Ice storm

I'm getting too old for this shit

My flight out of Denver (to Chicago, thence to Flint) was supposed to depart at 8:15 AM. I got conflicting reports about how long it would take to get to the airport. One person said 45 minutes in an Uber, an hour and a half on the train (which is about 15 minutes walk away from the hotel), while another had those numbers reversed if I was traveling any time after 6, because apparently that's peak traffic time on the Denver freeways. I decided to take the train, and, because I seem to have a morbid fear of missing flights, I figured I'd get up at 5 AM (which, after all, is 7 AM Flint time) and take the train. So I set up a wake-up call and (after having an Indian meal with Thomas that required a drive 2 miles through Denver to a strip mall to find that the restaurant had rather misrepresented itself online) closed my eyes at about midnight Flint time. Of course I kept waking up, and so I didn't really need the wakeup call, but I did get a text from American Airlines about my flight being on time, so I set off walking (in 1 degree temperature) for Union Station (see blurry picture above). Well, I was about 2/3 of the way there when I got a text saying that the flight would now be taking off at noon. Phooey, I thought, I could've slept in. But it was too late now - I'd checked out, so I continued. Then, as I was waiting on the frigid platform, along with a homeless guy who was pacing and yelling, I got a text saying it was now 2. Sigh. But nothing for it but to keep going. And when I arrived at the airport around 6, I was relieved that I wasn't in a hurry, because I have never seen a line for the security checks that was longer in any airport ever. If my flight was taking off on time I would've been panicking, even though the line moved amazingly quickly. (Entertainment was provided by a large gaggle of Italians who kept blocking the line behind me getting so caught up in their gesticulating arguments that they forgot to trudge forward.) And here it is, HOURS later. I have been gouged beyond all reason by the ridiculous prices for everything (except the free wifi, thankfully), but have found that there is a blissful refuge on an upper concourse that is practically deserted and seems only known to hardy Denver airport regulars. American airlines did eventually send me a text offering me a new flight from Chicago to Flint, as mine would be long gone by the time I arrived, so that was nice. So now instead of arriving in Flint around 3:30, I will be there around 9:30 (fingers crossed). Time to toddle on down to the gate to discover if they've delayed it AGAIN. I must say, I see families traveling with kids and I marvel. Did we ever do that? Ah to be young and foolhardy.

Off to Denver

Got up at 4 AM Flint time, to get to the airport a good 2 hours ahead of flight departure at 6:30. I seemed to be the only one who took the supposedly mandatory 2 hour cushion seriously. Here's Flint from above as we departed (having been "de-iced" because today was a big winter storm day

...and here we are flying down into Chicago, where it was rainy. (Didn't stop us having to be de-iced before take-off here as well.)

Denver airport is fancy! But very confusing.

Descending to the train that takes one to central Denver.

And then walking from Union Station to the Hotel. I was very glad of my thermal undershirt and my parka.

View from (and of) room 1728 of the Hilton.

Found a nearby cheap'n'cheerful Thai restaurant (in the basement of an otherwise-deserted mall) for dinner. Luckily it was only a couple of blocks away, because it was 3 degrees F walking through Downtown Denver. I ate in my Parka and had hot tea with the meal so I could warm my hands round the cup.

Denver has trams!

After a day of rain cleared away most of the snow

A visit from Dick van Dyke

Apparently getting an MRI is an annual thing now

So, last year I had an MRI and documented it (see here). I got a phone call the other day saying it was time to have another. I'm not really sure why, given that nobody ever saw the DVD they burned of the last one (I was supposed to have an appointment with Dr. Jawad Shah, who we actually know, but who is insanely busy, and after they pushed it back at least once (from 6 months after the MRI to about 8 months), I couldn't find the disk when it came time for the appointment, so just canceled it. Since that time I have FOUND the disk, and now I can put a new one on top of the pile. ANYWAY, it's a painless enough procedure (albeit loud, and a bit chilly, as it's in a shipping container out the back of the building, and it's February) and I get to visit my favorite grocery store - AND I found a new, super-swanky Whole Foods nearby. Bonus: they scheduled it for early on Sunday (hence the sky in the first picture) so the traffic in Detroit was not a nightmare. This was news to the lady working there on Friday - they sent me a text suggesting it was for Saturday, and I called up to confirm it was Sunday, and she said "oh no, we never have appointments on Sunday." Then she double checked and was all apologies.

This dry cleaners is the only business between M1 Imaging and Westborn Market and is such a delightful throwback to a lost time that I had to document it. In general, the part of Detroit that this is in (called Berkley) is very quaint, untouched by industrial decay or much gentrification, but sadly beyond our means.

Bitter cold at Holly Rec