Countdown

[Laura+Tom 2]

Wooo hoo, have a safe flight!

[Talyss 0]

Right, last day at work is drawing to a close. I have to give a load of stuff back, including the laptop, so the next time I post it'll be stateside!!

Luv 'n' hugs everybody -x-

Hope you have a great last few days in England and everything goes well with your trip to the US

[rocks 494]

you must be so excited! i hope your flight(s) go smoothly.

[Stinky Monkey 1]

oh god you still here!!!!!!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Well, that's my boarding pass & seat reservations all done; can't check my bags in until 11 though for some reason - meh. You wouldn't believe all the arsing about I've done today (well, you probably would actually) but it doesn't help when you're absolutely ###### HANGING like I am (but then 4 consecutive nights on the lash will do that to you I suppose )

I think I'll go grab me a beer.........

[Stinky Monkey 1]

looking forward to your call to let me know that you arrived safe

thanks god you have gone now taken long enough yipeeeeeeeeee

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Geez, I hope he got on the plane and not in the airport jail drunk tank.

[Stinky Monkey 1]

He must have got on the plane I have not heard from him otherwise

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Geez, I hope he got on the plane and not in the airport jail drunk tank.

He must have got on the plane I have not heard from him otherwise

Made it, nightmare, shattered, talk tomorrow - goodnight.

[Gemmie 142]

Yay, congrats Damian; I thought of you the other day.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

WELCOME TO AMERICA DAYMO

Oh sorry, I should have whispered it because you're hung over and exhausted. Trying again...

Welcome to America Daymo

[mr and mrs 187]

wake up wake up wake up

we want the low down.

and also, welcome and congrats and all that really good stuff!

Edited April 1, 2009 by mr and mrs

[Talyss 0]

Congratulations! Hope this morning the memory of yesterday is better than it felt at the time

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Alrighty, morning all!!

Firstly, thank you all for your kind words - you're a good bunch. Now then, a summary of the days events:

I travelled down from Brum the night before and stayed at the Heathrow Central Travelodge, just to make sure there were no f**k ups at the London end. Checked in no problem, left the airport to go to a branch of my bank to electronically transfer my cash over here, back to the airport, ####### on plane, no problemo. So far, so good. And then things got even better at the POE.

I entered at Minneapolis/St Paul, and there was a dedicated line for new immigrants (I know a lot of people have asked whether or not you go through the USC line or the visitors line. Well, MSP has a dedicated, clearly marked line just for us!) I handed the officer my passport and brown envelope (you know, the "must not touch at any costs" one, which only contains the boring ####### you've already sent the embassy) and he asked me when we were getting married (I said "dunno - April sometime"), then asked me if I was familiar with the whole AOS procedure that follows the wedding. With a knowing smile, I informed him that I was VERY familiar with said procedure. He seemed thankful that he didn't have to go through it all with me, welcomed me to America, and sent me on my way. I was with the guy for no more than 5 minutes - that easy.

I then proceeded to customs, who waved me straight through without so much as a "by your leave" - marvelous. And then things started to go wrong. You see, on this trip, I'd brought something with me that I didn't normally bring - my Dean, Dimebag Darrell tribute guitar. And because I didn't normally bring it with me, I totally forgot to pick the damn thing off the baggage reclaim belt. As you know, once you've cleared customs, there is absolutely no entry back into the baggage reclaim area, so I had to rather sheepishly ask one of the TSA staff if she wouldn't mind retrieving it for me. She gave me a look that said "idiot" (quite rightly) and escorted me back to the baggage reclaim belt, where I duly retrieved the guitar. Now then, because I'd come back in to an area I shouldn't have, I had to go to the "9 extra questions" area of customs (the ones about meat, fruit, insects etc). After I answered in the negative on each occasion, he asked me what flight I'd come in on. I told him I'd been on NW103 from London. He paused, and then asked me the weirdest question I've ever been asked: "did you bring any haggis?" Erm...........#######!!??? I came from London, mate, not Glasgow!!!!

After I was eventually admitted (again) I re-checked my bags onto the St Louis flight, and proceded to marvel at the vast array of bars and restaurants they have at MSP. I bought myself a typically American dish of Philly cheese steak and gourmet fries (chips smothered in cheese and bacon bits ), washed it down with a Sam Adams or two, and made my way to the gate for my connecting flight. And that's when the ###### delays began . Apparently, our plane was delayed in Chicago (I hate that bloody airport - delay central) and so I didn't get on the plane until 2 hours after it was supposed to leave. I realy didn't need that after a trans-Atlantic flgiht. And 'er indoors and young'un, who were patiently waiting for me at Lambert, didn't need it either!! We didn't get home until 1am, ffs.

Anyway, delays aside, it was the most stress free POE experience you could wish for. I'd highly recommend MSP as a POE (dedicated new immigrant line and all that). And there you have it.

Now on to AOS - AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Edited April 1, 2009 by Damian P

[mr and mrs 187]

super! at the very least, your delays were AFTER the big stuff had already gone smoothly.

question, why do airports LOVE to sell sam adams? i dont know very many people who drink this beer on a regular basis in normal life? i think its a boston-ish/new england (mini-mega) brewery, but i live in new england and we dont really drink it.

cheese fries + transatlantic flight + possible hangover complications = good decision.

: D thanks for the upate!