US4092 PVD PHL 0920 1034 CRJ 8C

I'd planned to get a later flight, but circumstances
conspired to make it make sense for me to take this one.

There was no line at security. The Rapescan took its 7
seconds (hah - at least a minute, counting the TSA people
trying to figure out what the results mean) and this time
found nothing strange at my waistline or left lower leg.

This aircraft had foam rubber and crap spilling out of the
exit window, not exactly confidence-instilling; nor was
the fact that the other exit seat was occupied by a person
of more than size and probably less than ability to fit
through the exit should that have become necessary.

We pulled out quite early and were taking off at departure
time, a true rarity. A nothing flight.

Bumpy noisy landing. I hate CRJs.

US3648 PHL LGA 1132 1226 CRJ 8D

I had almost an hour to use the small but nice F club and
its free wi-fi for all; then off to gate 1 or 3, where our
flight was just a wee tad delayed, but owing to the miracle
of schedule padding, we landed a few minutes early.

A full drink service on what turned out to be a 25-minute
flight, approximately. Bumpy noisy landing. I hate CRJs.
I spent a profitable hour at the US Airways Club with my
friend Bud Light, who appears to be the new official bar
tender at Star Alliance, and then went to wait at the
security exit for SkiAdcock and Spaceman, who were coming
in around 2. They didn't show up at the appropriate time,
so I gave a call, and lo and behold, they had sneaked
around me and were already at the club with drinks in
front of them.

Among us we had plenty of coupons.

After an hour's visit they went to get their car service,
and I stayed behind to await lili's 4:00 flight. She showed
up lovely and perky and sober, so we went upstairs to
change one of those. At some point we discovered that the
house red, Sterling Vintner's Reserve Merlot, was better
than the Malbec we had been using up 2 coupons a shot for,
so we ended up with a few souvenirs at the end of the day.
lili's car service was prompt, fast, friendly, and not too
expensive.

Westin New York at Times Square

Thanks to the tommy-clout, we all got Atrium Club rooms for
the price we would have paid for normal rooms (or less). I
was given a perfectly fine room on 16, with which I was
reasonably well pleased. lili got a corner junior suite,
I guess it was, on 11. The welcome amenity was a tray of
cheeses (garnished with fruit, nuts, honey, and preserved
fruit), which I didn't notice, and a bottle of Wolffer
Estate Cab Franc 07 (Hamptons, LI). Now I am all for a hotel
showcasing local products, but this wine was sour, unfruity,
and altogether uninteresting. We donated our wine to the
common weal, as the meet and greet in the lounge featured a
cash bar, to our surprise.

There was a dinner in the works, but lili and I had saved
this time for a tete a tete to plan our future travels - I
really enjoy going places with her, as she is a crackerjack
flyer and being retired has more time to spend places than
most of our mileage-running brethren. So while the rest of
the group were enjoying SBM12's favorite cuisine, we were
gorging on the Dallas BBQ's pulled pork and signature 2-lb
barbecued short rib (both quite good) and with visions of
SinDO and Africa and God-knows-where dancing in our heads.