Steph, the other half of my problem is the dreaded smoking, which I do in the house, but with the window open. I want to have a window open half the time anyway, so it doesn't make any sense to cool off the apartment before bedtime.

My bedroom window is open pretty much all winter and most of the summer. And I flip directly from heat to A/C at the drop of a hat (and back, if I get chilly). Advantages of a small apartment in a really old building.

sarameg, that is fantastic! Congrats to Taylor!

Also, business travel is weird.

I have to go to London for a day or so. 8 hour + flights we are allowed to take business class. Which is whoa expensive.

So I checked what Economy Plus would be. Our preferred airline doesn't have that for overseas. And really, there are few airlines that do, so timing etc. was a lot less convenient. So there's that. But this is the thought that honest to god went through my head doing the comparison:

"It's only like a grand less, it's hardly worth it."

Holy crap, whut? Not like I'm paying for it, and most people wouldn't have looked for the alternative, but seriously.

I managed to save the same grand by extending my trip for another day. Anyone wanna get together in London June 14?

Anyone wanna get together in London June 14?

Don't tempt me like that.

That's wonderful, sarameg.

The dog doesn't understand the phrase, "Wait until it cools." Apparently neither do I, since I have a pizza-cheese burn on my chin.

"It's only like a grand less, it's hardly worth it."

Hahah. I hear you Brenda--it totally throws me when I actually look for plane tix for myself, though, because I'm so used to being like "oh, sure, $300, not bad for exactly the flights I want" and then I have to remind myself *I* dont' want to pay that, and it's really more like $160 to get to San Francisco, if I shop sales...

Yup.

Also, I am officially not a terrorist, if any of you were wondering. Or so says Homeland Security, who sent me my get out of jail customs line free card.

Or so says Homeland Security, who sent me my get out of jail customs line free card.

How does one obtain one of those?

Oh yeah, my personal fare cap is MUCH MUCH lower than the company fare cap.

$100, a reasonable story, and an interview with Homeland Security. At major airports it also gets you TSA pre-check security line.

I also need to get the Nexus card, but I have to replace my Canadian citizenship card before I get that. The last time I went to Ottawa the customs lady didn't give it back and I didn't realize until I was at the hotel.