My very sad flying experience with AA and UA.

So, I have to tell you my story of the worst travel experience of my life....  It's so outrageous that I must write it down so that I can remember the date and people can cross reference and believe me.

I have to preface this with saying that this is my second business trip in 2 weeks.  This one was from good old San Antonio to Hartford, CT. 
On my way out there I was on American Airlines with a layover in Dallas. 
I left around 9am Monday morning.  I go into DFW with no problems...  I was scheduled to have a quick hour and a half layover and be on my way. 

Well, there I am, sitting on my plane when the pilot comes on and advises us that the left engine is bad and that the plane is out of service.  Good to know, right? 
I was thankful to know BEFORE we went in the air. 
So, we sit for an hour. 
Then, the flight attendant comes on the speaker and advises us that they found us a plane but we need to change gates.
So, I hop on the skycab and head over.  An hour after THAT, we finally are told we are getting ready to board. 

Nope, the pilot has now been up too long and is no longer legal.  So, we de-board. 
Then the flight attendants were out of compliance.

FIVE HOURS LATER we finally get on our way....  FIVE.   There were no weather issues.  Nothing. 
Just 5 hours of wasted time in the Dallas Airport.

To top it off, I ask the flight attendant for a blanket because I am freezing and she looks at me with disgust and advises me that those are for "first class only".  
Really?
Bite me AA.





So, fast forward to my flight home just 15 hours later.  This time with United.  A layover through Chicago.


I board, thankful to be on my way home even though they made me check my carry-on bag because they had no room.  We taxi onto the runway and then we stop.  For over an hour.

The weather is Chicago is bad.  And no one is allowed to head that way.
Patience....
We finally leave..

Then terror.

The plane was dropping 20 feet at a time in the air.  I was groping the older gentleman next to me without meaning to out of pure fear.
Flight attendants must sit.  Too much turbulence.  I just want on the ground.

We finally make it.
Its raining pretty bad.   And lightening.

And we taxi.  And then we stop.   Short of the gate.

For almost 3 hours.   There are 80 MPH hurricane strength winds.  Frequent lightening flashing everywhere.  And now we are told to fasten our seat belts and put our heads down because there is a tornado warning.
And we are in a plane....that is rocking back and forth like a massive riot is happening outside.

Keep in mind its now close to 10:30pm.  I haven't eaten since 1pm.  They have nothing but stale pretzels on the plane.  And I have only had one vodka diet in the last 5 hours.
We cant deplane after the storm because the winds have damaged the gates.
Short of being out of compliance with the 3 hour runway law, we get off the plane.

O'Hare is chaos. 
People sleeping everywhere, there are lines 100 people long and my flight shows "closed". 
Having no idea what this means and not able to ask any staff because of the massive crowds, I decide to run for it.  To another terminal.  Across the Chicago airport. 

I make it.  I see people standing around.  They are 3+ hours delayed.  THANK YOU!!!!!

By now my phone is completely dead so I plug in for 5 seconds to call Thomas, tell him I will be home by 2am and board this tiny 20 person plane. 

In the middle of a thunderstorm.
After a terrifying flight on a much bigger plane not 3 hours before.

But I want to go home.

So, we are ready to take off when the pilot comes out. 
Mind you this plane is so tiny, he doesn't need a speaker, he can just talk and we can hear him. 
Apparently we can't gas the plane because there is water in the gas line in the ground.
So we wait another hour for someone to come shop vac out the water, in this tiny plane, with a hysterical exhausted baby crying in the seat directly behind me.

Then we finally leave.
I need a cocktail.  Get me in the air.

So, we are up.  

I order a double Seven and Seven.  I pull out my debit card because no major airlines take cash anymore. 
None apparently except this one.....  because apparently they are too "small" of an airline and don't accept cards.  Only cash.

And I don't have cash.
So,  I get no liquor.
God forbid anyone on these planes have a heart and give me a freaking drink or a blanket after 12 hours....
Nope.

So we land in San Antonio at 3:15am.
Its storming and lightening.   For the first time in 5 months when I fly into the SAT airport.

Am I being punked?
I must be being punked because after waiting for 30 more minutes for my luggage - its not there.
So no laptop for work.  No toothbrush. 

I file my claim and head outside.
In the rain.
To my car and finally get home looking like a drowned rat.

But I am home.  And safe.
Thank goodness.

The month from down under...

This really is going to be the month from you know where.

As I have said a million times before, I absolutely love my job.  The only times I even remotely get run down is when I have to travel and leave my girls for too long.  This month is going to be one of those times.

I am off to Charlotte, NC on Sunday until very very late Wednesday night.  Then the following Monday at the crack of dawn, I am headed to Hartford, CT and then turning around and coming back late Tuesday evening.  Finally the following week I have 2 day trips that will start with me up at 3:30am to Austin and Houston. 
I am not expecting anyone to feel sorry for me per say but just be patient if my temper flares a little in the coming weeks.

Random (word of the day)

So, another random bit of rambling from me tonight but as I was lying next to my oldest daughter Addison after reading her bedtime book, I thought about our evening of dancing to Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never" movie.

That led to me wondering what kind of memories she will have as she grows older. 
After all, you never quite know what is going to stick and what isn't. 
I want to create as many opportunities as possible for her to look back with smiles and happiness.

And... after that..  I started thinking about what childhood memories I have.  And man, they are SO random.

I am sure my parents wouldn't believe me if I told them the things that stuck in my adult head. 

And of course after THAT, I decided to write them down. 
You guys may not really care but my kids might one day.  And heck, you never know what the future holds and if I will eventually need a nudge to remember.  :-)
So here it goes.

My top 10 memories (in no specific order):

1. Driving home from Schlitterbaun with my three best friends and my mom after one of my preteen birthdays.  I remember "Wild Wild West" came on the radio and my mom turned it WAY up.  We all sang as we drove home at the top of our lungs.  I remember thinking that I had to coolest mom ever.

2. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and hearing my Dad's voice cracking while talking to my Mom on the other end from their room.  They were getting a divorce.  I cried by myself all night.

3. I remember going to my very first funeral in 1st grade for a boy who got run over by the school bus getting his backpack stuck in the door.  I didn't know him but I remember the incredible sadness I felt and finally understanding what death meant.

4. I remember being the only girl in my group of friends that didn't make the volleyball team in high school and just wanting to go home and cry in my moms shoulder.  I remember walking through the door and her being at school.  Not her fault as she was doing what she had to but I was mad.

5. I remember dancing to random 50's oldies music at my neighbors house in Colorado.  I distinctly remember thinking she was weird but that I was still having fun.  So I danced and never hung out with her again. I was in 3rd grade.

6. I remember blowing my very first bubble gum bubble at my Nana's house on vacation and being SO excited and proud.

7. I also remember dancing to Olivia Newton John's "Lets Get Physical" with my Nana in her apartment at the coast and thinking it was so awesome. And I remember loving her SOOO much at that moment (not like I don't now but you know... lol)

8. I remember learning a choreographed dance to multiple songs (including "Invisible Touch") and performing them with my cousins and my sister at my Maw Maws house in Kentucky.

9.I remember my Nana drying her hair in curlers in my oven when visiting us in Colorado for Christmas.

10. I remember the very first time I had Hamburger Helper cheeseburger macaroni at a neighbors house and thinking it was the best thing I ever tasted and wondering why my mom always cooked from scratch....

So, there you go.  Totally weird.  Totally random.
The End.
But it's my post for today.