“The Good, the Bad, and the Funny”

Done. Over. Overdone, actually. That’s the price I paid for going topless on this year’s Hot Rod Power Tour.

I promised Joe up on stage the first day I would do the entire Tour sans-top, because that’s the way a car is meant to be driven.

There was lots of good in this year’s Tour: the weather, the friendly folks, and some really cool cars like the Lotus Elise.

Some have asked why I chose to drive a sports car on the Tour. It’s quite simple; it embodies everything that makes Touring fun. A fast car with handling to die for, head-turning styling, plenty of exhaust noise and it brings a smile to people’s faces. Plus, it makes me look tall. (Unfortunately, it also makes me look big.)

The bads this year were few. Remember my lost luggage? I’m still fuming that American Airlines cares so little about their customers. It’s bad enough my suitcase was mis-routed, but their total lack of concern for my welfare or needs was unbelievable. (“Sorry, we don’t reimburse for the toiletries or clothes you need until we get the suitcase to you.”)

When the suitcase got close, I asked it be delivered in a cab. Their answer, “If we put suitcases in a cab, we wouldn’t need a delivery service.” My response, “If you wouldn’t lose luggage, you wouldn’t need a delivery service in the first place.”

If anyone at American Airlines can explain to me why my suitcase and I were treated in such a shabby manner, please let me know. It’s a heck of a way to treat a customer who has flown over one million actual miles on their airline. I guess they just don’t like me. At least I arrived at my destination, so I should be happy about that.

The Hampton Inn at Harrisburg was a real joy, too. I stay at Hampton Inns often enough that I’m a gold card member, so I know how good they can be. Unfortunately, the Night Manager and General Manager sure fell down on the job. We had 2 extra rooms that I wanted to cancel. They both refused to let me cancel them since it was past the cancellation time. There were people standing in the lobby looking for rooms since the hotel was sold out. These two yahoos refused to cancel them from my credit card and allow them to be purchased by other people standing there.

I just don’t get it. I’ll continue to stay at Hampton Inns when it meets my needs, but it’ll be a cold day in you-know-where before I ever stay in that Hampton Inn again.

Tell all your friends.

The funny was a real laughter, showing just how strange the world can be when folks don’t think.