hey it's good to be back home again (yes it is)

Today's adventure with American Airlines was one for the books. Or at least the magazines. Maybe just those free periodicals they circulate near the subway stations.

Anyway... My 12:55 flight from O'Hare got pushed back and pushed back and pushed back until I almost missed it because I was in another terminal searching for TCBY. (The maps said it wasn't as far away as it really was. Liars!)

Then I got on the plane and sat there.

After about an hour, they said we had to get off the plane and sit in the terminal. Which was fine, because I never actually tracked down that TCBY, and I was getting hungry.

One panini and seventeen phone calls later, my 12:55 flight is now having a meeting at 4:00 to determine whether or not it will be cancelled. "If it isn't cancelled" said the airline, focusing on the positive, "we'll have a Wheels Up time of 6:20."

They say "Wheels Up" like it's the grand prize of some deranged game show.

Meanwhile... the cute guy at the end of my row? I did a show with him in college. Since he mentioned his fiancee to me in his first sentence, he must know how cute he is. Luckily, remembering who he was caused his cuteness to fade.

Somewhat. (Come on, it was a really long delay.)

Anyway, the plane finally (miraculously) left at 5:20. We were serenaded for the entire flight by a child who had NOT LEARNED TO USE HIS INSIDE VOICE. (My god, why aren't children like that dragged off the plane and shot?) We landed at 8:15 and by 9:15 I had my luggage and was on the Air Train.10:30 saw me walk through my front door, and now it's time for bed.

But isn't it funny how the last leg of your trip is the one that influences how you feel about your whole vacation? That's why I tried to stay positive during this whole thing. Because getting angry wasn't going to get me anywhere, and was likely going to ruin a really terrific vacational memory.

Further updates will follow. AND I THINK I WON'T USE MY INSIDE VOICE TO WRITE THEM!!!!