Go West, young man
First and foremost, WICKED last night was amazing. Our seats were the very first row.
Seattle, Day One! A day of delays.
Jon and I had planned to leave the house this morning at 5:30 but didn't get out until 5:45.
We got to the airport and our smaller suitcase was small enough to carry on, so we saved fifteen dollars by not checking it. The flight to Chicago was delayed because O'Hare was under heavy fog. Once we finally took off, I slept for most of the flight.
The flight from Chicago to Seattle was delayed because of fog. It's a four and a half hour flight, and felt even longer because of all the waiting to get outta Chicago. Jon dozed off but never really fell asleep. He was feeling better today and didn't have any coughing fits, and while he's still in the walking boot cast thingy, he's feeling okay and getting around well. I couldn't fall asleep at all, so I watched Serenity on PSP.
On the approach to Seattle the pilot pointed out Mount Ranier and the Cascade Mountains:
We landed in Seattle and there was a huge delay getting the baggage to the carousel. I was pleased as punch that our bag was the fifth one out.
Then the delay at the rental car counter. There were five counters at the airport. None of them had any customers. So of course the group of Swedish tourists would have to go to the counter we needed, and of course they don't speak English well and don't know how to convey their needs to the attendant, and wanted to know every charge for every kind of car. The attendant, bless her patient heart, said if we already had our car reserved we could just use the kiosk to check in and then pick up the car in the garage. Kiosk checkin is awesome.
The parking ramp at Sea-Tac International Airport is not awesome. If I ever shot a bad horror movie, the kind where everyone yells at the actress, "Don't go in the ramp!" it'd be shot at the Sea-Tac International Airport parking ramp.
Our rental car isn't a car. It's a Mazda 5 which is kind of a grown up hatchback with slidey back doors like a minivan. It's okay, I guess. I'd never buy one but we're only going to be driving it for four days.
The GPS had a hard time figuring out we were in Seattle... either that or the satellites were down or messed up or just wonky. Eventually everything updated and I'm so glad it did. Seattle's got some messed up streets.
Our hotel is adorable. Absolutely adorable. It's new, clean, and happy. They have just-baked cookies and a basket of apples in the lobby all the time. Tonight there was a Manager's Reception, with wine, beer, and appetizers. Our room has the most comfortable bed on the planet, and pillows from heaven. We have a full size kitchen too, and a little sitting area. There were throw blankets for us on the chairs and a welcome basket with granola bars, tea, and Starbucks coffee. There's Starbucks everywhere and in everything. I wouldn't be surprised to find a Starbucks inside a Starbucks.
We went to the grocery store. Our first try was Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart here makes the ghettomart on the East side of GB looks like a classy, upscale boutique. It was crazy busy, like day-after-Thanksgiving busy. We went to a Safeway instead and our cashier was a blast. She showed off her new pinup girl tattoo.
Our last delay is watching LOST.
Stupid pacific time zone.
Seattle, Day One! A day of delays.
Jon and I had planned to leave the house this morning at 5:30 but didn't get out until 5:45.
We got to the airport and our smaller suitcase was small enough to carry on, so we saved fifteen dollars by not checking it. The flight to Chicago was delayed because O'Hare was under heavy fog. Once we finally took off, I slept for most of the flight.
The flight from Chicago to Seattle was delayed because of fog. It's a four and a half hour flight, and felt even longer because of all the waiting to get outta Chicago. Jon dozed off but never really fell asleep. He was feeling better today and didn't have any coughing fits, and while he's still in the walking boot cast thingy, he's feeling okay and getting around well. I couldn't fall asleep at all, so I watched Serenity on PSP.
On the approach to Seattle the pilot pointed out Mount Ranier and the Cascade Mountains:
We landed in Seattle and there was a huge delay getting the baggage to the carousel. I was pleased as punch that our bag was the fifth one out.
Then the delay at the rental car counter. There were five counters at the airport. None of them had any customers. So of course the group of Swedish tourists would have to go to the counter we needed, and of course they don't speak English well and don't know how to convey their needs to the attendant, and wanted to know every charge for every kind of car. The attendant, bless her patient heart, said if we already had our car reserved we could just use the kiosk to check in and then pick up the car in the garage. Kiosk checkin is awesome.
The parking ramp at Sea-Tac International Airport is not awesome. If I ever shot a bad horror movie, the kind where everyone yells at the actress, "Don't go in the ramp!" it'd be shot at the Sea-Tac International Airport parking ramp.
Our rental car isn't a car. It's a Mazda 5 which is kind of a grown up hatchback with slidey back doors like a minivan. It's okay, I guess. I'd never buy one but we're only going to be driving it for four days.
The GPS had a hard time figuring out we were in Seattle... either that or the satellites were down or messed up or just wonky. Eventually everything updated and I'm so glad it did. Seattle's got some messed up streets.
Our hotel is adorable. Absolutely adorable. It's new, clean, and happy. They have just-baked cookies and a basket of apples in the lobby all the time. Tonight there was a Manager's Reception, with wine, beer, and appetizers. Our room has the most comfortable bed on the planet, and pillows from heaven. We have a full size kitchen too, and a little sitting area. There were throw blankets for us on the chairs and a welcome basket with granola bars, tea, and Starbucks coffee. There's Starbucks everywhere and in everything. I wouldn't be surprised to find a Starbucks inside a Starbucks.
We went to the grocery store. Our first try was Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart here makes the ghettomart on the East side of GB looks like a classy, upscale boutique. It was crazy busy, like day-after-Thanksgiving busy. We went to a Safeway instead and our cashier was a blast. She showed off her new pinup girl tattoo.
Our last delay is watching LOST.
Stupid pacific time zone.