Home Again!

 WOW!

That was an adventure!!!

First, let me say how much we loved

getting to be with our family this

past week.

All the love we shared!

So many families are so dysfunctional.

They "get along".

Or don't.

But we TRULY love each other!

It is such a blessing!

Ok, I have a GAZILLION things to

do today, so this is a down and dirty

of yesterday's adventure.

It started out with a terrific breakfast

with Greg (Southers) at Waffle House!

YUM!!!

And then he took us to the airport.

We arrived in PLENTY of time to be

comfortable and not worry about

having to rush.

Our flight took off right on time and

was a nice, easy flight.

I had a window seat, Rod got to sit

next to me (we were split on the

flight IN to Dallas...).

Once we got to Dallas, we found our

gate and realized I am TERRIBLE at

telling time when it involves changing

time zones.

Instead of a SIX hour layover, we had

just over 2 hours.

So we found Le Madeleine, but instead

of sitting down for a meal, we just

grabbed an already made sandwich to

split. (It was DELICIOUS!)

And then headed from Terminal A,

where we arrived, to Terminal C.

They announced it was a FULL flight

and recommended checking your bags

(for free) especially if you were in

the last group to board.

(Us...)

So we did.

Which was nice, since we didn't

have to shlep our bags all day.

As we were pulling IN to Dallas,

they announced a nation-wide Ground Stop.

No planes going IN or OUT.

Stay in the boarding area and we will

give you more details.

Meanwhile, I texted Rozann, who checked

and said it was a line of severe thunder

storms that was shutting down a bunch

of airports.

(We later found out it was actually an IT

shutdown that affected ALL American Airline

flights... ugh.)

Anyhow.

We headed to Gate C33.

Ate our yummy sandwich and settled in

for the wait.

OH YEAH!

While we were sitting there, Rod

headed off to the restroom.

And came back with a HUGE lump

on his forehead!

The poor guy was putting his backpack

on after washing his hands, spun around

to leave and ran right into a wall!

(It was painted the same color as the

wall behind it and just blends in!)

Broke his glasses, but not his nose!

Small favors.

And then we were alerted that our flight

would be delayed and moved next door

to Gate C32.

And then were delayed further and moved

back to C33.

Then over to C24.

Once we were all seated and awaiting

boarding instructions, they let us 

know our plane was actually at Gate A27.

(Back where we started!)

So we ALL herded on to the train and

headed to the other terminal.

And then we were delayed.

And then we were delayed.

And then we were delayed more.

And then we were delayed more.

We were supposed to take off at 8:05.

By this time they were saying 10:30.

And then the pilot and crew arrived.

And the plane FINALLY showed up.

And SIX passengers (including a 

"dead heading" pilot) got off.

The new crew got on.

Stayed for about 20 minutes.

Got off again.

The plane's APU (power system, basically

the AC) was broken, it was currently 90

inside the cabin and getting hotter.

So they found us a NEW plane and we ALL

hopped back on the train and moved to Gate D24.

Where we waited while they did....

something.

And then we ACTUALLY BOARDED!!!

The pilot was extremely apologetic and

put the peddle to the metal and shortened

a one hour, 3 minute flight to 58 minutes!

And then we sat on the tarmac for 10 

minutes because the ground crew wasn't

there to guide us in.

Hahahahaha.

FINALLY got into the airport and

headed down to the carousel to get

our bags. After the usual 20 minute wait

to get them all off the plane and into the

airport, we grabbed them and headed

out to the car.

By this time it was 2:30 am.

We got our car out of the paid lot,

hit the highway and then got off

at the next exit to fill the tank

(and buy some Diet Dr Pepper and

Combos) and we were OFF!

Put some fun oldies on Pandora and

I SANG the whole way home.

We pulled up in front of the house

at 5:44 am.

And went to bed.

Hahahahahahahaha.

I just finished doing my paperwork

for last week's classes, and now I'm

going to pack up my computer and

take it to the house (with a load of

other stuff, against the rules to drive

there without a load of stuff to move!)

and setting up a fake zoom to make

sure it's good to go.

And we MIGHT sleep there tonight!!!

Yippeeeeeee!

Anyhow.

Thank you again to everybody for 

making last week such a positive 

experience. It was so good to see

everybody and catch up with all the

goings on in everyone's lives.

We love you guys!!!

You KNOW he's going to tell everybody

at church that I poked him in the eye.

(I'm teaching this weekend, so won't

be there to defend my honor.... lol.)