Travel

Considering how often I travel, it was inevitable that things such as this were bound to happen to me. However, one would expect that these things would probably be spread out over a larger time frame than, "all in the same trip".
First of all, let me do my childish lament about losing my Platinum Status in January. Because of the way certain trips have fallen, not all of them have been of the sort to give me more Frequent Flyer Miles. Sadly...come January, I will be reverted back to a more "common" status. I know I should NOT complain, as I have been very, very blessed in my life, especially when it comes to being able to see the world. However, when you get pampered for a long time...it is hard to let go.
Ok...lamenting aside. Let's get to the adventure.

So I am back in Texas, and happy to be here. But let's back track a bit to Saturday, as I was getting ready for this trip. Because it was such an early morning flight, the shuttle was scheduled to pick me up between 4:30 AM and 5:00 AM. They have been known to show up earlier, so I figured, rather than chance missing them, (especially with Day Light Savings starting up), I would just stay awake all night. It is a common practice that I have started doing, just so I can sleep on the plane.
So I stay up...finish packing...read...work on an expense report...and finally, just sit and stare at the wall until 4:31. At this point I get a phone call from the shuttle company. They cheerily inform me that the shuttle driver has locked his keys in his car and is unable to pick me up. However, the 5:30 AM shuttle should be able to get me to the airport on time.
That will be fine.
So I wait around another hour and 15 minutes until the shuttle finally arrives. Hooray!
Fortunately, this driver had a lead foot and we got to the airport with 51 minutes before my flight is supposed to take off. The airline does not allow anyone to check in after 45 before the flight. I checked in with 47 minutes to go. Now to security!
Being a seasoned traveler, I have security line processes down to an art form. I can have everything ready and get through the check points without slowing down the line.
However, as I walked through the metal detector and saw my fellow traveler just beyond the barriers, one of the TSA agents stepped forward and informed me that I had been selected for a random screening and pat down.
Greeeeaat.
So they pick up my backpack, shoes and coat and escort me to the side of security and begin to wipe down my belongings with their super-special explosive checking cloths. These cloths are then ran through a machine that tells if any chemicals that MAY be explosive are found.
They also get to do a pretty intrusive pat-down to yours truly.
Things were running along swimmingly...I consented to the search as I had nothing to hide, and I could see my buddy a few yards away just laughing it up. The TSA agents were very friendly, and I honestly think they were more uncomfortable than I was.
So we start finishing up, my belongings checked out clean, and the pat down had just completed. The final step was swabbing the gloves that were used for the pat down, and seeing if any chemicals were found there.
The security guys were thanking me for my cooperation and willingness to work with them...and then the alarms went off.
Everyone froze and a supervisor was motioned to come over. I was told that SOMETHING from my pat down had set off the explosive chemical alarm. There was going to be another pat down...this time, even more intrusive. And it would be conducted in a private screening room, (instead of the public setting in which I found myself).
So once again I was escorted aside and taken into The Room. Now this search was not the horrific, "Welcome To Prison" type search you may be imagining. But regardless, the security agents were very, very nervous. A new set of gloves was pulled out and the pat down began. I think in some of the bad parts of Vegas, you would have to pay for the services that I got for free.
Finally, the tests were ran again on the gloves...and this time they came back clean. I have no idea how I would have explained myself to my bosses if I ended up on a No-Fly list. Fortunately, I had nothing to worry about.
It was at this point that I was allowed to put my shoes back on, grab my bag and run as quickly as I could to our gate that was already boarding. My buddy laughed and pointed at me the entire run. But we made our flight.
Of course I didn't sleep the entire time, and when we arrived in Denver...I tried to nap during our layover.
Once we got to Oklahoma we were able to get our rental car and drive into Shamrock, TX...which is where I am now.

Yahoo! And Thank You TSA...for all your hard, and uncomfortable work!