Here's how things went down today:
I woke up early today. I had to fly to Southern California for a work thing and wanted enough time to have a relaxed morning. That part of the day went okay but once I got to the airport, things started going downhill. It wasn't the abnormally long security line - I get to bypass most of that - it was that the scanner wouldn't stop beeping every time I tried to go through it. They couldn't find anything on me (I'm guessing that was because I had nothing on me that should cause any machine make any noise unless fabric is a problem now) so after multiple pat-downs I went happily, albeit slightly annoyed, to my gate.
The flight itself was also mostly uneventful. I was flying into an airport where they deplane from both the front and the back of the plane. This means that if you sit in the very last row, you will be first to get off the plane so that's what I always do when I fly to this airport. Sitting in the last row also means you're close to the bathroom which is a good thing on days like today because I had more coffee and more water than usual.
And this is where the day goes south...
I did indeed have to go to the bathroom but every time I tried, there were at least 2 people in line. So I waited. It's a short enough flight that I figured if nothing else, I'll just go once we land and I'm off the plane. No biggie.
Yeah, until we landed and then had to sit on the tarmac for what seemed like FOREVER because I had to pee while we waited for a departing plane to leave the gate we were trying to go to. And you know, you can't get up at that point. The seat belt sign is illuminated as I was so nicely reminded when someone else tried to get up.
Finally, we got to the gate and I basically sprinted off that plane and down the stairs into the terminal and to the bathroom. Aaahhhhh........
Ok, next stop rental car. This is always a quick and easy thing. I do this nearly twice a week. I always use the same rental car company so I know their system. I'm an express member and I reserved a car so all I have to do is go to the little kiosk where all the cars are, bypassing the counter and the lines. Easy peasy and I'm on my way.
Except, not today.
Today, the lady at the express counter says I have to go to the counter inside because they're low on cars and only express members with reserved cars will get one. Fantastic! I fit that category! Too bad, still have to go to the regular counter today.
Alright. Fine.
I went to that counter. I waited. There were only 2 couples ahead of me in line but somehow it took 30 minutes to help them. Once I finally got to the counter - at this point I was pretty miffed since I wanted to get where I was going - the lady behind the counter, who looked pretty exhausted at this point, said to me, "sorry, we don't have any more cars."
Wait, WHAT?
But I reserved one. Sorry.
Also, I've been here for nearly 45 minutes at this point, you couldn't just let me know so I could try one of the other companies?!? oh, sorry.
ARGH!! Ok, trying desperately not to yell at this lady - I know it's not her fault - I asked what her solution might be. She said she thought they might have a mini van in a back lot somewhere.
No. Forget that. I'm going to a different company.
The next counter took care of me easily and quickly. Finally in a car an hour after I should have been, I got on the road.
At this point, I was so hungry, I would have been angry even if I wasn't already fuming from the car rental situation. I finally got to where I was going, found the one non-fast-food option that was still open for lunch that late and ordered a sandwich and a soda water.
I found a lovely table outside where I could get work done before my scheduled meeting - I am SO glad I took the earlier flight down today! - and the server came over with my beverage and my sandwich. Finally I thought this day might be returning to normal!
Nope.
I have no idea how he did this but my sweet little 16-year-old boy of a server somehow managed to dump a full glass of icy soda water on me instead of setting it on the table. AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!
Ice and water down your shirt, although refreshing, is not an entirely pleasant experience, by the way. It's very surprising. And very cold. And very wet.
Well, at least it was just water.
After lunch I went to meet my first scheduled meeting of the afternoon. Found the spot, found a good table, even got there a few minutes early. Only to get a call that my meeting was going to have to be rescheduled. Hrmmmpfff. Fine. At this point, who cares anymore, right?
I settled in to do some more work - seriously questioning my decision to fly down so early now - when I got a message that my flight home later tonight was already delayed. I booked myself on the last flight home today because I didn't want to miss the last flight home in case I was late getting to the airport. I can always jump on an earlier flight. So at this point it was looking like I wouldn't be home until about midnight. Ugh. Alright, so the plan now definitely had to be to get to the airport early.
I had one more scheduled thing and it was the primary reason for this trip. I was doing a presentation for a great group of people. I got there, got set up, ready to go! And then they told me they were running late. Ok, that's not that big of a deal.
I figured this was a great opportunity to run to the restroom again since the new plan was to haul ass to the airport after my presentation. Ah, but no. I was at a school. Those buildings close fairly early. The presentation was to be in a side building with no restrooms and the proper building was, of course, locked.
Of course.
Alright, fine. Holding it. Again. In the meantime, I was seriously beginning to rethink the idea that I wanted to start hydrating properly. Screw that.
I did find another open restroom. Thankfully there were still some people working in another building and they let me in. Woohoo! Here's to the kindness of strangers!
Did the presentation, hauled ass to the airport. Got gas for the rental (so as not to pay $10 per gallon!! WHAT?!). Got to the rental return area and of course their remote technology wasn't working. Had to go in to that damn counter again to get properly returned and get a receipt.
Ran from the rental car return into the airport (I am SO thankful for small airports!), got through security fairly quickly and ran to the gate from which the next flight home was scheduled to leave in 15 minutes.
Normally, this would be perfect! No problem! And if I couldn't get on that one, there's one more before mine!
No. Not today.
The next flight after this one was cancelled so all of those people were trying to get on this one. The standby list was already 16 deep by the time I screeched to a halt at the gate - shoes in my hand, hair flying, sweat dripping...
Needless to say, I did not make that earlier flight. I obviously didn't make the next one either since it was cancelled. So, new plan: I wait for my late flight home.
The silver lining here is that I now have time to have some dinner before I get home at or around midnight. This airport thankfully has a decent food selection.
Nope. All of those people who were on that cancelled flight? All of the people from other delayed and cancelled flights? Yeah, they all had the same idea. And they got there before I did.
OK, fine. I give up. Clearly this day is not my friend. Suzy Sunshine has left the freaking building.
All I can hope for now is to get home safely. Oh, and also I'd like for that to happen today please.
