I made it to Boulder for my Food and Light workshop but it wasn’t necessarily a smooth travel day. Then again, is travel ever smooth?
As I was leaving my house and already running a few minutes late <—but what’s new, I realized the suitcase that I had everything packed in had a bum wheel and was not wheel-able.
So I was literally on the balcony frantically transferring everything I had packed into an alternate suitcase.
Whew. Make work much?
I got to the airport and even with a printed boarding pass in hand, it was a 40 minute wait just to drop off and check bags.
And I still had to get through security. Yikes.
I arrived at the airport with just enough time to get checked in, get through security and get my travel essential: Starbucks!
And then we boarded.
Super bumpy flight and there was a man in front of me who did.not.shut.up. the entire flight. He was jabbering to the woman next to him and I think trying to impress her. Normally I can sleep through anything, but even I couldn’t sleep through him.
I was also thinking about how much I already missed Skylar!
I left her a love note on her desk that she’d find when Scott picked her up from preschool later in the day.
As I was dropping her off, she was dancing, spinning, laughing, and having a grand old time.
She told me how much she’d miss me too, but clearly wasn’t too effected by my pending departure given her giggles.
I arrived at the Denver airport, got my bag, got my rental car
Drove the hour plus to Boulder (road construction!), checked into my hotel room, and here I am, blogging.
And good thing I picked up this gem for a midnight snack.
It hit the spot. I needed it!
I could have used a White Chocolate Blondie with Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting too!
My day starts bright and early tomorrow.
From my last post, it sounds like most of your weekends go by in a blur, like mine do. And this day today, it was a blur, indeed!
Questions:
1. How much time do you normally leave as a “cushion” when you travel? How far in advance do you like to get to the airport?
I live about 7 to 10 minutes from the airport and I left my house at 2:25pm for a 4pm flight and would have left more like 2:10pm had I not had to re-pack my entire suitcase at the last minute! <–nothing like breaking a sweat in the middle of the day between the stress and the actual work involved.
I got to the airport, parked, and was in the terminal at 2:40pm which was just barely enough time to drop off my bag, clear security, and get Starbucks <—priorites.
In my single/childless days, when I wasn’t juggling so many balls with work, family life, my blog, and just life in general, I left more cushion and padding but lately, well, it just works out the way it does. And hey, I made it. That’s all that matters! But I do hate that stressed out feeling of rushing!
I prefer to leave some cushion, but I am also not the type of person who wants to be through security, sitting at the gate, with nothing to do and completely ready to board, say two full hours, before my flight is to depart. Maybe a half hour to 45 mins, max, is more like it.
Don’t forget to enter my Healthy Cookie & Brownie Giveaway!
Have a fabulous time..can’t wait to read all about it. Wish I was there with you!
I wish you were here, too! I am sitting next to Elana of Elana’s Pantry and we are listening to a lecture on light :)
Oh gosh I hate when traveling turns out badd. I’ve gone to LAX once and it was EMPTTYYY. I have no idea why lol but it was. Maybe because my flight left at 3pm (random) and it was like September…Idk. I usually plan on getting to the airport like 2hrs-1.5hr before my flight leaves.
Good luck today!!
When I travel, it really depends on which airport I’m heading out from. When it comes to traveling from RDU (my “home” port), I can get there from my doorstep, parked, and through security in about 40 minutes tops, so that one’s an easy one. From the PHL airport, though, I prefer to honestly leave about a 2 hour window from doorstep to boarding time. I just never know with the security line if it’ll be 10 minutes or over an hour!!
Ugh, hate those non-stop talkers. We had some on our return flight from Chicago. I am really weird about having to get to the airport at least an hour early – typically more like an hour and a half. I hate flying and get so anxious that I need to get there with plenty of time so it’s one less thing to freak out over ;-)
I live a bit further from a major airport and you never now about traffic so we tend to leave ample time. And when I used to travel with 60+ people with my entire skating club we had to be there hours in advanced–> hectic. I love traveling alone nowadays.
Skylar is so precious and happy in those pictures, I’m sure she will be missing you lots! Hope your already having a blast at the workshop!
Skylar is too cute! – always so cheerful and happy go lucky.
I try to leave extra time whenever I travel, but of course, I’m always running late. Have a great time in boulder!! :)
Skylar’s hair is so long!!! Wow. And I bet she loved the note you left for her!
When I travel I like to leave super early. If that means we have to sit in a restaurant at the airport and have a drink, so be it :) I just seem to get extra anxious and worried that something will go wrong (forget something, have to wait in long lines, etc) that I like to be there early. So for plane trips I like to get there at least 2 hours before my plane is supposed to leave.
yes she has super long hair. I kinda wish it was mine :)
and scott said she loved the little note.
I usually leave 1.5-2 hours before check in. I get myself in a panic in case I miss the flight or something is going to wrong. I think it’s best to get there way in advance.
I’ve never flown, so I always give credit to folks who just jump and go without a problem. Good for you!! And that cookie sounds fabulous. :D
Skylar is such a cutie. She’s just brimming with happiness. :D
Geesh, that suitcase fiasco SUCKS…know the feeling well. Also know what you mean about leaving Skylar. Isn’t it great how they can giggle & smile knowing that life it great and that we will be back?Thank goodness for our independence (and theirs,) yet knowing we will come home to so much LOVE :)
Can’t wait to hear about Boulder.
xxoo
I’m here and sitting in a lecture :)
Diane and Jen rock!!!
And I cant wait to hear about YOUR trip!
Skylar looks like such a happy-go-lucky girl! I’m sure she’ll be thrilled with your love note, I used to get so excited when mom worked nights and would leave me notes for the morning. I always left them for her to find when she got home too!
I don’t travel often, and the nearest airport is about an hour away (on a good day) so I leave a HUGE cushion when I travel!!
scott said it made her night :)
Glad you made it safe!
I am a worry wort – so I am always ridiculously earlier, especially for international flights.
Brooke
http://www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com
Have fun on your trip! i cant wait to see the pics:):)
When i fly, i always get there right on time and thankfully i have never missed a flight!! I love flying but i hate when there is some cocky guy thats jabbering on to some poor female that got stuck next to him!
Glad you got there safely. Now go enjoy this wonderful experience and take lots of notes. ;)
skylar’s hair is so long, averie! what a sweetie-pie!
glad you arrived and all the best on your first day, today.
international (ie anything outside of canada) is ridiculous. we need to be AT the airport 2-2.5 hours AHEAD of your flight time, to get thru security. my place is 45 min from the TO airport, so i give myself 60 minutes to have a cushion. so, a travel day to aruba, for example (!) is VERY LONG before you even get on the plane!
at least you had time to grab that starbucks – yes!
I try to give myself extra time but always seem to be rushing. Glad you arrived safely and look forward to hearing how it all goes.