I just had to add this to this thread. Back in April of this year I had an associate call me in my New York office asking me about the Dominican Republic. He had just went through a divorce and needed to get away. He knew that I love the Dominican Republic as my real home and called me about it. I told him that I would be traveling there within the week ( I am there almost every month) and if he wanted to join me he was welcome. It started out with this jerk insulting my limo driver by telling him he didn't know how to get the JFK airport. Mind you, the limo driver travels to JFK an average of 5 times each and every day of the week! We get to the airport and I immedietely throw my bag onto a "sky hat's" wagon even though it is only a carry on. (my clothes are in my home in Jamao del Norte). I hand the 'sky hat' a nice 20 spot which will get me to the front of the check in line. The jerk begins protesting right away that this trip has already cost him 50 bucks and now the money for the sky hat. I rolled my eyes with Gene, the sky hat whom I know well and kept walking. Jerky threw his bags onto my cart and followed *sigh*. Now, I warned jerky to only bring ONE CARRY ON, due to security restrictions but Nooooooo, he has to bring 2 bags. We get to security and of course jerky's pockets are full of metal. he keeps setting off the detector but instead of complying with the TSA security officer he begings protesting that "I am not a terrorist". well, we all know what happens next. More security officers come over and I intervene since many of them already know me and tell them that he is a new traveler and doesn't understand the procedure. it seemed to work with a smile and a joke or two from security. But jerky was asked to stuff one of his silly little bags into the other, he didn't understand. I ended up throwing his junk into my bag just to get through this area. I am very embarrassed at this point. Low and behold, we are way ahead of the Dominican "volkswagon sized luggage" and relaxing at gate 23 (the usual gate for this flight). Jerky immediately starts to fidget and complains "why are we so early?". I told him that you are either one of two things in travel and that is on time or late and never early. I told him to go get a cup of coffee before I strangle him and closed my eyes for a few minutes while listening to CNN. Jerky comes back and trips over a woman's carry on bag spilling his red hot coffee onto her *sigh* He is NOT with me! Jeeeesh, the ugly flowered shirt and shorts he was wearing and the sandals with socks was killing me. Ok, we begin our boarding process and jerky cuts in front of everyone even though it isn't his group number for boarding. He is NOT with me! Once again sntead of listening to the flight attendants he begins telling them that he is an American and not a "terrorist or towell head"...aye yie yie..this is getting worse. Finally we get on the plane and jerky begins to complain that the arm rests do not go up or the seat backs go back. Mind you that he asked for extra leg room and was given an exit row at check in. I did ask him if he ever flew before and he gave me a stupid look. The plane was only half full and I decided to distance myself from this walking nightmare. I overheard him complaining about the $2 fee for headphones and simply closed my eyes because he is NOT with me. I laughed to myself as jerk continued complaining about the size of the food portion. I laughed a little louder when I overheard the flight attendant tell him that for an extra $800 he could sit in a big fat seat and eat all he wanted! That seemed to shut him up. We now land and we are in the wonderful Dominican Republic. I tell jerky to stay close because I know everyone at the airport and he will need to stay with me and keep his gringo mouth shut. While I am shaking hands with two high ranking airforce officers and customs agents jerky starts with sarcastic remarks. The officers understand English and asked me who he was I sighed, rolled my eyes and said "an associate". My Dominican friends being friendly and very understanding simply smiled and took jerky's bags with jerky trying to grab them back. "Give them the bags Todd, they aren't going to steal them". After being given the red carpet treatment we were joined by a Full F.A.D. Colonel in his jeepeta and brought over to his house at the base where we were to be treated to a nice Dominican lunch. I begged Todd to not offend my friends anymore..I was worried! Of course jerky made a few comments about the Colonel's maid...I took him outside and told him that it was the Colonel's wife and to shut up. I know, I know..I should get rid of this guy but I invited him and I am sticking with him...nice guy huh? More later........