This was my first time flying TWA in at least ten years. It's my impression that they used to be a big airline, but no longer. Their airline club, which my First Class ticket got me into, was comfortable, but rather faded, although they did have nice bathrooms!

It was entertaining to see this one guy come in to the club, dressed in Italian sports clothes, with his companion, a tall, statuesque blonde woman wearing a backless, leopard-skin top that exposed her navel. All eyes turned and followed - some scandalized, others accompanied with licking lips, but the guy and the woman seemed oblivious. I couldn't figure out their exact relationship, although it was natural to make assumptions. Actually, my best guess would have been that he's an ex mafia gangster now turning to legitimate business, and she's his ex-stripper girl-friend. Of course, an alternative and simpler explanation could be that they're from Los Angeles :) They had an air that stated "I'm trying very hard not to be aware of how impressed you all are with me". I didn't have the nerve to take a photo I'm afraid :)

As the day progressed, it became increasingly unpleasant for me. I'd barely boarded the plan before I began to realize that I was feeling sick with a burgeoning cold. By the time we reached St Louis, where I had to change planes, I was sweating with a mild fever. The airport was crowded, and there were queues of people everywhere - for seats in the tiny bathrooms, and for the inadequate restaurants and snack bars. I found out that there would be no meal on my final flight, even in First Class, and since I'd be getting into my hotel too late for room-service, in all likelihood, I had no choice but to line up with the rest of them for personal pan pizza. I bought two, to console myself a little with cheese and pepperoni. (I guess I was feeling sorry for myself :)

By a complete coincidence, my boss, who is based in Kansas City, was on the same flight as me into the airport. We didn't get the chance to speak until we "deplaned" upon arrival, and it was then that I regretted my unusual decision to have a stiff gin and tonic during the flight. I found myself slightly slurring my words to him. Jeez, now he'll think I'm an alcoholic!

This morning it seemed as if I'd barely gone to sleep before it was time to get up for class. My cold seemed to have set in, and I struggled all day against classroom boredom, jet-lag and the kind of bodily fatigue that comes with a cold. Yet in the mid-afternoon, I started to feel dramatically better, so much so that I was able to go running in the hotel gym after class. I'd have preferred to go running outside in the comfortable, cool evening, but a passing thunderstorm had other ideas.

In the hotel gym

Although I had to spend a portion of my evening in a business conference call to the West Coast, it was great, after the recent stresses, to have a free evening where I had nothing I needed to do. I ordered room-service, and watched the new TV movie about Audrey Hepburn.