Background Info:
a) I had been in Mn since July 26th and was scheduled to leave on a 10:45 flight on 8/6 out of MSP through Northwest Airlines. As my dad has just finished chemotherapy, he was scheduled to have his port taken out of his chest (a small surgical procedure) on this morning as well. Due to Bachnick stubborness from multiple sources, the decision is reached that I will be dropped off at the airport at 7:45 so my dad and mom can make my dad's appointment on time.
b) On 8/5, my mom gives me money to take a cab home because she knows the information in part c
c) As much as I like to go to different places, I hate the actual process of traveling more than anything
d) This may be TMI (too much info) but I am PMSing and tired from waking up at 6am
Disaster #1, part 1: I arrive at the NWA self-service check-in around 7:45 and ask the man at the desk if I can get a disability seat (remember...still have a sprained ankle). He says he can help me with that and then informs me I am booked for 2 flights. The one at 10:45 and one at 10:05 which has a layover in Indianapolis. Oh shoot, he realizes. This is because my original flight (10:45) was canceled. Looks like I'll have to make that trip to Indianapolis, but don't worry. I'll only get in "an hour and a half later". Annoyed, I remind him I'd like a disability seat (which he had forgotten), get my boarding pass and leave.
Disaster #1, part 2: I call Scott to have him look online at the exact times I'll be arriving in Indianapolis and then when I'll arrive in NY. He informs me that my flight that leaves at 10:05 gets into Indianapolis at 12:45. However, my connecting flight from Indianapolis doesn't leave until 3:35 meaning I'll get into NY at 5:45. The jerk at the self-service desk was incorrect. I don't get in an hour an a half later than I'm supposed to. I leave Indianapolis an hour an a half after i was originally supposed to arrive in NY. I will get in 3 and a half hours later. I am irrate and have to monitor my swearing due to a small child next to me.
Narrative detail A: After roaming around the airport and buying souvenieres for my 2 favorite ladies at the Bronx VA (AL and AB), I see a woman at the podium at my gate. Long story short, she gets me onto a flight leaving MSP at 1:12 but its non-stop and arrives in NY earlier than the Indianapolis connection would. NWA is full of geniuses. I resign to attempt to make this an enjoyable reading day as I am reading an excellent novel called the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (highly recommended!)
Narrative detail B: Please note that I got this flight switched BEFORE 9am. We will return to this.
Narrative detail C: I wait in the airport for 5 and a half hours before boarding my flight. I sit in a disability seat which is great for the leg room. However, the guy on my left has no concept of elbow space and the guy on my right's breath smells like diapers. I am nauseated. However, both guys end up being quite friendly and I decide perhaps my troubles are over. Oh no no...not so fast....
Disaster #2, part 1: I am speaking with the man whose breath I originally thought smelled like diapers (though I didn't notice it at this time so I could have been wrong) by the baggage claim. He is from Mn who does some sort of flooring (he had a meeting about rock flooring...that is all I know) and has a nephew who went to Columbia and I am chatting with him about Scott and what it takes to get into Columbia. He keeps making comments about how he hasn't seen his bag yet and I am kind of blowing off these comments because I thought he was just trying to be interesting. Lo and behold...the baggage has circulated and neither of us have our bags. I am internally irrate. I stand in line for about 15-20 minutes to set up a delivery of my bags to our apartment and I attempt with all of my newly developed assertiveness to calmly tell the lady helping me I am very upset with the service and what has happened to me today. She was the worst complaint taker ever as she just basically babbled over my talking trying to tell me that I hadn't answered her question about where my bags were supposed to go originally. I finish with this completely unhelpful lady by getting the number I can complain to (Customer Service) and tapping my new Minnesota friend on the shoulder and telling him good luck. An airport employee tells me to have a good night as I walk out of the luggage office. I ignore him, unkindly and get into a cab.
Narrative detail D: The cab driver is an older white man which is actually pretty uncommon in NY, most cab drivers being of some ethnicity other than caucasian. Besides being white, he is also pretty close to deaf. I have to tell him about 5 times before he leaves what street I live on. (W105th). "HUH? 125th you say??" No Mr. Needs-a-hearing-aid-or-cochlear-implant...W105th. Finally he gets it and we depart from LaGuardia.
Disaster #2, part 2: While sitting in an unexpected bit of traffic, I attempt to call the customer service number the NWA luggage employee gave me to complain while I am still feeling angry enough not to burst into tears. I call and once I get through the automated recording, far enough to be directed to the comments department, I am promptly informed that due to "high call volume", my call cannot be taken but if I want, I can be given other ways of delivering my complaint. I hang up and fight tears all the wy to the city.
Narrative detail E: The cab driver tells me after the toll that he has to go a different way than he normally does to get me home because the usualy way is under construction and will have a lot of traffic. I actually check out this information to make sure I'm not getting swindled, and sure enough, 125th street, the usual cross town street to my place from LGA is under construction. At least this guy is trust worthy.
Disaster #3: I have been eyeing the pay meter in the cab all trip. This price seems to be going up more quickly than last time. This is when I realize that the last time I went home was at 10 or 11 pm. This is 5:45pm. I am in traffic, plus the detour...I'm not going to make it home with enough money to pay this cab driver. My mom gave me $30 for the usually $25 trip and I only have one extra buck in my purse. Neither of us thought this cab ride would cost more. I've heard horror stories about not being able to pay a cab driver and being notorious for not carrying cash, I wonder if this driver would be kind enoujgh to let me dig change out of my "piggy bank" (actually a "money cat" I call Chin from China town). On the verge of a panic attack (not really but high anxiety present) I ask the driver to drop me off at 5th and 98th because I know the crosstown bus stops there from my days at Mount Sinai. He says, and I quote "WHAT?", though I don't realize this is what he said until he is about to pass up this corner. I have to tell him about 5 times I want to get out of the cab. "OH! YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND??" He asks me. "Yes." I say. And promptly pay him all the money in my purse and get out of the cab. I stand on the corner of 5th and 98th waiting for the M96 bus, and who do I call? My mom. And my tears I've been holding in start coming though not at the rate they want to so I still keep my composure somewhat. The bus comes. It was the best transportation experience of my day. I got off at 96th and Broadway, thinking I can catch the M104 up to W 104th. However, it is not in sight and I am ready to get home. I limp my way (sprained ankle and all) up the 9 blocks and over 2 to my apartment.
Narrative detail F: I see a pile of bills on the couch when I enter. I open one fo be find I have been charged for 2 subscriptions to Entertainment Weekly instead of the 1 I requested as a gift for Scott for his birthday. I have had it. The tears start rolling. This incompetency has taken away my entire day. I finish off my day by watching True Hollywood Story on Hugh Hefner (actually quite interesting) and am relieved to see Scott walk in around 10:15.
UPDATE: This morning at 7:05, I received a call from some delivery service and I tell the man on the other line that he is my new best friend. He says its the best greeting he's heard all day. My bags will be delivered by noon, and while this will chip away at the few remaining leave hours I have from work, the sleep awaiting me now sounds pleasant. I believe today will be a bit more endurable than yesterday....
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