I know it has been a long time since I've updated this blog, but the reason is simple. I haven't gone anywhere. I've been home. It has been a nice hiatus. Gina and I are getting to know each other again. :) Unfortunately, Chuck has the Swine Flu. I haven't gone down there much this week. I feel bad for him, except he says he's almost symptom free now. Luckily, it goes away after a couple days.

My vacation is over, however, and I'm off to Trinidad to install a machine. This meant getting up at 2:30 am to leave the house a 3:00 to catch a 6:00 am flight out of BWI to get my connect out of Miami at 10:00. I was very proud of myself this morning. I actually had enough time at BWI to buy a cup of coffee. That doesn't happen very often.

Of course, my good luck wasn't going to last. I boarded my connection in Miami and we were on the runway ready to take off when the pilot decided to bring the plane back to the gate for maintenance. The mechanics decided that we needed to find another plane. All in all, this process took 7 grueling hours. I knew I was in for a long wait when American Airlines started giving out meal vouchers without having to be asked. Usually, it takes a cattle prod to get those things out of their hands.

I also enjoyed the way they reissued us boarding passes for the next flight. That little spot in the left of the photo is the counter. The reason the line is so long is because there was only one man at that counter issuing the boarding passes. I guess this makes sense in American Airlines' little world.

We finally got off the plane in Trinidad at 8:30 this evening. My ordeal wasn't over yet. The immigration authorities are terrified of swine flu. They're wandering around in masks and taking three times longer than is necessary. The illness hasn't hit the island yet and the health authorities want to keep it that way. The stupid little masks seem pointless since viruses are small enough to penetrate right through the filter, but I guess it makes them feel better to wear them. I don't really care.