'Depart USA. Overnight transatlantic flight.'

7 p.m.

Today begins the great adventure! Lisa and I left Norfolk at about 1:30 p.m. on a flight to Philadelphia, PA. We had a several hour layover there, so we took advantage of the time to ride the Metro into the city. Lisa knows her way around Philly because she used to be engaged to a guy who lives there. We went to what was evidently a historic district and saw several statues of famous American patriots, Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell, all of which I took pictures of (potential bulletin board - ha ha!). We walked very far to and from the Metro station to get there, but I think it was worth it. Philadelphia has many very pretty buildings - lots of fancy scrollwork and figurines in the masonry (is that the right term?) and beautiful old-fashioned wrought iron on the windows and fences. We wanted to go to South Street, which is the real artsy, bohemian part of town, but we were a bit short on time and figured it would be easier to get to Philly again than to get to London if we missed our flight! I was ~exhausted~ at this point from lugging my carry on around - my back was ~killing~ me. It would've been fun to ride back in one of the horse drawn carriages that were all over the place - especially since there was a ~really~ cute boy driving one - but it cost like $15. As it was, we spent $4.50 each to ride the metro out, $5.75 each to ride the metro back to the station, and $2.16 each for a delicious soft pretzel with hot mustard and freshly squeezed lemonade at an Amish shop in the mall by the station.

Our departure from the Norfolk Airport was really nice - my family decided to surprise me by all being there. My mom was babysitting my niece Gabrielle, so I knew they'd be there because my mom was driving me to the airport. She asked my brother Trip to come, too, but he made a big deal out of saying he didn't want to. My sister Dawn and Dad both, supposedly, had to be at work. Well, Trip came with us, and Dawn and Dad were both at the airport waiting when we got there! That was really nice. Mom gave me two $2 bills from Gramma for good luck. I said she shouldn't because I would spend them, but she said Gramma loved England so much that she would have wanted me to. Dad gave me 50 pounds sterling he had left over from his last trip to England. That is like 100 American bucks - go Rex! That was super cool, especially since I only have $1000 in traveler's cheques to last me all 3 weeks of the trip. Lisa's mom and dad were there along with another couple that is really close to her family. We all grabbed lunch in the fast food place at the airport, and then Lisa and I boarded the plane.

Last night to help us get in the proper mindset for our vacation, Lisa and Becky and I went to see ~Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey~. It was excellent! I think we laughed harder than anyone else in the theater! We fully intend to rival the exploits of this duo on the road!

I had an ~interesting~ experience yesterday while purchasing supplies for this trip. I was in K-Mart (my favorite store - not!) in the health supply aisle. I was trying to buy things for the trip that I don't usually necessarily use but that I thought might prove indispensable on the road should we develop any distressing maladies. So I'm comparison shopping, trying to decide between things like the virtues of Kaopectate vs. those of Pepto Bismol, and I finally decide upon three products - Tums, the afore-mentioned Pepto (as it allegedly relieves more ailments than Kaopectate does), and the charmingly named and self-explanatory Gas-X. So then I'm off, clutching these veritable panaceas to my bosom, consulting my shopping list, and searching for various other items (shoe laces, luggage locks, etc.) of a less scatological nature. At first I was oblivious to the sight I must have presented because my high level of concentration involving my errand cancelled out my usually high level of self-consciousness, BUT the inquisitive stares of not one, not two, but THREE cute boys soon drove home how ridiculous I must have appeared running around with a plethora of personal plumbing products! One of the cute guys was even in line right behind me at the check out, so I had to play it off and act nonchalant, knowing he must've been wondering what in the heck kind of gross and bizarre internal problems I must've had to require a medicinal barrage like that!! In fact, I'm surprised he consented to get in line behind me, wondering what he must've wondered! How embarrassing! I NEVER see cute guys at home, and the one day I do, I just ~have~ to be looking like a total freak!

Right now we are on the flight to London waiting for them to serve us some dinner. We figure for as much as tickets cost, they ~better~ serve us some !@#$%^&* food on a six and P hour flight!!! I want to eat and then sleep so that I'm not totally exhausted tomorrow. There sure are a lot of smokers on this plane - GROSS. One thought - next time I travel I MUST get one of those lightweight luggage trolleys. Toting all my crap around is going to ~ruin~ my posture!