An East Coaster on West Coast Time
What's that mean? It means I'm in San Diego, it's 5 AM and I'm wide awake. I hate time zones. I swear it takes me days to get adjusted and then when I do, I'm hurling back through the air at 700 miles per hours.
As many of you know, I hate flying. Yesterday was no exception. First there was a three hour delay at Dulles. It seems the crew arrived late the night before and they have a minimum number of hours they need for downtime before they can return back to work. (That I can totally understand, btw. I think there jobs are important.) What I don't get is that these is no back up? I mean, won't that make them three hours late tomorrow? Doesn't the cycle just continue until these poor folks have a day off? 300+ people need to wait now because seven others need to rest? I just don't get airlines.
On top of that, the entire ride was bumpy--like as in "Flight attendants, take your seats immediately" bumpy. Let me just point out that what you consider bumpy is like my-rubber-pants-just-filled for me. I fucking freak with bumps, especially the stomach-in-your-mouth little drops. I used to be a good flyer, but about 4 1/2 years ago (yep, the same time I became a dad), I started freaking out. Related? Who knows, but it's not a fantastic role model for the little boy. "Here, you watch Little Einsteins while daddy craps his pants."
I was lucky enough to have the middle seat free. I was on the window and this poor guy on the aisle had to witness my flying abilities. At one point he looked over and said, "So you don't like flying?"
"How can you tell? I asked.
"Your seat arms are soaked with sweat. I thought that was a pretty dead giveaway."
This plane also had one working aft lavatory. Let me just say that when you're in the last few rows, the build up of people was unbelievable.
On the plus side, we had two good movies The Good Year and The Queen. There were also three infants sitting within a few seats and each was quiet with the exception of take off and landing, which luckily enough helped conceal most of my screaming.
I always feel sorry for parents traveling with infants. Even if the child is sleeping in their arms as they board, most passengers will roles their eyes or look back if the baby even utters a peep. We never traveled with Corey as an infant. I couldn't imagine the scorn... or trying to pass the baby off to someone during the bumps so I could hang on for dear life.
We finally arrived in San Diego which is like 72 and perfect. Fuck seasons, I want this all the time. I'm so fine with never getting snow again. It's 54 degrees right now and DC is 36....yep, I could live here.
When I checked in at the hotel, my room wasn't ready. Normally, I'm okay with that, but seriously it was 2 PM and I had a day already filled with irritations. The lady at the front desk spent a few minutes looking through her limited inventory. "Oh, here is something you'll like. We have these Bay side suites with gorgeous views and are the three times the size of a normal room. They have a kitchenette and a huge balcony."
I paused and looked at her. "And yet you are offering this to me...a person who is getting the staff conference rate. What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing. It's enormous."
I think back to her description...view, size, balcony...something is missing.
"What size bed is it?" I ask.
She actually sighed. "A queen sleeper sofa."
"HA!" I said. "No way. My people don't sleep on sofa beds." (We do actually, but if I'm staying here I'm not sleeping a bed I need to put away each morning.)
A room miraculously appeared and let me just say.... it's sweet. I have a view of the bay and the mountains. I have a gin-ormous bed and bathroom. And I have coffee maker. (I also have a 400 pound person above me that I hear every time they take a step, but I do have a coffee maker so I'm cool with the elephant sounds at 5:00 am.
Today it gets busy, but not until Noon. I'm hoping to get in a nice walk and perhaps a dip in the pool. And I'm having dinner with one of my favorite bloggers tonight as well.
Geez, I love business travel...well...except for the flying part.
As many of you know, I hate flying. Yesterday was no exception. First there was a three hour delay at Dulles. It seems the crew arrived late the night before and they have a minimum number of hours they need for downtime before they can return back to work. (That I can totally understand, btw. I think there jobs are important.) What I don't get is that these is no back up? I mean, won't that make them three hours late tomorrow? Doesn't the cycle just continue until these poor folks have a day off? 300+ people need to wait now because seven others need to rest? I just don't get airlines.
On top of that, the entire ride was bumpy--like as in "Flight attendants, take your seats immediately" bumpy. Let me just point out that what you consider bumpy is like my-rubber-pants-just-filled for me. I fucking freak with bumps, especially the stomach-in-your-mouth little drops. I used to be a good flyer, but about 4 1/2 years ago (yep, the same time I became a dad), I started freaking out. Related? Who knows, but it's not a fantastic role model for the little boy. "Here, you watch Little Einsteins while daddy craps his pants."
I was lucky enough to have the middle seat free. I was on the window and this poor guy on the aisle had to witness my flying abilities. At one point he looked over and said, "So you don't like flying?"
"How can you tell? I asked.
"Your seat arms are soaked with sweat. I thought that was a pretty dead giveaway."
This plane also had one working aft lavatory. Let me just say that when you're in the last few rows, the build up of people was unbelievable.
On the plus side, we had two good movies The Good Year and The Queen. There were also three infants sitting within a few seats and each was quiet with the exception of take off and landing, which luckily enough helped conceal most of my screaming.
I always feel sorry for parents traveling with infants. Even if the child is sleeping in their arms as they board, most passengers will roles their eyes or look back if the baby even utters a peep. We never traveled with Corey as an infant. I couldn't imagine the scorn... or trying to pass the baby off to someone during the bumps so I could hang on for dear life.
We finally arrived in San Diego which is like 72 and perfect. Fuck seasons, I want this all the time. I'm so fine with never getting snow again. It's 54 degrees right now and DC is 36....yep, I could live here.
When I checked in at the hotel, my room wasn't ready. Normally, I'm okay with that, but seriously it was 2 PM and I had a day already filled with irritations. The lady at the front desk spent a few minutes looking through her limited inventory. "Oh, here is something you'll like. We have these Bay side suites with gorgeous views and are the three times the size of a normal room. They have a kitchenette and a huge balcony."I paused and looked at her. "And yet you are offering this to me...a person who is getting the staff conference rate. What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing. It's enormous."
I think back to her description...view, size, balcony...something is missing.
"What size bed is it?" I ask.
She actually sighed. "A queen sleeper sofa."
"HA!" I said. "No way. My people don't sleep on sofa beds." (We do actually, but if I'm staying here I'm not sleeping a bed I need to put away each morning.)
A room miraculously appeared and let me just say.... it's sweet. I have a view of the bay and the mountains. I have a gin-ormous bed and bathroom. And I have coffee maker. (I also have a 400 pound person above me that I hear every time they take a step, but I do have a coffee maker so I'm cool with the elephant sounds at 5:00 am.
Today it gets busy, but not until Noon. I'm hoping to get in a nice walk and perhaps a dip in the pool. And I'm having dinner with one of my favorite bloggers tonight as well.
Geez, I love business travel...well...except for the flying part.
posted by Steve at
5:41:00 AM
4 Comments:
Just returned from Miami. So glad your hotel is better than mine was. It was wonderful to be out of the DC cold though. I even came back with a sunburn!!
Have a terrific time! Great post.
I just got back from Baltimore. I'm glad your movies are better than the ones I had. Marie Antoinette and Man of the Year.
We're thinking about going to LA and San Diego next year and I was just looking at Coronado Bay.
Enjoy the trip.
As an East Coaster, my six years in So. Cal. were fantastic and yes, the first thing I did was scream "fuck seasons." I miss it very much.
As for flying...you may have to look into narcotics.
Enjoy SD. Tell the ocean I miss it.
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