Meanwhile on Planet Arcata


And so, there we were, awaiting confirmation for our Friday flight from Here, CA to There, CA. From There, CA to Whence, OR. From Whence, OR to Hither, TX. And finally from Hither, TX to OMG, LA. Then from OMG, LA we needed to find our way, on the ground, to Baton Rouge.

This chapter's Red Cross office gave us notice of deployment on Tuesday. Telling us to call the travel agency Wednesday. Which we did, and reserved 2 tickets for the afore mentioned itinerary. They then contact DC headquaters to confirm, purchase the tickets, and email us. Well, we were not receiving the email. Our local director said, "It's not going to be a problem, you are on the list in DC or you wouldn't be deployed, they are simply backed up and dealing with people in order of departure." Then, by 3 p.m. today, it occurred to me that perhaps they had the wrong email address. Our flight was to be leaving at 5:50 p.m. My comrade, Rich, sat on hold with the travel agency yet again, and eventually we received the following information:

"Carrie Whosyerwhatsit, we do have a reservation for you on United out of Arcata, however your name is not on the list at headquarters to be deployed.

Rich Kobayashi, your name is on the list at headquaters to be deployed, however, we don't have a reservation for you to fly out on United today."