Oh wow Mr. Seat 2A!
I've only read the first 2 sections of your first post and I'm hooked. I'll enjoy reading remainder when I get home later.
One of my regrets is not having kept hand written diaries when traveling - especially as getting on for 40 years of flying has gone unrecorded and my memory is depleting as age creeps on.
Makes note: get popcorn on way home...