The after Christmas

Part 3.  Bowl Game.  San Antonio, TX.

 

Flight leaves Ames December 25.  Not our preferred day to leave given our Christmas last year was spent away from home (no complaints about Hawaii, though).  We decide to go with it.  The boys are pumped.

 

Plan changes.  Flight leaves Ames December 23.  That's really pushing it for wanting to be home for Christmas.  Decide to opt out of this plan and make our own.

 

New plan.  Fly from Kansas City December 26.  Just Chris and I.  The boys are not pumped anymore.  It's ok, though; it'll be a good getaway.

 

We get to the airport in plenty of time, grab a bite to eat -- Hey, this is fun -- and board in our special early-class group.  We get messages and see notifications from others driving to San Antonio about torrential downpours plummeting the state of Texas.  Wow.  That would stink to drive through.  Thank goodness we're flying. 

And, thank goodness fly we did.  Or something like that.  Said rains caused issues with landing in Dallas which caused a triple loop around the airport which caused a redirection to Little Rock, AR.  Stay on.  Get off.  Better stay.  Must go.  Take your things.  Stay close.  Four hours in the tiny Little Rock airport.  That ran out of food.

 

One lost airplane found, and we reboarded.  If you could find your pass.  Unwritten etiquette commands taking the same seat.  Except ours had been reserved in the delay for unaccompanied minors that had to get to Dallas. 

 

No big deal.  Sit a row back.  Unknowingly cause a ruckus because the lady originally in 3B couldn't find her Russell Stovers bag of candy.  It was brand new.  I spent $7 on that bag.  Who would steal someone's Russell Stovers?  Have you seen my candy?  Is there candy in that seat?  Flight attendant, has anyone turned in a bag of Russell Stovers?  Get a life, lady.  Throw back her $7 bag of unopened Russell Stovers.  You took my candy.  Why would you take my candy?  Look lady, I didn't take your candy.  We're all sitting a row back.  I thought we were supposed to sit in the same seats.  Flag on her for lack of flexibility.

 

Arrive in Dallas, TX 1:00 a.m. Thursday.  Guess we're not going to make the Spurs game at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday.  Southwest emails us about cancelled, rebooked and cancelled again flights from Dallas to San Antonio.  No more flights out tonight.  This morning?  Whatever.  We have luggage that's checked through to San Antonio.  No worries.  We pick up our luggage at claim and cab to a nearby, frantically reserved hotel.  Cabbie drives through a closed-off flooded-out street (Wow, that water came up a little higher than I thought it would.  *hand slap forehead*) and we check in at 3:00 a.m.

 

Leave hotel at 6:00 a.m. Thankfully, Southwest rebooked us on a 9:35 a.m. flight from Dallas to San Antonio.  Recheck bags at the terminal and get new boarding passes.  Check in at the gate.  Wait in incredibly long line.  Get dinked around by the lady who can't find our reservation.  Oh wait, I found it.  You are flying out at 9:30 p.m. tonight for Kansas City.

 

Mamma mia. 

 

Stand in line for an hour + while lady cluelessly calls customer service.  There's no record of us.  Excuse me.  My bag is going to San Antonio at 9:35 A.M. and I need to go with it.  No seat for us on this flight we have reservations for.  Maybe we can get one of you to Houston.  The other could go later.  You could possibly meet up in Houston tonight and fly to San Antonio later.  Oh wait, those seats were just claimed.  It looks like one of you can go and the other can go to KC tonight at 9:30. 

 

Time out.

 

Flag on Southwest for being dumb.

 

Scratch entire plan.  Secure rental car.  Finally leave Dallas at 9:00 a.m.

Too tired to be grouchy about it.  All we can do is laugh.  And go along for the ride.  And drink coffee.  Because we never would have seen the Dallas Mavericks offices from the air.

Be thankful for what you were spared in the change of plans.  And recognize the blessings on your new adventure.  Hello, Waco. When else would you ever get to swing by the silos?

What were our #milestomagnolia?  After all, we circled Dallas three times and went to Little Rock.  We win. 

Arrive in San Antonio at 3:00 p.m.  Go to the airport.  Pick up luggage sitting out at the claim.  Easiest part of the trip.  Don't sleep.  Quick shower and check in for the Cyclones Radio Show. San Antonio is a blur.

We finally sleep.  A significantly long time.  Return car.  Walk to a local breakfast taco shop.  Oh my goodness.  Hey.  Let's Lime back.  We'll put all the money on one account and share that. to save money.  Lime rookie mistake.  Set up another account on second phone with more money.

Have a blast Liming.  Settle in to see the San Antonio night life.  Riverwalk was crowded.  Beautiful.  Festive.  Overflowing with Cyclones.

Carriage ride through San Antonio.  It was almost like the Plaza.  Except we didn't have coats.  Or snow.

 

Alamo.  Should have read up on that one.

In the haze of sleep depravity we made every second count.  Trip cut short didn't slow us down.  Miles walked.  Boat tours checked.  Guacamole indulged.  Chips dunked.  San Antonio happiness.

Great news.  I just saved hundreds of dollars on my car insurance.

Not so great news.  Crazy game.  Cyclones lost. 

Thankful for the opportunity to be here.  Dreading airport shenanigans ahead.  San Antonio to Dallas.  Dallas to Kansas City.  Easiest trip ever.  What a ride.