Me, I'm getting ready to go to Acapulco tomorrow. I've read up on how much to tip whom. I've selected several fine paperbacks to read at the beach. I've packed: linen dress, t-shirt, shorts, sandals, bathing suit, sunscreen, passport. Bon voyage, baby. All I really need is for no bizarre, complex problems to occur at the last minute while I'm trying to wrap up my work for the week. I hate leaving that kind of thing behind for other agents to deal with because, naturally, I hate being on the receiving end. I'm a big believer in the golden rule. It may be the single most useful precept I've been taught.

So far, so good. The funniest call I got today was from a surfer dude who asked how much China cost. "Oh, it depends on the brand, really," I said jovially. I then spent ten minutes convincing him that was a joke, and that he didn't need to choose a brand of anything in order to get a price for an airfare. I always repent joking around with unknown clients. Sigh.

I had a frustrating call from someone who needed a ticket to Tonga. First, I had to work out what the major city was so I could try to find the airport code. I asked her, but she didn't want to tell me. Okay, I thought to myself, a test, is it? Fine. Here's my atlas. Here's the index. Here's the city: Tongatapu, airport code TBU. I'll remember in the future by thinking of it as taboo. Fare, fare, fare, who flies to TBU? No one airline from here. Combine, mix, match, try different connecting cities: L.A., Honolulu, Nadi. Nothing cheap. Nothing simple. Argh. Finally, I told her the best fare I could get was $1200 and if she were flexible with her dates at all I might be able to bring it down a bit. She told me I was the worst travel agent she'd ever dealt with because I took so long, and the fare was outrageous, and I should be ashamed of myself. And then, of course, she hung up. Sigh...

I got over it as soon as the handsome man from New Zealand walked in and sat down at my desk. He wanted a short vacation in the sun. We discussed the merits of Mexico versus Hawaii, me swooning internally over his lovely, melifluous accent. I could have gone on looking at him and listening to his voice for hours, but my boss would have killed me so I sent him off with some brochures and strict instructions to come back Monday. He seemed quite keen on the idea. Siiigh...

So I'm off to Mexico for a little r'n'r. John is going to take his own mini-vacation by staying home and ... well ... I don't know what he does when I'm gone. Order pizza every night, probably. Have some kind of boy fun. I'll be having girl fun with Denise, consisting of sun, surf, and swim-up bar. I'll tell you all about it Sunday night. Arriba!

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