Health Concerns

For some reason, I immediately believe my life is at risk when something minor happens. Normally I can shake it off, but if it lingers, I'm screwed. When I started flying, my left leg would fall asleep. This was due to how I was sitting and how my legs were configured, but since it was my LEFT side, and that it was happening in the air, I immediately thought blood clot/DVT. Of course it was neither of those.

The week before Thanksgiving went without a hitch, until my flight. I was on the plane in my favorite non-first class seat and ready to go home. About 20 minutes into the flight, I started breathing heavy. It was the onset of a panic attack. I started concentrating on my breathing. If you have ever done this, then you know it sucks. It is better to breathe subconsciously than to think about it, because all you end up doing is breathing deeply, getting dizzy and feeling worse. When I breathe deep, I want to feel it in my lungs so much that it hurts. I just felt as if I could not get enough oxygen.

All I wanted was my inhaler, which was back in my car at the airport. I needed to get my mind off the issue, so I tried to sleep. No luck. My only other option was to try to make the time go by as fast as possible. I took out my headphones, I took out my computer, and I started playing solitaire and Free Cell. It helped time move, but I still felt off while playing. I had a 1/2 of a lorazepam, so I popped that, and it didn't work either. The moment we got to "landing in 30 minutes" I felt fine. I'm not sure what it was, but right then and there, I could breathe normally. While driving home, I took a couple deep puffs of my inhaler just in case. The moment I got home, the inhaler got thrown into my briefcase, which never leaves my side.

The question I ask myself is "could I have made my situation any better even though I didn't have my inhaler? Should I have asked the flight attendant if she could ask around to see if another passenger had an inhaler? Should I have made a fuss?"

I'd like to think that even though my life sucked for the next 90 minutes, I tried to keep calm as best as I could while running through my options. I knew in the back of my mind that I wasn't dying. I also knew that it would pass and that if I could keep my mind off it, I would return to normal.

I think the point of this is to make sure you are prepared for whatever gets thrown your way. I've been flying almost every week for the past 4-5 months now, and I would think that a panic attack would never have happened to me. Apparently I was wrong. I know better now.

My suggestion is to keep a small pharmacy in your bag to get you through any rough patches you may encounter:

• Advil/Tylenol
• Aspirin (people with heart issues)
• Tums or some form of antacid
• Inhaler (even if you have a mild case of Asthma, like me)
• Dramamine (even the strongest stomachs get queasy)
• Chapstick

Notice how all these items are non-liquid. It means you get in and out of security without having to take them out of your bag, which is key.

Safe flying.

Streamline

I have been doing this enough to know how much time I need, how to get perks, and so on. Unfortunately, I have only been upgraded at the hotel once or twice, and that is probably due to it being empty. I will never be upgraded on American due to the amount of travelers with a higher status that I. The only silver lining is getting through security quickly.

I tried out the Admiral's Club lounge, and I must say that I am impressed. I wasn't ready for the breadth of customer that utilizes the lounge as well. People from all walks of life used it. I paid the $50 to get into it just so I could try it out. My flight ended up being delayed, so I got lucky in that the $50 was not a waste. I had 3 vodka tonics for free and they used Smirnoff. I'm not saying Smirnoff is bad, but I'm also saying it isn't a vodka I would normally go out and purchase for myself. However, if it is between a free Smirnoff and $10 for Absolut/Ketel One/Belvedere, I'll go with the free one. There were plenty of places to sit, lots of plugs to recharge laptop/cell phone batteries, nice bathrooms, and apparently showers somewhere.

Going to this lounge has brought me to a crossroads. I was thinking that I should spend the $450 to get into the lounge for a year. Or, I could spend $450 and get the AMEX Platinum card, which would allow me to get into multiple lounges. The only thing is I'm not sure if I will get reimbursed often enough, and therefore would be worried that a lot of money is coming out of my own pocket every month to pay back the Charge Card, since the balance is owed every month. Sure, it evens out in the end, but I'd prefer not to have to pay to work.

The reason I am actually deciding to pull the trigger now is that due to the winter season coming up, I have a feeling my flights have a greater chance of being delayed/cancelled, and I need a place to hang out that isn't the terminal. When I was in the lounge, I didn't feel like I was in an airport, and that is a relaxing feeling.

So here we are today. I have a conference call @ 1, and it would be nice to use the executive center at the lounge, except that I'll be sitting at some bar listening in. Sorry, I'll be a but more responsible than that. I'll wait until after the call to have my standard preflight cocktail. Can a beer be called a cocktail, or would I need to get liquor? I'll ponder that while I daydream about the lounge while listening to some toddler act up as their parents hope that someone else will police their kids.

Sigh

Badges?

11/08/2012

I haven't blogged in so long that there is just so much to tell. How was United? What happened with the interview for GOES? Patience grasshopper.

Speaking of grasshopper, did you know that there is a grasshopper on the weather vane at Faneuil Hall? During the Revolutionary War, if you were suspected of being a British spy, locals would ask you what was on top of the weather vane. If you got it wrong, you were labeled a British spy and arrested.

It' s a shame my timeline of events went United then interview as opposed to vice versa. I paid ungodly amounts to have a better seat on United since I don't have any status with them. It was a good opportunity for them to show me what they have in case American goes the way of the dodo. Lots of travelers are being skeptical of the airline, and United could be where they jump to. Unfortunately they did not impress.

To be fair, if I decided to fly them, I should be able to transfer my status on American to United. It would take a couple weeks/months, but it would work. Let's start with Logan and go from there.

I arrive in plenty of time, and Terminal C looks to be somewhat dead. This was just an assumption, and we all know what happens with assumptions. I must have stood in the security line for close to 45 minutes. It was a bottleneck. There were too many people and not enough security personnel. Technically I cannot blame this glitch on United, but since they are in this terminal, I chose to do so. When I finally got through, I was so out of sorts that I forgot my bag at security. I was halfway to the gate before I realized that I forgot my bag, so I ran back. Lucky for me, it was there. I didn't have any time to get breakfast. The location of the gate was in some ass end corner of the terminal, and there MORE bottlenecks. I understand that those with status get to board first, but it was ridiculous that I was group 5 and there wasn't any overhead space left. While the seats were very comfortable (I paid an extra $35 for them), it wasn't anything special.

Then there was the ride home. The security to get back was perfectly fine. Once again, I didn't have status, so I boarded later than I am used to. Once again I had to stuff my stuff in first class. At the very beginning of boarding, the guy asked if there were any Global people (along with servicemen/women in uniform, etc)....this is what got me. I had my interview the day after. Had I had the Global interview a week prior, I would be able to board first.

The worst part of flying United was being deposited in Terminal A instead of C. Yeah, Hi, I left from Terminal C so my car is in Terminal C. Do you think you can turn the plane around? No? Fine. I'm never flying you again. I think it had to do with Continental and how they are still working out the kinks, but it was pretty ridiculous.

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My interview with the U.S. Customs agent was great. The thing to really acknowledge is that the Global Entry program is run by U.S. Customs. If you have a beef with TSA, join the club. I haven't had that many bad experiences with them, although on one side, I feel for them with the monotonous job, and on the other side, I feel like they could do a much better job as well.  The thing about Global Entry is that it is technically for those traveling internationally more than anything. However, when you get your approval for Global Entry, you get a PASS ID#, which you then put in a specific place for the 4 major airlines (United, Delta, US Airways, American). This gives you the opportunity to do TSA Precheck. I could potentially get through security faster and easier than those in First Class now due to this program. I used it on Monday, and I didn't take off my shoes, watch, wedding band...it was fantastic. I took of my belt because it was bulky. The TSA agents are MUCH nicer in the precheck line as well. It took me all of 2 minutes to go through. This is what security should be.

If you have doubts about TSA Precheck, you should have faith in Global Entry. The program is run by a well known and respected agency of the government, and these guys know what they are doing. If you fly enough with a particular airline, you can get TSA Precheck without the Global Entry piece, but it is just for that airline. I can do TSA Precheck for any of the 4. It is a glorious thing.

Funny thing during my interview with Customs. They take your fingerprints, and they get rated on a scale from 1-20, with 1 being easily readable and 20 being sandpaper. After checking my FBI file (which is empty...I hope!), they take my fingerprints and the guy tells me never to commit a crime. I may be guilty of speeding my fair share of times, but I wouldn't commit a crime anyway. He says that I have all 1s and 2s, and would get identified really easily if I left my fingerprints anywhere. I found that entertaining. He was telling me how some people go in for their interviews and have outstanding warrants against them, so he ends up arresting them.

The Price of Beer

10/11/2012 (not edited for content/spelling/grammar...I'm too lazy)

I have yet to be delayed significantly on my American flights. I know I am crazy to even be speaking like this. Bostonians are a superstitious people. We are kind of like the English and the Olympics. The English, for some reason or another, have high hopes but fully expect them to be dashed in one fell swoop.

I had the best seat on the flight that was not first class on Monday (my humble opinion of course). I was able to secure the same seat on my flight back tonight. I won't have my carry-on today though. I would be making my life a lot easier, except that I am checking my bag. I put a six-pack in there, and I don't think TSA would let me take it with me through security. I've been putting a lot of beer in my suitcase. I'm going to try to procure 1 or 2 more bombers to go along with my sixer, and I will be a happy camper.

I may very well be repeating myself from past posts, but...what else am I going to write about? Beer is good, so we should discuss it ad nauseam. If a six pack costs $12 (which it did), and an airline charges $25 for carry on, you are paying $37 a sixer, or $6.15 a bottle (or something close to that). That doesn't make much sense. However, since I have the free bag, SCORE!

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I have my GOES interview next week. It feels like it took forever. I swear that if I didn't have status with American already, I'd be clawing my way into that interview.

While I was in the security line at Logan on Monday, a really nice TSA agent was looking at our ID/boarding tickets. It as 5:15am and the TSA agent was really an anomaly, although I haven't really had any issues with TSA agents. Anyway, he was telling select people to sign up for TSA Precheck. I don't have enough status with American for them to say "Potsie, we would like you to take a look at the program". Oh well. I'll get there.

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I am flying United next week. Hold on. I just vomited in my mouth.

American was ridiculously expensive next week. I don't really understand to be honest. All of a sudden, the prices shot up dramatically. The problem is, the plane is substantially bigger, and I needed to make sure I got a decent seat. I ended up paying $75 of my own money for a decent seat on each flight. That was a kick to the nuts.

Terminal C in Logan is a different beast than what I am used to, so I am curious to get back there and see what has changed. My flight is ridiculously early (like all my flights on Mondays), so I think i'll be waking up at 3:45. Hopefully I don't stand in security too long. Next week will be interesting, to say the least. No smuggling of beer for me.

*********************************

The Residence Inn  I am staying at upgraded me to a two bedroom unit, with full kitchen and two full baths. That is great, except that I'm just one person. I didn't need all that.

There is a guy that I talk to who lives in the state of where the hotel is, but his commute warrants him to stay the week. I'm thinking it is at least 2+hours if not more. Anyway, we have been discussing the breakfast that is served in the morning. The coffee stinks, so I either make my own or pick some up on the way. The sausage patties in the morning are almost inedible. He has been lobbying with the hotel for months to be able to get bacon as a "treat" once a week. He lobbied for it when he was staying at a different Residence Inn, and they served it on the weekend. What help does that do the business travelers like himself?

Other staff say "It is against Residence Inn policy", whether it be food safety or whatever. He found out through the corporate office that it is up to each individual franchise to set their own rules on what can and cannot be served. I will be expecting bacon very soon.

Unless it is too expensive. I mean, there is supposed to be a pork shortage, right?

BOLLOCKS!

Calling in Sick = Strike?

SEPTEMBER 20

Anyone else hear about American Airlines pilots calling in sick BY THE DROVES??? I'm flying American today...and the remainder of the project I'm on. I can't be delayed because the pilots and their company can't come to some agreement. I love hockey, but if the NHL is going to lock out the players, it isn't going to affect whether or not I come home on time. That being said, I think the NHL owners are a bunch of hypocrites, and need to be punished severely. I hope lots of fans don't come back after the lockout is over.

Where was I? American. Come on guys!!! I swear that if my flight is delayed or cancelled because a pilot calls in sick, I will be a heated brother.

**********************

I cooked a risotto on Tuesday night, and had the leftovers on Wednesday. Originally I thought my hotel had great cooking utensils. I'm a bit of a food snob, and I like my own stuff, so I have been thinking about going out and grabbing a new chef's knife, and perhaps a decent set of tongs. Most people would be happy getting a lean cuisine, but that just ain't me. I like to eat, and eat well.

I cooked chicken on Monday night, and it created a decent amount of smoke due to the poor pan I was using. I decided to go outside on Tuesday night to grill the chicken I was making to put into my risotto. This guy comes outside that I have seen a couple times. He is staying at the hotel until next week and then is leaving for good. He starts giving me tips on how to cook the chicken. As I said, i'm a snob and relatively good cook, so I know how to cook a piece of chicken. It was a huge piece of chicken breast that was going to get cut up anyway, so I suggested for faster, even cooking, I should cut it. He says "No, you don't want to do that." Not 3 minutes later, he says "You should probably cut it". Thanks Captain Obvious. I swear I had multiple instances of him contradicting himself this past week. He was trying to tell me that he covers a pork tenderloin in brown sugar, puts it on the grill on high heat and cooks it for 25 minutes. I would do that, if I wanted to serve a piece of blackened crud to my worst enemy, sure.

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Me, being the smart person that I am, decided to wear French cuffs today. I'll be cursing my own name at security.

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I spoke about 500 mile upgrades on my last post. The funny thing is, you need to be UBER elite to use them on my flights. I could have X amount of upgrades and try to use them and I still would never see first class because everyone else has higher status than me. I saw a list for upgrades that was 15 people deep. Executive Platinum people were from top to bottom. If you were Platinum, tough luck. Hell, unless you had a  bazillion miles to your name and have been flying for years, you weren't getting an upgrade.

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I was speaking with a woman from Tuscon at the airport last Thursday. She was flying to Europe and back FIRST CLASS the entire way. She is flying through Heathrow on the way home on BA, so I told her to visit the lovely lounges they have there. They are supposed to be some of the best airline lounges around. I think she will be in Munich for Octoberfest. I am pretty jealous. What I was not jealous of was her 8 hour layover at the airport we were at.

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I was watching a movie, and I heard that quote that was pretty interesting. "Kids sharpen their teeth on their parent's bones". My father has been having issues with my grandparent's computer down in Florida. They had to go buy a new one. Then, after installing it, the speakers wouldn't work. So I get the call. The problem is that my grandparents call my dad, and he can be very VERY short, even with them these days. He doesn't want to help them with their computer issues, even though the issue may be relatively simple. However, when he can't figure it out, he gets ahold of me, and I try to assist him, and the cycle continues. He doesn't want to help his parents, and I don't want to help mine.

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ON TO THE TRAVEL!!!!

The TSA-Precheck IS worthwhile. I was standing in my Priority Access line on Monday, and all of a sudden, I see a lone woman in some random line to my left. There are a bunch of TSA agents just standing around in the security area. Next thing I know, she has the whole security area to herself. The TSA agent says: "Have you done TSA precheck before?" at which point I got security envy REAL fast. I have an interview in a couple weeks to get the GOES thing. I was going to write it off since I already have Priority Access, but I think if I can get the GOES thing and have it translated over to TSA-Precheck, I'll be the happiest flyer. I wonder if it works for my family if they travel with me?

Powerrrrrrr-less

9/13/2012

I'm a huge fan of Top Gear UK. I have tried getting into the United States version, and like most shows, the British just do it better. Jeremy Clarkson, who is hilarious on multiple levels, loves to utilize as much power as a vehicle will give him. He gets to drive all sorts of toys, like Ferraris, Mercedes, Lambo-whatevers...but the funny thing is when he is driving a shitbox and is racing, the moment he passes one of the other co-hosts, he yells "POWERRRRRRRR!!!!!!". I swear he must have one of the best jobs in the world.

I, on the other hand, have no POWERRRRR!!!! I got my status, and while I can book all these great seats (if available), I can't seem to ever get myself into a better seat. It's better than what it used to be, but it really sucks right now. I got stuck in the middle seat on Monday. How the fuck did that happen?

Monday was ridiculous in its own right. I get to the airport, and it is bustling a bit, meaning I'll finally get to use my "Priority Access" to bypass the line of peasants. I get in line, and see that the cattle line isn't really that long. As I am standing in line, I see the line to my right which is First Class and airline personnel. That line and my line lead to the same TSA agent, and they get precedence. I'm waiting there and finally that line is empty so my line starts up again. And then a bunch of foreign nationals show up in the line, and I can guarantee that they are not flying first class...I know that might sound a little harsh, but the truth is they were in wheelchairs and that is why they got pushed to the front of the line. Ok, I understand. But I see a young kid, late teens/early twenties, get into the cattle line and zoom right through. I have a conversation with the guy in back of me "Why do I have this if I can't get through? This is a rip off....blah blah blah". Honestly though...People are paying for access that doesn't mean a damn thing. If Priority Access could be split up into "Security Access" and "Board Plane Early Access", I'd probably go for the latter.

I get into my destination, and I forgot to rent a car. I had to have my wife book me a rental, and I ended up getting a Mazda 5. I think to myself "Self, a Mazda 3 ain't so bad, and a Mazda 6 is pretty good. Maybe a 5 will be a great car!!!" I was mistaken. It is a rectangular minivan. I should have had spent McDonald's cups and dirty cleats in my trunk.

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I cooked for some coworkers last night. The grill at the hotel is beastly, but not in a great way. It is extremely hot, but while I was searing the steaks, you couldn't really judge how long they should be on there for because the extreme heat was sizzling the outside, and I am positive the inside was still relatively raw.

After dinner, a coworker and I go out to a local bar for a quick beer and conversation. As we come back, she suggests the side door because it is closer to her room. Thank heavens she chose that door, because not 2 seconds after entering the hotel, we see a guy exit his room in his boxers with a hooker in hand. It was fan-fucking-tastic! Sorry. It was inappropriate. No..It was pretty cool. The problem is, my coworker kept purposely blocking my vision so I couldn't see this young lady in her undies. She has SEX for a living!! Let me see this girl's rear end in all its glory. He already paid her for her services I'm sure. She won't care if I sneak a peak.

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My coworker mentioned that every time she gets on the shuttle to and from the airport/car rental building, she gets "evaluated" by the gentlemen on the bus. To be fair, she is an attractive woman, but I find that the nonchalant glances work a lot better than making a woman uncomfortable by staring...which is apparently what guys do to this girl.

Don't stare at girls on the bus. It makes them uneasy. Please, when stalking, do it from a distance. End of Public Service Announcement.

Cheers

********September 6th

This is my second week, albeit shortened, at the Residence Inn. The moment I walked in, they knew my name, but they had a hard time pronouncing it. My last name is quite a clusterfuck of letters, like Coach K from Duke/Men's Olympic Basketball Team although it isn't that bad, nor is it Polish. Anyway, I was really surprised that they knew. The entire time I was there, even when leaving right now, "Goodbye Mr. Potsie." It really is the little things.

I got in on Tuesday and a card was waiting for me. It was my birthday yesterday, and my wife sent me a card from my son of 7 months. It was one of the best welcomes I could have had. I brought it in yesterday and have it displayed at my desk. I guess I'm one of "those guys" now...one of  those situations where you'll never know until you are in that person's shoes. Now that I'm a dad, I find myself looking at online articles where you are supposed to do XYZ in order for your kids to be brought up right, and make sure they don't start drinking too early, and if they don't put their shoes on in the proper order, I'll have raised a serial killer. I suppose I just don't want to fuck up. Yeah...I'm swearing a lot in my blog today. My bad. Shall we talk about posies and tulips? They're fun!

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Why is it that birthdays get so mehhh when you get older? My coworker will be turning 33 soon and she is ready to party like it is her 24th. I haven't gotten excited about a birthday in forever. I thought 30 was going to be a big one, but my family was struggling a bit financially, so I put the kibosh on anything big. I did get my son during my 30th year, which is all I wanted, so I suppose it worked out in the end. Who needs a party where we stay up all hours when we can have a perfectly healthy baby boy screaming at all hours keeping us up instead?

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I completely forgot to check in! This is a first ladies and gentlemen. I will now be checking into my flight to see what seat assignment I can procure. Let's see how Potsie fares:

Oh well. I have a decent aisle seat in the front of the main cabin. I suppose I can't really complain.


ON TO THE TRAVEL!!!!!

Security is still empty. It better fill up soon so I can point my ever large nose up at people. Or is it down? I don't recall. Either way, you peasants should be thankful to be graced with my presence in the security line at all.

Check this article out about the TSA Pre-Check. I signed up for GOES and I'm supposed to have an interview next month, although since I have status with American, I don't necessarily need it for domestic travel. Even though this chap is on a special list with Delta, AND is square with the GOES program, he still got ushered into the regular line. That sucks pal.

http://overheadbin.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/30/13568373-tsas-precheck-program-reveals-promise-and-problems?lite

I find myself not getting frustrated with TSA, but with other travelers who look like deer in headlights. Security hasn't changed much in the past 10 years. It still sucks but we all have to deal with it. If you have a valid argument, fine...otherwise take off your damn shoes and keep the line moving.

It's interesting to see so many familiar faces week in and week out. I don't recall if I wrote about it, but 5 or 6 weeks back, some dude got picked to have his carry-on looked at by TSA before boarding. I ended up sitting next to him on my flight and chatted him up a bit. I see him on almost every single one of my flights on Mondays. Last Thursday, I sat in the same exact seat that I did 4 weeks back. The same guy that was on my flight 4 weeks ago one seat in front was once again, 1 seat ahead of me. I remember him because he got bumped into first and I stole his seat a month ago. I wasn't as lucky this time around.

The one thing I don't understand about getting bumped to first class on my flight is "why use the 500 mile upgrades?" If I buy a full fare economy, I get bumped into first class for free, if there is a spot. Otherwise, I need to use vouchers to get bumped in. So if the flight is 1200 miles, I need to use 3 500 mile vouchers. The thing is 1200 miles isn't a lot. My current flight is less than that...so why waste it? The flight is so short! I'd rather save my vouchers for a long haul. Sure, maybe i'll only have enough for 1 leg, but 1 leg in first class and 1 leg in economy for a long flight is better than first class on multiple <2.5 hour flights.

That's just my opinion, and I'm sticking to it. I just hope the dude in front is there today and decides to use vouchers again. His gain/loss is my gain.