Why I Love Air Travel
June 11, 2010Tweet
This weekend, I’m speaking at WordCamp Reno, taking place in Reno, Nevada. (I suggested they hold it in Oregon, but for some reason, that option was off the table.)
However, due to the fact that I do not live in Reno, Nevada, I had to take the incredibly efficient and practical transportation network that is air travel in order to attend. Please note the extreme amount of sarcasm in that last sentence.
You see, my route consists of a lengthy flight to Los Angeles and a less lengthy flight from there to my final destination, the lovely city of Reno. Now, you may be wondering, “Dave, why are you going all the way to California, passing directly over Nevada, then turning right back around to get to Reno?”
I would respond to such a query, but I cannot, due to the fact that I can think of absolutely no logical reason to be taking such a route.
In fact, I have decided that my itinerary is the most circuitous route of all time. Should you have any objections, or know of a more circuitous route, please contact The Center for More Circuitous Routes Than Denver-To-LA-To-Reno, or TCFMCRTDTLATR. They will handle all such assertions. But, for now, my proclamation stands.
Now, upon arriving for my scheduled two-hour layover in LA, I was informed (with little condolence) by the monitors outside the gate that my flight to Reno had been delayed by a full hour. One hour. Sixty minutes. 3600 seconds. Ample time to do all sorts of things, including:
- Take a scenic walk
- Take a scenic run, covering more distance than one would taking a scenic walk
- Bake a batch of succulent cookies
- Watch an episode of an hour-long TV show
- Watch two episodes of a half-hour-long TV show
- Knit as much of a sweater (or other garment) that is knittable in an hour (amount of garment knitted may vary depending on knitting ability)
Unfortunately, I cannot do any of these things.
Because I am stuck in an airport, with nothing but Starbucks, uncomfortable chairs, and wifi slower than an ox-drawn wagon.
Therefore, I am left with writing this blog post.
Now, you may say, “Dave, a busy person such as yourself must have more to do than wasting your time writing such a pointless blog post.”
Yes, I must, mustn’t I? But, think of it this way…
If I didn’t waste my time writing this blog post, you couldn’t have wasted the last few minutes of your life reading it.
That was almost philosophical. Almost.
Good thing I have an hour to keep trying. Thanks, Southwest Airlines.
Hmm, let’s see, I’ve flow from Tulsa to Houston to Atlanta to Seattle. Coming back it was Seattle to Chicago to Houston to Dallas to Tulsa. Years ago, I think I did one flight from Seattle to Atlanta to Cabo San Lucas, which is just below California. And did Seattle to Atlanta to New Orleans more times than I want to share. Love those.
The scenic walk? Laps around the gate area or taking the train/trams around the airport several times and from both directions for the scenic tour of all the terminals and gate buildings. You can run it, too.
Get into a discussion with a storekeep or cook in a fast food place or the airport restaurants and you could develop a delightful experience of exploring their kitchens and learning a few things about how they create fast food for a fast moving place. I’ve had many a great chat over the years with cooks and staff of restaurants during long layovers during off-eating hours. It ain’t baking cookies, but it could be.
In the “old” days before wifi, portable DVD players and laptops and mobile phones providing entertainment, we used to rent “television” by the minute (in cheap places – hour in better quality places) and sit uncomfortably in plastic chairs staring at scratchy screens of Lucy, Bonanza, and All In The Family. Got enough quarters, you might get to watch the whole thing before your flight is called. If you were really lucky, someone would have their flight called with still time in the television chair and you’d get some free entertainment in the remaining few minutes.
As for knitting, traveling is when I get my best knitting done. The more I travel, the more projects get finished. The less I travel, the less get done and the more UFO (UnFinished Objects) I have hanging around. We so need to teach you to knit, Dave. I think you’d have a great time with it and the creative goodies you would turn out would add to the wealth of creative other goodies you…create.
Now, among the other things you can do when stuck in an airport is actually TALK to people. I know it’s hard in our virtual world, but there are some cool people out there with a story to be told in that same waiting hour(s). Who knows whom you will meet and what lessons you might learn. You might thank that airline for the gift of a new friend. :D
Welcome to Reno and have a great time. Say hi to everyone for me. And let’s hope the flight back offers more of these exciting opportunities to experience life on the road.
Hmm, let’s see, I’ve flow from Tulsa to Houston to Atlanta to Seattle. Coming back it was Seattle to Chicago to Houston to Dallas to Tulsa. Years ago, I think I did one flight from Seattle to Atlanta to Cabo San Lucas, which is just below California. And did Seattle to Atlanta to New Orleans more times than I want to share. Love those.
The scenic walk? Laps around the gate area or taking the train/trams around the airport several times and from both directions for the scenic tour of all the terminals and gate buildings. You can run it, too.
Get into a discussion with a storekeep or cook in a fast food place or the airport restaurants and you could develop a delightful experience of exploring their kitchens and learning a few things about how they create fast food for a fast moving place. I’ve had many a great chat over the years with cooks and staff of restaurants during long layovers during off-eating hours. It ain’t baking cookies, but it could be.
In the “old” days before wifi, portable DVD players and laptops and mobile phones providing entertainment, we used to rent “television” by the minute (in cheap places – hour in better quality places) and sit uncomfortably in plastic chairs staring at scratchy screens of Lucy, Bonanza, and All In The Family. Got enough quarters, you might get to watch the whole thing before your flight is called. If you were really lucky, someone would have their flight called with still time in the television chair and you’d get some free entertainment in the remaining few minutes.
As for knitting, traveling is when I get my best knitting done. The more I travel, the more projects get finished. The less I travel, the less get done and the more UFO (UnFinished Objects) I have hanging around. We so need to teach you to knit, Dave. I think you’d have a great time with it and the creative goodies you would turn out would add to the wealth of creative other goodies you…create.
Now, among the other things you can do when stuck in an airport is actually TALK to people. I know it’s hard in our virtual world, but there are some cool people out there with a story to be told in that same waiting hour(s). Who knows whom you will meet and what lessons you might learn. You might thank that airline for the gift of a new friend. :D
Welcome to Reno and have a great time. Say hi to everyone for me. And let’s hope the flight back offers more of these exciting opportunities to experience life on the road.
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Please note the extreme amount of sarcasm in that last sentence.