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I’m home. This morning at the airport in Islip, the new Transportation Security Administration people refused to let me through security because my name was misspelled on my reservation. It wasn’t a problem flying out last week, but I guess TSA are a lot more on the ball in Islip.
After some wrangling with a US Airways counter representative, they said I would be able to go through only if I was designated as a “selectee” for extra searching. So, I went through the “special” security line, just me and about fifteen Middle Eastern looking (sorry, don’t know the politically correct term) people. I thought they were supposed to be random checks, but anecdotally, it looked kinda fucked up to me. Anyway, I made it to the gate just after they called my name on the PA for final boarding for my flight, so all good.
A word about flying: I love in-flight magazines. They’re so happy. There’s always about their writers finding some sort of Zen moment in the ordinary, or highlighting some unique piece of America that makes me want to visit. This month’s issue of Attache gushed praises for Philadelphia as an emerging white-collar finance & technology center that geographically unites the East Coast, as well as a great place to visit and a nice place to live. Of course, it’s just a writeup - meanwhile, today’s Philadelphia Inquirer had a front-page headline that said, “5 Gunned Down in Philadelphia Over Weekend.” But still - in-flight magazines make you want to try different things in life, even if it’s in kind of a yuppie way. The company I work for should take note of that.
Flying note: The Dell Inspiron 5150 laptop isn’t really a good laptop for traveling. It wouldn’t fit on the airline tray. Maybe if you fly first class it would fit.
When I arrived at LAX, the 81st Street Airport Parking Service picked me up at the airport (thanks), and then we went to El Torito in Marina del Rey for lunch, then I drove home.
It’s hot here in L.A., and traffic was bumper to bumper along the 405 and the 10. I see that gas prices went down to about $2.03 - thanks for taking care of that one when I was away, guys. Keep up the good work.
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Glad you are back. Sorry about TSA’s harrassment. Those bastards are a pain in the ass. I have had many encounters with them and none have been pretty. Last time I travelled they accused me of carrying explosive materials. So I had to go through this intense search. It turned out to be chocolate which makes me wonder about the ingredients in chocolate? They also owe me a new piece of unbreakable Samsonite lugguage. Apparently, Samsonite holds up to everything but TSA inspections.