Monday, August 09, 2004
Visit 2 - Days 12 and 13 - Of Patch Panels and Flights Home
Wanted to give everyone a heads up on what happened Friday and how my trip home went.
Friday was a great day to remind me why I am a theologian and not a) an accountant b) a computer engineer or c) anything that requires physical labour.
I literally spent the entire day working alongside the Dead of the College setting up the patch panels for the network in the new library. This involved: 1) stripping wires 2) cutting down wires to go into patch panels 3) poking in four two wire sets of wires into each and every little hole on the patch panel 4) tying down all the wires so they don?t elope with one another and go and make new networks 5) lather, rinse and repeat.
Wow, I would love to tell you this was thrilling work. Imagine, hot humid day, wearing pants, shirt, and bright (hot) work vest, standing on hard concrete floors, bending over in a little space, using a little tool to punch down wires, all while experience intestinal duress ? Yes, it beats EuroDisney, but it certainly did not change my calling to be a theologian.
Finally wrapped up that wonderful experience at 530, and decided it was time to get serious about packing, praying, and getting setup to try and come home five days early. First thing, needed to take back a book to the main library downtown. So, caught the 42 (there was some wonderful examples of what people do on the bus to stretch the imagination when the phrase ?public display of affection? is used). Rode on down, hoped off the bus and walked to the library. It was closed?and there was no late-night drop box. Apparently they never conceived that someone would want to return a book to a non-human object. Strange?so, it was time to get back on the bus (and this time it was a true ?party bus? ? with all the Friday night revelers, most already drunk, and a tour of Chinese tourists ? now that was a mix). Took the bus all the way down to the train platform in Didsbury. Good thing ? there were going to be no Saturday morning trains. Oh boy?so, walked back to the college, grovelled, and was able to line up a ride for Saturday. That taken care of, a little more packing and then off to bed.
Saturday was stressful at the start. What if there were no seats? What if it was going to cost me hundreds of $ to try and go home? But?I wanted to see Tan and the kids, and I was done with Manchester. So, up at 4am (9pm CS time), finished the packing dilemma (which meant moving stuff from one bag to the next) and was all loaded at 730 and on my way to the airport. Nice talk with the man who takes students back and forth to the airport for the college (a West Virginian living at the college), and then drop off at Terminal 1. Walk up to the BMI ticket agents, put on my best basset hound face, and said, ?Need to go home early ? family emergency.? ?What kind of emergency?? ?My kids are sick of me being gone.? Smile, and ?Lets see what we can get done.? BMI has my loyalty for life?no charge except for a single ticket change (not one for both airlines), moved me to the front of the economy section ? Emergancy Exit Road, and got my veggie meal on the plane. Big smiles and the joy of knowing I was going home, I went into the line, checked by two ton bags, and then headed to the terminal. There is a joy I cannot tell you about when you have been gone a long time (this is about 5 weeks since mid June) and you know you get to go home and don?t have to leave for a while. I was floating, literally floating all the way to the terminal. Oh, and another BMI plus ? they have their own private scurity screening area for their international passengers?no lines, no ?take off your shoes?, no ?pull out your laptop. I love BMI!!!!
Three hours to kill in the airport?time to pick up a few gifts (book for Tan, and the like). A last minute half pint of Strongbow, and a little breakfast. Loaded on the plane at 10:30, and realized that I had an entire area in front of my aisle seat to relax, stand up, and the like. My seat mate, a 22 year old from NewCastle who is going to be starting a Phd in economic in London this fall, was fascinating. We talked and talked. Why economics makes no sense. Why America is not the bad guy. Why we both wanted to watch LadyKillers on the view screen (bad language, funny movie). Showed me a whale out the window near Greenland. Great trip. Disappointed in Shrek II, overjoyed by the ice cream and the cabin steward from Chicago who says, ?I love America?it?s the best country.? Well, seven hours later, we land in Chicago (rough landing). The steward told me last week they had to abort takeoff in Chicago because of wreckage on the runway, forcing them to take off straight up like a rocket ship and then?land in Milwaukee (talk about dieing and not going to heaven). Was glad that I didn?t have to endure that.
Through the immigration control (the agent wondered why I was so happy ? told him ? Laughed and waved me through). Picked up my bags, through Customs, up the walkways, to the main terminals at O?Hare, stop by tCBY and on to my plane. At this point, I was perma smile man. I was going home. Only 2.5 hours away. Delayed getting out, but the pilot clearly had 6 pm dinner reservations in Denver, so he floored it all the way to DIA. That is when it got bumpy. Big thunderstorm. Bouncy, Bouncy, Bouncy?.well, you get the feeling. But not even nature?s own ?Shock and Awe? campaign against our plane could wipe the smile off my face. The wheels touch down. They ask us to wait so a few people can make their plane. I tell everyone around me to ?sit it? ? after the to trip on the 26th, I was committed to keeping the traffic down to allow those folks to make their flight. It worked!!!
Off the plane, to the bathroom (not toilet), on the trains, to the baggage area?And there were my kids and wonderful wife!!!!!!
I didn?t even care that it took 45 minutes to get my bags (stress was not on the docket). So, I am hope, resting up (back to work Tuesday). Great time in the UK, prosperous, focused, and efficient. But it is great to be home 
Manchester • Summer 2004 • (96) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
