have had such an exciting adventure so far.
first, got to the hotel around 10, but ended up staying up until midnight rearranging bags and having a snack. slept until 4 am, and got out to the shuttle by 5, airport at 5:15, and everything checked in and through security by 5:45. (check the EC forum for a funny story about hawk and the first security check!)
got onto the first flight and it was great. he fussed a bit now and again, but otherwise napped for about 3 of the 6 hrs of the flight (toward the end) and mostly played happily for the first 3 hrs. so, it was all in all very easy.
get to SF at 11 and the ticket/check in is closed until 3:30. we have a boarding pass, so we go through security because that's where there is a mexican restaurant rather than a food court. have a great lunch, and then head to our gate. we ar the only ones there, it's really sunny and open, and hawk runs around and plays while we alternate napping!
around 5:30 the gate opens and i go to make sure that our boarding passes are right. on a hunch, we'd purchased tickets for Aus for 3 mo after our arrival as per the visitor visa rules, but when they checked my passport, they wouldn't let me in because it expired on Feb 9, 10.
i told them i planned on having the consulate do it for me, but they said it wouldn't work because there weren't enough days (they talked with immigration, who contacted the consulate, who then said it would take too long).
we got bumped from our flight.
thankfully, we were in San Fran where my aunt lives! We called her and are at her house now.
we then went to the SF passport agency office. got the new passport today. it couldn't ahve been easier! it was so great.
then, spent the day hanging around SF and enjoyed that thoroughly too. such a great day.
get to sleep in tomorrow morning and head over to the air port at 3:30 to check in and make sure our bags are in tact (They'd pulled our checked bags off the plane).
so, we fly out tomorrow at 7, which is what i wanted for hawk originally anyway (to spend time with my aunt before, see SF).
also, ryan saw producers Barrie Osborn (Lord of the Rings) and also Frances Ford Copala (Sp?) at his restaurant in SF! both serendipitous!