Not on the T... but in Commuting in the Air

So last week, instead of commuting all week, I was in California for work.  I was looking forward to a week of great meetings and fun, followed by a weekend in the city.  Not to mention some escape from public transportation.  Well, public transportation as encapsulated in the "T" or Commuter Rail.

The week was off to a great start - first and foremost, I paid (myself) to upgrade on an already phenomenal flight on Virgin.  A little bit more room could only make it better...right?

Well it depends on how you define comfort, I guess.  For me, it means, more room since there were only middle seats available, free stuff (food, movies - Couples Retreat and It's Complicated were GREAT, btw!).  It also means, hopefully sitting with a better crowd, because well, you have to pay more, a significant amount more to sit there.  I quickly learned, that I assumed incorrectly.

So by upgrading I got all sorts of great perks.  For one, I got to go through the 'express' line in security.  Basically it meant that I jumped about 3 people, since well, the gates were only for two gates.  and I got to board first.  Which just means getting settled in before everyone else.  Still, I was sold!

But the excitement of walking onto a Virgin America flight for the first time quickly waned as I slowly approached my seat.  I started to smell alcohol ... first just one whiff, then I thought I was starting to feel woozy because of it.  I quickly thought of the only three scenarios that could possibly happen:

1. Oh My God!  6+ hours, I am going to be sick before this plane lands
2. Oh My God, I am going to be drunk from fumes before this plane lands
3. Umm, where is candid camera and / or am I going to be featured on a new season of Airplane - now featuring Virgin America instead of Southwest (and if so, please give me a few more minutes to just put on some makeup!)

It got to the point that it was just seeping from his pores.  I get it, who hasn't had a day like that.  I remember one or two back in my younger days.  But this guy wasn't 'younger'...and we weren't talking a 5 or 6 AM flight... it was almost 9 AM.  Which leads me to only one conclusion ... it must have been SOME party!

And so... while I escaped the "T", I did not escape the perils of public transport.