Travel Before Travel

In a way, you could say my epic train trip vacation started early. I just got home last night from a trip to Florida to see my parents. I was supposed to have left September 1st, but due to a mechanical error, my flight got delayed until the 2nd. My flight included a puddle jumper from NC to Dulles. Dulles was ridiculously large and it took forever for me to get from one side of the airport to another. My second flight was a large plane from Dulles to Tampa. We were packed in like sardines, and my anxiety was in full swing. It was not a pleasant flight.

After getting down there, the first priority was to get ready for the UCF football game. It was scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM, but thanks to the lovely Florida weather, it didn't start until 10:00 PM. The Ohio State football game (my family is all about the Buckeyes, due to being from Ohio and my sister and cousin graduating from there) started at 8:00 PM, so my mom's family all got together to watch that.

I got to see my godfather/uncle and meet his new puppy, Dudley. I got to see my aunt and uncle and told my aunt all about the Epic Train Trip. It was good to see family, and it was nice having someone else excited about my trip. I got tons of recommendations from her (and my cousin, who did her residency at a hospital in NYC) for things to do, places to eat, and stuff I absolutely have to do while I'm there.

Friday was another day of watching football. So was Saturday. And Sunday. Monday was a day of just relaxing. My "baby sister" and her kids came over to my parents' house and I got to hang out with them for several hours. It's always fun to see them. I also found out that I get to add a fun event to the Epic Train Trip. I scored tickets to a taping of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Tuesday was a day of preparing to go home. I did my laundry and packed everything up so that I could just turn around and repack for the big trip. My flight from Tampa to Dulles was scheduled for 6:45 PM. I remembered how panicked I was on the flight down and was able to change my seat to a first class ticket. More room. Less sardineness. I've never flown first class before, so it was a nice experience.

Dinner, Jack and Coke (after wine), and a movie about Ted Bundy… I may never travel with the peasants again.

The second plane (from Dulles to Greensboro) was full and was running late. They didn't have someone to push the puddle jumper from the gate so it was almost forty minutes late for taking off. We made a bit of time up in the air, but we still landed almost thirty minutes late. I also had the privilege of sitting next to a manspreader on that flight. When we arrived, there was no one to push the ramp up to the plane, so we had to wait another fifteen minutes to get off. By the time I got home it was almost 1:00 AM.

Whew!

So today I'll be toiling away packing for my trip. There's so much to plan for... two evening Broadway shows... a tv show taping... a boat ride in Boston to see whales... hopefully a nice, fancy restaurant in New York.

My excitement is through the roof!!