[SunBear]

My husband works in Hawaii and this week I planned to come visit him. Yesterday I had a crazy ordeal at the airport. I posted this on my blog too, but thought I'd share here...

Flight left at 9:45am
I got there at 9:11 am
11 minutes too late to check my big suitcase. OMG. Saga begins!

The next flight did not leave until 3:30 but it was full, had a lay over, and I would have to go stand by. So basically I HAD to get on my plane or wait another day… maybe more. I have not seen my husband in 2 weeks. I was not waiting another day. And I had to get through security to the gate (the VERY last gate in the VERY last concourse in the whole airport - what are the odds?) in 30 minutes.

After begging for the ticketing agent to check my bag and she wouldn’t budge, I ran to the airport post office. Damn. It was not open until 9:30 am and shipping my things back home would take more than 15 minutes so I would miss my flight.

So I ran through the lobby looking for a store that sold bags. I bought a small duffle bag that would pass for a carry-on and transferred the most important things (like a crazy woman on the floor of this store, the poor clerk trying to help me with panties and shoes and bathing suits). I threw away half my clothes, all my expensive Kérastase hair products, my expensive face wash… my Brookstone nap blanket and pillow my husband gave me for Christmas… probably over $500 of my things! Oh - I had to throw away my nice Samsonite suitcase too!

I ran through the airport lugging everything in my hands (2 heavy bags and my computer). Some nice people in the security line let me cut (I was crying at this point… 12 minutes left) and the security guy came over, tapped me on the shoulder, and escorted me to the back of the line!!!!! He gave me some power-trip speech about only I controlled whether I missed my flight. I got through security at 9:40 (5 minutes left). I took the train to the very last terminal. It’s now 9:45 and I am losing hope. By this point I had thought I missed the flight. I had no energy left. There were two escalators to the gates (2 story escalators) and one was broken. The other was packed. So I decided to run up the stopped escalator 2 floors with about 60 pounds of stuff. I made it half way, thighs burning, and felt like I was on the amazing race. I could barely walk at the top. I round the corner to my gate and the gate agent runs to great me, calls back and says “We’ve got her”.
They were waiting for me! I was barely able to breathe.

So I was last on the flight, missing half my things, sweating and heaving, totally embarrassed, but I made it!!! It was all worth it when I saw my husband. And then we went to the beach and everything was fine. Ahhhhh. So glad to be here!

My muscles are SORE today. I had a mega workout.

The best part, diet-wise is I managed to stay on South Beach yesterday. It was hard but totally happy I did. I brought celery, llc, almonds, and snap peas on the plane to munch on. I ate the side salad from lunch, which was the only thing I could eat. They served a sandwich later and I ate the turkey and cheese only - left the bread, chips, and cookies behind even though they looked so good! When I got to Hawaii we went out to dinner and I ordered a plain grilled fish with plain broccoli. I also drank a ton of water. It was a crazy but good day

[bargoo]

Gee whiz! What airport was this? When I purchase airline tickets they tell me to be at the airport 2 hours early and I follow their advice and have time for a cup of coffee and to read the paper before boarding.

[canadian mom]

Wow! at least you made it. I am laughing picturing you running around like a chicken with it's head cut off and what the faces of the other people looked like.

[SoulBliss]

I am sorry you had to throw so many valuable things away.

I hope that the trip and seeing you sweetie was great!

[rosequeen]

Glad you made it, SunBear. It would have been a miserable day in the airport waiting for an overbooked flight and only half your stuff!!

Airline industry calls you a "runner" Once you were checked in; if the ticket agent is feeling kindly, he'll phone the gate and tell those agents you are coming. If the system is working, the gate agent will call the cockpit crew and let them know you are coming. So we know that we cannot shut the door until the runners are on board, seated and belted in. (have had it where we had shut the door and then dispatch called over the radio and said that we had two people coming -- OOPS)

FYI, once you are on the plane, take your time and catch your breath. The delay is already input into the computer so it doesn't really matter if you take a minute or two to get situated. At least from the cockpit crew's point of view. We've already taken the hit (for the delay) so to speak and you'll have a better experience if you get your book and towel (for your sweat) out of your bag before you put it in the overhead

[SunBear]

rose- that is so interesting! I had NO idea they would wait. I totally thought they would just leave me! I was thrilled when I realized they were waiting for me. What an ordeal. Anyway, Hawaii is great and I have been doing an amazing job staying on SB Phase 1. I am committed!

Today we ate out for lunch and dinner. For lunch I ordered the grilled chicken salad with olive oil and vinegar and for dinner grilled shrimp (hold seasonings) and double broccoli sides. It is hard, but not that hard. The worst part was watching my husband eat a burger and fries for lunch and bread and potato at dinner Lucky guy, he's lean and all muscle and has the metabolism of a 13 year old! Not fair.

oh, I also bought the SB Guide to Dinning Out - great pocket book!!