ALMOST AWAKE!

ZZZZZZ. I suppose it is time to wake up. I have been back for a couple of days, and even back to work, yet I feel like I have been sleepwalking, sleeptalking, sleepworking, etc... In order to try and overcome the sleepiness, I am playing yuppie and sitting here in the Arabica Coffee house. I have my yuppie props decorating the set - ginormous java juice, lappy and cell phone. The only thing missing is an ashtray, but it is a non-smoking in public state. I think I should move.

How was Chi-town? Thanks for asking. It was a whirlwind. Yes, it was windy and due to that very wind, I returned to the comfort of my home waaaaaay later then expected. More on that later. I will give a BRIEF day - by - day. Aren't you glad you asked?!!!!

TUESDAY - Got up in the middle of the night (5 am) got to the airport, checked in and WAITED. My flight was delayed an hour. We had snow here and in Chicago. Had to be de-iced again on the runway. (Deep sigh) Got to O'Hare. Shlepped to United's terminal, about 1/2 - 3/4 miles to find Linda. Shlepped to the train. Got downtown. Shlepped 6 blocks to the office. Looked like Dorothy after the tornado. Got to the office almost an hour late. OH WELL. After meetings, shlepped 2 1/2 blocks to hotel to check in (6:30 pm Central time). Shlepped 4 blocks to dinner. Shlepped 4 blocks back to hotel. Did I mention I did a boat load of shlepping today? Did I mention it was fricking freezing? Did I mention most of the shlepping included luggage? Did I mention that it was wicked windy? Night-night - 1:15 am (central time)

WEDNESDAY - Get up 6:10 am when Linda's husband called. (growl at this time!!) Meet a bus at the hotel door at 8:30 to go to Kenosha, Wisconsin. Shlepped a block for coffee, since there wasn't going to be any on the bus. Not too bad. After lunch (pizza) we were told to put on our coats, we were going to do a recruiting exercise. We then had to walk around the mall for 1.5 hours. Did I mention it was BITTER COLD and we were not made aware of this in advance. No scarf, no gloves, no hat. What a lovely day. GRRRRRRRR. Leave Kenosha around 6 for a great, no GREAT dinner. They out did themselves on this one. I even ordered a Cosmopolitan! Had a melt in your mouth filet mignon, mashed taters, green beans, broccoli, shrooms, rice, cheesecake, fruit crisp, coffee, wine...oh my god...dinner was decadent. What is Weight Watcher's? I guess all the shlepping and shivering was worth it, since according to my scale, I didn't gain anything!!

THURSDAY - 6:00 wake up call. GRRRRR. Freezing still. Raining / snowing. Shower time. NO HOT WATER. BIGGER GRRRRRR.Called engineering. Reply - "It is really cold outside." DUH. Just when a hot shower would do the trick, I get to take a frezzing shower. I love to shiver in the shower!! Meetings till 2:30 pm. Shlep back to the hotel to claim our luggage. On the way, finally get to shop (actually only look) at the State Street Ultra store. How gorgeous. Change into jeans and sweatshirt and tennis shoes and shlep to the EL and off to O'Hare (in the rain). Arrive at O'Hare at about 5 pm. Shlep (with luggage) to United and say good-bye to Linda and continue on to the Continental terminal. WAIT IN LINE. Guess what? FLIGHT CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER. no No NO NO. I just wanna go home. They can re-book me on Friday at 3:55 pm. I don't think so. Then I think of Linda, if her flight is cancelled, she will be totally panicked and ready for a straight-jacket. I call her. Her flight is still flying to Cleveland - delayed - but still going. Back to Continental. Wait in line. Ask if I can change to United. They are RUDE, but print off my ticket and send me shlepping back to the United terminal. Get back to United. WAIT IN ANOTHER LINE longer then Pippi's stockings. YIPPEE. I can get on stand-by for Linda's flight, now scheduled for 7:55 pm (it is now almost 7 pm) The ticket agent says I have time to go outside and have a smoke-a-roonie! She is my new best friend in the whole wide world. So, off I shlep to gate C-17, but first I have to go thru security................
....I now have a 1-way ticket....SPECIAL SCREENING!!! I get pulled out of line. The screener chick asks me if I had to wait in a long line. I told her how many different long lines and she goes "Oh, dear lord, you're ok, just go!" So I gather my stuff, put my shoes back on and off to C-17 again. YAY, I am there - but the flight crew isn't. Still not. Still not. Still not. Flight delayed until 9:20 pm for a flight crew to arrive.
FINALLY get to Cleveland at 11:47 EST. BIG SIGH. However, my stand-by luggage is somewhere in baggage and takes its good ol' time getting on the belt. I don't get luggage until , oh around 12:30 am. HOME SWEET HOME. 1 AM.

Was the trip worth it? Yeah, I learned a few new things. I ate some spectacular food, I made some new friends and I passed out a lot of business cards at the airport!
I am glad to be home, and even gladder (that IS a word, because I said so) to be off today, tomorrow and Tuesday!

Cher, I hope Amy is feeling better. Give her a huggy for me.
Sharon, I still have us penned for Tuesday. Talked to Elaine. I told her to bring Anthony along!
Julie, I am glad you are voyeuring here!
Yaakova, just sending you a hello
Danielle, sending you a g'day, too!
Sara, congrats.

Until next time...good afternoon!