It’s only 9:30 in the morning and my day’s already off to a rocky start. It started by waking up earlier than I normally do so that I could take Irie to boarding and then head out to the airport to catch my flight to Orlando.
Dropping Irie off is never fun – especially when they go to take her back to her kennel and she lays down so they have to pull her and looks at me with those big eyes. I know she’ll be fine and have fun in doggy day camp, but it still stings a little.
Then I sat in Chicago rush-hour traffic for an hour and a half. I finally got to the airport and went to go park in economy parking and the lots were full! It’s not like it’s thanksgiving week or something. Crazy. So I ended up driving around and around until I finally decided it wasn’t worth parking half-way back to the city just to avoid the parking fees, so I went to park in daily parking. Works picking up the tab anyway…. However, the first daily lots were also full, so I had to make a couple more quick maneuvers to get into the "outside daily parking" lots.
Once in the airport, I discovered there are A LOT of people traveling. After some serious waiting in line (and the annoyance of there only being middle seats available), I finally got my bag checked in and then I got to go stand in the security line. The security line rarely bothers me. Guess I’m just used to it. But this one took a particularly long time. And, my backpack got pulled for an additional security check which resulted in a 15 minute lecture from TSA regarding the importance of carrying a quart-size clear ziploc plastic baggie with you. In my defense, I flew a few weeks ago with several small bottles of shampoo, conditioner etc which were not contained in a plastic ziploc baggie and no one said a word. Today I just had a small bottle of lotion and a tube of lipstick and you’d think I was smuggling in drugs or something. To make matters even more fun, the TSA worker had just taken an extra plastic baggie from another passenger, so I asked if I could have that put my two liquid items in. Then I got a nice lecture about how I have to bring my OWN ziploc baggie. After a few more minutes of this argument, I finally got out of security.
THEN, I went to McDonalds to grab something for breakfast. There were two 40+ year-old men standing behind me in line having a crazy conversation that consisted of statements like:
"Man, that’s awesome. You’re totally gonna get the penthouse!"
"Check it! Check it!" yelled emphatically. I’m not sure what "check it" meant, but apparently it was some catch phrase of theirs.
Relieved to finally get away from their conversation that was making me increasingly uncomfortable, I headed to my gate. Once there I discovered that McDonalds gave me the wrong order! So I was forced to eat sausage which I’m really not a fan of. Poor me.
Thankfully, now I’m safely at my gate and things are looking up. I’m surrounded by families with young kids who are totally psyched to be going to Disney World. I’m actually not being sarcastic about that. There’s something therapeutic about their excitement.
So now I’m off to Orlando for my last work trip of the year (thank goodness!) With any luck I’ll get to see some family and friends while I’m down there – which should be fun. And then, a week from today I leave for Baltimore for a much-needed vacation! I’m really excited about the road trip too. I think I’m ready to be on the road with time to just think. I may not be as excited about this 4 hours in with Irie by my side, but for now, I’m excited!
Irie keeping an eye on the street.
Future soccer star.
Me and my favorite niece.
Irie loved her christmas present from Carl, Kathleen, Lily and Terra. The puppy-strength chew toy was no match for Irie's amazing chewing ability, but she loves them all the same. They're in multiple pieces now, but she's still playing/chewing on them constantly. 
