Murphy’s Law rules
Murphy’s Law typically exerts some influence on our activities, but it really outdid itself on our trip here to England. At first, I was amazed at how Murphy-free Wednesday was going. Budget had the rental car we reserved ready when Steve got there. Steve got home earlier than expected. I got all the important stuff done. All the cases were packed and under the 50-pound limit. We even got on the road to Orlando close to my ideal departure time.
Thursday was a lot different. First, the alarm clock didn’t go off. Well, actually it did, but the buzzer wasn’t working. So the clock was silently screaming at us to get up at 3:30 a.m. Fortunately, Steve’s used to being up early and he awoke on his own as it approached 4 a.m. Then, on the way to the airport, Steve realized that we needed to add yet more fuel to the car. We had filled it up the night before, but the gas-gauge needle had slipped slightly below the full line. If we returned the car with less than a full tank, we’d be charged a refuelling fee equal to a full tank of gas. Meaning we’d pay for about fifteen gallons of fuel, instead of the gallon or so we were under full. Steve decided to go find a gas station. But they are few and far between near the airport. He selected one exit ramp from the highway only to discover it led away from civilization. So we had to turn around and try going in the opposite direction. We were very happy to locate a gas station after just a few miles, but were stunned at the price. Gas in Orlando at the time was running about $3.25 a gallon. This place was charging $4.69!!!!! Talk about gouging. We then noticed that it was right across the street from three rental car companies. Clearly, it was gouging renters who were trying to top off their cars . . . like us.
Returning the car proved easy. We were in and out of the rental return place at the airport within minutes. Then we had to schlep our four large cases through the maze of walkways and elevators leading to the check-in desks. Delta was at the opposite end of the terminal from where we entered. We had to navigate through crowds of rude people who seemed to think it was perfectly okay to push me out of the way to get where they were going. I was hot and sweaty by the time we reached Delta’s desks. When we get up to the desk, Steve checks us in, but the system would only check us through to New York. It was not acknowledging our connection to Manchester. When we inquired, the lady sent us to another check-in area. Once there, another woman tells us that we have to collect our bags in New York and then re-check them for Manchester. We explain that we planned to go into the city and couldn’t do so with the bags. She acted surprised that we thought we could do that. After 9-11, she said, you have to collect your bags if your layover is greater than six hours. I pointed out that it would have been helpful if Delta had told us that when we booked the tickets, or when the rep called us to change our flights. Faced with the horror of spending twelve hours at JFK airport, we checked our bags and headed for something to eat.
Steve used his Blackberry to locate JFK info and learned there was a baggage storage service at two of the nine terminals. The cost varied from $4 to $16 per bag. We had three large bags, so we were certain we’d be charged the full $16, which equalled a lot of money. Plus, the place had a bad reputation, so we figured we’d find a quiet place to camp and just stay at the airport. We were miserable.
The misery got worse once we were actually at the airport. To put it mildly, JFK sucks. It’s grubby and doesn’t offer much in the way of seating or comfort. Steve declared he wasn’t spending any more time in the airport than necessary. To hell with the expense or the reputation, we were checking our bags. So we made the arduous trek via the train to the terminal with the baggage storage. By some miracle, it cost us just $11 per bag. $44 wasn’t so bad and we happily escaped the airport and headed into the city.
We had a really nice time in New York. We had a filling and yummy lunch at Chevy’s Fresh Mex, and then headed to lower Manhattan to explore. We went to Ground Zero, Battery Park, and along Wall Street. We found a cute one-sy for Felicity and managed to stay below the budget I had set for the day. Obviously, Murphy’s Law was out of play. Or so we thought.
We returned to the airport, collected our bags, and checked in. We then had to get in a huge queue to go through security. Two Russian men were in line behind us and had no concept of personal space. I know Europeans tend to have smaller personal spaces than Americans do, but these guys had zero. They kept pushing up against me and then they’d just stay there. I was ready to start an international incident, but Steve intervened and just had me stand in front of him. The line moved fairly quickly and we were soon at our gate. Boarding started on time, and we pulled away from the gate only a few minutes late. After a rather long taxi time, the pilot came on the intercom and said that because of an “accident,” two of the runways were closed. We were being sent to the other side of the airport. Because of the large number of international flights leaving at that time of night, we were looking at a 45-minute to an hour wait.
About an hour before we boarded the plane, we saw a couple of ambulances zoom by. After the pilot’s announcement, we passed the accident site. I couldn’t see clearly from my middle seat, but the bloke sitting by the window described the scene. A plane had apparently lost its wheel as it landed. The wing must have dipped and hit the ground, because it was sheered off. I asked him if it was a small plane or an airliner, but he never answered. The event did not make the national news, so I’m going to assume no one was killed or seriously injured. Thank God.
Our flight ended up leaving at 11:45, instead of its scheduled 10:10. The flight attendants moved quickly once we reached altitude, but we still didn’t have dinner until after midnight. I managed to sleep during the ground delay, but the plane was hot and the guy sitting next to me didn’t stick to his own space, so I only managed about another hour of fitful sleep several hours into the flight. Steve, on the other hand, slept quite soundly. Needless to say, I was most pleased when were on the ground and off that plane.
Everything else went fine. Again, it looked like Murphy was leaving us alone. But it wasn’t through with us, yet. As we unpacked our bags, Steve discovered the lock was missing from one of the cases. They were all locked securely when we checked them in, so that instantly worried us. Steve opened the case, which contained his laptop bag. Steve carried his laptop, but the bag was packed here. The bag had been opened. Closer examination revealed Steve’s iPod was gone!
We have three iPods. Two videos and one video nano that Steve got from work as a thank-you for an outstanding year. The two video iPods were in my carry-on bag, because they contain the movies we wanted to watch. But Steve packed his nano, because he used that only when he runs. The nano’s arm strap and ear buds were left in the laptop bag, as well as Steve’s other, more expensive electronic equipment, so we’re a bit at a loss as to why just the nano disappeared. We’ve asked our friend, Alicia, who’s checking the cats and the house once a week to have a look around and see if Steve may have left his iPod at home. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that that’s the case. Otherwise, some TSA employee in New York has an iPod inscribed with a thank-you from Johnson and Johnson for a record production year.
As of this writing, Murphy is still around. It started snowing last night and has continued into today. It’s not sticking and it’s not really causing much annoyance. We have warm coats with us. But what we don’t have are knit caps and gloves. We packed for cold weather, because the forecast was calling for temps in the low 40s. But it didn’t occur to either of us to pack hats and gloves. We tried to find some to buy today, but the stores have bathing suits out, not winter wear. So we may end up with chilly digits. Especially since more snow is forecast for tomorrow.
We made it safely to England and we’re having a really nice time. I just wish Murphy would go on vacation, too.
Thursday was a lot different. First, the alarm clock didn’t go off. Well, actually it did, but the buzzer wasn’t working. So the clock was silently screaming at us to get up at 3:30 a.m. Fortunately, Steve’s used to being up early and he awoke on his own as it approached 4 a.m. Then, on the way to the airport, Steve realized that we needed to add yet more fuel to the car. We had filled it up the night before, but the gas-gauge needle had slipped slightly below the full line. If we returned the car with less than a full tank, we’d be charged a refuelling fee equal to a full tank of gas. Meaning we’d pay for about fifteen gallons of fuel, instead of the gallon or so we were under full. Steve decided to go find a gas station. But they are few and far between near the airport. He selected one exit ramp from the highway only to discover it led away from civilization. So we had to turn around and try going in the opposite direction. We were very happy to locate a gas station after just a few miles, but were stunned at the price. Gas in Orlando at the time was running about $3.25 a gallon. This place was charging $4.69!!!!! Talk about gouging. We then noticed that it was right across the street from three rental car companies. Clearly, it was gouging renters who were trying to top off their cars . . . like us.
Returning the car proved easy. We were in and out of the rental return place at the airport within minutes. Then we had to schlep our four large cases through the maze of walkways and elevators leading to the check-in desks. Delta was at the opposite end of the terminal from where we entered. We had to navigate through crowds of rude people who seemed to think it was perfectly okay to push me out of the way to get where they were going. I was hot and sweaty by the time we reached Delta’s desks. When we get up to the desk, Steve checks us in, but the system would only check us through to New York. It was not acknowledging our connection to Manchester. When we inquired, the lady sent us to another check-in area. Once there, another woman tells us that we have to collect our bags in New York and then re-check them for Manchester. We explain that we planned to go into the city and couldn’t do so with the bags. She acted surprised that we thought we could do that. After 9-11, she said, you have to collect your bags if your layover is greater than six hours. I pointed out that it would have been helpful if Delta had told us that when we booked the tickets, or when the rep called us to change our flights. Faced with the horror of spending twelve hours at JFK airport, we checked our bags and headed for something to eat.
Steve used his Blackberry to locate JFK info and learned there was a baggage storage service at two of the nine terminals. The cost varied from $4 to $16 per bag. We had three large bags, so we were certain we’d be charged the full $16, which equalled a lot of money. Plus, the place had a bad reputation, so we figured we’d find a quiet place to camp and just stay at the airport. We were miserable.
The misery got worse once we were actually at the airport. To put it mildly, JFK sucks. It’s grubby and doesn’t offer much in the way of seating or comfort. Steve declared he wasn’t spending any more time in the airport than necessary. To hell with the expense or the reputation, we were checking our bags. So we made the arduous trek via the train to the terminal with the baggage storage. By some miracle, it cost us just $11 per bag. $44 wasn’t so bad and we happily escaped the airport and headed into the city.
We had a really nice time in New York. We had a filling and yummy lunch at Chevy’s Fresh Mex, and then headed to lower Manhattan to explore. We went to Ground Zero, Battery Park, and along Wall Street. We found a cute one-sy for Felicity and managed to stay below the budget I had set for the day. Obviously, Murphy’s Law was out of play. Or so we thought.
We returned to the airport, collected our bags, and checked in. We then had to get in a huge queue to go through security. Two Russian men were in line behind us and had no concept of personal space. I know Europeans tend to have smaller personal spaces than Americans do, but these guys had zero. They kept pushing up against me and then they’d just stay there. I was ready to start an international incident, but Steve intervened and just had me stand in front of him. The line moved fairly quickly and we were soon at our gate. Boarding started on time, and we pulled away from the gate only a few minutes late. After a rather long taxi time, the pilot came on the intercom and said that because of an “accident,” two of the runways were closed. We were being sent to the other side of the airport. Because of the large number of international flights leaving at that time of night, we were looking at a 45-minute to an hour wait.
About an hour before we boarded the plane, we saw a couple of ambulances zoom by. After the pilot’s announcement, we passed the accident site. I couldn’t see clearly from my middle seat, but the bloke sitting by the window described the scene. A plane had apparently lost its wheel as it landed. The wing must have dipped and hit the ground, because it was sheered off. I asked him if it was a small plane or an airliner, but he never answered. The event did not make the national news, so I’m going to assume no one was killed or seriously injured. Thank God.
Our flight ended up leaving at 11:45, instead of its scheduled 10:10. The flight attendants moved quickly once we reached altitude, but we still didn’t have dinner until after midnight. I managed to sleep during the ground delay, but the plane was hot and the guy sitting next to me didn’t stick to his own space, so I only managed about another hour of fitful sleep several hours into the flight. Steve, on the other hand, slept quite soundly. Needless to say, I was most pleased when were on the ground and off that plane.
Everything else went fine. Again, it looked like Murphy was leaving us alone. But it wasn’t through with us, yet. As we unpacked our bags, Steve discovered the lock was missing from one of the cases. They were all locked securely when we checked them in, so that instantly worried us. Steve opened the case, which contained his laptop bag. Steve carried his laptop, but the bag was packed here. The bag had been opened. Closer examination revealed Steve’s iPod was gone!
We have three iPods. Two videos and one video nano that Steve got from work as a thank-you for an outstanding year. The two video iPods were in my carry-on bag, because they contain the movies we wanted to watch. But Steve packed his nano, because he used that only when he runs. The nano’s arm strap and ear buds were left in the laptop bag, as well as Steve’s other, more expensive electronic equipment, so we’re a bit at a loss as to why just the nano disappeared. We’ve asked our friend, Alicia, who’s checking the cats and the house once a week to have a look around and see if Steve may have left his iPod at home. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that that’s the case. Otherwise, some TSA employee in New York has an iPod inscribed with a thank-you from Johnson and Johnson for a record production year.
As of this writing, Murphy is still around. It started snowing last night and has continued into today. It’s not sticking and it’s not really causing much annoyance. We have warm coats with us. But what we don’t have are knit caps and gloves. We packed for cold weather, because the forecast was calling for temps in the low 40s. But it didn’t occur to either of us to pack hats and gloves. We tried to find some to buy today, but the stores have bathing suits out, not winter wear. So we may end up with chilly digits. Especially since more snow is forecast for tomorrow.
We made it safely to England and we’re having a really nice time. I just wish Murphy would go on vacation, too.
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