IN NEW ZEALAND.....

I am in New Zealand visiting Brandon, Mindy and Zane. The trip was longer then I expected it to be! I had a flight out of Abilene that was to leave at 2:20pm and actually left after 5:00pm. They rebooked my flight from DFW to LAX....and assured me I would make it just fine. The flight boarded 20 minutes before we arrived in Dallas so I am not at all sure how that was to happen-predictably, I missed the flight.
Once at the gate in Dallas one person thought I could make the flight from LAX to Auckland if I took the next flight out of DFW to LAX and one didn't (that person was right-there was no way I would have made that flight!).
I decided if there was any question of not making it out of LA I would just stay in Dallas. My nieces and their families are there so I had someone to impose on rather than being stuck in a motel for 24 hours. It turned out fine-my nephew picked me up at the airport. I had an opportunity to visit with them-it was Kaydon's (my great nephew) first birthday and I hadn't really gotten to know him. He is a real charmer and we had great fun together.
I set out the next day at 5:30 from DFW to LAX-everything went fine. My luggage was in LA and made it on the plane to Auckland-so, even though I didn't have it in Dallas it was there in Auckland.
The flight to Auckland was really good. I had 3 seats to myself with no one behind or in front of me. I rested and napped in every position one can assume in an airplane, including laying down. International flights are great-they really take care of you. Before take off they handed out the little packs with the eye masks, socks, and toothbrush with toothpaste. They passed out the menus and shortly after take off they came around with the food, complete with a selection of wines and beers as well as soft drinks and waters (no charge for aything). Then in about 3 hours they passed out the snack packs with water, cookies and crackers. Throughout the flight they came around with water and juice and once with fresh fruit. About 3 hours before landing they handed out warm, wet towels and then passed breakfast-your choice of a hot or continental breakfast.
During all of this feeding and watering, there is an array of entertainment available. Although reading really wasn't practical. They kept the cabin dark for sleeping and if you turned on your overhead light it was very bright for people around you since it was so far above your head and so bright. There was a screen built in to the seat in front of you (above the tray table) and you could choose movies, radio, CDs, news, games or a picture of a plane flying with speed and time until arrival (Brandon advised NOT checking that but when I did I was shocked to see we only had 4 more hours left).
I checked out the movies-there are about six catagories to chose from...like new releases, family, children, comedy, documentaries and something else. I watched one called In the World of Women (or something like that) that had Meg Ryan...it was so-so. Then later I discovered Happy Feet was available so I started it but didn't get to finish (first thing I'm gonna do on the return). I also played a little solitaire. But, I actually got a good bit of sleep.
Getting my luggage and getting through immigration and customs was a breeze! And the next thing you know there was Brandon! He took me home and Mindy and Zane were waiting at the door.
Mindy looks just great! And Zane is a beautiful baby...and so good. I can't believe! He went to sleep about 11 pm last night and only woke for 2 feedings in the night and slept real late this morning!
Yesterday seems like 2 days since I didn't go to bed! And it was a pretty full day. I went with the kids to take Zane to the osteopath for cranial-sacral therapy. It was suggested because of the long labor and the positioning and all of the head molding. I really liked the osteopath-he had a very gentle energy and was kind with Zane and the kids. He even had Brandon get up on the table and did a treatment on his head so he would know that it didn't hurt Zane.
The midwife came in the evening-she is very nice...obviously likes Brandon and Mindy as people. She was pleased with how Zane is growing-he is over 9 pounds now. I am not sure how much since the whole grams and pounds thing doesn't compute for me. This was her last visit. Now another group starts coming to make visits on the baby-weekly, I think. This is like a visiting nurse thing that New Zealand provides for a certain period of time....maybe a year. Mindy says you have all sorts of things for the first 6 years.
Today we went to the market-grocery store-which is located in the mall. It seemed strange to push your groceries through the mall in the grocery cart! There were a lot of the same products as in America and some different....and some brands that are the same but offer something different. Like Yoplait yogurt-here they have Greek style yogurt which I love but can't find in Abilene and come to find out Yoplait has that style.
We also went to the "herbal pharmacy" for lack of a better word. Zane has a tiny little thrush and the midwife sent them there for some homeopathic drops. It was a fascinating place. There were dried herbs, homeopathic blends, teas, and encapsulated herbs by two companies I am familiar with from the US. And there was the sweetest, gentlest young woman there to help them! I am so pleased with the health care providers that are shepherding Brandon, Mindy and Zane....they have an awesome team of people!
We also visited a regular pharmacy for Ibuprofen for my knee-it comes with codeine....yep, right over the counter-no RX needed. Strange.
Oh, one more thing! The food....I am having a great time trying different. BJ is very adventurous when it comes to food, and he's a good cook. For dinner last night we had steamed veggies with couscous. For lunch we got a rice ball-it was purple rice filled with your choice of fillings and wrapped in a baggie. When it was time to eat it you open the bag, push the rice ball to the opening and then "squeeze and eat, squeeze and eat." Mine was filled with Korean chicken, burdock, pickled cabbage, veggies, and some other stuff I can't remember. It was very good!
For breakfast I had a sliced apple and fish pie (fish with pumpkin in a pastry crust)-very good. And then for lunch today we ate at an Indian place....I had chicken marsala with a yellow curry-very, very good! This afternoon I am sipping on sage and spearmint tea I got at the herbal place....my taste buds are really enjoying this trip.
But, the most fun and the highlight of it all is the chance to sit and hold my grandbaby! The kids are napping and I can't seem to download a pic but will later when BJ can help...