Day 1: Work
KANSAS CITY MO -- This has to rate down there with one of my worst travel days. (My plane didn't blow up, so it's not THE worst.)
It started upon arrival for my 11:10 flight -- I know, normally the earliest one possible -- only to be told that my Charlotte-Atlanta flight (USAir) was down for repairs. No problem; they rebooked me on Delta. (Here I should add: This week's travels include both work and play mashed up. I paid for the Charleston-Atlanta leg, while the office paid for Atlanta-KC.)
Since I was newly introduced to the Delta flight (which didn't leave until 1:55), I ended up in the back row, next to the bathroom. Not so bad, I guess; I was still on time. But I had to pick up my luggage in Atlanta and re-check it with Delta, as originally planned.
But 20, 30, 40 minutes passed by at the luggage carousel, and no baggage. Upon quick consultation with Delta staff -- the KC flight was fast approaching -- my suitcase apparently became afraid of flying and was still in Charleston. (Funny. I watched it go on the slide.)
Now, despite my supervisor's previous protestations of staying at a hotel immediately adjacent to the training center, I picked the Holiday Inn near Country Club Plaza, a Spanish-influenced shopping center. Little did he know, huh? So now, for only the second time in my life, I've bought something at American Eagle Outfitters.
It also allowed me to sample a restaurant Chad discovered on his trip to Minneapolis, Fogo de Chão, a churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse). It is a prix fixe menu with endless salad bar and 15 different cuts of meat brought to your table at your own pace: the waiters await a green coaster on the table to deliver, and pass by on a red coaster. I bowed out after 5, plus the salad, garlic mashed potatoes, fried bananas, and a couple slices of some sort of Parmesan-covered bread.
Tomorrow, actual work.
It started upon arrival for my 11:10 flight -- I know, normally the earliest one possible -- only to be told that my Charlotte-Atlanta flight (USAir) was down for repairs. No problem; they rebooked me on Delta. (Here I should add: This week's travels include both work and play mashed up. I paid for the Charleston-Atlanta leg, while the office paid for Atlanta-KC.)
Since I was newly introduced to the Delta flight (which didn't leave until 1:55), I ended up in the back row, next to the bathroom. Not so bad, I guess; I was still on time. But I had to pick up my luggage in Atlanta and re-check it with Delta, as originally planned.
But 20, 30, 40 minutes passed by at the luggage carousel, and no baggage. Upon quick consultation with Delta staff -- the KC flight was fast approaching -- my suitcase apparently became afraid of flying and was still in Charleston. (Funny. I watched it go on the slide.)
Now, despite my supervisor's previous protestations of staying at a hotel immediately adjacent to the training center, I picked the Holiday Inn near Country Club Plaza, a Spanish-influenced shopping center. Little did he know, huh? So now, for only the second time in my life, I've bought something at American Eagle Outfitters.
It also allowed me to sample a restaurant Chad discovered on his trip to Minneapolis, Fogo de Chão, a churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse). It is a prix fixe menu with endless salad bar and 15 different cuts of meat brought to your table at your own pace: the waiters await a green coaster on the table to deliver, and pass by on a red coaster. I bowed out after 5, plus the salad, garlic mashed potatoes, fried bananas, and a couple slices of some sort of Parmesan-covered bread.
Tomorrow, actual work.