At the Airport Plus

The day started out good!  When we got up, it once again was dark outside.  When I'm at home I almost always get up early but that is usually before 5:30 am (most times).  It's really disgusting, because I don't have to set an alarm clock at home ~ I just wake up super, duper early!  But it's been really nice getting to sleep a little later and receiving a wake~up call from the front desk of the hotel :o)  I told Dennis that I wasn't going to breakfast this morning (that was compliments of the hotel) as when we were shopping last evening I bought two chocolate covered long~john doughnuts with pudding filling.  So, that was going to be my breakfast along with some juice as I finished the last minute packing.  Most everything was carefully packed in my two suitcases last night while Dennis also packed his two.  Finally, he came back from eating his breakfast and brought one of the big luggage mover carts :o) back with him.  Our School Principal had several boxes of books sent to the hotel which we also had to take to the airport to send home on our plane.  We loaded everything on the cart and off we went to the lobby.  The guys got our three rental mini vans and began packing in all the luggage!  Yes, there was quite a bit more luggage going back to Cayman that was full to the brim and some over~running.  When you travel like we do and live on an Island and can't shop much, you learn to pack extra suitcases inside each other to fill up for your return.  And fill~up, some did!!

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

Here everyone was watching as Jim was weighing luggage with a nifty little scale they had bought previously! 

Of course, both of our BIG suitcases were overweight ~ mine by less than two pounds and Dennis' by 10 pounds as he had school supplies in it.  So, we shuffled stuff around as not to pay the extra fees! 

By now, the three guys were back from returning the rental vans and off we went to check~in!  There was still some fanaggiling around because we had the extra two boxes to take back and the lady at the counter didn't want us to have to pay extra for them.  She was so helpful!  It was worked out and some of the Staff were able to have them put under their names for no charge which we were glad!!  From the ticket counter of course, we proceeded to security to have our carry~on bags and US put through the screening and xray machines.  Everyone got through them okay, BUT when our carry~on's came down the belt one of the worker's asked who "this" bag belonged to.  It happened to be Dennis'!  They told him to come with them to the side.  So, off we went.  Ugghhhh!!  Now what?!?!?  Well, what had started out to be a good day was now starting going down hill slowly.  The lady told Dennis that he would not be able to take (in the below picture) in his carry~on. 

He told them he wasn't being smart, but wanted to know what their reason was. She got her supervisor who was a very nice, quiet reserved type man. He said because they don't know what is inside of this. Give me a break!  So, he took it and walked off.  We were both very disgusted!!  All because they don't know what is inside of the dumbbell?  As if they can tell what's in everything that goes through the xray machine???  While walking off, I said to the supervisor guy, "Is someone going to take that home with them?"  Of course, he said no!  No need to cry over spilled milk, so off we went to our gate to meet up with our group to wait to board our plane.  After meeting up with everyone we found a seat and sat down chatting with everyone.  In just a few short minutes, we had walked up to the desk.  You see, we didn't have assigned seating on the plane and we were told to check with the people at the desk at our gate when we got there.  Just as soon as we got up there, one of the two ladies started making an announcement.  The jest of it was that they had overbooked and needed three people who didn't have plans and could fly to Cayman later today or tomorrow.  Dennis immediately said we'll take it!!  They took our information and told us to have a seat until the passengers were all boarded to see if there were any seats still empty!  One of our teachers had also got on the list along with us.  The minutes ticked by and by!!  Finally, the passengers were boarding by their assigned zones.  We sat and kept on edge wondering and saying to each other if we'd end up flying home today or staying in Charlotte for another night.  The list of those boarding was getting shorter and shorter.  Then there was nobody left in the line.  Oh, no!!  What were we going to hear now?  Our friend, Ron, the teacher got called up.  He came back and much to his dismay ended up getting on the plane to go home!  He was very disappointed to say the least!!  Several minutes later, we were called up in fear and trembling! haha!!

To say the least, our day just got better and better and better!!!!!  We ended up staying here in Charlotte while our group went on home to Cayman.  Some of them were disappointed that we didn't go with them, but we were ecstatic and sooooooooooo happy.  Another day in the States!!  The airlines wrote us two checks each for $900.00 each for flights in the future, $25.00 in food vouchers and in another of the nicest hotels in the Charlotte area ~ the Renaissance.  Oh, my goodness, is it nice!!

Big and roomy 

For lunch, we went downstairs to the dining room for lunch as we both were very hungry.  They had a delicious buffet which was only $12.00 and it included your drink and dessert! 

Then we lounged around and both took a nap!  ZZZzzzzzzzzz!! 

Then just did nothing. . . . .  

and did some more nothing. . . . .  

Then we got a call on Skype from our friend Amit who is in India. . . . .

and now we're waiting for a light dinner to be served to us in our room!  How is that for having reservations on an overbooked flight?  We're living it up tonight. 

Our flight leaves around 9:30 tomorrow morning, so we leave the hotel here around 7:30!  Then to top it off, the ladies gave us first class seats on the flight!!  WOW!!  We are feeling like a King and Queen !  (And by the way, our Bistro New York Strip Dip Sandwiches w/fries was delicious!)

So, we'll see if we make it to Cayman tomorrow or not! hehe!!  No, tomorrow we have to go home for Dennis to speak at Church on Sunday.  Until later ~ tada!!