This trip came about because back in October a customer at work, Press Metal North America, had invited us to join them in their office xmas party in Liberia, Costa Rica. They do this every year at different locations as a “team building” function, and asked my boss if he was interested in joining them and providing a small presentation on the ocean freight industry and how it relates to their company. Bill did not want to go so he asked me if I was interested and said Wendy could join. I jumped at the chance, and Wendy was happy to join also. They covered the cost of our airfare and hotel and meals for the 3 days they were there. Bill offered to pay for a couple extra days so we would stay a little longer. So I had about 6 weeks to jot down some ideas and prepare a short presentation with coaching from Bill. So here we go:
Thursday we had a very early morning wake up, got out of bed at 230 to get ready to leave at 330 for the airport. DL 1598 to Atlanta, a 737-900, was a 0615 departure. Aside from a little fog, traffic was no problem and we got there earlier than expected. So we checked our bag and got thru security fairly quickly. They gave us a red card and sent us to the “fast” lane not having to remove our shoes or jackets. Less people in line and I didn’t have to remove the new slip on shoes I just got! Don’t know why but they set us up with TSA Precheck for the whole trip.
We didn’t have breakfast before we left, it was too early, and we had an hour and a half until the flight so we got some coffee and snacks and sat for a bite to eat. I brought two muffins and two apples with me. As we sat there, I suddenly remembered I left my little tablet back at security, had just walked away from it. TSA had removed it from my pack, not me, and once I got my laptop in hand I completely forgot about it. So I hoofed it back and they found it for me. But I needed the walk anyway.
The flight boarded a little before 6, and we were in row 25 just behind the wing, so we just waited and were one of the last to board, which is good because my back was sore and I didn’t need to sit there more than the 4 hr flight time. Wendy was in the middle and I on the isle and overall the economy seat had enough leg room for me which I wasn’t expecting. I took some Tylenol for my back and the flight was long but not painful, and otherwise was uneventful. We got to ATL slightly early, a tad before 2pm and I texted Wendell, our host, when we landed, and he was at the top of the stairs at baggage claim waiting for us when we got there. We grabbed our bag which was also waiting for us and off we went toward Cumming GA. We had a nice conversation with Wendell along the way, and we stopped in at his office to greet Keith, Kellen, and Samantha who were the only ones left. Wendell then took us a mile away to the Holiday Inn Express and checked us in about 345, and then he came back at 545 to take us to dinner. We went a short distance to The Ridge restaurant and had some great food.
We were both in bed by 9 but we both also had a hard time getting to sleep. Keith would be picking us up at 0630 for the drive back to the Airport so we set the alarm for 5 to get showered and down to breakfast in the hotel before 630.