Red hot

I always seem to break weather records when I travel, and Las Vegas hit 104 yesterday, a record high. The triple digits don't typically strike here until June.

The flight was on time, relatively smooth and who can ask for anything more. We did that aborted landing thing on final approach, always a bit disconcerting until the pilot comes on the intercom and says why.  Just traffic on the runway, so we circled out to Lake Mead and came in again.

When I'm flying alone on Alaska Airlines, TSA usually bestows my boarding pass with the coveted "pre-check" security status. I'm probably in the elderly-lady-frequent-flyer-no-threat-to-anyone security algorithm. When John is along, we have to wait in the long line and take off our shoes, go figure.

Anyway, the security process at SeaTac is becoming more automated, at least in the privileged pre-check line.  It's pretty slick, actually. You don't have to grab plastic tubs and wrestle them on and off the belt, they come up automatically on a conveyor and are whisked away neatly, once you pull your stuff off.  But better look lively! The belt is slow but waits for no one. People weren't used to it, so there was the same old grabby behavior and cranky TSA people ordering you around.

I've done that Seattle to Las Vegas route on Alaska many times, and oh, it is a jolly run down here.  Doubles at 9 am (ugh) to start the vacation day off right, and lots of Viva Las Vegas chatter.  There was a row of excited young women in front of me, obviously on a girl's getaway from husbands and kids. They were having a great time, but I'll tell you, the flight back to Seattle is a totally different vibe. 

It was too hot to do much of anything yesterday afternoon, so we called out for Chinese food.  Dad is doing great and looks wonderful. We'll make a Trader Joe run today and do our menu planning for the next few days.

I spent some time out on the patio with a glass of iced wine, baking in the hot dry air.  It felt good. Doodles has slimmed down since last I was here last; the vet put him on a strict Jenny Craig diet. No more cookies after dinner.