Out with a Bang!

We are home!! I'm happy to say that we made it home safe and sound late last night. But as the title of this blog says, not without a big bang! Sorry in advance for the long post.

Here's the recap of the last week.
Thursday we left for Omaha. DH interviewed Friday at the Nebraska Med Center. He had a good interview. That night we had some wonderful Italian food in downtown Omaha and then carefully drove out to west Omaha to stay with P. The roads were very slick from early evening rain/snow. Saturday was relaxing and we enjoyed being with good friends. Sunday am DH to fly out for Lebanon, NH. But that didn't happen. After many delays in Omaha (not because of weather, but because the pilot didn't like the 2 planes) and waiting in line for over 2 hrs to find out what his options were, DH realized he wouldn't make his connecting flight in Chicago in time to get out to Lebanon and drive the 1 1/2 hr. drive to a resident dinner since New Hampshire was getting pounded with snowstorms.

So this set into motion the most confusing and time consuming travel arrangements we've had to do. Thank Goodness for P!! She was so helpful in escorting us to and from the airport and helping to make sense of this whole craziness!

DH decided not to bother with Dartmouth and instead fly straight to North Carolina on Monday am for his UNC interview. DH got his flight rescheduled to leave Omaha at 6am for Durham, NC on Monday. I (always planning to fly to NC on Monday afternoon to meet DH who was suppose to be already on his way to UNC from New Hampshire) tried to change my flights to leave earlier than planned. Seems like a simple request - not in this world anymore. I almost lost my mind at 4 am Monday morning after talking with Delta and Northwest customer service (they are merging you know) at 12 am and then again at 4 am to be told completely opposite information. All the while doing this 4 am phone call on very icy Omaha Interstates while navigating DH in the car. I'm the navigator of course, since Gar hasn't taken to liking me, "Minnie" was present that morning. So Monday, DH flew out to Durham early Monday morning. I got my flights figured out at the airport and changed to 7:45 am to fly out to Durham to arrive an hour later than DH. Thank goodness for text messaging. We were able to keep track of the others whereabouts. I'd step off a plane and see a text from DH saying were we was in his flights.

By Monday afternoon we both had made our way to Durham/Raleigh airport by different flights and were happy to see each other and see the sunshine and 40 degree weather!! It was like Christmas morning when we got in our rental car and drove down an Interstate with our windows open!

We had a wonderful time in Chapel Hill. DH interviewed on Thursday so Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we toured around Chapel Hill and Durham. We had a wonderful seafood meal Monday night at Squid's Restaurant where we saw Tyler Handsbrough. We toured both Duke's and UNC's campus and DH got to go on the Duke bball court and see the UNC Dean Smith stadium and bball museum. Tuesday night we had to try southern cooking and ate at Bullock's Bar-B-Cue in Durham. DH and I have come to love hush puppies!! We both had North Carolina prepared BBQ, Brunswick stew, green beans, coleslaw, fried chicken and fried okra. Yummy! We did a little bit of shopping including the Southern Season store which is a huge warehouse full of kitchen gadgets and every southern rub or season you could think of. Wednesday night we stayed at the Carolina Inn. A very beautiful Southern hotel. Thursday DH had a very enjoyable interview and then we were off again, rushing to make our flights. But this time, we were both on the same flights back to Omaha.

The best way to describe our flying experiences ..... delayed, delayed ..... fly......run, run to make our connecting......delayed, delayed ......fly.....run, run to make our connecting.

Safe to say WE ARE THANKFUL TO BE HOME SAFE AND SOUND.

We are finished with interviewing. Maybe in a few months I can look back on the whole experience and be melancholy. But right now - I'm exhausted.