Part 1: Glad not to be me

Over the summer while I was leaning against the stairs trying to install a banister, I accidentally cracked the screen of my iphone.  The phone was working, but over time the spider web got worse, tiny pieces of glass started to fall out and it began getting dangerous for my kids if they got their hands on it.  So, I took it in to get fix.  The guy says, that it wouldn't be a problem, its a pretty easy fix.  He kept my phone so that when the new glass came in, he could fix it right away.  A week goes by, and the part was still not in. So I take my phone back because I needed it that weekend.   A couple more weeks go by and I take it back to have them fix it again.  It was only going to be a couple days...right.  Well, while trying to fix the glass, the LCD screen broke, so it was going to be another week until the new LCD screen came in. Then finally when the new LCD came in, it was dysfunctional. Finally another week and all the parts are finally in one place....oops!  As the repairman was attempting to fix the phone he severed a very important wire.  The phone is now inoperable beyond repair!  They offered to buy me a new phone (refurbished) and I agreed, but it was going to take another week for it to arrive.... what's new... I was pretty frustrated.  I was leaving next monday to go to California for the holiday.  I specifically said that I needed my phone for this trip.  Well, you guessed it! My new phone does not arrive before we leave, so I leave for California without a phone.  I ask the guy if he could send it to me.  My phone should have arrived in IL and been shipped on Dec 17.  Even with the holidays it will surely arrive before Dec 27, when I leave to go to Virginia... not a chance. I am literally in the airport waiting at my gate (with my wife's phone) when my mom calls to tell me that my phone had finally arrived.  Yeaaah, I was without my phone for almost two whole months... You have to read part two, below, to pick up the rest of the story!

Part 2: Glad not to be me

I watched the new Lord of the Rings "Hobbit" this past week, thanks to a generous offer by Gabe Guven. I liked the movie and enjoyed the night out, but wished that it would have been made it before "The Fellowship of the Ring."  I mention that because if you noticed the title of this blog, I decided to write part two to this blog prior to writing part one.  I don't understand the logic, but since Part two happened a couple hours ago, I will write that first...
I was sitting on the throne in the San Jose Airport, taking care of business before a long flight when an announcment came over the loud speaker, "Someone has left their laptop at security in terminal B, please return to security to claim it."  In a panic, I unzipped my carry-on and saw that I did indeed grabbed my laptop among all the other things that were scattered along the conveyer belt.  Just then, I recieved a phone call on my wife's phone (why I have my wife's phone, read Part 1). It was my mother, my phone had arrived by UPS to their house and she was wondering if I wanted to try to make a trade. Knowing the amount of stress that would be relieved by all parties having their own personal phones, I decided it was worth the risk.  I told my mom to bring the phone to the airport.

I had already been through security once, there had to be a way that I could trade a phone without having to go through security again, right.... Not a chance! So I left "the secure area" to go wait curbside for my parents who were bringing me my long lost phone (Part 1).  Am I going to still make my flight?  Can I trade phone, make it through security, and make it to my gate before my plane pushes off.... The minutes creep by.

Finally, I see my parents arriving in the distance, I go out to the middle of the chaos, trying to avoid a trip to the hospital and make a quick trade. I'm sure those who were watching, thought a deal had just gone down...  I hustle my way back to the security lines. And wait... and wait... and the time, although it is ticking slowly, the amount time before my plane leaves is moving fast (I cannot explain that). Finally I am showing my ID, and the lady gives me one of those looks like, "you have been here before..."  Of course, like any good suspense movie, I get behind Mr and Mrs. Slowski, who have obviously not flown since before 9/11.  Luckily, I was there and motivated enough to teach them in the ways of swift movment through a security checkpoint... "Yes, mam, you must take off your shoes... Sir, they want your jacket on the conveyer belt as well."

Phew! I made it through security and now its time to "Home Alone" or "OJ Simpson" my way through the airport.  And I arrive at my gate just as they call for "A boarding." 
I enter the plane, and believe it or not, the coveted Exit Seat is still available.  I go to pull my laptop out of my carry-on... and...

You guessed it. My laptop is still back at security! My worst nightmare. Hundreds of potential options run through my head as the plane kept filling up with passengers.  What I am going to do?  I can't leave the laptop.  I need it this week....  I flagged down the flight attendant and told her my predicament she says...
"We will wait for you, if you want to delay everybody's flight..."  Unfortunately, there were 35 other people within an earshot, now looking at me thinking, 'you better not!' I could feel  a heavy scowl! I asked her if she would save my "prized seat." She agreed and I took off  weaving in and out of people filing onto the plan and sprinted my way back through the airport! One, I am really getting my exercise. Two, San Jose airport is really long. I make it back to security out of breath, and I enter where it says not to. Good thing too, that attracted a lot of attention.  They pulled out a couple laptops and I immediately identified mine, but they needed proof. The only thing I could think of was to boot it up and type in the password to get in.... and windows is loading... and loading... Finally, I am running through the airport again with my laptop in hand.  I get to the gate and thankfully the plane is still there.

As I enter the plane, I see the evil scowl once again, , and feel that many are glad not to be me.