UMTravels

Tis the season for cruising apparently – with Princess offering $179 per person (plus $45 port fees) for a mini-suite on the three-day cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver.

But first I have to get to LA, which was being a little problematic. Made it to the Board Room on my usual schedule, even to my favorite seat on the plane (1C):

I’m still in my jacket because they had just pulled the plane from the hanger. Maybe they should have left it there. We were headed down the runway when the captain came on to say we were going back to the gate because of a mechanical issue…never a good sign. After 30 minutes they let us off – this is the dead plane:

Yes, I was in First Class, but the plane wasn’t going anywhere. This is me in my office of two hours – since they kept changing boarding plans, no time for a quick cocktail and snack in the board room:

A call to Princess was next (to tell them of the flight delay since we’d contracted for the Princess Transfer Package), an energy bar after that. Two hours later we finally loaded – my plane that was supposed to land at 10:20 was now landing at 12:33 – the guy in seat 1D on his way to Santiago, Chile (and several other 1^st class passengers) abandoned the trip. I was seriously hungry (that energy bar didn’t last that long) and we were at least 45 minutes in when food showed up – at least it was good food:

Landed, found Craig, found luggage, and then…another hour wait – this time for other passengers on delay flights. I should have used the transfer ticket Alaska gave me for the inconvenience of almost missing my Princess Transfer, it was a shared van rather than a shared bus:

In fairness to Alaska – even while I was seated waiting to take off I got both a text and an email apologizing for my delay, and telling me that there would be a $125 eVoucher within the next 24-48 hours for a future flight. As it turned out, the voucher was in my inbox when I finally landed. I may have been frustrated at missing lunch on the Ruby Princess, but at least Alaska came through with compensation without asking (which I would have).

Got to the boat at 2:30pm, the upside is that there is NOBOBY in line, no booze check, no mandatory embarkation photo portrait – just through all the hoops and onto the boat. The downside is that we had 15 minutes to slam down our mini-suite welcome champagne and grab our life vests for the mandatory lifeboat drill. What we both wanted was food – which after the drill the only thing open was the burger/dog stand. But we are on the boat at last. At the drill, champagne in hand:

And this, taken after the drill – don’t I look much calmer?

And yes, that would be LA Tap Water in my water bottle – actually, its swag courtesy of Craig from Los Angeles Water & Power emblazoned with “Pure, Clean, Refreshing TAP”. In through that would be bourbon and ginger. Notice the Pilot Boat in the background. And a beautiful sunset:

Complete with black hawk helicopter following us (sorry for the crappy shot, didn’t have the real camera on the trip):

The schedule had the LGBT gathering is at the Wheelhouse Bar at 5:30….Craig and I get there 5 minutes late to find 20+ people already there and by the time I did a count it was closer to 45 people. WOW.! No picture – privacy issues.

But there are plenty of other random photos to show…The Atrium (and then the deck):

The food (first is the fettuccini alfredo in the parmesan basket):

And not one meal at the “famed” buffet. I’d rather be served than serve.

Let’s not forget our lovely mini-suite:

We didn’t get our room steward trained to bring us ice, so we had to order from room service which brought us the “gigantico” size – this is the one that they serve half a dozen mini-Dos Equis in at 8am:

And the bars – this one set up for the Elite nightly cocktail party (tonight = salmon on toast points):

Or the shows after dinner (or before, depending on your schedule):

But really, most of the reason that I cruse is to do nothing at all other than look at the sea, day or night:

And to occasionally see old friends (several of which I’ll see on the Ruby December 15^th as well):

On the second day of our cruise – just after I’ve finished watching an episode of The Love Boat (they have a separate channel on the TV for Love Boat reruns) – Craig decides to get some news. I’m a news hound so this isn’t a problem with me, well, until this was the news:

After three nights we disembark in Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaLand.

We are spending the night at the WorldMark at The Canadian – so off by cab we go. And no, at 10am our room isn’t ready. My response is to go to the Recreation Room and curl up on the couch for a nap – Craig went our exploring.

After nap, it’s shopping for lunch, then praying that the room will be ready before 4pm (which is the official check-in time) – they got us in by 2:30 so I’m not complaining. It’s only a one-in-ten chance (or less) that the room would be ready in the morning.

And the room, it’s a two-bedroom, two-bath compact, no dining room (I hate that part, but it was what they had in a 2-bedroom):

The view isn’t too bad either:

One of Craig’s main reasons for signing onto this trip was the chance to visit our mutual friends Raspberry and Rosario who got married the week before our visit – I made them a post-wedding feast of chicken thighs poached in Salsa Verde (and I found the salsa in CanadaLand!), salad, bread, broccoli…

They brought wine – I brought whiskey – Craig just looked pretty. No pics of the wedding party or us – guess we were just having too much fun for tomorrow I head back to Seattle, while Craig stays on for a couple of days.

In the early afternoon the next day – Craig is off to the boys and I’m off for the train station for my trip back to Seattle. For a couple of hours, this was my office:

It was grey and drippy outside, figured it was time to catch up on some reading.

But if I’d wanted to buy some BitCoin in Pacific Central Station, it was available at the convenience store:

Before long I was at the American Border – handing over my customs form and drinking leftover wine that I’d put in those refillable shampoo bottles.

And a final shoutout to Whippet, who picked me up from the train station. I must keep inviting him to dinner to pay back these favors.

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This time of year I like a little sun – and this week it was Palm Springs with my buddy Craig.

Why I booked the “1-stop” to Palm Springs (SFO was the stop) I don’t know why – probably the cost. Downside it that to get the upgrade it has to be available on both legs. And I couldn’t even get an aisle seat so I’m in the window….

On the upside, I did see a Seattle buddy of mine boarding and caught up with him when we landed early – and those of us continuing on were allowed off the airplane:

He recommended a snack place in A Terminal, and then I remembered I had time to hit the Cathy Pacific Lounge which my Alaska Board Room – alas, it was past lunch and so the “noodle bar” was closed, and I was down to free drinks, bags of chips and cookies.

Got back to the gate, got my window seat in 6A (bulkhead) when I got an unexpected new ticket….

3F, not my favorite, especially with a “bag of dog” under the adjoining seat – who was actually a sweet dog, unlike other dogs I’ve seen in First Class. And the view wasn’t bad:

Craig is an hour plus late – the usual fun traffic getting from Los Angeles to Palm Springs – at least I have dinner protein with me – just need to find the vegetables and Bourbon.

Veal chops off the grill (on the deck) with a little Bonny Boon white wine.

Before I forget, shots of the two-bedroom condo at the WorldMark Palm Springs:

But after dinner, this is what happened to Craig… the stress of driving in from LA…

No late night partying for us – and we were greeted with this in the morning….

Unfortunately you can tell that it’s a little on the cool side, and there is a big breeze – no pool-side time today. View is from our 3^rd floor balcony. And our breakfast!

We could have gone to Denny’s on the next block, we have 15% off coupons!

Both Craig and I have work to do while we are on this trip so half the dining table is work space:

He even brought a second monitor! That said, we had to get a power strip from housekeeping.

One of the interesting things about this building (one of the older in the WorldMark system) is the elevator, which smells of wire-rope grease – considering it’s age, not surprising. Look at the floor plate:

Which, of course, led me to track down all these companies that have their logos cast in aluminum. In trying to track down company information I found a video – a video of an ELEVATOR, another one from California. Who takes video of elevators? With commentary about all the features:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSZkZPRb2yM

Tempted to imbed, but it’s just too odd, even for me. Really – who takes videos of elevators?

Another day, another dinner. Rack of ribs on the grill (coffee rub), asparagus, chanterelles, salad. Hard life in The Springs.

After dinner Mr. Craig is headed out to some underwear night at a local bar. No wearing underwear, I decline.

If it’s an underwear night – guessing he isn’t going “commando”, which, it’s weird to hear that phrase used in toilet paper commercials.

Before you know it, its breakfast time – and the standard “Uncle Markie” breakfast – eggs and whatever meat is left over from the previous evening:

Though we both have work – after yesterday’s blustery weather we need pool time! And look what we find:

That would be Craig in the center with a couple of boys from Seattle and yours truly poolside. Beats the Seattle rain.

Meanwhile, Palm Springs is preparing for their annual Gay Pride Parade:

Right in front of our condo:

And before you know it – it’s time for lamb ribs off the grill – gotta love a grill in a condo:

Eatin’ on the road ain’t too bad, but soon it’s back into the air headed home. The Palm Springs Airport reminds me of the open air terminals in Hawaii:

Drinks on board, yep, got upgraded to First:

And scenery:

And the turkey caprese warm sandwich on a bed of salad – should have put the salad in the sandwich, but damn good either way:

Before I knew it – back at Sea-Tac waiting for my bag filled with booze:

Got work in the morning.

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This week’s adventure is a mid-week trip to Palm Springs with Bliss for some serious pool time. But first we have to get there…and I’m an early airport person, Bliss less so. Always seems there is a last minute crisis, so I’m glad we are going to the airport separately, which makes sense since he is close to light rail, and I’m not.

The plan is to meet in the Alaska Lounge, but first he has to find it, so I sent him this:

But I think he came through some other security gate, not using the TSApre line (that was on his boarding pass). He made it in time for food and drink, but this was my second drink by the time he showed up:

They make GREAT Bloody Marys in the Seattle Lounges. We had a little food before getting onto the flight – where we’d been upgraded:

Round one!

And lunch followed…

Our mutual friend was running late, so, no ride from the airport – time for an Uber!

Until Craig gets here – no cocktails, just French pink wine in a plastic bottle…

And here is our unit…

And a wonderful view:

With Craig’s arrival – off to the Albertson’s to pick up food, booze, mixers…so dinner comes off the grill.

Salad, pork ribs, corn on the cob. Nice to be hanging out with friends in Palm Springs.

Followed in the morning by scrambled eggs…

And some serious pool time!

With Marines horsing around in the pool:

Followed by another grilled dinner – chicken thighs and grilled asparagus:

It’s a rough schedule that just centers around laying around the pool (Bliss and I), working out in the Gym (Bliss), writing at the coffee shop down the way (Craig).

But we did go out one afternoon for a very late lunch, or very early dinner at Sherman’s – an amazing Jewish Deli:

And I love the way they serve a Sparkling Greyhound…

In the background you can see some of the celebrity pictures – this one being my favorite:

Ricky, Lucy, Little Ricky, Ethel, and Fred of the I Love Lucy Show. And I love that they serve hot steamed onion buns and pickle spears:

And mammoth portions – Bliss’ corned beef with thick latkes instead of bread:

Or my Ruben, which looks like it has a half-pound of pastrami:

Or Craig’s early-bird half chicken dinner:

Can’t believe Craig ate all his – Bliss and I stopped halfway through (for leftovers), but Bliss then ordered this tiny slice of cake:

And there were TONS to choose from:

Our big deal for Thursday late afternoon was to head to the Palm Springs Art Museum for Free Thursday – and the closing weekend for the Andy Warhol show:

I’m going to do a separate post because the show was so good – so we’ll move onto the to the final breakfast in Palm Springs – at the Denny’s next door:

Above would be my $4 biscuit and gravy breakfast (off the $2, $4, $6, $8 menu), and Bliss’ Omelet off the 55+ menu:

Back to the condo to check out, put our luggage into storage and head back to the pool. Two hours for me, three for Kevin – once again taking separate vehicles…welcome to the Palm Springs Airport:

And up the escalator to the 12^th Fairway Bar and Restaurant for a VERY EXPENSIVE Manhattan:

And some fish tacos to stave off hunger until our upgraded flight home with a light dinner included, but here are the fish tacos:

The food was cheaper than my drink – huge portion of Mahi Mahi on each of the tacos – thankfully Bliss finished the third when he caught up with me.

Speaking of which, here is our final meal of the trip:

Guess I’d better start working on that Andy Warhol post.

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It sounded like a good idea at the time – a 6:55am departure from San Luis Obispo. In reality, I had to get up at 4:30, check-out, return the rental car with gas in it, and catch an Uber to the train station.

A light rain as I waited for the train – the first run of the morning with direct service to Anaheim (didn’t want to transfer in LA). And this is a very pretty chunk of Amtrak trackage:

I was greeted onboard with coffee, muffins, orange juice which held me over until we hit Los Angeles…a perk of Business Class.

After LA I only had two stops to go, but they managed to get me a snack box and a split of questionable red wine (as photographed in the condo later):

Here is a shot of the Surfliner leaving Anaheim:

Grabbed an Uber to the condo where my room wasn’t ready, so I checked out to common areas:

And the rooftop deck with hot tubs…

Rather than eat the Amtrak snack box, I headed out to see what I could scrounge at the nearby “Garden Walk” which is part of “Downtown Disney”. Being off season, lots of things were labelled “Open Summer 2019”. I ended up at Fire and Ice which is a Mongolian Wok kinda place. I opted for an appetizer and a Manhattan while I waited for my room to be ready:

Nice lunch – and as usual I spent more on the booze than I did on the food.

Random photo from “the mall”:

Might have to use that as a dating site profile photo!

Finished checking in to discover what this Two-Bedroom Presidential at the WorldMark Anaheim was all about….

And even a laundry room…

Yes, it is slightly larger than my small house.

Even numbered units have a view of the nightly fireworks at Disneyland. I can see Space Mountain and the Matterhorn from the deck.

Every night at 9:30, it’s a 10-minute show. Nice perk to watch fireworks with a cocktail in your hand just wearing a robe.

My Tuesday “major activity” was Uberring to Vons for a supply run – company is a coming. Grabbed a rotisserie chicken, mixer, bourbon, salad, a pork loin, potatoes – got company coming Wednesday!

Salad and chicken tonight:

If you zoom in, you can see Space Mountain and The Matterhorn.

I needed a couple of more things from the grocery, and I’d noticed this mini-mart a block or so away:

I LOVE places like this – the immigrant run convenience stores that stock a little of everything. I went for Ranch Dressing, pasta, and some more mixer. I ended up with than, a bandana, a pint Jameson glass (for Jameson), and most oddly, alcoholic sperm filled with a German cream liquor. Three cheers for The Magicland Market:

Which brings us to the lovely Wednesday dinner with friends…honored guest is Dr. David, who I met at Courtney’s Wednesday Night Supper in Seattle.

Also joining us is my buddy, Craig, who has met up with me at a number of WorldMark properties:

I had my phone set to go off at 9:26pm – to remind me of the fireworks. Sadly, on Wednesday, no fireworks. Guessing technical failure. Still, the company was great!

It was a full house Wednesday with Craig in one bedroom and Dr. David on the couch, so no one had to drive. Speaking of driving, they are both SAINTS for making the hour plus trek to come visit me. Craig is headed to San Diego tomorrow (making him already half way there), and Dr. Craig has an appointment half way back home, so it’s working out.

And my final night – guess what happened at 9:30:

Apparently, having company scares off fireworks.

It wasn’t the visit that I’d planned with a couple of friends who would have been there for the entire week – but lemonade out of lemons.

Friday found me at the airport headed home, via the Admirals Club lounge at Orange County Airport:

And soon onto the plane, fortunately in the pointy end:

And a little hot snack on the plane…

The end comes to my longest domestic trip in years.

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Uncle Markie? Sports Documentary? Yes, it does sound odd.

While I was on my Austin trip, I got this email out of the blue from a documentary producer in New York City that was working on a piece about a “fallen from grace” morning sports radio announcer. What they wanted was to use some footage that they found on YouTube of one of my trips to Whistler. For me, it was particularly poignant because all four of my trips to Whistler were cancelled this summer. I spent hours tracking down the original video files for one lift in particular, the Whistler Peak Express.

Finally found the last of four videos when I got back on Thursday – the 360-degree pan of Whistler Peak. Not sure how much of my footage will be in the final cut, but I made the credits list!

What does Whistler have to do with a morning sports announcer? Apparently, as the scandal was unfolding, he and his wife took a trip to Whistler, where, while on the Whistler Peak Express without his wife, he contemplated suicide, and was literally talked down with a phone call to a friend.

Apparently of the THOUSANDS of videos of that ski lift, I’m the only one that pointed the camera DOWN to show how dramatic that ride is. Not sure which one they are going to use, but here is one of the ones I gave them:

Technically, I didn’t “give” it to them, I licensed it for $500. Not bad for being hunched over a computer for a couple of hours. I can’t imagine that there will be all that much “screen time” since it’s a minor point in the whole documentary.

Here is the overview for the show:

HBO Sports will premiere our documentary WILD CARD: The Downfall of a Radio Loudmouth on October 7, 2020 at 9pm. The film looks at the rise and fall of Craig Carton, the extraordinarily talented co-host of the renowned Boomer & Carton show on New York’s WFAN. Craig Carton was one of the most dominant voices on morning radio in the country but resigned from the show in 2017 after being arrested by the FBI. He was subsequently convicted of securities fraud and conspiracy, shocking millions of fans by admitting to a secret gambling addiction. He was sentenced to 42 months. In a series of interviews before beginning his sentence, Carton talked candidly about his addiction and the millions of dollars he risked at the blackjack table. We also filmed revealing interviews with key people in his life including co-host Boomer Esiason and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. The film will air at 9pm.

Too bad I’m not back in grade school so I could do a report on how I spent my summer vacation helping on an HBO documentary.

Well, that is it for this totally random adventure that came out of the middle of nowhere.

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So, I have a friend…there are both jokes and snide comments possible with that start, BUT she has tasked me with managing (and paying the maintenance dues) for her 12,000-point WorldMark account so she just doesn’t have to thank about it anymore. It was a sore point between her and her partner.

So far, I’ve used her points to go to Anaheim to see The Mouse (but was too cheap to buy a park ticket), and now to Palm Springs for the combination of Halloween AND Gay Pride. Pride in Palm Springs is always the first full weekend of November…but his year with Halloween on Thursday, it was a two-fer!

Any now, the pictures you’ve been waiting for. Gone for a week, and need to bring wine:

Arrived a couple of hours before actual check-in. Opted for the 2-bedroom unit with twin beds in the second bedroom. Probably should have looked at a property map and chosen a better location since we were at the back of the property. It was quiet, but no balcony overlooking the parade route:

Over the last year, I’ve had several people relocate either part-time for full time to Palm Springs, so lots of people to visit, starting with Jack and Stevee for dinner at PF Changs hosted by DancingBear:

We’d done some shopping so when breakfast rolled around, we had fixin’s, complete with Caesars (which is a Bloody Mary made with Clamato).

For dinner, we invited Mags, the other transplant for dinner:

By the following breakfast, Craig had showed up from LA to join us for the week:

Craig is pondering the move as well, so for lunch it was DB and I at Sherman’s Delicatessen, a tradition in more ways than one:

I started with a Sparkling Greyhound:

Before my grilled Rueben…

And DB bought a Key Lime Pie to go.

Halloween night dinner was at the condo – we had a grill, but no BBQ tongs. Called the front desk and they sent some over:

He is 6’4″ WITHOUT the heels – and works the Front Desk. Welcome to Halloween in Palm Springs! Tonight’s dinner is street tacos with John and Stevee coming to a late dinner:

And what are street tacos without a couple of desserts – including the Key Lime pie from Sherman’s and a cake from the Italian bakery.

Another day, another fabulous breakfast…

There was “pool time” involved…

And hot tub time after the sun went over the mountains. But it’s sort of rude to take pictures in the hot tub after dark.

I’ll wrap up this post because the next one will have a TON of pictures of the Palm Springs Gay Pride Parade (and videos).

Stay tuned.

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Getting all settled in here in Indio. Didn’t leave the grounds all day. Speaking of grounds…

And our breakfast:

And our living room:

And one of our decks:

And our other deck, the one that’s always sunny:

Craig ran errands during the day, be I took to the lazy river in the afternoon – pictures of that tomorrow when there is someone to go with me to get the shots.

For dinner I made Osso Bucco with two veal shanks and the remaining lamb blade steak – lots of onions and green beans – braised the shanks in bacon fat before adding all the other ingredients… stunning. Good thing Craig brought a loaf of La Brea Artisan Bread home from his errands to soak up the sauce.

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Side trip number one today in the Volvo ragtop.

The big question – Salton Sea or Joshua Tree and which day. Joshua Tree today… we will see what tomorrow brings.

Picked up a topo-map bandana (and hat pin) at the visitor’s center… free entrance thanks to Craig’s old-fart park pass

Here are a couple of shots from our day trip. Top two from the Cholla Cactus Garden:

And from the Skull Rock area:

After stopping at the ever-wonderful Mexican market (Cardenas) we didn’t get home until almost 6:30 – luckily our dinner guest was running behind as well.

Tonight’s dinner guest was Craig’s buddy Richard, an LA boy that co-owns four mid-century rentals in Palm Springs – it was great to see the before and after shots of his latest rental: http://www.psmid-century.com/home. Stunning house – not cheap, but stunning.

Wonder evening of cocktails while I worked on a bacon-wrapped pork loin, green beans and green onions stir-fried in clarified bacon grease and a lovely green salad.

Conversation late into the night lounging in the hot tub.

Life is rough.

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Who thought I would be in Palm Springs for Gay Pride on the run-up to the presidential election… four years ago I was flying home as Obama nailed his victory. I’m hoping that is a good omen for Tuesday.

We got out of the condo a little late so we didn’t get to the parade route until 10:30, half an hour after it started – luckily we were at the end of the route, a couple of blocks down from the WorldMark Palm Springs, where we SHOULD have stayed (location, location, location over lazy river, private hot tub, unlimited parking).

Here are some of the highlight shots from Gay Pride. The flamboyant…

The buff boys from the Saguaro Resort in Palm Springs:

And the truly strange Dr. Bronner’s fire engine pulling a “Shower Booth”…

Apparently now that Dr. Bronner’s son has taken over the business, he’s a little wilder than dad. And the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence marched with a hearse….

Or the Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert inspired RV. Please note that that high heel is on a pneumatic lift so it can be lowered to get under traffic lights:

By 1pm the parade was over and we were off to visit Richard (who was to dinner the other night) to see his new showcase property. And oh what a show case it is:

And here is a video from Craig from his visits last night:

And an evening shot of the pool.

Want to rent it? Here is the web-site: http://www.psmid-century.com/home. Just to warn you:

Rental rates quoted in: US Dollars

But that’s after Craig and I had sausages off the grill with a little salad… didn’t finish them all, so it’s breakfast for the leftovers.

And in good news, Bliss brought home a boy… there is sex in the air.

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Well, Bliss left this morning, and left behind this charming black man who needed to get to the Indio bus station after losing his ride back to LA.

After the bus station, a charming double-wide in a big parking lot with a portable bathroom trailer parked next to it, it was off to run errands in the desert.

• Trader Joes (booze)
• CVS (booze)
• Toyota Dealer (dome light lens)
• Cardinos (ceviche and things for Craig to take back to LA)

All the booze is to fill the empty Styrofoam shipper that came down filled with wine. When booze is half the price in California (as compared to Washington) you (or at least I do) tend to stock up.

Amazing how driving around for a couple of hours (even if you are just the passenger) in the desert cities is taxing – who both took power naps on our return.

Dinner was the leftover stock from the Osso Bucco earlier in the trip, with the chicken and celery from the other night added, and the remaining sausages from last night –sort of a gumbo like dish that was damn tasty. Damn tasty enough that Craig is taking home what little remains.

Watched a depressing, but oddly funny movie called The Lost Weekend with Ray Milan and Jane Wyman (Ronald Regan’s first wife). I put it in the same category with The Days of Wine and Roses – movies about out of control drunks.

Last evening in the heat and sun.

Damn.

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Yep, it was a quick trip to the Bay Area. The original reason was:

1. To see the boys
2. To make three trips for an extra 10,000 bonus miles on Alaska,
3. And then they announced a double Elite Qualifying promotion until May of next year (link to the deal)

The flight was at 1:20 so it’s out of the house at 10am – luckily Mark isn’t on a conference call since the wine box is now full of whiskey for the return trip.

Got to the airport in plenty of time – even enough time for a dog at the airport – a gourmet dog as well:

Didn’t realize the dog came with fries or I would have tried to swap it out for slaw or a salad – or just had them leave them off the plate since I have no willpower once they are in front of me. But those are grilled onions on top of that split dog. Damn tasty.

And as expected – no upgrade to First – this time there were seven people in front of me on the list (which they nicely display on the monitors at the gate).

Had a little time to putter around the house before heading to the shop for a private event – tonight it is a private wine tasting for Events & Adventures, a singles activity club here in Seattle (and 6 other cities) that I used to work for.

Didn’t get out of there until 9ish – but I had a new toy in tow… a new Porter Case that the last time I checked the shipping status they said November 4-12^th to expect arrival… not the 30^th of October. I got this one off eBay with a Make An Offer price of $199.95 or a Buy It Now price of $249.99 – (link to the deal – he still has 8). I didn’t need the camera inserts but my buddy Craig in LA can use them in my old Porter Case.

The new one:

This shot has all the foam and dividers which will be going into the other case: And in hand-truck mode:

The new one has a TSA approved lock along with it being injection molded so hopefully it won’t get as banged up as the others when I check it. In hand-truck mode you can put 150# of other luggage on it.

My old case with the new padding and dividers:

Well, that’s my fun for the day.

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Ah youth. Got called into work today so no fun and games beachside. I guess CaddyDaddy and I will have a relaxing day in the condo watching non-stop news. Seems he’s as much of a news junkie as I.

On the upside, it does give me time to get my InBox cleaned up, a client or two dealt with and generally feel more grounded in the real world.

Even means time to cook a lovely meal for the two of us – the aftermath:

Maybe it’s time to get TIVO or something like it –this staying up til 2am to watch David Letterman and Craig Ferguson is killing my sleep pattern.

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My turn to open the shop… and good numbers even before the tasting started – GREAT numbers for the day. Not a huge sellout of the wines though the Patricia Green Reserve Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley of Oregon moved fairly well:

2012 Patricia Green Pinot Noir Reserve $24
Patricia Green is known for her vineyard designated Oregon Pinots. But her multi-vineyard blend is the real deal and the real bargain. 2012 was a good year in the Willamette, amidst a number of challenging ones. The 2012 Reserve is fresh and mouthwatering with sweet black berry and cherry fruit flavors. There’s a bit of very appealing field herbs and earth in the mix and a smooth silky finish.

Off to Safeway after work for supplies – what a zoo.

A nice little ribeye with salad for dinner, along with a glass of wine that has been in the bottle since last week… and it still tasted good. Those vacuum sealers do work.

The after dinner chore is to – once again – fix my new suitcase. A wheel fell off in Albuquerque. As a temporary fix I used spare parts I keep in my toiletry bag, but it really needs to be hammered on, not pounded on with the back of a borrowed utility knife.

While I was at it I swapped wheels between my two cases. My old one has rubber wheels, the new one plastic. The old one is going to Craig in LA next week with me on the train. The end result:

Working a long day tomorrow since we have our Annual Vintage Champagne Tasting from 5:30 to 7:30 or so. This is one of the few tastings that we actually charge money for – in this case $30 plus tax to sample five vintage champagnes while nibbling appetizers. These champagnes range from $50 to $95 a bottle. Can’t wait to taste those – and see what up-market appetizers we’ll have out.

[209.2] Not bad for a week on the road to come back lighter than you left.

The down side of all this travelling and then coming home to work the weekends is that… well, the house suffers. Eight different bags half-packed, half-unpacked.

Today is about just getting organized and organizing the house a bit. First order (besides sleeping in since I think I’m getting a bit of a head cold) is the xMess presents:

Yes, there is a small live tree buried with the sculptures… something I’m sure I can kill within the next year.

Not all done but enough for today. Also did a little grocery shopping and swung by to see the progress on the South Park Bridge…

The old South side casein has been demolished… looks like they are pouting the concrete on the bridge deck. Looks like we might have a bridge by spring. Another sunny day in Seattle – we take them where we can get them.

More packing – or at least making stacks of stuff that go in the TWO Porter Cases headed to LA. One is for my buddy Craig – think that one will be filled with Dwight’s xMess present, glasses, mixer, etc. for the trip. The other, clothing and booze.

No time to work on the new bar – figuring it might be AFTER the first of the year at this point. Sigh.

Marinated chicken breasts with greens for dinner tonight. A spare tit for tomorrow, or maybe Wednesday breakfast.

[206.6]

I was thinking about my travel plans for tomorrow while I was cleaning/organizing/paying bills/suffering from what I’m now thinking is an ear infection…

If it weren’t the holidays and the DUI patrols I’d drive to the airport in the morning, put the car in MasterPark, take light rail back into the Amtrak station and head south on the Coast Starlight. Since my return flight on Friday gets in after midnight… it would be nice to have the car at the airport. With the stepped up patrols I’d have to not drink on my upgraded flight back from LA after hanging out with Craig all day… doubt that would happen.

Old plan. Park at airport: $55 + $5 for the LightRail

New plan. Cab to the train station: $25. Cab from the airport: $25.

About a wash dollar-wise. And with the possibility of getting nabbed, and the joy of sleeping in for another hour. Looks like cabs both ways. New plan:

• Train at 9:30
• Cab at 8
• Up at 6

At least it’s only 6am.

Today’s victories:

Cleaned all the “clippings” off the couch from the last 3-6 trips – the things I find that I know specific people will like. Anything I can find on-line gets sent as a link, the rest get snail mailed. Only one snail mail today – to Dan with a GREAT direct marketing piece from the Seattle Symphony which included an 8GB chip imbedded in a thick business card.

Rest of the Christmas presents wrapped, bags packed:

Yep – two stacked Porter Cases and a briefcase. And more packages wrapped.

And a couple of things that I haven’t had time to report – End of Year Status on my airlines:

Alaska –

Welcome, Uncle Markie

Member Name: MARK STEPHEN SOUDER MVP Gold
Mileage Plan Number: XXXXXXXX
Available Miles: 165,397

Elite Tier Status Qualification

YTD Alaska Miles

Flown: 25,251

14,749 Miles to Gold

YTD Alaska/Partner* Qualifying Miles

Flown: 25,251

24,749 Miles to Gold

YTD Alaska/Partner* Qualifying Segments

Flown: 18

42 Segments to Gold

Alaska Miles toward Million Mile Flyer  Million Mile Flyer

Flown: 253,788

746,212 Miles to Million Miler

* Flights operated by Aeromexico, Air France, American, Delta, Emirates, KLM, and LAN

All that gibberish means that I’ll be MVP Silver next year. After the first I’ll apply for a status match with Alaska using my United Platinum Status. That should get me at least Gold for 2014 on Alaska.

United –

Now I just have to figure out how to use those Regional Premier Upgrades – and hopefully the roll over to next year! Which a handy “roll-over” link says January 31^st, 2015 – meaning that I’ll get two next year as well. That would make four! Wonder if I can use them on my cheapie ticket to Turkey next spring. I’ll look into that. But look at that lifetime flight miles — so close to Million Miler Status!

So – things I need to look into:

• Regional Upgrades for Turkey Trip
• Boat for Victoria Trip in January
• Day or Two before BBush Winter which I’m not going to
• Forks to work on Zebra Lederhosen (hopefully first week of February)
• People to meet me at train stations for hugs the next two days (Julian has to work all the sudden)
• Booking a wedding trip (not mine) to Ireland in July

Not sure any of this is going to get done tonight.

Had my little lamb chops with salad dinner, set my alarm for 6am, called Yellow Cab for a “Time Call” at 8am… not the friendly dispatcher that I got the other week. Apparently they all assume that “Time Call”s are all to the airport (rather than the train station).

Time to call it a night.

[205.6]

Up at 7:30 and off to the dining car of an uninspired omelet and even odder chicken/maple sausage – I should have trusted the Aussie from the last trip and his comments about that particular style of “sausage patty”.

Then it was back to bed until around 10:30 – trying to kick this head/sinus cold/infection like thing. I really don’t want to fly home on Friday feeling like pooh (and we aren’t talking Winnie The). Dwight made us noon reservations for lunch and 5:30 for dinner (the latest seating they had since we arrive at 9pm). Here is the view from the lunch table – Central Valley vineyards:

By mid-afternoon we were ion San Luis Obispo:

And later in the afternoon, the former Almond Exchange building, now the Derby Wine Estates:

The train actually got in half an hour early so I showed Dwight where the Metropolitan Lounge was since he had an hour and a half until his train for Fullerton in Orange County.

As for me, my buddy Craig picked me up for an overnight at his house – will be nice to have a bed that doesn’t rock back and forth. Still had Bourbon and Mixers from the trip, so we set to work on those while catching up on what’s happened in the year since I’d seen him.

How is this for a collapsible bowl:

Or would that be a bowl that turns into a chopping block?

A long day but at least I get to sleep in since my flight isn’t until 9:30pm tomorrow night.

[? ? ?]

Slept in late this morning – still trying to kick this head thing.

The first meal of the day was lunch at Modern Eats in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles… I had the turkey pastrami Rueben with double cole slaw, Craig had the seared ahi tuna salad – both reasonable priced at $10 and $12 respectively, and tasty. Almost as tasty as the waif skinny busboy.

After lunch it was a booze run to Topline Wine & Spirits in Glendale which is located in a strip-industrial center, and looks small from the outside – but inside is a warren of rooms with wine and spirits stacked to the ceiling. Didn’t end up getting anything there as they didn’t carry Evan Williams and none of the other bourbons were attracting me. Then BevMo (two 1.75ml of Even Williams Black), then Trader Joes (two 750ml of the Trader Joes Bourbon). Ended up the maximum checked bag amount of spirits allowed: 5 liters and it must be under 110 proof.

Got back to the house an took a long nap – getting up just in time for this wonderful sunset:

Left for the airport WAY early, and it’s a good thing we did. The FlyAway bus (GREAT deal at $7.00 each way between Union Station and the airport) was STACKED with people heading out. There were people standing in the aisles on the way to the airport – something I’d never seen before. They were running about 30 minutes late so I was just happy to have a seat.

No TSAPre this trip – they had the lines but my ticket didn’t qualify for once – guessing it’s that I am on a one-way First Class ticket. But the lines were short so I quickly was off to the Board Room to set up my temporary office:

That would be Boston clam chowder on the left, a Whiskey and Diet on the other side. Something new I noticed – they actually had a menu for more substantial food available for purchase. Me, I was happy with free booze, free clam chowder and free salad – notice a theme here.

Got to the gate just in time for the Gate Change announcement – and as I was walking to the new gate – a Christmas miracle unfolded – my buddy Ray Araujo was coming in the opposite direction. I literally hadn’t seen him for at least 5 years. Turns out he and his boyfriend are on the same flight, and also in First Class. Here is the selfie:

Ray owns an ad agency with offices in Seattle and Los Angeles (and offices in both cities) with about 80 employees. Needless to say he is doing well.

Nice Christmas present Santa!

Plane was late leaving Los Angeles and with massive head winds we didn’t get in until almost 2am – at least my bag made it and it wasn’t leaking.

[? ? ?]

I love to train by train – as you readers might know especially from my Turkey-Bulgaria-Romania trip last week.

This week I stumbled across this image of the new Denver Amtrak/MultiModal station:

All I can say is “holly fuck”. That is one gorgeous train station. Suddenly I’m trying to figure out bookings to see it in person. I’d like to go when the main station is completed as well. I love the fact that the station mimics the Denver airport with its sweeping canopies.

The upper levels of the refurbished station will have 118 hotel rooms – which I want to try, along with two upper end restaurants and a morning/afternoon place for take-out for train passengers.

I’m thinking of an August trip since everything opens mid-July.

But that got me thinking….since there are no cheap flights during the summer, maybe I could redeem some Chase Ink Points on a little train folly. Here is what I’ve come up with:

After work on Sunday the 15^th of June I’ll catch the red-eye to New Orleans. At 1:45pm (I get in at like 6am) I hop on the City of New Orleans (Train 58) for the 20 hour trip to Chicago where hopefully I’ll have lunch with Cynthia and Lawrence since there is a 5 hour layover. Then it’s on to the Southwest Chief (Train 4) headed for Los Angeles, another 43 hours, then I have a couple of hours to kill in Los Angeles before I pick up the Coast Starlight (Train 14) to Seattle, another 35 hours.

The rack rate when I priced it out for the sleeper the whole way, $1808.90 – my cost? Free. I moved 20,000 Chase Ink points to my Amtrak Guest Rewards account and poof, free ticket with meals for those 5 days. 20,000 points is the amount for a two-zone roomette ticket on any legal routing. The other way would have been to that the Empire Builder (Train 7) from Chicago to Seattle. The flight to New Orleans was $240 (though I could have used miles).

My plan is to (once I have the last miles I need) do a Seattle to Denver run in August to check out the station that started the ball rolling.

Another hope is that I can get some more “platform moments” pictures with friends along the way – Kyle in Flagstaff, Craig in Los Angeles, Cynthia and Lawrence in Chicago, Paul and Gail in Kansas City, sis-in-law in Lamy (though it’s a work day for her). I’d like to make one of those photo books out of the pictures.

“Travel By Train” says it all.

Denver’s Union Station before the renovation with their “Travel By Train” sign.

Or in the case of Portland’s Amtrak station, “Go By Train”.

[205.6]

Another Amtrak Lounge, another comfortable chair to nap in.

Compared to the New Orleans location, this place is HUGE:

The reception desk to the right, carry-on luggage check room to the right – I just kept my small computer bag handy:

And several rooms worth of seating….

And unlimited soda…

And our own exit directly (though not close) to the tracks:

Around 10 I headed out to explore – found a CVS Pharmacy that sells Evan Williams, took some neighborhood shots:

The last shot is of old waiting hall – the new ones are located under sky scrapper next door complete with “food court” that actually had good food (well, they had a McDonalds as well, but this was my 10am snack:

Yep, a Chicago Style Brat from this place:

And when I went back out to score additional Evan Williams in case I need to share, also picked up one of the best pulled pork sandwiches (extra slaw instead of the fries) that I’ve ever had. Loved the egg-bun:

From these folks:

The wonderfully empty Metropolitan Lounge wasn’t so empty when I returned. When you have this many trains going out around the same time in the afternoon…

You end up with a scene like this:

And the other two rooms looked like this as well – not an open seat in the house.

Luckily it was a 2:15pm load time for our 3pm train, The Southwest Chief – but that was pushed back because there were three delayed trains that needed to get out of the room ahead of us. Controlled chaos was what is was… on the upside, I got to see a gaggle of Boy Scouts headed to the Philmont Scout Camp in Cimmaron (NM) boarding the train:

Philmont Scout Ranch, the Boy Scouts of America’s premier High Adventureâ„¢ base, challenges Scouts and Venturers with more than 214 square miles of rugged northern New Mexico wilderness. Backpacking treks, horseback cavalcades, and training and service programs offer young people many ways to experience this legendary country. Or so their website says – I understand that 2 weeks there is $1500 when you figure in transportation to get there. LINK TO FEES

To make matter more humorous, in Galesburg, IL another gaggle of Scouts got on in matching fluorescent t-shirts. And if you really want a chuckle – imagine the lounge car filled with testosterone laden teens mixed with a handful of Old Order Amish woman headed to San Diego. The basic jist of the Old Order Amish is according to Wikipedia: “The Old Order Amish is the concept many outsiders have when they think of ‘Amish'” right down to “rumsprina” a “rite of passage” for adolescents where often leave the community for a taste of the outside world before being baptized.

I would have gotten a picture but I didn’t want to be an ass.

The first meal on the train was dinner – hence the Pulled Pork sandwich at 1:30pm or so.

What’s for dinner you might ask – I had the steak again, to see the difference between routes. Tonight’s steak was much juicier that last nights, but I like the corn better than the green beans as the vegetable – presentation was hand-down better on the Southwest Chief.

The only goal remaining for tonight is to grab a couple of “Platform Memories” shots in both Kansas City (MO, not KS) and Lawrence (KS). First stop is Kansas City where Paul will be meeting me:

Though I would have like to get more of the train in there.

But onto Lawrence (KS) where I had to work with the conductor since only one car in coach was opening – and it was a QUICK two minute stop, enough for this shot of Byron, Phil and myself (right to left):

Turns out Conan was headed back from the movies and just saw the tail-lights of the Southwest Chief as they hit a crossing. Another 10 nights early and I could have waved.

Unfortunately I don’t think Flagstaff (AZ) is going to work out because Kyle work evenings. Hopefully I’ll get one or two from The Coast Starlight.

Just for the record, I’m in Car 0331 (second sleeper forward of the Dining Car) in Room(ette) 4 facing West and North. I’ve lucked out as this is one of the few Superliner II cars that still has a functioning ice drawer under the coffee urn:

Most of these have been abandoned after the health department raised hell for the scoop being in the drawer – use of the drawer now comes with rules from the car attendant – scoop must remain in paper bucket next to the coffee urn when not in use. The rest of the sleepers (including those on the City of New Orleans) that I’ve been on have had Styrofoam coolers to fetch your ice from.

And here is a little oddity that I noticed on the Southwest Chief schedules note:

So is “69” a reference to Arizonans? I thought Arizona was so conservative that sex wasn’t allowed.

Decided on the top bunk with both mattresses – tight but comfy though the morning came too soon and I didn’t hear the breakfast hours last night, so a bit of a panic, and then because of all the Boy Scouts, a half an hour wait to get a table. Damn do-gooders.

Got talked into the Omelet – not bad. Asparagus, onions, tomatoes, cheese was the filling. Yes, on the Southwest Chief they have menus items listed.

Headed back to the room(ette) after breakfast and basically napped until noon when I went downstairs for a shower – which did wonders for my mood.

Lunch was the Angus Cheeseburger with Bacon, always a winner – though I skipped the Kettle Chips.

The afternoon found me not reading but draining my tablet battery playing this mind-sucking Tri Peaks Solitaire which I got hooked on with my phone – and man can the game suck the juice out of the phone (and the tablet). By Albuquerque I finally put it down, but I did take breaks in Lamy (and Albuquerque) to step off and get pictures – it’s so weird to be at these two stations and not have any friends or family.

In Lamy it would have been my sister-in-law Jen, but she is interviewing job candidates today and the bro-in-law and niece are out of town – and mom is a El Castillo in downtown Santa Fe, so that’s out. There is a great “Platform Memory” – and probably what started this project – of my parents and I at the Lamy Station a couple of years before my father died.

Here is a link to the post that photo was in: LINK

And here is the station today:

The stop after Lamy (which is the stop for Santa Fe (NM)) is Albuquerque (NM) where in the past I’ve hooked up the Jen’s (sis-in-law) friend Michele to shoot the shit on the 45-minute layover – but alas, she has a doctor’s appointment at the same time, so, yet again, another link to a previous post of my last meet-up: LINK

And here is the station today:

Guess this means that I’ll have to include a photo of the Flagstaff station where I was hoping to meet Kyle:

Speaking of Flagstaff, we were delayed an hour because of a medical emergency. What’s that phrase? “It’s all good until the ambulance shows up.” One three ladies travelling together to Las Vegas had a couple of strokes – but to get her off the train as she was on the “hefty” side, they had to get her conscious since they couldn’t get a backboard up the narrow coach car stairs. They say it shouldn’t make us too late as there is padding in the schedule between Riverside and Los Angeles.

A later dinner seating tonight, 7:45pm, it was that or like 5:45pm which would have left me hungry at nine – no more 7pm seats but the time they got to my sleeper. They actually have reservations going til 9pm which is definitely too late for me.

Dinner tonight? Yes, another steak – luckily they were out of desert by the time they got to our table. Luckily I had some chocolate left over from the Snack Basket on the flight to New Orleans.

And a humor shot — the Jim Croce song: “If I Could Save Time In A Bottle,” mine would be more like “If I Could Measure Time In A Bottle.”:

Early to bed since if I want breakfast I need to be in the Dining Car at 5am as they stop serving at 5:45am, or San Bernardino whichever is later…as it turns out we are still an hour behind so I wouldn’t have had to rush that much.

As we pulled into Fullerton I saw the Amish ladies transferring to the Pacific Surfliner:

Ended up getting in 25 minutes late – time to hook up with Craig, but first, the Metropolitan Lounge.

And I close with my post with my favorite picture of the day – Arizona in the afternoon:

To be continued…

[? ? ?]

The third and final train trip in this month’s rail adventures – The Coast Starlight.

Arrived 15-20 minutes late on The Southwest Chief – unshowered and unshaved but at least my teeth were brushed. First stop…wait for it….The Metropolitan Lounge on the second floor of Los Angeles’ Union Station.

This lounge has only been open since December of 2013 when I was through on my way back from Santa Fe – when it still smelled new. It’s sort of hard to find…to the right of ticket counter and left of the Hertz desk, then up an elevator and then to the left. Signage is a little lacking.

Plain from the outside:

Snazzy on the inside:

Juice, soda, coffee, espresso, sweet rolls, and a conference room with this really great photo of the previous era Coast Starlight:

Craig and I track side for one of the best “Platform Memories” yet – well, the photo is the best quality – and I should be as he’s a professional photographer.

We got to hang out for twenty minutes or so – and I got to give him a tour of the sleeper car. He wants and invitation the next time I want company on a train trip.

First order of business – even before the train left the station was a shower. I really should have done it on the Southwest Chief, but live and learn:

It much easier to shower when you aren’t bouncing off the wall of a moving train.

Greek Salad for lunch in the Parlour Car (this one from 1956) which alternative dining option to the Dining Car. Much more limited menu, but you generally don’t have sit with other people though not in my case as there was another single dinner – so much for my plans for reading USAToday while I ate.

Spent the afternoon working on the Southwest Chief post, jotted down a couple of ideas for future posts on weeks I’m not travelling. So much for getting anymore of the book I started on the airplane completed. The book (Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness) is the required reading for all incoming Evergreen Students for the fall semester. Yesterday I took one of those silly FaceBook quizzes on what your spirit animal is…and I got crow. Go figure.

I took dinner in the Parlour Car as well, with the same single gentleman as at lunch – and with each interaction it’s feeling odder and odder. It doesn’t help that his roomette is right across the hall from mine.

The main reason for the Parlour Car again for my meal was the Red Wine Braised Lamb Shank – which I’ve had before, and liked enough to track down the recipe which I posted in a previous entry. LINK.

The lighting is a little funky, but you get the idea. Luckily my “less than ideal” dining companion gets off at Sacramento around midnight.

After dinner I got text from Lunetta – apologizing that they wouldn’t make it to the platform (which I hadn’t expected they would) –his plane ran late, and he and Onyx were still at dinner. Nice of them t text – guess they enjoyed the last “Platform Moments”.

My last FaceBook post before I got out of range was “Bedtime For This Bonzo”.

After the weirdness of lunch and dinner I opted to have coffee and breakfast delivered to my room at 8am. How civilized. Mostly they provide this service for mobility limited people (like my mother who always gets the handicapped room downstairs) but anyone can request the service – though the last morning on the Southwest Chief you’d probably have to tip the room attendant in advance. But here was my breakfast:

Scrambled eggs, pork sausage patties, home fries (which I mostly didn’t eat – and I requested to biscuit/croissant either).

And for Swanda a “footie”…

For the rest of you a slightly maniacal “selfie”…

Had the burger (again) for lunch, again using Newman’s Own Two Thousand Island dressing as the “secret sauce”. Damn tasty, sorry, no photo – it disappeared too quickly.

At Eugene I texted the boys (Travis and Leo) saying the train was on time and that I was in Eugene:

Got a quick response back from Travis saying it was doubtful he was going to be able to make it after all. Sigh. Such a photogenic guy. And then Leo was stuck at the post office – a total bust for “Platform Memories” other than..

We were thirty minutes early into Portland, which means probably 30 minutes early into Seattle – meaning a compressed dinner schedule. I was surprised when I got a 6:20 reservation…the last seating.

I finally remembered to take a picture of their “Signature Cooked To Order Steak”:

Shared the table with a lovely couple from Stockholm who were headed to Seattle to catch the Norwegian Cruise Line boat to Alaska – thereby achieving their goal to see all 50 of the United States. How many citizens of the US can claim that. I can, but I’m definitely in the minority.

Caught a cab back from the train station and dropped off my Junior Conductor hat with Casey, one of the Evergreen Grad neighbors that moved in a couple of months ago – I think it looks better on him than me.

[217.6] Better than I was expecting – only a 3.8# weight gain after 5 days of 3-squares a day via Amtrak.