Monday Travelling

The blog will be about travel, since that was all I really did on Monday.

I flew from Portland to Detroit all night, arriving before sunrise with no issues and no sleep. I watched a movie and may have nodded off a few times. I also have a non-conan Sherlock Holmes book with me, and follow along. I get a few pages of the next story done.

My app said I had a short walk to my gate, and with a more than three-hour wait, I had time to find breakfast and write the blog. But the app was wrong, and after putting on my shoes (my feet were uncomfortable for the four hours on the Airbus), I took the tram to the end of A gates. I had the last number, 78, at the furthest. I found a breakfast bowl full of wake-you-up spices at Qdoba, which I had never eaten before. It seemed fresh, and they were ready.

Chick-fil-A, I don’t like their politics, so I ignore them. Also, the long lines show that they are doing well and do not need me to survive. I tried to write, but all I wanted was a nap. I relented when Chick-fil-A was the only place in the area with coffee and got a cup. Still, the blog was not going to get done here. I sank into a not-that-comfortable chair and napped.

The three hours and some change evaporated, and soon my plane was called. But they were overbooked by eight. I saw the agents blanch when they realized how many there were. They offered $400 and a booking on the 2PM flight to Boston. I learned it is an auction with a higher price than paid. It was $700 when it ended. Wow!

There was a problem for a while with the loss of an email to me. The Delta folks, who were friendly and wanted to help, had to call their own accounts payable help desk and resend the payment. I have seen this issue before with some JavaScript screens. A mandatory field is cleared and reset, but not reflagged for re-entry. I once ended up with a one-day car rental picked up in Texas and dropped off in Louisiana (not the week I had initially entered into the screen); it explained the excellent deal I got! The email was blank; they discovered it, canceled the payment, and reissued it to me successfully.

I thanked the folks and headed back down A to gate sixty now. I then found a comfortable space, now fully awake, converted $700 into a $500 Delta gift card (my next flight will use that), and made four $50 gift cards for Olive Garden and related restaurants. I selected all gift cards that I know will work. I finished and published the blog. I forgot the email. The coffee only partially worked.

I found a not-that-comfortable chair at A60 and nodded off. The plane arrived, and folks deplaned. I thanked the agent for working the holiday, and that got a smile. And I was then given the worst seat on the plane. Yes, the aisle next to the toilet (it also does not recline), but I was offered a better one once I got on board. It was 90 minutes, and I had my noise-canceling earbuds (I only hear from one ear, not the one pointed at the toilet), and I was paid $700, so I was OK. It was not a problem.

I laughed through the new Naked Gun movie, which finished as the wheels hit Boston. I walked through Logan and did not remember any of this. I was here a year ago, but there is no memory of this place. I followed the signs and walked and walked and walked to baggage claim. My bag had arrived on my first flight and was waiting for me with the agent.

Sadly, there was an hour-long line to get a cheaper car from Budget. Instead of using Hertz and just walking out and taking a ‘gold’ car, I had to see the agent. Ugh! But I got to meet some folks, and we all, slightly frustrated, just put up with it. The line moved slowly, but it moved with the three agents they had. I suspect there are more today. Monday night, I watched the sun go down, and then got an SUV. But my CarPlay needs a cable for this model, and I only have a USB-C to USB-C cable. Even though this is a new car, it requires an A-to-USB-C cable. I will look for one (ordered one as Black Friday deal from Amazon, delivered to the hotel).

I spent some time trying to figure out the car, and CarPlay was a no-go this time. I then, with caution, left the parking garage and airport. Folks were waving and blowing their horn at me. After about an hour, with no ability to find anything in the car, I found the headlights, and poof, I understood and turned them on. Yikes! Now all the dash was lit, and I could see the buttons and other functional buttons.

Once on the long 31-mile straight drive to New Hampshire and out of the tunnels, funnels, and other interesting ways of moving traffic, and dodging a few aggressive drivers (Boston is slow-go-fast-when-you-can and angry driving instead of the passive-aggression of Portland), I called folks and connected with Deborah and Clint.

I found the hotel and checked in without issue. Violet, the desk person, helped and suggested Thai. I arranged stuff in my room, then found Thai across the street, and then walked around the area while waiting for a to-go order. Mussaman Curry with roasted duck. Excellent when I got into my room.

I talked to Deborah for a while, and soon we both needed sleep. Still, I showered first, as I needed to clean up after not getting a shower in the morning (nothing offered on the plane for showers, but they are provided at the flying lounges, but I was flying cheap and do not have the super-AMEX for that). I soon rang off and woke to the light on, local time 1 in the morning. I took my meds, turned off the heat, and then pulled up the covers. I woke late.

Thanks for reading!