Trippin' in Atlanta

Last weekend was the PAW Single's Conference in Atlanta. The conference was great...and thank God, because getting there and back home was more than a notion. I planned everything to the tee.

My friend and I were determined not to check any luggage but all I had was my small carry on and my large folding piece of luggage. So I bought a new piece of carry on luggage to match the set that I already own. I stayed up until 2 am packing (bad habit that I need to break) and made my way to work at 7:30am. I left at noon, just as planned and was at the airport by 12:45pm. Since I checked both of us in online, it was just a matter of locating my girl in middle of Midway airport. She ended up coming in a couple minutes after me and we headed to the security checkpoint.

THIS IS WHERE THE DRAMA STARTS

While at the security checkpoint we both have our bags pulled to the side. Neither of us were aware of the new security regulations so we both had packed full size perfumes, toothpaste, ect. Oh, did I mention that by this time we are cutting it very short on time for our 2pm flight. So we are both informed that we have to take our backs back and have them checked. I suggest that we put everything in one back and I just checked my bag...no big deal, right? So I run back to the Delta check in line and gratefully it was empty. I go back through security and we make a mad dash for our gate. Almost at the end of Concourse B, we discover, that we went in the wrong direction and should have been heading to Concourse C. We finally make it to our gate and board the plane (that only holds 70 passengers...I hate small planes).

Oh, I should mention that it was raining here in Chicago. Once on the plane, the pilot announces that he has decided to have the plane fueled to capacity due to the weather in Atlanta, and is having all of our luggage removed and place on another plane that will arrive in ATL later that night. He told people that if they didn't like it, they could get off and catch another flight. Oh, this was also after he made several comments about how horrible the flight would be due to extreme turbulence. A couple of people took him up on his offer while my girl, Candace, sat next to me thinking of that movie Final Destination...lol

The flight horrible as expected. We got up to 30k feet which made the flight comfortable for about 45 minutes. I enjoy rollercoasters myself, but this flight was worse than any roller coaster I've ever been on. We arrive in ATL safely, pick up the rental car, and I report my luggage delayed (which the Delta people weren't even aware of). We check into the hotel and head church. We make it just as the speaker is getting up and he delivers an awesome sermon about praise. Upon returning to the hotel I learn that my luggage is actually lost. Next day, I call to find out the status and it still isn't located and Delta refuses to provide assistance until after 24 hours of loosing your luggage. Even at that point, its only $25 per day. I decide to go ahead and purchase some clothes and toiletries since we had already missed some seminars and I didn't want to miss anything else.

Everything goes well and I get my luggage about 2am on Saturday morning, damaged. (Delta refuses to repair or compensate for the damaage) The trick was to fill an already packed suitcase with a ton more new clothes. By the grace of God, I did it and we headed back to the airport. This time, I checked my bags and made sure that everything in my shoulder carry on was less than 3oz. SO WHY DID I GET STOPPED AGAIN??? This time, I learned that my items needed to be in a zip lock bag...what the heck?!?!? Now I'm running late for my flight (due to an uplanned outing, not on my part) and I have a straight attitude. Gratefully the security person looked passed it and helped me get a ziplock bag and we were on our way. We get the gate only to learn that our flight is delayed a half hour. That was a total blessing because we didn't get to the gate until 10 minutes before departure and we would have definitely missed our flight. It was a great flight home and I'm ready to leave again...Kansas City here I come!

Check back to a future post when I tell you about Nate's response to me being in ATL and the damage to my car.

Every girl should have a pair...

I'd heard the rave and seen the pics but I needed to see for myself. Since I has Real Women Dollars from my favorite store, Lane Bryant, I decided that there was no time like the present. I was not disappointed. They fit beautifully and provide great support and shaping. I'm a believer.