Airport Hell

So yesterday, I made it through security, and ran to my gate to board my plane. When I got to what I thought was my gate I had found out that they had changed it, so I had to run again to try and make it to board my plane. When I arrived at the correct gate for the flight to LaGuardia I found out that it had been delayed 10 minutes. We boarded the plane, and I sat in my seat, very relaxed and ready to nap or watch a movie on the flight home. I must have fallen asleep while the captain had been taxying around the runway - because when I woke up, it was an hour later and we still hadn't been cleared for take off.

Eventually we pulled back up to the gate, and were given the opportunity to get off the plane and grab food since our flight was now delayed about an hour. I grabbed a bagel and a snapple and headed back to the gate, only to find out that there may be more confusion. Rumors that they flight would be delayed a second hour were circulating, and then the captain came out and told us we would be boarding again in 15 minutes. I waited online to re-board, trying to get in touch with Kevin and my parents so that I could relay the details and coordinate what time they should be to LaGuardia by to pick me up. Maybe 10 minutes later we were informed that the flight was cancelled all together, and that no flights would be leaving for New York due to weather related issues. It was a mad house after that. I spent a total of just about 7 hours in the airport, trying to figure out when I could rebook a flight for (not until Wednesday morning). If I could get a hotel voucher (no because the cancellation was weather related) or a transportation voucher to get back to Great Lakes - which would be a 75/80 dollar cab ride from the city (no because, again it was a weather related cancellation) and to see if I could get my bag because I had nothing in my carry-on aside from my computer and a book (no, because somehow my bags were on their way to NY but I was still stuck in Chicago?)

Kevin is wonderful, he coordinated just about everything. He made reservations for me at the Navy Lodge in Great Lakes which is right next to the base. Unfortunately I am not allowed to stay at the hotel ON the base because Kevin and I are not married, and he is still a student. I took a van from the airport to the base with a bunch of Navy guys that were headed back to the base from the weekend vacation. Kevin set me up in the hotel and stayed for a bit until he had to be back to his ship.

I spent most of today napping, watching movies, ordering take-out, and waiting for Kevin to be done with school. He got out later than we had anticipated which was kind of a bummer, I only got to see him for about 2 hours but it was still nice. I should go to bed and get a little bit of sleep since I'll be waking up early (at about 5am) to shower and grab a ride from the airport transportation back to O'Hare for my flight at 8:50.

I feel like it's going to be hell trying to get my baggage sorted out tomorrow when I get to LaGuardia but I guess we'll see. I'm looking forward to getting home, but at the same time I wish I never had to go back (at least not for a while!) I have a lot to deal with when I get back to New York. I'll be counting down the days until Kevin can take leave for a week or so and come home.