icesk8er31
12-15-2004, 01:45 AM
Hey all! I just took what I think were my last flights of the year. Yay me! Anyway, wanted to give you guys a trip report, in case anyone is interested.
I left Saturday the 4th for a marathon business trip (9 days - 4 in Laguna Niguel, CA and 5 in Reno). My first flight was at 8-ish Saturday morning. I got up bright and early for the flight, feeling pretty exhausted from the get-go. Some of you may know I've been a stressed kitty the last couple of weeks, so I think that was taking it's toll. Anyway, my usual cabbie came and picked me up about 6 and I headed off to BNA. I checked in, got an upgrade from here to DFW (but not from DFW to SNA - bah!) and went to pick up my usual pre-flight breakfast (marble loaf and OJ). I popped 0.5mg of xanax about an hour and 15 minutes pre-flight and settled in to wait for my flight. I boarded and took a minute to reflect on that warm fuzzy feeling that being in first class always brings you, and then sat down. It took me a minute to notice that there were no pillows. AAIGH! I was on board an AA MD80 - No Pillows For You! AAIGH! I always squeeze a pillow on take off and then fall asleep on it during flight. Yes, I know: the pillows are nasty, but hey, you miss them when they are gone. Anyway, we took off on time and I managed to make it through take off without my pillow. I stayed awake long enough to hear what my b'fast choices were (cereal or yogurt - double yuck) and then nodded off. Let me tell you about the crick you can get in your neck without a pillow! The flight was smooth but I walked off like I was Sanford and Son due to my stiff neck. The first thing I did in Dallas was purchase one of those smooshie pillows. I went to my gate, took another 0.25 mg of xanax, and waited for my next flight. We boarded, again on time, which for those of you who follow my flights know is unusual when I travel. The captain made all of the pre-flight annoucements, yadda yadda yadda. I squeezed my new, pristine, germ-free far superior pillow and felt sorry for those people that were making due with standard issue. Shortly after the 10,000 bell, the captain announced that we were staying at 24,000 feet instead of the planned 35,000 due to reports of "rough air." For the rest of the flight we bumped around a bit and changed altitude constantly to find smoother air. 24,000 feet. 32,000 feet. 34,000 feet, 37,000 feet, 28,000 feet. I think the pilots were pretty busy just trying to give us a smooth ride. But hey, you know me, I slept through most of it. I LOVE early morning flights. About 30 minutes from SNA we finally found smooth air. I snoozed on my pillow and we landed without incident.
On the 8th I headed from LAX to RNO on SWA. I went to LAX very early to check in, after seeing Airline and the lines they can get there for SWA. Of course, my careful planning was for naught. There were no lines. A nun hit me up for change right before I got to security, but that was the only time I broke stride. I went to the gate and settled in, and a tiny bird trapped in the terminal came to keep me company. I fed it some of my sausage biscuit. About 40 minutes before the flight, I got up to get in line (had an A group boarding pass, but I saw an entire group of Jr. High cheerleaders come into the gate area and I wanted to have dibs on a seat nowhere near them. The flight took off on time AGAIN (miracle anyone?) and we started winging towards RNO. Everything was fine until about 20 minutes before landing. The captain came on and said that the tower was reporting "a bumpy landing." Dude. They were not kidding. We were tossed around in what had to be at least moderate turb. I actually took some time to locate the barf bag, just in case. But you know what? We made it. All passengers and the plane were just dandy. Just goes to show you.
My last flight took off on Sunday, the 12th. Again, smooth check in (with upgrades on both legs - yay!), and boarding. Then the captain came out and told us we all had to get off the plane. Seems that TSA was ordering everyone in the concouse out and back through security. We all trudged off the plane, out through security and waited to be checked through again. I never figured out what was going on, but for once I was glad I had a 2 hour layover in DFW. I felt badly for the people that had tight connections. We finally made it back on the plane and I snuggled into my seat. Our company x'mas party was the night before, so I was going on about 1.5 hours of sleep at this point, but b'fast sounded pretty good (egg and cheese quesadilla) so I stayed awake through takeoff to get fed. Takeoff was very smooth, in sharp contrast to our landing 5 days earlier. My xanax (0.5 mg 1 hour before flight) was working like a charm, and, frankly, I was so happy to be going home to my sweet kitties that I was more excited than scared. Then the schmuck next to me spilled his cranberry juice on me. While I had my b'fast tray and couldn't escape from it. The steward was very nice...offered me some soda water, etc. but I was just pissy and wet and I had an ice cube in my crack I couldn't reach. So I did what any self-respecting, totally pooped and somewhat doped up woman would do...I curled up on my smooshie pillow, went to sleep and snored gently until we landed at DFW. Once there, I had just enough time to grab a pretzel (Do I eat ALL the time??!?!) and go to the gate. I slept through that flight too. It was very smooth. There was a big military group on my flight, so I've rarely felt so safe...at least from terrorism. I still worry about an engine or wing dropping off. Silly me.
Anyway, home again, home again, jiggety jig. My cats have forgiven me and I'm pleased as a pig in poop to be here.
Hope all is well with everyone!
All the best,
Ice
I left Saturday the 4th for a marathon business trip (9 days - 4 in Laguna Niguel, CA and 5 in Reno). My first flight was at 8-ish Saturday morning. I got up bright and early for the flight, feeling pretty exhausted from the get-go. Some of you may know I've been a stressed kitty the last couple of weeks, so I think that was taking it's toll. Anyway, my usual cabbie came and picked me up about 6 and I headed off to BNA. I checked in, got an upgrade from here to DFW (but not from DFW to SNA - bah!) and went to pick up my usual pre-flight breakfast (marble loaf and OJ). I popped 0.5mg of xanax about an hour and 15 minutes pre-flight and settled in to wait for my flight. I boarded and took a minute to reflect on that warm fuzzy feeling that being in first class always brings you, and then sat down. It took me a minute to notice that there were no pillows. AAIGH! I was on board an AA MD80 - No Pillows For You! AAIGH! I always squeeze a pillow on take off and then fall asleep on it during flight. Yes, I know: the pillows are nasty, but hey, you miss them when they are gone. Anyway, we took off on time and I managed to make it through take off without my pillow. I stayed awake long enough to hear what my b'fast choices were (cereal or yogurt - double yuck) and then nodded off. Let me tell you about the crick you can get in your neck without a pillow! The flight was smooth but I walked off like I was Sanford and Son due to my stiff neck. The first thing I did in Dallas was purchase one of those smooshie pillows. I went to my gate, took another 0.25 mg of xanax, and waited for my next flight. We boarded, again on time, which for those of you who follow my flights know is unusual when I travel. The captain made all of the pre-flight annoucements, yadda yadda yadda. I squeezed my new, pristine, germ-free far superior pillow and felt sorry for those people that were making due with standard issue. Shortly after the 10,000 bell, the captain announced that we were staying at 24,000 feet instead of the planned 35,000 due to reports of "rough air." For the rest of the flight we bumped around a bit and changed altitude constantly to find smoother air. 24,000 feet. 32,000 feet. 34,000 feet, 37,000 feet, 28,000 feet. I think the pilots were pretty busy just trying to give us a smooth ride. But hey, you know me, I slept through most of it. I LOVE early morning flights. About 30 minutes from SNA we finally found smooth air. I snoozed on my pillow and we landed without incident.
On the 8th I headed from LAX to RNO on SWA. I went to LAX very early to check in, after seeing Airline and the lines they can get there for SWA. Of course, my careful planning was for naught. There were no lines. A nun hit me up for change right before I got to security, but that was the only time I broke stride. I went to the gate and settled in, and a tiny bird trapped in the terminal came to keep me company. I fed it some of my sausage biscuit. About 40 minutes before the flight, I got up to get in line (had an A group boarding pass, but I saw an entire group of Jr. High cheerleaders come into the gate area and I wanted to have dibs on a seat nowhere near them. The flight took off on time AGAIN (miracle anyone?) and we started winging towards RNO. Everything was fine until about 20 minutes before landing. The captain came on and said that the tower was reporting "a bumpy landing." Dude. They were not kidding. We were tossed around in what had to be at least moderate turb. I actually took some time to locate the barf bag, just in case. But you know what? We made it. All passengers and the plane were just dandy. Just goes to show you.
My last flight took off on Sunday, the 12th. Again, smooth check in (with upgrades on both legs - yay!), and boarding. Then the captain came out and told us we all had to get off the plane. Seems that TSA was ordering everyone in the concouse out and back through security. We all trudged off the plane, out through security and waited to be checked through again. I never figured out what was going on, but for once I was glad I had a 2 hour layover in DFW. I felt badly for the people that had tight connections. We finally made it back on the plane and I snuggled into my seat. Our company x'mas party was the night before, so I was going on about 1.5 hours of sleep at this point, but b'fast sounded pretty good (egg and cheese quesadilla) so I stayed awake through takeoff to get fed. Takeoff was very smooth, in sharp contrast to our landing 5 days earlier. My xanax (0.5 mg 1 hour before flight) was working like a charm, and, frankly, I was so happy to be going home to my sweet kitties that I was more excited than scared. Then the schmuck next to me spilled his cranberry juice on me. While I had my b'fast tray and couldn't escape from it. The steward was very nice...offered me some soda water, etc. but I was just pissy and wet and I had an ice cube in my crack I couldn't reach. So I did what any self-respecting, totally pooped and somewhat doped up woman would do...I curled up on my smooshie pillow, went to sleep and snored gently until we landed at DFW. Once there, I had just enough time to grab a pretzel (Do I eat ALL the time??!?!) and go to the gate. I slept through that flight too. It was very smooth. There was a big military group on my flight, so I've rarely felt so safe...at least from terrorism. I still worry about an engine or wing dropping off. Silly me.
Anyway, home again, home again, jiggety jig. My cats have forgiven me and I'm pleased as a pig in poop to be here.
Hope all is well with everyone!
All the best,
Ice