This morning, Saturday, I set the alarm for 6:30 and rolled over, shocked to wake at 8ish. So starting my day writing the blog here at Zorida’s house in Texas. It is a two-hour time difference, so I did not sleep until midnight local time.
Yesterday was a travel day, and they are always hard. I woke at 6ish PST, having slept poorly, as usual, in my room at the Raddison. It is always to sleep in a loudish, unfamiliar place. I rose, showered, dressed, and repacked the few items I had out. I then dragged all my luggage to the restaurant that charged $15 for breakfast, which was free in most places. But, still, I had it and paid. Biskets and gravy with coffee from a self-service buffet fortified me for my adventures at PDX.
The shuttle was early, but I had finished my food, paid, and was in the lobby ready. My two bags plus carry-on for this trip joined me in the van. The driver regaled us with tales of working non-stop for a week. All the other drivers were stuck in the snow or had breakdowns, and he was at the hotel and thus got to cover everyone. The hotel runs a car park, so they must pick up people at PDX to get their vehicles at all times.
The driver was sad that he was not at his sister’s beach house in South America. The other passenger asked lots of questions, and we learned the details. I think the other passenger will look up the area and try it out. It made for a fascinating drive through the snow and ice, still quite pronounced, to PDX.
I was flying first class and upset a fellow flyer when I let the Alaska crew on first. This crew was flying with us to Seattle, obviously to support flights. He all but said, “Who is this riff-raff getting on before us?” But his wife calmed him and explained that we let the crew on the plane. I was in a floppy sweater and Nike shoes, and he thought me just some of the help. He did startle when I sat in the 1st class section. Apparently, I am a traitor to my class with my politeness.
The first flight was on a smaller jet with three seats, one and two. Some passengers were surprised and happy to see me in the expensive seats. Apparently, politeness and friendliness win you lots of friends in the proletariat. It was a forty-five-minute flight with no service. A milk carton of water was in my seat. I left it on the plane for the next person.
Tacoma-Seattle Airport is a maze. I found the one sign and an escalator descending to the tunnels and trains. Two stops, and I was at N gates. I had more time as the flight was delayed by 30 minutes. Bad Egg, a newish concept restaurant, was busy, and the bar was packed. I found a table in the back. I ordered the egg and Spam slice, fried, set over donuts covered in syrup. I paid the extra for cheesy grits. It was wonderfully awful and not likely something I will try again, but it was fun in all its heart-stopping flavors.
The plane process was the usual, but more rushed and less concerned. I had an older seatmate in first class and the window. The plane was an older 737-800, which I think is the most uncomfortable plane in service. The economy is smelly and loud, and the seats are thinly padded and so close that a trip to the restroom (no joy to use in its doll-house-sized facilities) is a flexibility test for you and anyone seated with you. Asile seating means you are bumped the whole trip. I love the 737-Max with its extra air movement and colorful lighting. While the seats are still insanely close, at least you get a screen and plugs for your gadgets.
My seatmate ignored me and read–perfect. I read on my iPhone until I had to get out my new power brick with built-in cables, one for an iPhone and one for a C USB, which uses a supercharging process to recharge the phone in thirty minutes. Excellent. My Kindle, still at home, syncs the page I am on with the iPhone app, so I am always reading in the same place. Perfect. I set my phone for free texting supplied by Alaska Air, ignoring the $8 fee for better slow internet access for a three-hour trip. I chatted with folks on the ground while we flew to Texas.
Dinner was chicken; I asked the steward (using the gender-free word) what she recommended. The steward for First Class was dressed in pants and a sweater, going with Alaska Airlines’ more practicality. She chatted with the passengers in the first two rows. We on 2 were all reading.
The food was a surprise, and I had ginger ale as the Spam was not settled. I eat when I can and when offered on a travel day. You never know when food service will be canceled, the plane will be rerouted to some remote place, or other possible crazy things will happen when traveling.
The plane arrived with no problems, and I walked the long hallways of San Antonio airport, but this time, I knew where I was going. I had to wait for my bags to appear. They survived uninjured, and I carried them to the rent-a-car desk.
It took the usual long time for all of this. One group was still going when I left! A mistake was made in my reservation. The car was there, and I would drop it off at Lewis Armstrong Airport, but I had only a one-day rental! This was corrected, and the most expensive part of the trip was the car, like last time. The full coverage was $68 a day, let alone the rent cost. You can tell that the car companies have consolidated and now charge what they want. Another group cannot form a cheaper car rental as the fixed costs are so high. The corporation has eliminated competition and only has artificial competition. It is a sign of our times–limited competition by acquisition.
I was happy to have the car until the 28th and found my purple CR-V Honda. I have an SUV, which also makes the price higher. There is navigation. Well, I get to use my phone. That is not that fun. I also have to pull over on the road to find the lights for the Air Honda (my new ride). A police car reminds me that this is no place to pull over, and I move on. I managed to circle the airport once but finally followed the phone’s directions. On the highways in Texas!
For me the most challenging part of the trip is the rental. It is expensive and a learning experience. It is much worse in the dark and in end-of-day work traffic. It is high stress as I balance the phone trying to read it and find the matching tiny signs of Texas without making a sudden and crunchy lane change.
I am headed North, which finally fits my driving direction, and my iPhone app agrees. I called Zorida; my phone was connected to the rental this time, and it soon arrived. I park Air Honda and unload.
Zorida and I catch up, and I give a small wrapped box. Earrings I found in Susie’s unsent gifts. Susie would forget to send them, or it did not get done. They are stylized Elephants, which had to be for Zorida, who collects statues of elephants. Zorida and I both shed a tear, remembering Susie.
I went to bed but then got Doc’s messages and answered them. I need a cardiac write-up for the surgery. I get back to my computer and reply. I have more appointments to make.
I read a bit and finally slept.
Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 