More on that in a minute. Up until very recently, I had a wonderful day in Oklahoma, awoke with the birds (and the early morning compulsive gamblers), hopped in my car and drove north on I-75 to check out Frank Lloyd Wright's only high-rise building, the Price Tower, up in Bartlesville.
Just around the corner, I had a delicious breakfast at a diner called Weeze's, on S. Dewey Avenue, where I recommend the scrambled eggs and hash browns with hot peppers, and came back for my book signing at Borders, where my old Ink Slinger pals turned out. Heather brought me two delicious pounds of turkey jerky from Texas, and I got to talk to a lot of great folks about books, writing and all things literary.
And, oh yeah, I'm not going home tonight.
I don't know...O'Hare looked fine to me yesterday when I was flying through it. But today, after I returned my rental car and got the ticket desk, I was informed that my flight home was cancelled, and so I'm spending another night here, this time as a guest of the Airport Radisson. It's not quite as swank as the Cherokee Casino, and I can hear the distant roar of jets taking off outside my window, along with the sound of the guy next door occasionally sneezing. I'm getting it at a "distressed traveller discount," which is semi-appropriate, since I already know I'm wearing tomorrow's underwear, today. If that's not distress, what is?
There's an exit strategy, though. United Airlines most direct way of getting me back to Pennsylvania tomorrow is to put me on a 6:50 AM flight to Denver, where I'll have a three hour layover, after which I'll fly back to O'Hare (assuming it's not still closed), where I'll have a two-hour layover, after which I should arrive back to my family and home in PA tomorrow night, only about twenty-four hours late.
Meanwhile, I'll be here kicking it old school in room 117 of the Radisson, if, you know, you want to drop by.
5 comments:
ouch! that sucks, Joe. Chicago's put a dent in my travel plans on a few occasions as well.
I hope you make it home this evening without further delay.
Hey Joe--
So sorry to hear you were stuck here last night. I wish I had checked the blog sooner. Alan and I would have taken you out for some Mexican food at Ted's. Homemade tortillas and fresh sopapillas--does it get any better?
Thanks so much for coming. You are amazing and inspired me to keep writing. I appreciate all the recommendations and the advice. I hope you can make it out here again some day. I will put in an advanced request with the sun to make sure he's present during your stay. 75 degrees in January. Gotta love Oklahoma.
Dude! The Radisson.
Do you have a sleep number bed? Lindsay Wagner is a liar; those beds are backaches with ticking.
That's the convention hotel for Conestoga in July, as part of the Fangs, Fur and Fey minicon. I'm already planning for chiropractor visits.
Maybe you can entertain yourself with multiple viewings of Brookhaven Obesity Clinic on TLC, that shit is disturbing.
Happy Trails.
I'm home, and many thanks to Heather, Travis and Mark for having me out. It was a great time, and my kids LOVE the turkey jerky. Hopefully I'll get back your way again. I love OK.
Mark, yes, I now have a sleep number. Judging from the way I felt in the morning, it is 666.
Oof! Too bad we have bad luck in being in the same place at the same time. A day later, I was back in Denver - and we coulda had lattes together in the airport! Ah well: This weekend will be our fantastic reunion!! sister m
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