March 29
5:59 am - Sound asleep in hotel room in Louisville, KY.
6:00 am - Phone rings. 800 number - do not answer.
6:01 am - Voicemail from United Airlines - my 10:54 am flight from Louisville to Chicago has been cancelled. Directed to "go online" (no computer with me) or talk to a United agent to take care of this. Slight panic.
6:03 am - Roll over and go back to sleep.
6:15 am - Finally decide to face the dilemma. Rise. Get ready. Vacate room.
6:50 am - Breakfast in hotel lobby begins at 7. Sip coffee and wait.
7:00 am - Eat breakfast.
7:20 am - Call for a shuttle to airport.
7:30 am - Arrive at airport and approach United desk.
7:32 am - Monica from United Airlines states, "I'm gonna be honest with you. You will probably not get out of here today." I remain calm and ask about a hotel.
7:33 am - Monica is on the phone working her magic.
7:36 am - Monica informs me that indeed I will be getting out of here on a Delta flight that leaves in the afternoon.
7:40 am - Eager to unleash my big pink suitcase, I approach the Delta check-in area.
7:41 am - Am told that one cannot check in more than six hours before one's flight. Who knew?
7:42 am - Check Facebook while waiting until 8:05 am.
8:05 am - Check in with Delta.
8:06 am - Fly through security - absolutely no line.
8:10 am - Order a venti Cafe Americano and settle into a comfy chair with a view.
8:29 am - Talk to friend, check Facebook, read book.
8:40 am - Still sipping beverage 30 minutes later and cooking up what a great blogpost this will be.
9:00 am - Read. Facebook. Sip. Potty.
10:16 am - Talk to Beth, check Facebook, people watch.
11:00 am - Time for lunch. Head to Home Team Sports for a midday salad.
11:20 am - Read book while waiting for salad to arrive.
12:19 pm - Talk to Mom and Dad.
12:35 pm - Wander around airport taking pictures and killing time.
12:58 pm - Bar opens at one - find seat.
1:00 pm - Order a Maker's Mark Kentucky Bourbon, cuz I'm in Kentucky.
1:06 pm - Call brother Paul and leave a message.
1:40 pm - Board plane to Atlanta!
1:42 pm - Take my seat in lucky #13A - all the way to the back.
2:15 pm - Read book. Ignore large man next to me.
3:30 pm - Touchdown in Atlanta.
3:45 pm - Last one off the plane - make a mad dash to my connection!
4:00 pm - Check on MSU game while trotting by sports bar. Spartans are ahead by 10!
4:05 pm - Board the biggest plane I have EVER been on. Second to last seat.
4:25 pm EDT - Plane takes off headed for SLC, and I have an EMPTY seat next to me! Woot!
5:00 pm - Finish book. Wait for beverage service. Ignore Twilight which they are showing. Why are everyone's lips so freakishly red in that movie?
5:30 pm - Order fruit and cheese plate for dinner. Yum!
6:00 pm - Do insanely easy crossword puzzles to kill time. Snooze a little. Miss Facebook a little.
Cross into Central Time/Cross into Mountain Time - Gain two hours and sit on the plane for an eternity!
6:25 pm MDT - Hear the news that we are beginning our final descent!
6:35 pm - Fly over Utah Lake...
6:40 pm - Touch down in SLC at LAST!
Baggage claim, tram to parking, 30 mile ride home...
8:00 pm - There's no place like home!
Susan
Ooh! I just read that book a few weeks ago. We must be 'kindred spirits' ;-)
Glad you got home okay, and more importantly, that your team won. (And you are so right about the makeup in 'Twilight' - it was ludicrous.)
Come over and see my blog when you get a chance, I (finally) got a new look!
Posted by: Joni | April 02, 2009 at 06:22 AM
Glad you had a safe trip! Traveling can always be an enjoyable blog post!
Posted by: Ashley Newell | April 02, 2009 at 06:32 AM
I keep saying I hate flying and your experience is one of the whys. Glad you made it home.
Posted by: Mom | April 02, 2009 at 07:41 AM
i loved your photo story today. Especially the fantastic plane shot of Utah! You had quite the day and coped with it much much better than I would have. haha I probably would have panicked when i realized my flight was cancelled. haha
Glad you're back!
Posted by: Elaine R | April 02, 2009 at 07:42 AM
I love how you documented the entire day with pics.
Posted by: Joli | April 02, 2009 at 08:06 AM
Such a great post, Susan! I love reading about the little details of things. :) I owe you an e-mail big time!
Posted by: Kalyn | April 02, 2009 at 08:52 AM
What a fun post! What a way to remind you of flying and airport experiences... and kind of glad that I'm not going to St. Louis any more;)
Posted by: Ashley Rasmussen | April 02, 2009 at 11:06 AM
You made a long lousy day almost sound fun. Very cool.
Posted by: Rich | April 02, 2009 at 11:22 AM
I liked this.
seems like something I would do =]
Posted by: KT Quill | April 03, 2009 at 12:12 AM
What a day! Thank God for Starbucks, Facebook and Bourbon!!
Posted by: Renee T. | April 05, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I love this post!! My family would think I'm nuts but I would so do this! Something to remember for our flight this week!!
Posted by: Sara Rossi | April 06, 2009 at 08:31 AM
I will send you my number over on FB so that if you are ever this close again to me and this type of thing happens, I can come pick you up or keep you company.;)
Posted by: mhutch | April 08, 2009 at 05:06 AM