Delta not being good

Well, after several months of things going smoothly when traveling, i finally ht the snag. Yesterday trying to get home from Montana, it took me all day, literally.

We started off the morning going to the airport and getting on the plane like normal. But as departure time came and went, and they pilot kept getting on and off the plane, we know something was up. So, finally, he came on and talked to us that the plane was leaking fuel, and that he wanted us all to get off because they were going to start the engines and let them warm up as they suspected a seal needed to just warm up to seat correctly. So, we all got off the plane and went back up to the terminal. After about 45 minutes, it came time to get back on as the seal had taken hold and no more leak. Well, we were late leaving, and thus late getting to Minneapolis. So, we rush to the gate and try to catch our flight to no luck. So, we got the gate agent to put my boss and I on standby.

So, we get to the 3:30 flight to Sioux Falls, my boss and I go right to the counter and inquire about standby, and the agent tells us that we're on the list. So, we didn't think much of it and went to the seats and talked. About 15 minutes before departure, I looked at the monitor and I wasn't on the standby list that was displayed at the gate. So I went back up to the desk and asked the agent why I wasn't on the list, and I had to literally beg her to put my name on the list. She argued with me that there were 2 seats if people didn't make their connection but there were 2 people on the list. I had to then explain to her Delta's own standby policy to try and get her to put me on the list. The policy is that on Standby, your name is in the specific order based on travel disruptions on the day, and you ticket value, and you frequent flier status. I was quite high on all those items, but the agent kept telling me she couldn't get me on the list. She tried for a few minutes, then finally asked for help, but somehow they'd screwed things up so badly, they couldn't get me on the list. So, the other guy got the seat and I got left in Minneapolis. I was not happy in the least.

So, we get to the 5:40 flight, and I go to the gate and check in but the agent asks for a volunteer as they have overbooked the plane. So, one lady goes and volunteers which then left the agent with all 50 seats taken. So, the 49 board and the gal that gave up her seat and I were standing there. She asked me if I got the seat and I said that I didn't think so, that I was just trying to get home and was on standby. So the agent was looking for the last person who they said was running through the airport. She waited and waited and finally said that lady that offered to give up her seat had to get on the plane. The lady asked the gate agent if she could stay behind and I could have the seat. At first the agent said no, but she persisted and said that she really wanted me to have it. I was just floored by her kindness. I told her I would be ok, but she ended up convincing the agent to give me the seat and leave her behind instead. So the agent took one last look for someone running, and then said to me, "Ok, lets go." I thanked the lady that gave up her seat, and the agent went to the computer to get me the seat and just before she finished up the other lady comes moseying in asking if she made it. The agent had to take the lady with the ticket, and I was left behind again, but was extremely blessed by the lady's kindness.

After failing again at 7:30, my 10pm flight finally got to Sioux Falls a little before 11pm last night, and after a horribly slow baggage delivery, I finally crawled into bed around 12:45 this morning, only to be awoke by a little girl poking me at 6am. It was a good feeling to be home, but I wasn't a big Delta fan at all most of yesterday.

Sick of Walmart

Since Olivia recently turned one, we have been looking around to get her pictures taken. So, we decided out of simplicity sake, we could just have Walmart take care of it. So, Heather called and got the appointment set up and talked to a really nice lady to get things set up. So, we got our appointment for 12 noon on Saturday. So, we show up and are ready to go. There is only one lady working at the photo center, and she's two appointments behind. Apparently some glitch in the computer system caused a 2.5 hour delay. So, needless to say, we understand that sometimes computers act up, but this is just another example of terrible planning and foresight by our Walmart. We have spent the better part of the last three years scratching our heads and wondering what is going on with stocking, or scheduling at Walmart. We did feel bad for the lady that was taking pictures, because it wasn't entirely her fault, but you cannot keep a one year old occupied for that long. So, we are onto Sears next weekend to try again. We're hopefully going to have better luck there than we did with the car when we took that in. I wish we had a Target so we could skip Walmart all together.

Goodbye to the Grand Am

Well, today we made a move that I wasn't expecting to make. The little Grand Am is no longer ours. I made a deal to send it to auction for a new car. We will be getting a 2007 Impala to replace the Grand Am. It will take some getting used to to drive a car that is that size. It was a good move though for milage, repair needs, and updates that the Grand Am was going to be needing in the future. Overall it was a good move for us and our family, so we'll see where this new adventure takes us!

By Reader Request.....

I've gotten a reader request! It was for a birthday picture of Olivia. Well, I'm not one to disappoint, but there is a small story to endure first. There weren't any pictures taken of Olivia on her birthday because she is actually ill. I am too. I've got some kind of make you shiver, sleepy, minor sore throat, make you feel like crap bug (better known as the flu more than likely). Olivia however, has something a bit worse. She has RSV. We found that out today at a doctor's appointment. She spent nearly the entire trip to daycare today coughing, and when I got there, nearly everyone was coughing, so I nearly didn't schedule an appointment. I did end up scheduling it and sure enough, not good things. This made the party suddenly come into jeopardy, but I learned about RSV that the particular string going around Mitchell is not harmful to adults, only to young children. So, we have medication, and things to give Olivia to help her get better.

So, the reader request was for a birthday picture of Olivia. Well, here is one from a birthday party we attended in January and was Olivia's first time tried swimming....and one of her enjoying her supper.

One Year of Olivia

Tomorrow we celebrate one year of life for our Olivia Hope! It doesn't hardly seem possible that she's one, and more tricks keep popping up. Now Olivia will like to run to a room with an open door and shut it. Just this morning, she got loose in the back of the house and I thought that all the doors were closed, but after opening 2 doors, I couldn't find her. So I started opening all the doors in the back, and suddenly, one of them started to close again. Found you O!! Olivia has brought so much joy over this past year, and it's wonderful to have a happy, productive, playful girl. Heather and I were talking about how fortunate we are to have such a nice cooperative girl. We talked about how spoiled we are and how any other children we end up having better be the exact same. And if you're wondering since our daughter is one is #2 on the way, the answer is no. So first happy birthday to Olivia on 2-10-12!

This Winter Stuff....

I spent all this week getting snow out of the drive way. I love being home with Heather and Olivia, but I cannot help but think of the 75 degrees of Florida. I was supposed to be back down there this week. I was schedule for doing two weeks of work on site there and was going to be home over the weekend between the two weeks. However, the work I did there went so well, we ended up not having to go back for week 2. So, I'm here in SD instead where the temp is about 70 degrees colder, and we've managed to accumulate what appears to be around 8 inches of snow. Yeah, that's awesome. I've had to use the snow blower twice here this week! Last year, the electric start went out so I'm not even sure if Heather could get it running, let alone the fact it wakes up the entire neighborhood, so waking up Olivia would be an easy feat. So, it was good that I ended up remaining home.

Tonight we went up to Huron to my grandparents for supper. My brother's birthday is right around the corner, and grandma made him a birthday supper of duck. It was just like Sunday afternoons growing up. We'd go to church, then to grandpa and grandma's for dinner, and she would have a duck with rice and potatoes. Same thing tonight! Man, the memories. Well, it's 9:30 and I would be roaming around the Minneapolis airport right now waiting for a flight to Sioux Falls, but I'm glad that in a few minutes, I'll be snug and warm in my bed!

First Trip of the New Year

Well, this morning it was out to the driveway to shovel the snow off. This comes less than 24 hours after I was in 75 degree weather in Florida. I was down there working, not playing. We had a client that I had to go visit and turn up some software. That allowed me a nice trip while it was cold here, but coming back was a nice harsh reality. The original plan was that I would be home for today, and go back to Orlando Sunday for another week, but now I do not have to return because the week went well. So, it's home for two weeks, then back to Virginia for a week. That happens at the start of February. So, now I'm enjoying 2 weeks home! This will be a great couple of weeks as it gets tougher to leave for work each time. I'll enjoy my time here for sure, even if it's literally freezing cold!