I decided to try a new place to ski, Park City, Utah, it a beautiful place. 

I’m staying at a Hampton Inn about six miles from the lift, nice and convenient. I parked right in front of the bucket lift that takes you to the gondola that takes you to the other lifts. That just sounded silly. They have a gondola that you put your skis on the outside while you go up the mountain, it’s nice, along with the people to put on and take off the skis!

At the top, I skied to the first chair lift, skied down, took the next lift and it went on that way for a bit. I stuck to the blue square runs since I haven’t been here before. 

I got to one spot and looked up a small slope, what? Then I saw the tow rope, whew! I was relieved, especially since I don’t have poles with me. 

I was not far from the base, I found that out shortly, good thing, when I wiped out. It happens, I was upright one minute swishing and swooshing down the slope and next thing, I was on my back looking at the sky. Huh?

I shook my head, looked back and saw my one ski a little way up the hill. I stood up, realized one of if the things poles are really useful for… releasing your boots from your skis!

I got my other ski back, put them both on, which, as you might know, is not easy to do on a slope! As I stared to ski back down to the base, I realized my ankle was throbbing a bit. I thought it might be a good idea to have someone look at it. 

I skied to the base, found out where the clinic was. I declined ski patrol coming to get me, it seemed silly. The doctor, nurse and about six ski patrol folks were sitting around, a little bored. 

The doctor looked at my ankle and confirmed what I had been thinking. Elevate, ice, ibuprofen and I should be fine. One of the ski patrol drove me back to my car, I went to Wal-Mart to pick up an ace bandage and some zip-lock baggies to hold ice.

So, here I sit, in the living room of my hotel room, foot propped yup, watching a Law and Order: SVU marathon, doing something I never get to do, relax!

Tomorrow, fingers crossed, I am going yo hit the slopes again for a few hours before I fly back to Chicago.

Flight…fine, pick up… fine, drive… not fine. 

I landed about 30 minutes late, we taxied for a while, due to the show, which covered the runways, understandable. I had arranged with my taxi driver to pick me up, I was supposed to land at 630am, he would pick me up at 7, take me to the hotel, I would get an hour of sleep or at least a shower, then take me to the client site by 9am.

Big snowstorms in Chicago over the weekend gummed up that plan…

I landed about 7am, was in the car by 745, I had to get my luggage, then the taxi monitor had to call him, he was waiting in a lot. 

Then…I got in the taxi and we were off. We were going 38 miles, should only take about an hour, maybe a little less.

THREE HOURS! Yes, you read right, three hours!

There was snow and bad traffic on the highway. GPS originally said just under two hours.  I emailed my lead and the office I was going to, let them know I was going to be late, I should be there by 10am.

After about an hour, I told my driver I was going to take a nap. I woke up just before we got to the office, three hours total! 

It was alright because everyone was running late, I still felt terrible! Got a lot accomplished in the short time I was there. 

Best part…what a nap!

Today’s travel was pretty good. And profitable. 

Today I’m flying home! That’s the best part. My flight from Chicago to was simple enough, we left a little late, but I knew I’d still make my connection in San Francisco.

The guy that sat next to me was very nice, turns out our last names are the same except for one letter, go figure. He’s from Chicago and doesn’t really like to fly and thanked me when we landed, for helping him get thru the flight. He made my flight entertaining, he was a character! So thank you!

I got to San Francisco and eventually made it to the gate and i hear them calling my name, uh oh! Turns out they wanted to see if i would move over one seat, sure. 

Then they made an announcement that they were looking for people to volunteer to give up their seats because there was a weight issue, the plane was zaftig. 

I called PSM and asked for his opinion. $400 and a seat on the first flight out in the morning. As it was, I wasn’t getting to Hawaii until 1045pm, hmmm…ok, why not, they may not select me. 

They did tell me not to put the compensation amount as they would put the highest number on it. Ok. 

They kept calling for volunteers, they needed eight. Then…20 minutes later, they announced the gate change, we needed a new plane. Great… there was a couple frm Alabama who had missed their 7am flight, they were supposed to be in Hawaii at 4pm, its now 715pm in California, ouch.

We all get up and make our way over yo the new gate,  I made some friends along the way, an older guy from The Big Island, a young guy from Dalton, GA, and a mom with her three month old from Philly. 

Then, we had to sit there and wait until the new plane arrived, now my flight would get in to Honolulu at 1244am, glad i made my decision to volunteer. 

My new friends and i talked and enjoyed each other’s company until it was time for them to board. Also listening to their pleas for volunteers,  “we need five more volunteers”, that went on for  what seemed like forever! But… the amount for the voucher kept going up…

Finally the other plane left and we just had to sit there for a few more minutes and then they called us up one by one to give us our stuff. 

I ended up with $30 in food vouchers, a hotel voucher and $800 towards a future flight, not too shabby. 

But… my luggage is still going to Hawaii, huh? Didn’t someone explain that to you? No…

Oh well.  So, I’m sitting here in the Comfort Inn Suites near the San Francisco airport,  the alarm is set for 5am so i can catch my 719am flight to Honolulu, in my economy seat, did I mention I gave up a first class seat? Well, if it happened once, it will happen again, I’m sure. 

Wish me luck for tomorrow!