July 16-20, 2011
Isabella and Ryan and Grandpa and GG are going on a trip to Washington, DC. All week Grandpa has been getting more and more excited. He did his requisite fretting and stewing for several days in advance and finally the departure day arrived. Uncle Don took us to the airport and calmly drove away and that was the last calm moment we had for the morning. Grandpa hustled the four of us into the airport and pushed us through security and rushed us on to Gate 18. Oops, wrong gate. Back we went along the busy corridor until we finally got to Gate 10. There was no attendant there, so Grandpa led us all down the gangplank calling out, “HOLD THAT DOOR! WE'RE. HERE! WE WANT TO GET ON THAT FLIGHT!“
At the door to the plane the attendant was just shutting the door and she turned and scowled at Grandpa, and told him to return to the waiting area. Oh No! Grandpa excitedly explained that we needed to get on that flight, and demanded that she let us on. But, no, she again insisted that we return to the boarding lounge. Grandpa began to argue, but then he got a clue and remembered what happens to passengers who argue with airline personnel--the cops are called and they are thrown in the pokey until they calm down. So grandpa and the rest of us returned to the boarding lounge, as instructed. Later the woman explained to us that the arriving flight was late and had just arrived and she was trying to deboard the passengers. We finally heard our boarding call and got on the plane to settle into our seats for the flight to LA. We all had only carryon luggage--strict orders from Grandpa. Ryan and Isabella were a bit apprehensive about the takeoff, but it was smooth, as was the flight, so their 
worries subsided quickly and they settled in to look out the window at the landscape. The short flight went well and then in LA we caught our long flight to Dulles International Airport and Washington DC. This was a very long flight with no food, just a few beverages, but we had some Subway sandwiches to snack on. Ryan and Isabella watched movies and TV shows for most of the flight and when we finally arrived it was 10:30pm and as hot and muggy as a steam bath. Grandpa was worried about getting the rental car because the agency closed at 11, so he rushed on ahead to catch the shuttle out to the rental lot. Ryan, Isabella and GG made their way through the airport and caught the airport train to the terminal where we were able to get the last shuttle to the rental office. When we got there Grandpa had the car all handled and we put our luggage in the trunk and headed out onto the streets of Maryland, Virginia or DC., we aren’t sure which.
Grandpa brought both Trixie and Maggie, our two GPS guides. We used Maggie because she has a big screen that is easy to see at night, and turned Trixie on to record our drive to our home exchange in Topeka Park. After a few directional misses we made our way into the narrow streets of the residential area and arrived at our house for the next two weeks. It is a two story, traditional house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and comfortable living room, lounge, dining room and kitchen. It is hot, hot, hot and very humid. (102 degrees)
We were starving, so we raided the freezer and came up with some pizza and watermelon. Too hot for the oven, so we nuked the pizza and had a late dinner. After we ate everyone selected their bed for the night.
It was 1:30am by the time we crashed. What a day!
Isabella and Ryan and Grandpa and GG are going on a trip to Washington, DC. All week Grandpa has been getting more and more excited. He did his requisite fretting and stewing for several days in advance and finally the departure day arrived. Uncle Don took us to the airport and calmly drove away and that was the last calm moment we had for the morning. Grandpa hustled the four of us into the airport and pushed us through security and rushed us on to Gate 18. Oops, wrong gate. Back we went along the busy corridor until we finally got to Gate 10. There was no attendant there, so Grandpa led us all down the gangplank calling out, “HOLD THAT DOOR! WE'RE. HERE! WE WANT TO GET ON THAT FLIGHT!“
At the door to the plane the attendant was just shutting the door and she turned and scowled at Grandpa, and told him to return to the waiting area. Oh No! Grandpa excitedly explained that we needed to get on that flight, and demanded that she let us on. But, no, she again insisted that we return to the boarding lounge. Grandpa began to argue, but then he got a clue and remembered what happens to passengers who argue with airline personnel--the cops are called and they are thrown in the pokey until they calm down. So grandpa and the rest of us returned to the boarding lounge, as instructed. Later the woman explained to us that the arriving flight was late and had just arrived and she was trying to deboard the passengers. We finally heard our boarding call and got on the plane to settle into our seats for the flight to LA. We all had only carryon luggage--strict orders from Grandpa. Ryan and Isabella were a bit apprehensive about the takeoff, but it was smooth, as was the flight, so their 
worries subsided quickly and they settled in to look out the window at the landscape. The short flight went well and then in LA we caught our long flight to Dulles International Airport and Washington DC. This was a very long flight with no food, just a few beverages, but we had some Subway sandwiches to snack on. Ryan and Isabella watched movies and TV shows for most of the flight and when we finally arrived it was 10:30pm and as hot and muggy as a steam bath. Grandpa was worried about getting the rental car because the agency closed at 11, so he rushed on ahead to catch the shuttle out to the rental lot. Ryan, Isabella and GG made their way through the airport and caught the airport train to the terminal where we were able to get the last shuttle to the rental office. When we got there Grandpa had the car all handled and we put our luggage in the trunk and headed out onto the streets of Maryland, Virginia or DC., we aren’t sure which. Grandpa brought both Trixie and Maggie, our two GPS guides. We used Maggie because she has a big screen that is easy to see at night, and turned Trixie on to record our drive to our home exchange in Topeka Park. After a few directional misses we made our way into the narrow streets of the residential area and arrived at our house for the next two weeks. It is a two story, traditional house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and comfortable living room, lounge, dining room and kitchen. It is hot, hot, hot and very humid. (102 degrees)
We were starving, so we raided the freezer and came up with some pizza and watermelon. Too hot for the oven, so we nuked the pizza and had a late dinner. After we ate everyone selected their bed for the night.It was 1:30am by the time we crashed. What a day!
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