I pride myself on being on top of things in the news, media and trends.  I think I even knew that homeland security was shutdown.  But I definitely didn’t UNDERSTAND it. 

Yesterday, I flew to Denver for the APS Global Summit.  It was a terrible experience and I was not prepared.

I got to the airport my usual two hours before the flight left.  I had the seat I wanted (window) and I was all set with audiobooks for a nice chill ride to Denver. 

There were a bunch of hiccups trying to get to the TSA line.  My boarding pass didn’t print right away.  I got into the first-class line (someone told me too).  So, then I had to get out of line and get into another line.  Then finally I found the right line about 30 minutes in.  I looked at all the people, the sign saying it was going to take an hour, and did some mental math and realized I wasn’t going to make it.  So I went to the Delta agent to ask for help.  She sent me to another line in the basement to get rebooked.

That line didn’t go anywhere.  I stood in it for 30 minutes and only got to watch people argue about who was in the front of the line. 

I just sat down in the line on the floor and pulled out all my devices and started researching flight changes.  Luckily there was another flight going to Denver 2 hours later so I ended up rebooking my flight online. 

So, then I went back to get in the TSA line.  Believe it or not, my old flight still had not left yet and my new flight was hours away.  This line was going to be no problem.  It said 60 minutes – only to come to find out that 60 minutes was the half way point.  It actually took 2 hours. 

I passed a mosque, church, and synagogue and snaked around everywhere.  People would try to cut me, saying their flight left soon.  But my flight left before theirs.  It was a mess.

The poor TSA agents.  They aren’t getting paid.  They have to deal with all the unhappy people and still do their jobs.  They had to be nice while people who were panicking, pleading about how they are missing their flight.  The TSA agent had to say, “I am sorry ma’am, there is nothing I can do.”  I felt so bad for everyone.  I honestly was surprised with how nice the TSA agents were and how calm the fliers were.  I was fluming.  Everyone else’s calmness calmed me down.

Then I got into the terminal at 6:30 and my flight was boarding at 6:30!  It was on the other side of the terminal.  I started running!  I made it and took the only seat on the plane left a middle seat.  For a 6 foot 300 lbs guy, the middle seat is literal torture.  I was hot, sweaty and gross for running for 20 minutes through the terminal.  And every signal person who came after that was hot and sweaty too.  It was ewwwwwwwww.

Delta said there were maintenance problems – but it looked like they were holding the door open for the stranglers.  That was a mixed bag, because over the hour delay our plane filled right up.  So now, we were sweaty, gross, and packed in like sardines.  I wish I would have gotten something to eat.

They closed the door.

More maintenance problems! 

Then we had to dodge the weather so we had to fly up to Canada and around. 

The flight was fine other than being squeezed into a box made for someone half my size.  (I got a really painful leg cramp this morning – likely related.)

So today its supposed to be 60.  Tomorrow 70.  Wednesday 80!!!  So I am packed for a warm week. 

I got in last night after midnight.  Took the train which was really nice.  But when I got off I had to walk from Union Station to the Sheraton.  That’s about a 20 minute walk.  In the cold < 20F and with some snow.  I slipped and almost fell three or four times.  I could have taken an uber.  But there is nothing worse standing in the cold waiting for your Uber, when you could be walking and atleast warming yourself up.

But at last, I am at the Sheraton Downtown Denver – my literal Denver home.  I have stayed here so much over the last two years.