If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always had.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

New author photo

What do you think? Is it too casual?
Tintype photo taken by Robert J. Szabo, Traveling Artist.

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Monday, January 25, 2010

Longest trip home ever...

Camping for a week has certain advantages, one of which is a total news diet. It's great to get away from the doom and gloom, but sometimes I miss things, like severe weather on most of the east coast. I got to the Sarasota/Bradenton Airport very early yesterday afternoon--3:30 for a 7:00 flight--thanks to our friends who helped us pack. I noticed a lot of people around the ticket counters, but I didn't think too much about it. Then I heard about a delayed flight going to Atlanta. I figured it was a mechanical issue until they announced a second. Then a third. That's when I asked someone if there was a weather issue in Atlanta. Fortunately, the lady I asked was very gracious and didn't look at me like I'd been living under a rock.

Long story short, my 7:00 flight out of Sarasota got canceled about 9:15. All of the Delta flights out of Sarasota were booked until Tuesday, so the nice man helping me re-booked a seat on American. The catch was that the flight was for 8:15 this morning, leaving from Tampa. I had been up since 5:45 and must have been more pitiful than I gave myself credit for because he comped a hotel room and a taxi to Tampa when technically the airline wasn't at fault. Even the taxi driver asked if I'd be all right when he dropped me off in Tampa, which I thought a little odd until I got to my room and looked in the mirror.

I can state unequivocally that the Marriott at the Tampa Airport is very nice, and it made life easier when I had to be up before dawn again this morning to get through security again. Honestly, I'd have been happy with a Motel 6 as long as it had a hot shower and a bed, so a Marriott in the airport with room service for breakfast was icing on the cake, even if I was only in the room about seven hours.

I finally got home at 2:00 this afternoon, only fifteen hours late. We could have gotten here earlier, but it took a little time to file the lost luggage claim. Yes, of course my one checked suitcase got lost! I changed not only flights, but also airlines and airports. That's a trifecta if ever there was one. Hopefully it will catch up with me tomorrow.

I have some fun stuff to post later, but it will have to keep a day or two. I'm going to curl up with my cat and a book, and I'll be going to sleep early. I'm just this side of mature for long days and short nights.

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