So, on Monday, I traveled back from the places I was visiting to Seattle (YAY! to be back home!). My morning flights had been alright. I had the opportunity to get a $150 voucher but, they they said that I had no need to give up my seat.  

In the afternoon, I was traveling from Austin to Seattle. My first flight got somewhat delayed...and I almost didn't get a chance to buy dinner before leaving. I was the last person on board because I had to wait for my burger to finish cooking...but thankfully they waited. So, we left...and got to Denver.

In Denver, things were also hectic. I decided to wait in a little corner almost in front of my gate's counter. I played some GBA, you know, all cool. They finally call us to get on board and I am one of those people that likes to get quickly on board. So, I grab all my stuff and I head it. As I am preparing my "area" I notice that my iPod could be missing. I had my GBA, my book, even my camera, but no iPod...hhmm, I don't remember seeing it in my bookbag before I put it in the overhead bin. By this time, people were getting on board, so I had to wait...

All of the sudden, a flight attendant starts calling out: 13A! 13A! At this I look up, that was me. I said: Yes? He asked me: Do you have your iPod? I immediately said no. Then it puzzled me, how did he know??? I know I looked a bit worried, but I don't think I said out loud that I am missing my iPod. At this, I ask somebody to hand me over my bookbag to double verify that is wasn't there. As I suspected, it wasn't...

At this I got REALLY nervous...man, my iPod! Lost! Oh no! The flight attendant came back, looked at me and shrugged. "They are out there looking for it" he said. Oh no! I couldn't resist any longer. As soon as there was a gap between the people, I headed out my row. I asked the flight attendant, "can I go out and help look for it?". He said: "You should ask the guy that is coming in now." At this, I notice a guy coming and guess what he was holding in his hand! MY iPOD!!!!!!!! I wanted to hug him. He told me:"Do you know how hard it is to find somebody by their first name." Apparently he looked at my iPod info, did a search on passanger names on flight, and figured that I was the only Ana on board. I thanked him so much!!!

It was a miracle I say! 

What a day yesterday...I thought I would never reach Austin.

First, I got up at 7:30 am. I had gone to bed around 12-1 am but couldn't fall asleep. I think I slept about 5 hours (I have been lacking a lot of sleep as of late). My family finally agreed which car to take (either my father's pick-up or my sister's van). With that decision my sister decided to accompany my father and I to the airport. Well, by the time we finally got ready to go, it was 9 am. Now, giving that my flight left at 10:45 am, I thought, sure...an hour to an hour and half is enough time for me to make it to my flight.

We got to the airport by 9:45-9:50 am. We said our goodbyes and took some final picutres. Then, I had to pass my luggage through customs.  It was 10 am when I reached the counter to check-in. I went to the electronic check-in. I started doing the process. When it is time for it to print my boarding pass, it tells me that I am too late to check-in. I had to check-in 40 minutes before my flight left (or before boarding started, not sure...) I went to a service lady and she told me to get in line, so they can reschedule my flight. Man, I was so mad at myself...

So, I went to the line and after 30 minutes of waiting I was finally attended. By this time, my flight had already left. The guy at the ticket counter politely got me a new flight schedule and told me that I had to be at the airport at 8 am!!! Man, that's too early.

So, anyways, it is 11 am already and my next flight left at 3:40 pm. I ate something, hanged out a little more with my sister and went inside. To waiit...and wait...and wait...I did some of my music reading lessons and programmed a little bit. So, I guess it was not all that bad. My time to leave finally arrived and I boarded the plane.

I was on my way to Dallas, TX. It was a good flight. A bit bumpy sometimes, but in general, pretty smooth. I had a window seat, so I looked out quite often to see if I could capture something good from such a high place. I did get to see part of the sunset and I took the two pictures below. I think the sky looked very pretty.

We arrive at Dallas at 6:50 pm. My next flight started boarding at 7:30 pm. We start waiting for the gate...and wait...and wait...7:05...7:10...7:15!!! At this, passengers started getting alarmed. Some of us had to catch the flight to Austin! We finally parked, and we finally got out of the plane...it was 7:20. Another passenger and I started rushing to our gate. The flight attendant had said, C11. When the other passenger and I reach C11, the flight that was there was for St. Louis! Oh no! So, we rushed to a monitor and saw that our gate was C17. We finally got there...and they hadn't started boarding yet. What a relief. Then, we started waiting...and waiting...7:30...7:40...7:45...What was going on? A lot of flights then seemed delayed. We started boarding around 7:50. By the time they finished putting the luggage in the plane, left the gate and took off, it was 8:45 pm! A full 45 minutes late! Thankfully the flight between Dallas and Austin is only half an hour. The only bad thing about that flight was that the guy sitting at the window in my row opened the AC vent...and it was freakin' cold! He sort of fell asleep and I closed a little...just enough so it doesn't hit me...

We made it to Austin at 9:15. I was starving. Got out of the plane, got my bags and then, I went to eat at Boston Market. I just love that place. I had eaten two times when I was in Rhode Island and now. Very yummy food! I was happy. So, it was a nice ending for my long day...

Oh! And one more thing about my long day...My traveling caterpillar pillow...I forgot it at my parent's house...

What a long day yesterday...As you read from my blog, I didn't get much sleep. I ended up sleeping for an hour though. I then went to the airport. It was quite full. My big luggage passed the weight limit, so I had to pay an extra $25 to check it in. I also had too many carry-ons. I had to sneak in my pursue so they won't make me check in my carry-on as well.

I got to the gate and they were asking people if they wanted to catch a later flight because it was overbooked. I couldn't do it, because then I would miss my flight to PR and that was the last one for the day.

I didn't fall asleep fast because I was waiting for food to be served (I hadn't eaten breakfast yet). I'm glad I didn't fall asleep. I was able to take an awesome picture of Mt. Rainier. I also took one of Mt. Rainier with Mt. Helens in the background.

I got to Atlanta where things started getting a little sucky. There was this kid pulling the antennas of pillow catepillar. GGRRR, darn kid. The second flight was also full, so there I had to check in my carry-on. I was worried though. I had there the gifts and my gamecube. I sort of tied the zipper and I'm glad to say it worked. It got delayed for an hour...

I couldn't sleep on the second ride also. The lights were on...too many kids...

I finally made it to PR. I don't know what it is, but there is something about seeing the twinkling lights in the distance that gets you excited. We landed and made it out of the plane. When I get to baggage claim, it was a mess. Nobody knew which was our belt, there were some luggages from another flight in the middle of the baggage claim...It was nasty.

I finally discovered which was my belt and started seeing the luggages come out. The kid from Atlanta was in front of me, being an annoying thing. The big luggage finally came out. Now, I just need the carry-on. I didn't see it. The amount of luggage left to come out was finishing...I started getting worried. That was the important luggage. But surely enough, it came out...and then I was able to finally get home...

And that I did...and here I am now...

Looks like I'm going to be traveling a lot this holiday season. I shall be traveling to Puerto Rico, Austin, El Paso and then finally back to Seattle.

It is going to be a busy vacation.