Trip from NYC to Albuquerque 05/27/09

I am supposed to leave New York on Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day, but in my fashion, I have tried to stuff 10 lbs. of doo-doo into a 5-lb. bag, and I cannot finish everything I need to get done before leaving.

I call American Airlines and plead illness to get them to reschedule my flight, which has worked in the past when I was truly too sick to fly. Those days are over. The airline can no longer change non-refundable tickets to accommodate illness. They would rather have passengers distribute the swine flu via the re-circulated air inside the plane than make their customers comfortable. I have to purchase another ticket for the next day, thus entirely negating the fabulous discount I received for my non-refundable advance purchase and thus more than doubling my transportation costs. The good news is that I have completed my chores so that I can leave NYC in good conscience.

However, my budget receives another nasty surprise when I arrive at the airport and am charged not only for two checked bags -- which I expected -- but addition costs as well for having OVERWEIGHT checked baggage. Like owner, like luggage, I guess.

Then the TSA troll verifying plane tickets sends me back to check-in to check my carry-on bag as well because it is too large to fit inside the aircraft. As the intended carry-on is my third checked bag, the airline charges me ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for the privilege of having it arrive with me at my destination. Can't I remove something to make it fit, the supervisor wants to know when I request a waiver of the fee, which he says he's not allowed to do. If I could remove something, I would have done that at home. So the answer is no, and I have to fork over a C-note to transport my toothpaste and pajamas to Albuquerque.

Traveling is always a learning experience. Before I even leave LaGuardia, I find out that I have way too much STUFF. It's good quality stuff, and it's all stuff I like, but I own lots of possessions. And we're just talking clothing and a few personal items. And books. But books are not negotiable -- they take priority over even my toothpaste.

When I arrive at my lodging in Albuquerque, where my room is up a narrow, curved stairway, I find that 95 lbs. of clothing in one bag is an awful lot of stuff. Monks have the right idea.