Where in the world was Carmen San Diego?

We have finally returned from our voyage east to see Brad's grandfather, aka Poppy. He recently moved in with the fam Sherm and is awaiting completion of his new room, commonly referred to as Poppy's Suite.

Overall, it was a good trip. Brad was very happy to see and spend time with his Poppy, and hopefully Poppy felt the same way.

And now, here are a few thoughts about the trip:

• If you want the true New York experience, skip JFK or LaGuardia and fly into Long Island's MacArthur Airport. Brad and I swear that we were the only nonresidents on the flight from Atlanta to Islip. Some of the people on that plane were so stereotypical, there were like cartoons.

• Brad's parents had never been to Outback Steakhouse.

• No matter how many first class seats are available or how much money you're willing to fork over, if you have a class "T" super saver ticket, Delta will keep you in the back with the steerage.

• Somewhere over New Mexico (or Wisconsin or the Big Island or somewhere like that) I saw another airliner traveling at a high rate of speed, but it was so close that I could tell it was a Continental plane and the guy in seat 34G was drinking orange juice.

• While attempting to land in Atlanta, the plane in front of us "slowed down prematurely" according to our pilot, causing us to change course and climb quite rapidly. It was not a pleasant moment.


• Brad and I were excited to be back in the LA terminal where we spotted Wilford Brimley 5 years ago. And while sitting at the California Pizza Kitchen, Brad thought he spotted actors Scott Wolf and Sharif Atkins, separately of course. I don't know, it might have been Scott Wolf.

• On the drive home from the airport we heard a tornado warning for Lanai broadcast on the radio. People were urged to go to their basements. I'd just like to see a house here with a basement.

• And finally, we returned to our apartment to find that maintenance had come in while we were gone and reglued the countertop above the dishwasher. But we never asked them to do that ... and the form that they left us says apartment "B106." We're not in the "B" building OR in apartment #106. We just want them to fix the dishwasher soap holder that hasn't shut for 6 months.