Cat Lake --- Round 2

So, I know you have all been anxiously awaiting the next installment here...but what can I tell ya... I'm a pretty good procrastinator. However, I have most of the funny stories tucked away in the back of my head, so grab a beer or a coffee...sit back, relax, and enjoy.

I flew out of Windsor this time at 0600 on Tuesday. Now, I've learned this time how to pack, and what to pack. So most of my suitcase was all food. There was no way, no how I was living on Kraft Dinner again this time. Although I did bring a couple of boxes with me.
So at 0430 we got up, blinked twice and stumbled towards the door. I'm not sure who decides what times these planes fly, but they sure aren't very considerate to those of us who cannot stand getting up early.

In the car I wanted my last Tim Hortons of the month, but as famous Amherstburg is starting to turn out to be, no one answered at the bloody 24hr drive thru again. Perhaps they are the same as the Northern Store up here... your every day store, except Sundays. At the airport, sans coffee I checked my bag. Yes that's right, I'm a girl, and yes I only need one bag to go away for 2 weeks. And that included food. What can I say? Low maintenance! There were maybe 6 other people in the airport, and now being a seasoned traveller I don't worry about the security...

Once again, Mr. Murphy thought it would be a beautiful sendoff with a little going away gift. I walked through the metal detectors onto the stupid mat, where the security shemale approached. A "random" search she says... Random? What's random about this? I'm the only one here! Oh fine, it's 5am, get your kicks sweetheart. She was nice enough to give me a play by play as to exactly where her hands were about to travel. Luckily, while in this state of half sleep at 5am, I can't think of any intelligent comments and just stood there hoping if I said less and smiled more it would be over sooner. Once she was done her "search" I went to claim my things....only to be sidetracked again for a "random" swab of my laptop.

Dear Windsor...bite me.

And finally I was in the air. Elastic band plane #1 was set and up in the air. Nothing exciting happens on a plane bound for Toronto at 6am. Absolutely nothing. So I had to be content with watching the lady next to me nod off from time to time. I'm sure she awoke with more than a stiff neck from all the bobbing she did.
At Toronto, the wait was about 2.5hrs. Lots of time to people watch, and I was hoping to run into the fire hydrant equivalent of the midget. No such luck. I did try believe me... So in Toronto I found a bench surrounded by stinky travellers to sit and wait. Now believe me, I love crowded places... just love them. So I was thrilled that the airport came complete with children that were, to say the least, uncontrolleable by their "parents". There were two of these curtain climbers running around me continually. I had my Starbucks and my muffin, and hoped my gruff exterior would scare off these leeches. Again, no such luck. These two stupid midgets in their own right ran over my feet with their pint size luggage, screamed, yelled, ran amuck despite their parents supposed attempts to control them. And then there was the final straw...the little midget with the long blonde hair, that was so closely followed by the other midget with short brown hair, picked up my Starbucks. Seriously folks... And with that little Timmy and his girlfriend got the stare down, and then so did their parents. Luckily, the parents had a secret weapon with them.... thats right, they drugged em. A lil Gravol for you, and a lil Gravol for me... too bad Mama San hadn't thought of the drug before they had arrived to the airport to aide in the wait time, instead the gentle folks flying to Edmonton would marvel at "what little angels" they were... I'm sure of it. I however, boarded the flight to Thunder Bay disgruntled and holding onto my coffee with a death grip.

Thunder Bay International Airport as its called is wonderous. I must thank Mark for the idea of the Noise Reducing head sets for the flight, however, the downside is... I got 3/4 of the way through Alice in Wonderland before the stewardess came around and made me take them off because we were landing. Nice... because I need to hear the crash.

So we landed and I scoured out some food. Pizza Pizza you know, because this will be the last fast food I'll be having in 2 weeks. So I grabbed my Pizza and headed to the bar area. This area has one side full of windows that overlook the runways, so its nice to sit and relax. I didn't notice the commotion going on around me...hell I didn't care about the commotion around me. My thoughts consisted of this... mMMMMmmm Pizzza.....

Now, for those of you who are opposed to me not sticking my nose in when someone is hurt, throwing up, or just generally is being a pain in the butt to someone else, stop reading here. For the rest of you who embrace the real world here ya go.

Then I heard it...and it went exactly like this...

"I don't know.....he's having chest pain...in his heart"
"I found him on the floor...he was breathing funny"
"No, he can talk now, we have him with oxygen"
"A fever? No... A cough? No...Shortness of Breath? No..."
"Ok, the ambulance is coming..."

Now before you all groan... I looked over to briefly survey what on earth was going on at the bar. I also can't see that well from a distance so what it appeared to look like was an old man, with a NRB on who was obviously conscious and alert talking to the people. So I continued with my pizza. This is my favorite part folks of being an observer when EMS shows up.

Mind you, four fire fighters from the airport showed up first to "assess the situation" and then 2 EMS behind, and then 1 supervisor. Dun dun dun DAHHH!!! Cue the gawkers! 4 of them mosey in and sit down at a table beside me. I am a subtle gawker, keeping my ears open to my six and my eyes in front. These 4 moved the chairs and tables to get a front row, straight on viewpoint of the show. I chucked alot...

"OMG, it must be serious"
"He probably had too much to drink"
"Look at that one!"

C'mon Gomer...get out the way. They load this patient on the stretcher and I take one quick look at the guy heading out. Apparently I need my glasses changed... he was younger, and had that greeny Casper look you've seen in the ER that just says, OK you're sick... I believe you. Meh, back to my pizza.

In Thunder Bay, another strange thing happens. You switch times. Not literally, but you might as well throw out any watches, cell phones or anything else that shows you the time on it. You see, there should be a motto for Wasaya Airlines... and that is... "We'll get there when we get there"

My plane left almost 2 hrs late. Which isn't good when you have to catch connecting flights in weird little towns. You see the Snowbirds were in town and we needed to wait for them to land in formation, after completing 2 flyovers with smoke. It was a lovely show, however I wanted to get going, and watching 9 teeeeeeeeny planes taxi into their hangers was not the most fun I've had in an airport.

Then finally....Welcome to Elastic Band plane #2, and #3. This time it wasn't as bumpy thankfully, but the 12yr old and 7yr old who were flying it could have used some lessons on landing. You see, this is the second time I've learned that eating before flying in these prop jobs is a bad idea....must remember Gravol. If only I had stolen some from those ankle biters in Toronto.

So here I am back in Cat. Back in the apartment that overlooks the burm...at least the one with the internet. The cast from the past episode isn't here...this time there are new players. The Wizard and The Hobbit, and I... I am Stump.

Interesting names aren't they?? I thought so too...

We'll leave their story to a future blog...for now...