I was bound and determined to make it to a SEA-Do sometime before SEA-Do IX so I managed to block a weekend out on my calendar as soon as the dates for this year's soiree were announced.

Ticket prices from DFW-SEA, however, traditionally run very high in the summers, so when a one-day fare sale ran in June, I quickly booked a good fare and twisted PeachesBB into booking too, despite the fact that neither of us usually knows our schedule that far in advance. Peachy redeemed a bump voucher which made her ticket a whopping $6 and change and I then decided to use my second Free Friday/Saturday from Starwood at the W Seattle, so we were set for inexpensive travel plans to Seattle.

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Friday, August 16

After two or three insane weeks at work, I decided we deserved a day off so I called the EXP desk on Thursday and convinced them to move us from the oversold 4:00 pm flight to the 7:55 am flight without a change penalty so that we could have a full extra day in SEA to play. Of course, sleep is always at a premium for me and so I dialed into telephone check-in as soon as the alarm went off and then hit the snooze bar... once, twice, three times. As the alarm dinged the first time, I realized I was still not fully packed and now running at exactly one hour to boarding time.

Fortunately, I can pack in the dark. I threw my jeans and top on and, after a moments consideration, threw my usual sandals in the suitcase and laced up my trail runners. Although with telephone check-in, I've been able to return to my pre-9/11 habits and roll up to the gate at T-minus eleven minutes to departure, I decided I might be pushing it today, so I drove directly to the airport ($16/day parking vs. $7 offsite) and grabbed a garage spot at Terminal C. I breezed through security and walked up to find Peachy sitting on top of her rollaboard taking a catnap.

Boarding commenced as soon as I arrived and we took our aisle/window seats in the exit row, grabbing our Bistro Bags on the jetbridge. (Yes, boys and girls, I flew coach, as Miss Peachy is hoarding her earned upgrades for the second coming...) All in all, it wasn't bad - we had the center seat blocked - apparently one of about three empty seats on the flight. She dug into her Bistro meal as soon as we sat down - Wheaties, bagel, cream cheese, raisins, (and NO oj or bottled water ) and then settled in for a nap while I read and worked on my laptop. Our flying time was a quick four-ish hours and we landed at SEA-TAC only about twenty minutes late.

I had talked to newself the night before about sharing a ride to the W. Missy was generous enough to come pick him up, so while he was retreiving his checked (!!!) rollaboard from baggage claim, I rang Missy and asked "Where's the Eskimo?!" Of course, Peachy and I seem to have a history that whenever we are BOTH in SEA that we end up seeing Missy at the airport. So our foursome headed into the city and planned our day. Newself hadn't planned for the Boeing Tour either, so we figured we would go grab lunch and do some shopping instead. Missy taught us the naming rules for downtown streets (1,2,3, and JJ,CC,SS,UU,PP - best remembered as "Jesus Created Seattle Under Protest") and turned us loose at the entrance of the W.

Newself's room was ready but ours wasn't, so we checked our bags with the bellhop and waited for him to drop his off. While waiting, markbach wandered down to the lobby and agreed to join us for lunch. We ended up across the street at Sazarec where we enjoyed a lovely cajun fusion lunch (Mark got to try his first oysters - caviar topped local beauties) and yummy desserts. Mark bolted to go join the Boeing gang and the three of us took off towards Nordstroms and other downtown shops. Peaches managed to snag some new fall duds and we were soon ready for a nap, so we all headed back to the W where our room was ready. Our room was nothing special although we were on a "preferred" floor. I wasn't expecting an upgrade since we had booked two doubles, but we weren't too disappointed with the view.

After a refreshing two or three hour nap, we decided to get ready to head downstairs for some cocktails in the lobby. Several folks were arriving at the W at various times from their flights, so we had all agreed to just hang out there so we could have a central meeting spot. Peaches and I were joined by mashav, BingoSF, and smooth. Later, Beckles, AusTXHiker, mjm,and I012... joined us as well.

We were all getting slightly hungry so we headed over to Andaluca for what were billed as tapas. While it didn't meet the usual tapas criteria, our tensome (as we were joined by ClueByFour) sampled some nice wines and enjoyed catching up on what had gone on since the last time we had all been together at various Do's.

Post dinner, we headed back to the W to figure out where to head next. A group was assembling in Pioneer Square and the baseball group was supposed to be rejoining folks. We debated heading down there but then chexfan called and said he was coming to meet us at the W so we grabbed a table there to wait. After he arrived, markbach and newself arrived from the game and so we ended up staying put. I headed up to bed pretty early but understand from Peaches who stayed later that several more folks showed up at the W.