How the Airport Broke Megan
Dec. 27th, 2004 11:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrIt was rather a pathetic two days. I'm probably whining overmuch, but I seriously was never so miserable in my life as I was on Thursday and Friday. I still feel sick whenever I think about airports, and I have no idea when I'm actually going to get enough down time to relax and get over it. It doesn't help at all that I'll be working 10+ hours of overtime per week, for at least three weeks and I need to get cracking hardcore to finish Unequal Children for the Wizards of the Coast Open Call.
But, I'm sure there is some amusement to be had in everything that happened to me. One man's misery is another man's amusment - or something.
Downtown Cincinnati closed at about 4:00 pm on Wednesday - offices closed at about 3:00, so S and I were home by about 4:00-ish. I finished packing, we stopped by the bookstore and then we were on our way to Dayton.
As per usual, about a half dozen truckers decided to kill us. One fucker got stuck and I laughed at him - my love for truckers died a long time ago. My tolerance for them lessens by the day. Anyway, we eventually made it to the thotel, grabbed some pizza and watched tv. Went to bed, couldn't sleep, watched more tv until we had to be up at about 3:00 am (we slept a bit, but not really much. this was Mistake #1).
Snow was fucking everywhere, and nothing was going anywhere. Except fucking United said my flight was still a go, so we had to get to the aiport - but the shuttles were stuck, S' car was stuck, everything was stuck. But United wouldn't cancel my flight. Another girl showed up, and we all fretted together about what to do. Finally we hauled ass to the main road and managed to get a ride from this really cool guy who was willing to take us. This was Mistake #2.
Because there was no one at the united counter. No one. A girl and I checked in and then had to wait and wait and wait and wait for someone to show up to check our baggage. A Japanese group was there, including one particularly annoying woman who kept bitching about how the airline people should be there.
Finally one guy shows up, and tells us that basically all flight until one-ish are cancelled. So more waiting, and fretting, and wondering. They switch us to a flight that leaves at 7:00 pm, and later (about ten am-ish) they say we have a 50/50 chance of it going out. As a backup, the guy gives us tickets that leave first thing in the morning - I got one that left at 7:40 am. Some more people finally show up a bit later, and they check our baggage, we go eat and then go to our gate.
3:00 pm - our flight is cancelled. Sarah gets the shuttle to pick me up, and I go back to the hotel. Can't really eat, though I try. We watch The Santa Clause and pass out.
Arrive at the airport the next morning.
7:40 flight was cancelled at 5:00 am. If I'd been thinking, I would have called. Doesn't matter. Woman at the counter gives me two options - A) I can book a flight to Charlotte that leaves at 3:00 pm, NC and catch a flight to Richmond there, which would have me landing at 7:08. Or I can catch a flight to Pittsburg leaving at 11:40, getting me to Richmond at 5:30. I take the Pitt flight. Mistake #3.
It gets delayed to 12:25. Not a big deal, my flight to Richmond isn't until 4:10. Then it gets delayed to 2:25. Then it gets delayed to 3:00. That's a problem. So they move my Richmond flight to the one that leaves Pitt at 8:00-something, and put me on standby for the Charlotte flight leaving at 3:00. The only reason I'm not going insane at this point is that there is another girl, really cool chick, who is in the same boat. And Misery loves company.
The standby worked. We were the first two names called, and finally got on a goddamned plane. It was funny - I climbed up the stairs (it was one of the small ones where you actually have to go outside and stuff) and said hello to the stewardess. She smiled, and then kinda frowned and asked "Are you okay?" I must've looked worse than I thought (actually, I must have really looked awful, because people in the airport kept coming up to ask about my flight and offering advice as to what to do. One guy was really really nice, even if his advice was useless). I told her, "I'm just glad to finally be on a plane" and she looked relieved - maybe she thought I was scared shitless and going to pass out?
Also - didn't get a boarding pass for my Richmond flight. The one guy said I could pick it up in Charlotte, but I was paranoid anyway. But I got to Charlotte, and once someone showed up at the gate counter, told him what I need and - done. Just like that. I was dumbfounded - I'd been so certain something else would go wrong.
That mostly concludes my adventures. Probably doesn't sound that bad, but I spent way too many hours in f'ing Dayton. The worst part was just sitting around not being able to do a damned thing.
And my luggage was lost. It showed up at my NC house after I'd already left to go back to the airport. It should be arriving here in Cinci at some point, but I'm not holding my breath. Need to go out today to buy a new toothbrush and stuff like that.
One more heartstopping moment - I was waiting for my flight to WA, to go back to Cinci, and they called my name and that of two others. I was like "oh god, what now?" But they just needed us to trade seats with some underage passengers, b/c they didn't want kids sitting in the exit row.
Still ow huge thanks to people, will try to catch up on everything sometime tonight. You're not going to see me much for a bit, b/c starting today I'm working 9:00-8:00 for at least the next two weeks, probably be more like 3 or 4 weeks. And I'm cracking down on Unequal, though I'll try to finish up some other stories as well.
Mario, Andrew: I'm sorry I didn't get to see you. I wanted to, but by the time I finally made it home I had only a day and half left of my vacation. Mario, when you called me I only had about ten minutes left on my phone and was talking to my family via payphone. Send me your cell # again, b/c I keep misplacing it. I'll call you when I add more minutes, and hopefully I'll see you when I go home again.
Allie, thank you for the gifties. I can't believe you got me Kizuna! And the calendar is soooo pretty. Maile, haven't opened yours yet. Will do that tonight, when I finally have time to hold still. Got two awesome cards, from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
stardance that was really sweet, and one from suyari which made me giggle - "jingle bells"
Saturday is Sarah's birthday, so that will be celebrated and then I am declaring Sunday Do Nothing But Sleep Day. Except that I'll probably be writing. Minor detail.
But, I'm sure there is some amusement to be had in everything that happened to me. One man's misery is another man's amusment - or something.
Downtown Cincinnati closed at about 4:00 pm on Wednesday - offices closed at about 3:00, so S and I were home by about 4:00-ish. I finished packing, we stopped by the bookstore and then we were on our way to Dayton.
As per usual, about a half dozen truckers decided to kill us. One fucker got stuck and I laughed at him - my love for truckers died a long time ago. My tolerance for them lessens by the day. Anyway, we eventually made it to the thotel, grabbed some pizza and watched tv. Went to bed, couldn't sleep, watched more tv until we had to be up at about 3:00 am (we slept a bit, but not really much. this was Mistake #1).
Snow was fucking everywhere, and nothing was going anywhere. Except fucking United said my flight was still a go, so we had to get to the aiport - but the shuttles were stuck, S' car was stuck, everything was stuck. But United wouldn't cancel my flight. Another girl showed up, and we all fretted together about what to do. Finally we hauled ass to the main road and managed to get a ride from this really cool guy who was willing to take us. This was Mistake #2.
Because there was no one at the united counter. No one. A girl and I checked in and then had to wait and wait and wait and wait for someone to show up to check our baggage. A Japanese group was there, including one particularly annoying woman who kept bitching about how the airline people should be there.
Finally one guy shows up, and tells us that basically all flight until one-ish are cancelled. So more waiting, and fretting, and wondering. They switch us to a flight that leaves at 7:00 pm, and later (about ten am-ish) they say we have a 50/50 chance of it going out. As a backup, the guy gives us tickets that leave first thing in the morning - I got one that left at 7:40 am. Some more people finally show up a bit later, and they check our baggage, we go eat and then go to our gate.
3:00 pm - our flight is cancelled. Sarah gets the shuttle to pick me up, and I go back to the hotel. Can't really eat, though I try. We watch The Santa Clause and pass out.
Arrive at the airport the next morning.
7:40 flight was cancelled at 5:00 am. If I'd been thinking, I would have called. Doesn't matter. Woman at the counter gives me two options - A) I can book a flight to Charlotte that leaves at 3:00 pm, NC and catch a flight to Richmond there, which would have me landing at 7:08. Or I can catch a flight to Pittsburg leaving at 11:40, getting me to Richmond at 5:30. I take the Pitt flight. Mistake #3.
It gets delayed to 12:25. Not a big deal, my flight to Richmond isn't until 4:10. Then it gets delayed to 2:25. Then it gets delayed to 3:00. That's a problem. So they move my Richmond flight to the one that leaves Pitt at 8:00-something, and put me on standby for the Charlotte flight leaving at 3:00. The only reason I'm not going insane at this point is that there is another girl, really cool chick, who is in the same boat. And Misery loves company.
The standby worked. We were the first two names called, and finally got on a goddamned plane. It was funny - I climbed up the stairs (it was one of the small ones where you actually have to go outside and stuff) and said hello to the stewardess. She smiled, and then kinda frowned and asked "Are you okay?" I must've looked worse than I thought (actually, I must have really looked awful, because people in the airport kept coming up to ask about my flight and offering advice as to what to do. One guy was really really nice, even if his advice was useless). I told her, "I'm just glad to finally be on a plane" and she looked relieved - maybe she thought I was scared shitless and going to pass out?
Also - didn't get a boarding pass for my Richmond flight. The one guy said I could pick it up in Charlotte, but I was paranoid anyway. But I got to Charlotte, and once someone showed up at the gate counter, told him what I need and - done. Just like that. I was dumbfounded - I'd been so certain something else would go wrong.
That mostly concludes my adventures. Probably doesn't sound that bad, but I spent way too many hours in f'ing Dayton. The worst part was just sitting around not being able to do a damned thing.
And my luggage was lost. It showed up at my NC house after I'd already left to go back to the airport. It should be arriving here in Cinci at some point, but I'm not holding my breath. Need to go out today to buy a new toothbrush and stuff like that.
One more heartstopping moment - I was waiting for my flight to WA, to go back to Cinci, and they called my name and that of two others. I was like "oh god, what now?" But they just needed us to trade seats with some underage passengers, b/c they didn't want kids sitting in the exit row.
Still ow huge thanks to people, will try to catch up on everything sometime tonight. You're not going to see me much for a bit, b/c starting today I'm working 9:00-8:00 for at least the next two weeks, probably be more like 3 or 4 weeks. And I'm cracking down on Unequal, though I'll try to finish up some other stories as well.
Mario, Andrew: I'm sorry I didn't get to see you. I wanted to, but by the time I finally made it home I had only a day and half left of my vacation. Mario, when you called me I only had about ten minutes left on my phone and was talking to my family via payphone. Send me your cell # again, b/c I keep misplacing it. I'll call you when I add more minutes, and hopefully I'll see you when I go home again.
Allie, thank you for the gifties. I can't believe you got me Kizuna! And the calendar is soooo pretty. Maile, haven't opened yours yet. Will do that tonight, when I finally have time to hold still. Got two awesome cards, from
stardance that was really sweet, and one from suyari which made me giggle - "jingle bells"Saturday is Sarah's birthday, so that will be celebrated and then I am declaring Sunday Do Nothing But Sleep Day. Except that I'll probably be writing. Minor detail.
