Crossing the Pond

Apparently, one must pay for wifi in most airports, so this is from my phone (apologies in advance). I'm on a Boeing 777, window seat. There are screaming babies and large families. The flight here was mercifully quick and painless. I'd like to write more now, but even on a Droid, it's tedious at best.

More from Europe!

Scotland Bound! (Via Frankfurt, Via Chicago)

Sitting in the Cleveland airport, waiting for the flight to Chicago. There's a snowstorm somethig fierce moving in, making the roads sloppy. I had a good night in the hotel, watched some celebrity poker (not nearly as entertaining as Casino Royale) before turning in for the night. Carsey was going to try to come see me in the morning, but the roads got too poor. Her poor Honda Civic (Heeyo!) was slipping and sliding, never a good sign. I had a leisurely morning, a couple of cups of coffee, and some Apple-Cinnamon yogurt. Still have some tea in my pocket...no idea when I'll get a chance (before Scotland) to drink it.

The flight out of this gate is just leaving, which means that as soon as it does, I can go get a seat assignment. The airport is busy, but not prohibitively so. Or perhaps I've just gotten used to Cleveland-Hopkins' procedures.

The snow storm is turning into a whiteout. I can barely see out the windows now. Fuuuuuuun times :)

Update: I did see the cutest thing while I was waiting to go through security, but I didn't manage to get a good picture of it. A man had a red backpack with a teddy bear sticking out the top of it. :3

The Trip, Day -1

Midnight. I have yet to start packing. Fine, you win, new suitcase. It begins.

2am. I finish packing.

All night--I can't sleep from horrible heartburn. :\ I take it back--Now, it begins.

--

Billings-Logan International Airport. We tried to leave with some time for food, but last minute delays on my part made that plan fail. I was having problems checking in online--eventually got it sorted, but still couldn't print off boarding passes. Finally get a "seat request" ticket and make my way to the gate. 20 minutes of standing in line later, I finally get a seat (the actual seat-getting part of it took 30 seconds and I was 3rd in line, but the woman at the counter was having some problems, apparently). We fly.

Arrive Salt Lake City, ass-end of the airport. Still, it's not bad. A long walk later, and I'm at my next gate, which is merciful. Thankfully, there were no hitches getting on to this flight. Airbus 319 to Detroit. The seat next to me was empty, which was nice. I stretched out (a tiny bit, because the seat next to the empty one had someone in it) and read my book. Note, by this time, it's mid-afternoon and I have yet to have anything to eat, except for a little bag of nibblies (peanuts). We fly again.

Arrive Detroit. Another hellishly long walk. I decide to not get McDonalds along the way--I don't entirely hate my stomach all the time (just usually)--and hurry along to my gate. Unfortunately, Detroit charges you for wifi, so I have to close my laptop. The gate agent announces that they're looking for volunteers to give up their seats and get the next flight to Cleveland. I hop on this opportunity--a hotel room, food vouchers (!!!), and a $400 flight voucher. So I stand in line. Rather, I am the line. There are two gate agents, neither of them can even so much as say "We'll be with you in one minute." No, they just ignore me. I understand that another flight is leaving from the adjacent gate (which they also man), so they're busy, but they could at least acknowledge me. Plus, I'm frittering away precious food-getting time waiting to tell them that "Yes! I'd love to give up my seat!" Finally, the flight to Ithaca leaves...and I'm still being ignored. I've been standing here for at least 20 minutes, still haven't been noticed. The flight to Cleveland starts to get ready, by which I mean that the cute flight attendant arrives at the gate. She looks at me and immediately says, "Is there anything I can help you with?" I tell her I'd like to volunteer, so she relays my message to the gate agent who doesn't seem to care. Truth be told, she's getting ruder and ruder to other customers as well. Oh well, the FA was nice (and cute). Finally, I get my name on the list.

I'm waiting to hear if they need to give up my seat. They do, but tell me to stick around. Because of a couple of no-shows, suddenly my seat is freed up...but just as they're about to tell me, the no-shows show up! But there's 3 of them, and there's only 2 open seats. So the gate agents give them to the other volunteer and me, both of us wanted to stay. I'm the last one on the plane, trying to cram my duffel into an overhead bin on the CRJ-200. The flight attendant helps me and is still nice (and cute). We sit on the tarmac for a while, waiting to be deiced. Finally, we're in the air. "You are now allowed to use approved electronic devices." Five minutes later, "We're preparing for our descent into Cleveland, please stow electronic devices." 23 minutes from wheels-up to wheels-down. So a quick, painless flight (with a cute flight attendant).

I arrive in Cleveland, tired and hungry (I never did get food, so it's been ~25 hours since I've had anything but nibblies to eat). Finally, I get a room at the Hilton Garden Inn. It's a nice room, king bed and full breakfast. Not money I wanted to spend, but c'est la vie. Mom and Dad are right; it is better than sleeping in the airport until 6am, then getting checked in, and then doing...something for another 8 hours.

Everything is closed for food, but I get a Hot Pocket calzone from the front desk "pantry." I might go there in the morning to get a razor as well. Might. I might just wait to shave until I arrive in Edinburgh.

Day -1 is over. Tomorrow, the real fun begins.

Update: Oh, yeah, I still have heartburn. It's been shitty all day. Mom thinks I have an ulcer, which stress probably doesn't help much. Ugh. Maybe I'll invest in some Tums tomorrow, that'd be nice. I don't think I want to fly Cleveland->Chicago->Frankfurt->Edinburgh with heartburn again.

I also need to get a European (UK) power cord for my laptop. Radio Shack said they were standard, and I hope they are.