Warning, warning! Hazmat materials

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Back to flying the skies! Only a couple of hiccups this go around. Even though we had a "fastpass" to get through the checkpoints without having to take off shoes, sweaters, etc., Mike was randomly selected to have the full "pat down".  Fortunately, he passed.
Then, while we were sitting at the terminal waiting to board, they called my name over the loud speaker and ask me to come to their counter.

 I did so and they said I had "hazmat materials" in my luggage.  WHAT?  The man had no idea what it could have been and seemed too hurried to answer my questions.  I asked him if I needed to do anything and he said no.  He just needed my address.  When, I went back and told Mike we started thinking about all the things we had packed to bring back with us.  He had some power tools, power batteries.  We bought oxygen packets so that we could start preparing the food storage for missionaries to have in case of emergency.  I had some extra spices and food.  We bought extra vitamins.  We actually brought our old green suitcases full of things!

As we were boarding the plane, I thought to myself, "What if they just keep the suitcase?"

Friday, May 30, 2014

Arrived into Montevideo about 10 am and we are missing one suitcase. RATS!  They must have kept it. Now what?  But, after checking with baggage control there was still one suitcase in Miami and it would take the next flight.  The airlines would deliver our bag to us tomorrow at our apartment.  HOORAY! The Elders picked us up and took us to the van parked at the temple parking lot.  We drove home and started to unpack our goodies to try and determine what was missing. 
All vitamins- check
All oxygen packets - check
All power tools -SORT of...NO BATTERIES
Not all food items - still some in the wayward suitcase

We are pretty sure that the batteries for Mike's tools were the hazmat problem.  His tools are worthless without the batteries but we can get some from China and have them sent here.

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Mike went over to the mission office to check on some things and my Casio keyboard finally arrived! The transformer for 220v has not come yet but it will work on batteries.

Our suitcase was delivered and Mike’s batteries were in the suitcase!  Oh happy day!

So what was the big hazmat problem! 

All that was missing was my 4 bottles of Costco size Pam Spray.



After all it is a hazmat item!


Just to clarify things, Briana and I did look this up before we bought these to see if we could take these:

"Other aerosols, if allowed, should be packed in checked baggage, regardless of size.  You may not travel with flammable aerosols such as:
Aerosol laundry starch
Aerosol static remover
Spray paint
Spray cleaners/lubricants, ex WD-40
Aerosol surface disinfectants and other cleaners"

SO, I have no clue WHY?!