airports

bring out the worst in me. Especially when people get territorial over seats in the waiting areas. Or take up 2 seats with their stuff at a crowded gate.

Yesterday, I spent 14 solid hours in airports and planes. Just getting from Iowa to New York, via Chicago. In theory, I should be able to whip out my laptop, connect to the airport wifi, get work done, as I sit around waiting for the 5th postponement of my flight. In practice, I ping-pong between:

I should walk, move my body – because I’ll be on a plane soon.
I should eat something – because we may be stuck on the runway for an hour.
I should browse the magazine shop, because that’s where I do my pop culture sampling.
I should return calls – who can I call in what time zones right now?
I should guzzle more water – I haven't drunk the 8 oz per hour of flying that I'm supposed to.

I’m so tired.

I hate airports.

I must be crazy to make my career in a field where travel is integral.

Here’s the other thing I hate about airports. I become the consumer I detest. Now that they confiscate water at security, I have to buy obscenely priced plastic bottles of it. With endless delays and cancellations, I always run out of fresh food, so I have to buy processed airport dreck in layers of toxic packaging.

OK - end of airport rant.