~ The Man Report ~~~~~~~~~2007~~~~~~~~~~~ Home Sweet Home ~~~~~
Three things really irritate me about airline travel:
1). The move to smaller airplanes.
2). Rude passengers who “hog” the toilets too long.
3a). In small airports, all the airlines
landing around the same time.
3b). The different rules at all the TSA security lines.
3d). The lack of a
KFC at any airport in the USA. There’s a McDonalds every 21 feet!
3c). Those stupid
automatic flushing toilets at the airport that always flush down my plastic toilet seat cover “just” as I’ve got it right and am moving into position.
But I digress…
Landing in Bozeman was a touch turbulent (we bounced 30’ in the air upon touching down
), but at least we were in Montana. It was 1:30 p.m., and as we taxied to the gate, I noticed three “other” aircraft already parked at their gates.
Most of you are probably thinking,
“So What?” In Billings and in Bozeman, there are only 4 gates total (one for each airline serving the airport) and to have all the planes show up at the same time is mass chaos… it’s even worse if your plane is the last of the four to land!
We happily depart the aircraft as we’re back in our own state. We “could” be stuck in Denver for another 9 hours or even overnight! At least we’re closer to home.
I have a distribution facility in Bozeman so I called the Manager and had him book us a rental car from National. I wasn’t sure how many that were supposed to be going to Billings were on this flight and I wanted to make sure I got a car before they were sold out. These little airports sell out of rental cars all the time.
As we approach the baggage claim area, Pooh and I look at each other in disbelief then look back to the MASS of people waiting for luggage. There are two baggage claim carousels in Bozeman and we have to fight our way thru the throng of people to even get close to carrousel #1.
Bozeman is a huge resort (and college) town. It’s spring break and there are tons of skiers and snow boarders waiting for their equipment. I’ve never really seen such a mess in all my years of travel.
Those that arrived before us were gathering their massive bags of ski gear and towing it towards the door, mauling anyone in their way including poor Loud Girl.
A couple of times Trey escaped from us and Pooh had to track and hunt him down. She’s pretty good at it & never gives up until she finds him.
I would've just figured him lost and gone on as a three-member family.
We knew our bags probably wouldn’t be out for quite a while (if ours even made the flight at all). I went to National rental car and received the keys to our car which I tossed to Pooh and told her to herd Moan Boy into it and keep him caged up. Loud Girl and I would wait for the bag. My patience was waning.
One hour later, still no bag, and still bags rolling on the carousel. The crowd had thinned to half of what was there initially so it had calmed down significantly. I looked around and recognized a lot of the people who had been in line for the toilet on the plane so I knew our bags hadn’t come out yet. Many of them were also looking at me. I wonder why?
Finally, after close to an hour, our flight’s bags started rolling off as I witnessed many of my fellow passengers grabbing theirs. My “baby blue” Kirkland wheely was still nowhere to be seen.
I figured the bag wouldn’t make it and that I’d then have to go stand in line with the ONE gate agent from United on duty to try to make arrangements to get it to Billings should it ever reappear. At this point I’m actually considering to abandon the bag and just jump in the car and roll home…
Loud Girl yells, “There it is, Daddy”. She was correct! Ours had just rolled thru the hole in the wall and was in plain view. I ran over and grabbed it, with a lot of relief, then drug it and Loud Girl out to locate the rest of the family.
We had a little tan Mercury “something-or-other” that looked like it could have been an OldsmoBuick. I didn’t care as it was transportation home.
We loaded up, hit the interstate, and headed to Billings.
I set the cruise on about 88 mph and we motored on down the road.
After
15 minutes, the kids were asking when we’d be home. This was going to be long trip. On top of that, Moan Boy kept trying to open his door while at top speed! I finally pulled over and had mom click the safety switch to keep them locked in.
We listened to music, looked at the scenery, and enjoyed the ride while talking about our vacation. It was a pleasant drive home and didn’t take long at all.
I pulled in the driveway, kicked the family out, then headed towards the Billings airport to turn in the car and retrieve mine which I’d parked in the short term lot.
I guess my wife set the alarm off and had to talk to the security company. She then turned the kids loose in the yard and went to work like a busy beaver on the suitcase. She’s all “nester” that woman.
I returned home with my car and helped her by posting a quick note on this thread telling you all we were back and by breaking out the Legos and making an awesome space ship with my new
Lego “guy”.
After my spaceship was complete I took it to Pooh to receive her praise and she said, “Uh, little help would be nice”. Women, there’s just no pleasing them.
I helped out by popping a jug of wine and relaxing on the couch. It was a long trip and I needed a break.
After she got everything put away, she ran to the store for food then prepared our dinner (stir fry) using the new Chop Wizard. I’m sure she’ll have more on this part.
Dinner was excellent and so was the wine. We unwound in the basement after having put the children to bed. They fell asleep in minutes.
We watched part of a movie then got to spend a GREAT night resting in our own bed. Ahhhh… we were home!
Next Up: My Big List of Grievances
DH finally came into the room to find out what was so funny. He was just in time for me to show him Buzz's dance move pictures.
me waiting for the rest of the reports.
But Buzz really brings it out of me! I swear, I laugh like that everyday. It's a great feeling! At the end of the day, if I haven't laughed like that, I think of something funny and crack myself up. I love to laugh!
(Besides, his green light is on.)
This is wonderful! 
