Like yesterday is…

So I’m back, everybody’s been askin’ where I’ve been.

Let me chime in, I go by the name of…nevermind.

(I’ve got more obscure references than Psych, ha!)

*ahem*

It would figure that the most interesting (read: difficult) voyage of the whole trip would be the return.

Let me line it out nice:

1. Saturday night: No sleep. Why? The plan is to load up luggage at 1AM to catch the bus at 2AM to catch the airport at 5AM to catch the plane at 8AM. Simple enough right? We stay up and end up watching the Emperor’s New Groove (always a plus). I run around like a chicken with no mitigating brain functions trying to print the confirmation for a flight I’m destined to miss while Jessica calmly finishes typing a blog entry. Apparently I’m the worrier…dernitall.
2. Sunday early: We load up at around 1:15AM, and walk down to the bus stop. Our grandiose 3-hour home welcomes us with soft lighting and loud Aggies. We are treated to a goodbye speech from Marco, complete with accidental Gladiator soundtrack drama. Goodbye is goodbye, and we’re off into the night. Sleep occurs, and a crick is born.
3. Sunday a-little-less-early: We arrive at the airport and stumble into the check-in line that’s not due to open for some time. Sleep occurs for some. Then we’re in, we’re through, and we’re gating. We beat the food services and shops to the punch, and so sit around for a while being not very productive. Sleep occurs again, for some. Flight arrives, we fly, we land. Transferring through Heathrow is next on the list. Another security check (much more benign this time) and we’re in, and we’re…gateless. Awesome, right? Wrong. We sit. For some reason, at this point in our story I adopt an easily irritable mood, and as such attempt to keep my tounge in check. Eons later, we get a gate and go.
4. Sunday en route: British Airways cross-Atlantic planes are so schnazzy. Relatively comfy and movies to boot. A little delayed, waiting for “baggage from a connected flight” to load. I caught the end of Jumper and the entirety of I Am Legend. Food is great, I eat everything they give me, save the oddly named “Chicken and Rocket” sandwich. I try out sleeping on occasion, only to discover that the crick birthed earlier has matured into a full annoyance. Somehow, the time passes quickly. Enter Houston.
5. Houston: About the time I’m getting off the plane, Jess and Co. help me realize that I’m not going to make my flight back to Amarillo (told ya). Run through security check and end up at baggage claim.
   We are told some baggage didn’t make it, despite the earlier delay. Jess suffers a casualty. I manage to escape unscathed. We walk towards the exit and the baggage claim filing area. Jess glimpses her father through the doors. After explaining the logistics of traffic flow and one-way exit doors, she stays in order to fill out her claim, and I go on a information supplying mission. Together, we wait for the claiming to wrap up. It does, and Jess and father are off. I head upstairs to see about a new flight. There’s only one. Luckily, no one wants to go to Amarillo. My flight is comped, and I’m off and ready to get on the dang plane. It finally shows up, but not before I’ve had the chance to read a note that Jessica surreptitiously composed at some point and slipped to me before leaving. After reading it, I don’t care what time it is or how long I’ve been waiting. Somehow I heed the boarding call and end up in Amarillo at 11:00ishPM. I’m excited to see the family, and they’re happy to see me. We chat our way out of the airport and back home. We stay up late, as I distribute souvenirs (<- Look Jess. I spellchecked that. No ‘e’, sorry. I still love ya, though. ) and chow on a couple of Double Decker Tacos from Taco Bell. (Taco Villa was closed, for those of you wondering.) Eventually, I went to sleep. I think. Whatever.

So yeah, I’m back. Cue the work and video games to pass the time.

And now, for a dramatic portrayal of an earlier event:

This is me, wondering what the heck is in this envelope I received from Jessica.

This is me, reading the letter in shock. “P.S. Look in your laptop pocket with your camera in it. Tell me what you get. : ) “

I do so…

OMG A KINDER EGG!

I delve in…

…dechocolate it…

…pop it open…

…check out the pieces…

…assemble it…

…and voila! Instaspycompact.

(As a side note, ignore the “Step #” that defines these pictures. Stuff happens.)

So there you have it. There may have been people in the waiting area giving me funny looks, but whatever.

Here’s to the bearablilty of summer.

Charles