Air Travel

I have not flown for two years. Two years ago I went to Miami by myself to see my cousin and her best friend. It was a girl's trip. Sole purpose of which was lay by the pool, drink and go out dancing. I don't recall the flying part sucking royally. But this trip to Orlando was horrible.

First of all, taking your shoes off is just stupid. So there everyone is, with their kids and bags and everything else and no one has shoes on and the line is backed up because everyone is trying to get their shoes and their kids shoes back on and get their stuff. It's just ridiculous. I have no interest in blowing up anyone or anything, but I firmly believe that if someone does, they are going to find a way, even if they have to take their shoes off.

I flew on Southwest because they had a good deal, $59 each way-bargain. My aunt has flown here from Florida tons of times on Southwest and my uncle has come here from Nebraska. My aunt was the one who told me about the special. They are great. Um, yeah, so we get there and find out there are no seat assignments. You get on and sit where you want. The flight was delayed for over an hour. I forget why now, weather probably. Thunderstorms, it is summer after all. When we finally board the plane there are 38 people already on board (they told us this-I didn't count) so naturally, even though we are in the "A" group, can my family sit together? No, of course not. So we stick the kids with a girl who looked their age and we sat two seats away with a woman who was sitting alone. God knows what my kids were doing during that flight. No doubt annoying the people in front of and behind them.

The flight was generally horrendous. Loads of turbulence. We dropped several times. That's great. Once I was in the bathroom. They knocked on the door to check on me. There's a little light in there that tells you to go back to your seat. Well, sorry, can't do that right this second. When I came out they asked me if I was ok. Said I had nerves of steel. It was a lot of turbulence.

The flight home was equally wonderful. I forgot to get our boarding passes the night before so we were in the "B" group for boarding. We left to allow two hours to drive from Vero Beach, where my cousin lives, to Orlando. It's usually an hour and 45 minute drive. Our flight was supposed to leave at 4:50. We were there at 3. A little earlier than the recommended hour and a half they want you to sit there and do nothing, not too terrible. We are checking our bags and the guy says "it's still showing on time but there is weather here and weather there so it is going to be delayed". Yeah, imagine that, there is weather. **sigh** Yes, there are thunderstorms in Philadelphia and Orlando in July. After about 15 minutes of sitting at the gate we are informed that the flight is delayed until 6:45. Great. Almost 4 hours in an airport with an 11 and 12 year old. Fun. There was "weather" and an air traffic control problem. Ok, well, who scheduled all those flights for the same air space??

The people at the gate tried to blame Philly. The exact quote was "If a leaf falls on their runway, they shut down." Interesting. I've had far more problems leaving Orlando than I have had with Philly. That "weather" and all. And I once sat 14 hours in the Atlantic City airport. (then my kids were 4 and 5-imagine the fun that was)

Anyway, they tried to make everyone feel better by changing the time to 6:00. Moved another flight that was supposed to leave at 6 from the gate, which caused everyone to line up. Bad enough I was a "B". I wasn't going to be last in the line for "B". And then we stood there and no one boarded the plane until about 6:15. We did find three seats together so my kids didn't have to sit alone this time. We took off at about 6:50. Yeah, 6:00 my ass. That flight was also generally terrible. Lots of turbulence. We got home hours after we were supposed to. Then the storms actually hit so we drove home in terrible rain, flooded roads. Overall a wonderful evening.

I guess the moral here is not to go to Florida in July. Actually, I guess it's don't go anywhere in July. The thunderstorms are going to cause problems and your air travel is going to suck all the way around.

Then again, since I am a teacher, I have no option but to go places in the summer. See, and everyone thinks it's so great being a teacher.

Vacations

Why is it that we need a vacation from vacations? Bleh! I am home now and so far today I have unpacked, put away clean things, sorted laundry, have laundry in the washer and dryer, three more loads (at least) to go; it took me almost an hour just to clear out the mail from the week. My house is a mess since my husband came home four days before the rest of us and did nothing around the house. Why would he? Whole other issue anyway. I have had enough working today.

Oh! And for some reason I have a whole circuit that is blown. The refrigerator in the garage is on it and who knows how long it's been blown? I had to clean out the fridge and throw a bunch of stuff away. No idea what the problem is. Every bathroom outlet in the house is on that circuit so I couldn't dry my hair this morning. Who puts the outdoor outlets, garage and all bathrooms on the same circuit? What is that!? That is going to have to be husband's job. Gotta draw a line somewhere.

Surprise, surprise

I am as good at this as I am at writing in a diary. I think about it and don't do it.

Not much going on. Getting ready to go on vacation. Took my daughter on the spur of the moment to see Kelly Clarkson last night. It was ok. Not my thing but since she went to Depeche Mode with me when all my friends were scarce, I figure I have to repay. I got to sit with my friends who actually had seats. Aly got to bring two friends and sit on the lawn. Aly's first concert was two summers ago when she saw Hilary Duff with one of the girls who went last night. I won't put other people's kids names so we'll call her "Z". Z is the daughter of a friend of one of my friends who I went to the show with.

Following this?

When the whole thing came about, Aly had a friend over, we'll call her "K". So I invited her as well since I sort of felt bad like "Hey, I know you're over here hanging out but something cooler has come up so you gotta leave". So her mom has never been to a concert!!! I cannot fathom such a thing. But she said ok. Her dad then said "you're going to let her sit on the lawn with all the pot smokers?" At Kelly Clarkson? Whatever! The girls said there were some drunk people up there and they were second hand smoking. I figure as long as they are telling us this stuff, we are safe. It's when they stop telling us that it's a problem.

Digression.

So anyway...Aly and Z had a grand old time because they are loud and obnoxious. I forgot to mention that K and Z are in the same Girl Scout troop so no one was a stranger in this group. K decided that she is not a concert person so this will probably be her first and only concert. She sat on the blanket in the grass and thought Aly and Z were crazy, singing at the tops of their lungs and dancing around-which they sort of are! But that's how you are supposed to act at a concert!

So that was last night. Monday I went to the beach with my new friend Heather. Funny how at this stage in my life my closest friends (besides my husband) are my "pledge mom" from my sorority (who I am a month older than) five girls from high school and my new friend Heather-who I would not know except for one of the high school friends. She had off and since I have off all summer she thought maybe she finally has someone to go to the beach with. I was so happy! No one ever asks me to do stuff!! So now we are both happy because we have a beach friend.

Update on my assistant...her husband is still out. But she is going to Florida now. I told her I thought that was better for her and her son. Show the husband that life will move on without him. So I'll see her tomorrow when we get down there. We were going to go to Islands of Adventure but I guess her son decided he didn't want to go there again so we'll just be staying with them and not hanging out. Her birthday is Friday so I think I'll get some "beverages" to celebrate.

Definitely won't be posting during my vacation. I have decided to leave the lap top home. It is an experiment! Ever since I have had a lap top it goes everywhere. I waste entirely too much time on here! So, I will hang out with my cousin and probably drink way too much instead. Maybe I'll actually take some pictures and post them when we return.

What do you say?

My friend called me earlier to tell me her husband left. Just went to work yesterday morning and didn't come home. She called him at work to ask him what time he'd be home for dinner and he informed her he was not coming home! No warning, just left. They've been married for 20 years! I offered to go visit so she could talk, she said no. I have no idea what else to say or do. They have a 14 year old son and they lost their daughter, who was 18, last January. I feel the same way I felt then, I want to do something to help her somehow, but there is nothing I can do.

I am going to visit my friend tomorrow in Washington DC. She had a baby in May, I want to go see them both. She went through a lot to have this baby, everyone was really excited for her. We were all shocked when she wrote to tell us she had her and she has Down's Syndrome. I think I would freak out, but she has been really calm about it. Hopefully it won't pour all day long! I hate driving in rain!

Why am I here

In the summer I get bored. I don't go to work, there is nothing on tv. I get tired of working around the house. So I write ridiculously long emails to my friends. But they have lives, so they don't respond. Then I get neurotic. Writing in a journal makes my arm hurt, because who writes on paper anymore? So I said to one of my friends "maybe I should start a blog". And she thought that was a good idea also, and I have known her for 22 years. We can talk in half sentences. So, it must be a good idea if we both think so.
I have decided that message boards are NOT a good idea. (above friend warned me of that) The level of nastiness that some people get into is just ridiculous. It's like middle school. Been there, done that, sure as hell don't want to go back.
So anyway, I think I have this all set up now. It's late, I am going to sleep.