As you know, I recently attended the Romance Writers of America annual conference in San Antonio, Texas. Here I am on my first day, super excited to learn and do everything humanly possible at this event.
Photo taken by K. Mathews. San Antonio Riverwalk.
It was a thrilling time, but getting there was a study in patience. Apparently a slightly petite woman traveling alone with only one small carry-on bag is a huge red flag to the TSA people. I got the full five-star security check point treatment, complete with full body pat-down and – this was new to me – both of my palms swabbed. That’s right – I was swabbed for possible explosives residue.
When I questioned the lovely ladies – yes there were more than one – who provided this fantastic service, I was informed that apparently my brilliantly sparkly tank top set off the sensors in the scanning tube, alerting the authorities that I was a potential security risk. Seriously? I mean, I warned Texas I was coming, but I was kidding. All joking aside, who knew that glitter and sequins were comprised of the same components used to make bombs? Here is the offending garment.
Photo by P. Rickrode.
And it apparently wasn’t just my person that was suspicious. When I got to my hotel room and started to unpack, I noticed a slip of paper in my suitcase. Upon inspection, it appears as though my bags were thoroughly inspected as well. What the heck? Really?
Photo by P. Rickrode
And speaking of pats, I had the most wonderful experience on Wednesday night when I arrived. I got to meet and have dinner with the delightful and super sweet Pat O’Dea Rosen. Pat is a super classy lady with a gorgeous smile and giving attitude. I am so blessed to have met this wonderful lady in person. Here is a photo of Pat and I and Kristina Mathews enjoying our dinner at the water’s edge on what was undoubtedly the hottest night in San Antonio history. Despite the heat, I had a blast with Kristi and Pat.
From left to right: Kristina Mathews, Patricia Rickrode (aka Jansen Schmidt) and Pat O’Dea Rosen. San Antonio Riverwalk.
So lesson learned? Don’t wear bling to the airport and if having dinner with a dear friend in Texas in July, eat inside.
Have you ever been swabbed for explosives? What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you at the security check point?
Word of the Day: Xyloid
Fun Fact about me: I’m not crazy about concerts.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, August 2014. Original photos by P. Rickrode.
jansenschmidt 
LOL never had an experience like that, maybe because I dress in boring jeans and t-shirts! But I don’t care much for concerts either, because they involve crowds.
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Well Jennette, remember for the future in case there’s that special event where you want to look sparkly and good when you arrive at your destination. Avoid the bling. What an embarrassing experience all the way around. I truly felt like a criminal.
In addition to the crowds, concerts are also loud and usually rowdy. Not my cup of tea.
Thanks for stopping by this morning. Have a great week!
Patricia
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I had the opposite airport experience. I was bumped up to first class on the way there and when I landed in San Francisco, I spent my layover chatting with Terry McLaughlin, so it was like having conference extended for a few hours.
Thank you so much for being my roommate. I had a wonderful time. The blisters on my feet are almost healed and my manuscript is in the hands of my editor.
I did come home to a broken air conditioner that is fixed temporarily, but it will need to be replaced before winter. .
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Oh quit bragging, Kristi. Next time we’ll switch and you can be the questionable passenger.
Lunch with Terry would indeed be a wonderful experience; a post-conference wind-down session. I’m glad you got that chance. Terry’s a very nice gal.
I returned home to no air conditioning. It’s only $10K to install it so that won’t happen for awhile. Maybe when I get that big book deal.
Congrats on the manuscript to the editor. Now get started on the next series.
Thanks for visiting today.
Patricia
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Huggles Jansen on the traumas of traveling these days. I just had my legs patted on the trip to Portland. Just the back of my pants, which seemed weird to me. In Nashville one time a travel friend got patted because she had sandles with staples and the machine went nuts. That was pre-take off your shoes times. I thought the worst one was an elderly lady who was pale from chemo and they pulled her over to a counter and dumped her suitcase onto the counter and went thru it piece by piece. My heart broke for her. No common sense at some of these airports. So glad you had a great time. Good to see you and Kristina having supper together. 🙂
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Hi Paisley and a big hug right back atcha! Miss you here in Cali.
The gals who conducted the pat down were nice enough, I just had to keep standing right there – right in the way of everybody else coming through screening – while they felt me up. That part was kind of embarrassing. Then I had to be escorted – while keeping my palms extended and facing upward – to a special area for the palm swabbing. I was worried about someone swiping my bags, still on the conveyor belt, while I had my back turned. That part was worrisome to me as I had quite a bit of cash in my wallet. But, alls well that ends well and I have good fodder for blogs, FB and future books.
Thanks for visiting.
Patricia
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Well, you ARE a bit on the suspicious side, and anyone who wears that many sequins cannot be trusted. Nothing like being violated at the airport…and then get a flashback when you open your suitcase. Poor girl. 🙂
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I knew that sooner or later word about me would get out. I guess that time has arrived. Thanks for supporting my sparkly side. Apparently it can get a girl into trouble.
The TSA gals were gracious enough to ask me if they could pat me down. I mean what would have happened had I refused? Can a passenger even say “no, I don’t want to be patted down?” Like I had a choice. It was just weird that they had me keep standing there right in the middle of traffic while they violated me. People were bumping into me and saying “excuse me,” the entire time. Seems like I could have been moved to a side area or something first, but nope, they kept telling me not to move. I guess they thought I might be reaching for a gun or something. Oh well. Whatever.
Yeah, the surprise in my suitcase was special. At least all of my jewelry and my laptop were still in there. Sheesh.
Anyway, I’ve learned my lesson. No sparkles at the airport. Just be bland and blend it. BORING.
Thanks for stopping by this morning. I appreciate seeing you.
Patricia
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Well, you do look like a rather shady character, Patricia. 😉 Sparkly tops… That’s just asking for trouble. You should have known those TSA agents can’t handle a little pizazz in their ho-hum day. Next time, dress like a sloven hobo and you should get through with only the slightest of pat downs.
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Good advice Jessica. I’m adopting the slovenly hobo look for the next air trip. I guess I just can’t have nice things. The bling is a TSA magnet.
Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad this hasn’t changed your opinion of me. I was worried folks might get scared away by the questionable behavior.
Patricia
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Scared me off? No way! If anything, it has endeared me more to your true sparkly character. Keep it up! 🙂
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Whew!
Patricia
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Wow, Patricia! How awful. Good to know about the glitter shirt, though. I’ll be tucking that away in my “maybe-this-will-be-useful-someday brain file…if they don’t change it to tie-dye shirts in the meantime, that is. Sounds like your time at the convention more than made up for the travel hell, thank goodness!
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Hi Kathy. At first I rolled my eyes and told them to just do what they had to do. But when they told me to keep my palms up and follow them, I got a little worried. I started replaying in my head every single thing I had touched that morning to figure out if maybe somebody planted something on me or something. It was weird.
Thanks for your sympathy and your support.
Patricia
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This summer was sparkly for me because I got to meet you and Kristina in San Antonio and Prudence in St. John’s Newfoundland. The three of you are gifted storytellers and funny with it.
I’d have expected the airport scanning machines to be more accepting of a little glitter, especially when a passenger is headed for Texas. Humpf.
Sorry to hear both you and Kristina encountered AC problems back at home. You’d already endured sweltering heat your first evening in San Antonio. When does a girl get a break?
I so enjoyed meeting you, and that G&T was delicious!
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Oh Pat, the heat here was miserable when we got home. It was over 100 with no breeze or mercy. I live in the foothills and generally it’s cooler up at this elevation, but not that week. Sleeping was darn near impossible. At least in Texas there was a/c inside.
And getting to spend some time with you was well worth a little heat.
Thanks for stopping by and I concur, the G&T was the best ever since it was to honor such a great person!
Patricia
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I’ve been pulled off to the side, patted down, suitcases searched, but never have I had my palms swabbed. It’s all info for the story mill, isn’t it, Patricia? 🙂
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Yes, Sheila, it is good book fodder. I was starting to get worried when they told me to follow them and to keep my hands out, palms up. That part was odd. I guess they didn’t want me wiping my hands on my shorts or anything to get rid of the evidence.
I get that they have a job to do and you can’t trust anyone these days, but it was a strange experience to say the least. And people kept looking at me wondering what the heck was going on. I just kept smiling and shrugging my shoulders and saying “sorry” (because I was standing right in the way).
This experience may well appear in a book some day.
Thanks for stopping by. And beware the glitter at the airport.
Patricia
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Sounds cool, We have family in San Antonio and love the Riverwalk.
Yeah, I was swabbed for explosives once at the airport. Strange.
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Hey Phil it’s nice to know I’m not the only suspicious person. I’m pretty sure you weren’t swabbed because you were wearing a glitter tank top. Or was it? Why did they suspect you?
The Riverwalk is cool, but next time I visit I’m going during a different season. Summer is too dang hot.
Thanks for stopping by and letting me know that the airport swabbing is happening nationwide. That makes me feel better.
Patricia
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I don’t fly much – maybe once or twice a year and I’ve had my luggage searched but never anything like you described. I am sorry you had to go through it. Glad you had a great time in San Antonio – I grew up near Houston and July and August – as well as June and September, and sometimes early May and October can be unbearably hot and humid. Thank goodness for air conditioning. I melt when I go back for a visit. Glad you are home and safe.
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So what you’re saying is to visit in April or November? Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind if I ever return.
The airport ordeal was kind of strange. The only thing that had me worried was walking away from my luggage still at the end of the conveyor belt. I had to turn my back on it and I had quite a bit of cash in my wallet. That’s the part that had me worried. They wouldn’t let me turn around so I could keep an eye on it.
But, all’s well that ends well and I have a great story to tell now.
Thanks for visiting.
Patricia
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