Because 14 hours in coach is the 7th ring of hell...

Today's challenge is something I want to do before I die. I could cover a lot of ground with this one. I would love to go ski-diving, parasailing, become a published author, eat lunch with a couple of choice celebrities, buy a condo and live on the beach...

But the one thing I would desperately love to do if I ever become independently wealthy: Fly first-class on United Arab Emirates to Tokyo. Why Tokyo? It's my favorite place on planet Earth. Why Emirates? It's the most amazing airline on the planet. I have pictures to prove it...
Now this is first-class, people. I grew up on Yokota Air Base, then moved back to Hamamatsu when I was 27. I have flown round-trip from Japan to Washington, D.C. so many times I have lost count. Flying was a novelty at first. Eventually it just sucked. I envy people who can pass out on airplanes, peacefully sleeping upright while layered in scratchy blankets, oblivious to the coughing, crying babies, roaring engines, and endless chatter...

So this is the plan: get John and my closest friends together, rob a bank, and buy tickets to Tokyo where we can live off the kindness of my contacts overseas (because we'll only have about 37 cents left over after buying the Emirates tickets). It's hard to case the joint with 2 cranky toddlers though, so I could use some help...