Overage Fees

October 22, 2007, 10:45 a.m.

Japan was a wonderful experience. Almost. When it came time to check in luggage at the airport, the Japanese efficiency and “by the book” method of operation became glaringly apparent. With 32 pieces of equipment and luggage, overages are always a concern. However, as noted before, a combination of tips, bribes, C.D. giveaways, autograph, and sometimes a singing a few bars from a hit song keep the overages at a minumum of $500 to $1500 dollars. The Japanese, on the other hand, want to charge us Two Million Yen!!! That’s about $20,000!!! And they are not budging. After two hours of negotiation and absolutely no give by the Qantas’ Tokyo Management, Static has no option but to stay behind and procure a freight company to do it for less (final tally, however, is about $9000.) He gets one more night in Japan and goes to see the Ronnie James Dio/Black Sabbath project, Heaven and Hell.

Despite the serious nature of the check out, I have time to play a trick on Robbie, who is now completely crashed out in a wheelchair in the middle of the check out area. I begin to push him to the other side of the check out counter, however, half way there he wakes up in a daze and give me road props with a sleepy version of one of his crazy pirate laughs.