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tenayaGeneral trip natterings to follow:
We're home, safe and sound. The flights home were uneventful. I was pretty irritated at Calgary checking in, though. We got there 2.5 hours early then waited 45 minutes in line while the one person at the desk dealt with 2 yahoos. Unfreaking belieavable. Finally another desk jockey showed up, and the line went pretty well. When we got up there, because we'd requested a wheelchair for Mom, he told us to get out of line and go sit down. He had to take us through Customs and Security himself once the flight had closed one hour prior to flight time because they were short staffed. In other airports, like Skyharbor in Phoenix, they have tons of young adults running around with wheelchairs trying to find people who look like they need a ride. The deskjockey was dismissive and just kept telling us to go sit down, it would be alright. So, we sat for 45 minutes while everyone else went though. I see how people get in trouble--they take perfectly normal people, treat them like crap and then call for security when they explode into air rage. So, the guy finally comes and gets Mom and yes, he took us through express lanes for crews and VIPs, avoiding the very long lines there. At Security, I had to take out the laptop and Mom's CPAP machine; dipshit stood there holding Mom's chair while I tried to put shoes back on both of us, collect her cane, and our three items and repack the two machines in the carry on while impatient people flowed past us. Gee, thanks guy.
So, we did make our flight but I was frustrated and stressed. Next at Seatac, they didn't send enough chairs for all the people that needed them so it was haphazard how we got transported to the next gate and I have to say airport employees are expert at avoiding eye contact and ignoring their customers, even those in wheelchairs (not Mom in particular, but I noticed other people having a hard time.) Ontario, which I usually don't care for, was quite diligent and concerned to help all those that needed it. I wonder where the different attitudes come from? Airport managers? Attitudes in the community? Their immediate bosses?
If you ever drive in Calgary, be aware they like to run red lights to turn right on red. Hello!
Once home, we sat on the front porch at 9pm at night with iced decaf Starbucks in 88 degree heat letting the moggies be outside and be with us at the same time. That took almost an hour. There was lots of "you're home, you're home! I can't believe it! I thought you got ate at the waterhole!" They've required frequent hugs, even this morning. I tried to get Brindle to sleep with me, but he's a laundry room sink cat right now. He did keep jumping on my bed and making biscuits on various bodyparts--one time on my bum! "Hey, Needles! That smarts!" And the good news is that B just demanded out and that means I can do my laundry!!!
Our plan was that by leaving in Sept and coming back in Oct, the heat would be turned off. But no, it's been over 100 at times while we're gone. We had gotten used to the cold so last night, we had to turn the air on much lower than we usually have it. Oh well!
The Best Western in Drumheller was very nice, as was the Hampton in at Calgary. The Park Place Inn in Jasper was very nice, too. The Ptamigan Inn and the Lake Louise Inn had issues and there were probably better choices in those areas.
Highlights were in no particular order: Banff gondola, Lake Maligne boat cruise, Athabasca Falls, Columbia Glacier Snocoach Tours, the drive from Banff to Jasper, Peyto Lake, Moraine Lake, the Royal Tyrrel museum of Palaeontology and the view from the airplane as we flew over the Rockies on the way to Seattle.
And while we were returning to Calgary, it seemed like the wheat farmers were harvesting, but instead of a truck to catch the grain, it looked like they were just blowing everything back in the fields. I saw at least three farms doing this. Disturbing.
Must go do laundry!
We're home, safe and sound. The flights home were uneventful. I was pretty irritated at Calgary checking in, though. We got there 2.5 hours early then waited 45 minutes in line while the one person at the desk dealt with 2 yahoos. Unfreaking belieavable. Finally another desk jockey showed up, and the line went pretty well. When we got up there, because we'd requested a wheelchair for Mom, he told us to get out of line and go sit down. He had to take us through Customs and Security himself once the flight had closed one hour prior to flight time because they were short staffed. In other airports, like Skyharbor in Phoenix, they have tons of young adults running around with wheelchairs trying to find people who look like they need a ride. The deskjockey was dismissive and just kept telling us to go sit down, it would be alright. So, we sat for 45 minutes while everyone else went though. I see how people get in trouble--they take perfectly normal people, treat them like crap and then call for security when they explode into air rage. So, the guy finally comes and gets Mom and yes, he took us through express lanes for crews and VIPs, avoiding the very long lines there. At Security, I had to take out the laptop and Mom's CPAP machine; dipshit stood there holding Mom's chair while I tried to put shoes back on both of us, collect her cane, and our three items and repack the two machines in the carry on while impatient people flowed past us. Gee, thanks guy.
So, we did make our flight but I was frustrated and stressed. Next at Seatac, they didn't send enough chairs for all the people that needed them so it was haphazard how we got transported to the next gate and I have to say airport employees are expert at avoiding eye contact and ignoring their customers, even those in wheelchairs (not Mom in particular, but I noticed other people having a hard time.) Ontario, which I usually don't care for, was quite diligent and concerned to help all those that needed it. I wonder where the different attitudes come from? Airport managers? Attitudes in the community? Their immediate bosses?
If you ever drive in Calgary, be aware they like to run red lights to turn right on red. Hello!
Once home, we sat on the front porch at 9pm at night with iced decaf Starbucks in 88 degree heat letting the moggies be outside and be with us at the same time. That took almost an hour. There was lots of "you're home, you're home! I can't believe it! I thought you got ate at the waterhole!" They've required frequent hugs, even this morning. I tried to get Brindle to sleep with me, but he's a laundry room sink cat right now. He did keep jumping on my bed and making biscuits on various bodyparts--one time on my bum! "Hey, Needles! That smarts!" And the good news is that B just demanded out and that means I can do my laundry!!!
Our plan was that by leaving in Sept and coming back in Oct, the heat would be turned off. But no, it's been over 100 at times while we're gone. We had gotten used to the cold so last night, we had to turn the air on much lower than we usually have it. Oh well!
The Best Western in Drumheller was very nice, as was the Hampton in at Calgary. The Park Place Inn in Jasper was very nice, too. The Ptamigan Inn and the Lake Louise Inn had issues and there were probably better choices in those areas.
Highlights were in no particular order: Banff gondola, Lake Maligne boat cruise, Athabasca Falls, Columbia Glacier Snocoach Tours, the drive from Banff to Jasper, Peyto Lake, Moraine Lake, the Royal Tyrrel museum of Palaeontology and the view from the airplane as we flew over the Rockies on the way to Seattle.
And while we were returning to Calgary, it seemed like the wheat farmers were harvesting, but instead of a truck to catch the grain, it looked like they were just blowing everything back in the fields. I saw at least three farms doing this. Disturbing.
Must go do laundry!
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-10-01 11:57 pm (UTC)It's supposed to cool off on Friday (oh pleez!). It was 91 in Santa Monica today. Urgh.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-10-02 05:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-10-03 12:16 am (UTC)in the living room during the hot months.