Dear David Neeleman, CEO of JETBLUE

I'm writing to you from my apartment in Chicago. I had been planning for months to be in Los Angeles today, relishing the company of two dear friends whom I haven't seen for 5 years. We decided to all get together in Los Angeles this weekend, and celebrate with expensive tickets to the LA Operas production of The Rise And Fall Of Mahagonny. We know each other from Drama School, so the idea of Audra McDonald and Patti Lupone in an Opera by Weill and Brecht, Directed by John Doyle, conducted by James Conlon at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for The LA Opera was the ultimate theatrical event of the winter for us.

I purchased my $190.00 ticket to the LA Opera online. I purchased my JetBlue airline ticket online. My job makes it impossible to travel except for one quick weekend at a time. I was looking forward to flying with JetBlue, for the first time, this weekend. There are many weekend journeys that I could take over the next few months and JetBlue's prices from Chicago to NY and LA make those journey's seem possible.

However, I'm sad to report that I can not, in good faith, book with JetBlue and expect to fit my tight schedule on to JetBlues flights.

My ticket on your cancelled flight to Long Beach, CA was not honored by any other Airline Company yesterday. I was not credited the money I spent on the ticket for the cancelled flight yesterday. I was given no alternative plan to get me to California yesterday by anyone who worked for your Airline or any other Airline. Nobody warned me not to check my bag because the flight was already cancelled. JetBlue accepted my bag and pointed me to the ridiculously long security line. I arrived at the gate to find another hundred people who had obviously been there for days. There were no monitors listing JetBlue Flights anywhere. The sign over the podium, where the JetBlue Representative stood, listed a New York flight as "Delayed". The Jet Blue Rep. told us over the loudspeaker that our flight was cancelled, due to no available Pilot. He told us there was one other JetBlue flight scheduled at 5PM, however it was oversold and unlikely to have an available Pilot either. Our best bet was to get to Midway Airport and try and purchase a full priced ticket on another Airline.

My $190 Opera ticket was nonrefundable. The Opera (that just got a lovely rave on Valentines day) will close before my schedule allows me to get back to LA. Most of all, I continue to miss my friends and we all missed a glorious weekend together.

I think about going to NYC for the weekend to see more marvelous theatrical adventures, but unfortunately, JetBlue has left me too disappointed to trust that JetBlue could get me there.

*Edited to add NYT Article on your mortification

My back door...

I rarely exit my building through its front door. I have no less than four options of building departure and arrival, not counting the most popular choice - the parking garage beneath the building. The buildings front door is by far its most gracious entry. The lobby is modest, immaculate, industrial and very minimally but elegantly appointed. One front door visitor remarked to me "you have a real entrance here! Makes me feel that somebody actually thought about it..." I put to use the front door mainly for two purposes... to accept delivered dining and to mark the beginnings and ends of daily walks during the Spring, Summer and Fall. The parking garage is my most prevalent form of egress. Its automatic door, reserved parking space and inherent, concrete weather shield may not be cinematic, but I admit to still being awed by the luxury of it all.... far more luxurious that my elegantly appointed lobby. The back door is my favorite. Its use makes me feel low profile. Unexpected exit. My building mates and I utilize our back door rarely. Occasionally, during Bears season, a handful of residents gather at our back door to watch the fireworks over Soldier Field. Daylight brings an urban view to my back door. The Sears Tower looms over the South Loop like a giant sun dial. Recently, I began to notice that I will have to rely on my own sense of place when exiting and entering my back door...

Tagged... what I read for work....

fun game... tagged by Sarah, I obey...

rules: WORKBOOK... "find the nearest book, turn to page 123, post the fifth, sixth and seventh sentences"; "tag three folks".

P. 123 - hmmmmm. My name and the words
"This script is the confidential and proprietary property of W__ B__. P___ and no portion of it may be performed, distributed, reproduced, used, quoted, or published or shared."
is overlayed on each page...

2nd choice "book", P123, 5th, 6th and 7th sentences...

"Producer agrees to indemnify and hold Licensor harmless from all claims for injuries to persons and damage to property (ordinary wear and tear excepted) resulting from Producer’s occupancy and use of the premises. Licensor hereby warrants and represents that the right to use and occupy said premises is under the exclusive control of Licensor and Licensor has full right and authority to enter into this agreement and to grant the rights herein granted. Licensor agrees to indemnify and hold Producer harmless from all claims made against Producer as a result of Licensor’s breach of this warranty."

I tag Little Voice, This Kids Got Moxie and Steve On Broadway.

...one who keeps tearing around

Principal photography for our bigger than it needs to be film is OVER. An exhausted happy dance and big sigh of relief was mandatory for all involved. No tears were shed, but plenty of sweat, mind numbing logistics figuring and no more blood than a band-aid or three... The must have piece of clothing for Chicago Movie makers that I will not be without next winter was insulated, flannel lined, Gortex ski pants. Sub zero temperatures through out filming helped with keeping looky-loos scare, but fashion quickly left the building once filming began. Finding someone on set involved remembering what their eyes looked like. We looked like we were filming a NorthFace commercial. One more week of wrap.

I celebrate with a grand reunion and my first visit to the LA Opera next weekend. Jet Blue will be my magic carpet. The prize is, with a dear friend on each arm, I will escape the real world for one fine evening at The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

I'm breathless about the whole 48 hours in LA, a city I've spent considerable energy avoiding.

The day after I arrive back in Chicago from la la land and its' richest artistic and personal rewards, I begin the next new big flick. It promises to be the biggest in scope, most expensive circus ride to date. Just when one sleigh ride is over, the Bat beam shines again on Chicago.

I miss my old friend...Bud, October 2006 in the sunny South Loop

GO BEARS but also GO to the supermarket DURING THE SUPERBOWL

...Dominicks is a dream during the Bear-full Superbowl. I parked in the first spot by the door and waited nor wanted for anything... except for maybe a loss of the fluorescent lighting and a sense of humbleness. I loathe the Supermarket experience and wish for the comeback of the corner store where I could walk to fresh bread, laundry detergent, butter and a light bulb. When I gather enough courage to enter a Dominicks, I usually go mid-day or midnight to avoid the crowds with shopping carts of issues. The South Loop Dominicks was filled with a handful of female 30somethings this Superbowl evening. No waiting, no idiocy.





The drive home last night was brisk, but I stopped and snapped a few photos of one of my favorite views from the 18th Street Bridge. Bitter cold but rich with team spirit.