Here’s the latest: I wasn’t feeling so hot when I got into Billings, Montana last night; so my colleagues arranged for me to see a doctor, AND, even better, they cut today’s schedule way down. I’m afraid we’re losing some states from my epic journey, but between the 10-hours of sleep I had and the antibiotics, I’m a new man! Well, no, I’m still a slightly run-down, unshaven, disheveled man, but I am doing better. Anyway, the doctor’s visit was the finale of a terrible day…the worst of it? The Very Worst? Click “more” if you dare…

I have to backtrack a bit. My terrible day began with my love for Buddy Holly. Platonic love, mind you. Music-love.

But that love instilled in me a near crippling fear of prop planes. Before yesterday, I had only flown one really small prop plane, and I white-knuckled it the whole time. Anyway, we took a prop plane from Denver to Sheridan, Wyoming and on to Billings, Montana.

I cringed at every bump, altitude drop, shift in wind direction, etc.

Yes, I am a coward, America. The pilot and first officer were superb, and our landing was one of the smoothest we’ve had the entire trip, but I still felt like I was on a roller coaster that wouldn’t end. Oh, and I sat right over the engine, so my chair vibrated the entire time (and not in a nice massage chair way), and the noise was deafening.

When we got back on the plane to head into Billings, I couldn’t get that “Bye, Bye Miss American Pie” song out of my head. It turned out that there were only four of us going on to Montana, and we all had to move to the back of the plane to “balance things out”. Yeah, I don’t want my weight to dictate how things might turn out.

I have been assured by people who know a lot more than me that prop planes are safe, and in many ways, more dependable than jets. That may be true, but I’m not eager to get back on one any time soon.

Stay Grumpy!

–GS

Grumpy Scale: 2, got a good night’s sleep.

What’s on Grumpy Santa’s iTunes? Actually, I’m lounging and watching TV in a hotel room. Nice.