The Argument Clinic

So I just landed and am settling in for my 2 hour layover in baltimore, longer than I usually like (I find that an hour is generally preferable), but ever since my 10 hour layover in puerto rico, its difficult to really complain about the shorter layovers. BWI is nice at least, which is good cause I have completely lost count of how many times I’ve been here. Since most of southwests flight connect through here.

So I sat down in my aisle seat in the plane. Just to give a little background here - southwest seating is first come, first serve…so I checked in 24 hours ahead of time and got there 2 hours early just to make sure I got an aisle…I am extremely attached to my aisle seats… its literally the only thing that makes my flying experience borderline almost approaching tolerable.

So this lady not only gets on the plane absolute last, she asks me if I will move to the middle for her so she can have the aisle…I politely declined (she didn’t have an obvious medical reason for needing the seat, which is the only thing that would motivate me to give it up) and then she gets angry (even though I was nice and apologetic about it), throws her stuff down on the middle seat and yells at me to move so she can be in the middle. Then she yells at this other lady across the aisle for looking at her, said: “what are you looking at lady?” Umm..maybe at the extremely loud and obnoxious lady making a scene like a 5 year old? (geez, if you want a better seat, get here earlier, not my problem lady!). Thought it would be a long flight after that, but then she all of a sudden went into polite, overly talkative mode like it didn’t happen. She was pretty weird…then she got angry at the flight attendant for collecting her drink right before we landed (the flight attendant did leave it til the last minute, it is her job to remove it)…even though she was done with it - kept yelling that she paid for it. Then went back to pretending that hadn’t happened either.

Relieved that she isn’t going to indianapolis… Interesting woman anyway, guess she left her 15 year old kid at home by himself cause he wouldn’t get in the car, don’t know if I would either if this is a typical flying experience with her. Usually I enjoy talking to the people next to me on flights - but she was an exception!

So they tell you to get to the airport earlier now cause of the whole no liquids thing. Luckily I always get to the airport early anyways, so it doesn’t bother me too much that I did get here early, the lines were non-existent and I got through security in literally 2 minutes. Maybe its good that the last time I flew was in the pre-memorial day craziness, so compared to that this week should feel nice and quiet. Hmm…at least I brought a few books to pass the time while I wait for my flight to bwi to start boarding… I realized that I forgot to bring a watch…I’m glad I have relatively short flights today, cause it drives me nuts not knowing what time it is on the long flights.

So I am getting ready for my trip to indianapolis for the midwestern states risk assessment symposium (sounds exciting doesn’t it? )…focuses on trichloroethylene mainly. As always I am hoping for at least one sentence that I need to report back to people at work, cause that would make the hassle of the trip worth it. I am sure most of you are bored already, so I will move on…

Anyways, haven’t flown since the no liquids rule, so not sure how much that will slow down my day…but luckily albany airport is small anyways…so even when its crowded, its not like o’hare crowded or something. Luckily. Flying Southwest, so that should be good. After all the airlines I have flown with they are my favorite, probably because I am always in a 737 and never need to worry about getting stuck in a little plane. That definitely makes them #1 on my list! Was pretty funny though once when i was connecting through las vegas on the way to san diego, I was staying in the same plane for my connection…but apparently I was the only one…including the flight crew who was leaving…I was like “ummm…this is going to san diego right?” They said “Well, you will have to wait and ask the next crew about that” So there’s me…the lone passenger sitting on the plane waiting for the next crew to arrive. It was really weird, but I did get a really good seat for the next leg of my flight! Anyways, connecting in bwi today, so neither leg of my flight is very long…which is really good. Checked in yesterday and am in the A boarding group, so shouldn’t have a problem getting my aisle seat. YAY!

Weather is supposed to be good this week, so hopefully that holds up. Am a nervous flier (though I hold all of my emotions inside anyways, so no one can really tell )…so nicer weather helps my mood about flying in general. People say to me that I will get used to it, but just this year I have flown to phoenix, san diego, monterey, ca, jacksonville, fl (so only 1 east coast trip)…and have flown at least a few times a year since I graduated college (lost count by now) but am still not really used to it. Sure, its better than the very first time I went…but I still hate it. Though nothing compares to my hatred for propeller planes. Grrr…I hate them!! I do think my attitude would be different if I were leaving for vacation rather than a business trip…actually my attitude was somewhat different when I flew to antigua (though I was still nervous, wasn’t as pissed off about it), so apparently that does help…cause then you have something more to be excited about than listening to presentations and getting room service. Well, I need to stop being lazy and go get ready and pack (I don’t pack til the last minute usually…doesn’t take me long anymore anyways). Will probably post a couple times from my blackberry this week when I have time…