Portland was great! (I went to visit my college roommate). Too brief, but that's what you get when you fly coast-to-coast in 3 days. Plus, now I know Kung Fu--I mean CPR.

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Yes, I almost blindly responded to a dating email--that was (unknowingly) sent to me by a co-worker. "Blindly" meaning almost sending a rote response without realizing that I knew him, oops!

I was in a groove, just replying, and what have you... It gets grinding when you get a landslide of responses, and feel some sort of unnaturally guilty obligation to reply.

I've found an interesting side effect of living in Manhattan, and sure it's cliche to say, but it's the fashion. Just the little things you notice on the street, the ankle boots, the textured leggings, the bags and brooches...

Obviously this city is more fashion conscious than Denver, but I never thought that simply walking to and from work would make me more so too.

I saw an old acquaintance from the music scene this weekend at the EAOD show (Goose) and he told me how great I looked. Maybe the city is rubbing off on me more than I know.

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Dude! I just got upgraded to First Class for the first time! LOL this is only the third time in my life that I've flown in the F cabin, so I'm very pleased.

In fact, I didn't think getting an upgrade was going to be possible on these commuter flights though, so I'm a little surprised. I only started earning status this summer, so i always just thought that I was low woman on the totem pole. But considering that I just made the second level of Elite status, AND I'm on the last flight of the day, I guess there was less competition than I thought!

I hope they are serving the warmed nuts.

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The curious thing about being inducted into the elite ranks of the frequent traveler, is the fact that you start to pay attention and actually care about a whole slew of different things. All of the sudden points accural and airline loyalty mean a bit more (just a bit, United isn't God or anything) and you become loathe to book a different carrier at almost any cost. You read the latest travel blogs to get the inside track on what the airlines are planning next. You find your way into the fancy airport lounges (legitimately or non) and luxuriate in the uppity solace there, far away from the unwashed masses. You amd your compatriots at arms (Deloitte, Accenture, SAIC) start the line at the gate to fully take advantage of your newly earned priority seating--those overhead bins don't stay empty for long, you know. And you viciously gaurd your mileage accrual, a sport which has become more fulfilling now that the stock game has lost it's lustre.

Traveling becomes a highly orchestrated piece where you are the conductor, and every flick of your wand yields a chance for better service, better seats, more legroom, less waiting, and that all elusive pitch perfect chord: The Upgrade.

I no longer book flights according to timetable. Pish posh! I now book by AIRPLANE CONFIGURATION. I have my preferred seat, and I book it every time. It is the one with extra legroom due to the bulkhead, yet still not considered an exit row, so I can call it from the get go. If the airline changes route schedules, I will follow my plane to a different regional airport if need be--what do I care which airport I'm leaving from, as long as the 4+ hours are spent in the sardine can of my choosing?

Truth be told, it only becomes more involved from there. Once you've peeled back the onion on the practicalities of flying, you become privvy to another sub-culture: The Economics of flying. The previously mentioned corporate men and women at arms become your foxhole mates. You start to recognize one another, not neccesarily by face, but by jaded look. Your fellows are the ones who are prepared to operate the emergency exits without a cheat sheet, the ones who put their phones into flight mode before the cabin door has been shut, and the ones who snap their seats to their fully upright positions before being prompted. These are the ones you share your best tips with, strike up conversations about their client projects, and gossip endlessly about the latest mergers or award program changes. It is rather like a secret society. Skull and Bones might be nothing compared to Flights and Crosschecks.

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