LAX to IAD

I don’t travel much these days, but a flight from Los Angeles to Washington Dulles, including a celebrity sighting and the chance to share my thoughts about the 2011 edition of Footloose, is certainly worth a blog post.

With an almost 3-hour layover at LAX and not wanting to pay for airplane food, I searched for a snack for the return flight. I thought about getting a bag of Combos, and although I don’t usually look at calories that often, I couldn’t justify buying something that had 130 calories per serving with 7 SERVINGS per bag!

Instead I purchased three chocolate chip cookies from McDonalds even though I would have preferred a box of McDonaldLand cookies. Do they make McDonaldLand cookies anymore?



I also bought a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, but I didn’t end up opening them on the flight. The bag provides information about winning “ultimate access to Super Bowl XLVI” in Indianapolis. I really hope I win!

The flight back to DC was delayed since the plane arriving to LAX from Chicago was late. One of the first people off of the Chicago flight was Carson Daly with his wife or girlfriend and his young son. He wore a Raiders hat as a possible attempt to go incognito. It didn’t work since my celebrity radar recognized him almost immediately (as did everyone else in my group).



If you ever need to fly from LA to DC, I highly recommend taking a Monday afternoon flight. The flight was half-way full at best, so I had my own row. I placed my bag under the seat next to me so that I could stretch out my legs. I also put my seat back since there was no one sitting behind me.

Time to briefly address Footloose. It completely lived up to my expectations as a movie that I would never pay to see. Please note that my random thoughts about this movie may contain some spoiler alerts, but really, the original film was released in 1984, so there shouldn’t be any spoilers.

The main male character moves from Boston to Texas at the beginning of his senior year of high school, meaning that he’s probably 17 or 18. We learn that he was/is a gymnast who got to go to Russia for a competition and was regularly drug-tested to be eligible for his team. He also plays football, fights, plays music loudly, is an excellent car mechanic, races school buses, and of course, dances, including flawlessly performing country line dances. I call shenanigans since this person doesn’t exist.

In addition, this character makes a speech to the town council near the end of the movie in an attempt to end the dancing ban. While he quotes several bible verses, I think he would have been more effective by quoting C + C Music Factory and proclaiming Everybody Dance Now.

While the trip was great, it’s nice to be home. This was the longest I’ve been away from my child, and I really missed him.

Notes From Anaheim

Did I mention that I went to California last week? No? So I went to Anaheim last week and thought I would share some notes from the trip.

- Although I didn’t visit Disneyland, I did spend time at the Disneyland Drive shops and restaurants area. The television/big screen outside the ESPNZone there had terrible reception. Why have an outdoor screen if it is poor quality? You’d think Disney/ESPN would have the money to fix it.

- I’ve never had a problem adjusting from the Eastern time zone to the Pacific time zone...until this trip. I woke up at 5:20 AM on my first morning and couldn’t fall back asleep.

- Worst way to start a day: Get a hotel wakeup call; realize that the phone next to the bed is broken; walk to the other side of the dark room to stop ringing phone while attempting to dodge luggage on the floor.

- Best way to start the day: Maria Quiban of KTTV Fox 11 Los Angeles's morning show.



- Speaking of local morning newscasts, did you know that both the ABC and FOX stations in DC and LA use the same theme music? I thought local stations had their own music.

- To the guy behind me in the security line at Dulles Airport: Comparing the TSA security screening process with concentration camps is a quick way to end a conversation.

- Message to the Double Tree LAX Shuttle: If you say that you pick up every half hour, you should follow through. I waited well over an hour and made three phone calls to the hotel before a shuttle arrived. After seeing me waiting so long, two shuttle bus drivers from other companies actually stopped their vehicles to ask me if I needed help.

- Bravo to United for airing an episode of Arrested Development during the flight.

- I didn't feel any earthquakes while in California.

Have a good weekend! Let's Go Pens!

Steelers-Ravens Recap

First, I would like to thank the fine folks at Dulles Airport for ensuring that I missed the first quarter and half of the second quarter of Monday night’s Steelers-Ravens game. While my flight actually arrived on time, I waited at baggage claim at least 15 minutes before receiving my luggage and this is after taking the people-mover thing to the main terminal. Why does it always take so long to get your bags at Dulles airport? I know it’s a big airport, but only once can I remember luggage arriving within a few minutes. After finally getting my bag, there were 15+ people waiting for a taxi. I silently (and not so silently) said c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon…well, you get the point.

By the time I walked through the front door, the Steelers were already up 21-0. While I would love to talk about James Harrison’s incredible performance, I did not see the three forced fumbles and two of his 3.5 sacks. I also missed seeing Ben’s first three touchdown passes including Nate Washington’s first TD of the season. It may finally be time for Tivo. So this is what I did see live on television:

- Hines Ward blocking. It was great seeing him level Ed Reed. How do fans of other teams feel about Hines Ward? Is he seen as a dirty player? I can guarantee that every fan would love to have Hines on their team.

- Santonio Holmes burned the Ravens secondary on several occasions. It’s hard to believe that he’s only played in 24 NFL games.

- If you are a Ravens fan (or player), you had to be embarrassed by linebacker Terrell Suggs. Down 35-7 late in the first half, Suggs sacked Ben proceeded to celebrate. Losing by 28 points is no reason to celebrate!

- I know it has been written and discussed in many places, but I hated seeing Ben return to the game in the fourth quarter. There was no reason for him to re-enter the game after being injured earlier.

- Harrison’s performance reminded me of several dominant games by defensive players. I watched Osi Umenyiora record six sacks against the Eagles earlier this season and remember Derrick Thomas and Jason Taylor causing havoc with multi-sack games.


The comments on the Baltimore Sun message board are fun. Billick must go; McNair must go; “Stick a fork in them. THEY'RE DONE! I don't see them winning one more game this season.” Naturally, some Steeler fans living in Baltimore are happy and share their comments; Raven fans reply; hilarity ensues.

I’m getting really excited about attending the Steelers-Browns game on Sunday! I will not forget the tickets in Virginia!


P.S. The picture is by Peter Diana of the Post-Gazette.