Tag: holidays

Veteran’s Day and Amtrak Select

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I found out that I get Veteran’s Day off this year and seeing as how that gives me a long weekend, I was considering my options. I logged onto Amtrak to check some schedule information, and when I logged into my Guest Rewards account, I found out that I have qualified for their Guest Rewards “Select” status (essntially the equivalent of United’s Premier status) because I have travelled enough on the Acela this year (I’ve made 5 or 6 roundtrips from here to NYC).

It hasn’t helped me decide how I want to spend the long weekend (although I ruled out another trip to L.A.–the airfare was too expensive). Of course, I could just stay home, but I like taking advantage of these long weekends. I need to think about it some more.

My work day is over but I’m not supposed to meet AJ and Denisse for drinks until 7 PM, so I have a few hours to kill. I’m going to read Lunar Prospector for a while, I guess. I’m supposed to meet them (and some of their friends) at Buffalo Billiards which is on the south end of Dupont Circle. So it’ll take me a little while to get there on the train from here at the office. It’s a good thing I left my umbrela here because it’s raining out and I have a short walk from the metro to the bar.

Thanksgiving plans

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This morning, I booked my flight to Seattle, where I am spending Thanksgiving with Doug, Rachel, Ruby, Carson, as well as Mom, Dad, jen_ashlock and Jason.

In order to get the best fair on United, I’m taking a 6 AM flight from BWI to Seattle on Thanksgiving morning. I’m scheduled to arrive in Seattle at about 10:30 AM. I head home Saturday evening at about 5 PM. On the way home, I’m flying through San Francisco so I won’t actually get home until early Sunday morning. But at least that gives me most of the day Thursday, all day Friday, and most of the day Saturday in Seattle.

Graduation 1994

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My graduation from UCR was 12 years ago today, June 18, 1994. Normally, I would have remembered something like this, but it took external events to remind me. I was listening to my autobiography playlist, specifically, to the college era section, and I heard a handful of songs that remind me of the period right around graduation. And as if through osmosis, it occurred to me that today was the anniversary of my graduation.

The details of my graduation have been blurred by the years, but there are a few things I remember. First and foremost was the heat. It was a particularly hot day in Riverside, California, and, of course, the graudation was held outside. Second, was the length. The graduation went on forever. It drove me nuts! Once I had gone up and received my fake diploma, I didn’t even go back to my seat. I left the graudation entirely and headed back to my air conditioned apartment and waited for my family to show up an hour or so later. Finally, I recall the one big disappointment of my graduation: the fact that my grandparents could not make it for some reason. It was probably the only time in my life that my grandpa ever disappointed me.

I can’t believe it was twelve years ago.

Today is always Father’s Day, and I spoke to both Dad and Doug today, wishing them Happy Father’s Days.