A TALE OF TWO SUNDAYS ...!

As anyone who has ever watched the classic Ginsu Knife Commercial can tell you, "In Japan, the hand can be used as a knife." But I'll bet you didn't know that at the Tokyo Narita Airport Hilton, the elevator can be used as a Guillotine. The elevator doors at this hotel open and close so quickly that, if you're not careful, you can be seriously injured. Last night alone, I saw a Flight Attendant get her luggage crushed and an elderly couple nearly topple over when the doors caught them by surprise. This morning, it was my turn. I stepped towards the Lobby Elevator seconds after the doors opened but I wasn't fast enough: They slammed shut on my face before I could jump out of the way. There is obviously no sensor to prevent the doors from closing when a guest is standing between them and no rubber padding to soften the inevitable blow. It was like being socked in the jaw. I made my way to the front desk, blood dripping from my mouth. "Your elevator doors just hit me," I said to the front desk manager, angrily, "They only opened for a few seconds and then closed on my head!" At first, he didn't understand me. "Do you see this blood?," I continued, "It's from your elevator." He stammered, but didn't say much. I took him to the scene of the incident and showed him how quickly the doors open and close, then asked him to send some antiseptic upstairs as soon as possible. While it turned out that I only had a split lip -- easily handled with a combination of ice and antiseptic -- I found myself wishing I could start the morning over. So that's exactly what I did. I got on a plane and flew back in time to a Better Sunday morning at 7th and Montana. This time, the tables were turned. Shortly after we finished the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle, Kathy spilled a bottle of water all over the place ...!