DOD: Day of Departure!

Timing, they say, is everything. After my hotel conveniently forgot to honor my 3:45 am wake-up call the morning I was scheduled to depart to South Korea, I was supremely pissed. My best friend in the world luckily woke up just before 5 a.m., thanks to her natural clock, and we rushed to the airport so I could check-in and catch my 6:30 a.m. flight.



Nothing is ever as simple as that, though. Though I had expected fees for overweight baggage, I was NOT expecting those fees to be $700!!! WHAT?! For those of you who know me, you know I generally thoroughly research information... that was not the price listed on UA's website. But, there was no arguing. Instead, the representative said it would be cheaper to check a third bag. I'm sure that's true, but unfortunately, I was sans third bag and all the airport shops were still closed! The UA rep disappeared into the back for the second time and returned with an extrememly beat-up duffel bag. After shuffling around toiletries and clothes, Liz and I managed to get the bags close to the maximum weight and my new UA friend ignored the few extra pounds and loaded the bags to the conveyer belt. WHEW!



Off to the clusterf*k that was security... How the lines were soooo backed up at 5:45 in the morning is beyond me. After snaking through the mess, I finally made it to my terminal where I walked on to my already-boarded plane at 6:20 a.m. We taxied from the gate a mere 15 minutes later.



Liz says I'm the luckiest person she's ever met. There was absolutely no way I should have made that plane (though is hardly the only reason she says I'm the luckiest.... she can list a host of examples pointing to her conclusion!).



Bound for San Francisco, I settled into my very, very nice aisle seat and reflected on what else the day might bring! During the next six hours, I realized that had La Quinta not so irresponsibly disregarded my morning wake-up call, I may not have met my new UA friend who was so unbelievably cool in helping me cut my charges! So, ok, La Quinta, you're off the hook. This time.



With a four-hour layover in San Fran, I somehow managed to only make the last call for boarding for my 1:30 p.m. flight. Don't ask... between eating lunch, checking e-mail, updating my Facebook status (you know, the important things in life), charging my phone in the walkway of the airport, calling family and friends, and exchanging US dollars into South Korean won, I just lost track of time.



But once again, I made it. :)



Twelve hours later, I landed in South Korea.



Stay tuned for the next blog!



A post note: I realize this isn't the most exciting entry you've ever read, but in an effort to capture details of my trip for myself, as well as for you, it's a necessary evil to include blow-by-blow information ;)