Riders In the Storm

Just a little something I started to write while sitting on the tarmac in a commuter plane in Chicago.

Yes, I am starting that cliche thing again. I am sitting in another teeny airplane riding out a really bad storm. I haven’t seen anything like it in a long time. The wind is blowing, the rain is pelting the windows and the lightening is putting on a show like Fourth of July fireworks.

Feeling the plane shake and move to the wind like a showgirl on a Saturday night is a bit scary. The air is getting stale and the restroom is flowing over, it should make for an interesting combination in another hour.

It wouldn’t be so bad but the seats are flat as a board and my already sore tailbone will be giving me havoc in the morning. The trip was interesting, I started out thinking I would be doing the financial part of the implementation but will end up doing the entire thing, and I only have a month to “get ‘er done”

I would go on to sit like this for a total of three hours. My connecting flight was cancelled and I was fortunate to get a room for the night. When I was leaving the airport, I could see people making themselves comfy for the long evening. I have always had the philosophy that I would never sleep at the airport when I travel on business (isn't that what the corporate cards are for?) and I wasn't going to this night. After arriving at the stuffy hotel and checking in, I went to the bar, grabbed two wines to go and ordered a pizza.

I finally got through to the airline to get my flight rebooked and ended up with a 6am flight. So with a mere 4 hours sleep, I schlepped off to the airport to hop a flight to DC (yes, I said DC). Fortunately, I slept the whole flight and felt refreshed when we landed.

After waiting another 3 hours, I went to board my flight to Pittsburgh. I wasn't too concerned when they put us on a shuttle bus out to the plane as I had been flying commuter flights the whole trip.

I got concerned when they pulled up to a 1950's type propeller plane. Yes, it was small and I really don't have too bad a fear for small planes, but the ride was bumpy as all get out. There was a point that I was praying the plane would land becuase I was going to get sick, fortunately no projectile vomiting took place. I'm sure everyone around me was happy that didn't happen.

When I got to Pittsburgh, I was relieved. I assumed that I could get my luggage and head home - nope... My luggage was still another hour out of Pittsburgh and I had to wait.

So this short little trip I took ended up with 25 hours travelling tacked onto the end instead of 8. Oh well... such is life and it's good to be home.