Heading to Atlanta

This morning -- 10:05 AM

I’m sitting in the Indianapolis airport trying to get to Atlanta. My adventure started at 4:30 this morning. The pick-up car couldn’t find my house, I nearly stranded my wife by taking the car keys with me, the driver then couldn’t find my co-workers place, and then, after getting to the airline gate with PERFECT timing, the flight was delayed four hours due to “electrical issues.”

And here I sit. We’ll be boarding soon on a flight switch-up and finally headed southward. I had the oddest thought when the driver mentioned that their company’s normally functional printer had stopped working and that when he called me, he couldn’t reach my home phone number. I had the thought, “Oh, I’m not supposed to get on this flight.”

I guess I was right!

When things like this start to happen, I’ve learned its better to just relax, kick back, and wait for an opening to clear for you. I watched as so many fellow travelers threw fits of frustration. Panic and anxiety do nothing for you. Also, it’s times like this that I am so thankful for my laptop. In the time sitting here I’ve been able to review what I need for the event, get some writing done, and worked on this blog post. It’s all in how you look at things

To add to the backdrop of this adventure, we are headed into Atlanta which is currently in a state of emergency (or close to it) in regards to the severe draught and water shortage. We’ve been told that the situation at the hotel is not too bad and that we should be fine through the totality of our visit there.

I wonder if the folks flying into New Orleans were told the same thing? I doubt it. Paranoid images of fighting for my life against crazed Atlanteans trying to survive without water are probably further off then my imagination would have me believe. Heh. Crazed Atlanteans looking for water…

That’s funny stuff.

My flight boards in fifteen minutes so I’m shutting things down and heading for the little travelers room. Then, I’m on a flight and airborne.

Hopefully.

Halloween Evening

Finally got a lunch break at work that didn't involve...uh... working. Quite happy about that fact! Last night saw me undertaking the annual trip to a nearby haunt for trick or treating. The place we go is loaded with kids, parents, and residents. The sidewalks are packed, the houses are made up, and some residents even go as far as to dress up and scare the kiddies with de-chained chain saws and bloody hatchets. It's typically thirty minutes of complete pandemonium.

With the horde in tow and a fifteen minute costume on, we ventured forth into the night. Some pics will be coming up shortly revealing the fun and candy bag filled craziness of it all. I was very pleased to find my brother suddenly filled with the Samhain spirit at the last minute and joining us dressed in his fantastic Gandalf outfit.

And now, it's November 1st and All Saints Day. And, I might add, finally feeling like Autumn!

Last night the wind whipped around our house causing the window frames to creak and the roof to woodenly pop. From the inside and after all had gone to their beds, I could hear the windchimes, twirling and banging. Through the windows I could see silvery clouds skimming by quickly overhead. In other words, it was perfect for late Halloween night.

I ventured out into it for a short while. The wind kept up its frantic pace, snapping about me and attempting to push me off balance. This continued for some time until I put out several plates of offerings in the form of candy, milk, coffee, scotch, and corn meal. Almost instantly, the wind stopped and moved away from our porch although it continued to twist and rush about elsewhere on our property. For the rest of the evening, the wind stopped its restless fury on or around our house. There are a myriad conclusions that could be reached as to how that happened but I prefer to stick to the more magical and esoteric reason.

Happy November and Happy New Year.