What a Day!

Yesterday was the kind of day that you hope doesn't happen very often!  I had a 6:05 am flight to travel to Minneapolis for work, which requires me to get up at 3:00 am to leave the house at 4:00 am to get to the airport around 4:45.  When I arrived at airport, the ticket counter was busier than usual.  I finally got to the computer to check in, and I completed that step, got my boarding passes, and then set my suitcase on the scale and waited for the agent to tag my bag.  I stepped out of the way so that someone else could check in after me.  A lady came up and started to check in, meanwhile, I was still waiting for them to tag my bag.  She finished, and then we were both waiting for our bags to be tagged - but mine was up on the scale.  When the guy finally came over, he asked for her ID and boarding pass. She tried to direct him to me first, but he just waived me aside and got her information.  Then he pulled my bag off the scale and behind the counter and got her bag behind the counter too (can you see where this is going?).  Then he handed her bag tag receipt to her and mine to me.  We both tried to tell him that we weren't traveling together and he just nodded and waived us away.  As we walked away, we both said that we hoped he got it right.  So, my flights were actually fine (I flew through Denver) and was even upgraded to first class on the flight from Denver to Minneapolis.  But, sure enough, when I got to baggage claim in Minneapolis, my bag never arrived.  So I went to the counter to report it missing, they brought up the information in their computer system and said that it showed it did arrive in Minneapolis.  I explained the situation and we walked over to the bags that were remaining and sure enough, we found my name on the bag tag on a suitcase that wasn't mine.  My suitcase was on its way to where ever the other lady's final destination was. So then they had to fill out a claim form and I had to describe the bag (of course it is a black suitcase like 99 percent of the luggage out there!).  Then I made my way to the office  - I was surprised how hot and humid it was too.  After working the rest of the day I called the United Bag check number to find that they still had not found my suitcase - and I figured chances were not good that it would arrive that evening. 

So I went to the hotel to check in and decided that I better go to Target to get some of the basic toiletries that I would need for the next day and Kohls to buy something to wear.  I hopped in the rental car and headed toward Target which was a few miles down the freeway.  It was rush hour - stop and go traffic.  I was a couple of miles from Target, when all of a sudden I got rear-ended! It was an 18 year old driving and I guess he just didn't pay close enough attention that we stopped again.  We pulled over to the side to assess the damage - there wasn't much - mostly just scratches on the back bumper, but of course, I'm in a rental car and I don't want to have any problems with the rental car company!  So, I get on the phone with the rental company (and wait on hold for a while).  Then, this other car pulls over in front of us  - and it turns out it is the guy's dad who just happened to drive by and recognized the car.  So he helped out the kid, we got all the information that the rental car company needed.  So by this time, we had been on the side of the road about 30 - 45 minutes and it was still very hot and humid (and I'm in the only clothes that I have!).  We finally finished and I continued on my way to Target and Kohls.  I got some basics and an outfit to wear for work the next day (casual - with only flip flops for shoes) and then made my way back to the hotel.  When I get back to the hotel I got all the way to my room and found that the card key didn't work anymore - so I had to go back to the front desk to get a new key and then go all the way back to my 10th floor room.  I ended the day by opening up a bottle of sparkling flavored water (after it was sitting in the fridge in the room for a couple of hours) and having it spray out all over me.

I had to fill out a multiple page accident report form for work - and I'm sure there will be some additional paperwork when I turn in the car... hopefully it will not be a lingering problem.

I also just got word that my suitcase was delivered to my hotel today - so that is a good thing.  I wonder where it went?