Trip

Around 2 pm on Wednesday Donna & I took off for Epply Airfield. Our flight was scheduled for 4 something. Not hitches and the plane actually took off about 10 minutes ahead of schedule. We arrived in Phoenix a little early, but Donna's son Chuck, was on his way to pick us up. Donna's grandaughter, Taylor, was arriving from San Diego at the same time we were so we all arrived in great time. We found a spot to wait and it wasn't too long before they came looking for us. Chuck asked us if we wanted the good news or the bad news. We started with the good - The weather was to be great. The bad - the LPGA tournament wasn't until the following week. We had looked at the 07 schedule. Oh well, guess we will just have to play another day. Also visiting Chuck and Carmine were Carmine's sister, Cara, and her husband, Mike, and their 9-month old son, Christopher. Everyone got along great.
We played golf at three different courses. The first one was ok. The tees, fairways and greens were watered, but the roughs were real dry and hard to hit off.
The second day was right in Scottsdale and around houses. It was real nice. The third day was higher up and had a lot of pretty scenery. Chuck played with us all three days and Mike joined us twice.

Donna called some friends from Norfolk that winter near the course we played on Saturday and the met us after golf for a short visit. Was nice to see them. They also had family for the weekend so didn't have a lot of extra time.

Sunday we went to church and had Easter dinner. Taylor and Cara's family had to leave for the airport around 3. Carmine took them to the airport so Chuck took Donna and I for a drive through the more "rural" part of Arizona. We went through a town called Fountain Head. They have a park with a fountain that goes off every hour, on the hour, and shoots 100 feet in the air. It went off just as we were driving into town. So we didn't have to wait for it to shoot.

Everyone was really tired Sunday night so we all decided to head for bed by 9.

Monday we packed up, said our goodbyes to Chuck as he left for work. Carmine dropped us at the airport on her way to work. Then the fun began.

Our flight was for 12:09. We were there around 10, checked in, wandered around the airport awhile, got a bite to eat and waited for our plane to arrive. Announcement for those waiting for flight 510 to Omaha - Your plane is still in the hangar being worked on. Estimated time 1:30. Ok, we wait. Next announcement - Go to gate 21. From 2B is a long walk. Estimated time 2:30. Great. Next announcement - Go to gate 23. Not far. No plane there. 1:50 announcement - We are waiting for a plane to come in from Burbank at 2:10. Estimated departure time 2:30. Who are you trying to fool? Unload the passengers and luggage and reload in 20 minutes? Not going to happen. Burbank plane was on time, yaaay. We begin loading about 2:45. We are all loaded and ready to go. Announcement - We have to make a few technical adjustment will just be a few minutes. Yah, right. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Sorry folks, one of our flight attendants is timed out, we have to wait for another one. She is in the airport so will be "just a little while". 4 PM, we are leaving the gate. Finally. The flight back was good. We arrived in Omaha about 8:45 which was about 4 hours later than expected. Our luggage also made it with us, SUPRISE. Glad we had cell phones so that Jerry and Denny knew what was going on.
Finding something to eat between Epply Air field and Norfolk at 9 pm is not easy. We ended up at Wendy's in the Truck stop in Fremont. No more bad luck and we only saw one deer on the outskirts of Omaha. Safely home about 11:15. Brush my teeth and go to bed. Unpacking will wait.

Except for the 2 glitches - 1. the LPGA being this weekend instead of last and 2. The plane problems, it was a great vacation. Maybe Donna will invite me again so I can see the professionl women play.

Tuesday, back to work, playing catch up and correcting the mistakes others made trying to do my job. Guess I better get busy teaching them before I decide to retire completely.

Good to be back.

Sue