Thursday
I woke up half an hour later than I should have. Things you should know about me by now, I am usually late and I hate waking up in the morning. So although I wasn’t surprised I was already running late, I was relieved that I still had enough time to get myself to the airport. I’ve never taken myself to the airport before so that in itself was quite exciting. Fact number 72 about me is that I’m not good at making decisions. This had the knock on effect of me having a huge suitcase for a four day trip. I couldn’t decide what to pack, I like having options, so instead of picking between two t-shirts (or indeed four) I took both (them all).
Anyway I got to the airport, parked the car in the apparently one remaining car park space which took 10 minutes to find. It was conveniently located at the furthest corner from the airport. Asheville airport is not the kind of size that requires a shuttle bus so I trundled my supersized case to the terminal. I checked in without problem and made my way to the security. The security staff were perhaps the friendliest I have ever come across and at the other end when I was putting on my shoes again one of made sure I knew where I was going.
‘Northwest to Detroit? Do you know the way?’
I thought I did well to muster all the strength within me and not say:
'To Detroit? I think actually flying the plane might be a more immediate problem than finding Detroit from the skies!’
Instead I got out:
‘To the gate?’
So not only is Asheville airport the kind of size that it does not require a shuttle bus, but it is also the size of airport when you really have to wonder why they bothered to number the gates. Left and right would have done. Hence my surprise that the security man was asking me did I know where to go. Think a smaller version of City and you’re there. Actually, although I’ve never been there, probably more along the lines of Eglinton. Although Asheville does have its very own Subway (sandwich shop, definitely no need for an underground system) and I’d bet good money Eglinton does not have that.
I’ve always liked Northwest as an airline. I think it must be from Autumn Soul Tour and our 23 flights in three weeks with them. I think we all knew the safety procedure blurb off by heart ‘please place your own mask on before helping that of a child’. Although I knew the iPod purchase was going to happen, I took along my CD player for one last hurrah, so I sat back and listened to music and read. When the stewardess came with drinks I was delighted to receive a full size can of Pepsi! Yes!
Megann’s dad picked me up from the airport. I haven’t seen him since 2002 after TOM and I was a bit worried I wouldn’t recognise him. I discovered on the drive out to Megann’s that he too was worried he wouldn’t recognise me. Megann told him to look out for a tall girl. He said, and I quote ‘you were the tallest girl in airport, your head was nearly hitting the ceiling so I knew it was you’!
Megann was babysitting so I helped her. Clark(e?) and Amelia are perhaps the cutest children ever! Clark(e?) was just a baby when I was last there, and Amelia was but a twinkle in her daddy’s eye. I have photos of them, but I don’t want to put them on because of child protection and all that. But here’s one that should be ok.
Clark(e?)’s cute feet. Little toes!
When we were done there we went out to Megann’s apartment. It was just a quick stop as we had some serious shopping to get done.
First stop: Catching Fireflies . A lovely, magical shop where a lot of money could easily be spent.
We then went to the Navy of Old where I bought a few tops. Well, it’d be rude not to!
Third stop: The Mall with the Apple Store. As I was trying to decide between the 60gb and 30gb, a very helpful assistant came over and upon seeing me holding the two sizes said ‘the 60 will hold twice as much as the 30’. For the second time that day I held by tongue. I wanted to say ‘No shit Sherlock! Tell me, do you have to go through special training to work here?!’ but instead nodded. She turned away allowing Megann and I to laugh at her.
So I bought an iPod but you already know that. You also know that I got my ears pierced. I don’t really know why I suddenly decided to get them done but I doubt I would have without Megann’s enthusiasm. I was quite glad of her, she helped Britany, the 17 year old who was doing it make sure the marks were straight. Before me there was a little 8 year old girl getting hers done. She cried a little bit afterwards. I did not. Ha!
Friday
Michigan, being in the Artic circle, meant it was cold enough for skiing. Yay! So Friday morning, Megann, Yo (Megann’s room mate) and I headed to the slopes for day’s skiing. We were actually some of the few who were skiing, it seemed everyone was snowboarding. Having mastered skiing, it really is a wonder to me why anyone would want to start again and fall their way down a mountain.
Falls on the slopes: 0! Yes!
Falls resulting from the chair lift: 2 (including one major incident where the chair lift had to be stopped. Oh die!)
The first fall can be blamed on Megann. She stuck out her poles as we were getting off, leaving me nowhere else to go but the ground. But the 'incident'? Somehow I managed to get myself ahead of Megann and Yo and had a chair lift coming ever closer behind me. Indecision was my big mistake, I tried to get back to them but couldn’t. But neither could I actually get on the chair lift. I had dropped one of my poles which further added to the confusion. The attendant guy apparently thought was on the chair lift and so didn’t stop the lift. That is until I was further up the hill, lying on the ground to avoid getting hit by the chair as it swung overhead. He then thought it best to stop it. Thanks mate! He asked why I didn’t stay on the chair? Em…how about because I wasn’t actually on the chair lift? It wasn’t like I sat on the lift, and then decided to get off again! Needless to say I did not rush back to that particular chair lift.
On Friday night, the two old ladies that we were, sat in and watched videos with a Chinese takeaway. Yummy.
I'll stop here and tell you about Saturday and Sunday tomorrow. Don't worry, I'm sure it'll be shorter!
3 comments:
Well you know safety first!!
Have you ever been to Ryanair's Paris airport? Otherwise known as Paris (Marquee). It's like landing on a dual carriageway and walking into Castlewellan Holiday Week (youth marquee).
Not even the main marquee?! Still, at least it wasn't the 12-14s marquee eh?!
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