Thread Drift

[Blueberry]

Thanks everybody! I feel a bit better today (less congested, less fever, and less headache) - so better able to handle the non-stop racket from upstairs. Sadly no swimming - between me being sick and not wanting to share and most of our local pools being closed because of cryptosporidium (a nasty GI bug that normal concentrations of chlorine won't touch). I might try getting on the bike trainer very gently a bit later. I'm sort of stuck babysitting the contractors (at least when DH has to be out). I might try to take the laptop to a library later (if DH is willing to be home) to get some online training I have to do for a research project done.

As far as the bikes - hopefully someone will do something. MasterCard seems as though it might be our best bet - but they are trying to require a claim with our homeowners insurance (which won't cover this). Things are somewhat held up by the fact that we are waiting on an estimate while our local shop is on vacation for the week. We can't file the TSA claim until we have estimates (in fact, we have to have 2 estimates to repair everything) - not sure where we'll even get a second estimate for some of this.

I honestly never want to travel by air again - I'm sure I will (it will be necessary) - but the coming home kind of wrecked what was otherwise an awesome vacation. There's absolutely no excuse for the damage, but there's nothing to stop it either. TSA is virtually immune from having to pay for the damage they cause as best I can tell - there's no incentive for them to be careful. As we were leaving Dublin there was an announcement that the flight was delayed because they were sending 2 suitcases back to be x-rayed again. At that point, we had a really bad feeling. Dublin is weird - TSA has an outpost. We had to clear EU security and then clear TSA. The EU people laughed at me when I took my shoes off - the TSA people barked at me to do it more quickly. It was pretty obvious that my case was hurriedly closed (water bottle just jammed in, tools not put back up, bike padding not put back, handlebars jammed in, etc.). DH's they just ripped the straps instead of releasing the buckle.

We had to change airports because of the flight delay - and so had to re-go through security at JFK. They dumped by bag for a "very dangerous sharp object" - euro coins. Yep - very dangerous, those. Much more dangerous than leaving my passport, wallet, and personal effects out where they could be stolen (unprotected) and where I wasn't allowed to reach them. Then I got groped without them bothering to actually wait for consent. *sigh* Wish I were convinced that any of their $hit makes us any safer.

[Pax]

Right there with you on air travel, Blueberry. You basically sign away all your rights and any property you bring with you when you fly. Since I'm tall and have short hair (and am often called "sir") I had a male TSA agent run his hands down my chest until he hit boobs, he stepped back and called a female agent over to finish, but no apology, no oops. I hate flying with a passion.

[smilingcat]

I hate flying because of 2 hour wait at the airport thanks to $#@ Whoever came up with the truly insane non-security must be dumber than Curly oh no make that Moe.

I really am sorry to hear the indignity you all have suffered. Now I really know that I made the right decision for a 1600Km (1000mile) road trips.

[Crankin]

This is why, even if you travel 1-2X a year it is so worth it to pay the money for Pre Check and/or the Trusted Traveler program.
You are treated like a human, no shoe taking off, no lines, and even a smile. The best $100.00 I've spent.

[Blueberry]

This is why, even if you travel 1-2X a year it is so worth it to pay the money for Pre Check and/or the Trusted Traveler program.
You are treated like a human, no shoe taking off, no lines, and even a smile. The best $100.00 I've spent.

We'll be doing the international version - we just couldn't get an appointment fast enough for this trip. That said, it irks me that one has to pay to join a special program to be treated as one should be treated all along. Also not sure it would have done us any good in Dublin - I don't recall seeing different lines there.

Sadly, it wouldn't have helped with the bikes.

[Pax]

And it doesn't always help humans either. I have TSA Pre-Check and they still grope me like a teenager on a date. Probably because of knee replacement implant, but as I've noticed, my knee is nowhere near my freaking boobs.

[Crankin]

Really? I mean, I know that some airports don't have the separate lines (they didn't in San Diego, 2 years ago, but do now), but I have never been frisked or even looked at, when I go through the precheck line. Pax, it could be your knee, but DH has a lot of metal in his shoulder and he's never been stopped, either. And while they should, in theory, treat everyone nicely, I guess I don't mind paying for the chance to avoid the line.
The bike issue, well, that's another story. Our Gurus were fine when we traveled with them to the San Juans, by plane. On the other hand, my son's bike was mangled when shipped UPS from Acton to the U of AZ. We thought that was safer than putting it on the plane.