Key West page 2 right side

Journaling: Our adventure to Key West started waaayyyyyy before dawn for us when our shuttle car picked us up at 2am for the hour drive to MSP. He dropped us off at the front door and we went in to prepare for our 5:20 flight. Now I am the worst flyer in the world, and every brain cell disappears when I enter an airport. This year I felt more comfortable with our TSA pre-boarding number and the fact that we'd done this last year. This year was especially exciting because we decided to extend our 10-day vacay with Cousin Tommy and stay at a resort for another 2 weeks after that. Our flight took off on time and the upgrade to Comfort+ was worth every penny it took to get that extra legroom. When we got to Atlanta, we traversed the walk under the landing strips to the other side of the airport where the departure gates were. It was a smooth flight to Key West, until it wasn't. We'd been tailing a storm and unfortunately, we caught up with it just outside of Key West. The airport there is small and the runways short, they had just gotten a bunch of rain and had crazy crosswinds. Not too big a deal, since I was picking out familiar spots, until I wasn't. The plane didn't touch down but instead went into 'space shuttle takeoff mode' and as the engines roared, we did a steep climb. They'd aborted the landing at the last minute because of the wind and rain. Did I mention I’m a nervous flyer? We circled around and came back in for another attempt, and we replayed the scene. The pilot came on and said we were being diverted to Fort Meyers for refueling. I think they burned a 'couple' extra gallons of fuel. Fort Meyers was a half-hour flight and we landed there with no problems. I think it threw a big monkey wrench into the airport's plan for the day when at least 3 more flights were diverted there. They had us deplane so we could get something to eat and use the "facilities", which just happened to be the same time that half of the women's bathroom was closed for cleaning, so yes, the ladies got to stand in a block long line just like we do most places. We were there about an hour or so and then we reboarded our plane and headed to Key West for another try. I do believe I heard cheering from the airport when we left so they could recover from their mucked-up schedule. There were a LOT of happy campers on the plane, that’s for sure. Yaayyyyy no more shuttle launches, and we landed in Key West where we promptly mucked up their small airport’s schedule. Hubs did tell me I managed it all very well, but I’m still not crazy about flying. It was 28 degrees when we left Minnesota and 78 when we landed in Key West. Paradise and LOVEly accommodations for our first 10 days. I liked flying a whole lot more then.
That night we went to A+B Lobster House for supper. We started with calamari and an incredible beet salad with a type of goat cheese I’ve never had before drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. Living in Minnesota my entire life, I’ve never understood the big deal with lobster. It’s a blob dipped in butter, and it tastes like butter. OMG, fresh out of the ocean lobster is like Mardi Gras for the taste buds. Holey moley who knew it was sweet and wonderful and didn’t need butter? Ah yes, and then there was the “mar-tooni”. What’s Mardi Gras without a couple of “mar-toonis”?

Those sea creatures are adorable and the food looks delicious (even though I don't eat seafood). I love how you captured all of the details from your trip. I always try to journal each night while I am on a trip to remember all of the small details.

Oh dear, that flight sounds horrific. Space shuttle take off, no. I mean NO! But you handled it all w your usual aplomb and humor. (Rewarded by lobster, martoonis, and all.) And even better... actual scrapping comences!! YAY! The whimsical sea crtiters hawking their votes reflect your sense of humor most delightfully. Now, you're making me crave lobster. We only get tiny frozen lobster tails here. (unless you know the secret dive spots, and our lobsters have no claws.) sigh

Wow...you're blowing my mind here...you can SCRAP, lady!!! I adore that bottom of the sea collage with extra points for not adding Sponge Bob.
Marvelous tale of OMG airplane scary-campfire stuff. Of course, I am made of sterner stuff..no need for the airport Ladies room...not with easy pull-down panties and a barf bag on the plane.
Just saying.

I love pages with lots of journaling.
The crabs and lobster holding signs makes me giggle and I just love whimsy like this.