Flight to Moscow

This part of the trip illustrates one of life's nasty little traits: even when you have an exciting destination, getting there can be really annoying (you are free to apply that insight as you will; congregants, dont be surprised if this becomes a sermon illustration of the Christian life.

But you did not venture onto the Dan's blog to hear him whine about an hour and half on the tarmac, or the general annoyances of a 10 hour red-eye. And, after all, the Dan has read Foxe's Book of Martyrs, thank you, and knows how to keep a sore back in perspective. So, as they say, shall we count the blessings? Here goes:

• The Dan is not crammed up next to a talkative gypsy with b.o. and a bad case of kleptomania
• The Dan knows how to spell kleptomania
• They served a dinner, which, while not arising much above "school cafeteria" level, was extremely hot. Including the salad. They apparently have genetically modified lettuce that will not wilt, even if you apply a blow torch to it. This way the stewardess can throw the whole meal in the oven
• The airline has thoughtfully provided small video screens on the back of the headrests, which, while not showing any actual, say, video, does display an animated map to show you how incredibly far the plane has yet to travel
• The stewardesses, unlike nurses, will not wake you to make sure you are resting OK
• Again, no gypsies

Okay, that's about it...