Victoria-Seattle

It's been a while since I have seen or been able to use a computer.  It's been liberating and daunting at the same time.  All I can think is, how much blogging I have to catch up on.

March 6, 2012

Leaving for Seattle, my ticket in hand for the Clipper, I find out that the ferry is broken and that they Clipper is making alternate plans.

I find that I am due 2 hours early than planned downtown Victoria, to take the Coho Ferry to Port Angeles, (yes, I looked for Vampires and Wolves....) then we would be going by bus to Seattle.

Alls good right?

I pick up my suitcase with minutes to spare, it breaks.

I get to the ferry, forgot my migraine meds.  I quickly text Kent, he runs it back to me, one last kiss and I am off.

I hadn't gotten very far, when the tears came.  I missed my Kenty and decided that other than for work or family situations, this is the last time I will be leaving him for the sake of other peoples kids.  I love my kids, I love their parents, but its time for another woman to step up, take time off work, time away from seniority, time away from family, lose 2 weeks vacation time, and pay for the opportunity to go.

I know that I just made the missions trips sound terrible, they are amazing opportunities, but I am feeling my time in doing this WITHOUT Kent is done.

We arrived in Port Angeles, customs was a joke and then boarded the bus again for Seattle. 

The bus took the scenic windy route, along the coast, which left me a little queasy.  I thought it would be a great time, since the sun was going down to catch what little sleep I would be getting for the night.  I tried but two female Asian travellers were cackling like chickens, and man, were they loud!

We arrived at Pier 69, I hailed a taxi, all the ladies were standing on the sidewalk, I walked out, adopting my other culture (NYC culture) and hailed a cab.  A lady behind me said, hey, we were waiting here longer than you!  I said, we were on the same bus, and if you want a cab, leave the sidewalk.  I was loading my bags surrounded by women flailing their arms.

I negotiated a price with the driver, a flat rate to $32. 

THEN.

He took off doing 60-70 MPH through the downtown streets of Seattle.  At the point we hit the I5 I couldn't see the speedometer, but the cab was shaking and I was getting air in the back seat.  I looked and at one point, I thought I saw 100 MPH.

And he missed the exit going southbound.  He turned on his GPS to naviagate us back to the airport, which lead us down some very dark secluded streets.  I wrote down the number to the taxi complaint line.  We then were headed North on I5 when, he missed the turn off again.

I told him, that I was scared and angry.  Get me to the airport now.

He did a turn around on an overpass, we got to the airport and he said, that will be $72.80.

I said, it will be $32.00, a complaint to the taxi line.  I don't pay you to get me lost.

Oh, yes, he says, $32.00.

I went into the airport, Delta told me I could check in upon arrival, check my bags and hang out in the Sky Miles Lounge for preferred travellers until the teens and Ben arrive.

So, I go to the desk, the attendants states, not until after midnight. 

Ok, I think, I will hang out here for 2 hours and check in.

At midnight, I walk up to the counter, state that I am here to check in for the flight to NYC today--she stared at me.  Blink.  Blink.  Huh?  So I said it again, told her what the lady on the Delta Airlines phone said, what the attendant said at 9.50 when I got here, she said, No Ma'am.  You must check in at 3.30 am.

So, I argued my point, she refused and I went and found a seat, in a corner, behind a bank of phones....for the rest of the night.

I listened to music, read, tried to sleep, but the announcements kept startling me.

At 3.30 I went to check in and they gladly would accept it--along with $25.00.  I said, what?  I waited to talk to Ben about it all.

At 4.30, the team arrived, it was a great reunion, Jordan S's birthday, we paid the extra $400.00 for the priveledge of flying Delta. (I swear, never again).

We made it through security, no problem, even with Sebastian's metal bar in his chest. 

I had a wonderful breakfast catch up with Jamie and Jordan, something we had planned a month ago.

Right on time, we left Seattle for New York City.