Look Kids, Big Ben ...Parliment.

Every now and then I get tested by the powers that be. Just a bit of a kick in the ol' patience, to see how far I can be pushed. This weekend just happened to be one of those tests. I had promised a friend of mine that I would pick her and her little boy up from the airport Friday night. I convinced my best friend that she should go with me, and man am I glad she did. I think if she hadn't been there I might have pulled over and cried. The plane was scheduled to arrive at 9:55 pm from Minneapolis. That is all the information I had. We left my friend's house around 9:00 and set out on a 3 hour adventure. First, we went the extremely long way to get to there, which I didn't realize it was the long way until I had driven for 15 minutes before I came to a road that would have gotten us there in 5. Then, the hell continued. We got to the airport and thought we were following the right signs. I entered one parking deck only to figure out it was for rent-a-cars. When I tried to leave the parking deck I realized the road I was on was a one way. We had to drive all the way back around the airport.(Lap 1) Then we went in through the baggage claim and pick up line. Unfortunately you can't stop there unless the party you are picking up is ready. Back around the airport.(Lap 2) Then I thought I could find a parking spot on the side of the road, unfortunately they were reserved for limos and buses. My friend pointed out one that looked like I could park in, but I missed it. Back around the airport.(Lap 3) Yep, it only looked like I could park there. Limos and buses only. Back around the airport. (Lap 4) As we started our next lap my friend noticed the sign for short term parking...as we passed it. Back around the airport.(Lap 5) Finally, we got into the parking lot and found what we thought was the concourse she would be arriving from. It was now 9:55. so, we sat and waited. The plane arrived and everyone started coming off the plane. We waited and watched all the weary travelers being greeted by there loved ones. We waited and watched as the flight crew came off and then there was no one else. It was now 10:15. No Alana. We decided that maybe we were at the wrong concourse after all and walked towards another one. Half way to it I decided that was the only flight from Minneapolis and we were headed back. So, we stood and waited, we sat and waited, we paced and waited. Finally at about 10:40 she emerged from the plane. Time to go! Nope. We still had to go to baggage claim. Apparently her mom had sent half her house home in this girl's suitcase. We had to get some strange guys in the parking deck to carry this thing to the car. It even had a caution tag on it! Then, I guess I didn't consider someone who had been gone for 2 weeks would have luggage, 'cause my trunk was full. We had to cram 2 suitcases in the trunk and 2 suitcases and a box in the backseat. Not to mention my friend and her kid, plus me and my other friend. My plan from there was to take my friend that was kind enough to go there with me home and then take my friend that I picked up, to my house. She had left her car at my house while she was gone, so once we were back there she could drive home. That was the plan. Only, we went the wrong way on the interstate. I ended up driving all the way to my house, dropped Alana and her son off at their car and turned around and drove all the way back past the airport to take my other friend home. Fortunately she was kind enough to let me sleep at her house. By this time it was around 12-ish. From this experience I have decided my "favor " days are over. I have truly been to hell and back.