Here's a story of how Catman and wanderlust met at the top of the world to watch New York throw the most brilliant July 4th Firework display ever!! (Sorry for the delayed post, Catman. I'm sure you've had plenty of "catcalls" from the stands. No, I'm not his imaginary friend
.)
The weekend of July 4th comes quickly and I look for a quick escape. My new good buddy Catman comes to the rescue! My preference, as of late, United, deals out some great independence day fares and like a deer caught in the headlights, I hypnotically draw out my AMEX and book online. After all, I have a name to live up to! Throwing caution to the wind, I set out on a roadrunner weekend adventure, no business involved (well, maybe a little) and let Catman do the hosting!
It's Friday night, July 2nd and I need a stay in Grand Junction. The only sane choice, believe it or not, is the Holiday Inn. My Priority Pass has fallen into gross disuse, but after smelling the Ramada next door and finding that TWA is Adams Mark's only airline friend, I dig out my tattered blue card and check in (providing my MileagePlus number, of course).
I've gotten into the habit, as many of us have, of not carrying cash. It's the miles, you see. Perhaps that's foolish, perhaps not. But what you'll soon find out, is that it can have it's own humble advantages. It's late. The club downstairs is hopping but I need a bite. I'm sent away by a curt little Holiday Inn waitress who points to a closed sign so I order a huge greasy cheeseburger at a nearby bar & grill. I grab the to go container, dreaming not unlike Homer Simpson, of a quiet night in front of the tube, dripping grease on my sheets. Mmmm, greasy. I whip out my trusty 'ol AMEX which draws an immediate frown from the proprietor. "Our machine went AWOL and no one seems to know when to expect it back." "I have no other means of payment," I say humbly, "and no pin for an advance." After a good faith attempt at a cash advance at the hotel front desk, the proprietor shrugs and gives me the greasy sandwich. "Tell your friends and your enemies, just don't tell my wife." We exchange grins and I turn back to my hotel and my waiting sheets. I'll be back.
The free, and quite generous, PriorityPass member breakfast takes more time to down than I'd anticipated, so I'm not exactly early checking in for my flight to Denver. The airport is small. There is no 1st class check-in line. I see Mrs. Check-in lean over to a waiting customer and mumble something about not looking forward to this. Her announcement is quick and to the point. "There will be no 11am flight to Denver. It has been cancelled." Within three seconds, every passenger in the building piled in behind me, hurling insults and abusive gestures at everything that resembled a United logo. Me? I'm on holiday. No worries...
To be continued.
------------------
Mahalo brudda!
www.hotshirts.com