Per aspera ad astra

My flight from Chicago to Seattle on Thursday was delayed for an hour. Lame, but not nearly as awful as the 2-6 hour delays others were facing. Having traveled a fair amount and seeing how awful some travelers can be, I have a lot of respect for the gate agents, flight attendants, etc. who really have no control over the situation. When they’re not bitchy in return, I’m downright awed by them.

At the gate next to mine, the flight to Sacramento had been delayed almost 3 hours, with no promise of a reprieve. The gate agent, obviously slightly irked at the line of people waiting to ask her what was happening, got on the intercom and said something along the lines of, “I know all of you want to know when you’re leaving. Guess what- so would I! But all I know is that your plane hasn’t left Detroit and it’s going to be at least another 2 hours before it gets here and gets ready. So go to the bookstore, go to McDonalds, hell, go to the bar and get drunk, and just mosey down here in, say, an hour and half.” I think some of them did just that.

As the plane was getting fueled up and ready to go, she started calling passengers for standby, which went something like “Passenger S. Thomas. Passenger L. Echolls. Passenger J. Wallace. Bueller.” Some of the passengers waiting looked around, like me, eager to see if anyone actually had that name. She came back on the intercom. “Bueller. Bueller.” and the entire area started laughing. Give the woman credit, I bet she had been there at least twice as long as any of them.

—–

And then there are the passengers, the people I try my hardest not to be. On my own flight, I quickly got comfortable (relatively) in my window seat with my Tom Clancy and got ready for the short flight. About an hour or two in, I got sleepy and brought out the iPod and began my usual fruitless quest to sleep on a plane without the use of pills or free wine. I actually started to drift off into slightly-unconscious mode when suddenly I realize that the woman next to me isn’t jabbing her elbow into me on accident. I groggily sit up.

“If the plane crashes, is it a state or a federal problem?” she asks, genuinely curious.

“What?” I’m at the sleep-stage where I don’t quite think right and I worry absentmindedly that the plane is crashing.

“If we crash, you know, in Idaho, who takes care of it? Is it Idaho? Or Illinois, where we left from? Or Washington, because we’re going there?” I’ve got a personality quirk where if you ask me an inane question, you get a sarcastic answer. She asked for it.

“I think that’s why they call it the FAA,” I say dryly and try to turn away pointedly.

She mulls that gem over for ten seconds. “The FAA? They’re the ones who regulate the food industry too, right?”

…

“They must be so busy!”

I figured telling her that she needed to STFU because she was SOL would be way too complicated and painful and so I just clarified the matter. Then I promptly put my blanket over my head and leaned against the window. She fortunately sensed my bitterness, or was too busy processing the concept of acronyms to bother me for the rest of the flight.

I decided to spend my first week of being back Stateside again doing all of those things that I’d voluntarily deprived myself of for the year I was away.

First and foremost, I got to see my puppies. Okay, my family too but we’re not nearly as photogenic as these two.

Then I got to see two of my absolute favorite people ever, Andi and Kate. We met up late Friday night for Clarke’s and my first piece of toast in a longish time.

We finished eating late and slept at Andi’s friend’s apartment. Woke up early and stopped by this wonderful coffeehouse that had fantastic muffins and, as Kate demonstrates, pretty drinks.

Headed back to Huntley for my first haircut in lots and lots of months. It felt pretty fantastic.

Then we headed off to Nicole’s graduation party- which consisted of fantastic Italian food, tasty lemonade, Starbucks (all firsts in a long time for me!) and… laying in the grass, with absolutely no regard to fertility whatsoever

See how defiant Kate and I are? Anyway, then it was off to Iowa to catch up with some lovely people. And to see the old apartment again.

This is where we used to live…
Gabbie and I went swimming and hung out in Iowa City and had some Java House time and some food with flavor.

Despite its slightly mushy appearance, Indian food is so, so tasty. Later, following the trend of eating food that doesn’t exist in Russia, I had my first Coldstone experience. Russian ice cream can’t even compare. Mmm.

And I also got to see Roxy and Jordan! We had a sleepover, ate Chinese, and played a variety of awesome games, including awesome DDR.

For the Fourth, we saw Transformers and then had an awesome picnic (including mashed potatoes, fried chicken, and tasty fruit) on the ramp of a parking garage in Cedar Rapids.

And of course, we watched fireworks!

I had to get back to Huntley for my sister’s graduation party. On the way, I went to Six Flags and kissed a pretty awesome guy.

Ha. ha. No, srsly.
Anyway, made it back, set up for the party. And I got to see Jennifer again for the first time in at least 2 years. And we had some pina coladas, c/o my youngest sister.

And now everyone’s gone home, the party’s over and I’m here in Huntley again until this weekend, when I head off to St. Louis!