Rookie Mistake
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85146)
Shingle Springs, California
October 12, 2009 4:52pm CST
I'm a fairly seasoned traveler. I fly at least a couple of times a year most years. And since I've moved from Los Angeles to Sacramento, I've flown quite a lot. The first year after I moved up here I flew down there and other places on business pretty much monthly. So I'm fairly up on what it takes to get checked in, through security, etc. with a minimum of muss and fuss. I remove my sharp implements of destruction from my purse and either leave them at home or in my checked bags. I don't check a bag unless I absolutely have to. I get to the airport with enough time to spare, in case it's crowded. I have my documents out and ready when they're needed. I don't wear shoes that are difficult to remove.
So on Saturday when I flew down to Ontario, I had no trouble at all. Coming back was a little more difficult since I'm not familiar with the airport. I had it all planned out in my head. Put the cell phone in the purse. Take out the boarding pass and driver's license. Put away the driver's license. Take off the jacket, shoes, camera and fanny pack. Hold onto the boarding pass. Thing is, as soon as I walked into the terminal, the security line was right there. So I grabbed the boarding pass and driver's license and went on through.
So there was a look of shock on my face when I stepped through the metal detector and it went off. That had never happened to me before. The security guy asks me, "do you have a cell phone?" Oops. Guess what I forgot to take out of my pocket. So as I went back to put it in a bowl and put it through the x-ray machine, some smart aleck behind me loudly says "rookie mistake!" lol
Ah well, it gave me something to laugh about when I got to the top of the stairs and saw that ALL the food places were already closed. Yep, I had planned on having dinner there before the flight.
Blessing in disguise really as I had already eaten way too much at my cousin's house. But I texted Richard that I had had no dinner because everything was closed. And just to prove that men don't read minds, he was completely clueless when I met him at the other end and asked him what's for dinner. 
Well dinner ended up being cheese stick and jelly beans! 
I sure do know how to live, don't I?
Well dinner ended up being cheese stick and jelly beans!
I sure do know how to live, don't I?2 people like this
15 responses
@tankermone (22)
• United States
12 Oct 09
The best-laid plans of mice and men, and frequent fliers, usually are dashed in the real world, but at least you have something to write about! lol
@GardenGerty (160909)
• United States
13 Oct 09
Not only do your rookie mistakes keep you young, but by providing a chuckle you helped keep the guy behind you in excellent health. Good job.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
13 Oct 09
Well what's wrong with cheese sticks and jelly beans? LOL.....I had a boo boo when I went to New York...and I fly quite often too....I forgot and brought my bottle of water with me.....can't get that one past security either.....but it's okay. I'd rather have them take it then let someone pass through with a bottle with something else in it!
2 people like this
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
20 Oct 09
It can be really easy to make the mistake of attempting to take a mobile phone through airport security. Yes, it is made from some metal so it does set the alarm off. The first time I went to Australia back in 1999 no food was permitted into the country. I had to throw away a packet of cornflakes that I had bought in Fiji but had been made in Australia. In the USA at Los Angeles Airport I forgot the pair of scissors in my hand bags. Security took them from me.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
20 Oct 09
And then there was the apple my husband tried to bring on a plane. He ended up eating it and then going through security.
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
12 Oct 09
Hi dawnald,
I have done all y traveling on planes I think because now we don't go anywhere, if I do go anywhere, its just the trains i take and not out of the country, I am glad you got safley back though even though it was only cheese sticks and jelly beans, but its home.
Tamara
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Oct 09
when I was in England those trains were BUMPY - I supposed they've fixed that by now!!!
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
12 Oct 09
Hi dawnald,
Yeah, I do remember those bumpy old trains but they are a lot smoother not, thankd goodness, i had to sit in those trains for five hours so its better now and you won't numb bum either, lol!
Tamara
1 person likes this
@strawberrybaby39 (2086)
• United States
16 Oct 09
LOL that would have been something trying to get through the check out. I hope your day went better after that one happened. I am sure you must have been hungry but if that is all you have to eat cheese sticks and jelly beans I guess that is what you'll eat. I am sure everyone makes mistakes going through the checkout.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
17 Oct 09
It went fine after that. And there was other food, but I really wasn't very hungry!
@strawberrybaby39 (2086)
• United States
17 Oct 09
Ah I see. I am sure it could have been up setting going through all that though through the check out. I am sure I would have been a little. But mistakes happen to everyone I am sure. Know one in this world is perfect. Airports do everything they can to protect us anymore. Have a great day.
1 person likes this
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
12 Oct 09
Hi dawn
Or should I say ms.rookie. You know we all are entitled to have a mistake every now and then. I would have laughed if the guy would have set off the alarm too. That would have been real funny....LOL..You have a good evening and keep smiling.
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
12 Oct 09
Now you only have to be careful for about 2 more months. Then YEA...you get to start over again. Keep up the good work girl...LOL
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160909)
• United States
13 Oct 09
Rookie mistakes keep us young, don't they. I told Bob what to make for supper, but it did not happen. I am okay with what we had, but there was a method to my madness. At least today there was something cooked when I got home. It has been ages since we have flown.I do not have the patience. I like driving. We will have a nice drive this weekend.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Oct 09
I like driving too, but not 8 hours each way for an afternoon thing!
@TheGreatWhiteBuffalo (4822)
• United States
17 Oct 09
LOL Yumm, I'm a bit behind, you sure do have a lot to write about... :)
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
19 Oct 09
Not today I don't. And just as well. Today I have a lot of catching up to do!!!
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
13 Oct 09
i fried a camera going through one of those once..i don't know why it didn't ring.
but i completely spaced that i had it in my bag.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
14 Oct 09
yea,it was a bummer..but on the upside,it was just a 110 camera,and they were phasing them out anyway.
but even the forwarding mechanism jammed-i was suprised at that..maybe the film melted?
1 person likes this
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
13 Oct 09
Yes, you do, rookie !
I plan things this way too but there always does seem to be something I miss out on. Either something I didn't know or something I forgot.
And, oh yes, the people at the other end of the stick don't have to know your mistakes either !
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Oct 09
I don't forget often when I'm by myself like this. Much easier when the kids are bickering and distracting me!
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
13 Oct 09
I was trying out a toe ring when I took my first trip. It was a cheapo fake one because I wanted to make sure I could stand to wear it before I invested in a real one. I can wear one just fine it seems and I forgot all about having it on. Before it was over with, I was sitting in a chair with my legs straight up in the air while they run a detector across my legs and feet before we finally figured out what it was..lol..talk about compromising postions..thank goodness I hadn't worn a skirt..lol.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Oct 09
Here, have a jelly bean...
I didn't take them off until I got to the security area, silly... 
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
13 Oct 09
Cheese stick and jelly beans??!! No thank you!
I remember when the "no sharps" rule first came in and I hadn't heard of it. I had my little manicure set in my handbag as always. As my handbag went through the Xray, a voice called out "This woman has scissors!" and two burly guards came rushing over, either side of me. Talk about over-reaction! Here was a little grandma who was going to stick up a plane with tiny little manicure scissors? They'd fall apart and their blades of about an inch wouldn't do much damage anyway! Oh well, at least I had an excuse to buy a new manicure set.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Oct 09
Was that YOU I saw on all those wanted posters? yikes...
