It was time for Carol to think about running
back to BWI, so we had a lazy morning, took
a quick run out to the Superstitions so she
could see that also impressive formation, and
then back to Carl and Ellen's, whence we
decided on brunch at Z Tejas on the strength
of the Chambord margaritas. The place isn't
bad, after all, for a chain. At brunch,
mimosas and MYOBs (choice of several chic
vodkas including Chopin and Belvedere) are
$3, which is good.

My chile relleno with smoked chicken,
apricots, pecans, raisins, and jack cheese
sided with Spanish rice and black beans was
pretty good, a big poblano pepper split and
folded over the said filling; Carol's
Southwest enchilada with roast pork was
pretty standard. Carl ordered the grilled ahi
tuna with a soy-mustard sauce, and it was in
fact excellent - I had a bite, and I thought
it was the equal of what they serve at fancy
restaurants. Alas, not all was well, as
Ellen's chicken hash (the only thing on the
brunch menu that we ordered) was almost too
salty to eat. I guess that's to encourage
the consumption of drinks, so she had another
mimosa and all was fine.

We had just time to visit the Pueblo Grande
park and marvel at the native architecture
once again, and then it was time to head
back to Sky Harbor. We said goodbye to Carol
at the WN terminal and went back to the
Four Peaks for a few IPAs before my flight.

UAT1458 PHX DEN 2032 2313 32S 3F

I've lost my Ted virginity, and I feel sort
of screwed. It's not that the experience is
painful, just that it's not what I want now
or ever. Total Southwest, only done by
personnel who aren't convinced, so the
feeling you get is of people going through
the motions, the grins and jokes seeming
even more insincere than usual. I think the
flight was ok; anyhow it was almost on time
(hard time getting a guide in, though), but
as we landed at A-fortysomething, and all
mainline connections are in the B terminal,
and there are no monitors that tell you
where your connection is, there was some
confusion at the gate. I hustled down to
the train, calling the 1K desk on the way
to find out where my gate was. Got to the
gate in about 8 minutes, but people kept
straggling in (including some unfortunates
on the flight from Vegas, which was even
later than ours) until departure time and
beyond. If my experience is any indication,
if they don't shape up quick, not only is
Ted doomed, it may also truly be "the end
of United."

UA 568 DEN BOS 2355 0534 319 2A

Back to mainline, thank heaven. Service
was okay. They offered a deli plate or
penne with something. I had just the cookie,
which was chocolate chip, and a couple
Courvoisiers. Some bumps on the flight,
nothing surprising or out of the ordinary,
and we landed a few minutes early (again
having to wait for a guide in to the gate).
Slept like a baby most of the flight.