So, as everyone (by now) knows, I left Friday afternoon for Germany. It started off a very uneventful day- final packing preps, looking to make sure I got everything together that I needed, and just trying to relax before going to the airport. Shannon and Doug were going to meet us (me and mama) and see me off...no issues there. I was even surprised to find that I had gotten all of the mail that I was expecting before I left (the refund from what was left of our security deposit, what we overpaid for cable- ty Mediacom, and 2 cards that Mark had sent from Germany). A stop at the bank, and we were on our way. Mama dropped us (me, Shannon, and Doug) off at the door so I could go and start checking in while she parked...I hadn't moved from my spot in line when she got there 10 min or so later....nor did we move from said spot for the next 26 min or so after that. I tried to do the check-in via the little kiosk deal, but of course it didn't find it....so we waited some more. By now we have a line of people behind us...most notably a very chit-chatty lady in her 50s or 60s and a shorter man (maybe 5 ft) in his 40s? So, finally I get checked in...We have been in line for almost an hour at this point. My bag is 13 pounds over what it is "allowed" by the airline, but luckily because it is a military move, I am spared the $90 fee for that. We leave line, to walk over to the waiting area when we realize that it is 3pm, and Doug needs to go to work, and I need to go find where I am going to catch the plane (ummm...which shouldn't too hard in the Asheville airport. I did so good not crying...until I hugged my mama, and then (of course) all bets are off.
After a teary goodbye, I went through security (where they checked my bags, shoes, coat, and jewlery) and continued on to my "gate" (another loose term in the Asheville airport...since it is one room with different counters). I sit down (next to the lady who was in line behind me and down from the shorter man who was behind us) and, since I apparently have an inviting personality which makes everyone talk to me, was engaged in conversation with both. I find out that the lady works in PR for some company, and the man is a doctor or some sort- on his way home to his family early from a business trip. This lady (I never did get her name) tells me that she got an email earlier in the day saying that our flight was delayed 45 minutes. She went and asked the lady at the counter (when she got back there) and was told that no, our flight was on time. Sooo...here we go- on the plane...a tiny puddle jumper that will take me from Asheville to Charlotte. After everyone gets on, the captain announces that we are in fact delayed 45 minutes...and so we wait. I, being the one to always try to find the silver lining *snickers*, refuse to believe that this is any indication of things to come (and silently pray it isn't). The flight to Charlotte was bumpy...but short. I get to the Charlotte airport, and assume (after looking at a map of the terminals) that I will not have far to walk to my gate (I came into C and was going to D). Oh, how very wrong I was? I am now reminded why I should not be allowed to read maps to people...ever...just because it looks like it is JUST down a hall, means NOTHING! After walking MILES (ok, not really...) carrying a backpack willed with my laptop, purse and other "important things in it, and lugging a carry on suitcase behind me, I finally arrive...sweating. It is now over an hour before we board, and my section was packed with people. I found a seat by a very nice German man, who at on point asked me what time it was, and then (again, remember my inviting personality) starts talking to me. He tells me that he is on his way back to Germany from visiting his sister for 3 weeks- he tells me that he used to live in California in the 60's when he played soccar. Then he left and went for a walk (I always seem to meet interesting people during short and random conversations...) Since that flight was a "passport controlled" flight, I had to go and show my passport and boarding pass. No problem.
The boarding happens with no problems...I have a window seat with an open isle seat...row 13. As we start to take off (with no delays) the flap above my seat (where the O2 mask falls in the case of an emergency) pops open. One of the flight attendants comes and pops it back closed....and it happens agian. This is when I notice (as well as a few other people) that it was held closed by a piece of masking tape. This was so amusing to the row of German businessmen in the middle row that they took out their cameras and took picture od this- I didn't find it very amusing...in fact I wondered what else was being held together by tape. The flight attend. calls the captain, who tells her he doesn't want to delay the flight bc of this, so she brings 2 stickers and tapes it shut again (very safe?). Anyway, I can deal, no problem. We take off, make it to dinner, and just past Boston, when the captain comes on and says "if you have been watching our map on the screen, you may have noticed that our plane has turned around...we have lost one of our compressors. We have 3 on this plane, but with the loss of one already, it makes it that much more of an issue if we were to lose another one later. I am in contact with maintenance to find out if we will be routed to Philadelphia or back to Charlotte". We have, at this point, been in the air for over 2 hours. We find out that we are going back to Philadelphia (2 hours away). After we get there, a group of maint guys runs on and works...even fixing my little flap deal. After about an hour and a half, we go to take off again...or so we thought. Apparently one of the sensors (that monitors said compressor) was faulty, so we go back. It turned out that this sensor was just broken...but that it could be monitored from the airport...but then we had to wait for the crew and captain to change out (for legality reasons).
After all this was said and done, it was 4am...and I should be arriving in Germany in 1 hour...and I was still 7 hours away. Everyone was so flustered with the whole ordeal- and I just thought if this plane doesn't take off, I may just get off and call the whole thing quits. As it turns out, we did take off- and I did get to sleep. I tried several times before we left Pennsylvania to send Mark messages to tell him not to come to the airport at 10am...hoping he got them. He, in fact, did not get them, and showed up early...I flew in around 5pm (11am NC time). That means my trip, that should have lasted a total of 12 hours (including layover time) and lasted like 19 hours. I waited (forever) for my suitcase to come out on the belt for me to get...and then finally made it out of customs to find Mark waiting...poor guy. We made it home around 6:30 or 7, where I was greeted with Kindereggs and a chocolate cake that Mark baked for me (he was very excited about this...as he has never made me a cake before). Our apartment is very nice...much bigger than I thought it would be. I will take pictures of it later and post them.
I did manage to sleep from about 11pm until around 2am...when I woke up sweating because it was so hot. I did go back to sleep around 3:30 or so and slept until about 10:30. We went around base- to the library, PX, and commessary. Mark also drove me around to show me where other things are on base- the post office, and where he works. Then we drove around "town". It is a pretty neat area I think- and will take pictures of that when I can too and post them. We had lunch at Subway at the PX (sorry- no $5 footlongs here! There are like $4.50 for a 6 inch!), and they have weird chips...I had cheese and onion chips lol. I met our downstairs neighbor (well, his wife), and she was very nice. They have been really kind to Mark- letting him borrow thier car, tv, and anything else he needed! I think that it will be an ok move- nothing seems (so far) like it can't be adjusted to, or that it will take too much to get adjusted to, which I think is always a worry anywhere you move!
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