Friday, June 5, 2009
Scott's Change of Command ceremony...what a great day it turned out to be!
thanks to Mom, Dad, Joe, Peggy and Mandy for all of your help and being with us on this special day : )
Monday, June 1, 2009
Ko Olina beach resort...loved this lagoon...it was so nice and relaxing and Connor went underwater for the first time in the ocean...big deal for him!
The people in the big floaty boat let Connor climb up and then jump in...it was funny! He swam out to the boat pretending he was Nemo...and hit his hand on the boat like Nemo did but wasn't supposed to...it was good though bc he was really enjoying this beach area...definitely the best beach for Connor's comfort level right now with the ocean...the water was so clear and we had a fish that kept following us...Connor named him Shallow....and I've never seen anything like it...Shallow was our friend and stayed near us till we got out of the water!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Traveling to Hawaii...just me and Bonnie!
What an adventure Bonnie bird and I had on Cinco de Mayo! We left my parents house at 2:30am...arrive at 3:30am to Orlando Airport...make it to our gate by 4:30am for the 5:30am flight to Atlanta...tiring already! Bonnie traveled in the cabin with me from Orlando to Atlanta...but for the Atlanta to Honolulu direct flight...she was not allowed bc of restrictions on pets to Hawaii...so she had to be "checked as baggage..." I was nervous...but all seemed to be going smoothly. I board the flight, and the cargo guy comes up to confirm Bonnie is on the plane...said she was a beautiful Timneh Grey (so I knew he was a bird guy!) and I felt great! Relief! And then the bomb dropped...my name is called over the loudspeaker to come to the front of the aircraft....as I walk up and then out the door of the aircraft...I see Bonnie bird's cage...I am told that Bonnie cannot be on this flight due to toxic materials in the cargo (dry ice I was told)...how was it that just minutes ago...we were on our way?!?! I lost it...had this happened before I boarded the plane...I might have been calmer...but I knew that there were no other direct flights from Atlanta to Hawaii...and we'd be lucky if we could even get to Hawaii on the same day...which was vital bc Bonnie's pre-quaratine entry required her to arrive into Hawaii within 36 hours of the end of her quarantine...the clock was ticking! The staff at Delta were evil...they told me I was slowing them down and I needed to go sit down so they could try to fix the situation...in the meantime...they would not give Bonnie back to me...they took her away bc she was "baggage"...and had a baggage tag...that's what really set me off...so then...one of the Delta workers says to me, if you want to make this flight...you need to run...and so we did...good thing Connor was in Florida with my parents is all I can say! So we ran and ran and ran...Atlanta is not a small airport...we get to the gate of the Atlanta to Minneapolis flight...and the walk way door is locked...she can't get her code to work...she begs another Delta agent to open the door...she does so reluctantly...we run down the jetway...another Delta agent is about to shut the cabin door...and she just starts yelling at my Delta agent...while they had words...I was pushed onto the plane...and told to sit down. I was told Bonnie was supposed to be down below. 
So after a traumatic time leaving Atlanta...I finally calm down...and chatted with my seat neighbor and it took my mind off of things. The flight attendants confirmed for me Bonnie was on the flight and upon landing...welcomed everyone to Minneapolis and said "the bird is ok!" over the loudspeaker! Funny!
But things weren't to remain lighthearted for long...I exit the aircraft...and go to a ticket agent...I have no boarding pass or ticket for anything bc I was literally shoved onto the plane...and I also had NO idea what flight I was going on next. Surely it would be the Minn direct to Honolulu, right?!?! It was not my destiny to have an easy day...so I am booked on the Minneapolis to Seattle, Seattle to Honolulu flight...deep breath...when I got to the gate...and I explained what happened in Atlanta to explain why I did not have a boarding pass or ticket...she said to me..."how do I know this is what happened?" And she also said, "well, I don't think birds can go on our planes, Northwest has different policies than Delta..." Funny...they are merging but surely don't act nicely with each other... Deep breath again....I know the pet policies better than the employees of these blasted airlines! So I explain that yes the bird can go, and that the reason I don't have a ticket is bc we ran and ran, no time for talking and I had to get on the plane and sit down without having time for any questions.
So...of course they start boarding. I am asked to take a seat...as she then proceeds to help all sorts of other people. I was treated so poorly it was amazing...treated as if I was lying, cheating, stealing...I don't know. So then she tells me that I have to pay for a new ticket...Scott was on the phone and he helped me to keep my cool bc that could make things worse...but I was completely helpless and at this evil woman's mercy. Scott was able to get through to someone on the phone who assured him that it would be fixed in time for me to get on this flight....finally another Northwest employee comes over...she's on the phone...and walkie talkie and cell phone...the person Scott was talking to was trying to get through to her...and finally after some major life stress....they were able to over-ride the system to print a new ticket...and I was the last to board the aircraft again...and then I got confirmation that Bonnie was indeed on this flight too...so off to Seattle we go...once we landed in Seattle...it was the same plane...just a stopover to let people off and pick up some new...nothing too eventful here except that my stress level was so bad that I couldn't eat even though I was starving...and then the dreaded call over the loudspeaker..."Tracey Murray, please report to the counter"....not ever good I've decided! So I go to the counter...and I get a bizarre look and question, "do you have a bird on this plane?"....Apparently the airline is supposed to send the state of Hawaii a message when animals are in the cargo...so it was seemingly a simple fix...so next stop Honolulu!
As I get ready to get back on the plane (we all had to get off for the short stopover)...I give my boarding pass and it beeps...not a good beed...here we go again. It says paper ticket required. Well...when I left Minnepolis, they took the paper ticket and just gave me the boarding pass...she scans it again, and it says "already boarded"...so I get back on the plane with another sigh of relief...and oh by the way...on all these flights...I am in the middle seat...so I had no sleep, no food...and just a little stress!
After landing in Honolulu, it was a relief to see Scott waiting for me...we were late of course...which was stressful bc we were down to the wire with Bonnie's quarantine time. We made just over and hour before her quarantine would have expired...potentially sending us back to the mainland to start over...but we made it...we drive to Animal quarantine...and wait, and wait...still no Bonnie bird...the night worker calls...they had "misplaced" Bonnie...accidentally put her to the side and forgot about her! Oy veh! Once we see Bonnie, she is completely out of water and really thirsty and of course saying, "want some water?" But by 10:30pm Hawaiian time (30 minutes before the deadline of her quarantine!)....Bonnie was in her big cage, drinking and eating to her hearts content...for her one night stint in Hawaii Animal Quarantine...I picked her up the next morning and all was well! Whew!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
