Tonight finds me in Phoenix. I’m here through Thursday on a business trip. I love Phoenix, but I’ve been here before, so the novelty factor isn’t nearly what it was last week when She Who Endures My Myriad Eccentricities and I went to New York.
At least I’m in a decent hotel- the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort on Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. It’s a nice place, and I’ve always enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies. Still, it’s not home, and it IS a business trip, so the fun factor promises to be somewhat diminished. The Coyotes aren’t in town, so no hockey games for me this time around.
The best part about tonight is that I’m watching the New England-Minnesota game on Monday Night Football as I’m writing this. It’s not starting out well; Tom Brady just lead a 88-yard drive to put the Patriots up 7-0 four minutes into the first quarter and the Vikings punted. Still, I at least have something to focus on tonight to keep my mind off feeling lonely.
Today’s lesson, and this is something you’ll want to pay attention to, kids: NEVER, EVER eat Mexican food before getting on an airplane. I made the mistake of eating the chicken fajita tacos with rice and refried beans at Pappasito’s at Hobby Airport, and…well, d’ya know what happens to a balloon when you inflate it too much? Yep, that’s pretty much what happened, all right. All the way to Phoenix, as I sat in my seat in something approaching agony, I had one thought: If I blow up while I’m on board a Southwest Airlines flight, will I forever be known as a terrorist?
Man, next time around I’m bringing a bowl of Rice Krispies and some milk….
Not a successful one, apparently ... oh, and dude, if you're gonna fly, go with the frijoles borrachos. Trust me.
NO NO!!! NOT RICE KRISPIES!!! Do you want every US Marshall to hear you snap crackle and pop???
Seriously--go for bottled water and trail mix. With no peanuts.
Any WWII pilot could tell you about bean dinner before nighttime high-altitude bombing runs--"cook's revenge".
Well, the good thing about the Pats routing the Vikings is that I won our local football pool this week, finally. And there is nothing as sweet as winning money from your friends. Except, of course, winning money from someone you don't like much at all!
Having Mexican food before a trip has its up sides too. For example, if you time it right, it can help keep those "nosey" airport security people away from you.