The Travel Thread

[Back2Lawrence]

Capitalism will slowly (but hyper-accelerated today) eat economic engines, if let run amuck.

Tickets are this way. Problem is, to date, enough of us (you, me, whoever) still have enough disposable income to not be to arms about the lunacy that dictates that particular engine.

[KUTradition]

^^^^

no different than gas prices, really

“we’ve” decided the price is payable…kinda basic supply/demand

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

Happens all the time.

Yes, and I feel it's criminal.
Perhaps the DOT should step in and try and regulate prices?

Maybe Pete could/should say?

But instead we get a .....

One nice thing about flying is people often get what they think is a free snack. In reality, their airline ticket price is increased $24.75 to pay for it. Ok, that was an attempt at a sarcastic and snide joke.

I assume you realize that Pete's DOT is responsible for the US adopting some of the most significant consumer protections (vis a vis airlines) in recent memory, which are all going to be turned into dust in two months' time.

I don't realize much but I realize a couple of things.
Such as, it would cost me 37 hundred dollars to fly first class on Alaska Airlines (Actually American Airlines) from O'Hare to John Wayne at those times on those dates if I booked my flights on-line on the Alaska Air web site- and it would cost me half as much if I booked the same exact same flights on the American Airlines website. Like I said, I feel that's criminal.
Is that a result of Pete? Probably not.
My question is, could he institute a policy/regulation so that airline's wouldn't be allowed to gouge customers with an extremely scummy practice - that they are clearly allowed to do?
I don't know but it would be nice if he could.

Moving on and speaking of traveling and scummy practices.....
Booked a room a while ago. Prices went up since then. A couple of weeks ago I received an email from the same hotel chain offering me a lower price at a different not as nice hotel but for a substantially bigger room. WWJD?
I call the hotel chain and ask a few questions. They come back and offer me the bigger room at the not as nice hotel for an even lower price. I ask if they can/will lower the price on my room at the nicer hotel that I had the original reservation at. Nope. I then ask how much would it cost me to upgrade.
They come back and tell me it would cost me twice as much money to upgrade my room. I tell them I am looking on-line and see that I could upgrade for about 20% more and they are telling me it would be about 100% more. They tell me they don't see it on their end. I offer to send them a screen shot. They tell me to book it on-line. Which of course I would have - if I chose to upgrade.
About 15 minutes ago I received another email from the hotel chain. Black Friday sale. 30% off.
YEAH, sure. They jacked up the price of the room! 30% off is actually about 5% off what the rate was last week.
......... Little Pink Houses.

[Shirley]

5th tourist dies from methanol-tainted booze in Laos

hooray for sobriety

Try to keep up:

[Back2Lawrence]

Fee Mal Dee High!

[japhy]

We spent 8 days away from KC over the holiday. Six of the eight days were spent driving at least half a day. We were hauling kitchen cabinets from the Springs to the Empire.

On the way back to the Springs after having a Thanksgiving with the KC Mafia we were driving through Walsenburg and I says, "Someday we should stop at that weird art museum here in town. Annie agrees, "Wait, they are open let's stop now." , she says.

So we pull over and go inside the oddly/intriguingly named "Museum of Friends". We go inside these places with some trepidation. After years of going inside similar places we have preconceptions of what we will find, not good work. The place had some of what was expected, but a lot more of the unexpected.

So we spend about 30 minutes walking and looking. And when we come downstairs to leave one of the curator duo, Brendt Berger, asks us where we are from. We say KC and Brendt immediately yells, "Maria, come here, these folks are from KC". We meet Maria, first impression, she is Maude from "Harold and Maude". We discuss where we live, and where we work, and what we do, and why we are here. Maria tells us she lived on 1900 Block of Baltimore in KC. "Wait, you lived in Jim Leedy's building?" It turns out we know a number of the same people in the KC art community. We take some photos with Maria and send them to KC via text, the responses could best be described as, "holy shit, you found Maria where?".

When we mentioned the San Luis Valley she asked if we knew Gene Schilling, yes. Maria, "He has been telling me about this thing out there that we need to come see." Me, "The Church Project? he has been working with the locals on that." Maria, "no that's not it, it's not church." Now Maria wants to give us the behind the scenes tour and tell us about the vision for the future of the museum. What building renovations are coming next. We talk about our building renovations in the Empire and Marina lights up, "You are that thing! You are the thing Gene has been talking about!".

So Maria and Brendt are officially invited to the next Solstice in 2025. Hopefully they have a driver. The thought of either of them driving over La Veta Pass makes me nervous.

This seems to have been filmed not long after we left. There were cameras set up when we walked in.



This one seems to be from when they started the museum and were just wide eyed optimistic kids.



We will probably stoop by on a regular basis now.

[Shirley]

Wow, what a find, especially for you two. Discovering a place like that must help restore your faith in humanity, and the future. And that's not to mention, how often do you get a chance in life to be "it"?

"Maude" seems a perfect comparison.

[Overlander]

That is badass!
Great story, as always Japhy.

[japhy]

It's funny how you meet people. Everyone in KC seems to have fond memories of Maria. No one seems to have known where she disappeared to. Now after 20 years, we will reconnect them.

Maria did mention that they are looking for someone to become the next generation of steward/s for the Museum of Friends....hint, hint. They will turn the thing over including the building at no cost if you have the wherewithal and commitment to keep it going. Another opportunity for a younger person with a belief in social commitment and a pioneer spirit.

Our plate is full.

[Overlander]

It's funny how you meet people. Everyone in KC seems to have fond memories of Maria. No one seems to have known where she disappeared to. Now after 20 years, we will reconnect them.

Maria did mention that they are looking for someone to become the next generation of steward/s for the Museum of Friends....hint, hint. They will turn the thing over including the building at no cost if you have the wherewithal and commitment to keep it going. Another opportunity for a younger person with a belief in social commitment and a pioneer spirit.

Our plate is full.

Ousdahl wants to know. Is this a six figure position, per chance?
Also, will it require an interview?

[Shirley]

It's funny how you meet people. Everyone in KC seems to have fond memories of Maria. No one seems to have known where she disappeared to. Now after 20 years, we will reconnect them.

Maria did mention that they are looking for someone to become the next generation of steward/s for the Museum of Friends....hint, hint. They will turn the thing over including the building at no cost if you have the wherewithal and commitment to keep it going. Another opportunity for a younger person with a belief in social commitment and a pioneer spirit.

Our plate is full.

Ousdahl wants to know. Is this a six figure position, per chance?
Also, will it require an interview?

That's funny, I envisioned Ousy as more of the Silverton Grocery Store owner type.