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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Escaping the deep freeze

After the blizzard on Monday in Chicago, blue skies greeted me as I woke up on Tuesday.  Time to make my escape back to Texas.  We made it easily to Midway Airport, but that’s when some minor problems began.  It seems that just about all the flights out had been cancelled on Monday, so the place was packed with thousands of travelers trying to leave.  That meant super long lines at the luggage check-in and the security check area.  Like at Hobby Airport in Houston, I was sent to the pre-screened line that was much shorter.

When I told them I had bionic hip parts, I was sent to a different line for a scan, but was assured I wouldn’t have to take off my shoes or take the laptop out of my backpack.  Hah!  I tried to tell the security guy there that I had a metal hip and would need to go through the circular scanner, but he insisted I just walk through the regular scanner.  Of course, the alarms went off, and he shouted at the top of his lungs that I had set off the alarm.  Things went downhill after that. 

A crabby female guard approached me to ask where my belongings were.  As I attempted to show her the bins that were mine after going through the x-ray machine, she screamed at me not to touch my own things.  I was then led to another area and chastised for still having my shoes on.  I tried to explain about the pre-check line, but she wouldn’t listen.  She also made me take the computer out of the backpack and send it through the x-ray once again.  As someone else whisked away my shoes, I had to stand straddle legged with my arms extended palms up to endure a full body pat down.  I guess I must look like a terrorist. 

There was another elderly gentleman next to me that was receiving the same treatment because of his belt buckle.  I understand about security issues, but really, was this rude treatment needed?  It was a far cry from my experience at Hobby Airport in Texas.  As I was finally, gruffly, allowed to put on my shoes, sweater, and coat again, another man standing nearby said they seemed to be targeting seniors that day.  They had given him a hassle too after telling him to leave his keys in his pocket, and then coming down on him for it.  Sheesh!  By this time, my flight was already boarding.  Of course, I made a wrong turn in my effort to find a bathroom before the flight.  There was a line six ladies long just to get into the restroom, so I just reversed, and eventually found my gate in the knick of time.

The flight was jam packed, and due to technical difficulties, Wi-Fi was not available on the flight.  Normally, this wouldn’t bother me one bit, but I was supposed to check out a different cell phone that Dennis gave me while on the flight.  I’ll post about that some other time.  Anyway, I finally made it to Houston, and started to peel off layers of clothes as it was 79* when we landed.  Wahoo!  I had escaped the freezing temperatures.

When I started this post, I was going to talk about what I did today, but it seems this post is long enough.  I guess I’ll have to cover that tomorrow.  I really enjoyed my trip overall, but it sure felt good to pick up Emma from the kennel and arrive back home.  I think she was happy too, as she passed out as soon as we got back in the rig.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

29 comments:

  1. Some of those TSA people are just imbeciles on a power trip. While they were hassling you and other elderly passengers the real terrorists could have gotten a free pass.

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  2. Paul has the same hip issue as you do but thank goodness hasn't experienced the same ordeal.
    Welcome back to Texas hospitality.

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  3. Remind me never to fly with you. With your track record of TSA problems, I'd probably end up in Gitmo wearing those funny orange jumpsuits... :cO

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  4. Good heavens. First they say do and then they say don't. I'd have been taking down all their names and badge numbers for my furious complaint. There is no excuse for such treatment.

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  5. Welcome back to the land of great temperatures. What a time they gave you....rude people. We head west tomorrow. hopefully will give you a shout-out before we are in your area.

    Every morning I hear bird songs that I have never before heard and wish I had a recorder. Then you could listen and identify. I'm tellin ya, you have quadrupled our interest in birds.

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  6. I agree- some of those TSA people are just on a power trip. I'd sure report them. I did hear on the news tonight that there has been credible threat information regarding show bombs again. But it was for international flights coming into the US, not domestic flights. There really is no excuse for the way you were treated. Oh well, at least you're home and WARM!!

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  7. Don't believe anyone's ever bragged about Chicago's hospitality. Welcome back to the land of happy people and warm temperatures.

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  8. Some airports are worse than others...so sorry you had to experience Midway! I hope you're feeling that down-to-the-bone warmth! That's happiness!

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  9. Your encounter could be a movie! Instead of Last Vegas....how about Last Flight!
    I am glad you had a good time and equally glad to hear you are home...I'm sure Emma was ecstatic. We can leave for 5 minutes and get the warmest welcome home.

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  10. What a nightmare!! Glad you got back safe and sound!!

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  11. Those TSA people do love their feelings of power and it doesn't make me feel one bit safer, not one bit!!! Glad you made it back to warmer country!

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  12. I think there was a "FBI Most Wanted" alert about a senior who looked just like you that was causing all the craziness! Don't forget, Texas has some of the most polite people in the country, and that shows up even at the airport!
    Glad you escaped the freeze, and got the pooch back!

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  13. Yuk! I hate to fly these days for the same reasons (and then after TSA you have to endure cramped little seats!)

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  14. I know it is all about safety BUT I would have noted their names and reported them. I am funny that way..they sure could have treated you better and there was no reason to be cranky and rude. Glad you rescued Emma:)

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  15. Glad you're back safe and sound in the land of sunshine. There is really no excuse for the hassles inflicted on all of the innocent air travelers by many of the TSA employees. It's one of the primary reasons we don't like to fly anywhere any more. I used to fly quite a bit when I was working, but now that I'm retired, we choose not to. If we can't drive, we won't go. It's about that simple for us. We're pretty uncomplicated people. Now, of course, we have two more good reasons for not flying anywhere...Ollie and Jewel ;))

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  16. Welcome home! Sorry about the hassles. I guess they do that just because they can!

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  17. Your experience simply reinforces my decision to NEVER again fly in or out of a United States airport. The United States now has a reputation world wide as being the one place that you do not want to fly into or out off. Border crossings are also bad but nothing like what our airports are like.

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  18. Always remind yourself. Being employed by the TSA is at about the same skill level as the average French fry noob at McD's. Don't ever believe a word they say.
    For four and a half years going back and forth to Europe we managed to avoid flying into the US.
    Had to do it to get to Maui unfortunately, AND they gave us a little card to take with us through security so we didn't have to take our shoes off. Didn't matter that I went through the "hold your hands up waiting for the cuffs to be put on" scanner, the big dummy on the other side still had to pat me down. I just warned him, "Don't touch my junk".

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  19. It's always a toss-up whether we get scrutinized closely or shuttled through... sounds like you got in the the line that checks the lint in your belly button.... oh well... you got back safely and can now enjoy some warmer weather.

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  20. I'm scared enough just FLYING, and that experience would do me in..I would begin crying and NOT board the flight. Not to mention the diarrhea that would result ...Nope, if I ever fly again, I will have to take a sleeping pill before boarding...Those TSA are a perfect example of the government being "there to help" us...NOT!

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  21. Some days you just want to slap somebody!

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  22. The joys of flying. I'll take RVing any day of the week.

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  23. I don't quite understand the TSA anymore. The main problem was hijackings of airplanes. Passengers were "scanned" to make sure they were not taking anything on board that would allow them to overtake the plane. I know about the safety from terrorist but didn't the federal government take care of that problem by sealing off the cockpits (locked from the inside) during flights? If anyone tries to enter the cockpit the pilots land at the closest airport. How much money is the federal government spending on TSA and could this money be spent somewhere else? As far as I know, airlines are the only public transportation that the passengers are screened. Just my thoughts...

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  24. TSA has certainly made flying a great deal more unpleasant than it used to be. For us it just isn't worth it to fly unless there is absolutely no other choice. Sorry to hear that you got caught up in that insanity.

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  25. Your experience with TSA would have made a good viral video on YouTube. That would have taken care of those yellow-bellied bullies.

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  26. Emma looks more like a terrorist than you do, Judy! This kind of treatment is so wrong....

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  27. Yep, I can relate to the rudeness of those guys too! One time coming back from Amsterdam one of them had me almost in tears with some aggressive and totally pointless questions about my green card, but I managed to ask for his supervisor. He pointed over his shoulder to the guy behind him and they both sniggered at me. With the tears really starting to flow now, so embaressing, I asked again for HIS supervisor this time and was than quickly released after given a vague wave to an office area in the back. I did go there though, and a very friendly (female) officer handed me the paperwork to file a complaint after giving me some tissues to dry my tears (standing at the ready on her desk!) and apologizing for their behavior. Welcome to America! I somewhere read that they are there to keep this country safe, not to be nice. But really!?

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