Originally Posted by baglady (Post 13480765)

Greetings from Plus1 and I! I want to thank all of your for your wonderful thoughts, prayers, and good wishes. The last few days have been tough. Plus1's grandmother left peacefully yesterday with the dignity and grace she lived her life. She was an amazing woman and spending time with Plus1's sister and niece; we had some wonderful times remembering her life. Thank you again for all and a special thank you to Tinkerer for emailing me special posts from teh box.

We will hopefully be back in teh box later today and I look forward to reading about the mayhem in AUS :)

Thank you again all!

Originally Posted by RichMSN (Post 13480981)

You guys are *animals*. I was spent after the BBQ, which just shows how much of a DO rookie I am. I promise to have a second wind today.

I had to check out this thread after monitor said I was referenced here last night.

I read through the comments earlier, and rather than multi-quote, etc. (which would take too long and I do need to find some decent coffee soon) I'd just like to make my first stint in the Box by making a few comments about my first ever DO after 10 years at FT (under 2 different handles):

(1) I enjoyed Friday up until some SPG Plats (of which I am one) started asking the Sheraton management ridiculous questions. I had a decent question to ask myself, but after listening to complaints about suite upgrades (sorry, but I just don't get why a suite upgrade is *so* bloody important, especially when traveling alone and when you barely get any use out of 80% of the suite) and high speed Internet, I decided to grab a beer and go for a little walk instead. Like I told William (the Lurker) at the Flying Saucer, some of those people would eat their young.

(2) The Saucer itself. I know there was a gang from the DO there outside, but it was cold (even for this Wisconsin boy) outside, I didn't have a winter coat, and we had found space (and eventually a table) inside. It was packed for the first half of the trip there. William and I met for the first time there last year and put down quite a few beers together, so it was nice to go there again. The selection of beers was quite impressive, and MrsRichMSN was able to drink cider, which she enjoys (and we don't get to England enough, where it is more plentiful on tap).

(3) The CCC tour. I enjoyed this and enjoyed the passion of the Starwood/SPG folks who showed such passion and dedication for the job. The Q&A didn't get all that contentious, which surprised me, but maybe it was cause I was already sleepy from the breakfast taco and the Round Rock donuts we had.

(4) The BBQ. My favorite was Smittys, which I think puts me in a minority of 1. I would rank them Smittys, Kruez's, Black's, and then probably McDonald's and Whataburger before the Chisholm Trail.

Time to get the coffee. Now that I posted here, I guess I'll have to follow along. Hope there's room for a former CO PLT here (from MSN, I'd be torturing myself trying to fly CO regularly).

Originally Posted by belynch (Post 13481504)

To make matters worse I'm number 10 on the upgrade list out to Cali. :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by mwg25 (Post 13484113)

^ for being able to laugh at your mistakes!

Originally Posted by Olton Hall (Post 13489589)

Girl Scout cookies have arrived. And here I was complaining about the weight I've gained in the past month.

Originally Posted by Anglo Large Clawed Otter (Post 13489630)

With Airframes.org and a Tail Number, you'll never lose that contest again.

Originally Posted by baglady (Post 13485049)

I want to write up some things on her. There are so many great stories and I don't want us to lose it for our next generation. Let me say her life would make one juicy book!!!

Originally Posted by RichMSN (Post 13480981)

(4) The BBQ. My favorite was Smittys, which I think puts me in a minority of 1. I would rank them Smittys, Kruez's, Black's, and then probably McDonald's and Whataburger before the Chisholm Trail.

Originally Posted by icurhere2 (Post 13487377)

Feliz cumpleaños, Hartmann.

Originally Posted by Anglo Large Clawed Otter (Post 13488899)

Level Up!

Congratulations, you are now a Level 9 Otter
Stamina Increases by 5
Strength Increases by 2
:rolleyes: Increases by 9
:-: Goes to Eleven

Bonus: You are now Typhoid Resistant (:-:)

Originally Posted by belynch (Post 13481504)

To make matters worse I'm number 10 on the upgrade list out to Cali. :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by baglady (Post 13485119)

That is ridiculous!

Originally Posted by icurhere2 (Post 13485116)

Indeed :rolleyes: - is this a regularly-scheduled thing or some form of emergency call?

Originally Posted by COFreqFlyer (Post 13484991)

Quick box catch-up...

My condolences to both of you, Plus1 and Baglady.