I barely started packing the night before leaving, but fortunately it didn't take too long. I had heard that getting through security at Sea-Tac airport (short for Seattle-Tacoma airport) took a while, so I wanted to make sure to get there with plenty of time. Unlike D/FW, Sea-Tac is incredibly easy to get in and out of, so Lesley was easily able to drop me off where I needed to be. I didn't want to check any bags because I'm impatient, so I fit everything into my carry on luggage and I was able to quickly get my boarding pass. Security did take a while, though. There were two lines, and as far as I could tell, one of them looked like it had a shorter distance to go than the other, so that's the one I picked. What I didn't realize though was that the other line had two people checking everyone's ID and boarding pass and the line I chose was staffed by only one person. So, my line took quite a while. If I'd chosen the other line it wouldn't have taken long at all. Then, when I got to the front of the line to have my ID reviewed, the guy raised questions about my boarding pass, which actually wasn't a boarding pass, it was a piece of paper that said my flight but didn't have a seat number. For a brief moment I wondered if I'd have to go back to the ticket counter, but he let me through. After partially undressing to get through security (I had to take off my coat, shoes, watch, belt, and take my phone out of my pocket), I didn't have any problems getting through with gel deoderant and toothpaste still in my bags and the struggle to put everything back on and away and get out of the security area without slowing the people down behind me wasn't too bad. I don't carry a whole lot with me that I need to put in the bins, so I don't know how other people with a lot of stuff and with kids get through security without a lot of trouble. After getting through security, I went to my gate to get a legitimate boarding pass with a seat number and I ended up with an exit row. Not the whole row, just one seat on the row.

Anyway, I had about an hour to spend in the airport, so I walked around a little. I stopped by a retail stand for a scanner system and asked a few questions. I would like to reduce the amount of paper that we have on file at home so I would be sort of interested in a scanner, but I'd have to look around some before paying $200 for something I saw at an airport. With the remaining time I had left before my flight, I called a few family members and finished reviewing upcoming Seattle events in a weekly newspaper.

Finally, boarding started and everyone swarmed the line, as if them waiting for their boarding group to be called rather than staying seated and out of the way would somehow make the whole process go faster.

I would've liked a window seat, but I got stuck in between two people. Being on an exit row, though, meant that I had plenty of leg room. However, I didn't realize it also meant no tray table, or at least that's what it looked like until the person next to me uncovered the hidden tray table in the arm rest. That was a new one to me. For the first part of the flight, I wrote this post and enjoyed the cranberry apple cocktail they brought to me. I also did some work on the computer, preparing for tomorrow.

There wasn't much turbulence on the flight. There was like an hour, though, when it seemed that everyone on the flight needed to use the restroom, including myself. As we approached D/FW, the horizon turned brown and we descended into a thick layer of haze. And, as always, it took a while to taxi at D/FW airport. Then, to get to the rental cars, I didn't know that I had to take a shuttle there (since I've never gotten a rental car at D/FW before), so it took me a while to find that. But, I got my car (a black Dodge Caliber) and headed out for some dinner. I wanted something that I couldn't have in Seattle, but it was after 9:00 so a lot of places were closed. But, thanks to Lesley's directions over the phone I found a Chicken Express that was open. It was pretty good, and also greasy and salty enough to be pretty gross at the same time. I checked into my hotel near the airport, which had free internet and free breakfast. By that time it was only 8:30 pacific time, but 10:30 central, so I went to bed.

The first day was the most leisurely and uninteresting of the trip, the rest of the time was very busy and so I haven't been able to remember all the details, which most people would probably rather hear more about than about my flight, but I'll post what I can soon.