DerekTGreen.com

Last day.

Mike and I headed home today. It was a super fast morning. By 8:30 we were in a taxi (Toyota Tundra of all things) and on our way to the Dominican Republic/Haiti boarder. Normally it would be super busy on a Friday because Fridays are market days. But. The Haitian president called for three days of prayer and fasting (pretty amazing eh?). So we were able to get across the boarder fairly quick.

Here is something new I hadn't experienced. The driver (We trusted this guy and Danita uses him on a normal basis) would take up our passports and walk into Haiti customs (basically a nice shack) to have them stamped. We didn't have to get out of the taxi. It was pretty nice. Same thing happened on the Dominican Repub side. He just walked up to the place, they stamped the passports, and we were off to the races.

Past the boarder we hopped into another taxi. It was a 3 hour drive to Santiago. Roads were decent. I tried to sleep most of the way, but between our angry driver and the blaring radio it got tough. We finally arrived at the airport...

Then our luck went South.

Delayed flight. Supposed to leave at 3:55 but didn't leave till 5:30. 1.5 hours gone. Oh and get this. Not only did my bags get scanned before I checked in...but also when I checked in...and then my carry on was hand checked...THEN I got a full body pat down. This wasn't just me either. EVERYONE went through this.

Ok. So. Our flight left at 5:30 after working with the AA desk Mike and I had a chance at getting home...yeah...not going to happen now. Bet you can't guess were we landed. Nassau. Not Miami. But Nassau. Apparently weather was swooping in and we had to make a U-turn.

So I'm currently typing this from the plane. We have been on this plane since 5:30 and it's now 10:30. We have yet to get refueled and have no idea when we will head back for Miami. I'll update when I get...somewhere? I'm ready to be home. I've been traveling for 14 hours now...and I don't feel like I've made it very far. We have been on the ground for 2.5 hours in Nassau. Waiting. And waiting.

Quote from the capt, "There is basically one guy running this place. And there is only one fuel truck. And he just ran out and has to go fill back up."

Oh! BTW. I hear that Denise is doing good. I can't wait to see her grow up. I'll have some cool pictures and video to show her one day.

UPDATE -
- so we flew out of Nassau at 11:30 and that 30 min flight took 1.5 hours. We flew in circles for an hour. We are now on the ground but customs closed an hour ago.
- We sat for another 30 min at the gate because the gate agent had to walk half a mile to our new terminal since customs wasn't open at the usual one
-Quote from the Capt, "Well folks, I don't know what happened to our gate agent. Maybe he dropped dead on his way over."
- Some people are just rude. When you push around an 80 year old lady to get a spot or two closer to the door...your wrong. Just wrong. And it bugs me when you push me too.

Here! In the states! Now. It's customs. And figuring out the fastest way home. Today. Because it's past midnight.

UPDATE -
- it's now 1am and I'm in an AA line. Need to recheck my luggage and get my flights booked to get home.

UPDATE -
- It's 2am and I have a flight at 8. I'm now in line for dinner with 30 others. I'm starving. I'll be sleeping here at the airport tonight. I'm frustrated that I only get $10 for dinner. If I pass on a hotel I want more food. I might be a little grumpy now. Just a warning.

UPDATE -
- Its 6am and I'm at the gate. We couldn't check our bags in until 4 and couldn't get through security until 6. Mike and I picked a quiet corner to catch some ZZZ's. I pulled out a sweater and used it as a pillow. It wasn't pretty. But. We are at the gate now. Just waiting for our 8am flight to Dallas

UPDATE - HOME! After a delay in Dallas we finally made it home. It's 3pm here in OKC.

The trip that should have lasted 14 hours...took 34...beautiful. And to add to that...I got home with a 101 degree temp...

I must say. It is good to be home! I missed my girls!

-Derek