Comfortably Dumb : Touring

Linkin Park, Chris Cornell, and 10 Years!

Chris — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:56:33 GMT

I spent the day Sunday in Atlanta watching 10 Years for the second time, and what amounts to seeing Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Linkin Park for the first time. This was the best show I've ever been to... period. As you can see from the pics, Lori and I were in the very front of the main stage pit. Cornell crowd surfing and fighting with security to stay in the pit was unexpected and completely awesome. Linkin Park just crushed it, and the crowd was the most electric I've ever seen.

San Diego

Chris — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:25:27 GMT

I’ve been in SD for the past three weeks. I live in Florida, so I am not that excited about the beaches, but I am impressed with the Mexican food. For some reason good Mexican food is nonexistent in Florida, seriously. The place to hit in SD is the Old Town Mexican Cafe in Old Town. Sure many places have good beans, or good tortillas, or a good margarita but this place manages to put everything together. Good mix of Cheddar Jack cheese, onions in the cheese enchiladas covered with chili sauce, homemade taco shell that is ridiculously tasty, and a 1800/Grand Marnier margarita that is extremely light on the margarita mix.

Marriott eFolio

Chris — Mon, 08 May 2006 19:19:14 GMT

Marriott can now send your bill via email with a feature they are calling eFolio. For someone that has been Platinum for the past 7 years, and constantly has to keep track of receipts for expense reimbursement I think this is awesome.

-CP

Southwest Rules!

Chris — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 21:55:38 GMT

I previously posted that at the start of the new year I would drop American Airlines for Southwest, so I decided to post an update and let you guys (and gals) know how it was going.

I couldn’t be happier, except for the cattle call boarding, because I already have 6 free flights and a companion pass to show for only 4 months of travel. After traveling my ass off on American for over 7 years I have nothing to show but 1 ticket to Europe in coach.

Furthermore, it is company that the employees love and a company that respects its employees and their contributions. As you walk into their headquarters, employees and visitors see this message:

The people of Southwest Airlines are the creators of what we have become - and of what we will be.

Our people transformed an idea into a legend. That legend will continue to grow only so long as it is nourished - by our people's indomitable spirit, boundless energy, immense goodwill, and burning desire to excel.

Our thanks - and our love - to the people of Southwest Airlines for creating a marvelous family and a wondrous airline!

I couldn’t agree more, as I wipe a tear away.

-CP

Set Love Free!

Chris — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 04:01:24 GMT

I hate American Airlines… really.

I’ve was booked on the 11:20 AM from SEA to DFW this morning for over a week. Last night when I called to get an upgrade for BZ & I everything seemed fine. I checked-in fine at kiosk but Brandon didn’t have a seat. Apparently, we weren’t on full fare tickets and I didn’t have enough 500 mile segments for the both of us. They gave BZ and exit row window and they had given me a first class seat. I wanted to bother BZ for another 4 hours, so I said put me in the open middle next to him. At this point I don’t have any issues, because I understand not having enough 500 mile segments.

As soon as we get through security we run over the gate to see if we could possibly get on the 9:20 AM flight and get out 2 hours earlier. They flat out said no and we never even got around to giving them any information. I’m still cool at this point.

So we kill 2 hours and the flight starts to board. I get to the gate and hand the agent my ticket and it makes a warning sound. I’m thinking this is normal because I am on the exit row and she needs to verify my eligibility. Nope! She says that I need to step over and speak with the other agent and hand her my boarding pass.

She says that I was never on this flight and I was a no show for the 9:20 AM flight. Here is where things get sideways because this flight is full and I don’t have the first class seat I originally had or the seat I for which I was holding a boarding pass. WTF? At this point, I am still cool because I know system irregularities come up. However, instead of trying to make it right she blames me for missing my flight and says she did nothing wrong by giving my seat away. WTF? I eventually got a seat in first, but it wasn’t comped and I was pissed. What good does holding a boarding pass and being Platinum do for you at American Airlines? Apparently, nothing because American sucks.

Therefore, next week instead of paying $500 for my flight to STL I’ll be flying SWA for $141. :P

-CP

My Favorite Steakhouses

Chris — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 20:26:03 GMT

BZ and I hit the Metropolitan Grill in Seattle last night, which prompted me to compile a list of my favorite high-end steakhouses and the cities where I visited them.

Sullivan’s: ORD,DFW,AUS – This is the best food and price performer in the category.
Gibson’s: ORD – This is good stuff and a great atmosphere if you get to eat outside.
Metropolitan Grill: SEA
Silver Fox (sister to III Forks): DFW
Cool River: DFW
Charley’s Steakhouse: MCO
The Butcher Shop: MCO
The Tree Steakhouse: JAX

Those not making the list because I think are:

Smith & Wollensky: LVS – Good food, but not as good as above and way more expensive.
Ruth’s Chris: JAX, ATL – Just OK.
Morton’s: MSY – Just OK.
Capital Grille: DFW – Just OK.
Bob’s: DFW – Just OK and not worth the price.
Pappa’s Steakhouse: DFW – Just OK and not worth the price but they have the best lobster in the world… period. Too bad this is a steak list.
Culpepper: DFW – Just OK, but the bone-in mesquite grilled cowboy ribeye almost makes up for their lack of sides and desserts.
Dierdorf & Hart’s: STL – Just nasty.

-CP