The Omaha adventure starts early

Written on my cell phone on March 10th while sitting at the SLC, airport.

I thought I had everything planned out. In retrospect, though, I forgot a very important detail.

I was cleaning things up at work in preparation for my trip. I had 8 more hours of work and I needed every hour. My phone rang.

It was Bushtit E.  I excitedly answered the phone but she responded with the news of a missed flight. I responded with "Missed flight? We don't leave until tomorrow!?!" She assured me I was wrong. The time showed 3:21 pm. My flight was at 5:07 pm. Today.

Poor Nate took the brunt of it. With the help of Casi, my bags were packed before he bolted from our home. It was 4:06 when he picked me up at Shopko; located near I-80 and foothill. Leaving my car there for pick up later, I got in his truck. Doubt filled my mind, but he assured me he could get me to the airport in 15 min. There was still a chance that I would make the flight... prepared for Omaha weather and Bushtit adventures with whatever Nate and Casidy had packed me. I felt sick to my stomach.

I entered the airport and hurriedly pass the sign to the entrance of the Frontier desk. I noticed it says that you must check in 45 min before departure. I don't stop to read its entirety but it makes me more nervous. I know I am close to that deadline. The same deadline that helped Bushtit E miss her flight. My hand shakes as I slide my credit card into the slot. I have to repeat it three times before I get it right. It finally goes through.

Now, I am sitting on this plane trying to finish off any leftover jitters and sick emotions. I finaly laugh. I can relax.  I start to think of the first two hours of my Omaha adventure. I wonder how many times it will plaque me as I realize the missing items in my bag. 

I feel exhausted so I ask for coffee to help with the hours of airports and flights. Taking the risk associated with ordering an airline coffee but I am rewarded for my risk. Its good and I drink it slow. 

We had many airport blunders this trip.  I thought I would outline them in bullet point form.

1. Bushtit E, flying out of LA, missed her flight to Omaha by ONLY 2 mins due to the "45 min rule".  
2. As you know, I almost missed my flight to Omaha.  I still wonder if I was past the 45 min. rule. 
3. I learn that Nate is great at packing my bags. I had everything I needed the whole trip. I hope to use his skills again. I hate packing for a trip.
4. Bushtit E, after going to a friends home and crashing for the night made it to Omaha around noon the next day. Her bags however did not make it out of Denver for the connection flight.
5. When the airport says that they will drive your luggage to you tonight they mean it will come by FedEx the next day. 
6. Bushtit E gets really happy, after spending three days in the same outfit, when she finally receives her bag.
7. I definitely was past the 45 min rule when I left Omaha. 

A few pictures: (I hope to post a few more later)

This is a lake outside the Omaha airport. Bushtit B and I wandered the trails and boardwalks while we waited for Bushtit E to come in. 

We did a lot of this. Wandering around in farm fields and muddy roads in 20 mile/hour wind with 40 mile/hour wind gusts from the north; 17F wind chill. Yes! The weather performed beautifully!