Text 22783, 74 rader
Skriven 2015-01-10 16:16:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: old spring training 49
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So it's coming up on spring training this year, and I found
a previous year's report that I might as well send out.

UA1233 BOS EWR 1156 1338 73G 21A

No upgrade for me. I didn't get too exercised over this, and
the flight, scheduled for 1 h 42, took just the 42 part, so
we slid right into our gate way at the end of C, by all the
more interesting food outlets. As I had a craving for beef,
there was a choice between Smashburger, fairly cheap, and
Gallagher's, grossly overpriced; so I went to the former
and had a double CYO (create your own) burger. These were
a pair of 5ish oz patties very heavily seasoned with coarse
salt and coarse pepper on an egg bun; my condiment choices:
chipotle mayo was rather spicy and rather smoky, rather
good, but there wasn't enough of it; and grilled onions were
greasy (this means good in my book). The burgers had a trace
of pink at first bite but were fully well done by maybe a
minute later (the meat was piping hot). The food was okay,
but I seriously contemplated making a detour to Gallagher's
on the way to the club; I was deterred by the $3/oz tariff
for the strip steak, no sides, which came for $12 plus each.

Still 4 hours before the flight - my connection had gotten
in unconscionably early, but the next one would have been
risky given the weather and all -, so I amused myself
attempting to get drunk on Jim Beam, the free whiskey at
the club (I seem to recall it having been Wild Turkey in
the past, but that was then). I failed miserably. Maybe
should have gone to Gallagher's anyway. New for 2015 - both
Smashburger and Gallagher's are gone.

UA 504 EWR PHX 1730 1950 752 8A

This is the seat formerly known as 9A, of which I have
become fond, though as there's no floor stowage, it's
necessary to board early to secure enough bin space. After
I'd settled in, an attractivish brunette gave me a little
smile as she went past. Oho, thought I.

I settled in, glad of an empty next to me, and was just
getting ready for some shuteye when I got jostled - by, in
fact, the brunette, who had been victim of a duplicate seat
assignment. She was even more attractive up close and proved
to be a pleasant if intermittent conversation partner. She
was also otherwise spoken for, which was fine as 1. I was
old enough to be her father and 2. so am I. The flight went
pretty quickly, though.

Bill Swisher was at the curb waiting for me. He hadn't had
dinner either, so we went off to the Taqueria Mucho Gusto in
Tempe, where I've had a meal or two before and which is open
blessedly late. He had decent but not too generous machaca
tacos, the meat tasty and of the right texture. He asked for
the guacamole on the side, as he doesn't like it and I do.
It was oily and mediocre, sort of like a green mayonnaise.
I had tortilla soup, very un-Mexican tasting, followed by
the Oaxacan tamales with "spicy" red roast pork. These were
perfectly fine if a little bland, covered in a peanut and
chocolate mole with a bit of cinnamon that helped a bit. It
wasn't until I tasted this that I recall I'd ordered it
before and found it underseasoned and too lean in the gringo
style. Riddle me this: Dos Equis amber on draft, 16 oz, $4;
Coors Light in bottle, 12 oz, $5.

As he's now a member of La Quinta's rewards program, I let
him choose the one at the airport for our pied a terre. The
room was smallish but okay, fairly tidy; he was apparently
disappointed, as he'd been accustomed to better when he's
stayed at other properties.

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