I Left My Self In San Francisco

It's Tuesday morning.  You might think I'd be home from San Francisco by now.

But you would be wrong.

I'm supposed to be home, but a bizarre set of airport delays straight out of The Twilight Zone grounded us for another night.  Sleeping on the floor at our gate was a very real possibility for a while.  Finally, the airline agreed to put us in a hotel, thanks in large part to Melanie's willingness to use The Look.  (And, may I say, hooray for Southwest for doing the right thing, although--and you might want to step back so I can yell this--PERHAPS AN EVEN BETTER SOLUTION WOULD BE TO AVOID TWO-AND-A-HALF-HOUR BAGGAGE-CHECK LINES IN THE FIRST PLACE.)

There.  I feel better.  (Actually, as long as I'm shouting, may I send a GIANT SHOUT OF PROFOUND GRATEFULNESS TO MY MOTHER, WHO IS RESCUING US FROM THE CHILDCARE EMERGENCY.)

Now I'm done.

This morning, at the crack o' dawn, we woke up and headed back to the aiport for another go at this deal, and mercifully, we made it out.  (Although, interestingly, it has turned out that plane crashes and earthquakes have not been my enemies on this trip--it turns out I should have been fearing menacing, plan-altering FOG).  I'm writing now from the Phoenix airport, where we will be spending many hours today happily enjoying the (free! free! everybody cheer for Phoenix!) internet access.

Since I have so much time to kill, I thought I'd upload a few of my photos from yesterday.

Here are several of the now empty shampoo bottles from our hotel.  I am not kidding, no matter what kind of souvenir I bought for my daughter, this will be the thing she is the most excited I brought home.  Her little collection of random plastic containers is surely taking over our house:

We did a little window shopping.  This colorful display came from a little shop that sells only Swiss chocolates.  I'm thinking that might be a very fine place to work:

Look at these pretty little soaps:

The entrance to Chinatown:

I think this was the most colorful place I've ever been in my life:

A kite store, which is what my children would've wanted as a souvenir from Chinatown, although instead they're getting chopsticks, because I am a big spender like that:

Signing out for now, with sincere hopes that this evening will find me cuddled on my couch at home with my peeps.

Comments

[Midwest Mommy]

Great pics! Sorry about all of the delays. That really stinks!!!

[Alli ~Mrs. Fussypants]

Wow! So sorry for your hassles, Babe!

My boys would totally love those cute little shampoo bottles, too. LOL!

<3, Alli

[Amy Beth @ Ministry So Fabulous!]

I love the free wi-fi in that airport! Soooo great, especially since I was stuck there for awhile once. :)

Can't wait for you to get back! And could you please send me some of those little bottles? Thanks.

[Judy]

Hope you make it home soon - your Chinatown pics are awesome!

[Ronnica]

I loved Chinatown when I was in SF a few weeks ago!

[Melessa]

I've been following your saga since it began, I can't believe you aren't home yet! I'll keep my fingers crossed and my parayer lines open until you are.

[Donnetta (momrn2)]

It sounds like you bring home the same types of souvenir's that I look for. :-)

Trusting the rest of your trip is less eventful and goes smoothly!!

[Susan (5 Minutes for Mom)]

Shannon, I am sooooo sorry to hear how long it is taking you to get home... How frustrating!

Aren't delays caused by ill-managed check-in lines THE most annoying reason for delayed flights. When my family was coming back from Italy last year, the long line, staffed by only two check-in clerks, threw off our entire trip home and it took us 22 hours to get home. (They also lost our stroller, which really improved my 22 hour journey as a 5 month pregnant mother of an exhausted and fussy 2 year old.)

We had a delay of a few hours getting out of San Francisco because of the fog, but we did get home before bedtime -- thankfully!

It was so fantastic meeting you and hanging out at BlogHer. I do hope you get home soon so that the memories of the conference won't be permanently plagued by the memories of your journey home.

[Sarah @ Short Stop]

Hooray for free internet access. It gets me happy dancing whenever I find it somewhere.

The bottles: My 3 year-old boy would love those, too. Of course, he'd be trapping bugs and slugs and other random creatures in them, but they trump just about any other toy.

Welcome (almost) home!

[Cecily]

Fabulous pictures.

I love the plastic bottles. I collected tiny plastic boxes of various colors when I was about 8. It was all the rage. I still love little boxes and containers.

[LifeatTheCircus]

You poor thing!! Hope your day passes quickly and you are soon home with your family!! I am sure you are VERY eager to see them again!

[Shealynn Benner]

Yes for Phoenix!! I live here! ;)

[Shealynn Benner]

Oh, and you know what? Traveling sucks sometimes! Sorry to hear about all those crazy delays! I hate when that happens.

[Shealynn Benner]

Oh, and you know what? Traveling sucks sometimes! Sorry to hear about all those crazy delays! I hate when that happens.

[Shealynn Benner]

Oh, and you know what? Traveling sucks sometimes! Sorry to hear about all those crazy delays! I hate when that happens.

[Shealynn Benner]

Oh, and you know what? Traveling sucks sometimes! Sorry to hear about all those crazy delays! I hate when that happens.

[Shealynn Benner]

Oh, and you know what? Traveling sucks sometimes! Sorry to hear about all those crazy delays! I hate when that happens.

[Kelley @ O2BNAZ]

Yes, yea for Phoenix! Terminal 4 rocks. ;)

[Rachel]

Love your pics, sorry about the delays! Hope you make it home soon!

[Octamom]

Great pics! So glad that you're a few clicks closer to home. Love the 'bottle' collection--we have a trial size hoarder around here who has definitely found Nirvana in her daddy's frequent travels!

Tossing up a wish and a prayer for you here that you are back to your cuddlin' spot soon!
Blessings!

[Adventures In Babywearing]

Those photos ARE so colorful! I am so sorry for your delay, and hope you are home by now!

Steph

[Helen]

Your pictures make me want to go there!!!

Truthfully, held up in an airport...BY MY SELF!!! sounds like heaven!!! Am I wrong to think like that?!?!?!

[Mel @ A Box of Chocolates]

Aren't airports and airliners the greatest?? I cannot believe that you are just returning. At least you got to enjoy your free internet access. Hope you get home safe and sound sometime this week :-) The pictures are so bright and colorful. Thanks for sharing.

[Mrs. Pear]

Sigh, CA and fog go together like, well, nothing else.

I am so sorry.

Praying that the rest of your trip home goes better!

[Pastormac's Ann]

Saying a prayer right now that you'll be home with your peeps by bedtime. Sorry your trip home turned out to be such a bummer.

[Cheri]

Yikes...but I'm glad your going to be home...soon.

I am TOTALLY inspired by your shot of the cathedral in Chinatown. I'm thinking that in B&W would be fantastic for my boys rooms.

[Jenny in Ca]

oh my, I really feel for you. At least you have internet...

I have to say that nothing says "friendly skies" like being patted down in a German airport...and being happy about it, because at least you are not stuck in a 3 hour line in Heathrow.... I decided LAX is not such a bad place.

I pray you get home soon!

[Marcy Massura-The Glamorous Life]

Be safe. Be sane.
Travel is the true test of a woman's character...especially when plans go awry...

[xmarks]

for my family going to San Fran was a wonderful experience. Leaving San Fran was even better.

[Cutie Booty Cakes]

Sorry to hear about your delays. Sometimes traveling can be a beeotch!

[Megan]

You could have driven from SF to Phoenix in less time. Telling you stuff you already know?? Okay, okay, have a safe rest-of-your-trip.

[Shara]

I hope you get home soon!! Love the pics!

[Lizz @ Yes, and So is My Heart]

Oh, I do hope you'll be with your peeps very soon. I enjoyed those photos. Oh, and I get the little container thing, my daughter, who will be four in Nov., loves 'em.

[Jana (sidetrack'd)]

Hope your home now! Flight delays (or cancellations) and long layovers are torture!

[Desiree Rutter]

I've been hearing some yucky stuff coming from airport terminals lately with a few of my flying friends. I will pray that you will make it home safely and as quickly as possible to your little bambinos!!

[Sarah]

I love the pictures!

This is off topic, but I have for some unknown reason connected the title of your blog with the song Knights in White Satin, and every time I go to your site I sing Rocks in My Dryer to the tune of Knights in White Satin. It is very annoying.

[threeundertwo]

Travel is so exciting and glamorous, isn't it?

[Brandi]

Goodness, you were so close to me!!! Did you feel the Phoenix heat?

[jackie @ where the boys are]

Love the colorful pictures! hope you are home in the arms of your loved ones soon.

[Lisa]

I love Chinatown. I love all of the colors and most of the smell. The rush is intoxicating. I love the huge tubs of the bright gold fish for sale. Thanks for sharing your photos. Here's to hoping you make it home tonight.

[Muthering Heights]

At least the window shopping was fun...

[CC]

I love SF Chinatown!

and I HATE the lines at all the bay area airports! I arrive 3 hours before my flight so I don't miss it!

[dana]

I missed Chinatown. Too many things to do and so little time. I'm considering a trip back with my husband, just to tour the neighborhoods I didn't get to see.

Sorry to hear you had to sleep on the floor of the airport. I did as well, due to a four hour layover in Minneapolis. It sucked. The floors are darn cold, lemme tell ya!

[Kim N]

Okay, that chocolate shop had to be Teuschers Chocolate. Oh. My. Goodness. There used to be one in Seattle right by my work and it was my weakness and my regular indulgence. The champagne truffles are HEAVENLY! I am so sad they closed the shop here...although, I am much better off financially because of it. I even blogged about them a few months ago.

[Linda]

I always wanted to buy kites like that for the kids many years ago. Not sure if I did it in the end or not. I don't think so.

My uncle took me to the China Town in Melbourne as a teenager and bought me a couple of things I treasure still. I loved your photo of China Town. My husband loved San Francisco.

Here is our china town:
http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/481163.html

[Elizabeth]

Find soaps like that at Handmade in Fayetteville. Chopsticks rock!! I'm convinced that they are the reason that the Japanese have such very beautiful handwriting. We use chopsticks almost every day at our house. We also now take our shoes off before entering the house. Do you know how much vacuuming time that saves? :-)

[Kelly]

Good gravy, those pictures make me actually want to go to San Francisco - a place I have never desired to go. Add to that the desire to attend a BlogHer conference and I believe I'm ready to hit the road. Next year of course.

Thanks for sharing!