Today was quite a long day!
I started the morning around 6:15AM. I showered, dressed, and crashed again after I was ready for the morning. Jess woke up around 7AM and the baby woke up shortly after that. LJ was grumpy from the moment she woke up and stayed that way pretty much the entire day. It didn't help that she had a rough night of waking up every few hours. Also, her stuffed up and runny nose didn't help matters.
Jess, LJ, and I headed to breakfast at 8AM as an activity for the apartment complex. They didn't start serving food until closer to 9AM, which was really irritating for Jess since we could have stayed in the warm apartment and dealt better with a grumpy toddler on familiar ground. Brett joined us for breakfast (each morning I was there, he'd gone into school to practice his music for a few hours every morning. He usually left around 6AM) and egg hunting. LJ got a few and was happier when she was left to run around.
At around 9:45 we headed back to the house, grabbed my luggage, and ate a little bit more (breakfast wasn't as filling as we all thought it would be). We raced to their church for the 10AM egg hunt. LJ got about 9 eggs, I think, in that hunt. It was over and done with in under 20 minutes so we headed back to the apartment for a brief brake before I had to catch the shuttle.
At 10:45, we made our way to the shuttle. I said goodbye, hugged everyone and got on the bus when it showed up at 11. I sat in my chair and my eyes started watering as we pulled away from the curb. At least I didn't embarrass myself like the last few times I'd left. Full-blown sobbing doesn't do well for the beginnings of a long journey.
On my way to Salt Lake City, I listened to a book-on-tape by Jillian Michaels called
Unlimited. In it, she talks about how everyone has unlimited potential and everyone is entitled to happiness. Lots of great quotes and ideas. It almost made me tear up a few times, too.
(courtesy of Google image search)
I listened for 4 1/2 hours on the shuttle. I had to go through security at the airport and then I was right back on my iPod for another 4 1/2 hours, sitting at the airport, waiting for my flight. I'm currently on chapter 8, or so, and it's the furthest I've ever gotten in her book. I highly,
highly recommend everyone to read/listen to her. I'm going to be doing a lot of re-listening and I think I'll buy the book just so I can highlight it. I'm quite a nerd, that way, I suppose.
For the first time in my life, I was boarded when they called for first class. I was in section 1 and they called that at the same time they called first class. As I boarded I realized my "emergency seat" was actually right where one of the doors was. As the rest of the plane finished boarding, no one was sitting next to me. My grin kept getting bigger and bigger... I was thinking I wouldn't have to sit with anyone poking me or prodding me, or farting next to me. And you know what? No one did sit next to me. I had the entire row to myself and I didn't have any seats in front of me. I stretched my legs out and let out the breath I was holding.
For the rest of the short flight, I started watching
Thor: The Dark World on my Kindle. I didn't even get halfway through the movie before we were landing in the Sea-Tac airport. I was one of the first people off the plane, too. Another new and strange experience for me. As I hauled my behind through the escalators and shuttle to the main terminal, I kept thinking to myself, "this is too easy, this was way too good to be true."
It turns out I was right.
Before I left the secured zone, I made sure I had my bags, phone, and wallet. Except I was missing one.
I tore through my purse, patted down my pockets... No wallet. I turned around and raced back the way I had. I called my ride, Jolene, and told her I had left my phone on the plane and had to go back to my terminal. She said "no worries" and told me to take my time. She was enjoying a coffee while she waited by the baggage claim.
Can I just say this? I haven't had anyone park and come and meet me for a very, very,
very long time. It was super touching and I'm hoping to do it more for my friends when I pick them up instead of using the cellphone waiting lot. It's a lot more touching and you get to relax and converse without thinking about traffic for a few minutes.
Totally worth the $10.
Anyway!
I raced back through the shuttle, up the escalators, and to the terminal. The gate was closed but there were other gates opened so I ran to one of them. I told the attendant my problem and she smiled and said someone could help me. We walked over to my gate and the lady said she'd go look for it, since I'm not allowed back on the plane once everyone gets off or something like that. I said that was fine and decided I didn't need to lug my bag around anymore. I pulled the strap over my head and set it down on one of the chairs.
And my wallet was sitting right there.
Stupid wallet.
I have a love/hate relationship with this wallet. It's so well loved that it has formed to my butt check. No joke! This wallet is very comfortable sliding in and out of my pocket. Which makes it a slippery bugger when you're sitting for long periods of time. Like at an airport. Or on a shuttle. Or commuting. But it's so darn cute and so easy to carry that I still love it to pieces.
(courtesy of Google image search; isn't it adorable?! Mine's been well loved and isn't quite so bright green anymore. I've had it for more than three years though and I couldn't imagine not having it!)
I stopped the attendant before she could finish putting her code into the door and told her I was an idiot and it was right here. She smiled and shifted away from me, probably thinking I was a nut job. Which, by that point, I really was.
I made my way back to baggage claim without any crowds. I found my friend, told her my tale and we went to the parking garage.
The night ended with a BLT for me and a burger for Jolene when we picked up my car. I then forgot where I put my house keys for safe keeping. They ended up being in my trunk with my work clothes and laptop.
Oi.
The drive home was uneventful and I crashed. I slept through Easter Sunday. I didn't even think once about working out. I'll be able to get my workout in Monday, hopefully. As of Monday, there are 55 days before my half marathon on June 14, 28 days before my 10K on May 18, and 20 days before my 5K on May 10.
Again, I say, Oi.
I'm also going to start house sitting again this Tuesday for about 9 days. After I finish that, I have 4 days before I'm house sitting again, this time for over 2 weeks.
Can I get a triple Oi?
The only plus for my 2 week house sitting is she has a treadmill. So I'll not be without a means. I'll just have to have a will. Which is sometimes a lot harder than having a means.
I think this will all be a bit more real once I start collecting race shirts.
Cross your fingers?
Cheers!
LC
(Jess, Brett, and LJ doing an Easter egg hunt)
(LJ, sitting on her dad's lap, playing with the mirror while waiting for my shuttle)
(my substantial leg room on the flight home)
(my ghostly neighbors on the flight home)
