Thursday, August 10, 2006

Weather and Terrorists make for a crappy day

Where to start? I guess at the beginning of the day.

I totally couldn't sleep last night so I slept a little later than I wanted (even with cats jumping on me begging to be fed--bastards). I showered, shaved, and took my time getting ready. Then I hear my cell phone ring from the other room. A couple of minutes later, the home phone rings. Mother is on the phone asking if I've seen the news. No, I say. Why? Thank goodness for Scotland Yard, but couldn't they have waited a little bit, a few hours even, to arrest those 21 terrorists? Roomie and I flew out the door to get to the airport as early as possible. I think I ended up waiting in line to check my bag almost as long as I did in the line to get through security. Then it was time to sit and wait.

Little did I know I would wait waaaaaaaaaay longer than I planned. My flight was supposed to leave at 11:15. It was delayed to 11:35 then 11:45 then 1:45. Okay, so actually that last one was the next scheduled flight. Mine was officially cancelled. That would cause me to completely miss my connection at O'Hare. I called my travel agent, and she got me transferred to a direct flight to LaGuardia. I even got in earlier than planned. Unfortunately, my luggage didn't make it along with me. I did the whole standing in line to report it lost, and they gave me the number to call and check on its progress. [It is now midnight EDT and it has still "not been located."]

So with no luggage and no planned way to get to my hotel, I signed up for a "shared van" service (like Super Shuttle). It was only $15 to get into Manhattan, but it took forever. Pretty much as soon as the van was full-o-people, the heavens opened and let forth great sheets of rain. We couldn't see more than a car length or two in front of the van. It was super scary! Glad the driver knew what he was doing. Unfortunately, my hotel was the furthest into the city, so I was the last to be dropped off. I just had him drop me off at Macy's instead. I was there FIFTEEN MINUTES before they closed. I ran upstairs to the correct suit department, found a brand that I new would fit, and grabbed a pair of slacks that doesn't look too bad with my (only pair of brown Birkenstock) shoes and a couple of different tops. Once I got my hotel room all checked in, I walked down to a Duane Reed (a NYC Walgreens) and bought a new set of makeup, toothpaste, socks, and toiletries. After that, I went to a little place a couple doors down for some cheap chinese food. Mmmmmmmmmmm! I could so love New York. Hot and sour soup, moo goo gai pan (with shrimp instead of chicken of course), steamed rice, and a ginger ale. Perfect!

Anyway, I'm wiped out. I know I left a lot out (like the uber gay couple that looked like a couple of old Elton Johns complete with crazy glasses and a Louis Vuitton luggage set). Please forgive, but I gotta get some sleep before the interview tomorrow. At least I've got my glasses in my purse so I can ditch the contacts.

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