Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire

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In which Seanan goes to New York (New Jersey), and sleeps.

Time for our time-delay travelogue, in which I attempt to prove that I am, in fact, still a real person! Yay! So...

Last Saturday, I flew to New York to begin my whirlwind tour of the East Coast and Midwest, as represented by New York, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. Seriously, even considering this particular set of stops probably qualifies me as slightly out of my tree. Actually doing it? Totally insane.

I began in San Francisco, where my mother and youngest sister drove me to the airport. I dressed for success in business class, wearing a bright green tank top and my Scooby-Doo Halloween pajama pants, with my hair in pigtails. I wish I could say this was me making a statement, but in reality, it's just that I travel so much, and the security theater has become such a circus, that I am no longer willing to deal with uncomfortable clothing on top of everything else that air travel entails.

Virgin America (my preferred airline) has recently moved into SFO's newly reopened Terminal 2. This was my first trip to the new terminal. I was dubious, but after five minutes experiencing Terminal 2's charms, I am here to tell you that I, brothers and sisters, am a true believer in Terminal 2. A full-sized supermarket! A wine bar! A burger joint selling Diet Dr Pepper inside security! And a full-sized bookstore, to boot. I have seen the airport promised land, and it is Terminal 2.

I found copies of Feed and the Toby books in the airport bookstore, and signed them, pigtails and orange Halloween pants and all. I believe I am now marked down as one of the bookstore's more surreal author visits.

Thanks to a combination of good luck, good timing, and flying Main Cabin Select, I managed to be the first one on the plane, and nested myself solidly in my lovely exit-row seat, with velociraptor, laptop, sack of DDP, and lots and lots of work to do. As soon as we were off the ground, I commenced to doing just that, working on Blackout, "Rat-Catcher," "Landslide," and reading a manuscript I've been asked to blurb. The flight was smooth, the middle seat was empty, and it was, all in all, lovely...with one notable exception.

The people behind me (and in the row across from theirs, making six in total) seem to have taken Jersey Shore as an etiquette guide. They talked loudly, even shouting across the plane. They argued with the flight attendants. They listened to some sort of media player, again loudly (I could hear it through my headphones) without using headphones of their own. One of them passed gas several times, causing the rest to laugh uproariously. I didn't recline my seat, since I was working; somehow, this wasn't enough room for the person behind me, who kicked me, a lot. Seriously, what were these people, twelve? No, most twelve-year-olds have better manners. It was a real relief to get off the plane and see them nevermore.

Jon and Merav met me at the airport with Subway and DDP, and whisked me away to scenic Jersey City, New Jersey, one of my many homes away from home, where we watched Doctor Who before stumbling to sleep the sleep of the righteous, the just, and the exhausted.

My New York adventure was underway at last.
Tags: busy busy busy, cranky blonde is cranky, in the wild, travel, where's seanan, wild adventures
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  • 36 comments
As someone born in New Jersey, I apologize and wish to plead that most people in New Jersey wish the louts from Jersey Shore would go for a five mile swim - three out, and two back.
Oh, I love New Jersey. It's the people who think that show is a model for proper behavior who make me crazy.
So the important question is ... What did you think of "The almost people" ?

My copy of Deadline arrived today :)
I thought it was far, far better than part one.
Virgin Main Cabin Select: absolutely the way to go.

Except when there's a booking mistake that means you have to move out of the front row and into the emergency exit row instead, because the people who'd bought those tickets were traveling with kids too young to be in an emergency exit row, so of course they get your specifically chosen seats, and then you discover there's a loose panel by your feet, about which the attendants have to call a mechanic, and so you personally succeed in delaying your entire flight when you know you're going to have to make a connection in San Francisco, and you've got 3,000 miles ahead of you........



but other than that, Virgin was awesome. :)
...my.

You win!

Deleted comment

It was...displeasing.
Unfortunately it really doesn't seem to matter where you're from or where you're going to you always seem to encounter a few of those 'Jersey Shore' people that Seanan ran into.
This was a first for me.

I would like it to be a last.
My impression of the SFO airport was that it was designed by someone who really dislikes humans and wants to trap them and keep them wandering around in circles forever.

'a course, the designer of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson merely went for the straightforward Bataan Death March approach. And, most inexplicable and surreal, sculptures of giant fire ants parading across the ceiling of the luggage area: "Welcome to Georgia! WE HAVE GIANT BITING INSECTS WHAT WILL BITE THE FUCK OUT OF YOU! Have a nice visit!"

I am old enough to remember when the airport subway (yes, people who have never been there, it has its own) digital "Stand away from the doors" voice sounded like an old-school Ceylon. Now it sounds like the automated BellSouth customer line. Which is not less unnerving, when I reflect on it. If the local network ever becomes sentient, it will have a female voice with a slight educated-Southern accent.
"Welcome to Georgia! WE HAVE GIANT BITING INSECTS WHAT WILL BITE THE FUCK OUT OF YOU! Have a nice visit!"

Georgia: Giant Biting Insects What Will Bite The Fuck Out Of You

This should be the new state motto.
I hope you enjoy your tour.

I am halfway through _Deadline_ already. Fortunately I started early in the day. :-)
Yay!
Welcome to my neck of the woods! :)
It was fun!
I would love to know how the conversation between you and the sales clerk in the bookstore went, esp. with how you prove you're Mira Grant? Surreal conversation details, please!
Yeah. How did that go?
Hi! I'm Seanan McGuire. Would you like me to sign these books for you?
Oh; I'm Mira Grant too. Why I don't I sign those books as well?

seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

I have heard of this "Jersey Shore" show. I have not seen it. Nothing I have heard about it has explained why I, or any other sapient, would want to.

Good luck on your travels.
Thank you!
Just wondering what kind do you use?
Cheap little white ones from Target.
Ya, flying used to be fun. These days, not so much. Although seeing you signing in an airport, in pigtails and PJs, would make anyone's day!

My copy is waiting for me at my local bookseller; I pick it up tomorrow! Can't wait. And hey - if you're all the way on this coast, I hope some day you find a reason to visit Washington DC - we cook, and all three of my kids want to meet you! ;-)

Safe travels!
Thank you!
Today's Wednesday One-Liners in Overheard in New York sounded like something you could've gotten into. Alas, none of the lines sounded like you.
Go team dinosaurs!

alicetheowl

6 years ago

I dream of business class, but it's so expensive for long haul.
Have a wonderful time, and if you see DAW, please give them my love.
I gave them ALL the love. Yes, for you as well.
Huh.

I was in Terminal 2, oh... back in 2001. While it was still being renovated. Also, it was 1 am and I was lost.

Yes, I'm sure there are horror movies about circumstances like that. If there aren't, there should be.

I'm glad it's done and less creepy.
Yeah, it's AWESOME now.
Why do you like Virgin so much? They just got a few gates here at O'Hare & I'd like to try them.
Good service; good crews; excellent in-flight entertainment; great loyalty program; affordable business class upgrades; good food (although there are no free snacks); generally on-time; great customer service if you need to call or email.
I love your travel gear. ;)
It works for me.