I ending up leaving Lincoln MUCH later than I meant to and actually arrived at the airport in Omaha about 10 minutes before the flight was scheduled to depart.  D'oh!  Luckily, the flight had actually been delayed, so it didn't make much of a difference.  

pynk_spyder and I were able to check in anyway.  We ended up in Chicago almost an hour later than scheduled, but it's not like we had anything scheduled for tonight anyway.

On a side note, Southwest?  Very, very cheap.  It definitely shows in the service.  

We have no need or desire to check your ID at the gate.  We believe it's you (and we don't really care if it isn't).  No first class?  Whatever.  Sit where you want.  In fact, let's make it a cattle call.  You don't *need* to actually sit next to your traveling companion anyway, right?  Inappropriate "humor" by the flight attendants?  Why not!?  Not actually checking to see if anyone is buckled up or the trays are in any kind of upright position or any other "safety" measures?  What-ever... as if that matters.  Hee...

It was actually pretty hilarious.  I am now convinced that I would have been allowed to board the plane even if it hadn't been delayed.

It was totally worth the price.  I <3 saving money.

Speaking of saving money, my hotel room is surprisingly nice.  I'm not staying at the Con hotel, but at one nearby for much, much less.  Somehow I ended up with a suite for less than the cost of a normal room.  I have no idea, but I'm sure that the Internet is somehow responsible.  There's actually a pretty nice desk (and free wi-fi, obviously) where I can see myself actually doing the homework I brought.