A New Record
Mom and Dad, you may not want to read this. I set a new record on getting to the airport this morning. It all started last night when I set my alarm clock for 5:45 instead of 4:45. I woke up at 5:42 this morning and was mad for waking up early. Then I hit snooze for 20 minutes. I rolled over and read the clock and saw 6:05 and though, "CRAP! I'm usually at the airport by now!!!" Needless to say, showering didn't happen. I'm SO glad that I packed last night. I also had 3/4 of my outfit for this morning laid out. I even had my keys and money for the Commodore Barry Bridge toll sitting out. So, when I climbed in the car at 6:10, I was doing GREAT! My flight is at 7:20. My flight out of Philly is on time about 85% of the time, so I knew the chances were high that it would be on time today.

Well, about 10 minutes down the road I was thinking about everything that I may or may not have forgotten. That's when I reached the cell phone on my list. Ooops. It's on the kitchen counter. Considering I had 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive 31 miles, park, get through security, and get to my gate, I couldn't risk the cell phone. So, if you need to call me, you'll have to call the hotel or my office - e-mail me for the numbers.

Anyway, I flew down the backroads of NJ and arrived at the airport at 6:40 - RECORD TIME! Normally, the third floor of the parking garage is wide open at 6:15. I have a favorite spot. Well, when I pulled up to the garage, there was a line waiting for parking tickets about 10 cars deep - not a good sign. I flew up to the third floor - no spaces. So, I flew back up the ramp skipping the fourth floor and found a great spot on the fifth floor. Whew. Okay. I had 30 minutes to get to my gate. And, in reality, probably only 20.

When I arrive at 6:30, I've learned that the security line is already backed up to the baggage claim area in Terminal F. I was paranoid of what I'd find at 6:50. Luckily, it was only to the baggage claim area. That's probably about 40 - 50 people in front of me. The line moves surprisingly fast. I couldn't believe it. I was through. It was just before 7:00. Next, I had to find my gate. Sometimes I luck out and it's F2 - right next to security. Not my luck today. It was F16. No worries. I still had plenty of time. I got to F16 just as the gate agent was picking up the microphone to start boarding. And, I was first in line!

So, I woke up at 6:05 and was sitting on a plane at 7:00. That's just downright amazing!!! But, I had no cell phone.

I got into Syracuse and had the unfortunate luck of getting a Subaru Forrester as a rental car. It doesn't know if it wants to be an SUV or a station wagon. I think it's more station wagon-like. Yuck. It's also REALLY loud. I almost turned around and took it back. It sounds like I'm being chased by a helicopter. Ugh. I'm going to be deaf by the end of the week. I have to turn up the radio REALLY loud to drown out the helicopter noise.

When my rental car and helicopter finally pulled into the campus, it was 9:45. Still shocked that only 4 hours earlier I had been in bed. Anyway, went to power up my laptop and found that my power cord had finally died. It's been fraying for weeks. I knew this day would come. For weeks I've had to angle it a certain way for it to work. Of course today had to be the day that it died. So, I got on the phone and they're shipping one here to the client today.

Welcome to my world.