Ahhh, vacation

Tonight is the last night of my vacation. We left last Sunday for Shreveport, LA. We spent 3 nights at Boomtown Casino, and then returned Wednesday night. Horrible place to try to diet, believe me! Buffets are the main fare. I tried to be good, but indulged myself each night with a decadent dessert.

Thursday morning, I flew to Cincinnati, OH to visit my daughter and 3 year old grandson. He got sick the day after I got there and was just miserable the rest of the visit. It was nice to see my daughter, but my time with my grandson is so limited, that I feel pretty bummed out about it.

I returned last night and after my week of being off program...I was only up .6 of a pound. Total lost now: 21 lbs! :)

But, what follows is what I'll forever refer to as the "ice cream story".

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There's this ice cream maker in Ohio....some of you may have heard of them...they're called Graeter's (read about their French Pot method of making ice cream). I swear, it's the best ice cream I've ever eaten and they have Black Raspberry Chip....which is raspberry with huge chunks of chocolate it in. I fell in love with it the first time I visted Ohio and make a point of having some whenever I'm there. Scott had his first taste last July when we went up there for our honeymoon, and he's likewise addicted to it.

Now, you can buy Graeter's online and they will ship it to you, but 6 pints will cost you $90 (I notice that's up $20 from last year!). Ain't no way I'm paying $15 for a pint of ice cream, unless there's a bar of gold in the middle of it ;)

So, as I tell Scott yesterday that we were getting ready to leave for the airport, he says "stop and get some ice cream to bring home!" Hm...ok, sounds like a plan. I have Kristi call American Airlines to be sure that's not a problem, while I'm on the phone with Graeter's placing the order. AA says "No problem". Great. I buy 6 pints, they put it in a styrofoam container and pack it with dry ice...$30.30. Much better :))

I get to the airport and the ticket agent says "there will be an additional $40 charge to bring dry ice on the plane". HUH?? I tell her that we had called and nobody said anything about paying to take the dry ice. She said "Sorry, I don't make the rules, but if you want to take that ice cream on the plane, you'll either have to pay the $40 or get rid of the dry ice". WHAT?....$70 for ice cream? No way. Oh, and let's not forget how dangerous dry ice is -- unless you PAY them!

It's now 5:30 and my plane is supposed to leave at 6:15...what to do?? Looking around, I spot a bar & grill. I head over there, explain my dilemma to the bartender. He opens the container, dumps the dry ice in one of his sinks, and refills my container with regular ice. I run back over to the ticket counter, the agent checks it for me, and gives her nod of approval. I borrow some packing tape from her and reseal my container. Great, I'm good to go. I say to her, "ok, my plane leaves at 6:15, right?" "Oh, I'm sorry...they changed your flight - it now leaves at 7:30." What the hell?? She couldn't have told me that before I dumped the dry ice?? I was so mad, I couldn't say a word. I go back to the bar and sit there until it's time to board.

At 7:00, I head over to security where they have me remove my coat and shoes, and send them through the x-ray machine. Purse next...and wait a minute...

"What's in this box?"
"Ice cream." I respond. "See, the top says "Graeters"?"
"Ma'am, you can't take this package back there with dry ice in it."

*sigh*

I explain the whole process to them and they joke that they'll have to confiscate the package, but eventually let me through with it.

As I'm sitting there waiting for my boarding call (including three gate changes), I get the thought that the belly of the plane is freezing cold...I'll do a "valet check" of the box. I get it tagged - time to get on the plane. I walk down the boarding ramp and set the package in the valet area and start to walk away. A girl I had been talking with and who was behind me taps me on the shoulder and says "trouble!" Crap, what now??

The gal loading the valet bags is having an absolute fit. She's screaming into her walkie-talkie "Ticket desk, someone up there better answer me!! Ain't no way I'm loading this dry ice onto my plane!!" I start explaining the saga to her and she flat out doesn't care - that ice cream is NOT going on her plane. Finally, an airline employee, who was traveling as a regular citizen, and who I had chatted with earlier, pops up and shows his badge and tells her that HE had me dump the dry ice and replace it with regular ice and that HE had personally checked it, and that it was fine. Grumbling, she allowed it....I thanked him profusely.

Instead of getting home at 7:30, we landed at 9:30, then an hour drive home...I was nearly panicking but didn't dare break the seal on that ice cream. We finally arrive home at 10:30 and I head straight to the sink and thank God, everything was fine. The ice cream pints were a little soft, but not melted...WHEW. But being that late, and being so exhausted...I never even opened a pint to eat some!