Good Morning Calgary - I mean, Toronto!

I could not believe my eyes when I awoke for the first time in the night and it was almost 7:00am!! I am typically up to bathroom and stirring in the bed a fair bit. Not last night ... even though it was a bit warm in our 12th floor room, I slept clear through the night from 9:30pm. It's interesting to notice how exhausting emotional stress can be to the nervous system.

I was still thanking our lucky stars for Vicki from WestJet who kept her eye open for us! Our only other option would have been to pack up in the morning and take the shuttle to the airport and hang around ... double checking availability with the WestJet staffers. It did not sound like the best way to spend our day. We are still spending the majority of the day at the airport - check out was extended to noon but ... we don't fly out until 10:15pm tonight.

I figured I should book a room in Calgary ... but ... I was almost scared to do so. It's funny how a few unexpected cancellations rock your faith in the system. I did finally book a room and we headed to the airport at noon. It took us 10 switch backs through the security line (almost an hour) before we were safely on the other side of the scanners. It was one of the few times I didn't have to plant my feet on the feet and raise my arms so I could get scanned myself. In never ceases to amaze me how different the policies are for each and every airport. I feel like a newbie every time we go through security. Shoes on, shoes off. Fluid bags outside your hand luggage, fluid bags left inside. My tablet out or my tablet can stay in. My necklace off or can leave it on. One just never knows. It all just adds to the sense of uncertainty we feel going through those long lines.

We always feel relieved once we have made it to the other side. Today, we were in no rush. I happened to notice some advertising on a pillar that said Vino Volo ... great wines and gourmet food. We were in the mood for wine so off we went. We came upon a Subway enroute ... and ... my salivary glands got excited! It has been far too long since I enjoyed a nice 6" maplewood bacon and ham with lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, onion, jalapenos, pickles, chipotle sauce and a bit of house sauce on the veggies. I told the old boy I wish we were eating at Subway.

As it turned out ... my wish came true. We got to the wine restaurant and they had no food service. We ordered a wine and, with their permission, enjoyed it with our Subway sandwich!! It felt like a sublime turn of luck! Our footlong lunch cost less than one glass of wine. It wasn't terribly busy so we sipped slowly and had a game of clever to pass the time. I proof read this to the old boy and he wanted to know where his win was mentioned. I guess I forgot. ;-)

We have been so grateful for our 'clever' matches over our holidays. It just never gets old for us. I expect we will have a few more games today as we try to kill six more hours before we can begin boarding!!! How come time goes so slow when you are 'waiting' for something but seems to whiz by when you are having fun??

After about the first five hours of sitting in the airport, I decided I needed to move so went for a walk. I noticed a WestJet customer service desk and had the instinct to go ask if we could get on one of the three other flights I could see leaving for Calgary before ours at 10:15pm. I ignored that still small voice. I didn't want to upset the apple cart. I walked some more ... passed them again ... and was almost back to our little cocoon at Vino Volo when I felt that inner niggling again. So, I turned and went back. What could it hurt to ask!?

It turned out that they could get us on the flight leaving at 7:00pm. They had to split us up into middle seats but we would be home almost 4 hours earlier! I had to make the decision right away. I called the old boy to let him know what I was doing. He gave it the thumbs up. We only had about 45 minutes to get more Subway to take for supper on the plane and get to our gate!

We were thrilled with the idea of arriving by 9:00pm instead of 1:00am. It was a FULL flight so they asked for volunteers to check carry-on bags. The old boy decided to do so because there is not much room under the seat in the middle seat for his hand luggage. I started second guessing our decision when we they had trouble getting the gate planks retracted from the plance. And then there was de-icing. We were still on the tarmack at 7:45pm ... ultimately ... we left an hour late. And then ... when we landed they had to tow us in due to the position of the gate. So, we waited for the grounds crew. And then, we ended up waiting for over 30 minutes for the old boy's bag in baggage claim. And then ... we waited for the hotel shuttle.

By the time we got settled into our room ... we had only picked up one hour ... but we were still grateful to be in Calgary. Now ... with the extreme cold warning ... we are crossing our fingers that our car will start! I'll pop another quick note here when we get home!Read more