Friday Travel and Park City Utah

Deborah says this should be titled “$100 Steaks and $20 parking.” We found a cheaper dinner (not that cheap), and the parking was still $20 for three hours in downtown Park City, after 5. But let me start the narrative from the beginning…

I thank all the TSA folks for working today. That gets a smile. One mention that PDX has the highest-rated TSA experience in the USA. They are unpaid and still proud. I feel welcomed by TSA and there are smiles everywhere.

I tried to sleep, but the coffee and traveling kept me awake. I slept on and off until about 2 and then fell into a deep sleep. I then woke three minutes before my alarm. Sat there for a minute, and then it went off (as I rolled over to read the alarm). F**k!

I got a note from Joan S that she was awake; Joan S was my ride for the morning and was picking me up at 6. Deborah, too, was up; I called her and missed as she was dressing. She called me back.

I quickly showered, dressed in the clothing I had washed the night before, and also used fresh towels. I made the bed, added the last items to my bags, and closed them up. I was 40 mins early. Perfect.

Joan found me outside, waiting for her. I was reading more of the 1929 book while standing (I had plenty of time to sit soon, with planes and cars in my near future) until I got a text that she was on her way. I loaded up my new, larger suitcase and my lighter gym bag. I selected to carry many items in my suitcase for this trip.

Joan and I enjoyed the light (though growing) traffic to PDX. In forty minutes, we were there, and I thanked Joan S and found my way to Delta. I was three hours early. Nobody was busy. The Delta folks were chatting and telling stories, with lots of smiles and laughs. They did put on their usual noncommital smiles when I appeared (I saw no other Delta folks). TSA had no lines. The agents, three of them, were actually bouncing from foot to foot while humming to keep awake and focused. I passed with no issues, though my gym bag got a second check and then passed without a search or comment by the second agent.

Breakfast was, as usual, at Grassa, where the drink menu outnumbers the food by 2 to 1. I ate that and drank their coffee, having had instant at the house, then washed the cup while I wrote the blog. I spent ninety minutes writing and eating. I also performed my usual email, Quicken, and doom scrolling. The war news was odd, as the war keeps expanding, but folks keep saying it will soon be over somehow. It reminded me of the statements in the 1929 book: those who needed something to be true kept saying it as if it were true for years, until the Great Depression took hold and strangled the country. Energy is the new force driving the economy. Hmm.

I head to the gate, board, and soon sit down with a kind gentleman who chats about work, retirement, and investments. We enjoy each other’s company until the plane is flying and he watches basketball (it is March Madness), and I try a movie that Deoboah says is delightful, Rental Family. I get through only 1/3, and it is wonderful, and I can see where it is heading. I will finish it on the way back.

We land without events, and everyone is pleasant, and everything works. I ask a police officer what to do when I have an hour between flights. He tells me there is a park-and-wait just inside the airport with gas, food, and a convenience store. I can wait there or park.

I have a Hyundai to drive, a mid-sized SUV. Unlike my ID.4, this one is gas and all the switches, levers, and workings are standard. I do turn on the windshield wipers instead of using the stick (It is automatic). I follow the plan and get some junk food and lots of water while I wait in the car in case of silliness.

Deborah arrives early, finds her bag, and we reunite. The drive is 40 minutes through a canyon, adding some altitude to Park City. Deborah’s plane did not have a sandwich, so she was hungry, and we got some food at the nearby Whole Foods.

Got a call from Jeff. Black mold and soaked flooring under the laundry from the previous machines mean more demos and more expense. But it has to be done. This makes me even happier that I selected the flooring now. Later, Corwin stopped by, said it looked great, and sent a picture. He was there to finish off the corned beef I left.

Later, we have dinner in downtown Park City. We found the town full of folks in furs, dressed in an over-the-top 1990s or Wall Street-on-vacation look. Clothing looked new and perfect. Prices were outrageous, and the town smelled of money and expensive sky condos. Winter sports here, and a golf condo for summer sports elsewhere. We looked poor and like ‘the help.’ Still, we enjoyed dinner at Le Depot with Deborah having the pressed chicken and me the Confit de Canard (Duck leg confit). I have always wanted to try it, as I have many recipes for it. It was OK and flavorful, but not something I will make now. Interesting to try it; not my thing.

We shared a Crème Brûlée à la Vanille that was the best I have ever had. Its taste was light and perfect.

We were tired, but we did walk up the hill and look around Park City. We headed back after doing some car yoga to get out of the underground parking spot. No scraps, but folks inbound had funny ideas about the Hyundai’s flexibility. No paint was lost, and soon we were back at the hotel, sleeping. My sleep was broken, but I managed a few hours. We rose early.

Thanks for reading!