Awakened about 5:00 AM with my mind racing ahead. Did get back to sleep for another hour or so before the alarm. Then it was morning chores/fun with feeding me, the critters, and then cleaning stalls. Took Sabrina over to Wendy’s. She knew something was up and sat shaking in the car all the way, but was very glad to see Wendy.
Back at the house, I changed into my trip clothes, put luggage in Marian’s car, and sat around with her until about 11:00 when I had a leftovers snack. Turkey and cornbread dressing! Around 11:15 we left for the airport. Checked my rolling duffle at the curb and then went inside. Lots of work going on still to renovate as well as to finish repairing from the tornado.
TSA had a long and winding line … Disney World with a fun ride at the end! When I got through the human scanner, they were discussing my backpack by the thing scanner. So, I was asked to gather my stuff and come over to a side table. “Do you have anything in here that is fragile or sharp?” “Lots of camera equipment.” “Was that a monopod we saw?” “Yes.” She told me that once she opened the case I should not touch anything. So, she pulled out the monopod to assure herself that was what they saw. Then she swabbed the entire inside lining of the case looking for chemical residue. They do this as a matter of course when they do a hand search. Nothing found, I was sent on my way down the concourse.
I met Pat Oberkfell and Chuck/Fran Mannis at the gate. When they had come through TSA screening, it was no problem that Fran had a hip replacement, but they did a hand search on her stuff and the chemical swab kept coming back positive. Took them about 45 minutes to decide they had no clue, but there was nothing dangerous in there.
Flight was uneventful. I do wonder at the people who, on boarding with a long line of people behind them, stop in the middle of the aisle and block everyone for five minutes. A couple were separated by several rows. They knew this before they got on the airplane. But the wife had to stop in front of me to trade things in and out of hers and her husband’s carryon pieces before she moved back to her seat.
Got in early, but sat on tarmac for a while before getting to a gate. Then the wait for luggage. Once our flight’s stuff starting coming, mine was out pretty fast. Outside it was a zoo. I had a hard time finding the “red sign” for hotel pickups. Then I called the hotel for their shuttle. With the traffic and accidents and whatever, it took 30 minutes for the shuttle to arrive. Fran/Chuck/Pat all were in the taxi line .... yikes! It stretched for a block! Their hotel didn't have a shuttle. I bet they waited longer than I did.
I am at the Hilton Garden Inn LAX/El Segundo. I'm in a suite, an upgrade for free. That's the good news. The other side of the coin is that it's at the end of a very long and winding hall. Good thing my duffle has wheels. So, it's about 5:00 out here. And Jill gets in after 7:00 says my flight tracking app.
Oh, while it's 19 hours difference between STL and NZ, it's 21 hours from Los Angeles. Wrap your brain around that.
Back at the house, I changed into my trip clothes, put luggage in Marian’s car, and sat around with her until about 11:00 when I had a leftovers snack. Turkey and cornbread dressing! Around 11:15 we left for the airport. Checked my rolling duffle at the curb and then went inside. Lots of work going on still to renovate as well as to finish repairing from the tornado.
TSA had a long and winding line … Disney World with a fun ride at the end! When I got through the human scanner, they were discussing my backpack by the thing scanner. So, I was asked to gather my stuff and come over to a side table. “Do you have anything in here that is fragile or sharp?” “Lots of camera equipment.” “Was that a monopod we saw?” “Yes.” She told me that once she opened the case I should not touch anything. So, she pulled out the monopod to assure herself that was what they saw. Then she swabbed the entire inside lining of the case looking for chemical residue. They do this as a matter of course when they do a hand search. Nothing found, I was sent on my way down the concourse.
I met Pat Oberkfell and Chuck/Fran Mannis at the gate. When they had come through TSA screening, it was no problem that Fran had a hip replacement, but they did a hand search on her stuff and the chemical swab kept coming back positive. Took them about 45 minutes to decide they had no clue, but there was nothing dangerous in there.
Flight was uneventful. I do wonder at the people who, on boarding with a long line of people behind them, stop in the middle of the aisle and block everyone for five minutes. A couple were separated by several rows. They knew this before they got on the airplane. But the wife had to stop in front of me to trade things in and out of hers and her husband’s carryon pieces before she moved back to her seat.
Got in early, but sat on tarmac for a while before getting to a gate. Then the wait for luggage. Once our flight’s stuff starting coming, mine was out pretty fast. Outside it was a zoo. I had a hard time finding the “red sign” for hotel pickups. Then I called the hotel for their shuttle. With the traffic and accidents and whatever, it took 30 minutes for the shuttle to arrive. Fran/Chuck/Pat all were in the taxi line .... yikes! It stretched for a block! Their hotel didn't have a shuttle. I bet they waited longer than I did.
I am at the Hilton Garden Inn LAX/El Segundo. I'm in a suite, an upgrade for free. That's the good news. The other side of the coin is that it's at the end of a very long and winding hall. Good thing my duffle has wheels. So, it's about 5:00 out here. And Jill gets in after 7:00 says my flight tracking app.
Oh, while it's 19 hours difference between STL and NZ, it's 21 hours from Los Angeles. Wrap your brain around that.
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