Text 27239, 119 rader
Skriven 2009-08-08 22:37:06 av Michael Loo (1:18/200.0)
Ärende: short trip 004
======================
US2123 BOS LGA 1000 1117 319 1C
was 2125       1100 1209 319 2A

I got to the airport unconscionably early, as I'd wanted
to leave before Nancy woke up, lest she feel like coming
out to pick a fight. Got on the earlier flight, on which
customer service rep Sonia was pleased to get me the last
first-class seat. There's free wi-fi in the US Club in New
York but not in Boston. So I had an extra hour to do my
e-mail, the FIDO, and so on, instead of twiddling my thumbs
and watching CNN. At La Guardia, the only snacks available
were the Cranberry Nut Mix (craisins, almonds, cashews, and
sesame "stix") - not even the usual potato chips (sometimes
Cape Cod 40% reduced fat, sometimes Kettle Classics, sometimes
some weird off brand, which are usually the best; oh, yes,
sometimes Baked Lay's, which are the worst - how can anyone
eat these? They make Tato Skins seem gourmet and Pringles
heaven by comparison).

US4149 LGA BWI 1300 1429 DH8 4A

The concierge encouraged me to get to the gate at 12:40.
The plane didn't actually board until just before 1. It
was a totally uneventful flight.

I grabbed the MARC train to Washington and then the subway
to the bus to the house. As I was walking from the bus stop,
Harry from next door pulled up, and he informed me that
between the time my bus had crossed Wilson Lane and the time
he had (this had to be less than two minutes), there had been
a close encounter of the worst kind between a pedestrian and
a motor vehicle at that intersection (1/3 mile away), and he
had just beaten the closure of the road.

I did some paperwork, joined Harry for a cup of tea, and then
went off to take the bus back to dinner.

==

Dinner with my brother.

Parameters. He's unwilling to go by car (I flatter myself
to think I taught him well: and he will spend 3 hours on
public transportation to go someplace that would take 15
mins by car; on the other hand, he was quite willing to
spend hundreds on gas when my father was paying for it).
The last bus that goes by the house leaves around 10:50.
He doesn't like Chinese food but somehow likes south Asian
food. OpenTable let me book a table for two at Indique
Heights, which is directly above the transit terminal, for
9:00, a bonus time that gives me 1000 points (equivalent
to about a 10% discount). Plus Dividend Miles Dining (or
AAdvantage Dining or various others) gives me 5 miles per
dollar (another 10% discount). Plus paying with my handy
Visa gives me 2 more percent. What could be bad?

There was a party in full force when I arrived - it was
the launch of a new magazine called Washington Masala,
audience: local wealthy south Asians. I was a bit flummoxed
by this, but the pleasant hostess assured me that the
kitchen was cooking real food, and there would be a table
not too close to the band and the Bollywood-style dancing.

A lot of beautiful young jetsetters of all sexes; I was
called over by a gaggle of young ladies, but only because I
look like the sort of guy who can be trusted with a digital
camera. I took a bunch of pictures and went my merry way.

Jonathan was late, as usual, but bothered to call, which was
kind. So I moseyed to the bar and had a couple brews ($7,
despite a placard that said $3 - the fine print indicated
that was the happy hour price). Presently the hostess
appeared with my brother in tow, and we were shown to a
table out on the patio, where were assembled the more
hungry of the partygoers (only finger food was offered
at the party) and the few who had stumbled in unknowing.

Jonathan announced that he was very hungry and proceeded to
order three things: a samosa appetizer, a lamb chop appetizer,
and fish in a tomato curry. I think he orders fish for health
reasons. I got the king prawn appetizer and lamb vindaloo.

The appetizers, about $9 each, are nicely plated and garnished
but not a great amount of food. The samosa was one (1) normal
pastry, cut up and layered to look like more food - in the low
light I had no idea what it was until Jonathan gave me a bite.
It was standard, but given that at a normal Indian restaurant
you'd get two (2) for half the price, not a very good deal.
Similarly, the lamb chop was single, not very big, and quite
charred; the bite that I was vouchsafed was okay. My prawn was
a huge thing, probably 2 oz, butterflied to look bigger, well
lemoned and seasoned, quite good, if also a bit charred.

When the mains came out, mine smelled better, and Jonathan
suggested we do it "Chinese style." I demurred, as I strongly
prefer vindaloo to whatever the heck his was and lamb to
mystery fish. We traded bites, though: mine was good (and
properly hot! without my asking for it); his was okay if that,
the fish slightly fishy, the sauce neither interesting nor
"delicious." I ended up giving him a third of my food but not
taking any more fish.

A garlic naan, at only a couple bucks, was the only bargain
we could find. It was a single piece, not very big, but that
was fine, as there was plenty of food. It was pretty good.

When the bill came, Jonathan paid it. Apparently I had once
given him a lecture about reciprocity, and he had decided to
reciprocate. At a good and fancy restaurant, no less. Maybe
there is hope.

I checked the accident reports, and it turned out that the
pedestrian, a male in his 50s, had in fact been killed. There
but for the grace of God and my enfeebling eyesight go I.

___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30

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