The Arizona Adventure

Nothing in my life has ever been without bumps, misfortune, and mishap. This last adventure was no different. Don't get me wrong, I had a fabulous time. Thanks, completely to my sister.

I left for Phoenix, Arizona in plenty of time to catch my flight. My friend Anne was kind enough to schlep me to the airport. I arrive hug her goodbye and proceed to the Alaska counter to check my bags. I use to always check them at the curb but now the greedy skycaps are charging two bucks a bag. What is with that??????

Anyway, I get up to the Alaska counter, everything is now electronic. I consider myself fairly savvy when it comes to computer crap. So I touch the screen put in my confirmation code, my last name, my destination, my home phone number, my mothers maiden name, my first born date of birth, and for good measure my religious affiliation... nothing. The computer can not locate me. I do not exist.

The Alaska lady comes over and asks me if I need assistance. What the hell do you think??? Yes I need help. Obviously this piece of crap computer has a problem. We both proceed for the next ten minutes to put in various codes all to no avail. Finally after looking at my itinerary for the fiftieth time, she informs me, "Oh, you are not on Alaska you are flying American West."

Well aren't we blond???

I walk back the mile and half to American West. Again back to the electronic touch screen. I check in. But it fails to give me my baggage sticker. This should have given me a clue. But remember I am blond.

Once again, I request service. They go into the system and print me a tag. I leave my worldly possessions with the minimum wage worker.

I board the plane, only to sit next t the MOST chattiest woman known to mankind. Everyone knows, if you have the book up you are NOT allowed to chat to the person sitting next to you. It is a universal rule. Apparently the universe never spoke to this woman. I now know more than I ever wanted to know about the Oregon Southern Coast, Hawaii, Faro, and Florida.

Two & 1/2 VERY long hours later I arrive in Phoenix. YEA. Baseball is within my reach. Can't wait!!

Just have to go to baggage claim, grab my bag and meet my sister. I proceed to baggage claim. I wait, and I wait. Finally that annoying buzzer sounds. Yippee my bag will be here soon. My sister has found me and is patiently waiting with me. We wait while the carousel turns. My sister asks me what does your bag look like? I respond, "It's black."

"Is that your bag?" she asks. I respond, "No". We go through this impromptu ritual at least seventy times. Just knowing any minute my bag will magically be there. no one from my plane is left from my plane. Just a little longer. I know it will be here. They wouldn't lose MY bag!!

They lost my bag.

We go to the lost baggage claim area. Two people are working, one man with really long fingernails and the other a woman who hates her job and makes everyone around her suffer because of it. Thank you Jesus we get Mr. Long nail.

He asks me the dreaded question, "What does your bag look like?" "It is black. Like all the other frigging bags." Of course they had know idea where the bag was. But usually they don't stay lost. Oh really????

So, I have the clothes I am wearing, no toothbrush, no hairbrush, no damn panties.

We leave the airport. We head towards some shopping facility. We locate a Mervyn’s, a Marshals, a Famous Footwear. We go to Mervyns first to secure panties.

Nothing else is even remotely wearable.

My God, do they seriously think all fat people want to wear large flowery prints???

We run into the shoe place. OMG!! I was in heaven. They had so many cute shoes. So many styles. So much money!! but, alas, my very generous sister bought me one pair & I got the second pair. Both sandals.

After shoe Mecca, we went over to try and procure me something else to wear at Marshall’s. Eureka!! I scored a blouse, shirt, pair of jeans and some cute Capri’s. OK, Now I was ready for the weekend.

After all the shopping, both Karen & I were beaten down to bloody stumps. Instead of going to this really cool restaurant I had made reservations at, we opted for Sweet Tomatoes. Adequate food. Then it was off to check into the hotel.

For anyone who has ever met my sister, she is NOT one to accept second rate anything. Me, i usually go with the flow, don't make too many waves, take what I am given. Really!!

We had booked a room at the Hilton Suites. very Upscale. The young girls at the front desk were, how shall I say, F##%ing B*&##es!!! Thus they were named for the rest of the stay.

And believe me they were.

After two tries on acquiring an acceptable room Karen asked for the manager. Amazing. We got a good room.

We dumped our shopping and Karen’s bags and sprawled out. The room was nice w/ a great view. we bedded down fairly early. I think Karen was asleep by 8:00. She is getting old.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

The next morning we grabbed some breakfast at Mimi's restaurant. After breakfast we headed toward Peoria. Padres here we come. The padres got their ass kicked by the Diamondbacks. 13-2. It is going to be a long season. Saturday we watched them play the Cubs. We got to sit in the Cubs family section. We sat near dusty Bakers wife, a cub second baseman's mom, a a pitchers parents. It was cool. Very cool!!

Sunday, Easter, I dragged my sister to Mass. OMG!!! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER again. I truly understood Jesus's suffering that day. My word of advise, never make a born again hedinous, hertic, pagan attend mass. It is not worth it.

After we grabbed a great breakfast of blueberry pancakes and then headed to, you got it, baseball game. We watched the Padres play the Cubs. We got to sit in the Cubs family section. We sat neear dusty Bakers wife, a cub second baseman's mom, a a pitchers parents. It was cool. Very cool!!. Padres won. Yippee.

Monday, we watched some more baseball. Can't ever get enough baseball. There really is nothing better than sitting at a ball park on a sunny afternoon watching the boys play baseball.

Monday night we stayed in and watched TV. Karen's favorite activity. REALLY. Ok, next to baseball.

They did find my luggage. Albeit, when I called down to the front desk they denied it. I am sure there was some type of conspiracy to separate me from my clothes.

Tuesday I flew home. My husband and dogs were overjoyed to see me. The dogs probably more than Kurt.

And that was my big adventure at Spring Training. I am eternally grateful to my sister.Despite lost luggage, front dest idiots and Mr. longnails. I had a great time. Thank you.

Oh and thank you for the new royal blue luggage!

GO PADRES!!!!