This post covers everything! Books, media, travel! Existential isolation!
(Hey, doesn't Clooney play an existentially angsty fox these days, too? I mean, a literal fox. A literary fox, too.)
And see how I put up the front cover of the book, as though I'm more interested in reading it than, say, seeing any movie whatsoever starring George Clooney?
I know, I'm sly.
Like a fox!
Hey, that came full circle. How ouroboros of me. (And how pompous to use a word like ouroboros. Yeesh.)
Anyhoo, loyal readers, NPR's Fresh Air had a show this week dedicated to this book and movie. Author Walter Kirn said he got the idea when he asked a fellow airline passenger where he lived, and the guy said, "Here," as in, "On this plane." Director Jason Reitman offered several cool tidbits about filming, including that this movie was the first allowed to film at an actual TSA security station since 9/11, that the people fired in the movie are non-actors who really had been fired or laid off recently, and that George Clooney never wears makeup to film.
(Because he's so foxy. BAM!)
Follow those links to hear the Fresh Air segments. You can also subscribe to it through iTunes.
I'm interested to see (or read) Up in the Air because at some point, I'm sure I thought it'd be great if my job involved a lot of travel. I imagine now it's better for people with few attachments.
Do you travel for work? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Do you get to keep the miles you earn? Who's the most interesting person you've ever sat next to? Are the perks in the First Class lounges awesome, or do you just tell coach passengers they are? :)
[image via GoodReads]
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Friday, December 4, 2009
Up in the Air
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3 ate pie:
For about a decade I traveled at least a week a month for work. I loved it. I hated it. I believe I'm still single in large part because of it. :(
I got to keep my miles but because I usually have to pick the most cost effective option to wherever I was going I had tons of miles on all different carriers. I was Gold on American for about 5 minutes - but got to travel First or Business if I was traveling internationally. Continetal serves Hot Fudge Sundaes on Trans-Atlantic flights and the lounges have far better wine than you can buy on board.
I haven't sat next to anyone incredibly interesting - but when Delta had their Song airline I once spilled a martini on the guy next to me. :)
I am flying to Chicago on Wednesday next week. It's the first time I've had to travel for work since May. I'm actually looking forward to it.
I was traveling about 85-90% of the time before I went back to school. I loved the travel, but in retrospect, personal relationships suffered.
I could keep my miles, but it rarely did me any good. I have to fly certain airlines to certain cities. These change from year-to-year and I traveled enough different places that I could never rack up enough points to get beyond Silver on USAir, which got me nothing.
The place where I did rack up benefits was hotels. I could choose my hotel chain, usually Marriott, and got platinum one year (over 75 nights) and nearly hit super-platinum (over 125 nights). I think I had about 120. This gave me nicer rooms, better locations in the hotel (away from screaming kids), a free gift at check in (beer, wine, more points), and access to the lounge, which had free breakfast that typically included protein, free internet, and sometimes fantastic desserts in the evening.
I've sat next to nearly every type of person you can find on a plane. One guy told me about dinosaurs in the bible (Indy to Portland), one guy kept trying to get me to switch seats with him - I was on the aisle, he was in the middle (Seattle to Atlanta), and one guy that was an entertainment promoter of some sort was really interesting - he was trying to incorporate fencing into a themed day-cruise but he didn't want the fencers to use masks (Phoenix to LA). I've sat next to VeryLarge Man, Stinky Guy, Smelly Lady, ReallyDrunk Girl (who eventually got kicked off the plane) and other characters I didn't talk to.
I just got back from Japan yesterday and I canceled my trip to Orlando that was scheduled for today because I'm too sick to fly. I'm putting the ixnay on the raveltay unless it's directly related to getting my degree until I graduate. I need to stay home and be focused.
K - A week every month for a decade - wow! Business/First for international would be heaven, indeed. Have a good trip tomorrow!
S - Hotel points - I didn't think about that. Interesting row-mates, too - you'll have to point out the bible dinosaurs to me sometime - I missed those. Also: Japan? Cool! Hope you feel better soon.
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