Quote of the Day x 2: Rashid Khalidi and Obama

The McCain campaign seems desperate. Another day, another attack on the alleged terrorist tendencies of Obama. Now, apparently Obama has ties to a 'radical' professor who according to Palin, was a "former spokesperson for the Palestinian Liberation Organization." The McCain campaign forgot to mention that McCain gave $500k to Khalidi in the '90s.

First Quote of the day goes to Khalidi in his response to the media on the latest controversy: " I am not speaking to the media at this time, and certainly not until this idiot wind passes."

Second Quote of the day goes to Obama, who when speaking at an event in North Carolina referred to McCain's latest tactic: "I don't know what's next. By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten. I shared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich."

Different World

I am ready
Engines are revved
Experience has bred wisdom
Got a new attitude
Mold me, make me
We got our conquer on
Courage, Discipline, Anticipation, and Faith are all in the mix

There is much to do
And blessings galore
No more waiting
Trash the excuses
Here I am
Leverage me

Answer The Call

He said you were special
You were His
He told you how to succeed
How to stay blessed
He blessed you
He loved you
You listened
You didn't fully understand
You rebelled
He warned you what would happen if you did
You were glib, immature, blind
A reckless fool
You rebelled some more

And He loved you
He reached out
He encouraged
Shared role models
You ignored Him
He disciplined
You were stubborn
He disciplined some more - made sure you heard this time
You were humbled
You listened
His Word helped you understand
In tears, you finally saw the mess you had made
How did this happen? This was not you
Even as you regretted it, the pull was still there

Just stop please
Aren't you tired of being here?
This is not you

Believe Him
What would happen if you truly believed what He said?
He wants to give you more than you could ever imagine
Do you get that?!
Allow Him to bless you
He's been reaching out
Aching for you
Allow Him to love you
You don't need to settle for the short-term rush
Don't insult Him
Don't insult yourself
He is always right
Don't pretend otherwise
You'll get hurt

Just Be patient
You know hard-work is required
But you've worked hard before
Remember Him, you and where you want to go
Resist the folly
You can do this
He will always help you
Such strength and power are yours for the taking
If you follow the plan

The stakes are high
Stay strong, beautiful
He's rooting for you


Keri S. Smith

NightmAIRs - Another Airline Fiasco

How much frustration can you bear before you totally lose it? Thankfully, I am yet to find out.

After an exhausting few days, I was looking forward to getting back home. I arrive at the airport and am told that I have been re-booked on a later flight, with a connection on a different airline. I think "no problem", I have a lot of things I can do as I wait for the plane. I check my bags, go through security and use my laptop until it is time to board. When I land I walk over to the service agent and ask where I need to go for the connecting flight. It wasn't within walking distance. I have to take a bus. Fine. I still had 1 hr and 20 mins. before my flight was scheduled to depart. To be on the safe side, I ask the agent to re-confirm my reservation, especially since it was on a different airline. After I get the OK, I head for the shuttle.

Twenty minutes later, I find the stop and board the shuttle. At the connecting airline location, I walk to the kiosk and swipe my credit card. The only reservation that shows up is for "Ken Smith". Didn't I ask the agent to ensure I was on the flight?

Sigh. I join the line to speak to the counter clerk. An airline rep approaches me and asks me why I am in the line. I tell her I can't find my reservation. She smiles at me and tells me that sometimes the machines don't work so I should try again. I leave the line and she accompanies me back to the kiosk. I swipe the card. No reservation. Duh. She smiles and laughs sheepishly. I try to smile, but can't. I walk back and re-join the line.

At the counter I explain my story to the clerk. She checks the system. She sees my name. Eureka! Wait, I hear her telling me that she sees a reservation but no ticket. She can't let me board the plane without a ticket. Fair enough. However, since I paid, I would like to board the plane. Pretty please. She tells me that the other airline made an error in the ticketing process and I don't have a ticket. She calls the other airline. No answer. She calls again. No answer. After the third try she gives up. She tells me she can't help me. "Go to the ticketing line please."

Sigh. I walk to the ticketing line. There is no one at the counter. I turn around. Yes, the sign says "Ticketing." I ask a nearby rep if I am in the right place, she says yes. She tells me to wait for the appropriate rep who is now on break and will be back in 10 mins. OMG.

I wait. After 8 mins., Mr. Break returns and keeps his head down as he focuses on his computer screen. Hello?! I am the only person in his line, and did I mention that I have less than half-an-hour to catch a flight that I-don't-have-a-ticket-for? He still doesn't look up. I decide to make him. I walk closer to the counter and say hello. He tells me to wait because he needs to first log in to his computer.

I wait. He asks how he can help me. I tell him the story. I am becoming sick of this story. He tells me the same thing as the counter clerk, ticketing mistake, no ticket, blah, blah, blah. He calls the other airline. They put him on hold. They return and acknowledge the mistake. He tells me I need to go back to their counter for them to resolve it. Yes - the counter in that distant land - a bus ride way. I ask about my bags, he doesn't know where they are, but the other airline should be able to help. He says sorry. At this point I wonder if it is the right time to dissolve into a noisy, messy, completely gratifying and totally useless hissy fit. I consider trying out for the first time my Incredible Hulk routine. I am ultra frustrated. Then, I remember that God said that He doesn't give me more than I can bear. I hold on to to that passage...squeeze tight...pulverize it...and then embrace it. I tell the agent thanks and leave.

When I get back to the original airline I am greeted by a line. I wait. Is there any other option? Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a woman trying to cut the line. I give her a hard stare. She misses it as she never looks in my direction. Doesn't matter - I know that there is no way Ms. Line Cutter is getting ahead of me. And she doesn't.

Finally I get to speak to the agent. I repeat the story. I might gag on this story. She starts to tell me that it was because I was late that I missed the flight. I think about what it would be like to leap over the counter. I calmly tell Ms. Jump to the Wrong Conclusions that it was her airline error that caused the issue. She gets it and tries to help. Somehow during the process I get passed over to a young and personable guy. I tell him the story. Sigh. It's OK though because he seems more on top of things. Mr. Young and Personable tells me there are no more flights for the day. I had already assumed that, and knew that later I would have to manage the impact on scheduled activities, but for now I just wanted a new flight booking and a place to stay for the night.

Mr. Young and Personable re-books me and gives me a hotel voucher. I ask for a meal voucher. No, they don't have those anymore. I look at him incredulously and say nothing. He prints out the relevant documentation for the flight. I ask him to guarantee that there will be no more errors. He walks me through the documentation. I ask him again to ensure I won't have any problems tomorrow. I think he feels my pain as he goes to the back room and returns with his supervisor. She tells him to give me a 2-night stay at the hotel vs. 1 so that I would not be homeless during the day while I waited for the next flight. True customer service rears its head and I was surprised and touched. I thank them. They apologize for the mess - it took them 1 hour to say sorry - but it is exactly what I need to hear. After the supervisor leaves, I look at Mr. Young and Personable and decide to tell him something. Although I didn't go all Big Green Hulk on him, I know and have seen other customers do that. I tell him that he has the right attitude and calm personality that will work very well with frustrated customers. He beams, smiles and then laughs with me.

I leave in search of the hotel shuttle. I wait. I hear screaming. I look down - it's my feet. Trudging to and fro in high heels is brutal. I wait. A driver pulls up and asks me what I am waiting for. This is his third time around the circle and has seen me standing there for a while. I tell him what hotel shuttle I want. He proceeds to describe how the shuttle would look- the color and exactly where on the shuttle the sign with the name of the hotel would be located. How nice of him. Wait. Do I seem mentally challenged? After giving his description, he smiles and leaves. As soon as he drives off, the hotel shuttle I need arrives. How ironic or funny. Maybe later I will figure out which one and give the appropriate response.

The shuttle doors open, and I limp inside. I collapse on the seat and lean my head on the railing. I can't wait to get to the hotel room and finally eat dinner. Oops - no meal voucher. I guess I will snack on my crushed banana.

I am tired, hungry and feeling beige, but I know I am blessed. I have a place to stay, a flight confirmation, my Bible, my laptop, one outfit (I am wearing it), and a dented banana. There are others worse off. I think.

I pray that I never repeat this day.

Is Anderson Cooper's laugh that bad?!