Weekend Getaway in Ups and Downs

Written at 5:00 pm at Gate B3, Chicago Midway Airport

Friday:
:( Had to leave my attention-starved kitties for yet another weekend
:) Going to see Eric!
:) The kitties have plenty of food and water
:( I just realized I can't remember the last time I cleaned their litter box

:) Managed to pack all carry-on luggage, including toiletries! This won't work for a special occasion trip like a wedding, but it's nice to know I'm capable of it for a normal weekend!

:) I was post-call on Friday, so I planned to leave the VA by 12:45 pm for my 2:10 pm flight to Philly for the weekend
:( My COPD exacerbation patient strokes out before our eyes. At 12:00 pm Friday. At 12:20, I'm wheeling him down to radiology for a stat head CT.
:) I'm finally useful -- dare I say, instrumental? -- in a patient's care.
:( He's having a stroke.
:) The intern completes his transfer to University Hospital. There is nothing more I can do.
:( It's 1:30. It takes 15 minutes to drive to the airport.
:) I'm already checked in and printed my boarding pass last night. I have only carry-on. I can walk straight to the gate!
:( I have to pee. Have had to pee for 2 hours already, actually. I haven't eaten lunch, either.
:) I walk as fast as I can to the gate and get there just as they're calling my boarding group. I walk straight onto the plane, just in time!
:( No time to pee or buy food.
:) Window seat toward the back, just as I like it!
:( An obese woman sits in the aisle seat in my row.
:) Flight is not overly full. Obese woman prevents anyone from sitting between us.
:( There is turbulence. The captain never turns off the fasten-seatbelt sign, so I have to hold my urine for another hour.

:) Most "It's a Small World" moment: I run into Matt, one of Eric's high school friends, in the A terminal of Midway. Completely random.
:) Get to see Duc and play Guitar Hero.

Saturday:
:) / :( Most "Holy F****** S***" moment: Cloverfield. I haven't been that affected by a movie in... never. Do not go see this movie unless you're prepared to be not only scared shitless, a la the original Lost monster scenes, but also to be deeply disturbed. Go J.J. Abrams.

Sunday:
:( Had to leave Eric to come back home.

:) The 1.5-hour, 57-mile train ride from Absecon, NJ (just west of Atlantic City, close to Eric's office), to 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, costs $7.50. Go, New Jersey Transit!
:( The 20-minute, 8-mile train ride from 30th Street Station to the Philly airport costs $6. Boo, SEPTA!

:( When I get to the airport, my connection from Midway to Louisville is already delayed 1.5 hours, to 8 pm. Not looking forward to a 4.5-hour layover in Chicago.
:) By the time I get to Midway, the flight is only delayed 4 hours.
:( The flight is overbooked
:) Southwest needs volunteers to get bumped, and they'll give me $200 plus the cost of my flight in vouchers if I take the 9:30 pm flight. I'm the first to sign up.
:( I won't get into Louisville until 11:40 pm.
:) I packed all carry-on! No lost luggage for me.

Updated just now
:( They don't need to bump anyone. The original flight is delayed so late, some people apparently choose not to check in, and there are exactly enough seats for everyone.
:( The original flight doesn't take off until 9 pm. $300 in Southwest vouchers was just 30 minutes away from my grasp!