Good to see you're coming Horizons!

In the fine tradition of the PIPP I've booked my hotel through Priceline ... though the locations will not be quite as convenient as at the PIPP. I'm staying at the Mayfair House Hotel for two nights for $168.21 total with taxes/fees.

If anyone else would like to try and get this, it's in the Coconut Grove zone for Priceline and my bid was $70/night plus the $20/night AMEX bonus money.

I am now officially a "no." I'll be there in spirit (or spirits, 86 proof).

This should be a fine get-together! I hear only the best things about Norman's. A question for TW and others: I have one or two friends in Miami who are prospective members of FT (at the moment they just fly like crazy) and have expressed curiosity about the dinner. Would it be appropriate to ask them to join us? I'm asking more because they're mileage addicts than because they're my friends. But they just happen to be good eggs.

Beckles, I look forward to seeing you so soon after LB and to meeting Nancy. Thanks for the hotel tip; I used Priceline again and I think I way overbid ($60), considering I got an airport hotel on a weekend night. But it's the MIA Marriott on LeJeune, so at least it should be nice. Next time I think I'll try something like $35 in this market.

I'm not wild about returning MIA-SEA via ORD, but taking the MIA-SEA nonstop would have pushed the rt price from $228 to $1100. Does anyone have any idea whether the nice people at AA-MIA might take some pity on me and put me on the nonstop anyway, if I get to the airport early enough on Sunday? (It leaves 45 minutes after my scheduled departure to ORD.) The AA agent I spoke to last night expressed shock at the price, considering the fact that the flight is booked rather light. I have very little experience "horse trading" with AA -- much more with UA -- but I am a PLT flyer and an Admiral's Club member.

Thanks for any guidance.

Horizons

Please invite your friends. E-mail me and let me know how many will be coming so I can adjust the reservation.

Do not have high expectations of the Airport Marriott. It is an older (one of the first) Marriott properties built. It has been carved up into one tower Full Service, One tower Courtyard and the third Fairfield Inn. I have not been in any of the non full service rooms but they have to be the same size as the main building as the whole thing used to be full service.

TW

Last call

TW
Svpii
Mr. Svpii
Burkey
LarryU
Beckles
Nancy
Horizons +1 1/2

TravelLover for dessert and after dinner drinks

TW

For anyone who didn't know this weekend (1/19 to 1/21) is Art Deco weekend on South Beach. It's a lot of fun, albeit a bit crowded.

Just got off the phone with friend #2, who knows for certain now he won't be able to join us, because he has a sick family member. He hopes to join our next SoFla get-together.

So, please put me down for 2. See you all on Saturday!

Terrible news � David has the flu. Not just a cold � the honest to God flu. Right now he�s w/ fever of 102.6, and all the flu symptoms you can imagine. I took him to our doc this morning, hoping he could work a miracle � afraid not. FYI � he did give him Tamiflu � which promptly made him violently ill� no breaks today.

Anyway � I thought about making the trip solo, which normally would be no biggie, but I�m afraid he�s too sick to leave alone. At the very least, my Karma would be seriously affected. The folks at the Oriental Mandarin were quite gracious under the circumstances and did not charge me, even though they have a 48 hr cancellation policy.

I can�t tell you how distressed I am. I was so looking forward to seeing all of you. Somebody have fois gras at Norman�s for me and describe in great detail how wonderful it was. And somebody take pictures!

svpii:

Sending get well wishes to David. (Glad I got my flu shot.)

Very sorry to hear you won't be joining us, svpii. Family health is of course paramount. Please know that we'll be thinking about you both and wishing David a quick return to good health.

Martin

It was a pleasure enjoying dinner with new friends this evening and I look forward to doing it again sometime in the future. Odd thing about the lack of salt and pepper, however; I hope UA is not doing their catering. Good thing I brought along my pepper mill.

Sorry I wimped out on the martini bar but there have just been too many successive long nights. Please be so kind to file a comprehensive report evaluating each and every one of the 200 varieties.