Sunday, January 11, 2009

Coming home from the Airport


Well I think it says a lot about a person when you look at the way they come home form the air port. What does the way we come home form the airport say about us? Matt is really, really cheap. This last trip has made me question my cheapness but luckily I am sure I will forget about it by the next time we go anywhere. All I have to say is that Julee was aware that I was cheap before we got married, I told her so.

We have now had two really miserable trips home from JFK airport. The first and the very worst was last year when we were living in Manhattan. we arrived into JFK late at night and instead of paying around $40 for a shuttle for the both of us I wanted to use public transportation and only spend $14. I did not think about the fact that trains do not run regularly late at night. We were using our back packing packs for our luggage and it took us near 4 hours to get home. To top it off we had brought stuff home with us from Idaho and our packs were very heavy. Julee (for good reason) complained the whole way home. The misery climaxed in a half mile walk when missed the bus by a few seconds.

This last trip back to NJ was not that bad but it was close, it only took 3 hours. Because Julee is pregnant I did not make here carry her own wait, so she had here carry on with wheels while I had on my backpacking pack and carried a pack and play we got for Christmas in one had and a suitcase in the other. I ended up not being able to carry it the whole way between trains and Julee carried the suitcase part of the way.

To Make it more fun the baggage claim people got the pack and play box wet and it was falling apart, the subway train was packed with homeless trying to get out of the cold (six of them in our train car alone (notice the guy sleeping next to me in the picture above) they smelt great!), and I hadn't gotten any sleep flying through the night.

On our way home from JFK to Jersey City we rode three different trains, walked a half mile, and took a one mile taxi ride (I broke down and rationalized paying the extra $5 for the cab).

For those of you who have a car, don't take it for granted!

13 comments:

Angela and Kevin Reese said...

Wow! I can't believe you made pregnant Julee do that! Next time I will pay for Julee to use the shuttle.

Anonymous said...

Hey, so what is you guys address now-a-days?

And what is Angie's email? I want to invite her to my blog!

BTW, this is your cousin Lara...

NatureGirl said...

Aaahhhh...Those were the days. Make sure you tell that little one all of these stories someday! Except make it a 2 mile walk, no cab ride, Mama is 9 months along and the homeless guy is asleep on your lap! Maybe you do not think so yet, but you will look back on these years as some of your best!

cyrie said...

You guys crack me up. You bring the misery on yourselves! Matt, if you weren't so cheap, you could have been home in an hour and a half! 2 hours tops! Jules, you have a job, next time pay for a stinking cab to take you and your luggage to Manhattan to the path station and ride it to Jersey! It is so convenient and soooo worth the 50 bucks! Then you only have to walk from your train stop to home... Crazy people. Sometimes spending a little extra money for more convenient and luxurious travel conditions is wildly worth it. Last time I came to visit you, it to us 45 minutes to get from JFK to your work IN A CAB! Glad you made it home safe, but learn from your misery!
Love ya.

Your mean sis.

Mr. Belvedeere said...

don't listen to 'em matt...the stories you have by not taking the easy way are worth it and now that you saved $40 you can spend that on something cool like a watch with awesome functions like a barometer or altimeter instead of something boring like a car ride. however, i can't even imagine how bad it must have smelled being in that subway car...that's where you earn my sympathy. when you're outnumbered 4:2 by homeless there is no way to combat the odor of B.O., urine, and butt.

Matt, Julee, Carlee, Danilyn and Peter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Matt, Julee, Carlee, Danilyn and Peter said...

Thanks for the backup Norm, I like to see that there are still some people out there who know how to spend their money.
MJ

Suspension Bridges said...

Those are excellent memories Matt. They will also help you cherish the day when you step out of the airport door and have someone waiting for you or a car ready to be driven home.

cyrie said...

So Matt, what you are saying is, it is more important to spend money on stuff like a new watch for yourself, than on the comfort of the pregnant woman carrying your child? Norm, is obviously not the smartest friend you have.

Matt, Julee, Carlee, Danilyn and Peter said...

Pain is only temporary; it makes you tougher, and helps you enjoy life when you are not in pain. Watches are tangible and can be used countless times. I think I am going to have to stick with Norm on this one.

Wright Life said...

Ohhh, reading your post brings back the old days. I remember Matt, when you dumped hundreds of dollars into that beat up old Honda you had. Only until it got stuck in second gear and would not move did you break down and buy a newer, better car. Another memory that reading your post brought back, was when I was trying to read your old chemistry notes, and had a great time trying to decipher what you had written. I quickly learned that it was easier to read them phonetically. Ohh, Matt I have nothing but love for you bro.
d

Matt, Julee, Carlee, Danilyn and Peter said...

If everything was written and read phonetically I think we would all be better off.
MJ

Garrett and Mindy Sessions said...

Mattjohn... i got the tires!!! You rock.. I owe you. They work great. I will be doin' a blog on them soon.