For all the riches in the world...
Resurrected from oblivion, I have decided once again to put pen to paper. After finding a lack of suitable paper and an hour long obsessive compulsion to find the one pen I carry - I've opted to just type. Who am I kidding, I never write things down anymore - paper has a lifespan of about 3 minutes inside my wallet and then it biodegrades in a selfless act of environmentalism.
The timestamp on my last post says April and I have difficulty recalling the 5 months in between. Possibly because it was written on a piece of paper. I have learnt some incredible truths about travelling however. I finally reached coveted status with my hotel and airline points and I must admit I enjoying throwing my weight around*.
I use my Hilton Diamond elite card on unsuspected front desk clerks. They roll their eyes as I stumble in with my baseball cap and jeans half expecting my to pull out a discount card to lower the rate. After making me wait an eternity while they ramble on the phone, I purposefully place my card on the desk and slide it towards them. Then I indulge myself in their expression when they see the flashy Diamond status and realize that I am probably their most returning guest. This ritual is usual followed by them providing me with a snap to attention and presidential suite.
I have also sadly learned that no amount of pampering or material luxury can replace having a permanent home. The "Where are you from...originally? question usually hits me the hardest. I try to tailor my answer to the asker. To the middle eastern taxi driver, I've learnt not to say - "oh I'm from Canada!". Because it is inevitably followed up by "Bud no I meen oreegeenally...I say becaw you look like me so..." and "where your parents from" Going through the whole my parents were born in Tanzania, in Africa bit always throws them. Yes...they speak fluent Swahili... So I don't really know where I live now. One could make a case for NYC but , I don't live there - I simply rent an apartment there. One could say I live in Boston since I've left my heart there. Or other die-harders might say I've taken an extended leave of absence from Toronto. Hilton seems to think I live with them. They recently congratulated me on my 100th night this year.
Ironically, living in fancy hotels, eating at fine restaurants and justifying the purchase of every electronic gizmo I can afford has made me realize that the material is immaterial. The only thing I look to collect is that I meet some incredible people and experiences wherever I go. I feel less in touch with Corporate America (tm) and more of a connection with indigenous nomads. Perhaps one day this will all make sense to me. Until then, trust me to disappear for 5 month intervals and virtualize my life.
Grr! of the Day...
As for flying, I tend to avoid it these days. In a lapse of judgement I decide to fly to Albany from NYC instead of driving. I was elated when the pilot came on the air and told us that our flying time would be a brisk 28 minutes and I imagined being in my hotel bed soon. He then followed up by saying that our taxiing time at JFK would be an additional 45 minutes and that we were 15th in line for departure. ARGH.
Living in the US, I am now conflicted about Canada. No no don't worry, I still swell with Canadian pride - but I also realize that my massive student loan just got much more expensive.
The timestamp on my last post says April and I have difficulty recalling the 5 months in between. Possibly because it was written on a piece of paper. I have learnt some incredible truths about travelling however. I finally reached coveted status with my hotel and airline points and I must admit I enjoying throwing my weight around*.
I use my Hilton Diamond elite card on unsuspected front desk clerks. They roll their eyes as I stumble in with my baseball cap and jeans half expecting my to pull out a discount card to lower the rate. After making me wait an eternity while they ramble on the phone, I purposefully place my card on the desk and slide it towards them. Then I indulge myself in their expression when they see the flashy Diamond status and realize that I am probably their most returning guest. This ritual is usual followed by them providing me with a snap to attention and presidential suite.
I have also sadly learned that no amount of pampering or material luxury can replace having a permanent home. The "Where are you from...originally? question usually hits me the hardest. I try to tailor my answer to the asker. To the middle eastern taxi driver, I've learnt not to say - "oh I'm from Canada!". Because it is inevitably followed up by "Bud no I meen oreegeenally...I say becaw you look like me so..." and "where your parents from" Going through the whole my parents were born in Tanzania, in Africa bit always throws them. Yes...they speak fluent Swahili... So I don't really know where I live now. One could make a case for NYC but , I don't live there - I simply rent an apartment there. One could say I live in Boston since I've left my heart there. Or other die-harders might say I've taken an extended leave of absence from Toronto. Hilton seems to think I live with them. They recently congratulated me on my 100th night this year.
Ironically, living in fancy hotels, eating at fine restaurants and justifying the purchase of every electronic gizmo I can afford has made me realize that the material is immaterial. The only thing I look to collect is that I meet some incredible people and experiences wherever I go. I feel less in touch with Corporate America (tm) and more of a connection with indigenous nomads. Perhaps one day this will all make sense to me. Until then, trust me to disappear for 5 month intervals and virtualize my life.
Grr! of the Day...
As for flying, I tend to avoid it these days. In a lapse of judgement I decide to fly to Albany from NYC instead of driving. I was elated when the pilot came on the air and told us that our flying time would be a brisk 28 minutes and I imagined being in my hotel bed soon. He then followed up by saying that our taxiing time at JFK would be an additional 45 minutes and that we were 15th in line for departure. ARGH.
Living in the US, I am now conflicted about Canada. No no don't worry, I still swell with Canadian pride - but I also realize that my massive student loan just got much more expensive.
posted by Megalomaniac at 9:54 PM
1 Comments:
hi Aly
good to hear from you. when are you randomly flying into toronto?
Tariq
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