I couldn't do Thanksgiving for the same reason. The gf would likely kill me if I disappeared again.

But, it doesn't take much time. I leave on Thursday night on a 11:45pm flight to IAH and i'm back to SEA by early sunday eve.

Here's hoping I get some west coast gigs around these. :)

Have you tried worshiping a cow?

Funny story. A few years ago, a friend and I were at White Castle (long story) watching through the glass window as an Indian woman made our hamburgers. As we standing there, i lean into my friend and say "Do you think she's torn? I mean, she's cooking her god right there".

I nearly got decked for making him laugh so hard. :D

If my job thing stablizes - it looks like the first gig could be going back to Chicago and spending 10 weeks in the same Westin I spent 21 months in :) Pay with my *woodAmex card... and the points just come flying in!

I'm hoarding for lean travel times in 2010 and beyond. Am keeping a 100K cushion now, but want to build it up to 200K+. I'd like to have some flexibility to transfer over to BA or other programs (with 20% transfer bonus) for front cabin travel in coming years. I don't like to let the balance drop below 100K, as I figure 10 nights in a Cat 4 should see me through most unforeseen circumstances (Hurricanes, primarily).

Thank you, so much, for that. I needed a good laugh and that certainly foot the bill. ^

In other news, I am now in the process of trying to find a new job. I hate looking for a new job and all that it entails, and this isn't exactly the most stellar market to do it in. Big :rolleyes: to crappy management.

Mmm, palindrome.

Right now I have ahout 67K starpoints, but would like to build that up to well over 180K for Bora Bora.

Add me to that list. I don't have such a problem with burning Marriott points though.

I have a few orphaned AA miles and I was going to transfer them to Hilton for the 1for2 offer. Bloody AA won't let you transfer less than 25k if you don't have status. :mad::mad::mad:

So now I may stay at a few Hyatt Places to tag on to their 20k AA mile promo to make those points worth something.

I've found the Tokyo public transportation system pretty easy. I hate how expensive the NEX is though.

The one key thing I learned about the subway, make sure your tickets are for the exact value. If the value is more then you need, it won't let you through. I guess the Japanese frown upon throw-away ticketing. :D

I got burned by the BART with that. I forgot my cellphone in my hotel and realized it after I entered the station. I tried to exit and it wouldn't let me so I had to pay like $15 or something crazy.

I guess it's a measure to prevent homeless from riding the subways all day and then getting off at the wrong station.

It was a big fat :rolleyes: mixed with :mad:. But no worries, I expensed it. ;)

It really bugs me that the word palindrome is not a palindrome.

I'm seriously considering just paying for a room at the Best Western Emerald Beach rather than parting with 8K + $150. It would be a much easier decision if I hadn't stayed at the Westin before (phenomenal property).

I might have to cancel the NRT ticket. I am not finding any cheap fares to SEA from here

the NEX is really expensive, but then again , so is everything else in Japan.

The problem with the value on the subway is that the map with the prices is in Japanese and the one with English names has no prices so you have to look at both maps side by side and figure out the price
then match the location on both maps , then put the coins in and select the value :rolleyes:

heh heh heh, so true. I have been working for hours and feel like I have gotten nothing done.

Is the NRT fare refundable?

No.

Are the IAH-NRT loads pretty heavy in the back all the time or are there some months that it's lighter?