We got here with just the ordinary problems: a three hour delay in Elmira due to maintenance problems in Florida.
As we boarded the plane, we heard the crew announce that they insisted that the plane be fixed before they took off from Clearwater. (What's not to be happy about that! Yea for them.) Paul says these are old planes. I read in the newspaper, or was it Time Magazine that the airline industry is ordering thousands upon thousands of new planes. However, most of them are going to Asia or India. It figures.
Being on both ends of the flight - coming and going - I felt like I now knew how the other half felt, since we were in Florida on the Florida-delay end three weeks ago when the plane didn't take off for three hours. (because they didn't have a pilot. He was sick. Remember? They had to send for one.) I guess you can count on delays whenever you fly nowadays. It's difficult to avoid.
Now here's the thing:
Paul kept track of our flight, but on a different site. He knew that the plane hadn't left Clearwater. The Elmira airport site still kept saying it was on time.
This went on for two hours but we had to go because:
We had to drop my car off at the Kent-Brown dealership in Horseheads. It was the end of my lease. (I'm not getting another one until we get back from Fla. No sense in paying out four-five months worth of car payments just to have the new one sitting in the garage up north.) On a good note: Kent-Brown drove us to the airport.
Even when we got there, the people at the counter didn't "let on" that the plane hadn't left yet - and that there would be a two-hour delay. The agent finally announced the delay to everyone crowding around the counter. You know, I feel sorry for airport personnel nowadays. Nothing's fun any more. Who would want to do it?
We broke one of the cardinal rules and took Gracie into the eating area so we could have some supper. She was as good as gold. She never left her open carrier, but she did wiggle incessantly when people came near to pet her. She loves people so much. And vice versa. As Paul says - she's an old chick magnet.
The plane arrived at 9:00 - two hours late, We boarded at 10:00. They said, because of a head wind, the flight would be 2 hours 43 minutes, instead of the 2 hours we had coming up. So we got into Clearwater around 1 AM. I was so glad I had my winter coat - it was 38 degrees.
Okay. I know it wasn't as cold as we had it in upstate NY, but with a heavy wind blowing, it felt really cold. We got our rental car and left for our hotel at 2 AM. Weary. Did we sleep well!
Tuesday - we got home a little before lunchtime.
It's now Friday - doesn't seem possible three days have gone by.
We're going out for a fish fry tonight with Bill and Epril at the Venice Moose Club. They're coming in, after Epril has a driving lesson after work, so they'll be later than usual. the Moose Club will be crowded, but that's the way it is.
I talked with Bob twice this week. He's coming in late on Saturday. We'll see him on Sunday. His son Paul, who lives with him is very excited. He starts work at a new job today. It is a half hour closer to home than the job he had previously.
There are mobs of people here now. There's quite a difference from when we were here three weeks ago. The Snowbirds have arrived, and are still arriving. As Paul says - all the old people are here again. And if you don't see anything funny in that remark, well. . .
The traffic is very heavy. Luckily where we live, the traffic's not quite as heavy, but when you're driving, you know the difference .
We've been in long pants since we got here. The weather is getting warmer, though, and I had shorts on today. Don't think it. That's why we're here.
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