So. California Picnic

[gini]

"From Slick...writing under Gini's logon"

Well, here I am...still at Gini's place. She is driving me to the airport in about 30 min. As usual, I'm packing with a heavy heart.

I can't thank Sara and Don enough for their hospitality and the E's for letting me into their world for a brief time. It was so nice to see Richard and Kelly again....Trish and Amy, I can't tell you how wonderful it was to meet you and I really hope we keep in touch.

Gini, my dear, dear friend.....how can I ever repay you?? LES..... I'll write you later when I get home.

As for pictures, well, I have about 4 rolls to develop but won't get around to it until the weekend. I'll post again when later tonight.

Until next time, America.....

[Cincy'sMom]

Hi everyone!!! I have successfully made it to our sales meeting here in San Diego...and of course the first thing I am doing (after tryin to call my husband), is checkin in from my web TV ni my room! It is slower then I am used t, butI finally have oppertunity to say ahuge THANK YOU to Sara and DON, for a wonderful afternoo/evening, and to Gini, Kelly, Richard, Trica and Slick for coming to meet me!! What a great time!! What a great time!! You guys are so fun and entertaining! What laughs!!

I promise to share some pictures when I get home Thursday!

Thank you all again!

[gini]

Slick is now UP UP AND AWAY!!! It is raining here very hard and promises to continue throughout the night.

Sara and Don thank you for opening up your beautiful home to all of us.
The Pet Talk Family just gets closer and closer.

Amy - we loved meeting you, even though we didn't let you get a word in edge-wise

And uh, do you HAVE to post ALL of the pictures????

Tricia, glad that you made it home safely - Kelly and Richard too............

Fun is over for now and it is back to work we go - hi-ho (well not exactly, that enthusiastically).

[NoahsMommy]

Awww....so now we all have to get back to "the real world" again? Even Amy has to work today!

Slick, I hope you arrive home safely and not sadly. We'll see you again soon, we'll keep watching those flight rates for you. Check your mail in the coming days, my critters were all crowded around my box that contains my cards, stickers and pens last night.

Amy, I hope you had a nice time. It was so nice to meet you. Tricia, I'm sorry I got your name wrong in my first post, I changed it now. It was great to meet you...I'm glad you got safely home.

Now...what should we plan for the next meeting??? July sure is coming quick!! Yay!!

[slick]

Slick is now UP UP AND AWAY!!!

Ha!!! Wishful thinking Gini.

I got home around 11pm and very tired. I thought it was going to be smooth sailing....errr...flying, but I was wrong.

First of all, Gini dropped me off at terminal 3, Alaska Airlines. I went to check in and they told me that I was at the wrong terminal. The small print on my confirmation says "operated by American Airlines" which I didn't read. So after a 10 min hike to terminal 4 I stand in line to check in again and then I'm told I'm in the wrong line. Since I'm travelling international, I should be "way over there" by the red markers. After another 5 min hike, I finally wait in line. When I get up to the counter it was 2:50 and my flight was supposed to leave at 3:18. I was sure I was going to miss it, then the lady said that it wasn't leaving until 3:45. Whew! I made it through security and flew down to the gate. That flight was smooth.

So now I'm in San Francisco where I'm supposed to change planes. It was 5:28 and my connecting flight was supposed to leave at 6:13. It literally took 20 min to walk to the next gate. Once I got there the guy beside me had purchased some duty free booze. I didn't have much time, but he gave me directions and I flew down to make my purchase. Ketel One, I might add!!

Now......here come the exciting part. It was very windy and rainy. We boarded the plane. The plane left on time and taxied out into the night then stopped. We waited. We waited. Then the captain said that "the wind has picked up and we will have to wait for another while until it dies down". We waited. We waited. Then he came on again and said that "the winds are 70 mph and here is a thunder storm going on and it's not safe to fly so we have to taxi back to the gate and wait"....oh, and fuel up too! At that point the plane was grounded indefinitely.

Now, knowing that I wouldn't be late getting home, I instructed my catsitter not to feed Max his supper. Now that I may not get home at all, I need to call them. I have no cell phone.

I reach into my wallet and grabbed $4 Canadian coin. I yelled out "who wants to earn $4 by letting me use your cell phone to make a long distance call?" I guess $4 wasn't enough because only one person came forward. I made the call and Max was already fed. Whew again! Now we sat and waited. We waited. We waited....and we waited. Finally at about 7:50 the captain said it's OK to fly and "by the way, we have a strong tailwind to help us along." That flight was very bumpy but I made it.

Folks, this was my first experience at connecting flights and believe me, it will be my last. I am thankful though that my luggage came through. Gotta go now, Max is all over me and wants to be fed. Yeah right!!

[AmberLee]

Glad you are home safe and sound, Slick. Whew, what an adventure!!!

[Cincy'sMom]

Yep, it is back to the real world...sort of. This sales group sure is an interestnig one!!! It will be interesting to see how everyone is feeling this morning!!


Gini- I don't have to post all the pictures...I can be bribed!!!

Glad you made ithome Slick! Isn't changing planes fun!! When you really want adventure, trying changing airlines mid-trip!!!!

[ramanth]

What an ordeal Slick!

When I flew out to CA, my flight was delayed because the bathroom on the plane was not working and they had to fix it before we could take off.

My thought was, make people use the bathroom before we leave and they can just hold it for an hour! I'm such a meanie.

[anna_66]

I've been keeping watch on this thread waiting to see pictures and hear about all the fun you had (doesn't sound like you had too much fun on the way home Slick ). Wish I could have been there too!

I'll be waiting to see the pictures

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Whew, glad you made it home safely, Slick! I always recommend flying direct, but I know sometimes it's just not possible. I had heard about the terrible rain and winds in SF, but didn't know you were flying out of there. Good thing because I would have been worried to death!

<tapping foot>................<drumming fingers on desk>..............<waiting>....<waiting>....<wait ing>....