Typing from Pearland...

And it took most of the day to get to do so, too.

The America West folks get me into a fine mood last night when they told me my next opportunity to leave Phoenix was this morning at a little after 10, and then told me that I was on my own as far as finding a place to stay was concerned. Grumbling, I went downstairs to talk to some other America West people, mostly to ask about why I hadn't been given an appropriate ticket for the morrow's flight, as the TSA cohort might not be too impressed with some fellow showing up for inspection with a boarding pass from the day before. I was told that all I needed was an itinerary, and was promptly given one.

I asked about places to stay in Phoenix, and was given a chit with a number to call to get a room at a special discounted rate for interrupted travel, said room being at the Radisson.

The room was no great shakes, as rooms go. Just about everything I touched was loose: the switch on the table lamp, the faucets in the bathroom. I could see bare wire coming out of the phone, and thus left the unit alone. I set my alarm for an hour and a half before my requested wakeup, so I could address the primary concern of the day: how far behind I was in my translation.

You see, between trying to back up my VAIO's data and repeatedly looking out my window in Pagosa yesterday morning to see if it was still snowing (it was, every time), I barely had enough time to pack properly, not to mention work. I managed only about 300 words by the time I left for the airport, and I figured I would catch up today and tomorrow with the difference.

Missing my connection changed all that. For one thing, I lost a day of work, as my changed schedule had me arriving in Houston a little before 2, so even if my luggage and rented car were to be waiting for me as I exited the plane (dream on), I'd be able to hightail it down to JSC just in time to go home for the day.

For another, I had to go down to Clear Lake anyway for another reason, associated with one of our rental properties, so between that and dinner and shopping for a few days worth of meals, I find myself at my computer in Pearland ready to go to work at nearly 7 pm.

So it was a good thing that I got up this morning and started translating, getting another 700 or so words down on phosphor before having to get dressed and go downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast, I returned to my room to unplug all of the chargers (computer, Zaurus, cell phone), pack all of the associated gear, grab my bags, and go downstairs to catch the shuttle to the airport. On the way out the door, the youngster behind the front desk assured me that I had no bill, because the room charge had been picked up by America West. I have my doubts, and will be sure to check when I have a moment, but didn't stop to argue.

It took me 20 minutes to get from the Radisson's front door to my departure gate at Phoenix Sky Harbor, despite dire warnings from the America West staffers the night before regarding the expected huge crowds, endless lines, and general chaos to be associated with a stadium full of people going home from the Fiesta Bowl, which had been played last night. The drive was pleasant, if short, and I will be always glad that we stopped at a traffic light that gave me a magnificent view of three 767s - one in position ready to take off toward the rising sun and two others waiting to follow the first. The sun gave the whole scene just the right cast of red that accentuated an "off we go!" feeling in me as the first plane in line started its takeoff roll with rumbling engines.

I was, in fact, so early to my departure gate, that the line for an earlier flight was still there, battling with counter staffers who were trying to make the best of a highly overbooked situation. It turned out my flight was overbooked, too, and I would have considered volunteering for a later flight, except that the next flight to Houston was tomorrow's 10 am flight, and I could not afford to lose yet another day's pay. (Maybe on the return trip...?)

In any event, while sitting in the passenger lounge, I unlimbered the VAIO again, plugged it into the only wall socket I could find, and actually got the point where I wanted to be by the end of yesterday, which kinda-sorta put me on track, and really got me upset with the VAIO's slow speed and defective keyboard. (On the other hand, the machine seems to be working better than usual, probably because it senses my thoughts about buying a new, faster, and more compact laptop.) In any event, another 900 words were translated by the time it was time to start boarding.

Arrival at Houston was uneventful, if you don't consider the 45 minutes it took for the luggage to be unloaded from the plane and delivered. To give an idea of how long this is, a Delta flight landed after we did and the entire planeload of passengers was able to descend on their bags and pick the luggage carousel bare while we poor America West customers stood around, fidgeting, and waiting for a reunion with our luggage (and beginning to suspect that it was being sent separately, like by mule train). Myself, I seriously started to edge toward the luggage office, thinking to be among the first in line should anything... untoward... be announced with respect to the plane's luggage.

Anyway, if I work for a couple of hours, until 9 or 9:30 pm, I ought to get to the point where the end of the job will be easily achievable with one last push tomorrow (if I wait and try to do it all tomorrow, I'll find myself, doing 4000 words in addition to a space-to-ground shift, which is a little... much).

Many thanks to LJ friend ejl for transcribing yesterday's PhonePost.

Cheers...