July 21, 2008
Airport Randomness
I wrote this post while waiting for my plane yesterday. And then I got home and found the T-mobile internet access card in my BlogHer swag bag. I totally could have posted this earlier this morning! Bugga!
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I’m sitting on the floor of the San Francisco International Airport, patiently — or not so patiently — waiting for my flight to Minneapolis/St. Paul (where I connect to get my tired ass home).
I wanted desperately to post this entry right away, but the fucking airport doesn’t offer free WiFi. After I paid $497 dollars for an airline ticket and had a crazy TSA office go ape shit on me because I forgot to take my cell phone out of my purse before sticking the bag under the x-ray machine, you would think free WiFi is the least they could do to appease me.
If I wanted to, I could connect to this T-mobile network but I’m too lazy to pay $9.95 for 30 minutes. Or really, I’m too cheap.
I’m exhausted. I can’t think straight. My eyelids desperately long to close and my body is begging for sleep. I’ve had a busy day full of walking around the city.
This afternoon, Liz from This Full House joined me for the Giants vs. Brewers game at AT&T Park (and it’s important to mention, THE BREWERS KICKED GIANT BEHIND!) and after the game we walked down the South Beach all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf at Pier 39, and then trekked south on Powell Street back to the Westin St. Francis hotel.
I must tell you, the walk was wonderful and so worth the exercise but my dogs are barking and I want so badly to take my shoes off, however I may end up killing all these nice people sitting nearby at this shit hole airport. (No offense SFO, I’m just an overtired, cranky bitch right now.)
On our beautiful but cold and windy walk, Liz and I saw some wonderful views of that city by the bay. San Francisco is gorgeous and I keep wondering why the hell it took me so long to visit this metropolitan bliss.
I was able to see the Golden Gate Bridge, but the photos aren’t spectacular. Mostly, the bridge is surrounded by intense fog, but the snapshots I captured are interesting just the same. Good thing the very touristy Fisherman’s Wharf had some GGB post cards and other souvenirs they were eager to sell to me.
I bought Dawson a small snow globe and a t-shirt, and I got Doug a personalized GGB keychain. For myself, I chose to buy a zippered fleece jacket because San Francisco is fricken cold! Seriously, I was tempted to stop at the CafePress booth at the conference to make a t-shirt that read, “I visited San Francisco and froze my ass off!”
On the walk back to the hotel, I managed to catch a glimpse of the very crooked, zig zaggy street that is Lombard. That was freakin’ cool. I wish I had more time to really tour that block, as well as this city, in greater depths. There is so much to see and do! I’m thinking I need to come back soon with Doug.
After our city tour, Liz and I met Shannon back at the Westin and we did a second round of souvenir shopping so that Shannon could get some t-shirts for her daughters. I found a musical snow globe much like the one I bought when I was in NYC earlier this year. I couldn’t help but buy it, as well as a little trolley car toy for Dawson.
After shopping, the three of us had a quick dinner before taking the shuttle back to the airport to catch our flights.
That was a feat in itself. Liz put down a deposit on the shuttle, and the driver tried to say that she still owed money, not realizing I was still in the van and needed to be dropped off at the NWA terminal. I couldn’t figure out why this man was being so ridiculous.
When he got back in the car, he told me that I would owe him $15 dollars and I said that’s fine. We got to my terminal and suddenly he tells me I owe $17 dollars, which is exactly what I had in cash in my walled. Needless to say I couldn’t tip him, and I asked why he said $15 the first time. He didn’t answer my question so I handed him the cash and took my luggage, as he swore at me in Chinese. I told him I was sorry I couldn’t tip him and that if he had his rates straight it would be much easier to understand what the hell was going on.
So here I am, at the airport, tired and cranky. There are people staring at me. Probably because I’m wearing my Brewers gear (sorry Giants fans…I love my team just as much as you love yours).
Also, what is it with all the pushy people who can’t bear to stand in line at the Java Hut for more than 5 minutes? Sheesh! You’ll get your fucking cuppa joe as soon as I’m done paying for mine, okay? These people are freakin’ weird.
I just want to go home. I miss my family. And I miss having a wireless internet connection. Forty minutes until I can board. Forty long minutes. God help me.
Posted by Dana @ 10:48 pm • BlogHer, Travel Mama
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July 21st, 2008 at 11:46 pm, Liz Says:
Oh…and about that driver…I quote our co-passenger, the awesomely beautiful Bossy:
“Didn’t I see this on Saturday Night Live, once?”
Yes, yes you did.
Lizs last blog post..I’m going because BlogHer is working for ME, now!
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:50 am, amanda Says:
I feel your airport woes. My homecoming, after 26+ hours of cheery Southwest hell, was so wondrous.
amandas last blog post..SlogHer
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 am, Dana Says:
Liz, that driver was a nut. He just didn’t understand anything. Ugh. Glad I’ll never see him again.
Amanda! Sorry to hear about that! I’m gonna go to your blog and read your tale.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm, Anne Glamore Says:
So glad you made it to the game…and home!!
Anne Glamores last blog post..Anne Glamore’s PSA
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:41 pm, Cappy Says:
There is no randomness like airport randomness.
Cappys last blog post..Does He Still Have It?