Travel Woes ...

Photo-A-Day #297 01/30/06

Today I thought I was going to Philadelphia then on to Scranton (maybe look for Dunder-Miflin) and be at my hotel by 11:30am. Well, it is now 11:00am and I am at New York’s La Guardia Airport, sitting in the near empty plane waiting for the plane to be refueled and head back to Philly. We made two attempts to land, well we circled and were diverted to a shorter runway with more visibility. The actual attempt was probably 100 feet or so from the ground. We pulled up HARD at the last minute. I was dozing expecting to open my eyes at the moment before landing (as I usually do, I can never sleep through a landing). But instead of the bump and wiggle that usually happens I was blasted back into my seat as we rose back into the air.

So now I am in New York. The flight crew has been very nice. The busted out the complimentary peanuts and biscuit cookies and water and coffee. I suspect that there are now about 10 people left on the plane. We may be leaving for Philly in the next 1/2 hour or so. Then I have to wait for a 4:10 flight to Scranton. We shall see what happens. I have however been able to bang out most of the book I’ve been reading, Endangered Species by Nevada Barr. A good Anna Pigeon story and very entertaining. Good thing I also brought the next book Blind Descent. I’ll most likely finish that one too since I have to go through Philly 2 more times this week.

The plane finally left New York at 1:00pm and I m now in Philly awaiting my next flight which is at 4:46pm. I have to say that it is hot and gross and crowded here. Not that I am complaining but I am reaching even my limits of patience. There was a guy sitting behind me that sounded like he had an unlimited amount of pop rocks because he was gnawing and snapping his gum in a staccato rhythm. And there is nothing I enjoy more than hearing someone eat.

When I got off the plane I had already been rebooked on the later Scranton flight. Because of all the fog here that flight was bumped to 4:46pm instead of 4:10pm and I just missed an earlier flight that left moments after I arrived at the F terminal. Timing has not been good today.

At least I did not end up later than the sales folks. They caught up to me in Philly. I finished Endangered Species, a good addition to the Anna Pigeon series, good movement of the overall character development.

4:27pm – Been up for 12 hours. My last plane of the day is at the gate. I wonder when we will actually leave?

6:00pm Okay I actually got to Scranton. Sat beside someone who couldn’t read his ticket correctly. Again I ask, “How hard is it to match what is on your ticket with the pictures above the seat?” Frustration got the better of me because I thought many uncharitable thoughts. But the opportunity for me to move came up and I move further back in the plane. I read chapter 1 of Blind Descent and took a nap. My pleasant demeanor restored. However the airline lost the bags of the sales folks I’m now with. They are taking it in stride.

Couple of things to mention. I’m not talking to Peter prior to any upcoming trips. No offense Peter but your worst case scenarios tend to bite me in the ass.

For a split second this morning I contemplated checking my bag. Glad I didn’t do that.