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By a quarter past 3pm, we made our way to the front of the United customer service line. A new helper arrived just as we got to the front–go figure–and began crossing off our options…one by one…redeyes, other airlines, and connections. Gloom and doom.

Suddenly, two seats popped up on a direct flight at 5pm! We were stunned, but you never question fate.

We are still PISSED at United for waiting four hours to cancel our flight…such that most alternatives are gone. That is no way to treat people. But, at least we will (fingers crossed) arrive in Muskegon before breakfast.

One sad observation. I overheard United telling one traveler who was being booked on a flight tomorrow that there were no hotels available. "But if you find one on your own, here is a form to fill out." What?????

After telling us that a new plane was coming in to carry us to Chicago, our flight was eventually cancelled at 2pm. Aparently, we're getting re-routed to a redeye out of San Diego. Oooooo, a connection…that should be fun.

Of couse, now we have to stand in a long customer service line that snakes off to infinity. How is it that Safeway knows how to spot a long line and call a manager over to help with surge support, but United sticks with two lonely smiling faces regardless of the line?

Soooooo, we've de-planed…oh and I saw the captain wander off to get food…never a good sign.

After a full hour in the gate area, with people scrambling to re-book connections, the gate agent FINALLY came on and said they would make a 'decision' at 1pm…an hour from now. No sense trying to re-book to Chicago…the next two flights are over sold. Joy.

Frankly, I'm fine with delays…I just want information. Pretty please?

For every yin there is a yang. And lately, my travel has offered more than its share of yangs.

We're on our way to Michigan this morning, and the day started off quite nicely. Our taxi was early. Check-in was smooth. Security lines were almost non-existent. And I even had time to grab a latte from Peets before our on-time flight.

Unfortunately, an on-time push back from the gate doesn't always translate to an on-time departure. After an hour on the tarmac at SFO, we returned to the gate to investigate a 'noisy air conditioning duct'.

Hopefully this is not a repeat of Denver! Fingers crossed.

One fun item…I read this fantastic quote in Bon Appetit describing drinking a mojito–my current favorite drink–in Cuba.

"The Mojito is almost like an anti-cocktail…an unpretentious way of sprucing up the rum you're going to drink anyway–just because its hot out and you're pleasantly bored and you want to take the edge off."

Hmmmm…I could use some edge removal right about now.

Well…I think I ran over a dead chicken on 3rd Street on the way home…a whole, white-feathered dead chicken. In an otherwise ordinary week, that is 1. very odd and 2. very blogworthy.

How exactly do you lose a chicken in San Francisco?