TAKEAWAY: This is my official last day of work (should I say, travel?) for 2009, and I get ready for a little Down on the Ground time with the family.
Although I have not yet seen it (it is right up there with my list of movies to see during the holiday break——especially Nine, the musical!), many of my friends write me about the George Clooney hit Up in the Air—the story of a high flyer with all kinds of perks from the airline he favors, and all kind of adventures in the air, at hotels, and as he goes from city to city.
I am curious to see how George does it, and if he can share any tips. In fact, my good friend Ron Reason saw the movie a few days ago and sent me a note that read:” Well, Mario, I don’t know what the big thing is about the character of George Clooney in Up in the Air, who constantly moves from city to city and whom the airlines adore. This is you, absolutely, and you probably fly more often and longer distances. And, yes, the George character does not have a life outside his first class travel, while you do.”
Indeed, I do, and in the next three weeks I hope to enjoy more of it.
Today I conclude my work travel schedule for 2009, having flown over 1,3 million miles——mostly on Lufthansa, which does treat me well and allows me its HON Circle status and the treatment that comes with it, especially the use of the HON Circle lounges in Frankfurt and Munich which are the closest thing to a 10-star Nirvana, complete with private limo service to and from the planes. The food in the lounge is superior to that you will find in many five-star restaurants, the personal concierge will make sure your every wish is taken care of, and, not too long ago, I had a close connection between flights, so immigration/customs MET me at the plane, took me through and I made my connection. Special? You bet. So, you see, George, such treatment is not reserved just for movie stars.
However, in spite of such enoyable and exclusive tender loving care, which we all appreciate, there is nothing like the comforts of home—-and I am so looking forward to my return to Villa Tortuga (this is what we call my house, as there were many native Florida turtles “living” right behind my house, next to the Hillsborough River in Tampa, Florida). Just the thought of unpacking and putting away the suitcases for three weeks is one of life’s joys; not to mention that I put away my winter gear (welcome to sunny Florida), and can do my daily runs in shorts and a tank top around the golf course in Temple Terrace, or perhaps go and see the sunsets on Belleair Beach, over the Gulf of Mexico, while sipping Veuve Clicquot.
Add to that my kids and 10 grandkids (#11 will make his entrance in 2010) and you get the picture. This weekend it is Disney World with my daughter and her family.
Of course, in today’s work environment work never truly stops. Clients will be at the office until five hours before Christmas, and that means questions, emails and pdfs will keep coming from around the world, but I will check all of this while sitting in my chaise lounge looking at the exotic birds in the backyard, or perhaps keeping eye contact with one of the alligators who sit to take the sun behind the deck of my house.
Time to recharge the batteries, to wrap Christmas presents, and to prepare for 2010.
Stay tuned. I will probably blog less regularly, but we can still have our rendezvous here in the days ahead.
Here is the deck behind Villa Tortuga—the place I call home—an environmentally protected area that is my backyard, complete with exotic birds, many species of turtles, and, yes, alligators that come and sit peacefully by the edge of the HIllsborough River, taking the sun.
TheMarioBlog post #442