So flying back up north from SC was a little chaotic. And I'm going to tell you about it. Never in a million years did I ever think that I would be someone that had hilarious stories that were always really entertaining and outrageous. I was always jealous of those people that seemed to have a great story every time you saw them. But after marrying Hunky Husband, he seemed to liven my life a little and put me in situations where I always seem to come out of it with a chaotic story. So heres to you Hunky Husband for giving my life that extra "umph".

I was all alone on this adventure because H.H. had to fly back early for work. He left Sunday night after Christmas and I left Tues. Totally cool, the only problem was that I was flying back to NYC but I really needed to be flying into Philly. When we booked the tickets, we didn't know where we would be residing at the time so had to guess what city we would be living closer to. I was wrong in choosing NYC.

Therefore being the strong, confident, college-educated, independent woman I fool myself into thinking I am, I thought not problem. I can do this. 1 over-stuffed piece of luggage, 2 heavy carry-ons, and 1 large winter coat in all. Ladies we can do this!


I was trying to get from this city


to this city

No Problem. Strong. Confident. College-educated. Independent.

For starters, landing in La Guardia was a horrific experience in itself. It was one of the windiest days NY had seen since time began. no joke. I was literally being jostled back and forth in my seat as the plane was "trying" to land. People were bracing left and right, and I was thinking I was about to meet Jesus. I swear the mask's were about to pop down and I was going to have to help my elderly neighbor. But the pilots thankfully landed that puppy and I practically ran off the plane. I think I saw a bead of sweat on the pilots forehead as I swiftly de-boarded.

So now that I had landed by the skin of my teeth, I needed to get to Philidelphia. Ok. got it. Go get luggage. Got it. Now, as you might know La Guardia is located on the out skirts of NY. There is no subway that goes directly into the city. You have to take a bus. The Q33 that is. I was not going to mess this up so I took every opportunity to ask those kind Public Transportation desk people that I needed to get to Philly. "Take the Q33 to Astoria and 94th. Get off and take the 7 train into Times Square. From there the get a bus ride to Philly." Yes sir, Right-O! Lets just first concentrate on getting on the Q33.

Ok so I wait outside in the 20 degree winter and finally get on the Q33. It was $2.25 to ride. I asked some girl and made sure I was ready. I didn't want to make a fool of myself. New Yorkers always know what their doing. Fit in. Conform. Check. So me and my little, well very large, luggage are riding along and have to get off on the last stop. The friendly Public Transport guy gave me a map (which I quickly concealed in my purse). Ok here it comes, I get off at Astoria and 94th. As the bus pulls away, I pray that there is a metro station around the corner. Saawweeet! there it was! Ok so I lug me and my belongings up about 40 stairs to buy a pass and get on the train to Times Square. The 7 train. very important. Imagine me trying to get me and my luggage through one of those turn-styles things all at the same time. very, very amusing. Ok. Up more stairs, and now I have to wait for my train. Ok cool. I've made it this far.

So crowd begins to get a little thick as I see the 7 train coming. It stops, and as you can imagine a stampede begins to happen and I begin running from door to door looking for about 36 sq. in. that I can fit me and my luggage in. Come-on people, SQUEEZE! feewww, I made it. I had quite a long ride into center city and the train thinned out as we got closer. It was quite a relaxing ride. But of course. something always happens. I was standing and leaning against the doors, enjoying the ride in. I was holding onto my luggage which had both carry-ons stacked on top of it. All of a sudden the train took a little turn to the right. Yep. BOOM! I took an immediate fall to the floor. My luggage started to fall over and the momentum just took me with it! BOOM! Immediately this man grabbed my hand and pulled me off the floor, this other guy grabbed my luggage and started asking if I was alright, and this other guy was like 'would you like to sit down mam?'. No kind people of NY, I am fine! Strong, confident, college-educated, independent. Just went out with window. I believe I turned a bright shade of red. Not only did stick out like a sore thumb because I didn't get the memo about wearing black. everyone wears black. black jackets, black luggage, black sunglasses. everything. Me not so much. Blazing red hair, cute brown London Fog luggage, large cream and pink jacket. The whole nine yards. Then I decide to make more of a scene and face-plant on the subway. It wasn't even in the slightest graceful. darnit.

Ok so after that ordeal, Times Square better get here, and fast! I finally get off the train and the kind man that helped me after my 'ordeal' let me go infront of him on the escalator in case I had any more problems. At this point I really didn't know where I was going. I knew there was a bus station somewhere near but WHERE!?? Fewww, nice cop lady that I can ask the every daunting question "How do I get to Philly?" ok hun, your going to go up that ramp and at the end of it, take a right and go up the stairs through the doors, then your going to take a left and go straight till you see the sign for bus station, then go down the escalator and you'll see a sign of how to buy a ticket. right-o thank you lady cop mam. So i first just concentrated on getting up the ramp thing, then I would ask someone again. lady cop mam was not that helpful and the directions were a little to long winded for my ADD brain. Ok so I find a man cop sir this time and ask how to get a bus to Philly and they gavr me a lot easier directions and told me that I had the most beautiful eyes they had ever seen. I was strong, confident, college-educated, independent woman again. Thank you man cop sir.

So I proceed to find the bus station and I see that its not the Bolt bus station I was told by H.H. to ride on, but it was the infamous Greyhound. Uhh ohh. Oh well, I've come this far. Got to ride it. I buy my ticket and go wait at door #68 for the bus to Philly. A line had already formed and I thought I was in the right one. wrong. As the nice bus driver began to check tickets, i noticed the end of the line was waaaaaayyy down there. uhh ohh again. I sprinted to the real line. All this time I had already noticed a few sketchy men that I did not, could not, would not sit next to. I had already asked Jesus to protect me from that and didn't think about it again. So I present my ticket and hopped on the bus. Whoa this bus is pretty full. whoa this bus is reallllly full. People...I was the last person let on that bus to Philly. Not only was I the last person on that bus but the last seat on the bus was at the very very back next to the bathroom. yep. and guess who I sat next to. yep. that very sketchy man that I prayed God would protect me from. Just play dead right? right. I said hey, sat down, and closed my eyes. it worked. He fell asleep about 5 min into the ride. I fooled him! HA! Greyhound turned out to be pretty nice. Supposedly they are trying to revamp thier buses because of heat and competition from other companies. It was a pretty smooth and comfortable 2 hour ride.

I arrive at the bus station and find that H.H. is not there but at a different Greyhound station across the city. But don't worry people...this is where the story ends. I just had to wait about 10 more minutes and then I was in his arms.

All in all, I survived with my strong, confident, college-educated, independent dignity intact. BUT I told H.H. that next time, he was just going to have to take a vacation day and come pick me up from the airport.

The End.