Friday, April 1, 2011

A is for Airports

Here we are. It's day one of the A to Z April Blog Challenge 2011. By the time you read this, I'll be somewhere between Northern Colorado and East Central Illinois and won't return to Colorado until a week from today. During this first week of April, I'll be on dial-up on my mom's phone.

I wouldn't call this the best planning for someone signed up to participate in a blog challenge, but sometimes I just do dumb stuff and then deal with it later.

So back to today. I take the Super Shuttle to the Denver Airport, check my bag and go through security. Then I hang around drinking coffee until my plane boards, jump on an American Eagle flight (on a Regional Canadair jet), and head for Chicago O'Hare.

At O'Hare, I have a three hour wait before my little American Eagle Embraer jet flight takes off. If I arrive and leave from the usual concourses, there will be a Starbucks, a yummy bagel restaurant, and a TCBY frozen yogurt stall on the way from one to the other. There are also restaurants and bars, of course. And massage chairs. I don't mind the layover in O'Hare so much.

I'm prepared for a day of waiting and flying and waiting and flying. I charged my Kindle and loaded it with blogger friend books (including Alex J. Cavanaugh's CassaStaR and The Hating Game by Talli Roland). My laptop is fully charged (just in case I want to write a couple more A to Z blog posts or visit and comment on other blogs). And I'm sleep-deprived so I'll snooze on both flights. Who could ask for anything more?

Special note: if you're participating in the A to Z Challenge and don't know about the great "Next blog" and "Surprise Me!" buttons at Arlee Bird's tossing it out, follow the link in the first line of this post and give them a try. It's a very handy way to blog-hop among challenge participants.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pat - Oh, very good idea for a post!!! You know, as long as an airport has complimentary Wi-fi, I'm a happy camper. And they are great places for people-watching :-).

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Have a safe journey Patricia and return safe and sound, hope to follow you in the challenge on your return,

Yvonne.

Ella said...

Hi Pat, Hope you have a safe trip! I now want Starbucks...that might be a S post! I know you can do it; I look forward to your posts~

Mari G said...

Hi Patricia
Airports were once a favourite well-travelled (excuse the pun) haunt of mine. Since the arrival of children & all the hassle of queuing & security checks, I seem to favour "staycationing." Your post reminds me of all the fun I USED to have, reading & hanging out before taking flight!

Sylvia Ney said...

I hope you enjoy your flight. Thank you for the button link. I look forward to reading more from you.

エイプリル said...

Have a nice flight! Haven't quite gotten the nerve to do that yet (fly)....skurrrrred of heights. Enjoyed your post!

Ann said...

Great minds think alike.....I have posted about airports too. Thanks of the links. Have a safe and pleasant journey!

Unknown said...

Well, I hope you have a great flight/trip. Happy reading!

baygirl32 said...

Have a safe trip! you'll have LOTS to read with the A to Z

http://baygirl32.blogspot.com

walk2write said...

Great planning, yes, I'm familiar with that concept. We're actually moving this month. Just across town, but many details to finalize, not the least of which is getting Internet service available at the new place. I hope you have a wonderful visit with your mum.

Paula Martin said...

Have a great trip- and look forward to more of your A-Z blogs. Good luck with the challenge. I have vague titles for some of my blogs, and am hoping more inspiration will strike by the time I get to Q!
http://paulamartinpotpourri.blogspot.com

Marjorie said...

I totally forgot about the next blog and surprise me buttons. Thanks. I've just been going down the list.

Luana Krause said...

I like O'Hare, too. Every airport has its own personality. O'Hare is "easy going."

Unknown said...

Enjoy the trip.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Pat .. airports - yugh .. but we mentally seem to get into this mode and get through .. enjoy your stay at the other end ..

.. and thanks for the note re the "Next Blog" "Surprise Me" buttons .. I must check them out .. cheers Hilary

Southpaw said...

What a way to start the challenge!

A-Z Fellow Challenger
Holly Ruggiero’sPOV

Manzanita said...

About airports. "Who could ask for anything more?" And there's even a song about it.
Manzanita
Wanna buy a duck

Cricket McRae said...

Have a great trip and enjoy your time away. I always like being someplace else, but the whole airport thing can be a drag. You sound like you're well prepared.

Michelle Mach said...

Have a great trip! It's been long time since I've been to O'Hare.

Thanks for mentioning those buttons--I missed seeing those. I've read some great A-Z blogs already this morning.

Joyce said...

Enjoy your trip! And the dial up... I sometimes do dumb stuff and deal with it later too ; )

I'm visiting from the challenge and found you through the magic next blog button-I love it!

Patricia Stoltey said...

Well, my blog-hopping isn't going so well today. My WiFi connection at DIA kept going out, and I didn't feel like paying $7.00 at O'Hare to get online for two hours. Now I'm on dial-up and it's not going well at all. I suspect I'll be doing a lot of catching up when I get home. I'll be visiting all of you before the month is out, though.

And for those talking about theme, I've decided to stay with the travel theme as much as I can.

Jemi Fraser said...

I've read both Talli's and Alex's books - you're going to love them! :)

J.A. Kazimer said...

Have a great trip!

Anonymous said...

Have a great flight and best of luck with dial-up! hehe

Josie Two Shoes said...

I love airports too! Airport = adventure... whether to exotic places or just the challenge of trying to navigate the concourses, ques,and security. I wish you a safe journey and good memories in the making!
~Josie Two Shoes~
Two Shoes In Texas 
Monday Memories
Write A Letter Wednesday
Words In Motion

Ellie Garratt said...

We get to follow you on your journey - yay! And you should be there by now.

Ellie Garratt

Hold my hand: a social worker's blog said...

Enjoy your trip!

Interesting... Ann's *A post at http://inkpotsandquills.blogspot.com/ is also "Airport" ...

Doris

Patricia Stoltey said...

I feel as though I'm getting left behind -- the rest of my blogging friends are miles ahead of me. I'm going to be moving at warp speed to catch up when I get home.