Rachel Kramer Bussel

Nothing says rock bottom like taking a bus at 2 am. Still happy to be home, big week ahead. Think I may nix a few planned trips and focus on apartment, maybe do beach trip when get more vacation days in January. Aside fr flight drama I really had no business taking this trip & should’ve planned better. Oh well. I get to see Beth Orton & Joan Rivers live this week (separately) so that’s pretty exciting. And dates! Have to start rustling through my closets for good outfits. There are other reasons I’m excited than dressing up but that is one. Feel like I rested this weekend but need to make a solid writing schedule & mostly stop assuming I can’t. Someday I want to join the big girls at ALA. I so want out of the erotica pink box. Not to quit but it kills me that that might be all I ever do. Maybe if I can ever figure out the timing a writing retreat. My new novel idea actually involves malls & online research so I can’t be too isolated. Anyway, one thing at a time. Hopefully I can figure out a balance. I think being subpar physically last two weeks has made my mind weak too so want to get back to my usual momentum.

Not gonna let this very up and down year of being 34 defeat me yet.

I am on a line moving at a glacial pace in Austin to hear if I get home tonight. Happy to sleep here just can’t miss work tomorrow, but mad at myself for booking this. Missed a precious workday just bc I had to use miles. That should’ve been a clue. Broke til Wednesday so can’t purchase a new flight. Well, there should be a check in my Brookyn mailbox. I’m ready to punch someone around here. My call got dropped after 20 minutes. Grrr…do NOT fly American Airlines especially to Austin. Trust me.

Think my Minneapolis, Vermont, Denver plans are being postponed. This horrible treatment by crappy American Airlines makes me want a little travel hiatus. This trip was clearly a mistake - not only do I have to finish my forever undone book I just shouldn’t have been so frivolous. That, and never fly American Airlines, is my takeaway. We are back at the gate at 5:23 from our 3:50 flight. Maybe going to Dallas, maybe not. And I used miles. So screwed and can’t wait to get home.

This trip has made me strongly reconsider flying American Airlines. Major delays & updates like “Sorry, we don’t know what’s going on, we’ll let you know if/when we do.” JetBlue direct is so much better to Austin. Think I’ll quit my bank’s mileage program with American.