IML -- Travel day, Friday

Traveling from San Diego is a little like going somewhere on a sailboat. You tend to leave early in the morning to get anywhere by late afternoon. And this trip was no different! I had to be at the airport by about 5:00 am. So, daddy and I were up at 4:00 am, and headed out the door at 4:30. He dropped me off at the airport, and I navigated my way through security and found my gate. When I fly South West, there are a number of restaurants to eat at early in the morning. Sadly, in the United terminal, there is Starbucks, and that's pretty much it. Starbucks wasn't even open! So I sat there watching as people stood in line for a shop that wasn't open. By the time it was open, the line stretched half way back to the checkpoint. So, I went over to the convenience store and grabbed a snickers bar and water. I was really glad that I did, as the flight was "to short" to serve real food! For the first time, I had a flight that had a 2 year old sitting next to me. She was well behaved for about half the flight, and then started crying. Loudly! I noticed an e,pry seat further back in the plane, and made the hard decision. Risk missing my contacting flight to retain a portion of my insanity. I moved. It was a relatively peaceful flight after that.. We arrived in Denver a few minutes early, and OMG, they had a smoking area IN THE TERMINAL! I love the Denver airport! So I ran to the area, smoked,and then headed to my connecting flight with about 10 mi it's to spare. I landed in Chicago and missed Dakota by about 30 minutes. We chatted by text for a few minutes while I made my way to transportation. I arrived at the hotel in the company of Mike Tattresel. It was funny because we met up and started talking without realizing that we had talked that morning via Facebook! He was great company on the way to IML. I met up with. Dakota and Kim, and we got me settled in the room. First item on the agenda -- FOOD! Because yet again, my flight to Chicago was deemed to short to serve food, and a smoke was more important than eating! We ate ate houlihans, a little pub close to the hotel. It was good food, and great company with Dana, Dakota, and Kim! We returned to the hotel, and, started running in to people I knew, so getting back to the room was a challenge! I received a text from Adam, asking if I had made it in, since he had received questions about where I was since the rest of the family had already been visible. -- there is nothing quite like having family keep track of their boy :) Friday night was opining ceremonies for IML, and we sat with Mama Sandy Reinhart (please forgive spelling if it is not correct). She is an amazing woman who has worked hard for our community throughout the country. After opening ceremonies, we changed, and I spent the evening catching up with friends and family from across the country, and catching up with many of the contestants for IML that I have met in my travels -- people who are both friends and family. For being tired when I arrived I was stunned to realize that the time had flown, and at 4:00 am, I was finally headed to my room. Saturday was going to be a fun day!