Well did you think I wasn’t coming back or lost the way to my blog? Nah not a chance. Where to start? The flight down was not the best but I got there safely so that’s all that really matters. I’m on the plane and they close the doors for take off and we sit there….and sit there……..for 45 minutes! Not once did they make an announcement telling us why we were sitting there. I finally turned my phone back on and called my husband at work. He logged onto Northwest, checked my flight status which said, delayed due to unscheduled maintenance. Don’t you think they could have told us, the passengers?
My seat mate was a young woman in her late 20′s early 30′s I’m guessing, and she was a chatty Cathy! She was also from China and though her English was very good it was still difficult to understand everything she was saying. Found out she had been in Ann Arbor for business and was headed home now. She asked what brings me to NC? I tell her to visit my daughter, well that started another whole new topic. Is she married, does she have kids, where does she work, and on and on. For those who know me you’re probably sitting there chuckling knowing I don’t like answering alot of personal questions to people I don’t know.
I’ve also mentioned in previous posts I don’t talk a great deal about my kids and their personal life. But the time has come to share the news 
One of the reasons I’ve been making more frequent trips to NC is because Sarah’s pregnant! She is due Jan 02, but we’re hoping for a Christmas baby. And it’s a girl Everyone is doing well, both sets of parents are very excited since this is the first grandchild. I only wish I wasn’t so far away from her 
What else? Day after I got back from NC hubby flew in from DC and worked from home all of last week. He flew back on Sunday. This DC/Michigan thing is getting old but we’re working on some alternative solutions, like me being out there more. This house has become a huge albatross!
Update on Poco: I was not a happy camper when I got him back from the kennel. They said he did fine, the girls loved him, carried him around all the time. Yet I could tell he barely touched his food and had a slight upper respiratory virus. All dogs must be vaccinated for kennel cough (Bordetella) if they are boarded and he was, but he still came back with sniffles and a slight cough. He travels very well in the car on road trips, time for him to try flying.
Results for the last poll, the question on universal health care:
High Importance: 67%
Medium Importance: 10%
Low Importance 24%
New poll is up, please answer on your way out
Technorati Tags: Flying – delays – family – kennel cough
Great news about your daughter. Don’t you hate the idea of unscheduled maintenance on your plane. Ugh. While I want them to fix it of course I hate the idea that they are rushed. Maybe you could take the little pup on the plane next time? One of my cats travels very well while the other gets hysterical. Glad you had a nice visit.
It would be interesting on your poll to find out how many people use more than one browser. I use IE first and FireFox second. There are things that work on one and not the other and then vice versa.
Beautiful header photo.
Congrats on the arrival of a grandchild, I had my one and only on Christmas Eve, was the best Christmas ever.
Awful for the airline to not inform the passengers of the problem, of course they’d have nuts like me that would insist on getting off!
Yeah, there is something wrong with that picture of having to use your cell phone to find out why you are sitting on the ground for a long delay. That was just amazing.
Seems the airlines haven’t changed all that much (except for the increase hassle at security) since I flew all the time and I agree, it’s time for Poco to take up flying with you. I’m sure he’ll do fine. Besides, this breed of dog has a reputation for traveling well and the time to get him acclimated to it is when he’s young, ay?
Wouldn’t it be great if it was a Christmas baby? Of course a few years down the road the kid might not appreciate the fact that they only get one day to celebrate where others get two.
That’s very exciting about your daughter! Congrats and best wishes to all!
I so understand about not wanting to answer personal questions about yourself or your kids to an absolute stranger. I usually try to turn the tables and ask them the questions without answering. That keeps them talking and I can listen intermittently. Glad to have you back here!
Great hearing from you again. Glad you made it home safely. Wow, another January Due Date. I was due in January twice, but hoped for Christmas babies. Hopefully since her due date is closer to the first part of January, she will actually succeed.
Sorry to hear about poor little Poco. Hope he’s feeling better now. Poor lil guy.
Hope you figure something out about your house soon. I know its hard to sell anywhere right now. My mom is trying to sell her house in Florida, and she is pretty frustrated with the whole situation. When they bought their house a few years back, it was hard to even find a house. Now you can’t even sell one hardly… :-/ Hope something works out for you!
Laoch - Thanks! Yes I think it’s time to try flying with him. I already have the travel carry on pet carrier and he likes being it. Time to give it a try.
Grandalfe - Yes I think many of us use more than one browser. I use FF first, and IE second.
Janey – thanks for the congrats and compliment on the header. Time to switch over to winter themes
Nooner – yes, and what’s more amazing people weren’t even complaining, just sat there in silence waiting.
Kirk – yes a Christmas baby would be wonderful, but you’re right down the road when birthday parties start it could be a problem.
Keli- good advice! I did that too and it helped. Finally when I quit asking questions I guess she felt like it was her turn lol.
Julie – I didn’t realize both your girls were Jan babies. My son was born in Jan too. Thanks for the good wishes!
Of course you and your family could do their utmost best to ensure the child that everybody’s birthday comes on Christmas…
Well…maybe not.
Congratulations on the imminent grandchild!
That must be so exciting–I hope I get to be a grandma some day but
I think I have a lo-ong wait.
Sorry about Poco’s sniffles, I have been in that position of picking a pet up and knowing all is not perfectly well.
I use Firefox first, Opera second.
Congratulations, that’s great news about your daughter.
A good friend of mine is a laime (Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) with Jetstar whose parent company is Qantas, our national airline. Maintenance of this nature is not uncommon, but the people at Northwest could have at least alerted all to it.
I use IE7 and was surprised to note how many use Firefox.
Elaine,
Since I was a December baby, and close to Christmas, I hope for your granddaughter’s sake…she will arrive on or closer to her due date.
I don’t like not being so close to my grandchildren either. )=
I like talking with people on a plane… but will respect the privacy of people that want to be left alone…and like to listen more than talk when others want to talk. I don’t pry or try to get too personal but sometimes people will just tell me all about themselves.
So agree that they should let you know the WHY of delays, and think there is too much gov’t control, without common sense behind it, with conflicting airport and airline proceedures that put the customer last instead of first.
Sure do appreciate why you don’t want to leave Poco at a bording place, and think he will do great being with you on a plane, and much happier too. Our vet recommended an animal sitter business that comes to your home, bonded, and with a good reputation. With Gray, and his need of diabetic shots, this may be a good option for us.
I use IE7 but am considering also using Firefox. Have heard good things about it.
Hope that the rest of your weekend and week ahead are blessed and am glad Poco has his mommy back. =)
Love and hugs,
Beth
I hope Poco is doing better now.
We have a six year old Shih-Tzu that we take on car vacations but that’s about it. She only has sight in one eye and needs drops 3 times a day so we don’t leave her at a kennel or family’s house. We’ve had to sacrifice a few trips due to her, but we wouldn’t give her up for the world.
What ever happened to the Air Travel Bill of Rights?
Of course the airlines say it isn’t necessary. but we all know when a industry or a politician says “it isn’t necessary” then we know it is then very necessary and hold onto your wallets too!
Kirk – lol maybe not is right
Cilicious – it is discouraging when you drop off a pet in excellent health and get it back knowing all is not well. Thanks for stopping in.
American Interests - I agree, I wasn’t upset because of the delay however not being told ‘why’ was more frustrating!
Beth – I noticed in our paper there are many pet setting services. Maybe I will check into that at some point. Thanks for the reminder.
Cory – thanks for stopping in. Yes Poco is back to old little puppy self again thank goodness. I understand your commitment to your little dog, we get so attached to them they do become a member of the family.
Gino – the air travel bill of rights ~~ believe Congress is still working on it, which means don’t expect it anytime soon