Text 39856, 93 rader
Skriven 2010-07-08 12:14:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: KC BBQ trip 382
=======================
It was a brief visit to my erstwhile stomping grounds - the
justification being a scholarship competition and some extra
United miles. In order to adjust schedules, I had a night
at the Marriott Quincy, which was fairly nice - a hard
uphill slog from the MBTA (later I discovered that there's a
free shuttle, about which the Website is silent); next night
staying over with a friend who teaches at the conservatory.
She'd arranged quartets, of which it was a pleasure to hack
through 76/6 and the second Brahms after having had limited
music, aside from the song that comes naturally in my heart,
for quite a while. Then downtown to judge our High School
Achievement Awards final, whose winners were Jee Jae Ahn,
piano, Lisa Barone, mezzo, and Chi Wei Lo, piano. Look for
the first of these to make a splash (possibly the two others
as well).

And so straight to the airport, which I reached quite late
owing to a fire at Downtown Crossing that shut the subway
lines (Boston has had some bad utility luck lately). Instead
of the rocking chairs in the quiet area between B and C, I
tried sitting upright and pretending I was on a plane. 
Slept quite well in this configuration. But no way was I
going to miss out on the first flight out of town, free
wi-fi or no. So I passed up some nice seats on the 0855
for coach on the first flight.

UA7691 BOS ORD 0600 0742 E70 1A
was UA 881 BOS ORD 0855 1047 752
and 7501 ORD MCI 1215 1343 E70

I inquired casually about getting upgraded on this one but
had no high hopes, as the flight had been showing full in
first for a couple days (I'd planned on this course of action,
switching flights, for a long time, taking advantage of
United's relatively liberal standby policy). But the friendly
agent gave me 1A in a jiffy. Onboard a friendly male FA of
about my age who was attentive and nice even to the coach pax. 

UA 705 ORD MCI 0840 1008 320 6B

Though this flight showed one seat available in first, I didn't
bother pursuing that, instead leaving the space for another
worthy, as I was going to sleep, anyway.

1C stayed empty until just before doors closed, and I almost
sort of regretted not checking at the gate, as the persons
in 6A and C were bigger than me. 1C was eventually filled by
a cute young thing, so fine. Anyhow, I slept well in the
slightly narrowed middle seat, and next thing I knew we'd
detoured around a bunch of storms and endured some sizable
bumps to land a bit early. Took a while for the Hilton bus
to show up, but when it did, it drove me to a surprisingly
pleasantly appointed hotel, with a perfectly acceptable room
and a lively and reasonably-priced bar. I had a nap and then
took the shuttle back to the airport to meet my traveling
partners of last month. I was in time to meet Lilli at her
flight, which came in early enough so she could go to the
rental car place and then back to the Hilton yet again in
our nice though somewhat scratched and dinged Sebring for a
daycap at the bar before fetching Gregory ... which we didn't
do, instead opting to make him take the shuttle to the bar,
where we stayed deep in thought, aka indulgence in ardent
spirits. Then to the Hampton, where they deposited their
luggage, and finally we ended up at hilarious hour at
Fiorella's Jack Stack, where I reconnected with some friends
of long ago, met new ones, and received many congratulations
for having survived to eat again. And eat I did. Lilli and I
split a pound each of brisket burnt ends and pork shoulder
burnt ends, which gave us plenty of sustenance with enough
to give samples to Gregory on one side and Lilli's friend
Jamie (similar situation - loves to travel, husband hates it)
on the other. Lilli also shared Gregory's cole slaw; I partook
of none of the frills. One thing to say about these burnt
ends. They're not really that burnt or that endish, being more
like stray pieces of regular brisket or pork shoulder. Not
that that's bad - the beef ends were quite tasty, especially
with the celery-seed-heavy sauces that came on the side; the
pork ends were better, worth the trip, no sauce required.
Neither was as fatty as I'd hoped. But then I'm a heart
patient, too, so I perhaps should be thankful.

Hitched a ride with some friends who were heading back to
the airport to fetch the fiancee of one of them from her late
flight in. We stopped by for drinks at the friendly bar, where
having noticed me frown at the dregs of the Courvoisier bottle
being poured into my snifter, the bartender opened a fresh one
and gave me what turned out to be a true Kansas, er, Missouri-size
pour. I turned in fairly early, because I was supposed to be at
the museum at opening time next day. Slept fitfully.

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