the long and winding road

As I have done a few times over the last 6 or so years, I fly down to visit my sister and her family in San Diego for Christmas. And in doing so, I fly buddy pass because my brother in law is a pilot for Delta Airlines. For those who don't know what that means, I'll try to explain.

It means he can purchase discounted tickets for friends and family and they can fly places.

Hm, I guess that was easier to explain than I thought.

However, there is one catch. You are considered a "non rev(enue)", and will almost always go behind paying customers on standby. The vast majority of the time, that plays little in the trip. I usually make the flights on the day I was assigned. This time, I wasn't so lucky.

It started on Friday. I told people at work (including those who deal with our scheduling) that I was going to fly down on Friday, and therefore, miss work. That was my first mistake, it meant I couldn't call at 3 AM, "coughing" and claim I wanted to take a sick day. That's not the end of the world, and considering I get the next two + weeks off (I work in a school), whats one less days pay in an already small paycheck for December?

So, I get to the airport around 9. Go through security, and say goodbye to my checked in bag. So I'm left with my carry on bag, with 1 change of clothes plus my cameras and not much else. I also have my laptop bag and iPod.

The first plan arrives, and I'm waiting for my name to be called. Nothing. I keep waiting, and keep waiting. I call my sister, who can access the information I need to see what my chances are of making the flight. Turns out I was the last person on the list, and missed it by 1 person.

No big deal. Until my sister tells me had I made that flight, I would've made 1st class on the second half of the flight (Delta doesn't fly directly from Portland to San Diego, but instead makes a stop in Salt Lake City. SLC is one of Deltas hubs, and almost all of their flights seem to stop in SLC).

So I go over to where the next flight will be leaving from. The flight leaving from D5 is headed for Japan. I would like to point out that I was listening to selected pieces from The Mikado, and that it did make me chuckle.

After that flight leaves, I now prepare myself for the next flight, which should come in around 12:45 or so. I go over to the message board which shows incoming flights and departing flights. I notice that the incoming flight from SLC, which is the plane I'm going to take TO SLC, is delayed. So I call my brother in law, who tells me that it could be a major mechanical error, or a minor error. Could be 30 minutes, could be 3 hours.

Because I had only eaten a quick McDonalds breakfast, and didn't think of bringing anything to eat WITH me, I break down and buy a Wendys lunch. Their "Spicy" chicken. Not spicy at all.

And I sit.

And sit.

Thankfully, I have my iPod with me and PDX offers free wifi. That way I can listen to a couple local Portland stations, and keep in contact with friends and family on Facebook. I can even do a little stalking, since the IP address won't be mine but from an airport...but I realize saying that just outed myself (but since I didn't actually do it...).

And I sit. I do a little people watching. There's a strange looking guy who is following another guy around and even went into the bathroom after the one guy said he was going to the bathroom. There was a gentleman who kept passing gas repeatedly to my left. Finally, the plane takes off from SLC and is on its way to PDX. 3 hours after it's initial departure time, it is seen driving up to our gate.

The gate attendants let us know it's arrived, and that they will be loading us as quick as possible. It even turns out that chances are really good I might make the flight! Woo!!!

And so it starts..."Delta flight # 1731 is ready to announce pre-loading for our Medallion members and 1st class"...some people start to head up to the doors. But the attendants are all looking intently at the computer screen. They're picking up the red phone...

The departure time all the sudden changes from 3:00 to 3:45. Ok, 45 minutes, no big deal . So I call my sister, and she checks on the flight. And as she's doing it, it changes again. This time to 6:30. Then 7:30.

Then they announce that they can't be loading and that for those who are headed for a second destination (and not just SLC) to check in and they would try to transfer you to another flight that leaves around 6:30. For me, that'd be perfect because I'd be able to get into SLC early enough that I could run to make the 2nd leg of my flight. So I transfer myself over to the later flight and head over to the new gate.

And wait. And sit. And wait and sit. Finally, the time approaches. It's time for pre-boarding! they make the announcement for Medallion members and 1st class...no mechanical issues announced. Hazah! Things might be going good!

Knowing what I know about flying standby, I know not to expect much. I know to be super polite (I am anyway) and thank the attendants for the help they offer (even if I get screwed). More and more people are loading on the plane, and they start making the "final boarding call" for people.

Some people are showing up, some aren't. Those who are ahead of me on the standby list are making the flight. The closer we get to the take off time, the better my chances are becoming. Before I know it, they're announcing the "Final Boarding call" for 2 paid customers. Nothing....

I quickly call my sister, and have her check the flights. She says if these people don't show up, I make the flight! And the flight into San Diego is WIIIIIDE open.

So they make another announcement. "This is your final boarding call, Mr and Mrs Sven Svenson..."

I go look into the concourse, and I see an elder couple walking towards our gate.

Yep, that's they're the two seats left.

So once they get on the plane, they try to figure out who can transfer over the the next flight, but I tell them there is no way I can because I wouldn't make the flight out to San Diego in time. So...I go home and try it again the next day.

Spent 10 hours at the airport, AND missed out on work (we had a Christmas party too).

Finally

After many months, and countless newly created swear words, I finally have a working Volvo.

Turns out, the starter I had bought (which was re-manufactured) was a piece of crap. And, furthermore, a friend of mine gave me the starter he had from his 45 year old Volvo Amazon, and it works fine.

I did, however, fry my radio. Which sucks because it was a nice radio. And on top of that, the one I replaced (while nice) isn't as nice as the one I had. But I couldn't afford the one that was as nice as mine. I just needed to have music again on my way into work. Listening to the car engine, or the music coming out of the small speaker on my iPod, was just too much.

I'd like to figure out how to get my old stereo fixed, but in the process of seeing if I could fix it, a spring came out. And I'm not sure where it came from. I have the number of a place that might be able to fix it, but it might not be worth the cost.

Why do I have a picture of my truck on this blog? Well, simple reader, it's because I was bored and I wanted to add a photo of my 2nd vehicle I ever owned (and drove no more than 5 miles). Why is it up at the top instead of down here? Because I sure as hell can't figure out how to move it. Also, it's not my current truck.

That and I can't fin any other pictures of the other cars I've owned (I have none of my first car).