Planes, Planes, and a Taxi

I went to Memphis for work last week. Essentially every plane I took was delayed, causing me to miss a connecting flights. The way out to Memphis wasn't too bad. I had a great time meeting everyone I work with out there. I learned the meaning of Southern Hospitality. Its definitely a different culture from the one I'm used to.

My observations of the city...
There is a church, and I mean a MASSIVE church on every corner. Probably a Baptist one to boot. This is so weird for me. The rental car I got actually had Christian stations programmed in. So this is what they mean when they mention the Bible Belt!

I was the minority in many places I went, which is a new experience for me. Not a bad thing, just different.

I've never been called Ma'am so many times!

The city seems to reflect the blues music it is home to. Dark and a little dingy with some sad undertones. Its hard to explain. I'm sure someone out there loves this city, but I didn't see those places I guess. When I asked for suggestions on where to go I was told to be careful and not to go places at night. In a parking garage when telling someone we were tourists the lady said we should keep our purses close! Is this all you have to say about your city? Kinda sad. Everyone I work with lives outside of Memphis, and they said the crime is high and local government corrupt. Needless to say it was hard to find places to visit. No we didn't go to Graceland (its expensive)!

I did enjoy seeing Stan and Nicole who came over to visit. It was so fun just to spend time with them and catch up. We took a trip down to see the Peabody hotel and the ducks that live in the Penthouse, and then over to Beale Street (famous blues street). I think Stan's going to load some pic's from our wanderings. We went to the Brooks Museum because there was a massive storm moving in and we wanted to stay inside. Musuem's are seriously one of my favorite things. So peaceful, and I love art of all kinds. I saw this beautiful girl there (William-Adolphe Bouguereau, Au Pied de la Falaise -At the Foot of the Cliff). Don't you just love her? She's amazing in person. It almost makes what happened next worth while. Almost...

When I went to the airport on Saturday to catch my flight out the weather was already pretty bad and a tornado watch was on. I was just praying I'd get out. I got there early just to make sure I got on my flight. When I checked in it was already delayed so much that I'd miss my flight to Portland in Minneapolis (the last for the night). No other options either, because I checked with 4 different agents. So I just decided to wait it out. I had to get a hotel in Minneapolis for the night. It wasn't the end of the world since my company would pay for it. Yeah for travel on the corporate card!

Then my flight continued to delay (4 hours total), because the weather was so bad in Minneapolis. So I didn't get into Minneapolis until 1 in the morning! Which was a 1/2 hour past when the hotel shuttle stopped running of course. So I go to get a taxi, for which there was a line 20 deep waiting. I have no winter clothes of course, and so I'm glad I just happened to pack my fleece. I finally get in and my driver barely makes it through the snow to the hotel. Where I get to sleep for a whopping 4 hours before waking up to try and make it to the airport and hopefully home. Of course I was again delayed and in the end I got to Portland about 22 hours after the time I arrived at the Memphis airport.

INSANE!! I'm okay not travelling again on planes for a very long time.