A Few More Thoughts - Post-Travel

I'm home now and back to work at AMETEK. I've decided that while it was nice to travel and go out to the customer for a visit, I would not want to be a jet-setter or outside sales person in a position where I have to fly all the time. All of my flights were delayed, and while the Atlanta airport has lots of places to eat... there's only so much reading and sitting on my rear quarters I can do in the course of a day before I start to go batty. Though I will say... I read one whole book and over half of another one purely on airport/flying time. I guess two full days of that will do that though.

I have to share though that I kind of sort of had a Ben Stiller "Meet the Parents" moment on my last flight. Because the planes that I was on were CRJs, or Canadair Regional Jets, they were significantly smaller than your average Boeing 737. As a result of that, the overhead compartments were also smaller. The carry-on that I bought at Wal*Mart before I left was just small enough to fit in the overhead bin without any issues, so I was able to avoid the planeside valet service on my baggage (I really wasn't interested in doing anything besides leaving the gate and getting to my next flight, or the hotel, or home as quickly as possible). I had no issue on my first 3 flights with bringing it on, however on my last flight the airport dude put a little pink tag on my bag anyways. He didn't even ask, just reached over and put it on.

I said to him, "This fits in the overhead bin. I've already been on 3 flights on the CRJs with it and haven't had any issue." He said, "OK... well, just incase." I walk past the bag collector-man and continue on to the plane.

As soon as I get up the plane steps the flight attendent sees my pink tag and tries to take my bag from me. And I mean grabbed the bag and tried to pull it away from me. I again said, "I've brought this on 3 CRJ flights now, and I haven't had a problem with the overhead bin. I'd really prefer NOT to check it." She said, "Well, we have a full flight so there might not be room." Like the other 3 flights on a 34-seater plane WEREN'T full flights. I said, "That's fine. I'd rather check first."

Sure enough - PLENTY of room. I could have brought 2 bags there was so much room. I really didn't want to have to hug the bag and tell her she'd have to pry it from my cold dead hands. Blah.

Other thoughts:

- I remember being a kid and wondering what it would be like to be up close to a cloud. I first flew in March 2004, and I have to say that seeing the clouds through the window is what fascinates me most about flying. Now I want to touch one, I'd like to sit on one but I don't think that's possible. You'd fall right through.

- The downside to travelling by yourself is that there's a decent chance you'll end up sitting next to annoying people. I'm at 50% annoying people for my trip. It also makes way for some lonely breakfasts and dinners.

- There's nothing more frustrating than thinking you're going to be leaving soon, and as soon as your stuff is all gathered and together your flight has been delayed. Again. Then looking down and realizing that you've been in that airport for 6 hours, which is twice as long as you were supposed to be there. And a flight that was supposed to leave AFTER your flight that's going to the same place leaves before yours. Yeah that's annoying.

- I've added another beenie bear to the "Bears from where I've been" collection.

- It's kind of fun when you're flying to look out the window and see if you can figure out where you are.

- Appropriately: There's no place like home.


Side Note: Don't forget to visit Mags' and Greg's blogs for the Top Chef vote and Greg's Thursday Questions!
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Current Music: Christina Aquilera, "Ain't No Other Man"