Unlike Seattle, the Portland airport offers free wireless. At least here at the Alaska Airlines gate. Here I am, having spent $50 to upgrade to first class. I've never flown first class before, and since the ticket to Denver itself was used by redeeming some of Mrs The Fyd's frequent flier miles, I figured what the poop.

So I should be all over smiling and satisfied, but no. First: Mrs The Fyd was meant to join me on this trip to visit friends. Unfortunately, at the last minute we learned that our petsitter had broken her foot. Too late to board the dogs and cats, or to find a new petsitter. So as not to ruin the vacation entirely, I am going to Denver alone and Mrs The Fyd will keep the animals company. Which seems weird but there is some unstated logic to the arrangement.

Furthermore, I was flagged for special attention by the TSA. No problem, except stupid me forgot to take out my Leatherman tool from my bag. The TSA lady was apologetic and trying to be helpful, but I didn't feel like rushing around to check a bag or try to mail the tool. So it will be a stupid penalty tax that I'm paying in abandoning it to be part of a lot sold to some eBay high-volume dealer. Coincidentally, the friend I'm going to visit was the person who gave me the Leatherman, when I was a groomsman in his wedding. In Las Vegas. Not Denver.