unknownfate: (moody frankie)
unknownfate ([personal profile] unknownfate) wrote2009-05-15 03:06 pm

time for the seasonal gripe

Phase One is complete. The tickets are bought. It took me four hours, but I got plane tickets home for the summer. And I’m avoiding the dreaded Seattle hub! Going to Portland instead. Here’s hoping.

And the cost of traveling with pets on Northwest has tripled. I sought them out on purpose because they haven’t pulled any insane shenanigans on me. Yet. Only to learn that there’s a fee for no shenanigans and it’s three times what it was last time. For these prices, my kitties should get their own seat and complimentary drink in the cabin.

Tomorrow we enter Phase Two, in which I attempt to get traveling papers for the wee fuzzies. I sometimes wonder what it must be like to go years at a time without flying anywhere. Or! To have short trips. Y’know, where you don’t have to switch airlines and go get your luggage and drag it miles and stand in line to ride the shuttle to Concourse W, where you’ll stand in line until your next flight boards to check your luggage with the new airline, and then have to run through security, and since you’ve changed airlines, you automatically get put in the ‘search me with diligence and prejudice’ category, so it takes even longer than usual, and when you finally get to the gate, it’s been moved, so you have to go back, and you just barely make it (or not) and end up all crazed and out of breath, and wishing for destructive telepathic/kinetic powers, because there would be some sorry little souls in maroon vests then, boy howdy.

Some people don't fly all the time. They can just drive to everyone they know. They might even live in the same town! How cool would that be? To be in driving distance...

In case it isn't obvious, I don’t like the biannual trip back and forth. I love me some road trips. I love me some train trips. I even like boats. And planes, I can take in small doses. The 24+ hour gauntlet from Alaska to West Virginia and all the horrors that lie between though? It takes its toll.

Still, too soon yet to worry about that. One phase at a time.

[identity profile] rosehiptea.livejournal.com 2009-05-15 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
This was funny, though I do feel bad for you having to go through all that.

I've never traveled with a pet. It sounds rough.

[identity profile] bane-6.livejournal.com 2009-05-16 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks. I suppose if I had any sense at all, I would just hire somebody to cat-sit all summer. But I would miss them and feel bad that they don't get their summer in the woods, and I'd worry.... So I might as well just pack em up and go.

[identity profile] casinoland.livejournal.com 2009-05-16 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
I understand the long travel. Can't wait to see you.

[identity profile] bane-6.livejournal.com 2009-05-16 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah... Any plans to ever go back to Australia? The main reason I never want to go is that it would take forever to get there. The other reasons involve heat and poisonous animals.

[identity profile] casinoland.livejournal.com 2009-05-17 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
I'm waiting out my exile period. I still have 328 days left to wait. But then Yes, back to Australia. The heat is aweful, the wildlife is leathal, but the place is too beautiful not to live in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_4MHeCO3GE

[identity profile] huntsman-77.livejournal.com 2009-05-16 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
Here's hoping we can pull a road trip off this year! You can even bring the kitties, free of charge.

[identity profile] bane-6.livejournal.com 2009-05-16 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know if they're Watchmen fans....

**huggles**

[identity profile] eternal-chimera.livejournal.com 2009-05-16 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I am not catholic, but I sure home St Christopher watches over you and makes this trip easy.

Re: **huggles**

[identity profile] bane-6.livejournal.com 2009-05-16 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
All help is welcome. Divine help especially.

Re: **huggles**

[identity profile] eternal-chimera.livejournal.com 2009-05-17 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Is your icon the owl from Labyrinth???

Re: **huggles**

[identity profile] bane-6.livejournal.com 2009-05-17 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed. Gotta love it.