It’s time once again for my annual pilgrimmage to OSCON, the O’Reilly Open Source Conference. As much as I loathe the anticipation of and the preparation for travel, I grow excited as I finally begin my journey. I look at it as an adventure, even if it’s merely a few uncomforable hours in bland airports and cramped airplanes.
As is my habit, I arrived at the San Diego airport extra early—two and a half hours in this case. I was extremely pleased to see no lines, at the check-in counter or security, when I entered the terminal. Unfortunately, I was immediately told by a customer service agent that there are air traffic control delays for flights in and out of San Francisco today. As a reward for my promptness, I was rebooked on an earlier flight, which was supposed to depart at 10:21 in the morning—approximately half an hour before I arrived at the counter. Once I got through to the gate, which was pleasant with only one person in front of me in the security line, I discovered that it had been scheduled for 11:45. As I wrote these words, it was announced that the flight had been released and boarding would being immediately, at 11:25.
The flight itself was pleasant, if boring. The plane was not full and I was fortunate to receive an aisle seat with a small Asian girl next to me. While complimentary soft drinks were provided, I couldn’t help but notice that the snacks, so common on domestic flights, were nowhere to be found. Another example of airline cost savings, no doubt.
We touched down in San Francisco about 10 minutes after one in the afternoon. My connecting flight to Portland won’t depart until approximately 5:30 in the evening. That leaves me with some four hours to kill in an airport without free wifi. I need to compile a list of airports that offer free access to the Internet, so I can be sure to book trips only through those.
It’s still too early for my connecting flight to be displayed on United’s monitors, so I’ve sat down in an uncrowded restaurant, the Buena Vista, where I’m writing this. I’ve ordered a Gordon Biersch Marzen and a reuben with cole slaw. It’s actually quite good.
I had considered attempting to stand by on an earlier flight to Portland, but the lines are long, and I have baggage checked through. I’ll just enjoy the time I have available to me to both relax and jot down whatever comes to mind my my new Moleskine notebook. Hopefully, the monitors will display my flight’s gate soon, so I’ll know the best place to find a seat.
I’m writing this now from my seat on the MAX light rail, heading to the Oregon Convention Center stop. I’m staying in the Courtyard by Marriott, a couple blocks north of the OCC. The flight out of San Francisco was delayed, but only by about 20 minutes. I managed to sleep for most of the time we were in the air, so I’m feeling pretty good right now. I’m looking forward to checking into my room and finding something for dinner.
As I was composing this final piece of my entry, I received a call from the fraud prevention department of my bank. At least now I know why the MAX ticket kiosk wouldn’t accept my credit card. How annoying.
Tomorrow, OSCON.