Doha, Qatar, Hamad International Airport, Tuesday, July 15th, 7:30 p.m. So here I am halfway around the world, stranded in the airport baggage claim. No ticket to get home. Broke. What else could go wrong? I was about to find out. Anza, CA. The backstory. This whole bizarre episode all started because I was desperate for money. Like a silent dog whistle, desperation is an imperceptible stench to most normal humans, but reeks for those humans that are attuned to it. It draws them to me like a magnet, and the closer they get the more complicated they stick. Palm Springs, CA, Palm Springs International Airport, Monday, July 14th, 3:15 a.m. My client was nervous and wanted me at the airport three hours early virtually guaranteeing that no one would be working the counters, and that I would have to deal with those awful kiosks which I hate. …
