Planes, Bras, and Automobiles

-Day One-

The clock read 4 a.m, my alarm was set to go off in exactly 15 minutes. I rolled over, expecting to lie there motionless until my alarm jolted me awake (since that was how most of the night had went so far). However, in those few brief minutes I fell into a deep trance. Dreamland as I like to call it. At 4:14, one minute before my set alarm, I was awoken by my brother- much to my chagrin. Well you would be upset too if you were about to make out with George Clooney just seconds before. Now I lay there more in a state of shock than anything. It all had happened so quickly. One moment I was staring into the gorgeous face of George, the next I was staring into the dark bedroom with the realization that I was about to get on a plane and head home from my week long trip in Plano, Texas.

I love visiting Plano. There is really no other way to put it. So, needless to say, I was a bit miffed to have to pack up and leave. Especially at such a time. I had no choice though. I threw on my clothes and headed downstairs. Next thing I remember, is being in the car. Before I knew what had hit me I was there. Had it really been a week since I had last been at the airport? Really?

The thing with stand-by tickets- if the plane fills up, you lose your seat first. (foreshadow much?)
Our set flight was as follows- Dallas to El Paso (switch planes) to Las Vegas.
The guy who got us the tickets (a wonder, amazing, generous man) informed me it would be best to try and get onto the flight that went first to San Antonio, because we had a better chance. However I overheard the desk clerk say that flight was over booked. Back to the El Paso gate we go. As I approach the desk to turn in our stand-by passes for boarding passes, the first thing the woman shares with me, in the peppiest 6 a.m. voice ever, "Oooo, Hope this flights boards before the big storm rolls in, that doesn't look good. How can I help you?"
I got our boarding passes alright, along with a stomach full of butterflies. (I don't mind flying, I do mind the level of turbulence though. And if it was a storm we'd be flying into, one can only expect heavy turbulence.)
My brother's attempts at trying to keep me calm (if you call, "calm down" a solid attempt) weren't working. The butterflies continued to flap away at my innards.
I was waiting for either the delay notice or the signal to start boarding. Finally we board. Sitting on the plane the sun begins to fully rise, but it still remains dark out. No turning back now. I took a few deep breaths and said to myself, "Emily, this is no big deal, pilots know what they are doing. Think of it as a few little bumps in an old country road (courtesy of a Nanny Episode) or the Michigan roadways (courtesy of a recent visit to the motor city).... that all makes sense, except for this one teeny, tiny, minuscule tid-bit of info- there is no ground, we are going to be in mid-air....how can there be 'bumps in the road' if there is no road?" I wasn't helping myself anymore, and now we were taxi-ing.
the tradition in my family is to cross pinkys with whomever we are traveling with. My brother grew out of that tradition though. The trek to Dallas I was in a pinky lock with myself. As I was, once again, locking my pinkys together, he turns to me and plainly says, "Do you want me to be a good brother or a bad brother?"
"Good"
"Fine," and he held out his pinky. I was shocked but found comfort in this. Everything was going to be fine.
About two minutes after leaving the ground he shakes his pinky loose complaining of a loss of circulation (I just draped my pinky over his, how that caused his entire side of his hand to seize up, I do not know). I immediately crossed my pinkys together, we weren't out of the clouds yet.
Most of the hour long flight into El Paso was pretty bumpy, after the first fifteen minutes it became more tolerable and I continued to read my book.

Finally a clear skied El Paso. In exchange for the good weather though, we got to sit in the airport for an extra two hours to wait for a flight that could fit us in.
Finally we board. One more stop in Phoenix (we don't even need to get off the plane) and then Vegas- Home sweet Home, right?

More like, "Whose-bright-idea-was-it-to-get-a-convertible-in-the-bloody-desert"
that's right, mom bought the 2001 Sebring she's had her eye on. (She's been looking for one ever since the one she had years ago was totaled). When we had the old Sebring, my siblings and I were much smaller and could fit in the back seat of the two door sardine can just fine. Nowadays, it isn't quite as luxurious. It was hot, cramped and it doesn't help that I am a tad more claustrophobic now than when I was younger. the thirty minute drive home was just lovely.

The only good thing about mom getting a new car, it re-opened the discussion of getting Emily a car for school. Well, it cracked the window open. I'm still trying to find the door. Basically, I am getting one. Whether it is by the time I go to school or more closer to Thanksgiving is the debate. That and what kind of car to get. It will be used of course (I have no problem as long as it works)...and I get a budget of 3000. (I spent most of the afternoon on craigslist)

Being home is nice though. There's no other place like it on Earth...or beyond. There are times when I am convinced we are from some far-off planet somewhere.

Then I realized it. I have a bra fetish.
Now before your mind gets to wandering.... No one sees them except me, but still I don't like boring plain old bras. My bras need to be more than support, I need personality too. Kind of like a good man- Good looking, supportive and with a distinctive personality. If only I had as many choices in guys as I do bras.

Tomorrow's Forecast:
Shopping with mom and sister. Redecorating the guest room (my room?). Oh and the DMV. Fun. Fun. Fun.

I love Target though. They have really great bras!

Bon Appetit.
Emily