CATMAN DO 2 REPORTS!
 

Ok everybody... this is the special section where we are all to post our DO REPORTS (Since NO ONE http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif wanted to be an official correspondent.... since I don't have a LAPTOP! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif )

CMDR CATCOP asks that we keep the focus to ONLY CATMAN DO 2 TRIP REPORTS...

*NO FLAMING WARS
*NO CONGA LINES TO SIGN UP and make 15 cents.
(there are other forums for that)
*NO DIRTY JOKES BECAUSE YOU WILL BE ARRESTED.
*NO LOVE LETTERS TO ARTURO (especially since he's NOT COMING to the DO!)

You can say nice things or bad things about the CATMAN... And I ask acting CMDR CATCOPS newself (march 17-21... so go easy on the St. pat's celebrating unless you can find a equally wonderful sub) and Quiet Lion and Hunnybear (March 22-27) to make sure I keep this forum clean.

See, this is the climatic scene in "FLyertalk the MOvie" when the hero of the story, the CATMAN, hosts a party for his closest friends.

Plus I want to print this forum and share it with my friends and my cats!

Thank you.

Mozart to Salieri: "Too many notes."

RichG to Catman: "Too many rules." http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

arturo: I love you, I love you, I love you. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Catman Dealing with Women, Guerrilla Tip #1: Women tend to be stubborn, contrary, and independent. Often given to doing something just because you tell them not to. A lot like cats. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

It's not me... it's CMDR CATCOP.

And remember, rules are made to be broken (like with this post!!!)

Do you see that? In black and white! Absoulutly no prohibition of the discussion of all things wooly!

RichG, I don't think there are too many rules! Just think of all the things Commander CatCop left out!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Catman,

I am going out to Limerick's tonight for my celebrating so that I can be sober and ready to kick butt as the 4 time ACTING CMDR CATCOP
starting on March 17th!

But be forwarned as Limerick's pulls a mighty tasty pint of Guinness and policing this board with a hangover will have the others hating me!

TO EVERYONE ELSE: THERE WILL BE NO FLAMING OF OTHERS THIS WEEKEND ON FLYERTALK WHILE I AM ON DUTY! SOBER OR NOT!

I'm confused.

Why is Commander Catcop being replaced by Newself?

What are QL and I doing Mar 22 - 27?

It was my understanding that there'd be no math. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

Honeybear, you and QL are off the hook UNTIL 3/22. That means you two can slam all the Ridge Zinfandel you want between now and then. On the 22nd... then you get to get on your high horse, tell the rest of us to behave, and we'll be happy to pretend to listen. It's really a nice little system... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Cheers, and have fun in NY, sorry I won't be there. I am headed to Ruth's Chris in DC tonight so I'll toast you all... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

[This message has been edited by geo1004 (edited 03-16-2000).]

Catman
I am starting the first report.

It is Thursday March 16, 2000. I am sitting on my sofa because I have nothing better to do than read posts on FlyerTalk.

Nothing better to do?

Well, I'm putting my boys to bed and being Mr. Mom for the one night a week Helen works...so nothing sounds pretty good right now.

All those of you who havent left, rain predicted for Friday (it will pour tonight) and then chilly weather returns Friday night for the rest of the weekend.

Pack something warm.

In the fine spirit of posts on the pre-game festivities...I made by the United CTO and picked up a slew of upgrade certs because...Marie and my upgrades cleared both ways! Woo hoo!

kids in bed? check
packed for weekend? check
work wrapped up in preparation for noon departure for airport? doh!

Is it possible to have all the warm winter clothing we will need and not check bags???

We are sorting through need and want right now, almost ready to catch the red eye to D.C.

boarding in 90 minutes (hopefully). See you on Saturday evening.

Hey...we just left Ruth's Chris after waiting for some time for you all to show up. What happened? We return to Los Angeles tomorrow morning. Did we screw up the dates or something?

Wingless is starting to understand the gestalt here.

I will post a more thorough Pre-CATMAN-DO-2 report featuring onefreeman, Raeban, Essxjay and her friend Patrick when I have more than a few hours of sleep.

PremEx: Don't give me a heart attack. Because if I fall ill i've decided that YOU will have to assume controls of the CATMAN DO 2. (actually right now I'm so well preserved that i love everyone and nothing bothers me!!!)

newself, for all of the work that you have done as CMDR CATCOP, when I see you:

*We can both get roaring drunk together.
*I will call a car service to take you home and pay for it.
*I will do the same and go back to my hotel in Long Beach.

You are the best CMDR CATCOP (with wanderlust so far) i've ever known.

OH BOY! The alcohol has really kicked it, but I mean it when I say that you newself are one of the best Flyertalkers out there.

Good luck Quiet Lion and Hunnybear. I'm sure you both will be great catcops (uninfluences by Guiness.)

Live update:

Happy St Pat's Day one and all. Greetings from the 33rd floor of the Waldorf Towers. Operating on about 3 hours sleep so bear with me please...

Flight Details

We arrived PHX Sky Harbor about an hour before flight time for UA 684. Having read the weather forecasts at least 3 times per day for the last week, we had to check luggage -- cold weather gear tends to be bulky. This is rather new to us -- we're worshippers of the sun. Our shorts to sweater ratio is about 11:1. As much as our host enjoys Jimmy Buffet, I realized the aloha wear would need to stay in the closet. But I digress...

FC check in had 7 people waiting when we arrived. One poor soul was on the 810am flight to ORD which was already an hour late. His connection to somewhere would be missed so he was going with us. The agent handed him his boarding pass for row 31 -- poor guy dang near died. Our check in after a 10 minute wait was smooth and effortless. Love to watch those worthless little priority tags disappear on the belt into the bowels of the airport only to reappear near the end of the load at our destination.

Raeban had developed a powerful thirst from our standing on queue so we headed straight for the smoking bar (the RCC in PHX is non-smoking and your correspondent refuses to fly for 3+ hours without having several nicotine fixes). Raeban immediately orders Absolut bloody marys (double for a dollar more? Silly question!). We decide to head for Gate C (my favorite gate because you can smoke all the way out to the gate) about 20 minutes before departure. Gate C is deserted when we arrive -- we've missed the pre-boarding and all the rest too. As we wind around the Gate C jetway maze we find out the plane isn't empty -- everyone is hiding on the jetway. We make the usual left turn at the door to arrive at seats 1CD. Overhead space full but we manage to find places to stash the cameras and laptop, etc. Offered OJ. Is the champagne open yet? No... Mimosas appear in seconds. Decent run of the mill UA FC service to ORD. Catering didn't load the new movies (UA switches movie offerings on the 16th of the month). Stuck with The Bachelor. Ignore movie, listen to Channel 9. Raeban has the fruit plate, I get the carbo-plate (kudos to Quiet Lion for the name). Arrive on time in ORD. Deplane to hit the RCC, the outside frigid smoking area and shop for beanie babies. Re-board the same plane only to find my personal magazines have disappeared during the cleaning process. On time departure. Lunch service (filet or salmon -- we both opt for filet which is overcooked as usual). No channel 9 (boo hiss catcalls!)

The -DO begins

Put on our winter outerwear upon arrival and trek to LGA's ancient baggage area. Immediately begin sweating (perspiring for our more genteel members) profusely. It's 60+ dang degrees in NYC. This is winter? At security we meet our host, The Catdude himself. After hugs and kisses, I turn on my cell phone to discover that work has several simultaneous disasters for me to handle. Our priority tagged luggage arrives near the end (as usual).

Off to the taxi queue and then into the city. I have no true recollection of the ride in -- I was on the phone the entire time...

Arrive at the Waldorf Astoria. Long line. Ask for the HHonors line -- there isn't one. After 10 minute wait admiring the Waldorf clock, am courteously greeted, told we have a marvelous upgraded room in the Waldorf Towers. Given two drink coupons, told to help ourselves to the Evian in the mini-bar. Room is nice -- a bit small but on the 33rd floor with a view into several other buildings.

Catdude and Raeban unpack us while I talk (yell, swear, curse, threathen, cajole, cry) on the phone. We decide to head for cocktails after I determine all is lost at work. We head for the Towers lounge on the 26th floor where I immediately make a lifelong friend of the lounge maiden by helping myself to generous portions of gin and re-arranging furniture. Nice lounge, good spread. We head downstairs to have more cocktails and admire the beauty of the Waldorf.

Sir Harry's is packed, the Bull and Bear is packed, so we end up at the Cocktail Terrace where a wannabe piano-diva (fortunately) goes on break as soon as we arrive (has my luck turned?? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif )

Catdude, the host with the most, has made reservations for dinner at Sparks. We invite SXJ to join but she has plans. Sparks is a steakhouse that is hopping. Incredible wine list, terrific service and I had a veal loin chop the size of some states just north of here. Wonderful dinner with great friends. Who wants more?

We head for our 11pm rendezvous with SXJ and Patrick at the Rainbow Room. We walk in the rain (singing of course) and Raeban admires the sites and sounds of her first NYC evening. We have a lovely view of the Empire State Building for maybe five minutes before the low clouds literally take away the view of everything. SXJ and Patrick arrive and another online friendship goes live and in person. We enjoy cocktails until they tell us to leave. We agree with them because it's 2am and raining and we all have a big Friday planned. Catdude hails a taxi and drops us at the Waldorf before heading across the river to see his kids, complete final preparations for the -DO and, hopefully, get a bit of sleep.

It's 921am now -- we meet SXJ in the lobby in about 2 hours. More later -- including a report of Raeban's first encounter with Kripsy Kremes. Also coming: pictures...

Signing off...

Rain gear? Winter clothes. Woops. Women folk might need to take me shopping.

auh2o - brawling and winning with Delta CRC agents who despite being on a Business Elite ticket and having current RCC membership (broke down yesterday in SFO) did not want to admit me to the CRC. Maybe they were worriied I would clean out their booze supply? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

wise move on delta's part auh2o, don't you think? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Be careful auh2o ... you might get spoiled by the free booze in the CRC's ...

...spoiled that is until you had to board that Delta aircraft! Then you would trade that CRC room for a broom closet serving Tang from a dirty glass!

Delta...who wisely figures they better get their passengers drunk before they board! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Weather Update -

A nice steady snow has been falling in Manhattan for the last several hours.

Clearing later and low around 23 in midtown.

Yes, so far it's been rain, fog, freezing rain, sleet, snow and gusting high winds- perfect day for flying and parades!!! Reportedly now about 90 min delays at area airports.

But it's all part of the deal and everyone is dealing with it in good cheer!

[Hunnybear/]

CMDR CATCOP is being replaced by newself while he is out playing Catman at the Do. He now owes me about 4 nights of dinners and drinks.

When he leaves again for someother adventure, you and the QL get to take over the board and become ACTING CMDR CATCOP!

The red eye from SEA/IAD was great (I think). If it wasn't, I'll never know because I slept through the entire flight. Now getting from IAD to EWR is a whole different story.

We were anxious to get home (to Manhattan) and very disappointed that our plane was delayed, and delayed, and delayed and.... We thought about switching to another plane but Joe had decided to check luggage (his and mine) so we figured waiting in Dulles was about the same as waiting in Newark. WRONG. When we got to EWR we discovered that Joe's bag had arrived on the earlier flight and that mine was among the missing.

It wasn't a thrilling morning but MaryAnn, the clerk at the baggage office really was extremely helpful. After a very delayed arrival, we filed a Lost Bag report, decided to wait 15 additional minutes for the next flight in from Dulles (just in case my bag was on it). We finally arrived at the club 4 and 1/2 hours after our ETA, grabbed lunch as we watched "would be parade goers" battle the wind and snow at the corner of 7th and 56th. By this time we really needed to take a nap and, when we awoke, ran out to buy dancing shoes, underwear, etc., etc., all the real necessities of life. This made us way too late for drinks at the Waldorf and 30 minutes late for dinner at The Supper Club.

But we got a great table on the dance floor and had a magnificent time. The music and show were fabulous and my fish was perfect (my interest in the dispensation was academic and of concern for Joe as I don't eat meat). We would have stayed and danced 'til we dropped (they close at 4:00am), but we wanted to try to hook up with the FT group at the Oak Room so we split about midnight and had wonderful subway/walking/not finding a cab adventure on our way to The Plaza, where we arrived just in time for last call.

No FlyerTalkers were to be seen. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif Joe was so sad to have quit dancing only to find no friends when we arrived. When we got our bill for one drink, he said "No wonder they left. I hope they found a great bar with cheap pitchers of green beer".

The sad thing is that we were counting on that connection to find out what's happening on Saturday. Now we are clueless.

Catman HELP!!!!!!



[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 03-18-2000).]

I've found with DL (I would think the other major airlines do the same thing) that they usually put your bags on the first available flight to your destination, so if you can reasonably make an earlier connection, it is usually safe to do so as the airline will put your bags on the first flight to their destination anyway. I've used this tactic a few times, and have arrived at my destination and my bags did in fact come out as with the luggage on the earlier flight I hopped. Of course, since they lost your bag, you would have waited for your original flight likely anyway hoping it had not made it with Joe's bag ...

Sorry to learn of your luggage travails, Punki. Not being a real dancer myself, can't imagine what the airline allowance for "dancing shoes" is!! Hopefully appropriate reimbursement is forthcoming.

Glad the Supper Club dinner turned out so well. Surely Catman will soon clue you in on todays events!

Hurray, Hurray, itis a wonderful day here in beautiful downtown Manhattan. The sun is streaming through the windows and my vagrant bag has been found. My good dance shoes have been returned. Believe me trying to find good dance shoes in a strange city, in an emergency is not easy.

I also talked with the Catman Host Dude a few minutes ago and it looks like we are having an indoor (buy your favorite food from the deli and bring it on up) picnic lunch at our place this afternoon, 12:30 or 1:00 pm or whenever folks show up. Send me an e-mail if you want directions.

I Love New York!

This is a very good friend of the Catman, posting for him from afar.

He thanks you for following the rules of not posting stupid or controversial remarks.

He had to go home to get something he needed for the do and apologizes to PUNKI for not making lunch (he also wants to be hungry for steak.)

I hope to meet you all someday soon. Maybe even sooner.

A GOOD FRIEND OF CATMAN

just arrived at the Waldorf - phoned Catman (automatic voice recorder) and onefreeman. 5 minutes afterwards alreadz getting drunk with beckles and auh20 at the lobby of the 'W' hotel - meeting Rae and Marty at 5PM to go for a drink at a (my favorite( famous speak easy (the 21 club knows exactly how to prepare my sidecars), and than to the BIG Catman stakes see you.

Woke up at 5 this morning for my CO flight ... was upgraded last night using my "Trial" Silver ... good flight ... not enough food.

Bus trip took me to Grand Central and I walked a block to the Hyatt ... got in the Regency Club using a coupon ...

Called auh2o ... he said he was sleeping in Catman's bed ... I didn't ask for anymore details than that ...

Met auh2o at the W and we went to the Broadway Diner for food and bad service ...

Went back to the W for a beer ... met Rudi ... our next challenge is finding Lakers Knicks tickets for less than five bills ...

Marty's coming over for drinks ... then off to Ruth's Chris for the big dinner.

Anyway ... I'd type more, but this WebTV keyboard really sucks ... ...

Controversey, controversey! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Now that that's out of the way....

Reporting to you live from Punki's cool Manhattan digs, the Catman-do is going just swimmingly! Will post a more thorough report after the Do but I've been having so much fun and Lion King was such a wonderful show!

By the way Mr. Nutz, did you make your London flight & is your back feeling better? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

------------------
Regards,
- Anna

Howdy from Punki and Joe's pad!

Paging auh20, are you there? Long story, I'm sure the whole story will come out--- with photos for the right price!

And to our bathrobe model, I hope you made it to your destination.

Hello from the DO, from Joe & Punki's...

Too bad I missed all the fun last night, but hopefully everyone will be back at full operating power for tonight!!

Controversy, will it prevail?

Greetings from sunny Tucson, I'm sorry that I couldn't make it to join the crowd, and meet a few new people, and see old friends, but my body was telling me that it wasn't ready for the red-eye to Newark that I had ticketed a couple of months ago.

I am soooooo jealous! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

But really, have a great time, and someone, please order some of those yummy au gratin potatoes and enjoy them for me! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Linda

[This message has been edited by Ling (edited 03-18-2000).]

Woah! I wasn't planning on posting during the DO, but since everybody else seems to be DOing it, I'll chime in: I had to leave Punki's early, as I had work to do (really!). But it's taken care of now, so I've got to get going to Ruth's in a few minutes. I've taken the necessary precautions by taking it easy with the Krispy Kremes this morning (only had three. AnnaS and I were officially indoctrinated into the KK club today [a club is a club, I say]), and not having lunch. I am now starved... Ruth's, here I come!

Hello from Heathrow Hilton (Midnight local time, 7pm and start of big dinner in NYC http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif.

Friday: IAD-LGA: Called @ noon to check on my 2:30 flight. It shows right on time. But I know there is weather in NYC, so ask about the earlier flights. All delayed or canceled!!! So hop in the car and get to IAD early. Manage to get on the 1:30 at 1:45 and we take off at 2:19. A few circles and 15 minutes at 250 knots, and I land 5 minutes before my original arrival time. It is snowing. My original flight is delayed by 2 hours according to the monitor!!!

Meeting Austxhiker and quantumleap at LGA, and Atxhiker is stuck in Atlanta http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif. It’s just as well,because after waiting for our limo for 30 minutes, QL, Marie and I give up and hop in a cab to our hotels. Hint: never use Richardson Limosine in NYC! Not exactly what I had hoped for.

At the WALDorf=Astoria, a long line awaited to check in. 10 minutes in line. All is forgiven, though, when I get to the counter and my room has already (without having to ask) upgraded to a suite. The suite is beautiful, with a fireplace and a huge outside patio. The checkin lady said they have a far easier time upgrading HH Golds one night stays then folks on multiple night stays.

Met up with NJDavid, Helen, Onefreeman, Raeban and Auh2o for drinks at the Waldorf. Yummy Guiness. Then with the latter 3 for dinner at the Palm Too: no Guiness so switched to Becks. The food was great and the concierge card from the Waldorf scored us free after-dinner drinks! At this point, things get kind of fuzzy, but I do know I saw a bunch more folks including Quietlion, Hunybear, AnnaS, Austxhiker and the rest. (But no Punki and Joe or essxjay http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif) at the Oak room. I seem to recall a frigid walk to Essex House and more Guiness. Then up to Catman’s suite at the essex for yet more fun and games. Just don’t ask me what went on there, although I do sort of remember taking the clothes off an unconcious Auh2o http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif and performing some acts of self-flagulation to make up for my many and varied sins...you kind of had to be there...

I don’t know when we left, but a bunch of us hopped in a cab to get back to our hotels. Then I realized (thankfully) that I had left my new cell phone back at Catty’s. So Rae and Onefree were kind enough to cab back over to Essex to retrieve it with me. I do know that when I put in for my 6:15 AM wake up call back at the Waldorf, it was 3:30.

Saturday: 6:15am hit me like a truck. But I managed to find the shower and left behind my leftover beer for Rudi’s arrival later that day. Taxi to JFK and was at the RCC in no time. I slept a lot on the flight and arrived refreshed. At the fast track line the immigration agent asked me why I was in London and I said “To Party!” He laughed and laughed, and sent me on my way. Heathrow Express to terminal 4 then the “6 minute walk” to the Heathrow Hilton where I am upgraded (after having to ask) to a business floor room. My boss’ boss who is in London with me made it clear that I would NOT be making it downtown tonight by handing me about 30 changes to the presentation for tomorrow, so I had to settle for a couple of pints of John Smith’s in the hotel bar.

I want to thank Catman and specifically Marty and Raeban for a great time in NYC. I’m sorry I missed so many of you and extra sorry that I missed the big dinner. But I still managed to have a terific time http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif.

P.S.: I apologize for leaving out people and things that I do not mention here. It’s not that I don’t care, its just that I don’t remember http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif.

I am soooo jealous . . . . (have a blast everyone) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif