Day 17 - April 24, 2007

Adios, Amigos! This is the end of Mary Jo´s great adventure. Thanks for following along and being supportive. Now, you´ll just have to help me practice my Spanish.

My transfer pick-up time is at 3:50 a.m. ¿Sleep?...What is that and who needs it? I was so worried that I would miss my transfers, so I slept on the airplane.

Luggage
My biggest suitcase weighed 56 lbs. and my smaller one weighed 30 lbs. You are allowed two suitcases up to 50 lbs. each. I really don't understand why the distribution matters because it was still under 100 lbs., but NO! I was required to move some items. First, I took out a few pairs of shoes, but that didn't do the trick...54 lbs. still. Then, I just grabbed a bunch of other stuff and threw it in my purse and carry-on making the suitcase 52 lbs. now. They let it go. Next was Security and they had to inspect my carry-on. They discovered that I brought my 3 lb. work-out weights with me. They were allowed, but I guess the metal set off a sensor. It was perfectly fine going there. Luckily, I was one of the first people to arrive at the airport. On the way there and on the way home, I received a note that they inspected my luggage. I must seem very suspicious.

The non-direct flight was a pain because on International flights you now have to collect your luggage to be transferred. It's not automatically done for you.

"The Second Summer of the Sisterhood" ("The Traveling Pants" series)
I finished my book at the airport since we arrived so early. I will definitely have to get the 3rd book in the series.

Taxista
I called American Taxi to pick me up and the Taxista asked me if he should turn left or right in Arlington Heights. I wasn't sure what he was asking as he had a Middle-Eastern accent and I didn't know which route he was taking, so I told simply said, "I don't understand what you're asking," and he went ballistic! He was screaming and ranting and raving that I needed to tell him fast and that I shouldn't talk to him that way (That way?...What way?...I politely told him that I didn't understand his question) and on and on and on while spitting all over the place. I stayed calm, but told him not to talk to me that way and that I was calling the office, which I did while I was in his taxi. (At least he didn't throw me out like the one in Barcelona did.) The office stayed on the phone with me almost the whole time and said that they would refund my charge. I told them that I would not recommend them and that he shouldn't treat paying customers that way.

Harley and Daisy
Harley and Daisy were very excited to see me. I went to Dairy Queen and got them some ice cream.

Text Message
We all know how challenged I am when it comes to my cell phone. I only know how to retrieve messages in the United States and make outgoing calls. This evening, I discovered that I had a text message from Tabatha (of Myth Busters) asking me to meet her and the two girls from Norway at Byblos for dinner one evening (but it didn't even show up until I got home). That would have been fun. I will have to e-mail her.

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.”
---Plato