This past weekend... and not even including the wedding. Be forewarned, this is from the perspective of someone who is certainly not a New Yorker, but of someone who grew up in the country (no, not on a farm) and liked it that way.

( Friday )

( Saturday )

( Sunday )

( Monday... and a few (more) observations )

Would I go to NYC again? Not anytime soon. I'd need more time. And more money. And probably a few more years worth of patience. And I wouldn't even consider it without a (native?) guide. NYC, even without seeing any of the "sights" is impressive and worth seeing. Even if only to confirm that you really don't belong there. I don't.

Current Mood: relieved

Yes, I'm swiping Mr_Fu's title for this bit of rantiness.

I am also writing of the past weekend, though not really the NYC and wedding parts. Just the getting there and getting back parts. And in fact, just the flights. Or rather, the gap between the two flights back...

On Friday, Jay and I had one boarding pass each. This meant we had one plane to La Guardia, even though we would land at Midway. The flight was nicely uneventful and we landed at Chicago Midway. Announcements told us we could leave the plane if we wanted, but did not have to do so. We decided to stay on the plane. Someone came around to verify that we were in the right seats and that was it. Even with a crew change, that was it. Soon we were in the air again. We landed a bit early at La Guardia.

On Sunday, we again had one boarding pass each. So we figured we'd stay on the plane in Chicago just like on the flight out. Unlike the flight out, the flight back was not on time. (jmaynard says he has yet to see ATA 205 be on time, and he's flown it several times.) There goes an hour or so right there. Once we get into the air, all is reasonably well, if delayed. Again we land in Chicago. Again we are told we can leave the plane, but don't have to. We are told this a few times. Then, without explanation, we are told that everybody has to deplane. We grab all our carry-on, figuring there is some problem and we'll have to change planes.

The jetway isn't driven up to the plane. Instead, a truck with enclosed stairs is parked by the plane. We climb the stairs down and onto the ground where we are directed into the terminal... and told to stay at the gate. We find out that we will be getting back onto the very same aircraft we just left. Why? No idea. The person checking our seating remarks it was silly to get us off of the plane. We agree and ask why we were told to. No explanation. Someone remarks about a crew change. But that makes no sense, as there was a crew change Friday and this silliness wasn't inflicted on us.

Those who were going on to Minneapolis were let back onto the plane first. In fact, I was the first passenger back on the plane. Yes, back up the truck-stairs. I notice many folks had left baggage on the plane - something that would not have been permitted if a plane change had been contemplated.

Another takeoff, another flight, another landing -- in Minneapolis, despite some crew member making a Very Bad Joke about us being cleared to land in Duluth.

Now, weather delays I understand. Mechanical problems causing changes of plan I understand. When these things happen, there is an explanation. Other flights I had been told that my plane had been grounded because of fuel problems. Or that we had to power up at a different point than usual as the auxiliary engine wasn't starting. Or that we had a ground stop and had to wait for a break in weather and a new flight plan approval. All were annoying. But in every case, I was told what the hell was going on. I can put up with a lot, really. But tell me what the hell is going on. ATA told us the get off of an airplane - one that was already behind schedule - and get right back on it, without a word as to why. Nor did they bother to put the jetway in place, or explain why it wasn't used.

In previous times, one might have asked "Is this any way to run a railroad?" It seems to be a piss poor way to run an airline.

Current Mood: irritated

Am back from NYC. Wedding and reception was good. Good to see elf again. Good to see elf happy. Good to get out of NYC. Am so very glad to be home.

A couple more detailed posts will appear in the next few days. You have been warned.

All packed up and ready to go to Minneapolis to fly to Chicago (midway) to fly to New York City (La Guardia). It'll be interesting, I'm sure. Somehow, though, I expect that next weekend I'll be quite happy to not go very far from home.

Current Mood: uncertain

This is a rather lengthy post, so...

( AnthoCon 2003 - Friday )

( AnthoCon 2003 - Saturday )

( AnthoCon 2003 - Sunday )

( AnthoCon 2003 - Monday )

And now I, like many others, eagerly await the posting of KT's cartoon diary of the weekend to see what I missed and to see his take on what I didn't.

Made it back from AnthroCon. Philadelphia is too crowded to live in. AnthroCon is too big. Spent more time looking for people than with people. Did meet Chilly and Mycroft and Desiree/VeryPinkyGirl/Brainsister and KT and Lou and Lola/Leloni. Had a reasonably good time. Cannot imagine commercial air travel without analgesics and earplugs. Glad to be home. Still going to NYC next weekend. Am questioning what is left of my sanity.

Current Mood: exhausted

Yep, doing the pre-leave for AnthroCon post here. Early start to tomorrow, so early snoozing tonight. Not having any caffeine for more than 24 hours should make the snoozing a bit easier... waking at 4 AM is, well, waking at 4 AM.

All laundry done (well, some is still air-drying, but it's nothing that can delay departure). It does feel strange, though, packing so little. No faire stuff to worry about. That makes for a surprisingly light suitcase.

Current Mood: sleepy

1. The road to work, with the intersection that is now a 4-way stop, has had a couple changes happen to it recently. One is a reasonable thing. Rumble-strips were cut in to alert folks that yes, there is indeed a stop ahead. As this was a not a stop for years and years, such an added reminder for those who aren't out this way often is a good idea.

2. The other thing is not so good. At the intersection, the pavement widened and there was short right turn lane. The real problem was not so much that it was short, but that it was just narrow enough that gravel would be kicked up onto it and make even turns from a dead stop not what they should be. So they widened it, right? Wrong! Instead, that lane, and other right turn lanes on this road, were covered in tar (not asphalt) and then pea-gravel. Now small tarry gravel can be kicked up if anyone drives on it. Naturally, few drive on it. The upshot is that by taking action, the situation has been made worse. Leaving it alone might not have been ideal, but it wouldn't have made things worse.

3. Last weekend as I was driving along, I happened to come up behind an aging Chevy pickup that sounded even more ancient than it looked. It sounded a lot like an old-time hit & miss engine the way it rattled along. The exhaust had a noticeable odor, but not too bad. It'd never make it as a perfume or air freshener, but it wasn't an outright stench, either. I'm not sure why, but I felt good about that truck. Maybe it was like one my grandfather had when I was kid or something.

4. On a few occasions recently I have found myself behind Ford pickup trucks. Would someone please tell Ford drivers that an empty pickup with a big engine can actually do the speed limit? And I don't just mean on the interstate where aerodynamic drag can really affect mileage. Even a Ford ought to be able to muster more than 20 mph in town.. on a clean, dry road, on nice clear day, and with a posted speed limit of 30 mph. Or maybe some couldn't. The exhaust on at least one was just plain nasty. Not the blue smoke and burning oil smell, not the sulfurous smell sometimes mentioned for some fuel mixes or such, but something else, and amazingly foul.

5. No major travel plans for this weekend, unlike last year. Last year was a trip through South Dakota to see the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, and various other things. Yes, that included Wall Drug. This year, I plan to pretty much stay home. I am pondering a drive to Sioux Falls, but that's no big deal.

A lot of travel, but still good. Thursday afternoon we (Jay and I) started off, and hit the Twin Cities during the anything but a rush hour. Rather than wait in the car in traffic, we waited at Lindey's and had some great steak. Then back on the road. XM's old time radio channel again was good to have.

Friday was a bit of shopping (I got - and spent - part of birthday present early). The trip to the shoe store went well. Hard to argue with steel-toed leather Oxfords for $10. And then it was dinner time with the usual excess that holiday meals always seem to be. Visited some with my grandmothers. One of them will be ninety this Wednesday.

Saturday was the trip back, by way of the Minnesota Repeater Council meeting. A couple things threatened to take far longer than they needed to, but finally were taken care of. I doubt the issues have gone away, but the compromise should hopefully mean things won't run quite as hot as they had been before. Got home not too late, but didn't do very much. Just as well.

Sunday was a pleasantly slow day of recovery. I did, eventually, manage to work on the COLT again and finished up Looney Tunes #10 from January 1995. Hopefully I can get through, or at least well into, #72 (Jan. '01) this week. Then there won't be any completely empty years - just gaps.

Last night I did ask KinkyTurtle to do for #100 what he did for Animaniacs #25 as the cover has (almost?) every Looney Tunes character on it. Excluding the odd one-shots, of course. I think. I doubt I'll be able get to #100 all that soon, though. Next week would be probably be the earliest. And I'm wondering if I can keep up the one issue per week rate. That would get me caught up on three old issues per month, while not falling behind on new issues. But I'd need to keep that up for 14 months.

And now, a somewhat delayed rant: ( xchat color rant/how-to )

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: Something not quite identifiable, and just as well, too.