AlexandNessa
<font color=red>Proud Redhead<br><font color=green
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2003
- Messages
- 5,407
The Cast:
Me: Jodie, 32. The quasi-planner this trip. Mike does not like plans. Actually, he just really doesnt like schedules. I tried to accommodate him this trip. If youre in to spur of the moment, you might actually enjoy our vacation.
Mike: 36. Tired of just tell me where and when to show up and what to bring, I was not to make any PSs this trip. Well, I was allowed one plan but he agreed to it well in advance.
We are finally engaged after 5 years of dating, and happy to share that with anyone who will listen! See?! http://images.ofoto.com/photos1141/2/11/80/7/29/1/129078011205_0_ALB.jpg
Since this is our last trip to Universal for some time, be prepared for some excruciating details. Humor me as I savor every moment!
Our day begins at about 3:30 am. It always seems like a good idea at the time to book the first flight of the day out of ABE (Allentown, PA) to MCO. With one connection, this typically gets us to the RPR by noon. We had a 6:30 AM flight.
This is the last time well see 6:30 AM for the remainder of our trip
We arrived at the airport to find that Mike has an SSSS on his ticket. I wasnt able to check him in online the night before as I was myself. This should have been the first clue.
We learned that SSSS stood for Super Special Secret Shakedown.
Had I known this, Id have emptied his pockets and taken his carry-on for my own! This took at least 20 minutes. I understand this is a post 9/11 world, but Mikes Shakedown gave me time to bear witness to a very grandmotherly looking woman who was also given the SSSS.
Seems they didnt like her laptop. They kept having her turn it on and sending it through the scanners. She was very upset, and kept asking, Oh no, am I on some kind of list now? Will I be stopped again on my way home? This is very unsettling. What is the matter? Are you going to confiscate my laptop? I have it to e-mail my grandkids from vacation. They tried to calm her down, but she was upset.
I was upset watching this spectacle.
Mike was oblivious and asked if he could be shook down by the skinny hot security girl instead of the fat guy with too tight pants.
Ok, he didnt. He wanted to, but my better half is smart enough to keep his mouth shut!
We board the plane on-time, but Im a little edgy at 6:28 when everyone is boarded and I dont hear any engines, and they are making no plans to begin safety announcements. Mike tells me to calm down.
I am calm. I just know that were delayed.
No, were not.
Just then, the Pilot comes on the loudspeaker.
Told you.
Not enough hydraulics. They contract out maintenance in Allentown, so not only will we have to hope and pray that maintenance will respond to a call out, were also hoping its a quick and easy fix once maintenance gets here.
So, we sat aboard this tiny commuter plane for a full hour and 40 minutes before taking off.
Dont you just love how they say theyre going to make you comfortable while youre sitting aboard this tiny cramped plane out in the runway with no inkling of when it will actually take off?
Do you know what comfortable means to Delta on a Delta Connection Commuter Plane like this?
Coffee.
Too bad neither one of like coffee in the morning.
Mike found the Delta magazine, and we did the crossword together. I helped in between reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. Id interject with funny passages from the book. We finished the crossword puzzle fairly easily, and Mike said,
Now, I dont like you.
Nonplussed and unfazed, I begin rattling off all the reasons that was rather unfortunate since I could quite possibly get worse with age, with saggy things in all the wrong places, hearing loss, washing my old gray hair once a week
What the frig are you talking about?
Im just reviewing all the reasons why its too bad you dont like me anymore since I waited 5 years for this ring and youre not getting it back.
What?
You said you didnt like me now.
I SAID, Now what am I gonna do?
Oh.
He had already moved on to the next Delta puzzle, matching up TV characters with their dogs. Out of things to do and still very bored, Mike moved on to the childrens crossword about animals.
Honey, I need a 3 letter word that ends in e. Birds fly in it.
Birds fly in the SKY.
Doesnt fit.
Let me see. 12 Down: pretty and likes flowers. Bumblebee??
Bumblebees are pretty, and they like flowers.
Bumblebees are not pretty. They sting. Stinging is not pretty. Stinging can kill people.
Bumblebees are bright and striped and handsome.
Why dont you try Butterfly instead?
Oh.
He stewed for a bit.
Does this mean 20,000 people on the DISBOARDs are going to hear about this?
No, just the 10 left on the Universal Trip Reports Board.
This seemed to settle him.
We were able to call Tiffany Town car to let them know that although our flight from Atlanta to Orlando would very likely be on time, we would not be on it. But we didnt know what flight wed be on yet.
No problem. Just give us a call when you know.
Finally, we have lift off and were headed to Atlanta! Yippee!
We arrive safely in Atlanta and are despaired to see the insanely long line at the customer service counter. What flight have we been rebooked on? Im not waiting around any more today! We called Delta on 800-221-1212. Ever try telling voice recognition lady your confirmation number?
Say your confirmation number one character at a time.
Q
Does that mean you dont know?
No.
My mistake. Lets try again. Please say your confirmation number one character at a time.
Q, N
Does that mean you dont know?
This went on for about 10 minutes, when voice recognition lady finally gave up:
For the love of God, Ill just connect you with an agent.
Yeah, we finally know what flight were on! But, she cant give us seat assignments. Now its just a quick call to Tiffany to let them know our new flight number.
We trek 8 million feet to the other end of the airport. We approach our gate and we hear something about $50 upgrades. We didnt catch the whole thing.
Some crabby Delta lady gives us crummy seats. In the back of the plane. In the middle. Mike looks at me, and asks, Are you going to be OK? knowing that this would not be a good seat for me after sitting on a commuter plane for 3.5 hours.
Gulp. Ill be fine.
Good, Im going to head to the bathroom to change into shorts.
Alone and stewing, I get the nerve to approach crabby Delta lady.
Im sorry, what did you say about $50 upgrades?
You can upgrade to business class for $50 a ticket. Do you want to do it?
Lets put this into perspective. This is an hour long flight. Thats $100 an hour. Have I spent $100 in an hour on worse things? Yup!
Sold.
I quite proudly move us from row 92 to row 10.
Ok, Im not quite sure they had a row 92, but thats what it seemed like.
Mike came back from the bathroom, and Im waving our new boarding passes in his face like an idiot. He thinks Im just excited to be this close to the RPR.
I tell him its my turn to go change and leave him sitting at the gate.
I come back, and he says, Do you know we can upgrade our tickets to Business Class for $50? Will that make you feel better? Do you want to do it?
Amateur. Never leave a panicked woman alone with a credit card.
We board, and Mike decides this is the life, and we should ONLY fly business class or first class anymore. I explain that theres usually a $1000 2000 difference in ticket price. He says, I hear our bonuses are going to be good this year.
Remember our mindset. It comes into play again in about two hours.
There we are seated in our comfy seats with lots and lots and lots of room and head rests and foot rests and private TVs and totally reclining chairs. Near an EXIT ROW. When, all of a sudden, a most lovely Delta attendant brings me a napkin and asks, What can I get you to drink?
Do you know how much I would love a Bloody Mary right now?
A Bloody Mary? Certainly. You, sir?
Nothing for me, thanks.
Quietly now, after the attendant is gone. Are you nuts? Are you going to make me drink enough for the both of us? Its almost noon!
Jodie, Im tired. Im in a reclining and comfortable chair on an airplane for once in my life. Can you find me a pillow?
Hmphhh. I am enjoying my Bloody Mary, when another pleasant Delta attendant notices my book (still on the Curious Dog), and we have a nice chat about it. Book Club in Business Class. She came back immediately after take off and replenished my Bloody Mary. I liked her.
Then she helped me with my head set and TV so I could watch Friends for 40 minutes.
Then she gave me one more Bloody Mary.
Thats 3 Bloody Marys in just under an hour. Keep this in mind too.
We reluctantly get off the plane, but take solace that we can now see our Tiffany driver.
And, he can still provide us with our grocery stop! You see, as wed only booked a Water View Room at the RPR, wed have to create our own Beer Oclock in the room, using one of the garbage cans as a big ice bucket. First Class.
We stock up on three 6-packs of Miller Lite (keeping in mind this is a 6 day/5 night trip), munchies, and water. We forgot Mikes Diet Coke. Well deal with that later.
Stayed tuned for Day 1, part 2!
Actually that is kinda sad 
But just the same since I'm one of the 10, I'm a happy camper
So please dont make us wait long...which brings me back to....
, er I mean yep! I closed out explorer and reopened it. Very nice & impressive. Nothing says love like a large diamond! Congrats.
