Virgin America Airlines

Virgin America ROCKS! (Does that phrase date me? Oh, well, tough . . .) Usually I fly American Airlines to Los Angeles but this time Virgin America had a better deal, so I found myself on an airplane that, according to my knowledgeable travel companion, looked like a porno set: lavender lighting with pink/magenta side lights.

I'm blown away (not by the lights, though they WERE really pretty). Granted, I'm far removed from my international jet-setting days (would someone PLEASE offer me a job with TRAVEL???), but after the pedestrian domestic years of American Airlines, United (sorry, Terry), and Southwest (no slam, Herb, you're first and coolest for in-Texas hops), Virgin America was a breath of fresh air. I like the order-and-pay feature on the screen in front of each seat. That's GOT to be easier for the flight attendants, which probably accounts for their cheerful, helpful dispositions. On the flight to L.A., I was absolutely gobsmacked by one of them. My step-dog, a 2.4-lb. cotton coat Yorkie, was restive in his carry-on, so I sneaked him onto my lap, intending to quickly put him back in before the flight attendants would notice that he was out and scream for the U.S. Marshal. (You never know how dangerous a 10-year-old, toothless, 2.4-lb. dog can be -- ask my 55-lb. basset.) The flight attendant caught me with Littleman (yes, that's his name) on lap, and she immediately . . . gushed about how cute he was, asked to borrow him, and introduced him to the whole cabin, disappearing so far to the front that I expected to hear an announcement that Littleman was the guest pilot.

On the return flight, I am enjoying my second $6 mini-bot of Hayes Ranch In the Saddle Cabernet Sauvignon while writing this. (You knew I'd have to work wine into this somehow.) This is a good wine: strong cherry and blackberry notes, smooth finish -- I will actually seek this one out for my personal enjoyment. I'll be interested to see how much a regular size bottle is. I ordered the Protein Pack for $7. It was a grudging purchase, to mitigate the effects of Alcohol At High Altitudes, but I'd already rejected the incredibly overpriced food offerings at LAX. I made the right decision. I had a nutritious lunch of tuna, hummus, gluten-free crackers and some other crackers that were really good. I saved the Craisins and nuts for the next time I have to work until midnight or beyond. Or the next rice pilaf stuffing for the two Cornish game hens in my freezer. (I came home from work one night to find that waiting for me -- wow.)

Life is good. Pleasure is wonderful; pain also serves a purpose. It reminds us that we are alive. It spurs us on to find what gives us pleasure. You have to have sour to appreciate the sweet. It's the contrast that gives life the full well-rounded flavor of a good wine: the beginnings down to the end notes, where the fullness is savored and remembered.

And I just spilled wine on my foot. I swear, I am the CLUMSIEST blogger on the planet! But I'm BACK (at least for now).

Moral of this blog: try Virgin America -- I think you'll like it!