rats! delays!

First, may I say to Southwest, just schedule the 8:30 Oakland to Denver flight for 8:55 PM since the flight is ALWAYS delayed.

I had an odder than usual "adventure" flying home last night from Oakland. The flight was late, as usual. But there were only 47 of us on the flight (which is funny, because I was A47 so figured I'd be last on the plane but there were some B and C boarding passes - WTF?) We boarded by 8:50 but a baggage truck pulled up around then to load some boxes (assume this is because the flight only had 47 people on it so they had room for extra cargo). I was sitting at a window seat and watched the baggage guys SLOWLY load the boxes. Seriously, it took them 19 minutes (I timed them) to load 30 boxes (I counted them). Then we got out on the runway but had to wait for 3 planes to land.

Also, I had made the mistake of sitting in the "creepy consultant" area of the plane.That's the area where all the middle age guys in suits with expensive watches and little briefcases sit. It is to be avoided at all costs, but I guess I was tired and not thinking. 

The guy sitting in the aisle seat kept trying to offer me drink tickets (as if I've never been on a plane before and would be impressed he had so many drink tickets he would give them away to strangers) while also bragging loudly to his colleague seated across from him and in front of him about some great deal they did. They were high fiving each other and generally being obnoxious. 

And then they complained to the stewardess about the box loading guys, as if she could do anything to make them go faster. And of course they had to flirt with her and ask personal questions. I felt bad for her. 

We finally left the runway after waiting for 3 planes to land (20 minutes) and I put in my headphones and ignored the creepy consultants (I LOVE the this american life phone app) until the creepy consultant sitting in front of me (in a row all to himself) leaned over the back of his seat and said "would you mind if I put my head in your lap?" I gave him my asperger's stare until he sat back down. He moved to the seat in front of me and reclined his chair all the way back. I would have called him an asshole but I'm still working on my Buddhist thing.

We got into Denver at 12:32 am and I ran to the train (they only run every 10 minutes when you fly in after 11:30 pm) to get to the main terminal (you can't walk from C gate, which is where I was). The trains arrive in a hall like area, with a train potentially showing up on either side of the hall. 

A train showed up right away but after I boarded it the lights went out and a computer train voice said "this train is out of service". So I crossed over to the other side of the hall and another train showed up about 2 minutes later. Everyone got on it and then the lights went out again and the voice said "this train is out of service". So we crossed back to the other side of the hall and finally a train showed up and we got to the main terminal. I would add the train was going so slow in the tunnel that all of us in the car started laughing because it seemed like the stupid train was trying to prevent us from ever getting to the main terminal. One guy even said he was going to get out of the train because it would be faster to walk.

To complete this bizarre experience, as I was leaving the parking area I got stuck behind a bunch of construction trucks going 10 miles an hour. They were blocking both lanes. I have NO idea what they were doing besides causing a traffic jam.

Finally got home at 1:45 this morning.