So. California Picnic

[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!!!