Adventures in Travel - part 1

Day 1-3

Ugh, so the travel fairies are totally against me flying to Arkansas.  

Here's the post I made about my trip from last January.

In that post are links to the previous year

The Spouse had been at his Mom's house in Hot Springs since the middle of June and the plan was for me to fly down there and drive back with him - spending our 20th anniversary out on the road somewhere.  We didn't care where - just together (and alone!)!

So my flight was supposed to leave Flint, MI on June 3 at 5:30pm. have a layover in Chicago, then on to Little Rock, landing at 9:40pm.  

Since this was a one way trip, Sis1 drove me to the airport.

Delay

Delay

Delay

Delay

Weather / air traffic control management / lack of flight crew were the reasons I got.

Friday's flight supposedly ended up leaving Flint at 11:15am on the 4th. 

When it went from 8:10pm to 1:15am is when I chatted with someone at American Airlines whose name looked like a cat walked over the keyboard.  

I rebooked my flight for the 4th, leaving at the same time (this a regional shuttle between Flint & Chicago)

At least I was able to go to Mom's house and watch the 4th of July parade with the family. 

Granddaughter was excited that she could go out in the road and not get yelled at!

We also let off some fireworks in the street outside our house. 

and filled up the yard with smoke!

The Spawn had taken the grandkids to see some real fireworks and they are still young enough to dislike the loudness and crowds.  The sparkler fountain ones on the ground were more their speed. 

However, the notifications started at 1pm.

Delay

Delay

Delay

Delay

Last I saw, when the delays made it to 10pm, they just cancelled the flight.

But first, since I missed my flight from Chicago to Little Rock, they rebooked me for the 5th with a 9-hour layover in Dallas / Fort Worth!  Aw hell naw!!

If it had been Houston, I would have called up my friends who live there and hung out with them for a few hours.  But not Dallas.

This time Sis1 found an actual phone number for American Airlines and I was able to talk to a human and rebook AGAIN for the 5th.

 

I was sort of torn.  I looked at flights leaving Detroit for Little Rock on a different airline, which there was a very early one, however it had a short layover in Nashville.  I've been to Nashville twice and both times were a disaster!   So I was hoping 3rd time was a charm leaving Flint. 

So we went back to Sis1's house, and while I stayed at her house Friday night, this time I wanted to go home.  I'd sent most of my clothes with the Spouse, so I had no pjs, underwear or toothbrush with me and instead of doing laundry again and stewing in my anxiety and stress (and the fact a storm we'd gone thru had knocked out her power) I went home. 

This wasn't even the bad storm!

So instead of having Sis1 deal with driving me again me as well as fighting with a generator, etc - I had the Spawn drive me to the airport.  That way I could leave my car at home and it wouldn't be as obvious that she was home alone. 

So third time was indeed a charm.  Although I didn't get my preferred seats that I paid extra for - at least I got on to leave actually ON time and actually made it to Little Rock a few minutes early. 

Hooray!

a Guilt-Free HodgePodge

It's been a while since I've posted (vacation + the stress that happens before and after said vacation!) so that means I also need to do a catchup post!  

But first....today's Hodgepodge!  Thanks again to Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for putting this linkup together! 

Here we go...

1. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." Sam Keen
Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January? Elaborate.

Yes.  Winter is a time for hibernation, but summer with the longer days seems to be a never-ending list of things to do - mowing the lawn, taking care of gardens, the grandkids want to play outside, etc, etc, etc.    

2. What's a telltale sign you're upset?

Internally, I can feel my AFib start to flare up and I have to suppress the urge to scream or cry.  I might slam things around or just want to growl and shake things.   I might also be confusing upset with mad! 

 I'm usually pretty quiet in groups, since I have the talent where the middle of my sentences interrupts the beginning of other people's (meaning I get talked over all the time and idk why! So, I just don't talk)

3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposely used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative?

I don't think I've had a whole lot of AI experience that I know of! The fact that there is AI has made me a lot more cautious - like it's sometimes hard to tell if a photo is real or not or something was written by a real person.  I can also see some benefit to having it but I can also see where people would abuse it.  

The Spouse's work is wanting to start using AI for computer programming, but he's not excited since it will be harder to fix mistakes in a program when you don't know what it did to create the mistake! 

4. You're invited to a summer potluck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing?

I was just in this situation yesterday!  The search & rescue team I volunteer on had a cookout with the county's Victim Services Unit (so we can get to know each other, more or less) I drew a blank on what to take, but once I got there, there were several interesting pasta salads and desserts that I never would have thought about making / bringing! 

5. It wouldn't be summer without___________________.

The Ice Cream Truck!   I'm sure the neighbors think we're weird (it's me, the Spouse, the Spawn and the 2 grandkids in my house) since whoever hears it first sends an "ICT" text to the rest of the family and we all come outside.  At least 2 people are in the back yard and 2 in the front, trying to figure out where it is and from which direction it'll be coming from.  It's also funny to hear one of the grandkids yelling that they "have a visual" when they see it on the next street over.   They totally got that from me!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Since it's almost lunch time as I write this - here's some food I had last week.  I love going to Mom & Pop type places that aren't chains.  

Grilled chicken strawberry salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. 

This was almost too pretty to eat!

But it got devoured. 

From the Apple Tree in Lapeer, MI

The "Supreme Spud" from Stubby's BBQ in Hot Springs, AR. 

A huge baked potato topped with brisket & pulled pork, baked beans and coleslaw. 

OMG. 

So good. 

this is a solid 3 meals. 

Biscuits & Chocolate Gravy

Cheesy grits & sausage patties

and sweet tea, of course!

from Phil's Family Restaurant in Hot Springs.

My first time having chocolate gravy - wasn't sure what I was expecting.  It's like lukewarm runny chocolate pudding but not as sweet as Jello pudding. 

Still a yummy breakfast, tho! 

 

Three Cheers for the HodgePodge

Happy July!!
What's funny is that I took this pic of daisies in Sis1's yard and a few minutes later, she got a text with the same pic... from Sis2!

Moving on to this week's HodgePodge, hosted by Miss Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond....

btw - Sorry about my link on the sign up!  I usually post while I'm at work so all my info is saved - I'm at home right now and clearly didn't fill out the linky correctly!

1. What do you love most about your country?

The variety. Have you seen the 2 British guys, Josh & Jase, who visited Michigan last winter? They documented their travels on Facebook. Seeing the state that I live in thru someone else's eyes, especially a non-American, really makes you appreciate what you got.


Going in a different direction - going back to 1992 when I enlisted in the Navy.... there was a moment standing in the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) in front of that flag, holding up my right and swearing to defend the Constitution of the US against all enemies -

it was the first time the enormity of what I was doing hit me.
Like a pang shot thru my heart as I realized that I just might have to give up my life for my country. That's a pretty deep thought for an 18 year old kid!

2. Your favorite patriotic song?

Courtesy of the Red White & Blue
of course!

3. Red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Something you own besides a US flag with some combination of those colors or decorations as part of its design?

Blue is my favorite color. Stars. And I have multiple pairs of patriotic earrings.

I almost forgot!  Next week is mine & the Spouse's 20th anniversary.  Our wedding colors were red, white & blue!  We had Michigan & Arkansas flags hanging behind the head table and we had little bowls of RWB M&Ms on the table. 

4. What's one thing you want more of this summer: fun, rest, adventure, connection, quiet, or confidence? Elaborate.

I'd like rest and/or quiet, but with the Spawn & grandkids in my house... that ain't happening. So let's go with fun & adventure.

5. What was your ultimate, go-to summer activity when you were a kid? Do you still do any version of that today? If you answered yes, does participating in this activity as an adult make you feel like a kid?

I went into a lot of detail in the last Hodge Podge. We spent summers "up north" and basically were only in the house to eat & sleep.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Hockey + Metallica + National Anthem
'Murica.

Also - since there's also been a lot of "Summerween" coming out in the stores, Tractor Supply (cursed be thy name, since they're getting WAY too much of my money again this year) has a bald eagle skeleton!!!!

I grabbed this off their website. I have already ordered & received one, but it came with 2 right wings. So I'm waiting to hear back from them what to do about this situation.
😠

But they also have a turkey skeleton!!
Placing order #2...