I’m sitting in LAX, gate 45, hunched near a column that is graciously supplying me power and blocking the sun from my screen. I had decided I would try and get the hell out of Chicago asap and was able to switch flights and get out before noon. This worked out but now gives me a copious amount of free time in LA. Oddly, in LAX, time passes exactly as slowly as you’d guess.

SIDEBAR: While I was typing the paragraph above, a woman came up to me, looked out the window and said “what hapened? It was just sunny”. I looked up and sure enough, in the last few minutes, LA is covered in fog! REALLY weird. No way can I miss ANOTHER flight! Eek!

Anyway, I never explained WHY I’m going to OZ…

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

It all started a few months back. I was chatting with Mr. Mike Compton and he was telling me about his plans to tour around Australia. It would include both West and East Australia legs (thus making it suitable for pants) and would include, but not be limited to, guests Paul Duff and Steve Gilchrist. I was surprised when he invited me along… and he seemed surprised when I said “hell yeah I’ll go!”. I don’t think it would surprise anyone that I would trade Wisconsin’s -20˚ for Perth’s 100˚… nor a chance to hang out with Mike and two of the finest mando builders in the biz. All in all, it sounded perfect for a mando-centric vacation in OZ! How could I miss?!?

FADE IN: GATE 45

I’ll tell you how I could miss… I could miss another damn flight!