Wow. Just Wow.

So our trip is off to a rocky start.  Isn't that always the case?  Our flight from Lexington to Chicago was fine.  We paid $70 to eat at O'Hare because we were starving and couldn't find anything.  We went to an Italian restaurant, thinking we would have time to sit and eat in between our flights.  We barely made it.  Flight to Tampa was really turbulent--there were several collective screams as we kept "dropping" due to wind.  It was pretty scary.  We got to baggage claim around eleven to find out that Mom's luggage is STILL IN CHICAGO.  Don't worry, they will deliver it as soon as possible (but they do have at least 24 hours to get it to her).  She has nothing.  Only had her purse as a carry on.  The good news is that I have some things that she can wear until she can get her things back.  We're hoping that it doesn't come back damaged with everything missing.  If it does, though, we're going shopping!  That might be fun.  

After waiting around to try to see if her luggage MIGHT be on the next flight coming in (at 1 am) and waiting for the rental car, we finally got to the island around 1:30.  We went to go pick up the keys and found the place.  The problem was, there were four units, and we didn't know which one was ours.  We rented directly with the owner and forgot to ask!  The key didn't have the unit number on it.  So we're there at 2 am trying to figure out which unit might possibly be empty (hard to do with no lights on anywhere).  We found the one that we thought was supposed to be our rental, but the key wouldn't work.  We were afraid to jiggle it too much and alarm someone if it wasn't our unit, so we tried to call the emergency numbers we had.  We did get in touch with the rental company, who took down our name and then hung up (never to be heard from again).  We decided to try the lock again and take our chances.  It doesn't really "fit", but after forcing it, the door finally opened.

And then there is the actual unit.  Really small, really old.  Not really clean at all.  We got a good deal but we're kind of afraid to take our shoes off.  Oh, and the air conditioning doesn't work!  YAY!

We've called and they're "sending someone to fix it."  The rental car's key fob is falling apart (and it's a Magnum that takes a special key to start it).  If it breaks, we're done.  

So between waiting for Mom's luggage, waiting for the repairman, and waiting for the car to fall apart, we're having a GREAT time!  Can you tell I'm bitter (and having female problems)?

Now that I've vented...I'm going to let it go, enjoy the sun and the beach.  It is still as beautiful as ever.  I'll try to post some pictures later.