Back!
Back from exams. It was, unfortunately, not an uneventful trip.
On Tuesday, the hubby decided (all on his very own) that I only needed to be at the airport an hour ahead of time, as I was carrying-on only. Fortunately, due to previous international travel and a handy-dandy fly clear card, I managed to zip through security, buy a bottle of water and made it to my gate with a half-hour to spare.
Good Karma: 1 Bad Karma: 0
While waiting at the gate for boarding to begin, one could not help but notice eight firemen and paramedic-types circling a little old lady (henceforth known as 'LOL' *grins*) in a wheelchair like vultures. She seems to be talking normally to them, but one of them not-so-discretely goes and fetches a portable defibrillator. Yikes! The medical types eventually pack up and leave, and LOL disappears down the gangway leading to the airplane with a helpful airport person. Several other folks also in wheelchairs subsequently board plane.
Ten minutes later, boarding is completely halted. Medical types rush for the plane and are joined by a firetruck! I'm watching at the window, wondering if I can make alternate arrangements to get to Tampa at the last minute, as things don't look good for leaving. Twenty minutes later, boarding resumes, only to be halted shortly thereafter. Medical-types again board plane.
Cut to an hour later - I'm still in the waiting area, and it's becoming clear that folks are getting frustrated. I'm getting a bit nervous myself and looking for flights that will at least get me close to Tampa. I can drive the rest of the way, right? But, crisis is averted, and boarding is underway again. The ever-so-helpful flight attendants inform us at the door of the plane that there was a medical emergency. I take my seat in 5C next to a large gentleman who hasn't showered (urgh) where I overhear one of the paramedics, who is in the process of leaving the plane, radio in that LOL in 14F has decided to hold off on taking her insulin until AFTER we get to Tampa. *headdesk* I did make a note of where exactly she was, just in case she really did need some help.
Good Karma: 1 Bad Karma: 1
Flight to Tampa is 3 1/2 hours long. It feels like much longer where I'm sitting - showers are good. We land in Tampa about an hour and a half behind schedule, and I head directly for a taxi. Taxi driver is cranky, as I only have a short drive to my hotel. There's no way I'm waiting for a shuttle, so just deal, dude. Plus, it's very humid. They apparently had some thunderstorms roll through the area, and it's damned uncomfortable. I think taxi man takes perverse delight in this, as he turns off the AC and rolls down the windows. The tip was on the lower end of the scale, obviously.
Good Karma: 1 Bad Karma: 2
Check-in at the hotel is unremarkable - I've been here before, but the hotel is under new ownership now, and has been completely remodeled. It's nice and a bit on the swanky side, however, the vending machines that had bottled water and other stuffs have been removed and replaced by the in-room convenience bar. Four dollars for an eight-ounce Pepsi? I do not think so. Grabbed a sandwich at the hotel restaurant and attempted to do some last-minute cramming in my room. I was thwarted in this by next-door neighbor (NDN), who was playing some rather loud rap music. Fortunately, the ever-thoughtful hotel has provided its guests with combination clock radio/sound generators. You can choose from soothing rain, not-so-soothing ocean waves, soothing river and freakish-sounding white noise. I picked rain, and lo and behold, was able to drown out NDN.
Good Karma: 2 Bad Karma: 3
It's terribly hard to change time zones on the fly. I discover this as I am awake at ONE THIRTY IN THE MORNING!!! I was able to get back to sleep within a half hour, though. The rap music is still playing faintly in NDN's room. I turned up the rain. I like rain. I might have to invest in one of these things.
Good Karma: 2 Bad Karma: 4
Wednesday and exam day come all too soon. I roll out at 6am (4am my home time) and discover, to my utter horror that... the friggin' shower DOES NOT WORK!!!!! This hotel is absolutely MADE OF FAIL! How can the shower NOT WORK?!? Fortunately, I have the international travel experience and a rather fortunate deep sink. I cruise to the exam center with ten minutes to spare.
Good Karma: 2 Bad Karma: 5
Seven am - testing begins. Loads of questions. The first part is entirely written questions, second part of the morning is a practical with kodachromes. I have about a minute per question. It sucks when you have to read them very carefully to avoid screw-ups.
12pm - Lunch time! We have to be back in the exam center at 12:30, so I grab a chicken salad and a pepsi (Look - only three dollars!) at the coffee stand and wolf it down. It tastes a bit off, but I'm in a hurry. Stupid, stupid, stupid....
12:30 pm - Back at the testing center for the afternoon session, with no breaks. I have some computer issues - mainly freezes and stalls, but no one seems particularly concerned other than me. *grumbles* I really don't want to take this stupid test again anytime soon. I finish early at 5:30 along with another test-taker, who offers to buy me a strong drink at the bar. Me, being married with kidlings, politely refuse, as it probably wouldn't be a Good Idea, but it is flattering to be asked, nonetheless. And that's without a shower! *grins*
Good Karma: 3 Bad Karma: 6
6pm - After grabbing some dinner, I cruise back to my room with it (mainly to avoid other test-taker guy) and discover that THE SHOWER IS FIXED!!! Thank you Hotel Fail! I finally get my shower AND have a note of apology from the management AND a small fruit basket. Nice. Rap music is again playing from NDN's room. Good thing we have rain.
Good Karma: 4 Bad Karma: 6
9am Thursday - Get on a shuttle to the airport. There's three other folks on it with me, and they're deep in discussion about 'Superdelegates' and 'SHE is here in Florida' and other crap like that. C'mon - I know you're talking about Hillary and I really don't care. Anyone who can start a campaign without being knowledgeable about how the delegates are going to be split in each state is MADE OF FAIL. She deserves to lose after that muff-up. Wasn't she the front-runner at one point? No, I won't be seeing you in Denver for the convention, thank you very much.
Good Karma: 4 Bad Karma: 7
11am - Breeze through security again and even have time to shop for the girly-girls. Katy decided that she wanted jewelry after she saw what I brought home from Russia last fall, so off I went to Bijoux. Hard times have fallen, so instead of everything in the little shop being $10, it was $15 instead. Whatever. I pick out nice, non-gaudy necklaces for Katy and Mackenna. I hit the kitchy stand a few stalls down for a stuffed dolphin for Keira. I grab a sandwich and a bottle of water and head for my gate. No sign of a medical emergency anywhere!
Good Karma: 5 Bad Karma: 7
Tampa's airport has free wireless, so I'm reading a few emails only to discover that RTD has stepped down from DW while I've been away! I have to be the absolute last person on earth to know about this, and I am floored and have no one to discuss it with! Some things I would be interested in knowing, though, if anyone is still reading this epic post:
1. Was this resignation 'strongly encouraged' by the BBC, or did RTD just get tired of criticism and running the show?
2. Why has the news just hit now? I realize that the other producers are changing over too, but why not wait to make the announcement until after Series 4 airs? News leak? *is confuzzled*
3. Will RTD continue to write for the show? Based on a comment attributed to him, it doesn't seem like that will be the case. Hrm.
I'm also surprised that we haven't seen a comment on the situation from DT yet - although, the poor guy is supposed to be on vacation. Hopefully he hides well.
Good Karma: 5 Bad Karma: 7 Uncertain Karma: 1
I also see on my flist several slams on fics. I haven't read them myself, but there was much poking of fun at them. I'm secretly hoping that I haven't been slammed in this fashion - someone would tell me, right? Right? *hears crickets* Not that anyone appears to have missed that I didn't post on Wednesday. Ah well.
Good Karma: 5 Bad Karma: 7 Uncertain Karma: 2
For whatever reason, the folks in Tampa are very insistent that we get out as quickly as possible. Boarding begins early and we leave 10 minutes early, with our scheduled arrival time now at 1:15 pm instead of 1:45. What gives? I'm in 5C again, this time sitting next to a mom with her two boys, ages 4 and 21 months. She is very relieved that I have children of my own (of similar age). She seems very nice, if a bit overwhelmed. We have no problems until we hit the turbulence as we cross the Kansas border. The kiddos start crying. People are shrieking. There are no barf bags behind the seats anymore. We could've used those. I've never seen anything like this, and I fly quite a bit. After circling around CO Springs a few times, we bounce (yes, we did) into DIA and you have never seen so many ill people get off a plane. We find out later about the tornados north of the airport. Yikes!
Good Karma: 5 Bad Karma: 8 Uncertain Karma: 2
After grabbing a bottle of sprite to settle my stomach, I am picked up by the lovely husband and Mackenna and Keira (Katy is in school). It's very windy, and the skies are black. We have about a 45 minute drive home and I managed not to toss my cookies. Once we did get home, the abdominal cramps began. Plus, I'm running a fever. Lovely! I knew I shouldn't have eaten that chicken salad!
Good Karma: 5 Bad Karma: 9 Uncertain Karma: 2
So that was my adventure in FL. I'm glad it's over. Katy did not like her necklace. She apparently wanted a dolphin. *headdesk* I've discovered that absolutely no laundry was done while I was away, and the house is in shambles. Good thing I'm off today. *sighs*
On Tuesday, the hubby decided (all on his very own) that I only needed to be at the airport an hour ahead of time, as I was carrying-on only. Fortunately, due to previous international travel and a handy-dandy fly clear card, I managed to zip through security, buy a bottle of water and made it to my gate with a half-hour to spare.
Good Karma: 1 Bad Karma: 0
While waiting at the gate for boarding to begin, one could not help but notice eight firemen and paramedic-types circling a little old lady (henceforth known as 'LOL' *grins*) in a wheelchair like vultures. She seems to be talking normally to them, but one of them not-so-discretely goes and fetches a portable defibrillator. Yikes! The medical types eventually pack up and leave, and LOL disappears down the gangway leading to the airplane with a helpful airport person. Several other folks also in wheelchairs subsequently board plane.
Ten minutes later, boarding is completely halted. Medical types rush for the plane and are joined by a firetruck! I'm watching at the window, wondering if I can make alternate arrangements to get to Tampa at the last minute, as things don't look good for leaving. Twenty minutes later, boarding resumes, only to be halted shortly thereafter. Medical-types again board plane.
Cut to an hour later - I'm still in the waiting area, and it's becoming clear that folks are getting frustrated. I'm getting a bit nervous myself and looking for flights that will at least get me close to Tampa. I can drive the rest of the way, right? But, crisis is averted, and boarding is underway again. The ever-so-helpful flight attendants inform us at the door of the plane that there was a medical emergency. I take my seat in 5C next to a large gentleman who hasn't showered (urgh) where I overhear one of the paramedics, who is in the process of leaving the plane, radio in that LOL in 14F has decided to hold off on taking her insulin until AFTER we get to Tampa. *headdesk* I did make a note of where exactly she was, just in case she really did need some help.
Good Karma: 1 Bad Karma: 1
Flight to Tampa is 3 1/2 hours long. It feels like much longer where I'm sitting - showers are good. We land in Tampa about an hour and a half behind schedule, and I head directly for a taxi. Taxi driver is cranky, as I only have a short drive to my hotel. There's no way I'm waiting for a shuttle, so just deal, dude. Plus, it's very humid. They apparently had some thunderstorms roll through the area, and it's damned uncomfortable. I think taxi man takes perverse delight in this, as he turns off the AC and rolls down the windows. The tip was on the lower end of the scale, obviously.
Good Karma: 1 Bad Karma: 2
Check-in at the hotel is unremarkable - I've been here before, but the hotel is under new ownership now, and has been completely remodeled. It's nice and a bit on the swanky side, however, the vending machines that had bottled water and other stuffs have been removed and replaced by the in-room convenience bar. Four dollars for an eight-ounce Pepsi? I do not think so. Grabbed a sandwich at the hotel restaurant and attempted to do some last-minute cramming in my room. I was thwarted in this by next-door neighbor (NDN), who was playing some rather loud rap music. Fortunately, the ever-thoughtful hotel has provided its guests with combination clock radio/sound generators. You can choose from soothing rain, not-so-soothing ocean waves, soothing river and freakish-sounding white noise. I picked rain, and lo and behold, was able to drown out NDN.
Good Karma: 2 Bad Karma: 3
It's terribly hard to change time zones on the fly. I discover this as I am awake at ONE THIRTY IN THE MORNING!!! I was able to get back to sleep within a half hour, though. The rap music is still playing faintly in NDN's room. I turned up the rain. I like rain. I might have to invest in one of these things.
Good Karma: 2 Bad Karma: 4
Wednesday and exam day come all too soon. I roll out at 6am (4am my home time) and discover, to my utter horror that... the friggin' shower DOES NOT WORK!!!!! This hotel is absolutely MADE OF FAIL! How can the shower NOT WORK?!? Fortunately, I have the international travel experience and a rather fortunate deep sink. I cruise to the exam center with ten minutes to spare.
Good Karma: 2 Bad Karma: 5
Seven am - testing begins. Loads of questions. The first part is entirely written questions, second part of the morning is a practical with kodachromes. I have about a minute per question. It sucks when you have to read them very carefully to avoid screw-ups.
12pm - Lunch time! We have to be back in the exam center at 12:30, so I grab a chicken salad and a pepsi (Look - only three dollars!) at the coffee stand and wolf it down. It tastes a bit off, but I'm in a hurry. Stupid, stupid, stupid....
12:30 pm - Back at the testing center for the afternoon session, with no breaks. I have some computer issues - mainly freezes and stalls, but no one seems particularly concerned other than me. *grumbles* I really don't want to take this stupid test again anytime soon. I finish early at 5:30 along with another test-taker, who offers to buy me a strong drink at the bar. Me, being married with kidlings, politely refuse, as it probably wouldn't be a Good Idea, but it is flattering to be asked, nonetheless. And that's without a shower! *grins*
Good Karma: 3 Bad Karma: 6
6pm - After grabbing some dinner, I cruise back to my room with it (mainly to avoid other test-taker guy) and discover that THE SHOWER IS FIXED!!! Thank you Hotel Fail! I finally get my shower AND have a note of apology from the management AND a small fruit basket. Nice. Rap music is again playing from NDN's room. Good thing we have rain.
Good Karma: 4 Bad Karma: 6
9am Thursday - Get on a shuttle to the airport. There's three other folks on it with me, and they're deep in discussion about 'Superdelegates' and 'SHE is here in Florida' and other crap like that. C'mon - I know you're talking about Hillary and I really don't care. Anyone who can start a campaign without being knowledgeable about how the delegates are going to be split in each state is MADE OF FAIL. She deserves to lose after that muff-up. Wasn't she the front-runner at one point? No, I won't be seeing you in Denver for the convention, thank you very much.
Good Karma: 4 Bad Karma: 7
11am - Breeze through security again and even have time to shop for the girly-girls. Katy decided that she wanted jewelry after she saw what I brought home from Russia last fall, so off I went to Bijoux. Hard times have fallen, so instead of everything in the little shop being $10, it was $15 instead. Whatever. I pick out nice, non-gaudy necklaces for Katy and Mackenna. I hit the kitchy stand a few stalls down for a stuffed dolphin for Keira. I grab a sandwich and a bottle of water and head for my gate. No sign of a medical emergency anywhere!
Good Karma: 5 Bad Karma: 7
Tampa's airport has free wireless, so I'm reading a few emails only to discover that RTD has stepped down from DW while I've been away! I have to be the absolute last person on earth to know about this, and I am floored and have no one to discuss it with! Some things I would be interested in knowing, though, if anyone is still reading this epic post:
1. Was this resignation 'strongly encouraged' by the BBC, or did RTD just get tired of criticism and running the show?
2. Why has the news just hit now? I realize that the other producers are changing over too, but why not wait to make the announcement until after Series 4 airs? News leak? *is confuzzled*
3. Will RTD continue to write for the show? Based on a comment attributed to him, it doesn't seem like that will be the case. Hrm.
I'm also surprised that we haven't seen a comment on the situation from DT yet - although, the poor guy is supposed to be on vacation. Hopefully he hides well.
Good Karma: 5 Bad Karma: 7 Uncertain Karma: 1
I also see on my flist several slams on fics. I haven't read them myself, but there was much poking of fun at them. I'm secretly hoping that I haven't been slammed in this fashion - someone would tell me, right? Right? *hears crickets* Not that anyone appears to have missed that I didn't post on Wednesday. Ah well.
Good Karma: 5 Bad Karma: 7 Uncertain Karma: 2
For whatever reason, the folks in Tampa are very insistent that we get out as quickly as possible. Boarding begins early and we leave 10 minutes early, with our scheduled arrival time now at 1:15 pm instead of 1:45. What gives? I'm in 5C again, this time sitting next to a mom with her two boys, ages 4 and 21 months. She is very relieved that I have children of my own (of similar age). She seems very nice, if a bit overwhelmed. We have no problems until we hit the turbulence as we cross the Kansas border. The kiddos start crying. People are shrieking. There are no barf bags behind the seats anymore. We could've used those. I've never seen anything like this, and I fly quite a bit. After circling around CO Springs a few times, we bounce (yes, we did) into DIA and you have never seen so many ill people get off a plane. We find out later about the tornados north of the airport. Yikes!
Good Karma: 5 Bad Karma: 8 Uncertain Karma: 2
After grabbing a bottle of sprite to settle my stomach, I am picked up by the lovely husband and Mackenna and Keira (Katy is in school). It's very windy, and the skies are black. We have about a 45 minute drive home and I managed not to toss my cookies. Once we did get home, the abdominal cramps began. Plus, I'm running a fever. Lovely! I knew I shouldn't have eaten that chicken salad!
Good Karma: 5 Bad Karma: 9 Uncertain Karma: 2
So that was my adventure in FL. I'm glad it's over. Katy did not like her necklace. She apparently wanted a dolphin. *headdesk* I've discovered that absolutely no laundry was done while I was away, and the house is in shambles. Good thing I'm off today. *sighs*