Let's visit on the Porch II (Hardin, Libby: airports, severance, phones)

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by janab

Hey EH: what's the wolf situation in those parts?

Officially, the Fish and Game has said that there are NO wolves in the Big Horn Mountains. Although, wolves have been caught on camera. So Officially, we can shoot stray dogs, legally.

There are so few that in several years of getting caught on camera, there can't be but maybe, a dozen or so in the Big Horns.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

But going up I was staring straight at the Northern Lights.

It's God's own neon green above the mountains here tonight,
Throwing brittle coloured shadows on the snow...

Stan Rogers, CANOL Road

[Wurzig]

Got this off of a Griz site today and thought it was cute:

Why I Love Montana

When it's springtime in Montana,

And the gentle breezes blow,

About seventy miles an hour

And it's fifty two below.

You can tell you're in Montana

'cause the snow's up to your butt,

And you take a breath of springtime air,

And your nose holes both freeze shut.

The weather here is wonderful,

So I guess I'll hang around,

I could never leave Montana.

My feet are frozen to the ground!

[MaBonnema]

Hi People
I made it to Montana!!!!! yayyyyyyyyyyyy Got here on 24th. Terrible terrible trip but I am here. Have been trying to do some things around the house to help mom out. Managed to get a couple of pics. Will post them to my albums. Even the dog is adjusting just fine.
WOW!!! It sure is purdy up here.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by MaBonnema

Hi People
I made it to Montana!!!!! yayyyyyyyyyyyy Got here on 24th. Terrible terrible trip but I am here. Have been trying to do some things around the house to help mom out. Managed to get a couple of pics. Will post them to my albums. Even the dog is adjusting just fine.
WOW!!! It sure is purdy up here.

Congrats, glad you made it.

Bruno kind of has that look, like, "You didn't tell me everything about this trip." haha

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by MaBonnema

Hi People
I made it to Montana!!!!! yayyyyyyyyyyyy Got here on 24th. Terrible terrible trip but I am here. Have been trying to do some things around the house to help mom out. Managed to get a couple of pics. Will post them to my albums. Even the dog is adjusting just fine.
WOW!!! It sure is purdy up here.

Glad to hear your trip went well.

If you got time...............maybe a few facts and info how well the trip went for your dog? I'm curious.......did his tendency to not be too friendly toward strangers cause any problems? Like if someone tried to take him out of crate for a short walk during the changing of planes?

What will he weight when fully adult at say 30 months? He sure is a handsome fella

edit: In re-reading your post I notices that you stated the trip was "terrible". Sorry..........I didn't mean to be a smart-a$$ by saying: "Glad to hear your trip went well". If it's not too personal................what "went wrong during the trip"? Glad you like our scenery..........after all:..."It is THE LAST BEST PLACE!"

[ElkHunter]

Coffee's on early this morning.

Have to jump in the rain locker and then get ready to go to that awful place called town. Get the cast cut off so I can get the rest of my change and be able to afford a pop today while in town.

It is that time of year that I'm actually going to have to wear long pants too. It's currently 40 degrees and still dropping. Figure it'll be around 40 or so when I jump on the 4 wheeler and head for town. Might be a bit chilly in shorts.

Gotta remember to take my other boot as I'll need it after I get to the VA. hahaha

Out of grits this morning, guess it's oatmeal. Couple of eggs throwed into something, some hashbrowns. Whatever I fix is going to have copious amounts of salsa on it though. Kind of one of those spicey kind of days.

Supposed to be windy today, both here and all of Eastern Montana. Not harsh wind, but 20+ in spots. Don't get blown into ND Seven.

[MaBonnema]

LOL.. naaah didnt think you were being a smarty butt.
My trip... hmmm lets see.
Well I got to Schiphol 4 hours before my flight like they said to do (good thing I did). Had my daughters friend help me with luggage and Bruno (2 carts). I get in line and stand and stand and stand. Then when I finally get to counter they tell me I needed to go to hall 3 but Dog needs to go to Oversize baggage and to go to customer serveice desk first then to other window and then hall 3.
So we wheel the darn carts there.. Only for customer service to tell me NO, you must go to the OTHER window first, then so and so.
I say GRRRRrrrrrrr really loud.. OK so I let this slide and I huff n puff and go to other window. (meanwhile daughter is sitting in car in the "drop off zone" waiting for her friend to come back but he is helping me because I can not find airport personnel to help. I get to that window only for them to tell me that I have to check my bags in at hall 3 first! By this time I am highly agitated. So I leave the friend standing with the dog and my carry on bags. I go to Hall 3 to check in my bags .. Stand in line and just before I get to the counter the woman stands up and says.. Sorry maám, I'm closed!. I was like WTH!?? So I had to get in another line and stand for another 20 minutes or so. FINALLY I get the bags checked. I go back down the hall and see the friend frantically waving at me saying I go to go. I got ticket and police harrass me. I say ok GO! just GO! I got it from here.
He ended up getting a 100 dollar fine for being too long in drop off zone. (I felt so bad) I get to Oversize baggage and wait (kennel had to be inspected) and next thing I know this very RUDE security officer stops me and starts yelling questions at me in very fast dutch.. what window did you check in at etc etc? Another security officer is standing there staring at me like I am some kind of freak. .. and I notice 2 armed guards near by. ( didnt think anything of it at first). I tell the man.. SLOW DOWN! I speak Dutch but only if you speak slowly can I understand. So then he says English then? Yes.. Okay Again rudely asks what gate.. etc. radios to gate ask if I checked in bags and etc. FINALLY he examines kennel, approves it and then I ask if i can take dog for PP before flight. He tells me to hurry.
then tells me "I escort you"... Get outside to see if Bruno will go.. and it was a NO GO.. lol. so back into airport and into kennel. then he is sent to cargo. I go to my gate and look out window. Had panic attack because I didnt see my dog loaded. They were nice enough to radio to gate and verify for me that my dog was onboard. Some of the passengers thought I was a little crazy but that OK.. ....... çuz I iz.. LOL
flight was ok. some turbulance. I am a BIG GAL.. sitting 10 hrs in a seat that is the size of a sardine can when you backside is the size of a hippo isnt exactly comfortable. Either way, I made it.
Get to Seattle and everything goes ok. Went thru customs ok. Was able to get Bruno out and take him out for potty. (He left them nice big present in their flower bed )
Get ready to re check him in for last part of flight.. they tried to say I had to pay another 200 dollars. I kinda got angry .. but that was also sorted and man apologized for his mistake.
had a few hours wait b4 next flight. Seattle to Kalispell flight was scheduled to land around midnight in Kalispell.
I go to my gate (ticket said Gate C2J ).. I asked ticket agent (just to be sure) she pointed me in that direction. I asked another agent and again showed my ticket and she pointed me to gate C2J.. I go there and I sit.. and sit and sit and sit.. Finally I notice time and I get up to ask lady at counter and she informs me there had been a gate change ( which I DID NOT hear announced because it was change a few hours earlier) she then tells me to go to C12.. I get there and Kalispell flight has already departed.and it was LAST flight for that day next flight wouldn't be until afternoon next day!!. My dog and luggage are on their way without me. I start freaking out and crying and yelling. They send me to customer service. Get there and they tried to tell me I should always check the boards.. I say EXCUSE ME!!! I checked with one of YOUR service reps twice.. Tell THEM to read the GD boards!!
I'm panicking, having trouble breathing, crying.. mad as hell... She asks me if someone would be there to get my bags and dog. I tried calling mom but she had already left to go to airport and had no cell phone. They redo my ticket then she tells me in a snarky tone that she "waived" all the ticket changing fees... as if she did me a big favor. They call Kalispell to let them know situation. and were waiting for Kalispell to call back. I told them My mother is a heart patient, she CAN NOT handle 2 50lb bags, and a dog in a kennel that weighs 100lbs!! and IF anything happens to my dog.. or my mother.. there will be hell to pay.
Then I see ticket.. I have to wait 15 more hours til my flight!!! I ask her.. where the heck I am supposed to stay? Then she tells me Ramada offers a 50% discount to distressed passengers.
I say.. 50% discount?? and I am supposed to pay the rest? I am supposed to pay for YOUR mistake!!?? I DONT THINK SO!!!
Panic attack was full blown by now. I am sweating bullets, having trouble breathing. they escort me to a seat. I had to get outside.. I was escorted out side and they wanted to know if I need ambulance. I tell them NO. I dont need ambulance I NEED cigarette and a drink.. But I dont drink.. (at this point I would have drank a whole bottle of JD if it had been available). The man sits with me for a few minutes, again asks me if I need anything.. I told him Sir, No offense.. What I need if for you to leave me the hell alone.. go away!!!
Also.. I forgot to mention.. They NEVER paged me for the flight either.
Mom got to Kalispell, saw my lugagge but not me. She asks them and they tell her I was stuck in Seattle. Mom said they were kissing her butt big time. She had 5 people assisting her, loading the luggage, taking kennel apart and putting it car etc.
She drives back to Libby (she has night blindness) and gets on computer. Thank goodness I had laptop. I sat and talked to mom and saw that she and my dog were safe. She had to drive back next afternoon again to pick me up.
I found out later that the reason my friend was so panicky at Schiphol.. My daughter called on cell that he needed to move car.. she called 3 times. Finally he told woman at window he had to move car. He leaves my bags and dog at window and runs to move car. They give him ticket. He comes back inside and Airport security surround him asking him questions asking him why he left the bags, who did the bags belong to? is there a bomb in the bags? etc.. and they had guns drawn!
All because the stupid woman at the window called security.. I think just because she was a little ticked because he told her they needed to get their chit straight because they sent me to wrong windows several times and it ridiculous! Thats when it dawned on me that was why they were so rude to me when checking in my dog at schiphol.. and thats why there were ARMED security officers near by!!
I'm like OMG!!!!!!!! They thought I was a terrorist!

Through it all, My dog was ok. He did excellent. I saved the pizza from the first part of the flight and gave it to him when I took him for potty at Seattle. Heck, he deserved a treat! LOL

That was my adventure. Oh and Delta will be getting a complaint. My cousin booked the ticket and he is ex airline personnel..and he KNOWS exactly where they screwed up and u can better believe he will be chewing them a new tail section!

[ElkHunter]

OMG. I think, that at some point in that ordeal, I would have had to choke somebody out. Just to releave stress. haha You went through a lot to get here, but hey, your home.


The weather is messing with me. At 4am I jump in the shower, it's 40 degrees outside. So when I come out, I dress appropriately. I come out to the computer and look down at the temp ICON and it's now 61 degrees. huh????? Yeah, it's come up 20 degrees in the last hour. Go figure.

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by MaBonnema

LOL.. naaah didnt think you were being a smarty butt.
My trip... hmmm lets see.
.
.
.

Now that it's over, it sounds like something for a Chevy Chase movie, if not a Saturday Night Live skit, huh?