Alarm set to go off at 5am — so nervous after the last early morning run to the airport that I don’t sleep well — just say the hell with it and get out of bed at 4:45. Thank god this is the last trip for awhile.
Finish packing with the clothes out of the drier with is mostly Shirts of Bamboo stuff since all my Tommy Bahama stuff is dying from too many years on the road. So far the SOB stuff is holding up better. Coffee and spicy shrimp rolls are breakfast.
Out the door at 5:40, catch an earlier bus to the airport thanI was expecting, and am in the Board Room of Alaska Airlines by 6:30 with Champagne and Cranberry Juice in my hand (along with the local paper). I love the place — free booze and free wireless, oh, and there is food as well (bagels, etc. for breakfast; cheese, vegies and crackers the rest of the day).
Work: Finish two 25 word descriptions for Creative Loafing holiday ads in the lower southeast, paste the photo in and ship them off in time for the deadline.
Plane: No first-class upgrade, but it’s a 2.5 hour direct flight. And look! A breakfast cookie!
Phoenix: Pee. Cash machine. Luggage. Figure out the Super Shuttle to the Millenium Resort at McCormick Ranchfor a combination mom’s 80th birthday party and Thanksgiving celebration.
Arrive a little after 1pm — and a miracle happens. The villa (2-bedroom) is available. The front desk staff is great (another miracle) and the bellman drives me to the place in his little electric cart. Drop off luggage, and back to the main lodge for a lunch of Cobb Salad and a couple of gin and tonics. Good food.
Parents arrive at 3:30 with me sunning on the back lawn which is right by the 8th Hole of the golf course. Lots of unloading, then lots of sitting around reading the paper, me fussing with the wireless connection.
Dinner back at the main lodge at Pinion Grill with veal chop for me (very good), shrimp starter and tuscan tomato salad for mom, and dad with the lobster bisque. And, of course, a Cline Old Vine Mouvedre. After dinner they brought around a complimentary White Port from Montevino in Amador County (California). I know the vineyard, just not the white port. Good — not too sweet. A refreshing change from some of the ice wine products out there.
Took the lake walk back, and beat my parents in the car by ten minutes — but they stopped to see if there was a Thanksgiving Buffet (yes, $42 adults, $18 children) and after seeing the menu, and tasting tonights meal (and for me lunch as well) I think an “executive decision” has been made by my mother about where we are eating our turkey this year.
And for me, just working late into the night. No TV in my bedroom, that would be in the TV room just past the bathroom, but no relation to the living room which also has a TV (and the master as well).
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