UMTravels

Maid brings paper to me in bed, but doesn’t put coffee on. Does a great job and goes away for two weeks.

Coffee on.

Breakfast and one section of the paper.

Lunch. Business opportunity, or counseling, or both.

Errands.

Whack and nap.

Book “bonus time” 2-bedroom at Discovery Bay before Victoria next week.

Shop for a dual burner griddle. Will check Cabella.

Cocktails and trip planning with Swanda.

Dinner with Swanda.

Pack for Bay Area trip tomorrow.

Annoy friends on internet.

My day.

And if you are interested, here is the Vacation Dollar count on TripAlertz:

Your Trip Cash: $40

If you want to send me (and maybe you if we get it to $300) on a trip: here is the link to run that number up:

http://www.tripalertz.com/pages/curtain/?friend_u=34913

[231.7]

Up at 9am – getting closer to the Seattle schedule, just in time to leave town again – at least this time it’s in the same time zone.

Errands in the morning… Swanda’s for packages for Hummingbird which turn out to be from Argentina and covered with many pretty stamps, and a swing by Safeway… the oddest basket in awhile… a pound of coffee (with $1 off coupon on already discounted Seattle’s Best), and four beautiful lamb shanks:

And I don’t even need these for the Osso Bucco Fest at Suze’s on the 22^nd – these may get put in my luggage for the Bay Area later this week – that would be the trip I’m packing for.

As for Ireland Out Of The Blue…. United sent me an email this morning… give us $299, and rack up 10,000+ EQM (elite qualifying miles) in 90 days, and we will continue your Premier status through the end of January 2012. Rules are that I must fly all on United/Continental. Damn them for making me fill my travel calendar like October-November-December (now January-February).

Choices:

While Hong Kong was “technically” a little cheaper, it was a little over $100 more and not worth it since I won’t need the miles to push my United account over the 25,000 mile mark for a free ticket. End result…. $1,020 to get:

• Premier status through January 2012
• Round-trip US ticket with the miles
• Oh, and that trip to Ireland

To celebrate?

Like the “ice ball” in the center – courtesy of Maker’s Mark and an ice cube tray they sent me for Christmas. Two martinis later – it still hasn’t melted. Basically it’s a thingee that you fill with water, snap on a top which forces water into the other ball – and a hour or so later, ice balls.

Thank you again Helene for the stunning Waterford martini glasses – last time I was in Ireland I visited the now bankrupt factory and there was nothing as classy as what you gave me.

And to go after the martinis – a pan-fried steak and a nice romaine salad with a really crappy dressing.

Life is good. Even with the snow…

[230.3] Amazing with the food I was eating in Boston!

Up at 9:30… look, I’m getting closer to Seattle time!

Pucci made a couple of damn fine omelets on his return from the gym… filled with some hot Italian sausage which I forget the name of, some green onions, some mushroom, a little fresh rosemary – not that’s the way to start at day.

We are out of the house at 1:30, and by 2:15 I have taken the Red Line from Alewife to Park Street, the Green Line one stop to the Blue Line at Government Center, the Blue Line to the airport stop with its free shuttle bus to the airport – if you think about it, that’s pretty damn quick… from house through security in 45 minutes with a car, three trains, and a bus. The joys of Alaska being in Terminal A in Boston – the first stop on the shuttle route.

Here is the view from the Sky Room (formerly known as the Crown Room before Delta and Northwest merged):

The merger must be fairly far along – I haven’t seen a Northwest painted plane in at least six months.

Flight boarded on time, but then had 45 minutes of taxi time… still managed to arrive on time though.

But in between there and here, I must complement Alaska on their 1^st Class meal on the way home. A wedge salad with all the trimmings, lamb chops in a red wine reduction (complete with a fresh sprig of rosemary), scalloped potatoes, and a two-toned roll that tasted exactly like a pretzel. Dessert was a little raspberry tartlet with a dab of whipped cream and a reasonably fresh strawberry. Nice and warm and full of seeds which luckily I don’t have diverticulitis (for which seeds are a no-no – apparently they get lodged in ugly places).

Was home and unpacked by 10pm, going through a big stack of snail mail.

Plan is to wake up in the morning all caught up.

[? ? ?]

Again, with this sleeping in thing… I hope it doesn’t follow me back to Seattle, that would cut into my work day.

Lots of time to randomly search the web today… and stumbled across this New York Times article:

11 Tricks to Cutting Travel Costs in 2011

Which led to this other site (TripAlertz) which actually has some deals priced better than the SniqueAway site. SniqueAway is really geared towards high end travelers that I am too cheap to be. TripAlertz is more like really good couple of day get away packages.

And you, my faithful readers can help me try out their service and earn some travel cash. Unlike the Snique site, where they offer $25 to people who refer folks to their site, but to get it, the person referred has to actually book travel through them. With the TripAlertz deal, I get $5 in travel credit for you just going to the site and registering your email (and then clicking on a confirming email). That’s all you need to do, and I get the credit. Interested in more voyeuristic Uncle Markie travel adventures – here is the link to click:

http://www.tripalertz.com/pages/curtain/?friend_u=34913

If I get enough people to sign up I’ll have a drawing to see who wants to come with me on a trip. According to their rules, there is no limit on the number of referrals. Come on, show me the love! Help send Uncle Markie (and maybe YOU) off on some little adventure.

Tonight’s dinner is a quiet dinner for two here at Chez Pucci – pork in a whiskey reduction, collard greens, roasted potatoes and a fine bottle of wine (2000 Cote de Brouilly – Chateau Thivin en Beaujolais).

Tomorrow it’s back to Seattle on the late afternoon flight. Seat 1A, dinner included.

[? ? ?]

Maybe it’s the weather that makes me sleep in on the East Coast. By the time I got up at 10:30, Jill was getting ready to shove off to visit friends and friends children leaving me with the late morning and early afternoon “at leisure” as they say in the travel brochures. Plenty of time to reprogram my spare MP3 player for Jill’s return trip (she forgot her Zune), figure out how to finally get my phone to sync with my Exchange server contacts/calendar, strip and remake the guest bed, put away the clean dishes, add the dirty ones, and get all the soiled linens into the laundry basket.

Pucci showed up at 3:30, just after Jill returned to the apartment – and off we went to Whole Paycheck and Cambridge Wine and Spirts. The 12-year-old Macallan was on sale for $39.95 which was all I was planning on buying, but then a bottle of Germain-Robin brandy caught my eye… damn, there goes another $23.99 (down from $29.99).

Cocktails at 5:30 with Pucci, his GF, me… before dinner at Netta’s place in Arlington. Lamb shanks over couscous, which was supposed to go with a Caesar salad – except Pucci forgot to make that in all the excitement over the lamb.

The large Le Creuset pot on the right side of the stove used to belong to Julia Child – sent from the company to Julia as a promotional item. Netta used to work as her archivist and found it in the basement of her house. Julia’s comment… “you want it, take it, the damn thing weighs a ton.” That French Oven held 10 lamb shanks and all the fennel and garbanzo beans, rosemary, the works.

What a meal, even without the salad. So much for greens today.

Pucci grabbed all the bones to make a lamb stock for tomorrows pork dinner which will include a whiskey reduction sauce.

Nightcaps, and then to bed.

[? ? ?]

Lazy days here in Boston. Here is the view from the computer…

Up at 9:30, breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage at 11:30, and lunch at 1 with Jill’s family friend Faith.

And what a lunch it was. Lobster sandwiches from Alive and Kicking in Cambridge along with a dozen Bar Harbour oysters. Yum.

The afternoon was spent facing away from each other (Jill and I), me facing the Charles (a.k.a. The Chuck) at her mother’s desk, she at her father’s desk facing away from the river. Both hard at work on our laptops – she plugged into the Ether, me tethered to my phone.

A little more shopping for dinner… at her favorite Middle Eastern store… Sevan Bakery for traditional string cheese (not your kid’s string cheese, much more salty and complex), hummus, traziki, spices, anchovies for Pucci, fresh pita, and then off to Hi-Rise Bakery for chicken… yes, chicken. After they are done baking the bread for the day, and before they start on tomorrow mornings loaves… they use the ovens to bake chickens, which they sell whole starting in the late afternoon… with onions and fresh gravy if you want it (which you do).

I’m guessing today is FOOD DAY in Boston. Well, actually it is most times I come here.

Dinner tonight with Pucci and his lady friend. Much good wine in addition to the scotch before and after.

I don’t think it’s going to be an early morning.

[? ? ?]

6:15am – text to Jill “ETA”

6:35am – phone call to Jill –voicemail

6:50am – phone call to Jill answered, “Overslept” – me, “I meet you at the airport.” Hello MasterPark.

Great way to start the day those of you who know my obsessiveness to getting to the airport early. Hey, at least I got the Wall Street Journal read (today’s and the remains from yesterday) and the dishwasher unloaded.

At the airport, not much better. TSA understaffed and so the “Gold/1^st Class” lane they are randomly sending people down, clogging it up – and there was only one lane out of the three open.

Not much time at the Board Room –enough for one cocktail and two bagels with cream cheese. Met up with Jill on the way out of the club, she had stopped by to pick up her water bottles she’d left on the trip to Tucson, and off to the gate we were, and right onto the plane… to find a POS (Person Of Size in airline terms) wedged into the middle seat between us. Clearly uncomfortable with the slab sides of the buckhead row seats, and certainly not able to use the tray table during the flight. Having friends who are POS who fly regularly, it was also obvious that he didn’t know of Alaska’s excellent policy for our larger brethren. The full rules are here: http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/help/faqs/second-seat.asp.

So, for five hours Jill and I (neither of us petite) sat side saddle in the 75% of our seat that was leftover. Jill facing the window, me getting knocked around by the flight attendaents and carts. Yes, I could have complained and made him miss the only flight to Boston that day (the plane was booked full), but, truly, he was as uncomfortable as us. During the flight I went back to the galley and asked if they had any of the POS brochures onboard that I’ve seen on the Alaska ticket counter – no such luck. I would have been happy to gently given the guy some handy material for future trips.

Let us all pray I get upgraded to 1^st on the way back as the universes way of making it up to me.

With that in mind, the universe did seem to kick into high gear on landing. Kerstin’s finance was sitting in 6C (right in front of me) and so a ride awaited us at the airport – with a stop in the North End (old Italian district) for dinner on the way to Jill’s mother’s condo. Soon we were drinking wine (and a martini in honor of Pucci) and eating food, laughing, chatting, memories of the plane long gone. My new year’s resolution, of sorts, to cut back on the carbs shot to hell with the Carbonara — not much other than pasta or other things with cooked tomatoes on the menu, but I was happy for a hot meal.

Odd thing number one about the restaurant: that martini of which I spoke… Beefeater Martini, two olives up…. “Oh, we don’t have a full bar, we don’t stock gin…. I can make you a martini with vodka.” OK, I didn’t even bother asking what kind of Vodka… and when it did show up sans olives (they came later and were the small little stuffed ones… three to a frilly toothpick), what it lost in using a fresh shaker was more than made up in quantity… there had to be 5 ounces of vodka in the damn thing. Just what the doctor ordered after the plane flight.

Odd thing number two… after dinner she brought a complimentary shot of Lemoncello. Nice… but something odd about it. Like no other Lemoncello I’d ever had. Turns out if was Lemoncello Creame –tasted like 50% O’Douls and 50% Lemoncello, or as Kerstin said, “It’s like the filling of an éclair that I never wanted to eat.”

With a ride home (another nice treat) Jill and I settled into her mother’s Cambridge condo on the Charles before heading to the Star Market for an “essentials” run… eggs, sausage, coffee for the morning, and Diet Coke and Scotch (not in the same glass) for tonight.

Rest of the evening spent in techo hell… trying to get the wireless router working (failed)… so Jill is jacked in, and I’m tethered to my phone. Life could be much worse.

(230.9]

Stayed up late, took a pill, slept late… it always messed with the day.

The day is all about packing and kvetching about the trip. Do you ever have that “black cloud” feeling about an upcoming trip… I’d like to blame it on not getting an upgrade to 1^st Class, but I think it’s more than that. I could cancel and get the money back no questions asked… but $221.40 to Boston (and back)… the miles, the friends, the hell of coach class on a six hour flight.

Maybe this “mileage whore” thing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Picked up Salamander at his office – left Casa de Rose South Park at 4:30pm and was to the UDistrict and back in the hood a little before 5:30pm. Oh, the joys of a return trip in the carpool lane (espress lanes on the way out)… I think I need a blow up Salamander doll to keep in the car for commute time.

I grilled tonight… the first time in at least 3-4 months…. I opened the grill (luckily before I left to pick him up) and found it… well, less than ready to go. Moldy would more be the answer – guess I’d better leave the door and flu open for the rest of the winter. A couple of hours worth of hot coals, heat, and scraping, and it was fit to cook on…

Country style pork ribs marinated in a nice hot/vinegar sauce, a big salad, and fresh Bermuda pearl onion bread done up as pull apart rolls. YUM.

Salamander stayed an hour later than planned (the 10:19 bus rather than the 9:19 bus) so we could watch a few compressed videos from my 8mm to DVD collection… I really need to organize that collection better!

The leftover rolls have been stuffed with the leftover port and cream cheese from the appetizer and are now freezing to tomorrow’s flight. I figure they will be thawed about the time I’m hungry after the breakfast at the Board Room.

Is it too late to cancel?

[230.4]

Really, I need more billable hours… hanging out in front of the computer searching for cheap vacations is expensive, or could be.

The Colonels and I need to do the African continent (Egypt/Morocco) to complete our seven continents. Thanks Babs for pointing me in some directions for those trips…. Ugly, ugly, ugly pricing…. Three grand plus air. Ouch. Without billing hours I can’t afford that this year.

The Galapagos… yikes, even more. First thought – 15-20 people (extended family) going to the Galapagos – a full boat booked, but still need get there, and then the $100 park fee and the $10 transit fee.

Which lead me to investigate where you fly into, which most likely would be Quito, Equator – which I can book in First/Business Class on American Airlines via the Alaska Airlines site using miles… 60,000 which could even be into Quito, out of Lima, Peru. For merely a $25.00 booking fee (plus taxes). Peru… Cusco, and I fly in/out of there, maybe Machu Picchu would be cheap… it doesn’t help either the family or the Colonels, but it might make a nice May or Birthday trip.

Here would be an interesting thing to do…

Hiram Bingham Service (PeruRail)

The Hiram Bingham train is the most luxurious way to journey between Cusco and Machu Picchu. The carriages are painted a distinctive blue and gold while interiors are luxurious, warm and inviting with elegant decoration in the style of the 1920’s Pullman trains. As passengers step on board they are encompassed in a world of polished wood, gleaming cutlery and glittering glass. The train consists of two Dining Cars, an Observation Bar Car and a Kitchen Car, and can carry up to 84 passengers. Enjoying such a luxurious journey as you pass through small villages that can’t afford adequate schools or healthcare may make some people feel uncomfortable, and rightly so.  Ecotourism at its worst.

A round-trip ticket on the Hiram Bingham service costs US$588 and includes pre-dinner cocktails, live entertainment, brunch served on outward journey and 4-course dinner with wine on return, all bus transfers, a guided tour of Machu Picchu, entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and afternoon tea at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.

Hiram Bingham Train: Poroy (Cusco) to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)

 
Hiram Bingham Train: Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Poroy (Cusco)

And then there is a trip to Lake Titicaca for another $400 round-trip in first class cabins (10 hours each way, requires overnight stay)

For more information on the Peru rail system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PeruRail

Wow, I wonder if I can do a triangle thing into Cusco and out of Puno (Lake Titicaca), or should I just take the train/ferry to La Paz and fly out of there.

These are the things I was thinking about over my pepper shrimp over a bed of romaine topped off with three tacos from the wagon down the road.

Not going to lose weight like that.

[234.0]

P.S. Good thing Shakti was here to distract me with remodeling questions and cocktails.

Well, it seems that none of my clients are “back in the saddle” yet from the holidays… and it’s too damn cold to be working on outside projects. I guess that just means more eye strain at the computer for no particular reason – which is dangerous as I’m likely to start shopping for air fare, WorldMark last minute deals, toys… you name it.

Today’s picture is of a slightly repurposed “snuggy” that Swanda gave me for the holidays… you know it’s plenty big when it can serve as a blanket on the bed (handy in this cold snag):

For those of you in the know, in the background are Pigletté and Bobo, now retired from their travels. If you need any additional Pigletté and Bobo travelogues you can get them from Amazon at this link: Pigletté & Bobo On Amazon.

A run to the grocery store… scored some veal shanks for the upcoming Veal-O-Rama with Jimmy and Suze on the 22^nd – which is good as I was down to two shanks and a whole bunch of veal for scaloppini, and at 30% off, even better.

But tonight’s dinner for me is flat iron steak over a bed of romaine… simple, and missing most of the starch that seems to be sticking to my belly.

[231.9]

Another day, another dinner party.

The “tree” is down:

Compare this to the shot a couple of days ago.

The wine is sacramental….

12 Apostles and Sacred Hill. Must save some for when my priests visit.

Dinner with DancingBear and Erik. A New Year’s gift of a hand me down phone for Erik, and a computer for DancingBear to use as a “media server”. A vegetarian feast for the three of us – and no, I’m not changing my stripes and becoming a vegan – Erik is a lactose intolerant vegetarian would be the reason, though I’m sure that DB would have loved his Portobello stuffed with lamb rather than basil, lemongrass, ginger, pearl onions, and garlic.

DB left early, Erik stayed later and chatted… he howled with glee when I took him for a ride on the dining platform. We didn’t stay up too long as it was wicked cold last night.

Tomorrow: packages that were due on Friday.

[231.9]

Slept in, missed the Macy’s New Year’s Parade – it was on, I was just asleep on Swanda’s roll-away.

Housewarming (only took them three years to do it) at Mark and Kassi’s place – oddly, it seemed like EVERYONE showed up right at 2pm.

Next on the docket was a gourmet vegetarian dinner at BoktiShakti’s place further west on Rose Street. Dinner for twelve with pre-dinner entertainment of punching holes in the drywall of an upstairs room that is going to be renovated… I went for more fun after dinner and succeeded in stripping the entire room of its drywall – it wasn’t put on very well, and to beat that, it was only ¼” thick. Nice way to get that New Year’s anger out.

And in the spirit of the New Year, I’d like to pass on this request for funding from my friend Vanessa who lives in Portland (OR, not ME)…

You can see more details of the project HERE.

May your New Year be filled with dreams fulfilled.

[230.4]

Run around, run around….

• Costco (gas and car wash)
• Post Office
• Cleaners
• Wonderful’s place
• Grocery Outlet
• Jimmie’s Place
• Liquor store (2 – first one had a line 20 people deep at both registers)
• Swanda’s Place

New Year’s Eve festivities at Swanda’s with a dinner of prosciutto wrapped scallops and lamb steaks with salad and the remains of the bottle of wine from last night. 9pm the ball drops in NYC (drink champagne), 10pm the guitar in Nashville gets stuck dropping (drink more champagne), 11pm, did something happen in Denver – don’t remember since that was when Wonderful showed up with another bottle of champagne – seems he was headed to a party on Capitol Hill but couldn’t find parking so came to the International District instead. Midnight fireworks in Seattle, drink more champagne

Crashed on roll-away bed. No way am I driving on “amateur’s night” – that’s the phrase that Missy uses to describe the people who drive on New Year’s Eve. Amateurs. As in they are amateur drinkers and just plain dangerous on the road to the professionals.

Happy New Year one and all.

[232.4]

The cold snap is in full bloom as they say. Really noticed it when I went out to lunch with a guy from the Evergreen Foundation office… always nice to get a free lunch from your Alma Mater. I’m surprised he didn’t ask me why I and my father haven’t done our contribution this year… to quote the politicians of yore… “It’s the economy, stupid.”

Work with major client is…on hold pending working prototypes from another vendor. I did get an inquiry for work in the new year from one of my old clients – now he just has to decide how to use me, or maybe I should say, what project to assign me. Seems he misses me.

And because we are about to wrap up the holidays… the final picture of “the tree” with all its greetings and salutations to the new year.

Beef stir fry with leftover vegetables and rice. Opened a nice bottle of Greener made wine, a 2008 Cor Cellars Momentum (also courtesy of the Evergreen Foundation). Will finish that tomorrow before the ball drop.

[231.4]

Nice to wake up in my own bed.

Nice to have had cocktails with Swanda after posting yesterday’s blog early so that my Amtrak attendant could read it before she headed back to Los Angeles this morning.

Nice to have plans for New Year’s Eve at Swanda’s to watch the ball drop – no, not Swanda’s, New York City’s celebration.

Nice to have all the Happy New Year cards mailed.

Nice to have company coming to make me straighten the house while MoonSong cleans.

Nice to have Johnnie come for dinner and stay the night in the office.

Nice that Johnnie and I are on the same page about the Hawaii trip. Waikiki, close to the surfing portion of the beach, needs to have a kitchenette so we can prepare most meals.

Nice to be getting away from the winter grey weather – 9 days starting January 30^th.

Nice to get round-trip from Bellingham to Honolulu for $325.00

Nice to be able to upgrade that fare to First Class with coupons.

Nice to go to bed in your own bed.

[233.2]

As a result of the various blog and FaceBook posts, friends and relatives have been asking me about my thoughts about long-distance train travel….

This year I will have done 50,000+ flight miles, mostly on Alaska Airlines…. But yet, this will be the 3^rd or 4^th (maybe 5^th) train trip, though certainly the longest of the year.

While not cheap — $550 from Santa Fe to Seattle (booked well in advance)… what would that be, a one way ticket, two nights in a hotel, and all my meals provided… as my sis-in-law pointed out, not that bad a deal (though, knowing me, I would have stayed with friends rather than in a hotel).

From Boston I’ve done the Acela to NYC in their First Class cabin…. Which is nice because of the well-appointed lounges on both ends of the trip… and the Empire Builder between Seattle and Chicago, the Southwest Chief between Santa Fe and LA and the Coast Starlight between LA and Seattle. Well, I’ve done more US trains, I’m just mentioning the recent years rather than my youth in coach.

There is something different about travelling long distance trains in the states – meals are included, but you are put four to a table whether you want to or not… or you can take your meals in your room, but then most of the time you don’t get any condiments to go with your meal, but you also avoid conversations with strangers at your table which can be good, or bad. Or just downright weird… like dinner the other night, got talking about the Magnolia neighborhood and it turns out this couple was friends with the family that sold their house to my friend Darcie.

One of the attractions for me is that in the sleeping cars you are allowed to imbibe alcohol that you’ve brought with you. This most times extends into the dining room where you can bring a bottle of wine (which I usually offer to share with other folks at the table.

I’ve sort of envisioned my next trip – and it will require a bunch of preplanning and the cooperation of many of my friends – it would be a series of portraits of embrace and love staged at stops along the train route. Parents in Santa Fe, Michelle in Albuquerque, Kyle in Flagstaff, Craig in LA, Chris in San Jose, Mark and Onyx in Emeryville, Michael and Mudd in Chico, Bro and sis-in-law in Eugene, nephew in Portland, Dwight in Olympia, and then a greeting committee in Seattle – or, maybe I’m just a narcissist! Come to think about it, I could fill in some other cities as well. You get the idea.

If you can only do one couple of day trip – the Seattle/LA or reverse would be the one to do – they have a separate lounge car for the sleeping car passengers, in theory wi-fi for your laptop (my cell phone tethered works better), and some really stunning scenery.

That’s probably more than you wanted to know, but I’ll probably recycle some of the text into tomorrow’s blog entry.

Breakfast was at 7:30… after having been stopped for a while near the California/Oregon border… seems there was a passenger that had to be put off the train. Oddly enough, mental issues rather than having too much to drink. Or according to another person later in the day – a domestic abuse thing with his wife on the train. How fun to get met by the state patrol and hauled off the train. I can’t say that the breakfast is anything to write home about, but free is free.

Lunch was at 12:45 and I opted for the bacon cheeseburger minus the bacon since they had used it all at lunch. Finally, after lunch we were back within cell phone range. There was a brief bit of coverage at Chemult and Klamath Falls, but not enough time for data to kick in.

After the “incident” of the morning, we were running about 45 minutes to an hour behind…. So the stop in Portland was brief, limited to me walking the length of the platform, into the station, back out the door to the Metropolitan Lounge to grab two mini-Diet Pepsi’s and three newspapers. I was a good boy and asked permission for the paper pilferage – since it’s the last train of the days use that lounge, it wasn’t a problem. Score: today’s New Your Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Oregonian. I might even have time to finish them all, unlike the stack of magazine I brought with me, which didn’t get finished (or the now THREE books I packed).

Dinner was at a little after 6 – the last seating for dinner since they tend to run early on the last part of the run and they want time to put away the kitchen. When the schedule changes temporarily after the first of the years (trains depart two hours later each way until April), I’m sure the dinner time for the north bound train will be more rational for dinner. Tonight I had the steak. Oddly enough the last three ribs and the éclair are packed in my bag, leftovers from last night.

Gotta post quick – my cabin steward (or is it stewardess since she’s female) wants to see my impressions of the trip.

[? ? ?]

Damn I hate that Amtrak LA connection…. When the dining car breakfast service runs from 5-6am… that’s just not good. Thank you Rashid for bringing me breakfast in the cabin, and thank you to the rest of the sleeper car folks for not being in the shower when I needed it.

Before I forget… here is a totally humorous screen shot that I put on FaceBook (Mark Stephen Souder) yesterday:

Yeah – Amtrak doing 182 miles an hour through the desert. In my fondest dreams, as they say. The vagaries of GPS.

Got to LA sometime around 8am – I was tired and clueless, except for where the lounge is for the Sleeping Car passengers at Union Station which oddly enough, doesn’t open with the arrival of the Southwest Chief but at 8:45… like I need more juice and coffee. An hour later we are on the train… with the red cap ride to (and from, earlier this morning) in their electric cart since I’m laden with bags and boxes.

Nice to get settled into Room 6 (again, with the room six, same as Southwest Chief) with a guy younger than me across the way – graphic artist, LA, custom glassware etching, printing, huge firm, does most of the crap on the Vegas strip, wants to drop out of that, get his barber degree and have a shop in San Luis Obispo where he can place jazz and blues, and chop hair. Funny, he didn’t look gay, but then again, most people don’t think I do.

Lunch was a Cobb salad in the Parlour car with a most cranky attendant… if you don’t want to work totally full trains, don’t work the holiday season. And don’t overbook the Parlour Car tables… if I wanted to eat with a stranger, I’d have eaten in the regular dining car with the better selection (though the Cobb Salad was really what I needed.

Both of us guy single travelers returned to our cabins for a nap after lunch. The way of the train. Big meals, the rocking from side to side, sleep comes easily.

Sleeping in, no Christmas rush to appease the children… and still, it was 8:30 when I drug my ass to get coffee in the kitchen. Just for the record, I believe Aunt Nancy slept in until about 11 this morning across the way.

Breakfast: Slabs of beef from yesterday.

Lunch: Slabs of beef between two pieces of my mother’s favorite Rustica loaf.

Next up, the train….

No, I’m not taking the chair with me (thank you Jill for pointing that out), but the box is filled with booze and presents. Gotta love the train, just hoping I don’t forget it in the morning since it’s downstairs in the luggage rack. And I almost left my camera on the table after taking this shot – luckily one of the station guys noticed it and tracked me down.

I actually turned down the offer of lunch on the train, and was amazed that at 2:30 they were still serving… maybe not such a good idea, for cocktails in the quiet of my roomette. I love my parents, but as my sis-in-law suggested multiple short visits during the year would be a great way to go. Let’s see…. Two days in Santa Fe proper, then three with the parents, and three on the train. I think that qualifies.

Got a good 3G connection in Albuquerque so I could catch up on email and that “facebook” thing. A change since my last trip was the First Peoples vendors on the platform (I noticed they were all parked by the Sleeping Cars).

And before I knew it, we were pulling out into the sunset:

This bizarre photo has contrails and a flock of birds in this other worldly image. Hopefully I’ll remember to post the rest of the pictures, though for an Album named “Christmas 2010” there aren’t really any shots of the family opening presents.

Laptop on table, drink in hand, GPS unit stuck t the window (tracking the train – and it only worked once the sun went down for some reason). Doing about 80 at the moment, which is damn fast for Amtrak. I love my own cubicle.

Screen shot:

Yep, that’s how spend my time on the train. Playing solitaire and watching the little blip move along.

A 7pm dinner reservation in the dining car with strangers… and a bottle of Bonny Doon wine. Tonight’s selection is a 2009 Contra Old Vine Field Blend. To go with the wine I ordered the steak, medium rare, which it actually came, and the mashed potatoes – after the salad, and with the not so warm sting beans – I’d rather have them cool, and overcooked. Good dinner table conversation but couldn’t entice anyone to join me in the wine… ½ bottle for tomorrow night. Oh well. Was hoping to off-load some glass.

I’m having breakfast delivered to the room in the morning since breakfast is 5-6am. Ick. Not my pretty time.

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Breakfast with the Ortiz gang across the scrub followed by present unwrapping. Then a nap. Then start work on the Christmas Dinner.

Before:

After:

A fun time for all, but I’m ready for tomorrow’s train back to Seattle.

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Wow. Out of bed at 8:30… damn sun. Not used to that in Seattle.

Before:

After:

WOW – both photos suck. I must point out that gifts from “The Colonels” show up in both photos – the top, the live rosemary bush they sent to my parents, and below, the two license plates shey sent me for Christmas…. AFI – the license plates for the US Air Force stationed in Italy. WOW. I felt the package and assumed two Kentucky plates (which I would have passed one to Julian)… but now I just stunned. For those that don’t know, I’ve sort of started collecting really weird license plates… the stack and store easily.

In between: red barons (champagne and cranberry juice), pate, crackers, chili – for tomorrow there is the 12.5 pound standing rib roast for after the morning present defrocking next door at the in-laws…. Must mention that tonight we were joined by more random relatives…. Jameson and Julian’s mom and husband – thank the present goddess that I wrap spare packages for unexpected guests (and luckily I still had two spare bottles of wine for the return trip home!).

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