sid_9169

Somebody has to stand up to these bullies... That's the reason they are bullies, because they always get away with it. They just picked the wrong guy to mess with today. I may not be a physically imposing guy, but I DO have a "look" about me that says "maybe shouldn't mess with this one"... It sucks that things have to be that way in this day and age, but I'm a Libra, and I believe in fairness, and I'm willing to fight for it when pressed...

I had already predicted there was a good chance this was going to happen, then it happened... That African mask that I so carefully had packed and wedged into my backpack got me flagged in the TSA line. I have pre check, so I'm considered a "trusted traveler", but maybe they've never seen WOOD before on the scanner... I insisted that if he was going to search my bag that he'd have to put on a new clean pair of gloves. Of course, he didn't like that, but I didn't care, as I knew my stuff was "clean"... I also told him to be very careful, as the item costed me a lot of money, and I didn't want this bozo to break it. By the way, if you ever want to get on the bad side of a TSA agent, do that... Anyhoo, they took it out, and he went over to show it to his supervisor and I was on my way. I also requested that he let ME put it back in my bag, because I was already lucky he didn't break it anyway. I paid wayyy too much, and have dragged that thing wayyy too far to have it messed up by some government functionary... Anyhoo, I'm at my gate two hours early... It's going to be another one of those long days, and I don't want to eat airport food, and I have to take another shower when I get home...

..

I'm just going to hang out and watch the cars go by for awhile. I don't even have a gate assignment yet.

In case anyone is keeping track of the number of fights I've almost been in, so far it's up to 2... Another "line incident" here at the airport. I was in the line to check my bag, and was getting pretty close to the front. A "lady" in front of me was on the phone with someone, and I had already predicted what was about to happen. Finally, the "lady" waves to her "gentleman" friend, and next thing you know he comes up and removes the rope that designates the line, and helps himself in front of me and the hundred others who've been patiently waiting. Of course, I don't stand for "that" stuff, so I said "look, this isn't happening, y'all are going to have to at least get behind me, but it's also not fair to ALL these other people"... Of course the "gentleman" gets all angry and starts yelling at me. I just stood there and let him say his piece, and then I walked in front of both of them... Not happening buddy, not today...

The taxis down here all stink, but I've found it difficult to locate Uber drivers at the port with all the traffic... Easiest way to go if you don't mind the smell...

Tradition...

I was waiting on the taxi line, and a guy and his girlfriend / wife / whatever comes up and just sort of stands beside me for a minute, then eventually in front of me... I said "hey buddy, the end of the line is wayyy back there"... He gets all huffy and puffy, but at the end of the day, there was no way I was letting him in. The people around me in line cheered as he stomped away all mad, and still cursing me.

...

Smells like wacky tabakky out here.

And, just like that, it was over...

They're going around now urging people to leave...

Until we meet again, Alchemy Bar... Still a massive line down there.

I decided that I just couldn't hold it anymore. Well, I could have, but I didn't want to... I found an honest looking family and asked if they'd watch my stuff for a minute... Last visit to the full Monty bathroom on deck 7 near the Festivale Restaurant.

Megan and Roscoe are already at the airport, and here I am just hanging out waiting for my turn... Still a good size line down there.

I don't have a single 1 dollar bill left, so I guess I'm going to have to round up to the nearest $5 for the cab fare...

Still just sitting here waiting for the insanity to wind down to a trickle... Still a whole lot of people milling around. My only concern now is if I have to use the restroom. No way I can carry all this stuff in THERE...