2009 March 12 « Daniel Gonzales Blog

Rough Start

March 12, 2009 at 12:26 am (Uncategorized)

Man, we have had a busted (very rough) start to this trip to Carolina! It all started when Celeste and I arrived at the airport. We were booked for a Continental flight and happened to park on the complete opposite side from the Continental check in. After hauling our bags all the way there we talk to the lady and she says “I’m sorry your flight has actually been booked with Northwest Airlines although it says Continental on your confirmation page.” So we ran back to the opposite side of the airport and the Northwest airlines person scans Celeste in and she’s ready to go. Then she scans my confirmation number and it brings up no information! I even have the receipt for the purchase and it brings up no info! Dumb! So Celeste and I go back and forth with the lady but the plane is gonna board in like 5 minutes so I sent Celeste to board so at least one of us will make it. In the mean time I’m working with the lady to get on that flight! It takes 20 minutes to finally get her to make some calls and get me a boarding pass! So I got the pass and had to run like the wind to get to the plane but I made it…but the plane isn’t taking off. Why, you ask? Because the tech crew miscounted the luggage. The flight was delayed 45 minutes because the tech crew can’t count! At least that’s what the captain said.

Finally we are up in the air and we land with 7 minutes left until our flight flies out (much less boards). So we are ready to run as soon as they open the doors………………………..problem is they can’t get the bridge driver to come. It takes four minutes and three phone calls from the captain for the bridge driver to show up! Celeste and I are sweating bullets! The door opens and we have three minutes but our Gate is on the other side of the airport (Go figure). So we are running as fast as we can and hyperventilating but determined to get there…and we did! But they closed the doors already and will no longer let us on our flight. It’s 2:21pm and they tell us they can put us on the next flight at 7:40pm! Problem is that Jason and Paul are flying in at the same time we would have but now they would have to wait until 10pm to pick us up…we are trying to convince the ppl to let us board but they won’t. Then Celeste looks out the window and the plane is still there and it’s fueling! Fueling! Not taking off! We tell them and they still won’t let us board! The plane is literally right in front of us and not going anywhere for the next 7 minutes but we can’t get on it. Finally I sit down and begin pondering the reality that we will be spending the next 5 hours in this airport but Celeste started praying and it isn’t 2 min later that the lady comes back and says “Let’s move quickly to the tarmac and get u on the plane!” So we take off and walk across the tarmac and were able to board the plane…Thank You God! We were sweaty and exhausted and hungry and thirsty and stressed but we were on the plane. When we landed Paul and Jason were there to meet us…finally it was over…or was it. As we are waiting on our luggage we find out that Paul’s luggage was lost! No clothes or toiletries!

So we spent the evening looking for a starbucks but there aren’t any in Anderson, SC. Busted! There are 4 Wing Restaurants within 3 miles of each other and 3 Game Stops but no Starbucks! Just a Chili’s and Walmart! So guess what we did tonight? We ate at Wing Zone, Dessert and Coffee @ Chili’s and spent the rest of the night @ Walmart shopping for clothes and toiletries for Paul to have for tomorrow! I feel bad for the dude but he is in high spirits. It was a busted start to the trip but i have a GREAT feeling that tomorrow (The Unleashed Conference) will be AMAZING! I have a feeling that all the fuss will be worth it! I have attached some pics of us @ Walmart – the place to be in Anderson, SC!