfurt didn’t go too well. We took off late, and then once we got near Frankfurt, we had to stay in a holding pattern because excessive winds in Frankfurt limited the approaches of incoming planes. Eventually we landed, with negative time to spare. You know when you watch movies and people are running in the airports? Yep, that was me. And once I got to the gate, it was absolute madness. I’d never seen as many airport employees working at an actual gate than for this flight. I also had someone in front of me show up with a red X next to their name when they swiped his name through. Not exactly do-not-fly, but not exactly all green like me either. Wonder what his deal was?

Anyhoo, it was a long ass flight, and they didn’t waste time feeding us lunch. It was the usual choice of pasta or chicken and I went with pasta this time. It was lasagna! Look at it. Doesn’t it look like a square of gross? Other than the noodles being overcooked to mush, it was quite fine. The broccoli was awesome. My body was craving some green vegetables something fierce! The pesto pasta salad was also nice. My favorite part was the apple cake dessert!

The return flight was much longer than the one there, so we got a much heartier second treat (first time we got a little teeny danish). It was a warmed up foccaccia sandwich with turkey and cheese. It was really good! And I was finishing up some of the Tuc crackers I’d gotten at the train station. They’re like ritz, but better and butterier!

One interesting service note I observed. When they gave me my drink on the plane, they asked me if I wanted ice. Which of course I did. When they served the german woman next to me, they automatically did not give her ice. And you know, the cans of soda you get on the plane are not cold. What is it about americans who love their sodas cold and europeans who like it room temperature?

I’m in Italy! Yeah, it wasn’t something I planned, but just something that popped up for work. So here I am. So strange. My original flight on saturday night was cancelled. And that really f’d up everything. Like seriously. My plans weren’t exactly flexible, I mean, I had to at work on Monday morning, but my new flight wasn’t going to get into Milan until Monday morning. With tons of effort, stuff got rearranged. I probably lost a few years of life. But it goes on.

My flight to europe was long, and I contemplated sleeping most of the way, but it was hard because it was so early. But they fed us some dinner before I didn’t even attempt any shut eye. Sorry, but I didn’t see the point of trying to go to sleep at 7PM. It just wasn’t going to work. I picked the chicken dish, and it was some sort of odd bbq chicken with rice pilaf and mexican corn. It came with an iceberg and carrot salad, whole grain roll with shedds spread, and carrot cake. Really, I’m not like most people. I kind of dig airplane food! Right before we landed, we got a little heated up fruit danish.

I landed in Frankfurt very early in the morning, before the sun was up, and had barely any time before my flight to Milan. I had a nice power breakfast of fanta and mixed tropical fruit. How come fanta in europe tastes so much better? It actually tastes more like juice, instead of just orange sugar water.

Frankfurt airport is nice. And it’s kind of shiny and glittery, literally, because there’s a freakin swarovski crystal store in it. Seriously, what’s the point? I find the little smoking pods very amusing and demeaning. At frankfurt, it’s sponsored by Camel.

I don’t know if they have this at every Lufthansa gate, but at mine, there was a secret little coffee corner and tea station. It wasn’t exactly advertised, but it wasn’t a secret either. It’s like if you find it, then good for you, and if you don’t, then too bad. And it was totally free!

While on my super short flight, they gave us drinks and a little half sandwich. I wasn’t hungry so I didn’t eat it. But after I eventually got to the hotel, after a long delay due to a bad accident, I was really hungry. And I wanted to eat it. But knowing how long it had been in my purse, and knowing it was cheese, I passed. It said discover the flavour, but I was afraid it’d make me discover the toilet.

Somehow, I got in the emergency exit row and had no seat in front of me. I had beyond tons of leg room. I felt bad because as a stubby legged girl, I didn’t need it. And I could see all the tall germans around me who would have probably enjoyed it. Well, I’ve made it to europe. And at this rate, I call that an accomplishment!

For the season premiere of the final season of Lost, R held a party, and we all had to bring something to eat, Lost related. H/A brought this cake, that he had somebody make. How cute is this? It’s the island, and it even has a little oceanic plane and jughead on it. It was a chocolate cake, and quite delicious! The sand? Not cookie crumbs, instead, colored sugar.
I was lazy, so I just brought my usual bean and white corn salsa dip. But I jazzed it up by putting it in a pyrex with a dharma kitchen logo on it. And hence, my dharma dip.
B brought these shrimp, which were marinated with tequila. He called these shrimp hugo.
R provided us with many additional eats, in addition to hosting. This was a mango, mozzarella, basil, with white balsamic salad. So tropical, yet italian, and awesome. Easy too!
For one of the entrees, R made these sloppy jacks. It was healthy too, made with ground turkey from a weight watchers recipe.
The other entree was shrimp kabobs. But instead of bothering to kabob them, she just grilled the pieces on the george foreman. Again, healthy! We have grilled peppers and onions and the grilled shrimp and peaches, which were glazed with lawry’s hawaiian marinade. So simple and tasty!
E made these Lost cookies… in the shapes of polar bears and planes. The planes even had the numbers on them. Yes, we’re all total Lost nerds.
R also made cups of dirt. Surely, when deserted on an island, you would have to resort to eating dirt and worms. See you in another life, brutha, or at the Lost finale party!