Charleston down, Phoenix to go

Jenn and I are in the middle of our pair of October trips.  It's been a whirlwind, but we can handle it.

The porch of The Palmer Home looked out into Charleston Harbor.

Last weekend we went to Charleston for Elise and Paul's wedding.  The wedding was at The Palmer Home, and was beautiful, very intimate, and a pleasure to attend.  The reception at Fulton Five was wonderful, with great food and fun conversation.  It was a very small wedding, with only Elise's & Paul's parents, Paul's brother & sister-in-law, a friend of the Craft's, an intern-mate of Elise's from OSU, Paul's best friend, the pastor, and Jenn & me.

Jenn said these shoes, while they looked fantastic, were designed by someone very evil.

Fourteen in all... the smallest wedding we've ever been to.  Jenn looked like a total knockout, though her shoes did a number on her feet.  The uneven sidewalks throughout Charleston didn't help.  But did I mention she looked great!

The travel to and from the wedding... not so good.  It started on our first flight.  Jenn and I had awakened at 3:30 on Saturday morning to begin our trip.  We arrived at the airport on time, but we didn't board the plane on time.  No big deal, it wasn't too delayed, we thought.  As soon as the plane was boarded, the captain informed us that Air Traffic Control said that there was more traffic than anticipated in Atlanta and that we were going to wait on the runway in Akron for 45 minutes.  Interesting, because Jenn and I had a 65 minute layover in Atlanta, and have you ever been to the Atlanta airport? Additionally, the couple in front of us had a 75 minute layover before their trip to Shanghai!  Now I've been on delayed flights before where the flight attendants have been helpful by allowing those with the biggest rush to deboard the plane first.  Not this time.  Once we got to Atlanta after the 1:40 flight (we were told it would be 1:08), we were left on the tarmac past the E terminal, loaded on a bus that took us to the E terminal, and left to fend for ourselves.  Jenn and I ran to the B terminal and got on the plane 5 minutes before the door was closed.  Whew!  Dodged that one!

Waiting for Suitcase

Then I turned to Jenn and said, "Our bag probably didn't make it."

At the Charleston airport we waited at baggage claim until all of the bags were claimed.  Except ours.  So we went to the Delta counter and were informed that our bag was on the next flight, but that they could deliver it to us in the city by 6:00pm.  The wedding was at 4:00pm.  The person smiled at us and suggested we wait until the flight arrived.  Jenn was not happy, nor was I.  We were going to be in Charleston less than 24 hours and an additional 2 (?) hours would be spent in the airport!

So our bag finally came, and, to make a long story short, we were essentially swindled out of more money by our two cab drivers (to and from the airport).  Not a bunch of money, actually less than $10, but enough to leave a sour taste in my mouth.

On the way home on Sunday, flights were delayed, schedules weren't adequately coordinated... we just weren't real impressed with Delta and the way things went.  So from this day forward, it's going to take a lot to convince us to fly anything other than Southwest.

During this ordeal, Lincoln was staying with his Grandparents Gates and was on his best behavior.  He slept until 8:00am both mornings!!!  He didn't cry at all during the weekend.  He was our little champ.  He even grew a little while we were gone.  Then when he came home, he cried for 40 minutes before going to sleep at night.  He definitely knows how to perform for his Grandparents!

Which brings us to our next trip to see his Grandma Laura and Grandfather Dave.  Days until Phoenix:  1!!!  Lincoln had a blow-out poopy diaper yesterday while Teresa (of ORU fame) was watching him, so he shouldn't be uncomfortable during the plane ride.  He can't wait to see his Aunt Haley!

On another subject, Lincoln was with Teresa during the late afternoon hours on Monday because Mom and Dad and Grandma Gates were at an event for my Aunt Mary Sue.  For the first time, an "All-County Teaching Team" was named, and Aunt Mary Sue was awarded the top Private School teacher in the county!  Of course the Teacher of the Year award went to an Akron Public School teacher (it's no doubt political), but that doesn't diminish Aunt Mary Sue's recognition at all.  What an honor for her and for Chapel Hill Christian School!