Finally back from Trindad... it was a helluva return trip, let me tell you. The plane was delayed two hours due to an oil leak in the right engine's thruster reverser (a common technical term - I'll let you guess what that part does). Luckily, we were able to file ourselves back into the gate while waiting for the repairs to be completed. Side note: Caribbean Airlines announced that a flight - scheduled to depart at 9:30am - would be delayed until 8pm. Needless to say it was interesting watching the crowd's reaction to that news, and the ensuing throng that addled the service counters. After the repair, I mean, preventive maintenance was completed, we were loaded onto the plane and proceeded to take off. Breakfast (fast - yes, break - no). Blades of Glory (Glory - no, Blades - on wrist). Laptop time. Snoozing. Lamenting having left iPod at home. Laptop time. Trays up. Landing. Deplaning (what?).

I found myself standing in line at Immigration in ATL, with a "computer malfunction" that caused a 30 minute delay. Keep in mind that in ATL, when arriving from an international flight, one must retrieve one's baggage and recheck it to your final destination (which includes baggage claim at the main terminal), and one must go through security again. After making it through Immigration, I retrieved my bags (luckily no wait), checked them again, and then went through security again. Oops, I purchased a bottle of pepper sauce from the Duty Free in Port of Spain, and must check it to baggage claim. What? Yeah, that's what I thought. It didn't really matter anyway because once I checked that bag, and made it to baggage claim there was an hour wait for the bags. Yep, an hour. Steph, her mom and the kids circled the lot for 30 minutes waiting for me. I finally gave up and had a friend who was travelling with me take my bags to the office when (if) they arrived.

But I made it back home, safe and sound. Well, safe anyway. Worst part of the trip? Popping into the van and having Maya look at me like she forgot who I was. Best part of the trip? Popping into the van and having Maya and Devin remember who I was after 5 minutes.