The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Memo From the National Affairs Desk: Final Boarding at McCarran International

Posted on | October 21, 2011 | 9 Comments

The National Affairs Desk, 5:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21, 2011

McCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Las Vegas
By the time I got to the taxi stand in front of the fabulous Venetian Resort Hotel, it was 4:30 p.m. and I only had until 5 p.m. to get checked in at the Jet Blue counter for my flight to Long Beach en route to Dulles. The cab driver asked me which route I preferred to the airport, and I told him to take the fastest route possible.

Even the freeway isn’t too fast at that hour of the day, and there was some doubt as to whether I’d make it on time, but this guy was The Best Cab Driver in Vegas — aggressively cutting through traffic and zipping across lanes to make the McCarran Airport exit, so that he dropped me off with 10 minutes to spare. The fare was $30.80, and I gave him $35, because really sharp driving in an emergency situation deserves to be rewarded.

Check-in was quick and efficient, and the line at security wasn’t too long. My flight, originally scheduled for a 6 p.m. departure was delayed by half an hour and, while walking toward the D terminal, I placed a quick call to Smitty and discussed plans for future operations, beginning with him picking me up at Dulles in the morning, to save my wife the hassle. The bill for dinner in the airport lounge  — $9.19 turkey sandwich, $2.19 bag of chips, $6.49 Corona — came to $19.32 and a $3 tip seemed fair.

At this point, there is no time for the Final Wisdom. They’ll call final boarding in about 10 minutes, and I must be on the plane. Exactly what was learned during this five-day/four-night journalistic expedition to Vegas will therefore have to wait until I get back home. Maybe I can write it up on the red-eye transcontinental flight that will bring me to Dulles shortly after dawn Saturday.

Final boarding! Hit the freaking tip jar!


Category: Fear and Smitty in Vegas, Shoe Leather Fund

Comments

9 Responses to “Memo From the National Affairs Desk: Final Boarding at McCarran International”

  1. Anonymous
    October 21st, 2011 @ 9:56 pm

    So Stacy, this cab driver, a driver after your own heart. Did you ask him how many deer/coyotes he’s hit?

  2. richard mcenroe
    October 21st, 2011 @ 11:17 pm

    There are no deer/coyotes.   Deer are allowed to enter this country legally.

  3. Bob Belvedere
    October 21st, 2011 @ 11:27 pm

    Godspeed and great job, per usual.

  4. Eric
    October 22nd, 2011 @ 12:14 am

    Hey Stacy!
    Just shot you a Hamilton and a half for lunch tomorrow and maybe a less dog-eared copy of FALOTCT – looks too much like mine! 🙂
     
    Eric

  5. Anonymous
    October 22nd, 2011 @ 12:17 am

    Well played sir!

  6. Anonymous
    October 22nd, 2011 @ 3:35 am

    Stacy, sorry to rain on yer parade.

    From one cheap-a## sob to another…..yer one one cheap-a$$ sob.

    A 10.5% tip for a cabbie who CLEARLY stretched it to make yer frikkin flight? That’s MY tip……. if he doesn’t cuss me out.

    And I’m seriously a cheap a** sob.

  7. Anonymous
    October 22nd, 2011 @ 3:37 am

    I know. I know.

    Hit the freakin tip jar…….

  8. Joe
    October 22nd, 2011 @ 9:41 am

    Bravo. 

  9. richard mcenroe
    October 22nd, 2011 @ 3:38 pm

    Or join #OccupyTaxi