Brunswick, ME (USA)

I slept well in the Mid-Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns) on Lajes Air Base.  I thought we were planning to leave at 1030L but there was even more confusion about the itinerary (will it ever end?), though. Took advantage of the chance to get some food and souvenirs at 0900L because there were some problems with our clearance (again). Carina was very stressed out about the way things have been going (everything via computers not working out the way she likes). However, this trip was completely different than what I've experienced over the last seven years.  Typically, I've used paper and face-to-face interactions with the locals to get things to work the way I wanted them to. This trip has been all about making changes with people who are located at computer hubs - we've never talked to them at all. I finally took it on my self to get our weather brief from the Portuguese forecaster at the airfield - that took 15 minutes and I was able to get away from Carina's worries... Still, we left late again. Flight over to Brunswick was OK - had to fly as efficiently as possible to make it without a fuel stop. Turn through there went good, too - it is a shame that they will soon close this field... While we were on the ground, found out that my trip back to Fort Worth with our aircraft had changed (again - aaaggghhh!!!). Instead of stopping for fuel there, the crew was going to try to fly all the way to San Diego. That meant that I was out of luck for getting home tonight. Eventually got some help from our travel office - they put me on a flight out of Norfolk that would depart soon after our landing in Virginia Beach. What it meant, though, was that I had to forego flying the last leg and instead had to re-pack for the flight. Bolted from the plane (1600L) and had to set up an immediate ride with the squadron duty driver.  After arriving at the Norfolk International Airport, I barely made it to the gate for the 1815 departure.  Once again, I was flying on American Airlines - fortunately, they were on time today... Final outcome was that I got back to DFW around 2030L and, after getting help from another duty driver from my office (I paid the tolls again), I arrived at home by 2200 (feeling extremely worn out). Good to see the kids - I even made it in time for (an early) Halloween!  My thoughts on this trip are very complicated - as always, flight time is great.  On the flip side, there was too much stress, constant (and some unnecessary) changes to the itinerary and people on their own plan while the rest of us waited for them. To top it off, the crew that "couldn't stop through Fort Worth" stopped instead in Kansas - probably about the time that I was getting on the flight out of Norfolk. Overall, I miss the "normal" routines of previous flights: calm and predictable people; satisfying days of work (including the sense that I've gotten the job done as scheduled) and relaxing overnight stops. Hope I get to see that next time..