Well, I've been here for a few days now and figured that I better take the time to update. We've been having a wonderful time together and I have much to report on.
I'll start with my trip up here and get that crap out of the way. My flight was a disaster from the very beginning! When I went to check in to leave Arkansas, I found out that my flight out was delayed. This was caused by the bad storms south of us causing an incoming flight delay and that was the particular flight that was to start me on my journey. Sooooo.......I spent over an hour {quite literally} while the gal at the American Airlines counter tried to reroute me and still get me to Alaska.
First, let me explain that I made this reservation in January. I spent hours finding the best flights, with the fewest stops and shortest layovers, while still managing to get into Fairbanks at a decent time for a change. (I was supposed to arrive at 4;15 in the afternoon, which is unheard of. I usually have to arrive and depart around the midnight hour). I also was attempting to stick with Alaska Airlines so that when I did have to change planes, it would be in the same concourse. And of course, I had my seats all selected. I prefer window seats as I don't have to be scrunched between 2 people. Well, all that careful planning got all shot to hell! I ended up with a 6 1/2 hour lay-over in Seattle and didn't get into Fairbanks until about 11:00 PM.
AND.....even tho' I had arranged for 'assistance' off the plane and from gate to gate.....it didn't happen. I have a serious beef with the American Airline personnel at the Chicago Airport and they WILL hear about it! I actually didn't have much better luck with Alaska Airlines in Seattle; got pissed off and took it upon myself to attempt to make my way to my next gate. It wasn't too horribly far, as airports go, and would have been a piece of cake for a person with no walking issues. I managed because, #1) I was pissed off!! #2) Sheer determination and stupidity. #3)There were lots of places to sit every few yards or so and I had lots of time.
All of my seats on this revised trip, were center seats and one was in the bulkhead row. To say I was uncomfortable the whole time is a gross understatement. My legs ached so badly on the last segment from Seattle to Fairbanks.....I just wanted to scream! No way to get comfortable or even have room to stretch my legs out. I was never so glad to get off a plane in my life!! The absolute best thing to happen was seeing Riley's face from the top of the stairs as she was watching for my familiar suitcases to appear, out of one eye and watching for me out of the other eye! We grabbed each other and it was just OMG!! I made it!!
In view of the discomfort of my trip up, I called today to see about upgrading my seats to 1st Class for the trip home. Well......good thing I did, cuz guess what?? My return reservation had been cancelled because I had never been checked in on the outgoing flight. I can just imagine arriving at the airport on May 28th and not being able to go home! But, I got it all squared away today, except for the 1st Class thing. I have to upgrade when I check in, if seats are available. I don't get that, but will make the best of it and hope there are seats available.
I think that's all for now. I have lots more to tell you and will update later today or tomorrow. Stay tuned.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Yankee Chick~ Tales of a Yankee Lost in the Ozarks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Showing posts with label Alaska Trip 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alaska Trip 2011. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Ready to FLY!
In 23 hours I will finally be boarding the plane for my month long visit to Terri & The kids! Yay! I'm nervous about the trip and how well I'll fair, but I did suck it up and made arrangements for a wheelchair to get me from the plane to my next gate and each segment of my flight.
As for my need for a wheelchair, I'll update you on my recent medical issues. My back surgeon finally sent me for X-Rays and finally looked at them and deemed my spinal fusion a total success. All had healed completely and properly and he doesn't feel that my leg pain/issues are connected to my back surgery at all. He has forwarded me to an Orthopedic specialist. Of course, the back surgeon's office screwed around for so long that I can't see the new DR until I get back from Alaska. So walking will continue to be a major issue for my entire visit, but we will all deal with it! AND! My GP, bless his heart, gave me some Vicodin to make the trip a little easier.
And so, I start all over with a new set of issues to deal with. sigh.....I swear that someone (or several someones) out there has a voodoo doll with my name on it and is busy sticking pins in it!!
I do still have some back pain but it all blends in with the leg issues and I often find myself wondering WTF I even had the surgery for to begin with! My GP feels that I had what is referred to as a "Failed Fusion" and that the surgeon (of course) wants me to think that his work was no less than perfect. We shall see, I guess. If the Orthopedic guy can't help me. or thinks I need more surgery, I will put that off as long as possible by going the Pain Management route. All speculation, at this point. I'll have to wait and see what June brings.
On top of all of that, my Cobra insurance ends July 31st and my Medicare won't start until the following March so in all reality, it may be another year before I can really accomplish much of anything. Lovely....just f&%$ing lovely!
Around here it has been raining for 40 days and 40 nights with much flooding of the area. Roads washed out, gigantic hail storms, tornados zipping around our heads, touching down NEAR us, but luckily not too close. And so, I shall leave the mess in Arkansas and go to 'break up' in Alaska, where there is much mud, many pot holes and melting of snow, layer by layer. The awakening of Spring in the Great Land is really lovely to behold. In a couple of weeks, it will be beautiful beyond measure.
But for me, the faces I see tomorrow afternoon will REALLY be what is beautiful beyond measure!!
I will sink into that welcoming home, full of love and comfort and enjoy and absorb every snippet of it! And there will be much celebrating while I am there! My birthday, Mother's Day, Terri's birthday and Riley's graduation!!! So much fun to be had! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
As for my need for a wheelchair, I'll update you on my recent medical issues. My back surgeon finally sent me for X-Rays and finally looked at them and deemed my spinal fusion a total success. All had healed completely and properly and he doesn't feel that my leg pain/issues are connected to my back surgery at all. He has forwarded me to an Orthopedic specialist. Of course, the back surgeon's office screwed around for so long that I can't see the new DR until I get back from Alaska. So walking will continue to be a major issue for my entire visit, but we will all deal with it! AND! My GP, bless his heart, gave me some Vicodin to make the trip a little easier.
And so, I start all over with a new set of issues to deal with. sigh.....I swear that someone (or several someones) out there has a voodoo doll with my name on it and is busy sticking pins in it!!
I do still have some back pain but it all blends in with the leg issues and I often find myself wondering WTF I even had the surgery for to begin with! My GP feels that I had what is referred to as a "Failed Fusion" and that the surgeon (of course) wants me to think that his work was no less than perfect. We shall see, I guess. If the Orthopedic guy can't help me. or thinks I need more surgery, I will put that off as long as possible by going the Pain Management route. All speculation, at this point. I'll have to wait and see what June brings.
On top of all of that, my Cobra insurance ends July 31st and my Medicare won't start until the following March so in all reality, it may be another year before I can really accomplish much of anything. Lovely....just f&%$ing lovely!
Around here it has been raining for 40 days and 40 nights with much flooding of the area. Roads washed out, gigantic hail storms, tornados zipping around our heads, touching down NEAR us, but luckily not too close. And so, I shall leave the mess in Arkansas and go to 'break up' in Alaska, where there is much mud, many pot holes and melting of snow, layer by layer. The awakening of Spring in the Great Land is really lovely to behold. In a couple of weeks, it will be beautiful beyond measure.
But for me, the faces I see tomorrow afternoon will REALLY be what is beautiful beyond measure!!
I will sink into that welcoming home, full of love and comfort and enjoy and absorb every snippet of it! And there will be much celebrating while I am there! My birthday, Mother's Day, Terri's birthday and Riley's graduation!!! So much fun to be had! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Monday, March 21, 2011
37 DAYS!!!!!!!!
It seems like I made my reservations eons ago, but it's down to 37 days until my trip to Alaska to visit my babies and see my Riley graduate! Weeeeeeeeeee........... The next month will go ever so fast!
I sure haven't been here for awhile and just when I was getting sorta regular about blogging. Damn. And I am ever so behind on reading blogs, as well. I've got a lot of catching up to do. My excitement about signing up with WildBlue for satellite internet service was a big farce. Long story short, I spent most of the last month running on dial-up speeds and it would take forever just to leave a comment or 2 on FaceBook, so I didn't even bother trying to do much else. We are taking it in the shorts big time to get out of our contract {almost $300} but in the long run, we will actually save a lot more. The phone company gave us a great deal for signing back up for DSL, so in the end it will all be good.
I spent much of that time going through my photos {of which there were like 4,900 plus}. I sorted, organized, deleted and am down to about 3700. Still need to go thru and delete a bunch more, but at least now they are all categorized in my Adobe Photoshop and it will be easier to do all the now. I also got some old, old files cleaned out. I mean really, just because I have room doesn't mean I have to keep every little thing!
Another sore subject.....Next week will be the 1 year 'anniversary' of my back surgery. I am not even CLOSE to being where I thought I would be at this point. The good news is that I am not in almost constant excruciating pain, as I was prior to the surgery. The bad news is, I DO still have a lot of pain and the promises of being able to do things after 8-12 months had passed, was all just a dream. Even tho I try to keep exercising, I can't get to the point where I can walk very far or for very long at all.....depending on what day it is, of course. I sure as hell know there is no sense even attempting to ride Susie. At this point, I am working as hard as I can and praying for the fortitude to just get my sorry butt through the airports so I can make this trip to Alaska! Hopefully the electric carts will be in the vicinity when I need them, because NO.....I am way too obstinate to request a freaking wheel chair to transport me from gate to gate! Nope. Nada. No way.
The last year has been such an emotional and physical roller coaster. There are some things, little things that actually continue to improve, but the fact of the matter is, I have been left with limitations that I never expected and I'm having a hard time accepting. Never in my wildest dreams, did I expect to be a 'crippled old lady' at 58! And most days That is my worst struggle. So I lapse into this funk of "why did this have to happen to me", for awhile. Then I pull myself up and tell myself to just deal with the cards I've been dealt and make the best of it! And I do...........for awhile......then I fall again. Yeah, sometimes literally, because when I least expect it a leg will give out on me....but usually I fall figuratively, into the funk. I know it could be worse. Doesn't matter what anyone's situation is, it could always be worse. Some days it's just hard to see past my own current situation. Selfish
I am praying that this month in Alaska with my sweet Terri and Mike and the kids will be just what I need to help turn me around. I mean, the best part of this past year was when Riley and Timmy were here. It was magical and I'm so anxious to soak up some more of that magic from ALL of them!!
And that's it for this dreary entry.......yawn.....
I sure haven't been here for awhile and just when I was getting sorta regular about blogging. Damn. And I am ever so behind on reading blogs, as well. I've got a lot of catching up to do. My excitement about signing up with WildBlue for satellite internet service was a big farce. Long story short, I spent most of the last month running on dial-up speeds and it would take forever just to leave a comment or 2 on FaceBook, so I didn't even bother trying to do much else. We are taking it in the shorts big time to get out of our contract {almost $300} but in the long run, we will actually save a lot more. The phone company gave us a great deal for signing back up for DSL, so in the end it will all be good.
I spent much of that time going through my photos {of which there were like 4,900 plus}. I sorted, organized, deleted and am down to about 3700. Still need to go thru and delete a bunch more, but at least now they are all categorized in my Adobe Photoshop and it will be easier to do all the now. I also got some old, old files cleaned out. I mean really, just because I have room doesn't mean I have to keep every little thing!
Another sore subject.....Next week will be the 1 year 'anniversary' of my back surgery. I am not even CLOSE to being where I thought I would be at this point. The good news is that I am not in almost constant excruciating pain, as I was prior to the surgery. The bad news is, I DO still have a lot of pain and the promises of being able to do things after 8-12 months had passed, was all just a dream. Even tho I try to keep exercising, I can't get to the point where I can walk very far or for very long at all.....depending on what day it is, of course. I sure as hell know there is no sense even attempting to ride Susie. At this point, I am working as hard as I can and praying for the fortitude to just get my sorry butt through the airports so I can make this trip to Alaska! Hopefully the electric carts will be in the vicinity when I need them, because NO.....I am way too obstinate to request a freaking wheel chair to transport me from gate to gate! Nope. Nada. No way.
The last year has been such an emotional and physical roller coaster. There are some things, little things that actually continue to improve, but the fact of the matter is, I have been left with limitations that I never expected and I'm having a hard time accepting. Never in my wildest dreams, did I expect to be a 'crippled old lady' at 58! And most days That is my worst struggle. So I lapse into this funk of "why did this have to happen to me", for awhile. Then I pull myself up and tell myself to just deal with the cards I've been dealt and make the best of it! And I do...........for awhile......then I fall again. Yeah, sometimes literally, because when I least expect it a leg will give out on me....but usually I fall figuratively, into the funk. I know it could be worse. Doesn't matter what anyone's situation is, it could always be worse. Some days it's just hard to see past my own current situation. Selfish
I am praying that this month in Alaska with my sweet Terri and Mike and the kids will be just what I need to help turn me around. I mean, the best part of this past year was when Riley and Timmy were here. It was magical and I'm so anxious to soak up some more of that magic from ALL of them!!
And that's it for this dreary entry.......yawn.....
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