Trick or Treat.....huh
It's just past midnight and Halloween is over. Today didn't feel like a fall day nor did it feel like a day to dress up. It was nearly 70 degrees and sunny.
I returned home Monday night 10 days early. First thing I did yesterday was finally get a new chair for my living room. I have been looking around for quite awhile for one. Well I went big and I mean BIG with this one. Spent about $200 more than I planned but I figured if I am going to be home might as well be comfortable. Especially after the flights the other day.
I came back from Houston where the guys played Buzzfest which is a radio station festival. The date was previously scheduled to happen during the Canadian tour. Since the rest of it was cancelled we came home. We fly to Houston from Toronto on Air Canada on Saturday but on Monday I flew home on United since I was in the states. I travel with one suitcase and a small backpack and computer bag. The suitcase is a nice 30" wheel type. Now bare in mind I am on the road for weeks at a time and have to carry enough clothes for various weather conditions, especially this time of year. Plus I'm a tall guy my clothes aren't small.
I try not to over pack but I am usually at the weight limit of 50 lbs. Sometimes I am a couple pounds over and it usually isn't a big deal.
Well, on this day it was a big deal to the bitch behind the counter. I try to be nice and this women just about set me off. She was rude, condescending and acted like I was trying to take money out her pocket. She didn't want to work with me on it. I was 4 lbs over and could not get anything else in my backpack. I asked her no wonder people were so down on her airline with an attitude like that. She made a remark that it was people like me that were costing them money. I nearly slapped her and told her well I would be getting my money back one way or another.
The other thing that made it a bad day is the airport itself. Houston's Bush international airport is a dump. This is a major hub and it is run down. It has terrible amenities and if you can believe it. At 10 am there is a Mc Donald's, a Pizzeria Uno and a chinese place. Nice choices for breakfast.
There is only one metal detector at each part of the terminals. That's right one detector and one line.
To top it off I was on a small jet, which is not bad, unless you are in the last row next to the bathroom, in a seat that doesn't recline. No the lady at the check in was not responsible, I tried to change my seat on line before I got to the airport but the flight was full.
I don't understand how airlines in the US can operate like this. Air Canada seems to have no problem operating with nice planes, friendly and helpful employees. Plus there jets all have televisions with various programs, movies, music etc and they don't charge you to use it. Jet Blue is the closest one there is in America.
It is not just Canada, Europe has better service with in the continent.
Ok, so I am going to sit back and write my complaint to United. Wish me luck.
Labels: Airlines, Airports, Finger Eleven
ZZZZZZ.....what.....zzzz.....where am I
Spent yesterday flying from LA to the east coast for a short break. All of this on 6 hours sleep over the last couple of days. I departed at 6 am west coast time. The first flight was fine since I was in first class, I sleep most of it. Now what was bad was the 4 hour lay over in Washington DC. I was so exhausted that I nearly passed out waiting to get some food. I finally got home around 7:30 last night. I had nothing to eat in the house so after a quick trip to the store and some food I finally got a good nights sleep.
The tour continues to be an adventure. San Bernardino was a mass of people. Rumor is it was over 40,000. The thing I know was it was chaos. During Cypress Hill the idiots on the lawn decided to set fires, which included burning plastic bottles. I don't think these people realize they are toxic. Well after I finished the Wu-Tang set I turned it over to the Rage Against The Machine LD and got the hell out of there. Headed backstage to find the catering was closing down. Great no dinner for me. So it was off to the bus to see what was there. Thank god for peanut butter.
Now I just wanted a shower and sleep. Which after waiting an hour and a half I got.
The next day we had a regular day with our production in San Diego. My day went well but the audio guys had all kinds of problems. We had a smooth load out and it took only an hour and half. After showers, at 2 am we headed to LA to catch flights. This is why I had so little sleep, two hours I think.
So here I am at home for a couple days off. Had a chance to catch up on mail and pay the bills. I went out looking at televisions too. I had planned to buy a new LCD flat screen HD later this year, but found a nice one for a good deal, so now it sits in my living room.
I also needed to get new piece of luggage since my current bag has a zipper going on it. I hit the outlet mall and the Samsonite store and picked up one of the $400 ones for half price. Hopefully this one will last longer than six years.
Anyway I head back out on Friday to LA to rejoin everyone. We will drive up to San Francisco for the last of the shows with Rage. There is talk the Sacramento show the next will be cancelled because of poor tickets sales. Oh well that means another day off, I get paid either way.
Labels: Airlines, Rock The Bells, Touring
On the road again
It's off on another tour tomorrow. Fortunately my flight isn't until the evening. Everyone is flying into Providence even though we are starting the tour in Mansfield, Mass. I have a short trip but I connect in Newark, New Jersey.
It could be interesting, especially with the luck I have had flying this year.
Labels: Airlines, Airports, Travel
Are you kidding me??!!
It's mid April and spring time at least that what the calendar says. Well it seems we are going to get a big snow storm here in the Northeast tomorrow and Monday.
This could not come at a worse time. I have a flight on Monday at noon to Los Angeles. We could see around a foot of snow. Hopefully the airport will be getting flights out, even if they are delayed.
Then there is the fact of driving to the airport. This in itself could be a challenge since I live 45 minutes from it.
I asked management if I could be booked on a flight tomorrow several weeks ago and they said no. Of course I asked this not because of the weather, but for the fact I wanted a bit of prep time with the lighting equipment that I will be carrying on the tour.
Now there is a potential I could miss the first show.
Labels: Airlines, Airports, Five For Fighting, Snow, Weather
3 Days on the road...Part 2
To continue yesterday's thoughts. I returned home early on Wednesday. The LA to Chicago flight I took was full, no surprise. The worst part of it was the 10 year old sitting behind me who decided to periodically kick the back of my seat. Now kids will be kids, but some parents really need to be slapped. When you sit there and let your child disrespect people and act like that I would hate to see how they treat you on a daily basis.
Don't get me wrong I don't hate kids, but I do hate when they think they can do whatever they want. Children are a product of their home environment.
So I made it to O'Hare without losing my temper. My connection home was delayed however. Imagine that, two Chicago connections delayed in the span of 72 hours.
Upon landing in Rochester I find the weather has changed drastically and it is 30 degrees and snowing. Oh well.
On a different note. Management mentioned that the first CD is now out of production. I am talking about
Message for Albert. So my suggestion is if you don't own it get it now. I know we are only going to have a limited number available for sale at the shows.
Labels: Airlines, Airports, Five For Fighting
Peanuts, Pretzels and weary travelers
The next few days will be filled with sleepless nights, tight spaces and smelly people.
I have to fly to Los Angeles tomorrow for a show with Five For Fighting. Yes I know we are still two weeks from the tour starting. On tuesday we will be playing a corporate event, which is actually near Costa Mesa.
These things are always interesting. Sometimes they are just a party thrown by the company. This one is a yearly event I guess, where they give out awards to their employees.
John and the band are the evenings entertainment.
Anyway I get to spend the next couple of days flying from Upstate NY to LA and then back on Wednesday. I will be trying to fly as light as possible, I'm not even going to bring a laptop. LAX is a pain, not so much flying into but flying out of, even before 9/11.
I have been on line moving my seat assignment on the flights. I wish you could select exit rows on line.
The best part of the trip is I get to spend a day and half in some nice weather. Oh yea...I get paid too.
Labels: Airlines, Airports, California, Five For Fighting
Coast to Coast
Looks like I will be heading to the west coast a bit sooner than I thought.
The tour is still scheduled to start April 17, of course I will head out before that. I just didn't think it would be this soon. Now I have to fly to LA on April 2nd and do a show with John and the band on April 3rd. This is not a show that is open to the public. It is a corporate show and for whom, I have no idea. It will take place south of LA in Orange County. I spoke to the venue's lighting tech today and I'm waiting on their house plot.
It is going to be a long couple of days. I will return the day after the show. Then turn around about 10 days later and fly back out there again. At least the snow will have stopped by then. We are actually getting another snow storm as I type this here in the Northeast.
The best part of all this flying across the country is the frequent flyer miles adding up nicely. I have almost enough for a trip to Europe. I really should use them to take a vacation to Hawaii.
Labels: Airlines, Five For Fighting, Touring, Tours, Travel
