Back in NS

So this isn't quite the African adventure I had promised yet, but I'm getting there, step by step. If you keep checking in from time to time, I can almost guarantee that these entries will become a little more entertaining. For now, I'm still on Canadian soil watching the sand slip much too quickly through that unstoppable hourglass.

After many tear-filled, heart wrenching, no-I'm-really-never-coming-back, goodbyes, I boarded my Air Canada flight to Halifax via Toronto. As we were waiting patiently on the lovely new plane with the individual pods that have now replaced 1st class seating (jealous!), the lovely flight attendants were paging a missing passenger. Over the PA system and walking up and down the aisles, repeat calls for "Tom Collins" were heard echoing through the air. I couldn't help but laugh out loud and comment to my seat mate that, well OF COURSE he's still in the pub, he's TOM COLLINS for crying out loud! Eventually this gangly kid of all of about 23 stumbles into his empty seat, makes a few spacey wisecracks about being up all weekend, then promptly falls asleep. It was the flight attendant who commented on the disappointment in that one - with a name like Tom Collins, we were definitely hoping for a little more entertainment than THAT! Sheesh.

So la de dah, we wait, and wait. Apparently we were waiting on the de-icing crew. They finally arrive and we leave an hour and a half late. No biggie as this delay only shortened my layover in Toronto. It was only after I arrived home did I find out that some of the delay with the de-icing crew most likely came from the fact that one of the de-icing guys at the YYC airport fell out of his bucket and died just a couple of hours previous to me boarding my plane! My dad filled me in on this when I got into Halifax. So apparently it made national news, but noone in the airport was aware. Wow. Horrible. Ongoing drama that I didn't even know about.

On to the drama that I DID know about... we arrive in Toronto and pull up to our gate. The Captain comes on to the PA system and very calmly requests that we all remain seated while they deal with a "minor security issue". Ummm... pardon? Being confined on a plane for even three minutes after being informed that there is a "minor security issue" is somewhat unsettling. My seatmate and I were spectulating and hypothesizing as to what kind of story was about to unfold as there were no major disruptions on the flight as far as we knew. The only inkling of ruffled feathers was two flight attendants loudly discussing a bothersome passenger over the drink cart. Apparently a man continued to swear at a female flight attendant after she repeatedly advised him of his inappropriate language. The male flight attended did a lot of agreeing and cheerleading telling her that she handled things very well even though he didn't really see what happened. K, folks... just a word of advice, don't be chatting about the passengers you don't like within earshot of other passengers, it just makes you look silly. Really. So yeah, back to the "minor security issue"...

We continue with our waiting and creative imagining, when quite suddenly 5 nicely armed, POLICE labelled, very focused men in grey fatigues with body armour and weapons strapped to bulging arms and legs walk quickly and with purpose towards the middle of the plane. I'm in a window seat but you can be darn sure that I was up and turned around watching for the show that was about to go down. They stop about midway back, stand in front of a rather chubby, well-dressed young man, say a few words, and this "minor security issue" stands up, puts on his glasses, and saunters off the plane with a smug little smile on his face. As he walked past me, I recognized him as the nice chubby guy who held the washroom door open for me when I had to pee during the flight. Seriously. I had a connection to the "minor security issue"! But that's it. No hassle, no fuss, no wrestling or raised voices, or hints of insanity. Just a casual stroll off the plane with my buddies, the goons. It could have been SUCH a great story. Sorry.

I did see this guy chatting with the 5 stormtroopers and three local cops as we entered into the airport; the cops had their hands in their pockets and no one seemed all too concerned. Then about a half an hour later, I saw the chubby "minor security issue" who held the washroom door open for me being led in handcuffs out of the arrivals area by this same large, armed entourage. He had taken his coat off by this point, must have become flustered by all of the attention, and one of the nice, POLICE labelled gentlemen was carrying it for him. They all continued to chat and smile and stroll. Sigh. What a disappointing end to what started out as a bit of an adreneline rush.

The rest of the trip out of Toronto and onto Halifax was uneventful. Weather held out, just barely, and I crashed HARD into a nice, soft bed. After almost a week of foam pads and a sleeping bag on the hard floor of my lonely apartment, the excessive amount of time in my bed today can be forgiven. Or at least somewhat justified.

Today was as unproductive as all hell but tomorrow the crunch is on. Last minute running around, unpacking to repack, and tying up any and all loose ends that may still be buzzing around my severely overloaded brain. None of this has sunk in yet. That's the funny thing about coming home first. Everything is too familiar and too comfortable - there is no possibility at this point of even being able to conceive of the chaos soon to be upon me. For now, I'm letting everyone else be anxious and excited for me. Thanks for that, by the way.

Okay, so another unadventurous post but like I said, they will improve. I expect responses and remarks and cries of how much I am missed as time marches on and the distance between me and my native land grows. I'm serious people! Off to bed for me. For those of you not on Facebook, boo on you, for everyone reading this, get on Skype, register Janice Beaton as your friend, and hopefully we can chat to save your eyesight from my long windedness. Nighty night.