SFO 29 Nov
 

1129 UA 783 BWI DEN 1135 1330 757 2A

Carol dropped me off at the train before work, so there
was this vast amount of time to waste at the RCC (as usual
when I have extra time, security took mere seconds), where
I scanned FlyerTalk and various magazines and newspapers
and scouted out the mysterious fares United offers to the
mysterious east - this is sale season, but for some reason
the UA fares are getting worse, not better.

Pleasant flight, a bit bumpy, as we were just at the tops
of the clouds at 38000.

Lunch started with warmed nuts (seconds offered). The
usual chicken Caesar (big breast half, but kind of dry-
looking; my seatmate took a couple bites and then
reverently buried the remains under his napkin) or a
copious turkey-Cheddar wrap with turkey that tasted
more like turkey than what I had at the otherwise decent
Key Bridge Marriott Thanksgiving buffet, and asparagus
and roast red peppers that were tenderer and at least as
good tasting as those at that same buffet. Alongside was
a cup of what looked like tomato soup but turned out to
be a cheese-laden very mild salsa. The presentation was
above average, the wrap cut and placed so the cheese
oozed out onto the plate a la Family Circle Magazine.

The usual fruit appetizer was also very nicely arranged
on the plate.

The usual chocolate chip cookie was usual.

Joliesse Cabernet was less than usual. Bright and
cherryish, more Merlottish than Cabernettish; I prefer
the mediocre Xplorador Merlot, but it wasn't loaded.

The cabin crew were genial and mostly helpful but not
in top form, or at least spotty in the attention
department. Good thing, because I've been sending
altogether too many compliment cards lately.

UA 765 DEN OAK 1426 1600 320 2A

Full flight; boarded on time; landed on time.
Clouds and light chop the whole way.

A fruit-and-cheese plate had excellent fruit and
mediocre unidentifiable cheese: a mild Muenstery
thing and a blue that managed to be both tasteless
and offensive at the same time. I told the agreeable
FA to take the cheese away and bring me a Courvoisier,
which came pleasantly warmed.

==

tom911 was right there at the airport; we decided
to head over right away and beat the traffic. We
wandered around a while to try to find a wireless
connection ... ended up at the Barnes & Noble a
mile away from VPescado's place in the 5:00 range
after having tried McDonaldses and things. Did a
quick Flyertalk strike and then got bored and
decided to have an early beer at the meeting place.
Turns out later that Tom had posted that we'd be
there 45 minutes, so V had come by to visit, only
we had already left.

A quick ride down Camino Real, and we found ourselves
in the fairly pleasant downtown Burlingame shopping
area; after putting our dibs in for a big table, we
wandered around town a bit, poking our noses into
restaurants that might serve as meeting places in
the future. Took a gander at the Burlingame version
of Straits Cafe: interesting setting, with a lot of
sharable-looking dishes on the menu - appears to be
a possibility.

Then back to Steelhead for the promised first round,
after which our party started trickling in, and not
too long after the advertised 7:15 we were seated.

Present: magic111, party_boy, tom911, work2fly,
KathyWdrf, RichardinSF + Sarah, VPescado, and me.

The food was copious, not cheap, pretty well received.
I had a decent, very aromatic although, I thought,
slightly sweet IPA with a bacon-Cheddar burger and
onion rings, made with good ingredients and prepared
as ordered, followed by some of Magic's impossibly
giant block of Bourbon bread pudding.

The surprise winner was the "spicy root beer," which is
indeed one of the tastiest I've encountered. By the time
the meal was over, most of us had mugs of it before us.

As it was a long skinny table, conversations were
localized, which was okay except I didn't get to
talk to Richard and Sarah at all (partway through,
Richard and I did musical chairs, only we ended up
at opposite ends of the table anyway).

We said our goodbyes about half past nine, as there
was that 11:05 flight to catch.

For future reference, there is a big commuter lot
directly across California Ave., which at least on
the Burlingame side is free after 6 pm; also, the
brewery has a small lot behind.

Said goodbye to Tom at the entrance to the UA pier,
as it was getting close to departure. Security was
not a snap ... a non-frequent flying family was
unfamiliar with the procedures, and the wife appeared
considerably exercised about having her jewelry out
of her control for a few seconds, so they clogged up
the one checkpoint; eventually, another X-ray was
opened up, but by that time we'd sat watching the
incomprehensible drama for a fair length of time.
The check itself was quick enough, and I got to
gate 74 (a mere stone's throw away) just as they
were calling Group 2.

1129 UA 240 SFO IAD 2305 0702 319 6C

A moderately full flight. They filled 6A, C, and E,
subsequently putting a couple with a small child into
B, D, and F. The gent in E was convinced to take an
aisle in 7 or 8. The small child now in F screamed a
lot, setting off another small child in 2A. Luckily
I had earplugs and went into a blissful slumber that
continued until the seatbacks announcement. We landed
right on time.

1130 UA 860 IAD BOS 0855 1032 320 6A

An okay, somewhat empty flight. The crew were pleasant
enough if a little Southwestish - "if Boston was not
your destination, it is now." Slept through this one
as well. The only downside was that having 6A I sort of
wedged my noggin between the headrest (seat being in
the fully upright position) and the window edge. Which
was fine until the old lady in 7A, in an attempt to get
out (or something; I was asleep until then), pushed my
seat beyond the designed fully upright position, which
compressed my head a bit. Yowch.