The trip...

Where to start...?

This one is going to be LOOOONG so the first paragraph is just about leaving SFO you can skip that if you want...nothing interesting happened.

I left the house, said some last minute goodbyes to my Dad and grandparents at the shop (my favorite uncle was 'golfing', so I didn't get to give him one last hug...), Mom, Scott and I went to San Fran to catch the plane.

I can proudly say that my BIG bag was under 50lbs, my carry on however was only allowed to be like 6 something (not lbs...but I forget what it was) Well no one informed me of this, and I read the website and called 3 different times to double check everything was right. My carry on was 13something, so I had to take out a pair of sweats, and sweatshirt and then took about half of the stuff out and put it into my checked bad. The woman that checked me in let me add a few lbs over 50 (luckily). Then Scott, the check-in woman and I sat on my bag to get it to zip. I locked the zippers together and sent it away. I said my goodbyes to Mom and Scott and headed towards security. Finally made it through and didn't have to confiscate anything or get searched. I found my terminal (veryyyy lastt one, down 3 flights of stairs too..)

Boarded the plane on time, the man sitting next to me was actually born in Ireland I found out and his nephew is attending the University of Limerick, small world? The flight surprisingly did not feel as long as a flight from NC to Cali, even though it was twice the distance & time. I watched 3 full length movies, and could not sleep. I tried, it just was not happening. I flew straight past Ireland, and right over Limerick, I took a few pictures from my camera, but you cant really tell what they were of. Once I landed in Heathrowe (London) it took at least an hour (no exaggeration) to get through the three security check points, and 15 minute bus ride to get to my terminal. It was the furthest away from where I landed, naturally. If you want to see a massive airport, I suggest London, Heathrowe... Biggest airport I have everrrr seen.

I waited in the airport waiting area until I was told which terminal my plane would be leaving from. That took two hours. I was waiting for Shasta that whole time to land and meet up so we could board together. It was about 10 minutes to boarding time and she hadn't shown yet, I was starting to panic, I walked around a bit and looked for her and just as I was going to go down the hall to my terminal, I saw her. Boy she was happy to see me. She almost cried.

Shasta left from SFO about 2 hours after me.  Shas realized about an hour and half before she had to take off that her wallet with all of her saved money was missing. She ended up going through security at least 5 times just walking back and forth trying to backtrack where she was and who she had talked to. She went to her check in woman and the woman lied to Shasta's face and said she had not seen a wallet or anything and that she would keep an eye out. Come to find out the Cameras for the airport don't watch the check-in desks, so she had to go to the United cameras; well those don't focus on the check-in clerks, just the passengers (good idea, right?..Not). She had to find a police officer (at this point she was bawling, stressed, nervous, scared, freaking out, demanding and not very nice at this point...basically a complete mess). The police officer said he would check his tapes and for her to wait where she was. After 20 minutes he returned and handed her her wallet and escorted her through the back of security since she had already proven she was not hiding any liquids or weapons about 5 times already. He explained to her that her check in woman stole her wallet and was now in custody. I think it's fair to say the woman at her check-in desk was not as nice as mine... She barely made the flight, she had about 5 minutes to get on and get settled, thennn had to sit in the middle middle seat. That all explains why she was so happy to see a familiar face.

We boarded our flight, heading to Ireland. Well, they couldn't just let us get there on time, we departed about an hour later then we were supposed to because of a storm I think? after about 40 minutes in the air we landed and we were so relieved and excitedddd :]