violist
Mar 18, 04, 3:08 pm
0316 UA 173 BOS SFO 1115 1440 752 5A
It was a little chilly, a little threatening, but no
thought of cancellation or delay ever crossed my mind.
Security at 10 am was a snap, although the roll of
quarters (this was a budget trip) aroused a flicker of
interest. The RCC was empty; so was the plane. The
announcement came over the PA - "this flight is pretty
open IN THE BACK, so there should be no problem stowing
all of your carryons ..." In fact there was a seat or
maybe two empty in the front as well. So I guess all
elites who wanted to be upgraded were accommodated, and
today at least no consequence of elite dilution.
I was wakened by a tug on my sleeve. Mr. violist, I had
to wake you so I could start taking orders for lunch,
said the pleasant but, ok, for you eye-candy addicts,
matronly attendant. I asked for the chicken, as I am
cutting down on beef under the watchful and everpresent
eye of my sweetie (even when she's not actually there);
later on, I heard the passengers directly behind me
manifesting disappointment at the unavailability of the
chicken, so I manfully sacrificed my cholesterol levels
and offered to give up my meal. I ended up with beef.
TO BEGIN
Heartland field greens with carrots and yellow bell
peppers, Asian sesame ginger or classic Caesar dressing
This was a brimming overstuffed bowl full of baby
spinach, beet greens, mizuna, and lettuces with carrot
shards and pepper strips on top. Problem being that
the carrots kept toppling over, and heaven knows what
would have happened had I put dressing on top of the
full bowl. The veggies were fresh and clean.
MAIN COURSE
Chicago-style filet mignon sandwich with caramelized
onions, horseradish mayonnaise and roasted red pepper
in garlic and oil
Breaded breast of chicken with a green peppercorn
sauce, roasted red potatoes, baby carrots and asparagus
Portobello mushroom stuffed gnocchi with basil cream
sauce, toasted pine nuts and shredded Parmesan cheese
Judging from the sandwich, Chicagoans must like their
meat tough, stringy, and gray. The (semi)caramelized
onions were nice, and we got two little bowls of red
peppers, one hot hot, one cold cold - I ate both.
Did well on vegetables on this flight. The roll was
fresh and better than usual and benefited from the
sweet butter from a foil packet. The chicken looked
pretty decent. Didn't see any gnocchi.
DESSERT
Ice cream with sundae toppings
Strawberry and vanilla, hot fudge (very corn syrupy,
like Smuckers only not as good), airy whipped stuff.
The vanilla was good; I haven't tasted the odd combo
of strawberry ice cream and chocolaty sauce for a long
time. The cloying sweetness of the topping brings out
the sourness of the berries, and the result is weird.
I really do prefer the cookie, but, in deference to
what is obviously the majority, I haven't expressed
that preference to the company.
The featured wines were the same as usual; the only
difference being that they actually loaded a bottle
of the Canyon Road Shiraz 2001, which the FA said
would be saved just for me. It was fairly decent,
not cloying the way some cheap Shiraz are. Nice
berries, not too oaky, went down pretty easy. I had
4 glasses, and the last time when I said "no" I
noted that there was still a glass or two left, so
she must have actually done what she said she would.
Again, no bubbly, no Guenoc Chardonnay. Don't the FAs
get tired of saying "we don't have any Chardonnay, but
the Sauvignon Blanc is really nice"?
I dropped off again, despite the advice of dhammer
and various friends and seatmates that I should watch
Something's Got to Give. Woke up to see Diane Keaton
crying and emoting in much the same way she used to in
those old Woody Allen films from when I was young. So I
got to see maybe 1/3 of the flick. Corny ending, no?
We were supposed to be in about 15 early, but we missed
our approach - when it became clear we were going to
miss, I grabbed the headphones and tuned in just in
time to hear the tower say, "United 173, what was the
reason for the missed approach?" followed by a nearly
inaudible mumbled explanation. Shortly thereafter Jazz
Sessions came on for the remainder of the flight. We
ended up about 5 late.
UA hadn't done too well by me in the meat department,
so I hot-footed it to the international terminal, where
I recalled there was a place that sold duck: Harbor
Village or something like that, near the A gates. I
dropped $8 on a plate that consisted of about a third of
a duck served on a leaf of greasy limp lettuce with
some nicely flavored but inexpertly cut daikon and
carrot pickle. The duck was pretty good, if you like
soft duck, not too greasy (that was all on the lettuce,
I guess), and with a sauce made of thickened cooking
juices. Surprisingly complex flavors of Chinese celery
and star anise. Then (as this was a budget trip) down
to the SamTrans stop, where the KX came either 20 late
or 20 early, depending on whether the cup is half empty
or half full. Took half an hour to the Transbay, from
which I wandered down to the Embarcadero and poked
around the shops in the ferry terminal (no bargains,
but I did taste several interesting olive oils from
Stonehouse, I think it's called). Then back down
Mission to 2nd and Henry's Hunan to meet squeakr and
Mr squeakr, who are frequent guests at this pleasant
but unprepossessing establishment. Shortly we were
joined by Magic114, and we proceeded to have a jolly
time with Red Hook beer, somewhat spicy food, and lots
of talk revolving around 1 for 2 and 3/6 offers.
We started with an order of dumplings, which were
pretty standard, a bit thick, good with a dollop of the
hot pepper oil that is at every table, and the famous
meat pie, an inauthentic but yummy dish - layers of
crisp-fried pastry, salty ground pork, and lettuce.
Then some nicely done dry-fried string beans, which
consensus had it were sweeter than usual (I found them
also saltier than usual (as is all the food here), but
then I am a heart patient now); an order of quite yummy
pork shreds with celery (and a few carrots); and the
famous kung pao chicken, which was redeemed by numerous
hot chiles in the dish. I was hoping there wouldn't be
enough food, so I could try their double-cooked pork
(here called harvest pork), but there was plenty.
All things must pass, and around 8 it was time for me
to head back to the Transbay to pick up the KX again.
This time, without traffic pressure, it left right on
time and got to the airport about 5 late (having made
several local stops on Mission to pick up passengers).
0316 UA 174 SFO BOS 2230 0653 752 9A
Security was easy again, the RCC was empty again, but
surprise of surprises, the redeye was very full. I
did have 9B empty next to me, though, which was good.
As I sat down, I noticed a tall young fellow with a
United WILL Stand button chatting with the FAs and
handing out candies (Tootsie Pops) to all and sundry: I
deduced that he was a) in 9C; b) a flying enthusiast;
c) either a 1P or a 1K whose upgrade didn't clear or
who liked row 9; and d) likely to be on Flyertalk or
MoreMiles. And so I became acquainted with Goalie,
who is all of the above. When he sat down at the end
of boarding, we had a pleasant chat - turns out that
he too is on a similar mileage run, in the other
direction. His run, with a 4 hour layover, doesn't
involve leaving the airport premises, though, an
extreme to which I have not gone.
I had my Courvoisier (gave up a 1K chit for it),
settled into my seat, and snoozed until 15 before
scheduled landing. At which Goalie informed me that
we were in a holding pattern caused by slow snow
removal at Logan. So a bit more of a chat about miles
and points and the benefits of status, and then we
finally landed about 15 late. I wished him a good
return flight and headed back home to find no spam
e-mail, but several spam phone calls (from Direct
Reservations, may they rot in Hell).
It was a little chilly, a little threatening, but no
thought of cancellation or delay ever crossed my mind.
Security at 10 am was a snap, although the roll of
quarters (this was a budget trip) aroused a flicker of
interest. The RCC was empty; so was the plane. The
announcement came over the PA - "this flight is pretty
open IN THE BACK, so there should be no problem stowing
all of your carryons ..." In fact there was a seat or
maybe two empty in the front as well. So I guess all
elites who wanted to be upgraded were accommodated, and
today at least no consequence of elite dilution.
I was wakened by a tug on my sleeve. Mr. violist, I had
to wake you so I could start taking orders for lunch,
said the pleasant but, ok, for you eye-candy addicts,
matronly attendant. I asked for the chicken, as I am
cutting down on beef under the watchful and everpresent
eye of my sweetie (even when she's not actually there);
later on, I heard the passengers directly behind me
manifesting disappointment at the unavailability of the
chicken, so I manfully sacrificed my cholesterol levels
and offered to give up my meal. I ended up with beef.
TO BEGIN
Heartland field greens with carrots and yellow bell
peppers, Asian sesame ginger or classic Caesar dressing
This was a brimming overstuffed bowl full of baby
spinach, beet greens, mizuna, and lettuces with carrot
shards and pepper strips on top. Problem being that
the carrots kept toppling over, and heaven knows what
would have happened had I put dressing on top of the
full bowl. The veggies were fresh and clean.
MAIN COURSE
Chicago-style filet mignon sandwich with caramelized
onions, horseradish mayonnaise and roasted red pepper
in garlic and oil
Breaded breast of chicken with a green peppercorn
sauce, roasted red potatoes, baby carrots and asparagus
Portobello mushroom stuffed gnocchi with basil cream
sauce, toasted pine nuts and shredded Parmesan cheese
Judging from the sandwich, Chicagoans must like their
meat tough, stringy, and gray. The (semi)caramelized
onions were nice, and we got two little bowls of red
peppers, one hot hot, one cold cold - I ate both.
Did well on vegetables on this flight. The roll was
fresh and better than usual and benefited from the
sweet butter from a foil packet. The chicken looked
pretty decent. Didn't see any gnocchi.
DESSERT
Ice cream with sundae toppings
Strawberry and vanilla, hot fudge (very corn syrupy,
like Smuckers only not as good), airy whipped stuff.
The vanilla was good; I haven't tasted the odd combo
of strawberry ice cream and chocolaty sauce for a long
time. The cloying sweetness of the topping brings out
the sourness of the berries, and the result is weird.
I really do prefer the cookie, but, in deference to
what is obviously the majority, I haven't expressed
that preference to the company.
The featured wines were the same as usual; the only
difference being that they actually loaded a bottle
of the Canyon Road Shiraz 2001, which the FA said
would be saved just for me. It was fairly decent,
not cloying the way some cheap Shiraz are. Nice
berries, not too oaky, went down pretty easy. I had
4 glasses, and the last time when I said "no" I
noted that there was still a glass or two left, so
she must have actually done what she said she would.
Again, no bubbly, no Guenoc Chardonnay. Don't the FAs
get tired of saying "we don't have any Chardonnay, but
the Sauvignon Blanc is really nice"?
I dropped off again, despite the advice of dhammer
and various friends and seatmates that I should watch
Something's Got to Give. Woke up to see Diane Keaton
crying and emoting in much the same way she used to in
those old Woody Allen films from when I was young. So I
got to see maybe 1/3 of the flick. Corny ending, no?
We were supposed to be in about 15 early, but we missed
our approach - when it became clear we were going to
miss, I grabbed the headphones and tuned in just in
time to hear the tower say, "United 173, what was the
reason for the missed approach?" followed by a nearly
inaudible mumbled explanation. Shortly thereafter Jazz
Sessions came on for the remainder of the flight. We
ended up about 5 late.
UA hadn't done too well by me in the meat department,
so I hot-footed it to the international terminal, where
I recalled there was a place that sold duck: Harbor
Village or something like that, near the A gates. I
dropped $8 on a plate that consisted of about a third of
a duck served on a leaf of greasy limp lettuce with
some nicely flavored but inexpertly cut daikon and
carrot pickle. The duck was pretty good, if you like
soft duck, not too greasy (that was all on the lettuce,
I guess), and with a sauce made of thickened cooking
juices. Surprisingly complex flavors of Chinese celery
and star anise. Then (as this was a budget trip) down
to the SamTrans stop, where the KX came either 20 late
or 20 early, depending on whether the cup is half empty
or half full. Took half an hour to the Transbay, from
which I wandered down to the Embarcadero and poked
around the shops in the ferry terminal (no bargains,
but I did taste several interesting olive oils from
Stonehouse, I think it's called). Then back down
Mission to 2nd and Henry's Hunan to meet squeakr and
Mr squeakr, who are frequent guests at this pleasant
but unprepossessing establishment. Shortly we were
joined by Magic114, and we proceeded to have a jolly
time with Red Hook beer, somewhat spicy food, and lots
of talk revolving around 1 for 2 and 3/6 offers.
We started with an order of dumplings, which were
pretty standard, a bit thick, good with a dollop of the
hot pepper oil that is at every table, and the famous
meat pie, an inauthentic but yummy dish - layers of
crisp-fried pastry, salty ground pork, and lettuce.
Then some nicely done dry-fried string beans, which
consensus had it were sweeter than usual (I found them
also saltier than usual (as is all the food here), but
then I am a heart patient now); an order of quite yummy
pork shreds with celery (and a few carrots); and the
famous kung pao chicken, which was redeemed by numerous
hot chiles in the dish. I was hoping there wouldn't be
enough food, so I could try their double-cooked pork
(here called harvest pork), but there was plenty.
All things must pass, and around 8 it was time for me
to head back to the Transbay to pick up the KX again.
This time, without traffic pressure, it left right on
time and got to the airport about 5 late (having made
several local stops on Mission to pick up passengers).
0316 UA 174 SFO BOS 2230 0653 752 9A
Security was easy again, the RCC was empty again, but
surprise of surprises, the redeye was very full. I
did have 9B empty next to me, though, which was good.
As I sat down, I noticed a tall young fellow with a
United WILL Stand button chatting with the FAs and
handing out candies (Tootsie Pops) to all and sundry: I
deduced that he was a) in 9C; b) a flying enthusiast;
c) either a 1P or a 1K whose upgrade didn't clear or
who liked row 9; and d) likely to be on Flyertalk or
MoreMiles. And so I became acquainted with Goalie,
who is all of the above. When he sat down at the end
of boarding, we had a pleasant chat - turns out that
he too is on a similar mileage run, in the other
direction. His run, with a 4 hour layover, doesn't
involve leaving the airport premises, though, an
extreme to which I have not gone.
I had my Courvoisier (gave up a 1K chit for it),
settled into my seat, and snoozed until 15 before
scheduled landing. At which Goalie informed me that
we were in a holding pattern caused by slow snow
removal at Logan. So a bit more of a chat about miles
and points and the benefits of status, and then we
finally landed about 15 late. I wished him a good
return flight and headed back home to find no spam
e-mail, but several spam phone calls (from Direct
Reservations, may they rot in Hell).