Carbon Footprint

Carbon Footprint...I have a large one today. Sorry planet. It is 5:05 am and I have been sitting at the airport for awhile waiting on my flight to board. Early morning flights are the worst, but today is a must because it's in, meeting and home. See, hello how many plastic bottles do I have to recycle just to make up for today?!?!?

I am super tired, when I am tired my mind races a bazillion miles a minute. I am going to Canada next week. Is it still winter? I am sure that I told everyone who would listen that Canada was off limits until the spring. But, those punks lured me up there with the promise of Tim Horton's and a hockey game. I am such a sucker. Then I am headed off to DC...if I make it back from Canada (we all know me and travel, my one week trip may last 2). Then -- well, let's just say that I travel every week starting next week until the week of April 8th. Feb and Mar are going to be crazy!!!

(I am sitting here wondering why an NFL coach is at my gate -- it's not the coach of the NFL team in my town...it's a team from the West Coast. Oh the people you see at 5 in the morning at the airport - I am headed to Cincinnati)

anyways...the next to months I should have some weird and wacky travel stories for you.........I can't concentrate any longer. its all football now and we are getting ready to board soon.

CONTINUATION: Its now 5:30 pm and I am sitting at the airport. Still tired, but less groggy :) Are you ready for more travel woes...I tell you these things so that you know that if I am traveling you either (a) don't travel or (b) do not travel on the same air line as I. You're welcome, love you too!

I arrived at the airport around 2 EST in order to get through security and make my 4:10 pm flight. Optimism ran high, looking forward to getting home in time to pick up Doodles and let him know about my day in Cincinnati, OH. I arrive to my gate and work a little. Around 3:15, as I glance up at the LCD screen the flight time says 4:30 departure, where seconds ago it stated 4:10. Minutes later it changes to 5:35, and then goes blank and pops up with the next flight scheduled to leave out of that gate. Confused I get up to check with the gate agent. No, there has not been a gate change, but there is no update on the flight. They will inform us when they hear something.

Around 5:00 an announcement comes over that the maintenance was taking much longer than expected and the departure time has been pushed back to 8:30. If the passengers would come to the desk and get a meal voucher they will update us when they have more information. I start towards the gate agent and see that there is one who is not busy at the next gate over. Skipping the meal voucher, expense report what do I care about a voucher there is more pressing things on my mind, I ask the gate agent about other flights to my hometown. (See, I have been thru this here delay thing before, remember Miami???) There is one flight and it is nearly full. The gate agent protects a seat for me in case something goes wrong on my original flight. I thank her and walk away to get some dinner.

As I get to the food court an announcement. Flight XXXX to XXX has been cancelled would all passengers please report to gate B12 for re-booking. I head over to B12. In line there are numerous passengers all awaiting news on new flights. (there is a lot of angry people at the airport...I really hope that I am never that angry) Some heading through Atlanta, some hoping to get on the 8:35 flight (that I already know was close to full), and some just hoping to be re-reouted tonight. The woman a few people in front of me get booked on a flight tomorrow at 9:00 am, the gentleman directly in front of me was trying to get on a flight through Atlanta - not sure how it turned out I was done before he was, the man behind me was hoping to do the same thing that I do (I wished him luck). I walked up to the counter, showed my boarding pass and told them I should have a protected seat on the nonstop to my home airport. The re-booking agent confirmed that I had a seat, printed my boarding pass and wished me a good flight -- all done within 2 minutes. There were looks of "How", "what", "oh my goodness"...I wasn't kidding when I told them I was getting on the 8:35 flight, even the lady in front of me told me that she couldn't get on so I couldn't - I just shrugged. Yep, there were a few looks of outrage...but there were also a few 'dang you're good' looks.

See, all those travel woes....they teach ya how to have a back-up plan :-) Yep, I'm getting home tonight and I cannot say that for everyone that thought they were.........I wish all of them well and safe travels!!!

True Story Tuesday: Travel FAIL

True Story Tuesday brought to us by Rachel and Mr. Daddy

It has been awhile since we shared a laugh over my misadventures in traveland...not because there have not been any, but because I have been crazy busy and my mind has been occupied with other things. Well, today my friends, was something special!


I woke up this morning late, if a person can consider 3:45 am late. This morning it was! My flight was boarding at 5:50 am, and I had last minute things to do this morning. (Class last night didn't end until a little after 10:00 pm and I had to pack). After a very fast shower, I grabbed my things and rushed to my car; It was 4:59 am. I get to the only stop light between me and the highway that actually works before 6 in the morning and it is red. Still red...c'mon it has been 3 minutes and that dumb light is still red?!?!?! I take a look at the time, and decide I am going to work around the light. I start reversing the car, and the light changes...yep, should have told me how this day was going to go.

I arrive at the airport terminal at 5:27 am. I look at the line waiting for security.......maybe it won't be so bad. Thankfully, TSA opened up another gate. I got through security by 5:43 am, only to find out my gate was WAY at the end of the terminal. I walked, quickly, through the airport and got to the gate as they were calling my boarding group. WHEW...no worries!!! Heading to Miami and there will not be delays out of there, so I should get to my final destination without a problem.

Landing at Miami International airport, I check my phone as we are taxing to the gate. A message from my mother, "your airline called and said your flight out of Miami was canceled. They have you re-booked." WHAT? Canceled?!?! That is way worse than delayed. Oh my, what am I going to find when I get off of this plane?

I get to the customer service counter and kindly ask what flight I have been booked on. Answer, we have you booked on a flight to Hartford (BDL) tomorrow morning. Ummm, excuse me - is there anything out today? Well, we could put you on a flight to San Juan which has a connecting flight to BDL at 7:00 pm. But, {there is always a but when I travel} so far everything into and out of BDL has been canceled. HA! Needless to say, I didn't feel like getting stuck in Puerto Rico...hard to explain on an expense report. I am a problem solver I will figure something out. LaGuardia...flights are being canceled and the ones that are not are full. JFK...full of passengers originally destined for LGA, and delayed! Boston...we all remember how much I love Logan International right (and the fact I got smacked there)??? Yeah, my boss said no way is he allowing me to fly into Boston and drive down to Bridgeport, CT. Too dangerous. Hmmmm -- thats like all the airports that are within driving distance that have flights out of Miami.

Miami is sunny, 70 degrees. I was on standby for the flight tomorrow...did I really want to be stuck in Miami for possibly 2 days? The weather in CT doesn't look so hot for the traveler in me (you know the one: delays, cancellations). So, I re-booked a flight back to St Louis.

Yep, thanks for the Frequent Flyer Miles! I spent 6 hours in the air today...and didn't get anywhere. DOES THAT HAPPEN???? I mean I have been on same day trips, but there is usually a business meeting or something. Is it just me that can get on an airplane and end up where she started without accomplishing anything, not even a picture? Travel FAIL!!!!!

Yes, once again Hello I am the unluckiest traveler EVAH ;)

Knowledge :)

I learn something new Every. Single. Day.!!! Now, I know that I am in a training class today and I am supposed to be learning today but thats neither here nor there. This is about Sea-Tac...I was under the assumption (yes I know that they say) that it was the Seattle - Tacoma area International Airport.......HUH! Nope, there is a little town called SeaTac. I am amazed!!! AMAZED I tell ya!!!!!!!!!

Vindicated....I am at the airport today (thursday 12/16) and as I was driving in the sign says Seattle Tacoma Area International Airport! Booyah. SeaTac, obviously you sprang up as a town because people are too lazy to drive to work LOL

LGA, AA, TSA...its the acronym post

After my return flight on Thursday, I will never, may I repeat NEVER, fly through LaGuardia Airport ever again as long as I shall live!!! There is a reason it is the worst in the US.

To begin, let me say that I am ashamed of myself. I fully understand that TSA is there to protect us and the United States. They are just doing the jobs they are tasked to do and I was completely rude. For that I am sorry and there is no way for me to apologize to the people that were on duty that day.

I flew American Airlines to Boston thru LGA. After going through security at my home airport I bought a bottle of water...they do not sell 20 oz bottles, they sell the large Liter bottles and they are EXPENSIVE, as anyone who travel is well aware. So, we land at LGA in Gate D and my connecting flight is taking off less than 45 minutes later out of Gate C....for those of you that are unaware, when you change Gates at the crapfest that is LaGuardia Airport you get to go through security again. Pretty much you take more than 10 steps at the joy that is that airport you go through security. WHAT??? TSA doesn't allow water bottles through??? Crazy talk!!! So, I put my water bottle on top of my bag and I didn't do the whole security thing I normally do...gave both my boarding passes to the TSA person on the other side of the metal detector. They asked about the water and I got really rude and told them with many expletives that I have already gone through security once that day and I have run from one gate to this one and bought that water inside my home airport......whatever just throw the $5 bottle of water away.

So, I sent American Airlines a very nice note telling them that when they are scheduling connecting flights through that crap airport they should try to keep them in the same gate area...or possible work with LGA and/or the TSA at LGA on the issues of people with connecting flights with no time being allowed their water/soda bottles......general public cannot do anything but an airlines should be able to.

So, I know it is not TSA's fault, they are enforcing the rules across the board! Is it American Airlines for poor planning on where connecting flights go out OR is it LGA for not being set up in a consumer friendly way??? Seriously, LaGuardia is NOT set up very nicely......I don't understand why there is TSA as you go into each of the gate areas instead of the airport. My home airport once you go through security you can get to all of the gates...you can even get to the other terminal if you need to WITHOUT going through security again, it's kinda a pain in the ass if you don't know where you are going but you can do it. Even crappy O'Hare you can get by with only going through security one time and if you are just connecting there is no need for a TSA visit.

I know I will never plan a trip through LGA again....should I be boycotting American too for their stupidity?!?!?! This trip frustrated me! Please don't remind me that I have to return....same routing..............UGH


UPDATE: The non-response...I would share, but - "The information in this email is confidential and is intended solely for the addressee(s); access to anyone else is unauthorized. If this message has been sent to you in error, do not review, disseminate, distribute or copy it. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this email from your email system." -And I am a big believer in it, so I will give you the cliff notes version...we got we don't really care but we have to respond because you checked the respond to me button. Ummm, it said American Airlines followed through in an effort to share my feedback....that would be business man speak for we read it, rolled our eyes and responded before deleting. WHATEVER American Airlines. You still suck as bad as LaGuardia Airport.

Old Man...

It's Raining, It's Pouring...OMG is it STORMING. My flight is supposed to leave in approximately 2 hours. There are a few things I would like to point out here if we can take but one moment in time. I have no issues traveling for my employment, I have no issues with a little turbulence, BUT I really prefer if I am going to die a fiery death to be able to see the ground rushing up at me so I can pen those last emails. Oh yes I would connect and start typing...the blackberry would connect upon getting close to the ground and my last goodbyes would go out - is it frightening to anyone that I have thought about it?!?!?! No, good :)

So, old man if you would please quiet down until I get out east I would greatly appreciate it. Mother Nature, PLEASE untwist the panties and lets just have a little tea ok. Love you!!! {since I believe God controls all things, I'm sorry I missed church last night and that I am traveling this morning!! You know whats in my heart...love much, much love}

Off to the airport to hear that my plane is either delayed or canceled....see ya peeps. Have a great day!

How cool is that???

This week was not completely filled with co-workers and things that are either so boring it's not worth mentioning or so technical you would all call me out as not knowing what I was truly talking about...

Thursday morning I went and toured the Louisville Slugger factory. My traveling companions really wanted to go and, hey what the heck right?!?! So, I do not do baseball...I am a hockey girl, winter sports are my thing - seriously being born up north was a good call on the Powers that Be part when it came to me. :) I swore that this trip Doodles was not getting anything, but at the end of the tour they give out the mini-bats so...yeah. He loves it. Back to the tour...for me I thought it was kinda cool. I found my dream job. There was a gentleman watching paint dry. No, seriously, he got up once in the 15 minutes I was watching him touched a bat and sat back down. I asked and his whole job was to make sure the bats do not come off the hooks until the varnish/paint/whatever is dry...I can totally do that!!!! QUALIFIED -- over here, pick me! You end up in the museum which was cool. I thought of Misses M, there is a lifesize wax of Griffey in a Mariners uniform...sorry, I know painful subject these days. They were making bats for one of the Boston Red Sox players. In my oh so humble opinion it was kinda amazing the way that they make a baseball bat...my traveling companions were a little let down. I guess to a true fan of the game, it's different. I can see that, watching a factory crank out hundreds of hockey sticks would probably take the awe out of it for me when I want it to be the wooden shafts, and then bending each blade individually. So, yeah I can see the let down of a smoothly run factory cranking out the bats instead of using the hand lathe of the past. The other BIG let down was that the personalized bats...you can't use them! But, they have professional cores that didn't come out perfect so a mere mortal can buy them for $50. {But beware if you fly out of the Louisville airport no bat, of any size is allowed as carry on - yeah I was fine taking my mini-bat through CVG}.

Lunch was just down the street at this AMAZING Italian place called Luigi's. Seriously, if you are ever in Louisville, KY you have got to stop at this place! It is a local little restaurant with the most delicious food. I highly recommend the lasagna...mmmmm GOOD -- no that doesn't even begin to describe it!!!! Trust me, I don't recommend many restaurants because I am such a picky eater, but this one - Scrummy!!!!!!!!

That evening we ate at the Oak Room. Very nice. Apparently the place of legends, Al Capone type legends...and the Lady with the Blue Dress! Then we proceeded to take a tour of one of the coolest places. Very techno-advanced for the business that they are in. But the absolute coolest thing was the 16 million dollar Flight Simulator that my traveling companions and I were lucky enough to be able to experience! The instructor allowed me to mess with one of my companions who was flying and throw a light thunderstorm at him and after everyone got a chance to take off/fly/land he showed me all of the weather and malfunctions that were available. The things a pilot has to go through in simulation are absolutely unbelievable! The flight sim was probably the highlight of the things I have experienced in my life. Unbelievably cool! I hope I get a chance to go back and see them again. :) But, I don't suppose anyone wants to buy me one for christmas, my birthday, just as a you're great present????? No, I didn't think so...

Anyway, this was a cool trip...but I am glad to be home, even if it does feel like it is just a moment. My weekends are going to fast. Tomorrow is church, lunch and then it will be the rush of getting ready for the next day again.

Daydreams versus Reality

When I travel I always get a window seat. I stare out the window at the passing clouds and there are moments that I get caught up in daydreams. I envision jumping out of the airplane into those clouds. Losing myself in those soft, fluffy white puffs with not a care in the world, gazing up as the bright blue turns to dusk and watching as the twinkling stars come out. Sometimes I think I would be able to hop from cloud to cloud not having to ever get to anywhere specific.

Then, I realize that this is me and I would jump and land in a thunderhead. Wickedly violent, lightening going from cloud to cloud until suddenly I would be hurdled to Earth along with slashing rain and some hail thrown in for good measure tossed to my destination. So, I look around me, take a deep breath and know that my life may not be perfect but as long as I keep putting one foot in front of the other I will get to where I am going.

It may be loud...what with the screaming toddler right in front of me on the airplane from CVG to ORD; it may be slow...with the hour sitting on the tarmac in ORD (once again with a baby in the next row, what was up with yesterday and me and kids????); but eventually I always get to where I need to be and I almost always get a pleasant greeting when I get there. (in yesterday's case Doodles saw me for the first time in a week and ran into my arms with a kiss, hug and all his news from the week.) It may not be cloud hopping, but sometimes my reality is much better :)

more on this trip later...we did some really cool things that I can actually talk about ;)

Travel Advisory

It's time for me to fess up...I am the worst, most unlucky traveler in the world! I am sorry to my fellow passengers, to those of you who happen to be trying to sight-see at the same time as me, and/or to those of you unlucky enough to be stuck traveling on the same day/same airline as I am. Yes, you see, it is all my fault! No seriously...those delays mean that you have about a 95.3% chance that I am traveling. Oh, you don't believe me??? You are very kind!!!! Let me tell you about the latest...

I get to the airport for my 3:20 flight to BWI an hour and a half early...yeah, yeah I am a rule follower - and I figured I would grab lunch while I waited! Check my status, looks promising!!! Get done with lunch AND....flight delay, 4:05. Alright, ok...less than an hour, it's all good! I finally boarded my plane a little after 5:30pm! Hey, I am not complaining because I have had worse let me tell you. 2 hours 10 minutes...I'm down!

Tuesday afternoon my colleague and I decide to hit Fort McHenry. Get some of that history edumication. ;) hmmmmmmm, no charge??? OK. We get past the visitor area thingy and into the "inner sanctum" or whatever you want to call it and get stopped on the path into the Fort. WAIT just one cotton pickin minute here. Mr Park Ranger this here Fort closes at 7 or have you not received that news???? Hold up, are those Navy Seals in that boat, and those vehicles look awful familiar....darn it that's Secret Service! WTH?!?!? Oh, looky there, it's Mrs. Obama, her daughters and family minus the President (my hope is he was doing something official that is not ruining my life, but c'mon it's politics so not holding my breathe). OH YES I DID GET HELD THERE! 15 minutes later they let us go into the fort, but only part way...then we were held up again. It ended up being pretty funny because I actually don't mind making a complete a@@ of myself. We finished touring Fort McHenry, went back to the Harbor area and guess who we run into again!!!! OY VEY.....I was about ready to ask for an itinerary so I could go the other way ;)
(I tried very hard not to take a pix of her because hello rude she is with her family making her kids get a lil history just like our parents did to us and we do to our kids. This is actually of those guys behind the car....I totally love those outfits and want one. I would look really cute in that hat, yep I would rock it out!!!)







So, Wednesday comes and I am not scheduled for the meetings so I hit the aquarium in the morning - awesome!!! And then go over to the airport to see if I can get an earlier flight out. Original flight is scheduled for 7:10. I get to the airport about 12:30ish...check in and at the time all flights are booked, and running on time. Have we all guessed that this is not going to go well. 7 hours in an airport is just not enough for me....Let's just cut to the chase and tell you that I had no luck getting on one of those earlier flights and my flight didn't leave until 8:35pm.

Please do not get me wrong, this was a fantastic trip by my standards!!!! Whew, I would never, no no no.....no way....I mean that is just not nice to tell you about a bad trip. I am just warning you, if you hear that I am traveling, try not to travel on those days :)

Airport

And who says sitting at an airport is not productive...I got all of the posts put back on here that I had and that were re-sent to me. WOOT, end redundancy period. Back to the regularly scheduled BEEP fest :)

So, sitting in BWI, I tried to get on an earlier flight home......guess what -- all sold out! So, got here before noon will be here until my flight departs at 7:10. Good times!!!! Ah well, I will work a lil bit and play a lil bit and I got here early enough to get a comfy chair so my booty won't be yellin at me so bad. hehehe

Did take time this morning to go over to the Aquarium and see the dolphin show. I was frightened though! With my luck when I am traveling. I'll fill ya in on my trip later when I round it out with the return flight.