The longest birthday

Today's my 28th birthday. And when midnight hits, it'll officially be the longest birthday ever - both pyschologically and physically.

You see, Kate and I went bowling with some friends last night (I actually scored above 100 on each of my games - like the superstar my mom always told me I was). But we didn't go to bed until about midnight and we had to get up early this morning so Kate could take me to the airport, where I'd catch a 9 hour 40 minute flight from Frankfurt to Chicago (and then another short flight to Kansas City, where I'll be for a two weeks taking a course). So, without much sleep, I was crammed on a delayed and overbooked flight in a seat that had one of those "black boxes" underneath the seat that prevented me from stretching out my left leg the whole flight, next to an overweight and boil-ridden Israeli who snored and smelled (although the two weren't necessarily related). There were also two young babies who were competing with each other for first fiddle in the gurgling cry orchestra (the Indian baby won). I also ate some bad pizza which forced me to think about Lamaze breathing techniques while we were going through some turbulence just prior to landing to prevent myself from throwing up. And, of course, once I got to my final destination, they lost my bags.

So, yes, long physchologically.

Also, long physically: 29 hours and 5 minutes to be exact.

But, my suite is sweet - and they offer free breakfast, drinks, and a whirlpool and heated outdoor pool. If I only had my bathing suit....

Tomorrow, though, as Michael Buble would say, is a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life. And so I'll probably take his advice and see what there is to see, which, judging from my views, doesn't seem to be a lot.