Simply this...

Going Home

I'm going home tomorrow and I have mixed feelings about it.  We're suppose to have water and electricity and sewer hook-ups so that's pretty exciting.  Maybe we can even spend the weekend there! It's about time too, because I am really tired of being one of those poor pitiful people from Louisiana.

It wasn't so bad the first couple of weeks when we were still stumbling around in shock and people were giving us discounts and free stuff - but now it is just a bother.  People just want to hear your story so they can tell their neighbors or friends at the next cocktail party about "these poor people from Louisiana..."  I'm not a collector's item and I am tired of being treated like an oddity - I have enough trouble being myself!

But when we go home, everyone is going to be talking about "what they did" or where they went or the damage (or lack there of) to their house.  I'M TIRED OF IT!  I want to move on...this little adventure has run it's course, I'm bored and it's time to get on with the reconstruction!  I want to have a button made up - "Don't tell me about it - let's just get on with it!".

We're meeting with our claims adjuster on Friday - so I am sure that that will be a whole 'nother rant too.  And of course, Yom Kippur starts Wednesday at sundown.  OY.  Glad we are going out to dinner to break the fast - I don't think I could deal with making small talk with the other worshipers...like I said - I don't want to hear any stories.  We have all lived it for the past 6 weeks and now it is time to move on.

I know that because when I went to pick Jessie up at school today I spoke to her best friend, Mary Francis.  For the first month we were here, Mary Francis had a very pained look in her eyes... you would hurt when you spoke with her - but it is gone.  Replaced by the hope of going home and it is good to see the twinkle back.  Almost like old times.

So if you run into me on the street or in the grocery store this weekend - I don't want to know anything except the essentials - Yard clean up services, electricians, carpenters - you know the next bunch of fun stuff!

Adios me amigos!

Travel use to be fun.  It's still fun if you are in a car or a train or a bus, even a ship!  But I can pretty much guarantee you that you ain't gonna be having fun if you're on a plane.  It wasn't so much fun going through security before 9/11 and now - well... "check the website" to see what you are and aren't allowed to carry on.

It is the running joke in our family that they could bring through nuclear weapons because I'll be the one stopped.  For the longest time my underwire bra set off the machine.  It is very humiliating to have a woman feel you up in front of half of the free world, but probably not as bad as not wearing a bra. Now you have to take your shoes off. And in some places your jacket.  In some places not your jacket. And I am grateful I don't have a laptop because they have several different directions for how to deal with that ... it would just give me a headache.

I wish they would all get together and do ONE set of rules of what you can and can not take on a plane. Or even HOW to get on the plane.  I am perfectly happy showing up in my PJs and slippers - Just tell me so I can be PREPARED! This week it is lighters, but it was knitting needles - nail clippers- and I even had a guy take out all the little spokes to my comb - the end where I can poof up my hair...?  But across the board rules would help.  I like knowing in advance what state of undress I need to be at the airport.

But Delta... <shaking my head> I am so embarressed for you. It is no wonder why you are filing for Chapter 11.   Delta was always my carrier of choice.  I was a Silver Medallion member during Jake's first year - Grandma miles I use to call them.  But then I didn't need to get carried any place and that was ok too.  I don't mind not boarding before all the riff raff...especially since I am part of the riff or the raff, I dunno, I never registered.But I keep being put in these ZONES.

If you are reading this you've probably read about my awful day trying to get to Florida. Delta over sold the flight and  I was a nice kid and volunteered my ticket (solely so my day could end RIGHT THERE!).  I was not given any perks at all, no miles, no Delta Bucks, nothing  - and I really didn't want them either... I just wanted to go back  home and get some sleep! I traveled the following day and everything was working out ok until...

I tried to check in for my outbound flight just after I arrived.  I have a thing about wanting my boarding passes in hand.  Apparently, I can't do that if I am leaving the airport (like who's gonna know?  They strapping one of those ankle homing devices on me???) And the woman at the desk tells me that I should want to get out of Dodge early if I can because Atlanta is experiencing bad weather. ("Honey, you don't know from bad weather" is what I'm thinking...)

So... I take care of Mom, turn in the car and get in line for my flight.  They bump me up to the earlier flight and suggest that I check in at the desk when I arrive to see if I can take the same flight to Dallas - the continuation of the flight I'm on. They keep telling us it is going to be jammed packed... but there are empty seats! Not so bad for me - I have 2 empty seats next to me... but it makes me wonder about all those people wait listed.  Southwest would have had people in those seats and we would've become so close we'd be exchanging emails for invitations to our kids' weddings.

Upon arrival,  I get to the desk and they tell me they have 28 people wait listed before me.  Fine - I'll just go and get my boarding pass for my regularly  booked flight... do that and *oh my* what is this??? I am not a confirmed passenger - I am wait listed. And why??? BECAUSE THEY ARE OVER SOLD!!!!  Can I tell you I almost swallowed my tongue??? I spent almost $500 to spend this day with Mom and I can't even get home???  I talk to at least 4 Delta people... and am given a lot of little pieces of paper - but none of them has a seat number and all I can think of is - YOU SO DON"T WANT TO SCREW WITH ME RIGHT NOW!  I tried to upgrade to First, I even tried giving them the - Oh - I have such a pathetic story to tell you... and that didn't work (Personally, if I was with the airlines I would have put me in First Class...for free)

AND... then the woman at the gate had ATTITUDE.  I am looking at the screen and I say - you tell me I am on the wait list and I don't see my name.  "You're # 5" she says.  "I'm looking at this screen right here with ALL these names on it and mine is not there." I say.  She all but puts her hands on her hips and says - "Well the screen I'm looking at says you're number 5!".  Inhaling deeply, thanking GOD I don't have the energy to leap across the desk and strangle the bitch (mostly for fear they'll drop me to the bottom of the wait list!) I just turn away.  I did NOT say thank you.  That will tell you just how pissed off I was.  So - if you're in some airport flying Delta - what ever they are showing on the screen IS NOT the big picture.

Bottom line - I finally got on and got home.  Other bottom line - it was a lot of stress I could have done without - Thanks Delta... I will absolutely rethink my travel arrangements when ever I fly again. DLTwon't be among the top contenders.  And people wonder why I like to drive...