No new computer yet, just using my daughter’s laptop when I can
Here I am back at my desk at home writing this not even 24 hours after sending that short little mini-post last night in Los Angeles. The reason it was so brief is because it was very, very late and I was only in the hotel computer room to print out my boarding pass. I figured since I had access to a computer I might as well say hi and as you may have seen, that’s about all I did.
I don’t like flying Southwest because of the open seating. I like being assigned a seat. That way I don’t have to shuffle down the aisle looking at all the faces that seem to say “please don’t choose this seat next to me.” Face it; Nobody wants anyone sitting next to them. Myself included. Even worse is the split-second decision you have to make during that walk of shame down the aisle, then stopping in front of the unlucky passenger and watching their face fall as they hear the inevitable: “Anyone sittin’ here”? Being a single guy I guess it would be expected of me to scan the seats, find the prettiest girl on the plane and plop down next to her. But I’m not like that. I don’t think women want some strange guy doing that. Plus, I’m sort of on the bashful side and when I fly my head plugs up so bad that I can’t hear anything and if I were to speak in flight I would probably be shouting at the person. I just try to spot a seat next to someone who looks like they would have no interest in speaking to me for the entire flight.
I’m dissapointed to be back so soon. I love being out there. This was my third time. I flew out there Thursday morning, spent the night, attended a meeting at our main office then flew back that afternoon.
I have to tell you about the greatest part about this particular trip to LA. Several years ago I met Catrina through our blogs. We have stayed in contact all these years even though she stopped writing on her blog. We communicated through email, IM and just recently by phone. Originally, I was to arrive at the Burbank airport last week. She lives in Burbank and about five minutes from the airport. She offered to pick me up. I was thrilled because now I could finally meet her in person. However, that company meeting was pushed up a week. That meant my flights had changed. Instead of arriving at Burbank, I was now coming into LAX. It looked like I wasn’t going to see Catrina.
When I called her about that she sounded dissapointed. I certainly was. It’s not easy getting to, getting in, or getting out of LAX and because of that we both understood that we most likely would not be seeing each other.
Let me tell you what a super-swell person she is. She called and told me she would be picking me up from LAX after all. I tried to talk her out of it but she wouldn’t budge. She insisted on picking me up. It was sort of a sweet moment outside the airport when we made contact. I knew what she looked like but she didn’t know what I looked like. I think the only way she knew who I was by my reaction after spotting her.
Two more things: The guy who drove me back to the airport was so late that I think we did 100 MPH all the way to LAX. On the way there he came within about 1/2″ of rear-ending someone. He got me there on time (barely) but my hands were shaking so bad that I looked suspicious at my check-in. For some stupid reason I tossed my truck and house keys in my bag. Since I was late checking in, there was the chance that my bag would have to arrive on the next flight which was at 1:00 AM. As if these flights are not miserable enough, I had that to think about this all the way back here.
If you happen to see this Cat, I want you to know how much I appreciate all you did for me. Love you.
Dissonance 