Hey all,
Just a little wrap-up and I wanted to
share that a couple of people saw me on TV for the Wake Forrest game.
That's right, Jim Caldwell, international TV star in the house and you
all knew me when. On top of that I am in the print media!! http://www2.kusports.com/photos/galleries/2013/nov/28/ku-basketball-v-wake-forest-battle-4-atlantis/ Bottom
of the page (sorry for the stupid google quiz you have to answer before it
shows you the full page). Photo of the crowd with me looking stoic and awesome
(and balding) in the center bottom of the photo with Tam next to me cheering
his head off while blocking his face with his ever present camera and his wife,
Sophia, right next to him smiling and clapping (they are on my right...or to
the left when looking at the photo).
The trip back was long
but worry-free for the most part. We were told multiple times to get to
the airport 3 hours before departure and, of course, we made it through
security in about 45 minutes. I can see where it could have been worse:
we made it through before a large group of people hit security including the
Wake Forrest basketball team who was also on our flight to Charlotte.
Those huge dudes were sitting coach although one fan/booster/something
associated with the team gave up his exit row seat for the tallest dude on the
team. Is that impermissible benefits? With the NCAA as screwy as
they are, it probably is. Tons of
families with kids on that flight. So much
so they asked if there was a group of 3 people in a row that would be willing
to change to exit row seating (I guess to accommodate people with kids). What do you know? Tam + Sophia + me = 3 and we were all in the
same row. We humbly agreed to make that
sacrifice.
Anyway, ate some lunch
in Nassau airport, flew to Charlotte and only had about an hour layover
there...with the gate lady threatening and cajoling everyone with overhead
baggage to check it since the flight was sold out and then threatening all the
later people with forcing them to check it. In the meantime, of course
she was letting everyone else on with baggage clearly larger than the outline
of acceptable sized carry-on that was sitting right in front of her. We
were zone 5 (the last to get on) and only had backpacks so it was no big deal,
but she called for zone 5 and then said "after the first 10 people, I am
going to have to make you check your carry-on baggage". I wonder if
they can really enforce that. What if you said "no"?
There was still plenty of room in the overheads (of course) so I don't
think they did, but I was already on the plane by the time that threat would
have been carried out.
We only had a
scheduled 45 minutes in Phoenix for the last connection and, of course, the
plane got in a little late, took a while to taxi and then took an hour
(estimated, might not be accurate) to get the door open once we did get to the
gate. Luckily we landed at A11 and our connection was at A1 so a quick
jog got us there as they were calling for our zone. There were some on
our plane that had to get to B gate or beyond. And that is one of the
things I don't like about US Airways (current holder of crappiest airline in
the world in my book). This super tight
connection was offered on their website, they do not hold the plane even though
their records should be showing us coming in on their airline and finally, they
close the door to the gate 10 minutes before takeoff so even if you get there
before departure, if it’s within 10 minutes of that departure, you are
screwed. This happened to me at
Christmas one time and I then sat there staring at the plane sitting at the
gate for the next 30 minutes before it finally pulled away. Again, we made it (and our bags did too) this
time so I guess I can sort of lighten up on them…but for sure, I don’t book
through them if I can help it.
We landed in Portland around 11 and with getting luggage, the car,
and the drive back made it home around midnight…but make it home I did. Good trip overall. The diving around Nassau wasn’t the best, but
that shark dive was totally worth it.
Seeing basketball that close was pretty cool and KU took 2 out of 3.
Good times.
Until next time, friends, let’s keep it our time, the people’s
time!
Jim