As I think I mentioned in my last post, I had another steroid epidural treatment on Wednesday before leaving for NJ and while I had high hopes it would solve the intermittent lower back pain I've been having, it was a complete 'fail'. Not only did it not fix the intermittent pain, I am now in chronic pain unless sitting upright, completely still. UGH! I head back to the doctor on Wednesday for a new MRI to see if we can figure out what is going on and (fingers crossed) fix it. (Interesting side note: I have also acquired a terrible twitch in my right eyelid since the injection. I know the doctor will tell me it is unrelated, but it's too coincidental to NOT be related.)
Due to the chronic back pain, I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to last on the bar crawl. I was able to make it to the first bar, Triumph Brewery, but after 1 drink and about an hour of visiting, I decided it would be best for me to skip the rest of the evening. I didn't want to use up all of my energy on the night before the main event. The vow renewal ceremony didn't start until 4:00 on Sunday, so I had time to go for a walk in the morning. I've been trying anything that might help loosen up my back and relieve the pain. I went about 2 miles in 90 degree heat before the pain became more than I could manage. It was back to the hotel to lie down for a bit. UGH!
I grabbed a sandwich at a local deli before heading over to Unionville Vineyards on Sunday. It was really hot and threatening to rain, but the weather held and Kim and Pierce had a bright sunshiny day for the vow renewal and reception. It was really lovely and certainly seemed that the 2 families melded well. Congratulations, Kim and Pierce!
The newlyweds post-ceremony
Sal, Aunt Lois, Kim and Pierce
My brother and Nichole took my rental car back to Newark Airport on Sunday night so they could catch the last flight out to Boston and my parents and I spent the night in Princeton. After a quick breakfast, we packed up and headed to the airport. I was booked on the 3:45 pm flight to Atlanta, but was hoping to catch an earlier flight on standby. Here's where the day gets interesting...
I was told that all flights to Atlanta from Newark were oversold by at least 8 seats that day and there was no way I was going to get on an earlier flight, but given my Medallion status and history of good luck I asked to be placed on the standby list for the next flight. Thinking there was no chance of getting on the flight, I went to a restaurant to grab lunch. When I finished my salad and started to walk back to the gate area, I heard my name being called on the overhead speaker. When I walked up to gate 44 the agent told me I had been cleared and could take seat 13D. I literally couldn't believe it, but smiled and boarded the 1:00 flight. Approximately 10 minutes after boarding there was a ruckus in the back of the plane and a gentleman walked back to the front holding his ticket, complaining about his seat. The next thing I know, the gate agent is standing next to me telling me I have to get off the plane! WHAT?!? Apparently, the gentleman making all the noise was assigned a seat that was broken and unable to be sat in for the flight. It was explained to me that since I was the last standby passenger cleared, they needed me to give up my seat and allow him to take it. Okay. I couldn't be too upset given the circumstances, but I was certainly going demand that I be put on the 2:15 flight since I had an actual ticket from the 1:00 flight. Delta had other plans.
The ticket I had from the 1:00 flight (that I was booted off of) was useless. It held no special entitlement to get me on the 2:15 flight and that flight was even more oversold than the 1:00 flight has been. So, I sat down and waited. And waited. And waited. Then, at around 2:00 I hear my name on the overhead speaker again. I walked up to gate 46 and the agent told me they could clear me on the flight, but I'd be in a middle seat in the last row of the plane and my luggage had to be checked because all overhead bins were full. At this point, I was only an hour from my original flight and I was confirmed in a first class seat on that flight. I weighed my options and declined the offer. If I had only known what a mistake that was going to be! We boarded the 3:45 flight on time and I happily claimed by first class seat. Shortly after boarding began the pilot announced that all outbound flights to the South and West were on a ground hold and we hadn't been given a new wheels up time. A loud groan roared through the plane. We pulled away from the gate around 4:00 and sat on the ground for over 2 hours before taking off. I walked into my house at 9:07 pm after arriving at Newark Airport at 10:45 am. Day completely lost. Total bummer.
I am in Atlanta for a few days before flying to Cozumel for my final escape before starting my new job on 7/8. There will be a final post before I officially give up the blog! Keep an eye out in about a week...
