From Day One of the trip, I have been at war with the camera battery charger.   Not the charger per se, but it’s hard-shelled emotionless case. This unthinking, uncaring, unmoving hunk of reinforced plastic has brought such added strain into my life that this morning when I woke up I actually thought about hurling it out the hotel window. Then I realized the window was one of those motel jobs that doesn’t open.   Oh, how I hated this thing. So what DID I do???

Before I go on, let me say that the demon-esque case is not heavy or large at all. However, it is oddly shaped and cumbersome.

It makes carrying my 400 lbs worth of carry-on luggage virtually impossible (we have tried luggage straps, bungee cords, the might of the righteous; nothing has worked) and it makes getting down the aisle of a plane a nightmare.

On many occasions, Grumpy Santa has stirred the ire of other passengers as he has valiantly struggled to wrangle this inhuman beast onto the plane.

It has fallen, bringing my other bags down with it, it has gashed my hand, struck flight attendants, and most importantly, it puts me over the 2-carry-on limit. Finally, I was forced to check it on a Southwest flight and it caused major headaches in Detroit (see Day 3 Rant).

Bottom line: on a trip that is already so difficult for so many reasons, the added strain of trying to lug this stupid thing around just pushes me over the edge. I mean the suit is enough to deal with, not to mention all of the other gear I have shoved into my bags.

But ‘lo, after much heartache and struggle, the battle is over. Victory is mine!!!

It took awhile, but, finally, I am not the only one who sees its Evil. Others, who had dismissed my pleas, now know the Truth. The case is going back to Dallas! May it never cross my path again.

–Grumpy Santa