I Am A Bunny

Reading time with Jack is one of my favorite things to do. We sit in his room on our reading chair with a stack of books to read and just work our way through them. He definitely has favorites and of late it is I Am A Bunny. I just love it that Jack will sit so quietly on my lap and even sometimes lay his head back and just read books with me, I hope we can always do this. What are some of your kids favorite books, or your favorites. I am always looking for suggestions!

Jack Outside

Our new friend and neighbor Jessica took some fun pictures of Jack doing what he loves best, playing with the ball, swinging, and just being outside. I think that she did a great job and I hope she doesn't mind that I posted some of her pictures on my blog!:) Jack is such a busy little guy and is always getting into everything! Yesterday he helped me plant some pansies in our yard and he ended up with dirt all in his hair and was using a little shovel to take the dirt from the flower bed and put it on the driveway, despite my pleas to do otherwise.

Rob's Travel Saga (Still in Progress)

Some of you may have seen the news that the FAA grounded all the MD-80s in the American Airlines fleet which makes about half their planes. As a result AA canceled around 500 flights yesterday and another 1000 flights today. Why? Well, turns out that the problem involves the wiring around the landing gear - a fairly important part of the flying experience.

Normally, I'd see the news and think - that's no fun for a lot of people, but this time I get to experience the "news" for myself.

Here's the brief rundown:



In Chicago. Running total: 11 hours

We wrapped up our meetings early on Tuesday and got to O'Hare at 11:30 am - just a few minutes late to catch the 11:45 non-stop to SLC. I couldn't get an earlier flight so I had to wait until my scheduled flight at 6:50 pm. I spent the day in the United terminals and it wasn't until I went back to American at 5:00 pm that I discovered my flight had been canceled due to the MD-80 problems.

There was a three-hour line (literally) to reschedule flights. Thankfully AA hung a bunch of huge banners with a 1-800 to call for rescheduling.

Memo to Self: It's a bad sign when the airline has preprinted huge rescheduling banners

I called American and they got me onto a US Airways flight to Las Vegas at 9:15 that would get in at 11:30 with just enough time to change planes to get the 11:52 flight to Salt Lake.

During my wait I requested a meal voucher and I "enjoyed" dinner at Macaroni Grill. Ever since 9/11 real knives are not allowed anywhere in the airport. In fact my server says that the restaurant keeps all the kitchen knives connected to the counters with chains. Every few months TSA comes and does an audit to make sure all the sharp objects are accounted for.

Memo to Self: Don't order anything that requires cutting when at the airport

Just as we were about to board the Las Vegas flight lightning hit the airfield and they had all the workers go inside. Got underway at 10:15 pm - 11 hours after getting to the airport.


In Las Vegas. Running total: 24 hours
We didn't arrive in Vegas until 11:50 pm. I repositioned myself at the front of the plane and came charging out to find an empty terminal. The SLC flight had left. EVERYONE on the flight missed their connections.

Because the US Airlines delay was weather related they weren't giving out hotel vouchers. A few of the people I met during my journey were going to sleep in the terminal but I decided I should get a hotel.

I called a rescheduling help line and got a reservation at a Hyatt Place hotel 1 mile from the airport. I called the hotel and asked if I could walk. They said no so I took a cab.

At the hotel the front desk lady could not reserve a room for me. Why? They have a new computer system and her password didn't work.

Memo to Self: When deploying a hotel reservation system, make sure the people can actually, well, make reservations.

Fifteen minutes later and still standing there while I watched this lady hunt and peck for keys on the keyboard (argh!) an alarm goes off and the phones go crazy. Turns out somebody has pulled a fire alarm on the fourth floor. It's 1:00 am and people are coming from their rooms.

Memo to Self: When a fire alarm goes off in a multi-story hotel do you a) evacuate or b) call the front desk? Apparently most people think that the front desk people are the best people to fight fires. This may be true because they clearly couldn't give me a room key.

The fire alarm still blaring I finally get a room key. Go up to the room. Key doesn't work. Go back down and get new key.

The Hyatt Place room was really nice with the largest flat screen TV I have ever used. I'd recommend it to others but bring your own firefighting equipment.

It's now 9:47 local time and my 9:50 flight to Phoenix is delayed because the inbound aircrew from Edmonton, Canada has not arrived. I tried telling the gate agent that I was a pro when it came to aircraft simulators on my good 'old 486 but they didn't seem very impressed.

At best, I'll get home around 5:00 pm today making for 30 hours of travel. At worst, well, I don't even want to think about that.

Memo to Self: Maybe it would be easier just to move Hillary and Jack to Las Vegas? hmm.

Update: Walked in the door at home at 6:30 pm. Yipee! It feels so good to be home. Best part: my dinner didn't come with a combo meal option. :)