(L)OJ Runs thru the Airport

-or-
Did He Try to Take Shrimp on an Airplane, AGAIN?


This story starts last Friday in the Trinidad Airport. Well, actually the preceding Sunday afternoon. Pete and I decided to visit the Casino conveniently located next to our hotel. (Editor’s note: This is the first time Pete and I have worked together in several years. As one of our co-workers said, “Do your Probation Officers know about this?” How true, how true.) After they sent us home once to change clothes – no shorts and sandals for me, no sweatpants and crocs for he and no caps for either – we were able to enter. Classy place.

But, once we passed Go we proceeded to the one Blackjack table. You have to play with TT’s (Trinidad and Tobago Dollars), so I sat down with 400 TT’s (feel free to make your own joke) – or roughly $75. Hit a nice run of cards – rules were all the same – except dealer took her down card after all the players played, but who cares when she takes her card, the odds are all the same – and after I accumulated 800 TT’s walked away a winner.

Pedro also won some, so we decided Wednesday night we needed to make a return trip one last time since those TT’s were burning a hole in our collective pockets. The cards were even sweeter this time. I sat down with 400 TT’s and walked away with a 1,000 TT chip. Not a lot of money but winning always beats a kick in the pants.

But the point is: I’m really flush with local currency. And with not much time left to spend it. It was good for tipping our driver and hotel staff and buying lunch, but heading to the airport I still have plenty. (Editor’s Note 2: Yes, I could have gone to a bank and exchanged it to US$ but would have taken a small loss doing that. So, screw it.) My decision was to spend it. The Port of Spain (capitol city in Trinidad and Tobago where we were) Airport is actually very nice. And, has lots of shops. Perfect for spending money.

Bought a lot of small stuff – various hot sauces, chutney (go figure), chanas (a local nut product), trinkets (?), plus breakfast. Stuffed it all in my backpack – so that it’s now just as crammed full as my two previously checked bags. But the big purchase was 3 bottles of local rum. Their finest – a brand called 1919. Had sampled it prior and I knew it was a definite. Spent over 400 TT’s for it and it was duty free, so they packed gift boxes and double sacked it. Picked up my sack at the gate to the plane (bypassed local airport security) and life was looking good.

Okay, I know you’re wondering – is there a GD point to this story? I’m getting there, I’m getting there, but probably not anytime soon.

We fly to Houston where I will connect to Austin. I have an hour and 45 minutes between flights so I’m in no rush whatsoever. I’m looking forward to buying a U.S. newspaper – probably not the Houston Chronicle since that’s the worst rag this side of Philadelphia – maybe grabbing a Miller Lite (non-existent in T&T) and taking my normal leisurely stroll to gate.

Line-up at Immigration. I’ve declared my 3 bottles of rum since I’m carrying them in this separate wonderful double-sack. When officer sees them he says, “You must be thirsty.” I mumbled something about Thanksgiving and I’m off to the next stop. Have to pick up my checked luggage and go thru Customs. Guy’s about to waive me through when he says, “You are only allowed ONE liter of alcohol duty free, agitatedly slapped a booklet on immigration rules at me, but waived me through. Down the hall about 100 yards I re-checked my two bags to Austin. No problemo. Off I go with my sack of rum and my customary backpack stuffed to the brim and with computer inside.

This is when the s starts to hit the fan. I wait thru the regular US security. Try to remember to take my belt, shoes, computer off/out (don't have to overseas), but a little panicked, since I have tons of crap in my pockets and I have to completely empty my pockets because with the pacemaker I have to go through a separate pat-down which requires nothing in your pockets. Takes me forever, but I got everything emptied and out. All my crap goes thru the belt and the x-ray machine. They motion me over to the pat-down area. I go in and point to all my crap and they start bringing it over…except there’s 3 of them including one officer with my backpack. She says, “you got alcohol?” I go, yes, I have 3 bottles of rum. This big guy says, “you’re only allowed 3 ounce bottles of liquid in a baggie.” The woman goes, “plus you have alcohol in your backpack.” Knowing my possessions, I go, no I don’t. She pulls out my bottles of hot sauce…uh, that’s hot sauce not alcohol. Then she pulls out my plastic bottle of chanas (nuts)…uh, that’s not either. BUT, there was no denying the 3 bottles of rum. I was dead meat.

The big guy says, you can either leave behind the rum here or go up to Continental’s counter and check it. Says I can put it in my backpack. I go, “Uh, no, that’s where I keep my computer and it does not get checked.” I’ve seen the way baggage handlers do their job. So he says they’ll give you a box to put it in and check it. Well, these airlines don’t “give” you nothing these days. But, nevertheless, being the tightwad I am I ain’t donating my rum to these SOB’s – they were doing their job properly, but that doesn’t mean I wanted to fund their Thanksgiving Spirits.

So now I’ve got sweat dripping off of me. All my crap that I’m used to gathering and heading to the gate – now, I have to gather and head back to the Continental counter and start the process all over again! Oh by the way, I’m down to 20 minutes before my plane takes off. I get on the slowest elevator ever, go downstairs, find the Continental counter and get in line. In hindsight it was good there was a line because it gave me time to figure out what the hell I was going to do.

And I did figure it out. Took my computer out of the backpack and crammed 3 gift boxes of rum in there. Put the computer in the double sack. Checked my backpack. Lady at counter said to get gone. I was down to 15 minutes.

Took the slow elevator back upstairs, stood in line, patiently – and I had decided I was going to play it by the book – any time spent ‘begging’ for special privilege would cost me special minutes – and this time I proudly cleared security. Of course it was the big guy that did my pat-down and he took FOREVER. I think he was enjoying it if you know what I mean, and I think you probably do.

Now I had 10 minutes. Only one problem. I was at the farthest east side of Terminal C and needed to go to the farthest west side of Terminal E. Egads. I started out walking fast, but after the gates started going one by one and much slower than I wanted I needed to break into a trot – me and my rum sack with my computer in it- and I completely forgot what trotting meant.

But, huffing and puffing I finally make my gate one minute prior to take off. “Can I still board?” “Yes you can, Mr. Jefferson.”

Straightened my back, stood erectly and proudly boarded my plane.


Post-mortem: I thought if I made that flight I would order not one, but two Miller Lites. Unfortunately it was announced that the flight to Austin would take 27 minutes and there would be no in flight service. So, I just sat there and worried if my backpack would arrive: a) on time, since it was checked very late, and b) with rum in tact after being thrown around with the rest of the cargo.

Post-mortem 2: The backpack arrived on time and safely. Including my cellphone which I had kept in there because I would need to use to call Cindy to let her know when I arrived in the US. Since I wasn’t able to call her from Houston, she went on emergency alert, trying to find out if anyone could check on my flight status (she was driving from Dallas to Austin). When I finally was able to call her at the Austin Baggage Claim she was obviously happy but across town because she had assumed I wouldn’t be on time and so she had time to do other things.

Post-mortem 3: Monday after finally arriving home, I get a call from Citi Bank that someone in some town in India is trying to buy $6,300 worth of jewelry with my credit card number.

If it’s not one thing then it’s another.

Eating a Double in Trinidad

She may be acting single but I’m eating Doubles in Trinidad. Photo above is said Double.

On the plane over an American lady who is a school teacher here sat next to me. As I was leaving the plane I asked her to name one thing that I should do in Trinidad. She says, “Eat a Double.” After seeing my dumbfounded look (not hard, by the way), she explains it’s a sandwich that is sold by street vendors. I thought to myself, “Fat chance, I’ll stick to restaurants, thank you.” But, remember I was one of 4 people who used to buy jerk pork and jerk chicken on the roads of Jamaica.

So, the guy we’re auditing this week comes in one morning and asks if I want a Double, and of course I go oh sure! Come to find out one of the locals in the office goes somewhere in the neighborhood most every morning and gets a bag of them and brings them back. The only decision you have to make is how spicy do you want it? Mild, medium or hot. I like spicy but figured I better go mild, and gosh, I’m glad I did. It was plenty spicy enough.

But… it is very tasty. It’s hard to tell from the pictures - fried bread folded over like a tortilla with a chickpea filling and spicy sauce that includes curry - like a very mushy bean burrito with an Indian taste. The bread is excellent, light and doughy. Will definitely do again - though it may consume at least half the day's calories – but apparently I experienced no backlash, if you know what I mean.

Here’s a link that does a better job of explaining:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2007/10/serious-sandwich-the-trini-double.html

Trinidad is a very tropical place as you might imagine. Warm and subject to daily showers. The temperature is not that hot, but in mid-day the sun is very intense. Something about that equator thing.

The driving here is same as in U.K….wrong side of the road. Thus, we have drivers assigned to us. We have 3 Audit Teams of 2 each. The office I’m working at is not far from here and usually only takes about 10-15 minutes each way. However, since we require drivers we haven’t gotten out much so far.

Staying in a Marriott Courtyard and there is a big shopping mall next door that is anchored by a multi-screen Cinema. It is a very busy place and is a hangout for young people. Expecting an uptick in activity this weekend as guys in their souped up cars and stereos blaring drive around over there. First 3 nights we walked over there for dinner – there’s a Ruby Tuesday, Subway, Popeyes, Burger King – you know, the biggies. But, as you can see there are lots of stores and restaurants that are American chains we’re used to. Tonight we got one of our drivers and four of us went to dinner at a good restaurant – I had a shrimp and lobster bisque and a grilled swordfish and salad. It was all very good. The place reminded me of a Humphrey Bogart movie – wooden windows swung open, ceiling fans, brightly colored walls. In the middle of the restaurant was an enclosed Havana Cuban Cigar Room.

Actually all the food I’ve had has been good here – if not too much. All the portions are huge so I usually eat about half (or at least that’s my goal!). At lunch we go across the street to this big popular Sports Bar called Trotters. It has a massive menu so it’s easy to have something different each day – had mahi-mahi, crab cakes, chicken, etc. All good and, did I say, LARGE quantities?

And speaking of sports – my eyes just lit up – the two most popular sports here are soccer and cricket. Across the road from our hotel is a big complex of 3 stadiums. There have been cricket matches over there the last couple of nights. I’m tempted to try and go see one. On the soccer front, James informs that T&T is the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup, though I think they missed out in this year's qualifications. USA rocks.

But, the best news on the sports front is the hotel tv. We get two ESPN channels, one Fox Sports Net and Versus, which carries some games, the NBA Network, as well as the 3 networks from Miami. (Think Cowboys-Eagles on NBC last Sunday Night). So obviously I’m looking forward to the weekend and seeing what football games we’ll get. I know, I know…I’m 7 miles from Venezuela and I’m sitting on my butt watching football. Hey, I need the rest and break from the week long work rigors. I may get out this weekend, but am going to play it by ear. Working Saturday a.m. but then taking the rest of the weekend off.

And home, er Austin, next Friday. Hook’em!!

Should mention that people here are black and most speak English in a lovely, lilting tone. Though some can be just as hard to understand as a Scotsman. Their music is truly calypso. All the drivers always have music on the radio and I enjoy our driver's music. But the guy we rode with tonight plays it very loud and it is distracting. I asked him to turn it down, but heard later when Pete was riding with him, he reached over and turned off the radio. You gotta love it.

I like my driver. Her name is Allison John. I was originally sent an email with her name and I thought they had sent it with last name first. She drives a new shiny black Camaro and all is good.

Alright, that's it. Everyone have a good weekend!

30 years ago today...for real

this little nuclear family really took off. 3 days after Kristin Lea arrived on this earth she and her mother came home from the hospital. what? 3 days??? unheard of in today's healthcare/insurance economy. but...that's the way it was back then.

and on that peaceful sunday morning she arrived for the first time at Myerwood Lane proudly in the possession of her new young (?), mature (?) all grown-up (?) parents in their environmentally sound Volkswagon Rabbit. This actually begs for a picture and I will have to dig into archives to find.

But, the reason today is an "infamous" day in world history is that it was the day of the Iranian takeover of the US Embassy. The beginning of an historic event that took 444 days and the outster of the US President to resolve. It seemed back then that Kristin's impact on the world would certainly be overshadowed by this tragic political drama. An event that I'm sure impacted the first 444 days of KLJF's life on Myerwood. Certainly caused a delay in her walking. That didn't happen until she was 510 days old. Even then she was leaning Republican.

But, luckily the hostages were finally released including the Embassy US Marine Guard that was a younger churchmate of Kristin's dad at the famous Hickory Tree Baptist Church in Balch Springs, By God (sorry Rick for stealing your line), America.

A news story of the day: http://www.allvoices.com/s/event-4551861/aHR0cDovL3d3dy51cGkuY29tL1RvcF9OZXdzL1NwZWNpYWwvMjAwOS8xMS8wNC9BcmNoaXZlcy1BeWF0b2xsYWgtZGVub3VuY2VzLVVTLUVtYmFzc3ktaG9zdGFnZXMtdGFrZW4vVVBJLTI2NDExMjU3MzUxMDc0Lw==

At any rate, the country and this family have moved forward - though apparently not Iran. So, who do you think's done better - Kristin Lea or Iran? I know who I vote for!