For some reason nearly every time I travel I seem to get stopped by TSA. Sometimes it’s my fault, while other times it seems like I am selected for a random screening for some odd reason.

When I was in Colorado and flying back home I got stopped because I forgot to take my iPad out of my backpack. The iPad has been dead for at least a month. Luckily they didn’t need to turn it on to make sure it was safe. Instead, they just took these strips to determine if it had any “residue” on it. Of course, it didn’t. They let me go along with my belongings and I was able to board my flight.

This past week I was in New York City for my girlfriends birthday. I’ll have a complete post about this soon. Anyways, on the way up I got through security in Atlanta just fine.

Ever since I was little I have always enjoyed taking the extra shampoos, conditioners, body wash, and bars of soap. Don’t ask my why because I do not know. I have just always done it. My thought behind why I do it is so that I have something just in case I happen to run out and have not gotten a replacement.

Being in New York for 5 days I amassed quite the collection of hotel toiletries. When we were packing our bags to head home I stuffed them all into a single gallon ziplock bag. I then placed this bag into my normal toiletries bag. Saying it barely fit would be a major understatement. My girlfriend looked at me like I was some sort of nerd for doing this.

I always seem to be the last person in the group who goes through security and I always take forever. I always have a laptop and most of the time a tablet. I always wear a necklace that has to be worn on the outside of my clothes. There’s always stuff in my pockets that need to be taken out. To top it off, I rarely check my bag so that’s with me also.

After getting everything situated and on the security belt, I push it through and walk to go through the x-ray machine. I pass through just fine.

My laptop comes through no problem.

My suitcase comes through no problem.

My backpack gets averted to the special line.

Ahhh why am I not surprised.

By now, the rest of the group is ready to go eat breakfast, but they are stuck waiting on me.

I didn’t know what it was that got me flagged this time. When I walk over to the where the TSA agent is going into a more detailed security check she says, “are you with this lady? If not, you must stand right there.”

Strike 1.

So this is how it’s going to go, I’m thinking in my head.

When it’s my turn, the TSA bag checker goes up to the X-ray machine worker and they chat for at least 45 seconds about my bag.

She then brings it over and asks me if there was anything sharp or dangerous she should be worrying about.

I said no in the most sarcastic voice I possibly could. She obviously didn’t like that too much.

Strike 2.

By now I’m thinking I’m screwed and will probably end up in the back alley in New Jersey if things keep going like they are.

She’s going through my bag and pulls out the bag of toiletries quizzing me why I have to have so many bottles of shampoo and conditioner.

Not trying to get strike three I realized I need to put some charm on her. I told her my obsession with keeping the toiletries from every hotel I go to and that this was an incredible hotel we stayed at.

The tides were turning. She was falling for the charm.

She then proceeded to tell me how one time she wanted to take the comforter because it was the softest thing she has ever slept with.

I was in the clear with TSA, but now the rest of the group is getting antsy as I was taking forever and slowing them down.

I got all my stuff packed back up and made it home safely.

My toiletry get was safe and sound and pretty impressive.

Have you ever got bag searched extra by TSA?