In The End - (this isn’t the lyrics to Linkin Park’s rock (but really pop) song.

On Thursday, I flew out for my first gig on my tour to the east coast.  Now I consider myself to have had many experiences - I’ve kinda done a lot with the X amount of years (yeah, like I’m gonna tell you how old I am.  Pssshhh) I’ve been on this planet, stealing its wonderful resources.  But on Thursday, August 18th, 2011 I had THE WORST traveling experience.  EVER.  Here’s what went down:

1.  Get to the airport an hour and half early only to be notified that my flight has been delayed.  For two hours.

2.  Kiosk only prints one ticket - I need to pick up my connecting flight boarding pass when I get to Phoenix (why?).

3.  Wait not two hours, but three.

4.  Start experiencing SEVERE turbulence…plane starts to descend to land when we get caught in a sandstorm.  I only remember a few things in my green-about-to-throw-up-‘cause-this-turbulence-is-making-me-sick haze:  Looking out the window, huge tan cloud, rocky descent, oh my god, there’s the ground, plane stops and quickly ascends, pilot, “I’m sorry folks, but we had to abort landing because it was too dangerous…”

5.  Still about to hack.  The plane circles around the sandstorm for another 45 minutes.  I think I’m going to hack on the poor Aussie next to me.

6.  Finally land.  Three and a half hours late.  Rush to stand in line to print my boarding pass at the gate.  Almost miss plane.

7.  Walk straight to Avis to get my car…but no ones there, because they closed and didn’t wait for any of their clients.

8.  Try Hertz, Alamo and National (all of whom WAITED for their delayed clients) and all the cars are sold out.

9.  Wait for three hours at the airport until 6am when Avis opens.  Finally get my car.

10.  Drive an hour and a half to my hotel.

11.  Hotel’s booked - I have to wait until 10am to check in.

Despite my 36 hour run of no sleep, when I got to my gig, the kids were amazing - and made my trip well worth the while.  And despite all of that…because of them…I’d do it all over again.  And I will!

The End.