Hellooooooooooooooo Raleigh! Are you ready to rock?
My immediate apologies to ITP-Readers Lisa and Randy who I’d normally contact when a Raleigh trip is confirmed, however this time I’ll be completely booked. Besides, I’ll be back in this neck of the woods to bless you with my presence next weekend.
We landed last night with a dusting of snow on the ground. WTF? Why didn’t I think to wear a jacket? If you want to find me I’ll be the guy freezing in a fleece. Normally in a situation such as this I’d buy a warmer jacket, but I already own too many.
I Want An Airline Revolution
I’m tired of getting nickel-and-dimed by the airlines because their current business model can’t handle today’s economy.
While sitting in the airport yesterday two of my opinions about this country were confirmed:
- We are a nation of fat people
- We bring too much shit when we travel (and try to bring it as carry-on)
I propose that the airlines charge each passenger $1 per pound, for both their weight and the weight of their luggage. Does this discriminate against large people and those who can’t seem to cull their luggage? Sure, but I’m okay with that.
A Clean(ish) Bill Of Health
The initial verdict is that I am “healthy” with the exception of an esophagus that’s being irritated by acid reflux.
- stress? yep.
- alcohol? yep.
- coffee? yep.
- tea? yep.
- spicy foods? yep.
- smoking? nope. Hey! I passed one!
The doctor concluded that my EKG looked normal (that pleased me), that my urine passed all tests, that my blood pressure was satisfactory, and that all other parts of the body that could be checked on site were alright. Blood samples have been sent to a lab, and the results should be known in a few days. The doctor described me as a “boring” patient — I like that.
ITP Flickr PIc
I wuz in ur Village Draft House, eatin ur ribz.
Almost as if I had been there before and knew what I was doing I guided the rental car to the Village Draft House in Cameron Village. Last night the Village Draft House had $3.50 draft beers and $10 rack of ribs with fries.
Sadly this photo doesn’t do the ribs justice. Also sadly the ribs didn’t taste a fantastically as they looked.
Coming Up Short
I really like the hotel in which I’m staying, though frustratingly they don’t have wireless internet. Unluckily the guy ahead of my borrowed the last ethernet cable the the hotel had to give out.
Because I like to be prepared I had packed my own ethernet cable, but I failed to realize the distance between the ethernet port and the bed, so the one I packed is inadequately short. So, here I sit uncomfortably at a desk as I write this blog. Oh, me and my First World problems…
Happy Birthday Bro!
You card is in my trunk in Atlanta. It’ll go in the mail when I return.
My brother and I have a pact that our birthday cards need not arrive on time; I think that we both feel this way since our mother is disappointed when hers does not.
Ronnie, I hope that you have a great day. I’ll be in contact with you soon and am going to plan to make another trip up to New York for when your weather is warmer again.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay I guess
Current Music – listening to the “This Week In Photography” podcast
Website Of The Day – I’ve loved Photojojo, an excellent photography-related blog, for a long time. I think that you should check them out today.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – n/a
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – don’t know since I’m not near my scale
Pages Of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die Read – 48
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 2 (2*)
Vegetarian Days – 0, Carnivorous Days – 2
Marta Rides – 0
* – and holding since I’m in a hotel
February Goals
– Not get fired from my job
2010 Goals
– Reduce my weight to 185 pounds (starting weight was 198 pounds)
– Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
РEarn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalape̱o Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop
– Enter no fewer than three photographic competitions / gallery showings
– Get the Black Sheep stats out of Excel and online
– Ride in no fewer than two 50 mile or 50K bike rides
The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in PHP and CSS
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Glad you got a clean(ish) bill of health and they were able to pinpoint what was ailing you.
Don’t get me started on airline travel.
(too late)
Airline travel is now a joke, starting with the TSA monkeys and their attempt at “security” all they are doing is slowing everybody down. They are reactive not proactive. I mean really, is a tube of toothpaste and a bottle of shampoo really that dangerous? Yes you can hide other chemicals in the bottles but this is 2010, we have the technology to detect that stuff now.
Lets move on to checked bags, $25? really? The least you can do is hide that fee in your air fare. At least we wouldn’t feel like we were being raped (again) by the airline. I used to carry on only my laptop, I’m sure a lot of other business travelers did the same. Now EVERYBODY is trying to carry everything they own on the friggen plane!
Now let’s get to the gate where the agents are oh so friendly. They are so tired and blown out from dealing with passengers who are pissed because the airline screwed them that they now treat everybody the same, like we owe them something.
This is a big ole fuck off to the airline industry, until you get your shit together I’ll take my car.
Whew! That felt good
bob – that was awesome!
We are going to fly to CA in March & UT in May, I can’t wait to deal with the airport!
Here’s my question for you more frequent flyers – if you take your bag to the gate & they decide it is too big for the overhead bins, do they have a credit card terminal to charge you the $25 there? Or, do you get it gate checked for free?
Brilliant rant, Bob.
Barb, I flew on a small jet last night and they gate-checked all larger bags for free.
I can’t recall exactly why they have collected fees on me at the gate, but they have, so they have the capacity to do it. Isn’t there an additional fee now if you don’t pay the baggage fee via online check in? It really has gotten ridiculous. I fly enough that I get up to two bags free, so I usually check just to make it easier at security.
I totally agree with Bob’s rant. Airports have gotten so toxic with the stress level and crankiness from all sides that I try to drive whenever feasible… and I hate to drive since it kills my back.
Hi kids!! Steve reporting from beautiful Big Sky Montana.
Delta does charge a couple bucks more if you check at the airport and haven’t pre-checked.
Snow is great. Hospitality is wonderful. Thanks to Delta, I was up for 22 hours getting out here- not a great way to start, but not terrible.
-FP