Click my ruby slippers TID......

Athena

Athena

New Member
Well, just a couple things. I figured I would give an update as far as my health stuff. I am not getting any better and actually getting worse pretty quick. I plan on finishing out this quarter at Ohio State. I applied for disability and have not worked since the end of January. Money is VERY limited for me as a result. What I hope you all can help me figure out is a cheap way to get home to Tacoma(Seattle), WA. I want to leave March 16th in the evening or shortly after. Due to the amount of pain and discomfort I have, I can't just buy a coach seat for that long of a flight. Does anyone have any ideas?
 
I talked to them today. The only program I am eligeable for (due to my time restraints) would be through Southwest. While their general seating has more room than the butt end of coach in a 757 I don't think I could manage 6.5-11 hours in the seat. Any other ideas???

sickpuppy.gif

Feelin' like one sick puppy...
tongue.gif
 
can you sit in a first class seat or is it pretty much any seat in general?

can the doc give you some pain killers so that you'd be able to sit for a certain amount of time?
 
[ QUOTE ]
can you sit in a first class seat or is it pretty much any seat in general?

can the doc give you some pain killers so that you'd be able to sit for a certain amount of time?

[/ QUOTE ]

Southwest doesnt have a first class, as far as I know, and the any seat thing is standard
 
I think that I could do a first class ticket since the seats have more room and positioning options. The leg room would be the biggest ouch of coach as my knees would be in a relatively fixed position. As far as pain killers go....there are no real options to deal with my nerve pain since it is not an inflammatory pain (NSAIDS anti-inflammatories, narcotics don't work). They tried giving me prednisone (cortisone) and that made the pain worse. Prolly will see if the doc can give me something that will make me sleep the whole time. Last couple days I have been in bed all but like 2 or 3 hours a day. Stupid fatigue.... Just gotta wait until 3/16 then I can go home. There's no place like home....There's no place like home...........
 
If you can't fly, could you drive? or be driven? I have a conversion van that makes into a small bed in the back plus has captains chairs. It's better than first class, but much, much, slower, than flying....hehe.

I'd be happy to make it available for you and, depending on my schedule, might be able to do part of the driving. Perhaps we could get some other volunteers do some of the driving, folks that have jumpseat priviliges who could position and deposition to key areas along the route.

I bought this van on ebay out of florida and drove it cross country to spokane, so I know it's up to the task. I figure it can't be more than 48 hours from OH to WA...straight through.

Or maybe you could just take the train.
 
I'd imagine that the train would probably be even more uncomfortable with the tracks, swaying and all....

I'm sure doug and I could volunteer some time - he loves to drive and I'm a pretty darn good navigator!! plus, maybe we could stop and see some sights on the way
grin.gif
 
It is about a 50 or so hour drive. Honestly, I don't feel safe driving myself as my mental (emotionally and psychologically fine though) faculties are being affected as well as the rest of my body. I could fly first class since the seating allows me to reposition myself various ways and my legs would not be cramped in. I checked on the train. It would require a 3.5 houra of humping the dog (Greyhound bus) to Cleveland. Out of curiousity, are the passes open in March?
 
We haven't really had a winter this year. It's been one of the mildest winters on record. Some of the ski areas didn't even bother opening.

The van is an AWD with siped tires. I bought it for reliable transportation in the worst of winters. "the passes" won't be a problem.
 
Cool. I was back for the month of December and was shocked at how mild the weather was as compared to past winters.
 
Yeah....so anyway. I'm off that week. Just to make it clear, I'm offering you the van at no cost and I'll pay for the gas. It would be nice to get several people to do the driving, as I'm getting to old for those 48 hour non-stop drives. We are a month away....so you got some time to think about it. Let me know.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Due to the amount of pain and discomfort I have, I can't just buy a coach seat for that long of a flight. Does anyone have any ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]

Odds are you can get a row to yourself if it's not full. Until spring break starts, the loads are fairly light. You can also get up and move around if you need too. Just explain to the F/As your problem. I have spent more than half of several flights standing up in the galley chatting, so I am sure there will be opportunities to move about. You can also preboard and pick a good seat. If it happens to be an a/c that still has the club seating, then you could get the seat across from you to stretch your legs on. The SWA non rev travel planner shows #502 from CMH @ 6:30am arrives SEA @ 9:30am with 1 stop is still wide open. The two week advance fares will be the cheapest, so within that time frame most have already booked if they are going to go. The 8:30 departure with a transfer in BNA arriving SEA is also still wide open. I'd say either of these you stand a great chance of getting extra room to stretch out.
 
I have around 10 years of long haul trucking experience, and have driven the route between Ohio and Washington on I-70, I-80 and I-90 many times. I injured my ankle in March of last year, and had surgery this past December, but I might be able to swing a road trip in March if my doctor clears me to do so as far as volunteering to drive part of the distance. I'll of course check back everyday on this thread, and I'll check with my Doc when I go back for my check-up during the first week of March.

BTW, it is around 40-50 hours of driving from OH to WA, and the best routing is to take I-70 to Indianapolis, I-74 to Quad Cities, IA, I-80 to Council Bluffs, I-29 to Sioux Falls, and I-90 straight across. All Interstates is best. The major passes to go over would start in MT just west of Billings.

(edited to add):
As far as light loads on flights, the best days to fly is on Tuesday and Wednesday on the first AM flights. You are likely (not guaranteed) to get a full row to yourself during those days.

Erik.
 
As it stands I have the last appointment with my neurologist for the electromyelogram at 1230p on March 16th. So I prolly would not be able to leave until about a 6pm flight that evening (considering check in time etc).
 
I'd be willing to help out either by pitching in for a ticket or even taking one of the driving legs ... I'm not that far from Columbus ...just across the border in PA
wink.gif
 
That would be wonderful. I would appreciate anything you guys would be willing to offer. Right now a first class ticket on march 16th home is running $364.90 taxes included on Continental. The flight numbers are CO1793 and CO467. It is the shortest flight out of Columbus that evening .At least back home I have a doctor that is more skilled in neuromuscular diseases than those at Ohio State.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I checked on the train. It would require a 3.5 houra of humping the dog (Greyhound bus) to Cleveland.

[/ QUOTE ]

If the train seems like a good option other than the bus trip, I would be more than happy to pick you up in Colombus and take you up to Cleveland although I don't know that my truck would be any more comfortable than a bus, maybe just quicker.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top