Hanging in Vancouver Airport - Day 2

Disclaimer: I can NOT stop the paragraphs from running together. Drives me NUTS as I like things organized! LOL!! So you will have to put up with it. Sorry!

Hello all!! It was wonderful to wake up this morning and find comments. Please keep them coming. They are fuel to my writing. It makes it rewarding!

I woke early this morning - right before the wake up call. Like I told Ray, if you read Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, you will understand that we are different people. And a sensible man will learn what his wife is like and work with it. There was this guy that knew what his wife was like, so when they travelled he would always bring a book. He would then sit quietly in a chair in the corner of the hotel room, reading, while she did the 'inspection'. Invariably, she would find something she didn't like and they would end up in a new room. The man was smart - he did not go against the tide. *grin*

I told this to Ray to illustrate that when I travel I have 'methods'. They work wonderfully for me. It would be wise not to go against the flow. But... I married a rebel. Yes, he has come a long way home *grin*, but he still has a tiny flair of rebel. Quiet little rebel. *smile*

So my method is get up quietly, keep them all sleeping, shower, dress, makeup, pack up bags, pile them up, THEN get up the boys and one by one, no chaos, no help needed they get ready to go, and we quietly, calmly leave the room with our luggage cart of 16 bags, plus cameras and head to the diningroom for breakfast, and then smoothly catch the shuttle to the airport.

But no. The *rebel* *grin* has to do 'his morning routine*. He has to have his breakfast first, then come back to the room, get the luggage, brush his teeth, and then go downstairs again. I tell him - when you do that you are a pebble in my well oiled machine. You will throw the works off the track! That way *something* will get left behind. But, no, he has 'his ways'. After breakfast, as my obedient sons wore their backpacks and carried their hand luggage (so that mum could see at a glance that we weren't missing anything) Daddy left to go back upstairs to do his business. They grinned and shook their heads. LOL!! Course, Mr. Easy, had a little laugh at me cause I had to do it 'my way'. But hey, when you know you have methods that are smooth and simple, you stick with them! LOL!

So, after a quick breakfast, that I certainly couldn't eat. How on earth could those gluttons eat food! I was too nervous about all the tickets, passports, baggage that I had to worry about! I laugh at them and tell them it is cause they are all on 'holiday'. LOL!! *I* am the trip planner, instituter, organizer etc. Oh well, once we are on the flights then I can relax.

Since we are carrying nearly $10,000 in $100 bills - new, not creased or wrinkled, and no earlier than 2003 (grin) - we decided to split up the money. I told the boys that with my Type A personality I would have been more comfortable being the only one responsible. If I had put an envelope of money in each bag I would be constantly swinging my head and counting bags to be sure noone lost a hand luggage! Well, we decided that Ray would wear the money belt with half the money and I would keep the rest in my very obvious red hand luggage.

So here is Ray with his....

Thong? That's what he said. Actually, it is a money belt!

Once we got to the airport, it was a very smooth transition. We found the Air Canada check- in and I saw this nice lady at the desk. I was hoping for her, since she seemed so nice. Then we got the other lady. I prayed she would be easy. We got up their and I had my papers ready. I heard she had an accent and I recognized it. So I zeroed in on it. "Are you South African?" Yes, she said, all sweet and friendly. She then asked about our bags and how many we had. She was surprised we had so many. I was quick to tell her, as I always am, that they were filled with donations and we were heading to Ethiopia to bring home our adopted daughters and help with a new orphanage.

She was 'oh so thrilled and impressed' with it all. I showed her the girls' picture and she oohed and ahhed over it. As she was chatting with me, I was putting the bags on the scale - one by one - and each and everyone was under 21kg! Praise God!! Even the last bag that Ray had duct taped shut!

After she had wished us well with great smiles and real pleasure, we moved on through. Dane looks at me and shakes his head, typical Dane style. He laughs at me cause I had held up the line. But as I said to Dane - people love hearing about our girls and the new orphanage. It gives people hope and inspires others! I have had nothing but pure joy from other people. And you don't know whose heart you are going to change by sharing!

Once we got through there, we headed to security. I have to tell you, it was way easier than in our small home town!! Probably because of their bomb scare and Dane's attempt at smuggling a knife through (joke).

They did come up to us after we had taken the two pictures and ask us not to take any more pictures due to security reasons. No problem; I already had what I needed *grin*.

From here we headed leisurely down to our gate. On the way I saw a Star Bucks and in honour of my dear friend, Renee, (hugs), I bought myself a special coffee. *grin* You can travel on my coffee cup and in my heart, Renee. *smile*

Oh, and I should mention, we brought Mr. Hollywood, himself, with us!

Sunglasses? We are in an airport! Celebrities today!

The first thing I did was find a working plug for my laptop. Do you know how many plugs don't work in an airport? Did I feel silly sitting under the water fountain writing my blog? No! I felt smart, while all those other people looked really bored!

Poor Ray. He Should Have a Blog!

(Look at his face, doesn't he look bored! *grin*)

My Tech Savvy Son with His Smuggled Mini Lap Top.

He's plugged into the phone booth!! LOL!! We are smart people. The time at the airport flew by because of modern technology! Now I can only hope that I can post nearly as good as this in Ethiopia!! As long as my dear friend, Denise, is up for a couple hours work each night, I should be able to forward her the pictures with my email and she will be able to upload the blog. Please, Denise? *Grin*

Well, I better sign off. It is now 7:06 and they will be calling us soon for our 7:30 loading. Please drop the comments and I will be sure to do my best to reward your kindness! *big smile* Seriously!