As I indicated last week, I was in Oregon attending a workshop. It was a productive time, and I look forward to applying what I learned.
But it is good to be home again. I got back on Monday and dove right back into my schedule, despite the fact that I crossed three time zones and have spent the last couple of days in a fog of fatigue. Jet lag is not fun.
Jet lag is part of what I sarcastically refer to as the "fun" of travel. While I enjoy being in Oregon and I love to come back home, the trip in between is less than enchanting.
Getting to Oregon had its own excitement. My flight to Houston ran late, meaning I had to rush in order to catch my connecting flight. I do not like to rush; I don't do it well.
It didn't help that my connecting flight was in another concourse, meaning I had to take a shuttle and pray that the plane I was trying to get to was still on the ground. Fortunately, I wasn't the only passenger they had to wait for and they held the plane until we managed to get on.
I also suffer carry-on anxiety when I board a plane these days. People bring all kinds of things onto planes: small suitcases, small cars, and the like. They expect to stuff all of these items in the overhead bins as if there is a small wormhole on the plane and space is unlimited.
I worry because I am often in the last group to board that they will run out of overhead space and want to check one of my carry ons. I have a problem with this. I typically have two bags with me when I board the plane: my laptop case and the bag holding my CPAP machine, which I am told must be a carry on so they can scan it in security.
There is no way I am allowing any airline to check my laptop case. It not only holds my laptop, but I usually cart my medications in it as well. I know better than to trust such things to the tender mercies of baggage.
I would check the CPAP, but I'm afraid they'd get all annoyed at me for trying to do so. They would probably cite some rule about not being allowed to check it, because a breathing machine is apparently very dangerous.
So far I've managed to get on board a plane without this being an issue. When it becomes one, I fear I will cause a scene, and you'll hear about how I was taken into custody by TSA security for it.
Getting back to Florida was its own adventure, because my connecting flight in Houston was delayed due to a problem with an antenna. An antenna it took them at least two and a half long hours to fix, while we passengers cooled our heels.
I realize the antenna was important, but two and a half hours? Did they have to bring it in from another state or something? No offense, but how hard is it to switch out an antenna anyway?
(Looking over this column, I realize that I am once again bashing Houston, as I have done in the past. I am sure it's a lovely city with many wonderful citizens. I just keep running into problems at the airport.)
In spite of the setback, I did eventually make it back to Highlands County, intact but exhausted. I will be a happy homebody until my next trip out of the state, when I will once again put myself at the mercies of the airlines. Hopefully I won't have to cause a scene. You might never hear from me again.
Laura Ware is a Sebring resident. She can be contacted by e-mail at bookwormlady@
embarqmail.com Visit her website at www.laurahware.com. Guest columns are the opinion of the writer, not necessarily those of the staff of the News-Sun.
Sunday, October 14, 2012 - www.newssun.com/col-101412-ware