My run of bad luck followed me home

I am so happy to be home. The return trip was just as eventful as the time in LA. Want to know what happened?

Before I get started, however, I must say I haven't watched Lost yet. Carl recorded it for me. I just haven't had the opportunity to watch. Once I do, I'll post my thoughts... I know you are DYING to know them!!

Anywhoo-

The trip home started OK. I got to the airport, posted my thoughts about the trip, called my buddy in VA to make sure she was OK and then boarded the plane.

I sat down in my window seat. There was an empty seat in between myself and another lady. As I got settled in I smelled something nasty. I couldn't figure out what it was and started subtly sniffing around. I took a peek at my seat mate and realized she was clutching her stomach and looking at the quickest routes to the bathroom. I thought to myself "Great. She is sick to her stomach. I hope she doesn't puke!"

But it was worse.

As I watched her out of the corner of my eye I saw her look down the front of her jeans. And then roll up her shirt... where there was something ON IT. She took a kleenex and tried to clean it up.

After doing a little more looking, I realized she had on a wig. That is when it hit me. She either had or has cancer and I think she had a colostomy bag that had leaked on her. She smelled sooo bad. She got up and went to the bathroom, but it didn't do any good. I had to ride for 2.5 hours to Denver with my jacket over my nose and mouth. I couldn't move seats -- it was a pretty full flight. I didn't want to embarrass her, and I couldn't smell anything as long as my nose was covered. She put a blanket over her which helped, too. But when we landed and she threw it off --- OMG -- the green cloud that descended over the cabin... it was horrifying. I don't know if anyone else was affected, but it was killing me.

My mom described the smell perfect -- it smelled like a septic tank.

Sorry if that made you sick... the rest isn't as bad.

Finally, we get to Denver. I rushed off the plane to clean air... and SNOW. I couldn't believe how hard it was snowing. To me it looked like white out conditions, but I'm a Georgia girl. My state shuts down with just an inch of snow... this was so much more than that.

Needless to say, we were stranded on the plane for well over an hour before we could be de-iced and take off. We finally landed in ATL 2 hours late... and the pilot said he was "speeding" to get us there. I looked at the inflight map at one point and we were going 550 knots per hour. WOW!

Once we landed I got my bag and headed to the shuttle to go to my car. I parked in a lot that was three traffic lights from the highway. Wouldn't you know the city was doing resurfacing of that street and had it shut down to one lane both ways. I needed to turn left, but NO. I had to turn right and go back to the airport to get on another highway to get home.

THEN I get in my little city and some kind of road work was going on. I was stuck in traffic with no one doing any kind of traffic control. I called Carl raising hell and he got someone to come and let ME through... it pays to "KNOW" people. Hee.

My plane was supposed to land at 8:01 and I was supposed to be home no later than 9:30. Well... We landed at 10 and I got home at 11:15.

I hope all my bad luck is said and done. I don't want anything to happen the rest of the week... or to mess up my vacation next week...

If you are still reading this... thank you! I'm glad to be home. I'll post pictures soon.

Homeward bound

I'm sitting in the John Wayne airport contemplating the past week. I have to admit I am a little disappointed with myself.

I could have planned some excursions on my own. I could have gone to the Santa Monica Pier or to the Queen Mary (I tried that one but they only have the tours during the day or the one I wanted to do - hauntings - on the weekends). I could have done many things but I didn't.

Why?

Because I'm alone. I didn't have anyone to share the experience with. That is a major lame ass excuse to some, but being in a strange city is slightly terrifying for me. I'm a native Atlantan... I can show you that city to the hilt. But going someplace that I have only seen on TV or in movies, and one that is - in my mind - larger than life is extremely intimidating.

I did get to do some touring... via a car with a couple of the ladies that work here. They were great hostesses and tried to take me past some of the most well known places. The pictures will be disappointing... they are street signs and buildings. But more on that tomorrow once I get the photos downloaded.

I got to eat at a WONDERFUL Mexican restaurant that was established in 1923 called El Cholo. I'm not a huge fan of enchiladas but my tour guides talked me into trying one and I was NOT disappointed. If you know me, you know Mexican is my favorite... and this was the best I have ever had. Their salsa was a little meh - but the food itself was amazing. I've also heard their margaritas are the best, but I didn't get to sample one... *** pout ***

I also missed a major event I wish I had known about. I was watching the news this morning and it came on that last night was the premier of Iron Man at Grauman's Chinese Theater (yeah -- read the first line of that article. Makes me feel so much better.) Robert Downey, Jr. was there (one of my top 5) as was Gwyenth Paltrow and other stars of the show. If I had known I would have sooooo been there!!!

For now just know that I am embarrassed for myself. In hindsight I can't believe what a silly little chicken shit girl I have been this week. I wish I could do it all over. I'll come back out again and really do something fun... whether I am alone or not.

But I still got to watch

Hey all!

I'm in Columbia, SC waiting to head to the airport to come home. It has been a very productive trip, but I'm ready to sleep in my own bed.

And head to LA on Monday.

I did get to watch Lost last night. I made sure I was back in the hotel and hopped up on coffee. So here are my thoughts... Spoilers ahead.

• What a brutal murder! I was completely shocked that it happened -- but not nearly as much as Ben.
• Guess we know how and why Ben and Sayid are working together...
• Does the timeline work? Sayid searched for his wife for 8 years... it was 2005 when the funeral happened...
  
• How did they meet again? How did she die? I know she was murdered, but how...
• I think Desmond may have something to say about Ben killing Penny. But with Dez still on the island...where does that put Penny?
• How cute was big ol' Hurley holding sweet little Aaron?
• And I was shocked at how protective Sawyer was of Hurley! Guess the big, tough guy has a soft heart after all.
• Smokey is BACK! And what a bad ass!!!
• Where did Ben go to release him? He went into the secret room within the secret room and came back all dirty.
  
• Could he have Smokey penned someplace? But how? It is SMOKE!!!
• Loved, loved, loved the look on Sawyer's face when Ben grabbed the gun from the piano bench. I laughed out loud...
• But of course I love, love, love Sawyer's face anytime...
• So Jack's appendix bursts next week... we know he doesn't die, but what is going to happen? Will Juliette take over as leader? Will she operate on him?
• How much do you LOVE Bernard for knowing morse code. I wanted to yell "Gotcha!!!"

Alright... that's all I've got for now. I have the local news on the tv and the weather guy is doing the Chicken Dance.... I kid you not.

I need to go home. Now.

Fixin stuff

The adjuster called to tell us how much it's going to cost to fix the house. Let's just say you could buy either a nice used car or a lower-end new car with the check. Yikes! We have to get the roof repaired, new siding on the entire back side of the house and all new downspouts and gutters. Fun, huh? Now to get the estimates.

I told Carl that I hope this doesn't turn into one of those nightmare repair jobs where nothing is ever right again.

Anyhoo -- thought I'd share the pictures of the hail and its aftermath.

This was the front yard during the storm... yes, I walked onto our porch and took a picture! Then I ran back in the house and hid in the bathroom.

This is the average size of the hail that hit our house. Up until this weekend, I had this piece and two others in a bowl in our freezer. Don't know why... just did.

And now for the damage... this is the hole next to J-man's window. It is the largest of all the holes... see how close it was to smashing the glass?

Here are some holes and cracks in the siding... you may or may not be able to tell... and trust me, I didn't take pictures of it all.

Finally, here is our cheap little table we got from Wal-Mart. As you can see, the hail went straight through it. (there is another hole under the planter on the right... and see that huge crack? Nice, huh? At least it still holds the rose bushes Carl bought this weekend. We'll plant them and then hope they don't get trampled when the workers fix my house.

Gotta love it.

Holes

Remember the hail storm we had about a week ago? Well... we were wrong. It seems we DO have damage to our house. Carl ventured into the backyard yesterday and saw holes in our siding.

Yes. Holes. And we have no less than six cracks in the siding as well. The drain pipe is also dented in at least a dozen spots.

There is one spot where if the hail had hit just an inch or two to the left it would have shattered J-man's bedroom window.

I'll take some pictures and let you see.

We might have to replace all the siding on the back of our house. A phone call has been placed to our insurance company. I just hope we can meet our deductible!

The joys of home ownership!

Alive and well

Pug Manor is standing and has no damage. The nasty storm steam-rolled over our town and headed straight to the big city. The damage they are showing on the news is a couple of blocks from where I work. I'm curious to see if my building sustained any damage.

It breaks my heart to see my beloved Atlanta tattered and broken.

We've seen worse though. We'll rebuild and move on.

I've got pictures of the hail that pummeled our house... I'll post them once I have them downloaded.