Tampa to Pittsburg, combined updates

3/5, 1:19 p.m.

At Tampa airport… the security was a bit different here than at Ft. Lauderdale… this time around, I tried to check in curbside, knowing that I’d be a “selectee”, and that they’d have to search my stuff (one way ticket, recently entered the country, etc)… but the lines for curbside checkin were virtually nonexistent, while the lines inside were quite long. So, the skycap dude kindly placed me in the fast line inside, so I was through the whole process in like 25 minutes… They made me consolidate my laptop bag and mini-backpack detachment into one piece, since those two plus my bed roll (which had to detach from the larger portion of the backpack). blah, who gives a shit :)

Anyway, there was some stuff in my suitcase I didn’t want found, but they didn’t open it and search it by hand, as they did in lauderdale… instead it went through a giant xray machine, and as far as I could see, the only indicator the staff had was a big red / green light on top of the device.

My flight should be ready in a bit less than an hour… I hope to be able to stay in the gate area at jfk so I don’t have to go through all the screenings again… I mean, I know it’s for good reason, but I just can’t help but feel a bit un-nerved about it, even though I have no contraband on my person.

2:26 p.m.

On the plane. Flight time is 2 hours and 5 minutes… wee :)

5:17 p.m.

In new york, at jfk. The old coot in front of me on the plane had to recline his seat *all the way*, leaving me with no room to operate the laptop… bastard. I’ve always felt the idea of consuming somebody else’s space for your own comfort is fundamentally flawed – especially on a cramped airplane.

6:12 p.m.

On a smaller plane to Pitsburg. Flight time is 1 hour and 5 minutes… wee :)

11:07 p.m.

At the house now… Everything is pretty much the same as the last time I saw it :) My dog and cat were very happy to see me :) There’s still a second phone line here for ‘net action, so I shall remain in touch with the real world while I’m here in PA. My step dad has hernia surgery tomorrow, but seems just fine. Looking forward also to seeing the grandparents who aren’t far away… and uh… that’s about it :) I shall have plenty of alone time to be introspective, so we’ll see what comes of it I guess…