life, apparently

I've had so much to say the past week or so that I've said nothing because I don't know where to start. Today is apparently mow the lawn and cut the trees day. It took me about an hour to drive to my office, weaving around various lawn mowing companies with 20-something boys smoking cigarettes while standing next to big trucks, fail to find a parking space without a 'do not park here' sign, and return back home. And so, I am annoyed and resort to blogging rather than anything requiring thought and/or effort.

• Visit to FriendWithKids was eventFUL. Turns out our kids don't play together so well. OldestBlondeBoy was happy to share as long as toys being shared were chosen by him and played with as directed. TheKid is not so good at following directions, especially those given by a 3 yr old and of course only wanted to play with toys OBB had in his hand. Instead TheKid decided to steal from, push, and maybe even step on TallBabyBoy. TBB on the other hand was a perfect angel. If TheKid was so well behaved at 11 months I would have had 2 more by now.
• FriendWithRestlessLeg had remarkably restful legs and I must say is a brave soul. I would surely have lost my mind if I spent days with other peoples misbeavin' kids.
• Father of TBB and OBB is a saint. He voluntarily spent the entire day with all 3 kids so us girls could go to TheBigCity. I have to say it was a pretty great, if a bit cold, day (for us, not so much for him).
• Flight home was cancelled with no announcement. When we checked-in the board said 'on time'. We found food, found the gate, and hung out until I got nervous when there was no plane, no gate agents, and the sign said some destination other than home, at 10 minutes til departure. I went to investigate (expecting a gate change) and found out that our flight was cancelled. They tried all kinds of crazy re-routing including taking a taxi to other airport and flying home, taking a taxi to yet a different airport and flying directly to GradSchool, waiting until tomorrow, etc. I had made the mistake of truthfully informing ticketing agent that TheKid was 2. After 30 minutes of trying to put me in a taxi or a hotel, a supervisor came over, pushed a few buttons, and said to me "He [TheKid] is under 2, right?" to which I enthusiastically responded "YES" and we were on the next flight home. I wasn't exactly thrilled about holding a sleeping, grouchy, dirty* kid on my lap for the flight home but I was happy that I'd still catch my flight to GradSchool.
• My connection was now too close to walk out exchange Kid for computer and re-enter through security so the wonderful ticketing people at America West arranged for TheHusband to get a gate pass (who knew this was even possible post 9-11? really, who knew?). We met at the gate and like Superman I removed one child, one backpack, and one coat handed them to TheHusband, spun around, and accepted one computer and one carryon then dashed off for my other flight.
  
• Of course that flight (which was originally delayed 1.5 hours) was now delayed another 1.5 hours. When I arrived at the gate, many angry people were talking to the gate agent and I learned that there was no pilot and no flight attendants, thus the delay. Early morning flight was full but mid afternoon flight had seats. I decided that I could not spend any more time in any airport, called TheHusband before he left, and exchanged my ticket for afternoon flight.
  
• Luckily (?) TheKid's luggage was lost so TheHusband hadn't left because he was still waiting for it to come flying down the ramp.
  
• We filed a lost luggage form and went home.
  
• As soon as we arrived, TheHusband called airline and they confirmed me on early morning flight (rather than afternoon flight) and booked me a taxi.
  
• Flight to GradSchool was fine** (shortened) trip was great.
• Return flight, as you might have guessed by now, was delayed 3.5 hours. I had 2 gigantic margaritas (what else to do?) and caught up on some blog reading.
  

*TheKid and 5 yr old MilesfromNewState were the best of friends at the airport. They played a game where MfNS rolled (most of the time anyway) a ball to TheKid, then ran down to retrieve the ball before TheKid could, and handed it to TheKid. TheKid then rolled (and/or threw) the ball to MfNS's end of the airport with a 50% chance of hitting an innocent bystander before MfNS had time to run back to his station at the other end of the airport and retrieve the ball. Some people were not happy. At all. Especially when they were hit in the head with the ball. It was foam, so I wasn't too worried. No one actually complained to me, so I pretended not to notice. I figured being hit in the head by a foam ball was better than listening to a 2yr old scream and throw himself to the ground. Maybe some people disagreed, I don't know and honestly I don't care.

**Although when I arrived at the airport they announced that they needed 5 people to volunteer to be bumped (of a 30 person flight) and that our flight crew was not present and we would be delayed. I nearly freaked out. Somehow everything magically resolved itself when I went to the restroom and though we took off late, we actually arrived early.

Labels: airports, whining