If things had gone according to plan, I would have arrived in Austin last night just in time to join my friends for one of our customary sushi-and-bubble-tea outings at Pango.

Instead, for the second time in a row, my departure from Newark was delayed by a massive thunderstorm groundi8ng all departures from the airport.

And once again, I found myself cooped up in the plane when this occurred.

Not only that, but in anticipation of my stepping out immediately upon my return, I was looking quite spiffy in my new red shirt. The which, in the end, was seen by essentially no one but the friendly (but happily wedded) Miramax employee sharing the row with me. A rather disappointing debut.

She found herself making her first visit to Austin for the premiere of Spy Kids 2 (which one hopes will enjoy a more momentous reception than the aforementioned red shirt.) Thanks to a pleasant conversation with her about Austin and Princeton and movies in general, the whole ordeal was not quite as excruciating as the 6-hour in-plane horror story I had last time.

And, as today is laundry day, and no one in Austin has actually seen me in my sleek red accoutrement, I can wash it and wear it to Tony's birthday celebration this evening with impunity.

Heaven for small favors, as they say.

Next time, though, I shall have to try another airport.

I am, apparently, cursed by the rain god of Newark, New Jersey.