Uncle Markie out and about.
Refresh for a different picture!
Two pictures:
Boring sunset… and the Luke Skywaker Lounge:
Another book down, boys at the club with the two new ones from Oly, dinner at the buffet because we are both too tired for sit down, then room service for things for tomorrow’s breakfast since we are out of here VERY VERY EARLY.
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Lazy day here on the boat – lots of lying around reading.
Why I seemed to grab three non-fictions and one fiction is beyond me – guess I packed in a hurry. I still have Dan Savage’s It Gets Better Project to read in the non-fiction category as well as Dean Koontz’ Intensity in the fiction column.
Another great sunset:
A smaller group of The Friends of Dorothy (the gay meet-up), but noticed two that hadn’t joined our little club and invited them over – turns out I know one of them (from Vancouver) from the Radical Faeries. Small world. He and his friend//boyfriend are headed to DisneyLand the long way. And as we were breaking up two younger guys (decked out in sports coats) inquired if this was the FOD meeting we confirmed that even though it isn’t on the schedule, why yes, we were doing it 5 every afternoon.
Dinner a little later, 7:30ish, which meant a table to ourselves.
As for me – as the ship was rocking I slept on the couch until 3 when the seas calmed down a bit. Easier for me to go up and down rather than side to side.
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Another boat ride, another couple of lines:
Not as bad as Seattle – 1 hour compared to 1.5 hours. This time there was a Preferred Line for the frequent cruisers like me and my guest so that knocked half an hour from the process, and the dual boarding ramps helped as well.
By a little after 1pm we were settled in our cabin and Magnatrious was fiddling with his radio that picked up all the crews radio signals – he’s an ex-Merchant Marine:
And it’s a nice shot of our “Mini-Suite” which comes with a complimentary glass of welcome aboard champagne. I couldn’t hold the camera AND the champagne so this is what you get:
The weather is supposed to turn once we are out of protected waters, but for now it’s a lovely sunset before dinner at 7pm:
We opted for a shared table for dinner so that we could eat at 7pm rather than when a table opened up. We have an 8:30pm date with the LGTB (Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, BiSexual) Group meeting in the Wheelhouse Lounge.
As for dinner – same menu as the Seattle to Vancouver run which was also noticed by another couple at the table who were on the Star Princess as well. I did get her to try the Chilled Peach Bellini soup. I’d had a 5pm Bratwurst/Knockwurst snack so I was eating a little lighter. A nice bottle of wine – probably marked up a ton. I’ll have to check when I get back.
The LGBT Gathering was a little disappointing in that it was the same time as a dance band struck up making it a little hard to talk. We finally got about six people, but since we were all a little late our “host” had left thinking no one was showing…. So I’m guessing no LGTB event on the schedule for tomorrow so we all decided to just show up at 5PM Tuesday and take over the lounge when nothing else is happening. It would be night if they put up a sign or something. Guess they think we are like the “Friends of Bill W” who don’t want to advertise that they are a bunch of recovering drunks. Oh well. And once again all G’s no BLT’s – though a couple who was there said that on an Alaska cruise they took in June it was packed with Lesbians and they were the only gay couple to attend the gatherings.
Actually got to bed at midnight, which is early for me and late for Mags.
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We had to be out of our room at 8am… early. We were packed and on-time, and hit the buffet line at the same time as everyone else… the downside of disembarkation day.
Had a light breakfast and headed to Customs – not bad, a half an hour line, and no luggage search.
Luckily the cruise terminal in Vancouver has the cabs come into the building to pick people up, which is good since it’s raining Mountie and Mooses.
Arrival time at the WorldMark Canadian? 9:30 – chance of room being ready. Really, really, slim.
Our luck? The party in our room had checked out a day early so our room was ready – and I was ready for a nap.
And nap I did – till about noon. Still raining… sigh. What a difference 18 hours makes.
Ran out for groceries for dinner – should have waited. Got wet on the way there, but by the time I was done shopping, no sun, but not a raining.
Tonight’s dinner guests:
Menu:
Consumed:
Tomorrow we are back on a boat headed to Los Angeles – which mean YET ANOTHER queue in the morning.’
Sigh. But a good sigh.
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Too much puttering around that with nasty traffic I was over half an hour behind schedule.
And more ugly traffic trying to get to the Cruise Ship terminal. Oh well, we don’t sail until 3:30.
Magnatrious clocked our time getting through the check-in process to actually getting on-board – 1.5 hours. Maybe I should start skipping getting on-board in time for an appropriately-time lunch. No crowds getting on the boat at 2pm.
A quick burger for lunch – it was the shortest line, then the it was the 3:15 safety drill with the wonderful Benjamin – a shy member of the orchestra:
Never did find out what instrument. Then we were back to the cabin for some relaxing:
Until the deck got too hot and I had to strip down to the Speedos for cocktail time:
An early dinner at 6 as the LGBT Gathering is in the Wheelhouse Lounge at 7:
Prime rib for me, peppercorn medallions for Mags.
And off to the Wheel House we go – no time for dessert. Wow – a one night cruise and 40 guys in the bar – and apparently another 20 missing.
Too cold for Movies Under The Stars – even with the provided blankets – I don’t like Star Trek THAT much.
I can’t believe later we both ordered room service (Club and a Croque Menou) AND did a brief drive by of the buffet before bed.
This will be the last day of that sort of behavior for me.
{203.1]
Hitting the water at noon on the Star Princess (balcony cabin) for my birthday ramble with Magnatrosious. This was originally booked for CaddyDaddy and I – may he rest in peace.
Tomorrow is Vancouver for a night at the WorldMark at The Canadian.
Monday we board the Golden Princess (mini-suite) for Los Angeles.
Thursday morning we transfer to Union Station to catch the Coast Starlight (family bedroom) to return to Seattle.
Will update this later with how the day went.
[203.1]
Today is my monthly work Friday – and it wasn’t too bad of a sales day, broke four digits which isn’t bad for a Friday.
SalamanderHellbender showed up around 6:30 to taste some wine and take me to a thank you/birthday dinner after work – unfortunately it started to rain before I noticed – and the top was down… we went to the restaurant sitting on wet seats.
Dinner was good – at the Elysian Fields. SM had the French Dip, UM had the South Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich (mustard style) – and we were both good and had the salads.
Got home around 9PM (after swinging back by for the old icemaker – put the new one at the shop) to the unpleasant task of getting the car to fit back in the garage WITH the Weiner Wagon as well.
A lot of rearranging and we have this:
As you can see, the top is cocked, the trunk is open – really trying to prevent mold from setting in from its unexpected bath.
Finally got packed – and of course stayed up WAY too late, again.
[204.0]
Well, today was supposed to be date day with the Seaside boy – alas – he had to cancel. Seems it’s the last day to get his xBox360 out of hock in Everett.
Insert sad face.
Instead it was just running errands around town – like picking up a package at the shop as well as a stack of “feed stock” for the still.
This time I splurged — $2 a bottle for some 2007 red wine. We opened it at the shop – sold a couple of bottles for $6 (hopefully as cooking wine). Not vinegar, just all the fruit is gone. Suze didn’t mind it and is getting a case, but I tried it again the day after we opened it and just said no to drinking it.
Starting to make a pile for my birthday ramble – not even close to packing yet.
Some chicken/apple sausages and salad for dinner – kinda boring.
[205.4]
No upgrade on the return – actually a downgrade from 6C to 30C – at least when I got to the airport there was a middle exit row seat available. Who thought a 4PM flight would be so popular? I was number 14 of 46 people wanting upgrades.
Waiting in line for my flight – goofing around.
What went down to California as wine came back as whiskey – that should hold me for a bit. Got the box of booze and picked up the car and headed to Senor Bliss’ place for dinner. Well, I though he was cooking, but instead after a couple of martinis we went out to Manhattan, a Capital Hill steakhouse.
Oddly enough we both had the exact same meal:
And we passed on this, though it sounds great:
Was home around 9:30 but not before snagging this off the side of the road – a bidet. I didn’t take the matching toilet as it had a broken lid and there was no room in the car… who would leave a perfectly good bidet by the side of the road?
And why would I pick it up.
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This is the first of three trips to SFO this fall –as much to see the boys as for the 10,000 bonus miles.
This isn’t the jet that I was flying on – the Salmon Thirty Salmon (one of two I believe), but it’s a cool paint job.
Not my favorite seat (1C), but at least it’s an aisle seat in First Class.
Arrived at 4PM and it was a little before six when I got picked up at the Ashby BART station. Normally I’d just walk the 10-12 blocks but with lugging a box of wine with me the ride was nice.
A lovely dinner with the boys – we opened one of the bottles of wine I brought down – and sounds like I might be bringing more wine the next time I come down in October. How’s that for customer service?
As usual, stayed up too late, but what’s new with that.
[203.4]
It must be fall – all the distributors are having their Monday Trade Tastings… apparently all on the same Monday. Four today. I made it to one, Jim made it to two.
American Northwest was the tasting that both Jim and I made it to. I figure I got through about half of the wines they had open – in two hours. Lots of good food there as well – but a bit of a mob scene. My strategy was to hit the tables where there weren’t many people. I definitely wanted a nap when I got home.
In other news there is progress on the South Park Bridge project:
They have one of the drawspans installed! Can’t wait for next spring’s opening. Was supposed to be this fall, but the east side base developed problems – the same side that was the cause of the previous bridges closing.
Quiet dinner at home. Just packing for tomorrow’s trip to San Francisco.
[204.0]
Well – the weather has finally turned. Cooler, light rain during shop hours, good for sales of Cabernet, not so much for the whites. Managed to sell out of the $10 Cabernet from the Columbia Valley that we had on offer today – so much so that we’ll be getting in some for special orders (along with their Syrah) and restocking it even though the original plan was to discontinue this one as we have another $10 Columbia Valley Cabernet as well.
The vagaries of the wine biz.
A good day at the shop by Sunday standards — guessing having two bottles open (well, today with the leftovers from yesterday SEVEN) is helping to bring people in. Maybe it’s the note at the bottom on the weekly email announcements that reminds people that we are open Sunday.
After work it was a business meeting down at Jims to talk about advertising for the fall, things that need refreshed around the shop – yet another to-do list. Makes to now with Dan’s What’s That Bug refresh as well. If you haven’t checked out What’s That Bug you should. Great for bug identification, great to find “bug sex” pictures, great to just poke around in.
Speaking of the weather – the jerked pork ribs that were to be done on the grill weren’t. A downpour keep the coals from getting lit. Instead they were done in the oven and still came out tasty.
As for the wine – it was the leftovers from the tasting today – a Sunday tradition.
[205.4]
Up at 8:30 for some reason. Ate at 10:00, then for some reason took an hour and a half nap.
One last picture from my holiday. This is the Carl’s Jr. Restaurant in Terminal Two at the Cabo San Lucas Airport:
Notice the Modelo and Corona Light Beer in the cooler – welcome to Mexico.
To work at 1:30 for an odd day of customers – numbers OK but just weird traffic patterns.
Oven-baked BBQ for dinner at home after – and taking care of stuff that got pasted over while I was gone.
[204.2]
Well – I was out of the condo at 11 – I should say we as it was all of us.
After a little traffic snarl I was to the airport around noon. Check-in was easy – and off to the terminal go I.
Free Wi-Fi courtesy of Carl’s Jr. in Terminal Two – remodeled since I was here a year ago – which Rich was here to see this. I have access to a VIP Lounge via my Chase Ink card but chose not to use it since the departure hall is so nice.
The only glitch was when I was boarding and she scanned my boarding pass and I got a big yellow message – Secondary Screening – in theory random, or so I thought. Here is what you will see on your boarding pass before the poo hits the fan – notice the SSSS (Secondary Security Screening Scumbag is what I translate that to):
Lovely Homeland Security stamps on there – OFFICIAL, not just the usual check point stamps.
Here is the description of the trip I posted on FlyerTalk when I went to look up what “SSSS” meant on a boarding pass:
Out of the blue on my return trip from 5 days in Cabo San Lucas my ticket is branded with SSSS. This for a Nexus/Pre/Global Entry traveler.
On the way down it was Pre in SEA, on the way back, didn’t realize the code on my boarding pass, but soon guessed it. In Cabo they swabbed everything down and put the pads into their portable nitrate readers… with no response — dead batteries (saw them swapping them out as I boarded). Boarded OK. In LAX running 15 minutes behind, used Global Entry though the passport reader wasn’t working… but there is a manual way to input flight info — fingerprint worked and I was on my way to be screened again for the LAX-SEA (a process I find annoying — just put officers in San Jose like they do Dublin, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, etc)
And then the fun began — a) no pre- line b) the freaked look on the initial check person, c) no communication between staff and they almost let me go through the just metal detector line rather than the back scatter which I TOLD them they wanted me in the back scatter line, d) trying to test my McCormicks Montreal Steak Seasoning (Costco size) with liquids to detect god knows what — and she didn’t seem to know how to use the liquids or what to look for. Heard comments about “having to call it in” and some phrase “shielded” or something — took it to mean to not let me out of their site.
Bottom line — 30 minutes lost that I could have been happily eating and drinking in the Board Room (Alaska flights).
Details: round-trip paid ticket, free upgrades. Yes, I like bulkhead aisle in First Class (apparently another flag). Personal not business trip. Carry-on only (another flag — 5 days to holiday vacation and no checked luggage?)
All that said — the renovation of Terminal Two in Cabo is GREAT — free Wi-Fi from Carls Jr. with the wifi code: areasmexico
Oh, and there were TSA Agents at the gate in Los Angeles just in case I’d made it through all the gauntlets.
The only bright side to this travel day was a lovely man whose name I learned later was Eric. I saw him in my brief visit to the Board Room in LAX for a quick drink, cup of soup and a couple of newspapers. I found him sitting in front of me in First Class on the flight to Seattle:
He is a Seattle boy living in LA – probably older than he looks since I saw crow’s-feet around his eyes – returning home for the weekend to cave crawl with old friends – probably not in that outfit. I commented on shoes talking custom shoes – his are stock and tight (I like mine loose) because he tends to do acrobatics – as I would with that body. Too bad I’m way too lazy to maintain mine.
Stopped at Safeway on the way home for groceries I might need – and lots that I didn’t but can use, like a dozen or so of stuffed olives at 50% off.
Actually weighed myself at midnight to see how bad the vacation was on my weight – turns out, not bad.
[205.4] Less than I left town on.
Mm
Before I get onto the Cabo Concoctions, and word about my sleeping arrangements for these four nights… I didn’t even bother to fold out the couch. It was that wide and that soft:
And now onto some tips and trips for Kondo Kamping â„¢. The meal for my last night. Tilapia dipped in an egg wash and breaded in cracker crumbs. The crackers were left over from the ceviche by the pool on Tuesday. A ziplock bag and a bottle of wine make a great rolling pin. For the tartar sauce I finely diced a couple of the pupu platter gherkins and combined with the remaining half small bottle of mayo. Filet number one:
And the final result – with some butter fried blue corn tortilla chips, salad and pico de gallo:
The other half of the mayo went into yesterday’s chicken salad lunch (on toast for Dan, on blue corn tortillas for Lisa and I) which was made from the left over pre-roasted chicken from Monday night’s dinner. So, from that original roast chicken we got:
From the package of thinly sliced flank steak from Costco (same source as the chicken) we got:
Add the pupu platters around 5:30 or so every night – we weren’t eating that bad. Dan and Lisa ate out the first two nights, then the only meal we had out were hot dogs at Costco (cheap) and the lunch in Todos Santos. Can you say Frugal Gourmets?
I include this last picture even though it’s a little fuzzy – more to prove that WII Bed Bowling is possible.
The trick is that you can’t bowl underhand – you have to flip the remote over and bowl overhand – sort of like the shot-put
Tomorrow it’s back to the city. Damn.
At least I in 1D to Los Angeles and then 2C to Seattle – and no checked bag so I can speed through customs – the booze isn’t check enough to make it worth the hassle.
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Today’s big excitement is an hour drive north to Todos Santos.
We were all surprised at the quality of the road going north –four lanes with little traffic until about 10 miles from Todos Santos – and they are working on that section as well. The original thought was to go to La Paz – but that’s like 2.5 hours each way. Guess I’ll put off La Paz until Alaska starts up their winter direct service.
Cute little town Todos Santos – hot as hell, but that’s all of Baja including Cabo.
Wandered around, found place to eat across from the Hotel California:
And no, not named for the Eagles song, though not for lack of trying – and interesting article on that here:
http://www.todossantos-baja.com/todos-santos/eagles/hotel-california.htm
The article also includes a history of the hotel and lots of stuff on the rumors that The Eagles wrote the song here. Apparently reporters are VERY gullible people.
Great lunch, starting with a Damiana Margarita:
And how it looks in the glass – stir before drinking:
The smoothies came with chocolate drizzled on the inside of the glass:
My fish ceviche—most likely some kind of local tuna:
The chips and salsa platter:
Off to church after lunch:
Not the one from the 1700’s, but still cute.
Back to Cabo with a stop at the MEGA (large supermarket including large appliance section) for groceries for the next couple of days.
Tonight’s dinner is a chicken corn chowder made from the first night’s roast chicken carcass, some canned corn, some sautéed blue corn chips with a little sour cream on top. Yum.
And a little evening surprise from the Mexican Buffet they are holding on the beach which came with live music and dancing, and this:
Honest to god fireworks (not to be confused with Swanda’s Mexican Adventure which came with “firework”).
Off to bed.
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Today in three pictures:
Enough said.
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3am is very early in my world. At least the check-in line was short and the TSA-Pre line non-existent. No time for the Board Room this morning, they open at 5am and my flight is from North concourse so not worth it. Had a decent breakfast burrito in the main hall, then it was off to my N gate.
It was about this time that I realized in choosing a briefcase, I chose the one WITHOUT the laptop power supply and mouse. SHIT.
$65.00 later from the Hudson Newstand in the North concourse I have a universal power supply. No mouse, but I’m sure I can pick up a cheap on in Cabo.
Number one on the upgrade list so boarded the plane and took my seat in 6D. Ten minutes later they came on board and moved me to 2F, a window which I don’t really prefer but it’s a seat in First all the way to Cabo so I ain’t complaining.
They made us (all the Cabo-bound passengers) get off in San Jose while the “checked” the plane – haven’t had that happen before – maybe it’s just for international flights.
Didn’t have the meal on the first leg as that burrito was might filling, but did have the airline version of eggs benedict which was quite tasty on the second leg.
Some pretty clouds outside the window – the result of the tropical storm that nailed Cabo San Lucas a couple of days ago:
A pretty day in Cabo…
Think 85 degrees or so…
Must not be on vacation yet as I am looking very stern.
Dan and Lisa picked me up at the airport and we were off to the heart of Cabo where Cabo Villas is located – but first stops at Costco for dinner fixing (and a hot dog combo) and WalMart for salad dressing, Coke Light (what they call Diet Coke down south), and a cheap purple $5 mouse.
The view from our unit – ocean front!
Starting to look happy!
And from Caba Brewing on the top floor of the neighboring building during a meet and greet with the other owners, free appetizers, free margarita, and prizes which we won none of.
I think there was a similar picture of CaddyDaddy and I in about the same spot last year. RIP CD.
And the view from our unit:
Pretty nice.
Dinner was a Costco roast chicken and salad. After dinner it was time to turn the chicken bones into stock (and or soup).
I’m sleeping on the coach – Dan and Lisa are in the bedroom – luckily the couch is pretty damn comfortable even without folding it out into a bed.
[207.0]
A good day dollar wise at the shop for a Sunday – about half of what Saturday’s sales were.
Getting excited for tomorrow’s trip, but alas, no upgrade by the time for check-in. Sigh. Maybe at the airport, but doubtful. The problem is that the flight is a one-stop which means they need an open seat on BOTH legs to get me the upgrade since they can’t split the ticket.
Still deciding on which luggage to take – know it needs to be a hard-side but don’t know if I need the hand-truck bag or not. Then there is which briefcase – wheels or shoulder bag. Final decision – hand-truck bag and wheeled briefcase.
For those of you that haven’t seen it, here is what the hand-truck hard-side which is a Porter Case:
Might have to upgrade to their new version with the TSA locks.
Had a nice steak for dinner – knowing that that most likely won’t happen in Cabo.
Stayed up WAY too late for someone getting up at 3am to make his 6am flight. What WAS I thinking when I booked that!
[206.0]
Sort of an odd day at work – opened this morning so that means that I’m off at 4:30 or so.
Time to start the packing process for Monday’s trip to Cabo San Lucas with Dan and Lisa who arrive at the timeshare today. Let’s hope this works out – with them arriving a couple of days before me and trying to use the $100 certificate that I get by paying my maintenance dues early.
Here is a shot of the timeshare from their website:
Just a quiet evening at home for me – baked a couple of chicken breasts in a ginger/green onion marinade – one for tonight, one for tomorrow’s lunch at the shop.
[208.2]
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