Travel Notes

13 February 2007

Travel day. Started last night with a decision that I couldn’t realistically spend another seven days in a cat-infested house, and there was a huge winter storm on the way. It was decided that I should take off today and try to make it to Minneapolis before the storm hit.

I didn’t.

Made it to Syracuse by 3:30 in plenty of time for my 5:30 flight, checked in, was switched from Syracuse-Atlanta to Syracuse-Cincinnati (despite the fact I specifically picked the flight to Atlanta to miss the huge, mid-country storm), and was subjected to the most thorough searches I’ve ever experienced. Seriously, I’ve been on three flights, halfway around the world, and I’ve only been searched in Syracuse. Iain, if I discover that the cavity search was your idea…I shudder to think what reprisals will be necessary. My sympathies go out to the poor sap who had to search my belongings for contraband; I’m moving back to Minnesota and I’ve got the weirdest collection of stuff crammed into two bags and two coats. Eventually got cleared through security. Went to the gate to wait, watched the screen change my flight from ‘On Time’ to ‘Cancelled’, then back to ‘On Time’ again. Celebrated with a gin and tonic at the bar. Went back to sit down and read more Hemingway, and was reading when it was announced that the flight was delayed till 8:10. Waited in line to get exchanged, watched a two-year-old eat raw Cup Noodle, got to the counter, and got put on a different flight on a different airline to a different city. It was decided that I could fly into Cleveland – instead of to Cincinnati – then to Minneapolis, and everything would be fine. Was about the last person on the plane to Cleveland, got off the ground in clear weather, watched ice crystals spark by the window illuminated by the flashing wing lights, and pondered what a strange thing it was to be crammed in a metal tube and shot through the sky. Skidded into Cleveland in what was one of the most balls-out exciting landings of all time. The cabin attendant welcomed us to Cleveland, which looked like a moonscape if the moon was under a winter storm warning with 50-mile-an-hour winds.

Got to my connecting gate to Minneapolis, called my mom – who was thrilled I wasn’t in Syracuse – and got more change to call future-roommate Lindsey about the new arrival time. As I was leaving a message to tell her that I’d be early, the announcement came through that my flight was cancelled and we’d need to collect our luggage. Bloody fucking hot damn. Told Lindsey’s voicemail I’d call her back when I figured out what was going on, picked up my ridiculously heavy bags, and went looking for answers. Waited in umpteenth line of the day to be told I was already being booked onto a flight at 7:20 the next morning, and that I’d need to book a hotel for the night. Like hell. The woman cleared my luggage to be picked up before I could say no, so I went to the baggage area to get my suitcase. Decided that if Continental (not Delta, my original airline) wasn’t going to set me up at the Ritz, I would crash out in the baggage claim. Talked to Lindsey’s voicemail again, told her I would meet her in Minneapolis tomorrow, and went and sat down.

It’s now 10:45, and I’m getting ready to call it a day. What a wonderful world.

Currently listening to: “We’re So Far Away” by Mae.

14 February 2007 – Cleveland, Ohio, is the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Among other things.

That’s how you sing Amazing Grace. This is not the way I thought I’d spend Valentines Day. One year ago tonight I met Joanna Horton at a belated housewarming/not-Valentines Day party at our flat. Today I am sitting in the Cleveland airport, which is shut, making it little more than a menagerie for stranded travelers. It’s good to watch people; it makes you more aware of humanity. Especially when the weather’s bad. The Chestertonian adage is true: good conversations are started by the weather, for we are all equal in the sight of God and the weather. Mixed in with us human baggage are a half-dozen sparrows that flew in from somewhere (insert Northwest joke here), and eyed me while I ate my lemon-poppy seed muffin. Note to self: eating too many of these may cause me to fail drug tests.

The flight, which last night was scheduled to leave at 7:20 this morning, was delayed semi-indefinitely around 7, with the airport closing around 7:30. The promised weather updates at 7:45 and 8:15 still have yet to be announced at 9, though a simple look out the 30-foot windows at the blowing whiteness is indication enough of what’s going on. Watching the ground crew spin their wheels futilely trying to back the plane away from the gate also gave some indication of why we’re not in the air. Luckily, there are plenty of electrical outlets, so I can camp out outside the men’s room and type.

9:15. Must go see if there are currency exchange stands and get some cash. My bank card has decided it doesn’t like my PIN. I’ve never gotten money out with it before; I have no idea what the new/original PIN is. Oh well, I have 60,000 yen in my pocket which should get me at least another cup of coffee at Starbucks. Now I just need to find a Traveldex. It’s still pure white outside, and they’re promising us an update at 10:30. Bliss.

15 February

I'm back in Minnesota, safe and sound. Updates to come.