Grounded

Well, now. We all know about my traveling mojo as it seems to have developed over the past few years, and so I guess it should come as little surprise that I am still at home. 

And yet, I am surprised.

Good grief. There was a storm predicted for the afternoon yesterday, but my flight was at noon, and I thought I'd make it out before anything untoward happened.  But it was not looking good even as we were driving to the airport in the morning. When I arrived, they announced that my plane was going to be delayed about an hour -- not because of the storm, but because of mechanical difficulties. 

Then, sitting at the gate, the other passengers and I were looking out the windows and going, "Hm. This isn't looking too promising."  

The people with whom I was sitting and chatting, it turns out, were not taking JetBlue as I was, but a different airline, and they were all of a sudden boarded with great haste by the crew. They were just barely told to board when a second announcement was made: "If you want to get on this flight, please hurry! The door will be closed in ONE MINUTE!" I have never seen those crew members scanning those barcodes on the boarding passes so fast.

I said goodbye to my new friends, and then the announcement was immediately made that my flight was canceled. Arrangements could be made right there at the gate, but if the line grew too long, the rest of us would have to return to the ticket counter. Then the announcement was made, "If you have checked a bag, you will have to go to the ticket counter." 

So I rushed to the ticket counter. And the line was already immense (by Burlington standards). And then I saw on the board that the flight that my fellow waiting passengers had been so hastily boarded onto had a new status: CANCELLED. Those poor sods. Well, at least they weren't sitting on the tarmac for three hours or something. 

The storm came more quickly and with more force than was predicted. So anyway, here I am back home, in limbo a bit. Not sure when I'm going to make it to D.C., but it will be replanned sometime and somehow. 

I had a new experience with the TSA. I was patted down for the simple reason that I was wearing a skirt. I do acknowledge that this is no joke: Imagine what-all you could hide under a skirt, I suppose, even though you've gone through the metal detector already. (In my case, just thighs that needed to be shaved, but I digress.)  

I'm still laughing about the instructions the (female) agent gave me:  "I'll be asking you to spread your legs first one way and then the other. And then I'll be running my hands up each of your legs until I meet resistance."

Yeah. That's what he said. 

So, I bet you're all wondering who the winners of my blogiversary comment contest are!  All commenters since February 23, when I first announced the contest, were assigned a number. Then I ran the Random Number Generator for the winners. Here are the results:

1. Winner of the cat mug:  Bullwinkle, who blogs at Out Of Yarn.

2. Winner of the bison laceweight:  Seanna Lea, who blogs at Another Purl.

3. Winner of the DVDs: kmkat, who blogs at kmkat and her kneedles

4. Winner of the cone of cashmere yarn: Elisa, who blogs at Knot Knitting Enough.

I think this is a first in my contests -- that all the winners happen to be bloggers. Thanks for all your comments, and thanks for playing. I've notified the winners via email, except Elisa, whose email address did not come through in her comments. Elisa, I hope you are reading -- and if so, please email me and send me your snail mail address so I can ship out the cashmere.  

 

Comments

[Alarming Female]

"Until I meet resistance?" Seriously? Did you say, "ooh, baby, how could I resist you?"

[Sunnyknitter]

Congrats to the winners! My comment to the TSA would have probably been along the lines of "You shouldn't believe what you've heard about me..."

[Joan in Reno]

Boy, that's a new one from TSA. Makes you really want to travel more, doesn't it?

[Carol]

duly noted - no skirt when flying. BTW your Burlington airport is a nice place. Reminds me of the one we have here in Portland, ME.

[Lisa H.]

TSA workers are so hilarious. Congrats to the lucky, lucky winners!

[Carole]

Define resistance.

[Bonney]

Are you SURE I wasn't a winner? Hope you enjoyed your "resistance"...

[Tina M.]

So, basically, "I'm going to run my hands up your thighs until they hit your crotch?" I don't THINK so. Thank you for sharing that, no way in *hell* will I be wearing a skirt to travel. If your hands are touching my crotch you'd better be my husband or my gynecologist.

Burns my britches (no pun intended) just thinking about it.

[Geri]

Wow! No skirts for me while traveling!Flying is such a joy these days. The weather is the weather, but the other stuff that happens is just crazy. We just got back from a 4 day trip to Savannah. Two days were travel days and yes they took the full two days. Actually in flight time 2 hours and 20 minutes; the rest delays.

[Leslie]

I've heard the "until I meet resistance" but have also been told they may only use the BACKS of their hands. So, Norma, did he use his backs for fronts? Inquiring minds want to know...

But I'll bet Mr. J was happy to see you :)

[Adelaide]

I just wonder what part Mr. J. played in the arrival of the storm. He does have super powers and I'm sure he didn't want to see his Alpha go away so soon after his return.

[gayle]

(Note to self: Don't wear skirt when I fly next week)
Congrats to the winners! (I cheered when I saw Bullwinkle got the cat mug - perfect!)

[Seanna Lea]

Awesome about the contest and not awesome about the weather! I'm sorry you got grounded. Part of me feels that I should never plan a trip in the winter or early spring for just that reason, but it is when I need the travel energy the most. Something about late January and February make me want to take at least a few days in someplace warm and sunny!

(and that explains while I had so many page views while I was at a convention this weekend. It certainly wasn't because I was posting scintillating content.)

[Robin V]

It has been years since I was on a plane - I think maybe my last flight was in 2005 - and the more I hear, the less I want to fly. Between TSA annoyances and weather issues, it sounds worse all the time...!

But hopefully you'll get to DC eventually - I love to read your 'inside stories' re the Red Scarf project.

Congrats on your 7-year blogiversary!

[Marilyn]

"until he meets resistance"?? Does that mean when you slug him because he got too personal?

[Cheryl S.]

Sorry for your trip fail, but at least we all got an amusing story out of it.

I -DID- know about the issue with skirts, and that you'll be patted down or sent through one of those damn scanners. But I normally wear slacks or jeans when I travel, anyway.

What really bothers me is that the government considered installing covert scanners not only in train stations, etc., but even in mobile vans on city streets.

I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this issue.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2011/0304/TSA-aimed-to-put-body-scanners-in-public-places

[DebbieB]

Eep. No skirt for me.

Sorry your flight didn't go, honey. Hope your trip can be swiftly rescheduled. I'll bet Mr. Jefferies is happy, though.

[Jennifer]

Good to know: no skirts for air travel. How dumb. Well good luck with getting to D.C soon!

[Joannah]

Note to self:
skirt + travel = I don't think so!

[marianne]

Congratulations to the prize winners!!!
as to the travel attempt, then getting cancelled/grounded.. just oh ffs. especially after that oh so special treatment. ahem. again, ffs. xox

[elizabeth a airhart]

happy for the winners

24 inches of snow will keep thee home

[kmkat]

So you got felt up but still didn't get to fly? Totally not fair.

And please check your random number generator again. As much as I will enjoy the DVDs, I'm pretty sure I was supposed to win the cashmere ;-)

[Suzanne]

Mr Jeffries must be very happy he arrived home before the snow and now will have someone to entertain.

[Jennifer]

Is it just me, or are all your readers wondering if you'll ever travel in anything but a skirt ever again???

; )

[Jess]

I'm still shaking my head in disbelief. What were you wearing Norma, a hoop skirt?

[Margaret]

I thought of your post when I read this news story. I think 1,699 $100 bills sewn into the subject's bloomers might have caused some resistance (had she left them on).

Thanks for all of the laughs you provide.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/03/08/2011-03-08_benjamins_in_her_britches_called_a_scam_to_skirt_irs.html

[Natalie]

Yikes, just another reason not to wear a skirt. Thanks for the laughs & hope your travel mojo improves.

[Knotknittingenough.wordpress.com]

OMG! I can NOT believe that I won something!
Nadia is sitting in her swing making some sort of baby discontent noises - she had her first set of shots today, so I'm sure the yarn will make her feel so much better! I know I feel pretty darn excited!

Sorry about your DC trip. We are supposed to get 5-8 inches tonight and who knows what else... At least you get to spend more time with Mr. J! He makes me want a dog. I miss walking my moms dog.

Well, I had better email you ;) doing the happyomgijustgotyarndance!

[Cookie]

Yeah but were her hands warm? ;^)