Christmas Aftermath Update
My Mom had wanted me to head down to my brother's house in Corvallis on Friday night, but thankfully Greyhound didn't provide a schedule that would work with that. Bonus because I got to go to the Blazer's game instead. Saturday was low key and I packed and wrapped presents and continued to catch up to TiVo that had been recorded while I was out of the country and since then. With watching a couple things last night (Monday/Christmas Day after I got home, I'm proud to say that I just have one movie waiting to be seen on the DVR!)
Sunday I got up early, and had some cereal and orange juice, and then headed to the mini-mart to get some more juice and some caffiene for the trip. I stood out in the rain for about 15 minutes and caught my first Tri-Met bus of the day. It was on time, and I made it to my transfer point where fortunately there happened to be a bus shelter. Yay! The next bus was on time and it took me westward across town toward the Greyhound Station and dropped me off right next to it. Once I got in, I went to stand in line to get my baggage check for the super gigantic suitcase I had to pack in order to fit in all the gifts. While in line, a guy in front of me was trying to get restitution for damage to his digital camera that he had packed on luggage under the bus. The clerk explained to him that Greyhound did not guarantee safety of ANY electronics checked under the bus and that he had better give up now, before he caused himself an ulcer or something with fighting a long-drawn out battle he couldn't win.
I got the same clerk next in line, and had quickly moved my digital camera into my mini-backpack for the trip, so I would be taking no chances. I got checked in, and the clerk was saying that her day was already so bad that she was going to go out and smoke a cigarette and she didn't smoke. I suggested a shot of something like Bailey's to take the edge off, and she concurred that if she had booze in her car, she'd be taking more than one shot on her break. I got my stuff taken care of and then headed to the waiting lounge to wait.
The electronic screen showed that my bus would be delayed in departure for an extra 1.5 hours. This really sucked, because I had already arrived 1.5 hours in advance of the original departure time. I sat and waited and around 11:15 AM I headed over to the deli/restaurant to get some food. A little old man wanted to get some water for his wife to take some pills, but noticed that I was in front of him for the line. I told him to go ahead because I would be ordering food, and that my bus was delayed, so it wouldn't matter for me to take extra time. Fortunately a Greyhound employee overheard me, and he asked me where I was bound. I said Corvallis, and he told me that contrary to what the reader-board said, that bus would be loading shortly and departing on time. So, I went to go get in line. Thank goodness I found that detail out, or I'd have been stuck in the cafe and missed my departure.
We loaded on time and pulled out about 9 minutes late, which was frankly a miracle since I was expecting a 1.5 hour delay. The bus was absolutely packed with people southbound as far as southern california, and the driver would be driving the rig til Redding, CA. There was not a single empty seat. We pulled into Salem early, and also got to Corvallis a few minutes early. Nick picked me up, and we headed to Fred Meyer to get some last minute food items for Christmas Eve Dinner and the next day.
We basically did some catching up, getting everything ready for the next day, and Nick got to open his B-day presents that night. Noah & Nina came in about 10:30 PM after driving from Brookings, up to Salem to check in on the cats and then back down to Corvallis. We watched An American Haunting and I dragged myself off to bed around 1 AM.
Christmas Day, my Dad and I made breakfast for everyone, we opened all our gifts and then more organizing took place. I ironed all the tableclothes and napkins, and set the table with my parent's wedding china. We had tons of appetizers, and dinner was ham, turkey, sauerkraut, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, gravy, and two kinds of cranberries. Oh, and some great French Bread that my aunt brought from Portland.
After sharing/opening gifts with my Aunt & Uncle, we had dessert. Peach, pumpkin and pecan pies, chocolate raspberry truffle petit fours and a bunch of other goodies that we didn't even bother to open.
After dessert, I got a ride home and had a lovely chat with my Aunt & Uncle. And of course later on they brought me back my cell phone that I had left in their car.
All in all a great holiday. I got a bunch of nice things, that I wanted and can use, and a bunch of gift cards that will come in handy to replenishing my music and movie collection, get me another card for my digital camera and some other fun things.
Sunday I got up early, and had some cereal and orange juice, and then headed to the mini-mart to get some more juice and some caffiene for the trip. I stood out in the rain for about 15 minutes and caught my first Tri-Met bus of the day. It was on time, and I made it to my transfer point where fortunately there happened to be a bus shelter. Yay! The next bus was on time and it took me westward across town toward the Greyhound Station and dropped me off right next to it. Once I got in, I went to stand in line to get my baggage check for the super gigantic suitcase I had to pack in order to fit in all the gifts. While in line, a guy in front of me was trying to get restitution for damage to his digital camera that he had packed on luggage under the bus. The clerk explained to him that Greyhound did not guarantee safety of ANY electronics checked under the bus and that he had better give up now, before he caused himself an ulcer or something with fighting a long-drawn out battle he couldn't win.
I got the same clerk next in line, and had quickly moved my digital camera into my mini-backpack for the trip, so I would be taking no chances. I got checked in, and the clerk was saying that her day was already so bad that she was going to go out and smoke a cigarette and she didn't smoke. I suggested a shot of something like Bailey's to take the edge off, and she concurred that if she had booze in her car, she'd be taking more than one shot on her break. I got my stuff taken care of and then headed to the waiting lounge to wait.
The electronic screen showed that my bus would be delayed in departure for an extra 1.5 hours. This really sucked, because I had already arrived 1.5 hours in advance of the original departure time. I sat and waited and around 11:15 AM I headed over to the deli/restaurant to get some food. A little old man wanted to get some water for his wife to take some pills, but noticed that I was in front of him for the line. I told him to go ahead because I would be ordering food, and that my bus was delayed, so it wouldn't matter for me to take extra time. Fortunately a Greyhound employee overheard me, and he asked me where I was bound. I said Corvallis, and he told me that contrary to what the reader-board said, that bus would be loading shortly and departing on time. So, I went to go get in line. Thank goodness I found that detail out, or I'd have been stuck in the cafe and missed my departure.
We loaded on time and pulled out about 9 minutes late, which was frankly a miracle since I was expecting a 1.5 hour delay. The bus was absolutely packed with people southbound as far as southern california, and the driver would be driving the rig til Redding, CA. There was not a single empty seat. We pulled into Salem early, and also got to Corvallis a few minutes early. Nick picked me up, and we headed to Fred Meyer to get some last minute food items for Christmas Eve Dinner and the next day.
We basically did some catching up, getting everything ready for the next day, and Nick got to open his B-day presents that night. Noah & Nina came in about 10:30 PM after driving from Brookings, up to Salem to check in on the cats and then back down to Corvallis. We watched An American Haunting and I dragged myself off to bed around 1 AM.
Christmas Day, my Dad and I made breakfast for everyone, we opened all our gifts and then more organizing took place. I ironed all the tableclothes and napkins, and set the table with my parent's wedding china. We had tons of appetizers, and dinner was ham, turkey, sauerkraut, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, gravy, and two kinds of cranberries. Oh, and some great French Bread that my aunt brought from Portland.
After sharing/opening gifts with my Aunt & Uncle, we had dessert. Peach, pumpkin and pecan pies, chocolate raspberry truffle petit fours and a bunch of other goodies that we didn't even bother to open.
After dessert, I got a ride home and had a lovely chat with my Aunt & Uncle. And of course later on they brought me back my cell phone that I had left in their car.
All in all a great holiday. I got a bunch of nice things, that I wanted and can use, and a bunch of gift cards that will come in handy to replenishing my music and movie collection, get me another card for my digital camera and some other fun things.