The “Secret” Security Entrance

PremEx and I grabbed the red colored 4 Points shuttle bus to LAX. Lines were everywhere and PremEx got on the 1K line while suggesting to me to go to the Easy Ticket check-in machines for 500 bonus miles! That’s PremEx, always looking out for me! J In 14 seconds, I got my ticket and found out my upgrade cleared! Nice start to the day.

PremEx told me to follow him up an escalator to another check-in area. I called it the “secret check-in area” (I can’t tell you where) but the lines are much shorter than the long one at Terminal 7. We cleared fast, and in my rush left the ballcap I got from Hong Kong!

We headed to the 1K room and after all this months Millie (PremEx, is that the angel’s name there?) got me a nice cool set of 1K tags. We checked and sent e-mail and then headed to the gate.

Fitting Four Flyertalkers in First Class

We got to the gate and found no plane, but that was the Shuttle. Larry U’s flight was also a little later but he had the nice “long” walk of one gate to another. Koko rushed over to the gate only to find still no plane. I joked United new shuttle service was the invisible jet (like Wonder Woman’s)

The plane arrived and while we were waiting talked about the lack of good movies. I groaned about “Cats and Dogs” and the boys joked about it being right on about cats being “catty.” I said “nobody messes with my the British word for cats that I won’t write here since Commander Catcop would have me arrested. It made them laugh hard and KOKO joked “how nice to say that word while three female flight attendants were walking by.

Needless to say my timing is never good.

Flyertalk’s Own “Lucy Ricardo”

The seating arrangements for the eight seats in first were: Me in 1C and in the back Larry U at the window, PremEx behind me and Koko in the opposite seat. PremEx joked about not leaning my seat back and on occasion during the flight playfully tapped it.

Early in the flight I got up to get my Mac in the overhead bin and KOKO said “Catman, you just commited a FAA violation and we can arrest you.” I said “dare you and stumbled a bit on my way down. I joked to the boys “I guess I’m Flyertalk’s own Lucy Ricardo” and they were laughing hard for several minutes. The flight attendant said “it’s ok to be a bit klutzy.” I told her about Flyertalk and our do this weekend and that I was the normal one among the group. The boys laughed harder, but I know it was all in fun.

It’s like JAWS once told me: The day they stop laughing and joking is the day you need to worry.

We reached Tuscon and Larry U went to the Embassy Suites (I guess to fight for his “Embassy Touch” and KOKO said he was going to Mexico to hunt for Cuban cigars. PremEx and I decided to go to the hotel and skip Mexico.

A Suite that Goes On and On

After a hike to the car rental area we had to drive awhile to find the Sheraton Suites. The map was decent but make a wrong turn and you could end up in a strong place. After a little driving we reached the Sheraton Hotel and Suites. Suzanne at the front desk was one of the friendly check in people we had in a long time. PremEx got his Starwood number in the system and he said “my buddy Catman is a Platinum and could we possibly get an upgrade?” (We were sharing a room) Suzanne was not only happy to upgrade us but gave me the Platinum amenity (I took the points.)

Our suite was one giant place where the livingroom went forever and PremEx’s bedroom was immense. I took the foldaway couch, and later found it quite comfortable, like a Castro Convertable (Now going out of business! )The bathroom featured a big sunk in marble bathtub and a long sink area.

The two flaws of the room were the small closet (maybe a second closet would help) and the poorly designed shower: you had to go in to turn it on and when you do make sure that the shower curtain was closed or flood the floor. Otherwise a fine room.

PremEx was still not feeling his best, so I said I would go to the Embassy Suites and hang with Larry U, Newself and Mr. Limo then come back later to change. PremEx said he would take me there.

McBrockwurst

We wanted something light to be hungry for the great dinner at the Arizona Inn, so went to the local McDonald’s. PremEx had a Big Mac but I decided to try the “New Tastes” menu item of Brockworst. It was not bad, not as good as the stuff I would get in Rudi’s nation but edible. The French fries though were as great as always.

PremEx dropped me off at the Embassy Suites and I caught up with Larry U who had air conditioning problems. It was too hot for him so he had to change rooms twice. Flyertalk’s official photographer and all around gentleman Mr. Limo and my bodyguard and deputy Catcop Newself arrived a bit later.
Then Jim./Magic joined us and it was good to see him for the first time since the Catman do Trois. We all caught up on various mileage runs and other Flyertalk “gossip” (yes, men do gab too.)

Then I announced a special guest for the STIFFS dinner: the sexiest man on Flyertalk… the wonderful COMMANDER CATCOP Larry U and Magic groaned, Mr. Limo, always the gentleman, said it was great, and my best buddy Newself said it was the best news since Samuel Smith came out in glass bottles! I promised he won’t go arresting anyone unless they started to bother me!

Limited Happy Hour Selections

We headed for the bar and had a round of drinks while waiting for happy hour and continued our gabbing. Magic and I shared our travel stories and I found out I don’t read Flyertalk as well as I should.. He told me of meeting his future wife 25 years after going to their prom and then going their own ways and then meeting up later at their reunion. Mr. Limo snapped pictures of the occasion… luckily there was nothing incriminating going on!

Hunki joined us with Peregrine and I complemented him on his fine trip report to SIN. Then Mr. Key arrived and caught up with all of us on his adventures. Meantime, Magic was telling this old man with a Stetson who flies United of the “double miles promotion” that he NEVER HEARD OF. The man thanked Magic for the tip.

Then Larry U announced it was “Happy Hour” and they started ordering drinks. I like Embassy Suites, but the beer selection of Bud (bleh) Bud Light (Double bleh) and Miller Light (triple bleh, although Mile Crazy likes it) leaves a lot to be desired. Also for most of the limited choices of liquor. I decided to pay for a Dos X’s.

Dinner time was nearing and I tried to alert the boys who were gabbing away and enjoying Happy Hour. Newself came to the rescue and alerted Magic and Larry U that I had to get back to the Sheraton to change. (I was in shorts and a wild shirt, not appropriate for the Arizona Inn.)

A Peep Show at the Tuscon Sheraton

After getting lost we eventually found the Sheraton. I got up to the room. Poor PremEx could barely talk and said regrettably that he had to pass on dinner. He told me to go and have a good time. But I felt really down he was not feeling well. Newself said later he would make sure I was ok, as a good acting Commander Catcop.

While he went down to talk to the boys, I was running around the room changing into my Catman Do Trois beige Brooks Brothers suit, cat design Hawaiian shirt from Wanderlust and, of course, my Commander Catcop badge, As an added accessory, I wore the “Cats Rule!” button from “Cats and Dogs” from PremEx.

Little did I know, the curtains to the living room (where I was changing) were WIDE OPEN! I did not know until I looked down and saw the boys looking up and Larry U waving. It was embarrassing but I was in such a hurry to get to dinner I didn’t care. (Don’t worry folks, I kept my Eddie Bauer airplane pattern boxers on all the time so it was a P-G 13 Peep show.)

The whole humor of my strip tease show made poor PremEx cough hard with laugher so he went upstairs and we headed to the Arizona Inn.

NEXT: BECOMING A STIFF


[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 10-29-2001).]