Buzz Kill

i have been so excited for this week...not only do i get to celebrate a new promotion, but i have plans to travel to chicago for work for 2 days then off to idaho for a weekend of wakeboarding, river rafting, hiking, etc. how could one not be excited?

well, i've just experienced the total traveling buzz kill. would you like to join me on my journey?
3:30 pm - arrive at LAX, check-in, no hiccups
4:10 pm - board the plane for departure at 4:27
4:25 pm - pull away from the gate. since i'm running on .5 hours of sleep in the past 34 hours, i quickly fall into a deep slumber despite punk kid who smells like cigarettes next to me
5:15 pm - rudely awoken by loud speaker as the plane is heading back to the gate. the reason? "the plane is missing a part that is critical for safety. we cannot take this plane to chicago."
okay, fine. but did we really just figure this out after an hour of sitting on the runway??
5:40 pm - good news..."we have found another plane that can take us to chicago this evening. bad news..."it will not be here for another 2 hours."
5:50 pm - deplane.
6:15 pm - try to eat a crappy salad at wolfgang puck's for dinner. try to do something productive for the next 1.5 hours.
7:45 pm - board plane #2 of the evening.
7:50 pm - kick trash at the crossword puzzle featured in "Horizons Magazine" because i've already been on a couple united flights this month. go team.
8:00 pm - crash...er, fall asleep.
2:18 am (CST) - arrive in chicago, deplane, get luggage, try to find a cab. dude in a town car approaches me. i specifically ask, "is there a premium fee for this cab ride?" ...the leather seats just look too good to be true for standard airport transport. his response: "no." then he proceeds to invite others to the cab. fine. if it takes part of the cost burden, i'm fine with it.
2:50 am - arrive at hotel after dropping off other passengers. total = $65. what?!? that's "standard" for a 25 min. cab ride w/two passengers four blocks away from each other? did he charge the other guy $65 too?? you've got to be kidding me. the guy proceeds to add a $15 tip to the bill rather than the $8 i originally specified. right. i get his name and number and let him know that i'll be calling his company. whatever.
3:00 am - attempt to check-in to the hotel. front desk can't find my reservation. i should be sharing a room w/someone from work, but this hotel only maintains the name of the first person on a reservation. i call our company Group Travel Services...no luck...they don't know the roomie assignments. me: "fine. then can i just get a room at least." front desk: "well, we're overbooked."
how can a hotel be overbooked? it's not like there are people other than me strewn about the lobby.
3:45 am - after trying everything short of going to another hotel for 45 min, ultimately decide to find a couch in the lobby and just chill, work, etc. until i can contact someone about the rooms, finally check-in, and take a shower before training begins at 8:00 am.

so, yeah. that's my buzz kill. i'm still looking forward to the remainder of the week and the weekend, but with just a few more (...or less) reservations.