As I sit in the Atlanta Bread Company's dining room, sipping on my Cappuccino @ 7am, I have thoughts about what I've accomplished this week. I know, it is about to get a little sappy, so I will have a fun tidbit at the end. Things that I have accomplished that I truly haven't done before include going out exploring by myself, and striking up conversations with almost anyone. Being a Bostonian, #1 seems normal but speaking to just about anyone is a serious deviation from the norm. I have realized that I am a bit homesick, especially on the first day while skyping with my wife and 6 month old son. But, I think it is always tough in the beginning, which means that I should be fine in the long run.
The tidbit is that around 930, I heard some serious adult like sounds coming from the room adjoining to mine. At first I thought it might have been a loud discussion or argument, but when I started paying attention, I came to understand the activity that was occurring. Apparently a Courtyard Marriott isn't enough to dissuade someone from entering the throes of passion.
On to the TRAVEL!
It was not one of the best starts out of the gate, by any means. The good news is that I was able to change my seat from the back of the plane (middle seat) to a back of the plane (window). That was definitely a positive. The Hertz Gold program is excellent. I took the shuttle to the rental area, saw my name on the board with the lot where my car was located, threw my luggage in and away I went. They also have the transponders attached to the windshield, which I wasn't expecting. Of course, me being an idiot, I paid the first toll out of pocket before I said screw it and slid out the transponder. It'll all get billed out anyway. Now, the bad stuff:
My flight left the airport a little after 6am Monday. I got there at 4:50. I checked in online so I was able to jump right into security. The line was really really long. I hope it isn't like that next Monday. I barely had enough time to get to the gate, which started boarding 5 minutes after showing up. I agree with showing up early so you don't have to worry about security, but Monday was a little on the ridiculous side.
My ticket said I was Group 2. That means families, the disabled, first class and preferred members go first. 30-50 people went onto the plane before my group got called. All of a sudden Group 2 became Group 7. I got lucky enough not to be randomly selected for a check, but the thing that hurt the most was about to transpire. As I am about to board, I hear "We need to measure that bag". Ok. Sure. No problem except that I forgot that my Bose headphones were in the front pocket, and my bag was not slim enough to fit into their contraption. They checked the fucker. I was HEATED. I didn't have to pay for it, which is nice...although it would have been covered under necessary expenses through my company.
If I have learned anything, it is to make sure your bag can fit in the damn contraption. I moved my clothes around, so hopefully I should be ok. And, I will remember to take my headphones out. The case they are in is solid, so that is why it couldn't be maneuvered.
I'm just about done sipping on my cappuccino. I must say, Atlanta Bread Company is better than Starbucks, HANDS DOWN. 4 hours of work and then I am off to the airport. I checked in yesterday, and while I had already spent $24 to get a better seat, I was able to procure and even better seat: 7C, which is the first row behind first class, and is an aisle seat. I'll be one of the first to get off. BOOYAH!
Tips for the day:
1) If you are going to carry-on, make sure your luggage is thin enough to fit into the agent's stupid metal box thing. If you are doing personal travel, and you know it won't fit but would like to try to bypass the dumb $25 checked bag fee, go ahead and bring it with you, knowing they will check it at the gate. You won't have to pay a thing. If you do want to carry-on, MAKE SURE IT'S THIN!
2) Check in as early as you can. If you aren't near a printer, have the airline email you the boarding pass and print it when you get to a printer. Or, do the phone boarding pass application. I still prefer a paper pass. Normally, I like checking in at the little kiosk, so checking in online (for airlines other than Southwest) is new to me. I can only do one new thing at a time. After I try this online check-in process a few more times, I'll start utilizing my phone for the boarding pass. Save the trees right?
3) If at all possible, get yourself into a hotel that has a lobby and does breakfast. I don't do inns, like a Days Inn. I prefer a place that has a lobby. That being said, my hotel had a bistro. Sure, it's good that I can go down and grab a beer, but I don't want to have to pay for breakfast. I prefer it to be included in the price. If it is included in the price, then your per diem (or however your company does food expenses) can be used for lunch and dinner and you don't have to worry so much on how much you are spending.
On next week's episode of "Quest"
Did the stupid gate agent check your hero's luggage on the flight back to Boston?
Does your hero show up early enough to actually grab a cup of coffee before leaving Boston on Monday?
AND
Our blogger stays at a hotel where he can cook for himself. Did he cook a perfect beef bourguignon, or did he burn the place down?
STAY TUNED!
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