Forget Retirement

I just got my wings back -- top tier status on one of the airlines for the next full year. Looking back upon the last year, I sense that I'm not quite done yet. I've had a couple of decades of stories to tell, and I think there are still a few more stories out there waiting to be told. Even though I was feeling a bit old and tired, I think I still need to continue a while longer as one of those "foot soldiers of the modern global economy," as eloquently stated by some article in an airline magazine that I had read a few years back. It's onward to Orlando in August for a sales meeting. It beats Phoenix, I guess. Not by much, though. Later.

In The District

These field reports are starting to get a bit rare. I'm reporting from within the beltway. Yes, I'm actually staying in the District. You know, Washington, DC. That's right. I'm back to my old habits. I've probably overextended myself again, and am living on that miracle drug, Dayquil. I decided to try to get back in training again, and overdid it before I got on the plane. I always seem to have that bad habit of forgetting that I'm not eighteen any more. Anyhow, I'm here until Wednesday morning, and back for a couple of days at home before I leave again for Hawaii. I am one of many people in my group from San Diego at this conference in DC. It was strange that we all seemed to take different routes to get here, and we all seem to have different disaster stories of how we all got here. One person connected in Los Angeles, another in Atlanta, someone else in Chicago, yet another in Cincinnati, and someone went through Phoenix. Just about everyone experienced some sort of flight delay. I connected in Dallas without any flight delay, but getting out of the airport was an adventure. Let's just say it involves a minivan and step ladder... Anyhow, this is a long update, so I'd better get some rest. After all, I should probably sleep this cold away. Later.

Phoenix Rising Once Again

It's August, and I'm in Phoenix. This really sounds familiar for some reason. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I've flashed back two years into the past, when my friend and former colleague Kathy and I visited Phoenix about four or five times in August. It's hot, sticky, and just as you'd expect a place like Phoenix to be. Hey, at least there's some consistency in my life once again. The craziness has started once again, and I guess that's a normal state of being. The ride into Phoenix tonight was a bit reminiscent of some old wooden roller coasters that I remember from a couple of years back. Anyhow, I'm just here for the evening, and then it's back to the daily grind. Peace out.

Boycott Continental! At least for now.

Later.

Back In Circulation

It's been quite a wild ride for the last few weeks. After several months of being office-bound, I returned to the field. When I return, I really go overboard. I've been to Salinas, Phoenix, Dallas, Detroit, Jackson, Tampa, Miami, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Philadelphia in the last couple of weeks. While it was nice being back in circulation, I am reminded that perhaps there is some sort of happy medium between the really nutty schedule of the last few weeks, and the total absense of travel in the last couple of months. Anyhow, I'm really tired right now. I think I need some sleep.

Boycott Continental. You know you want to.

Later.

Real Life Sequel

I was just in Phoenix this weekend -- well, let's say I was passing through the Phoenix airport, when suddenly, a page was heard overhead... "Captain Oveur. Captain Clarence Oveur. Please pick up the white courtesy phone. " Sounds like a normal page doesn't it? For those of you who do not recognize the reference, this comes from the movie Airplane! Well, if that wasn't bad enough, a few seconds later, the same voice overhead announced, "No, the white phone."

Something told me that sanity had gone right out the window. After all, an hour earlier, I saw the lit up sign on one of the gates -- Flight: HoHo. Departing: Dec24 Destination: North Pole. Limit 8 reindeer per Santa Claus.

Since sanity has completely left the building, it's time for me to keep my feet on the ground for the rest of the year. So, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. The adventures will continue next year. Really! I already have a trip scheduled on January 3rd, and I'm sure there will be a lot more to tell.

Boycott Continental! Where would we be without a little consistency in the universe?

Later.

Sleepless In Seattle Again

I'm back in Seattle, after a wild ride to Savannah, Detroit, Lexington, and Louisville last week. Showtime begins at six in the morning, and setup starts at four, so I will truly be sleepless in Seattle once more. I'm playing technical advisor to a client that's visiting Seattle for a conference, and we just got through a dry run of the presentation tomorrow. It's been a bad set of travel weeks, thanks to some really bad adventures on Delta and America West. When you don't have top tier status on an airline, they really have a license to treat you like crap. It was nothing out of the ordinary -- late flights, early connections, giving away your seat even though you landed late and are on the other side of the terminal in Phoenix... You know, the usual stuff. I'd rant some more here, but I've got some work to do, so I'll catch you later.

Boycott Continental! I'm serious.

Later.

Back To Basics

After a long absence, I have returned. I realize I've been here all along, but for the first time, I'm feeling a little better about everything in general. It's possible that I feel this way because this is the longest possible time period prior to the next time I'm forced to participate in another sales meeting. This one was one of those more difficult ones for me with all of the additional work that was required for preparation. It's back to basics for me.

As I mentioned, I spent the week at our annual sales meeting in Tampa. This was one of the best meetings in quite a while, and the first one I've attended that I did not perceive as a punitive session. Getting there was half the fun. I was required to be there before 3:30pm on Sunday, so I had to travel a day early in order to get there in time. We had a hotel that was a bit over-the-top. I had a room that was as big as my house. That never usually happens on the road. Anyhow, I'm back to my regular schedule next week. It's onward to Dallas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles for me. At least there's some consistency within the universe... for now. Later.

Stringing Along

Once again, it's all about security. It's amazing. After a quick unpack and repack job, I went back to the airport for yet another flogging, less than 12 hours later. At smaller airports, you practically have to strip down to your underwear in order to pass through security. This time, as I was putting my belt back on, it got caught in one of the plastic trays that go through the x-ray machine. Unfortunately, the TSA agent decided to gather the trays with my belt buckle stuck in between the trays. As my belt was halfway on, and I was stuck to the tray, she decided that was the appropriate moment to stack the trays and move them, dragging me across the counter with them. Not one of my finer moments, to be sure. Well, at least it was a short trip. I returned home, just in time to go out again on Sunday. Until then. Later.

Back In Time

The temptation here is to sleep. After all, it's about 1:30 in the morning, and I just got back home. The good news is that I can sleep in my own bed. The bad news is that I'm scheduled to go to Phoenix tomorrow, I mean, today, then to Sacramento and various other locations on Sunday and beyond. Under normal circumstances that would be just another day in the life. This time, though, I just got back from Raleigh-Durham, and I'm noticing that the cross-country trips are really taking their toll. I got the official word that I might have some relief in sight, but even if they hire someone, it'll take about six to nine months to fully get someone up-to-speed with what needs to be done. I'm guessing that I'll fly apart long before that (if I haven't already). I should unpack, repack, and do all that other stuff, but I think I'll finish unpacking in the morning. Hope I have enough laundry for this. I just don't care any more. I'm tired. I could use some sleep. For me, this week doesn't end for at least another month. Onward to the Third Ring of . . . I mean, Phoenix. Later.

The Third Ring Tour Of 2003

I just got back home from Phoenix, where it really started to cool down a bit. The nights were only in the high eighties, which is pretty good by comparison. I have been to Phoenix a bit too much in the last month, and since my August trips to the area are officially over, it's time to put a close to the Third Ring Of Hell Tour of 2003. Let's start gearing up for the 2004 tour! This last trip was the most difficult, with the sleep deprivation factor which was left over from the seven-hour delay out of Dallas. I wound up at my hotel after 3am, and when I started doing my e-mails, people were already up on the east coast responding to me. I then proceeded to get lost for the 206th time. However, this time, I was hopelessly stranded in the desert somewhere halfway between Phoenix and Flagstaff. What a trip! I think this is one for the books. Well, I'm home for the weekend, and then off to Baton Rouge, LA, next week. See you then! Later.

Stuck Between The Rings

I got stuck between Dallas and Phoenix. Due to weather-related issues, I was stuck on I-635 for well over an hour-and-a-half, which caused me to miss my flight, which was cancelled anyway. Well, that's not all that caused me to be late. Our meeting was delayed by over an hour, in which time they had us in a waiting area, and had us finish just in time for rush hour traffic. How rude! The airline was going to charge me a change fee, but I talked my way out of it. There was a big lightning storm along the way today, and it was a spectacular display, to say the least. To any road warrior, the first thought is always, "We're NOT taking off in that...". After the storm, things are starting to get back to normal -- delayed flights, lost luggage, and excessive passenger complaints. As I said, back to normal. I'm still stuck at the airport waiting for a flight. The next stop is Phoenix, which is known (in August) as the infamous Third Ring Of Hell. Later.

. . . Or Was It?

It was a relatively uneventful trip to Dallas. I got lost once again, which makes 205 times in my career as a road warrior. It was one of those classics, once again. I turned on various streets, accidentally getitng onto freeways going in the wrong direction, without any nearby exits. After an hour, I found my way to the hotel, which turned out to be much easier that I thought. The weather isn't too bad today. There was a brief shower earlier today which cooled things off a bit. I've got a couple of meetings in the morning, then it's off to the races, or at least, back to the Third Ring Of Hell tomorrow. That should be something. Later.

Trapped In The Third Ring Of Hell

Still Phoenix... Still August... Get me outta here. My flight -- the last flight of the day out of here -- was cancelled due to damage to the airplane by a luggage cart. I've got a meeting tomorrow morning in Los Angeles, and I'm on a 6am flight, which is not my favorite time to travel. It's still over a hundred degrees in the shade, and I still have to come back to Phoenix next week. Aaaaargh! Ok, we've established that my state of mind is not that great, especially after fighting with hotels and airlines to get all of this stuff paid for. At least I'm home for the rest of the week. Haven't done that in a while. Later.

Return To The Third Ring Of Hell

I'm back in Phoenix in August. Got in after midnight, and it was still about a hundred degrees. I've got to stop coming to Phoenix in August. The sad part is, that I'm back here again next week after a short stint in Dallas. This was one of the few visits that the TSA people forgot to lock me out of my luggage, although they seem to have run over it with another truck. I'm still sick, and I think my doc-in-the-box really needs to go back to medical school. The floggings continue tonight. I'm traveling back to Los Angeles, but I won't make it home until tomorrow night. Later.

Escape From The Third Ring Of Hell

I'm back at home, after escaping from Phoenix. This week really wasn't supposed to happen. I traveled across the country to Durham, NC, and caught the last flight out to Phoenix. I woke up at a reeeeeeally early hour for a conference call that never happened. I still have my cold, apparently. I had terrible muscle spasms throughout the trip, and I fell down on a short set of stairs after one of my meetings, and sprained my ankle, once again. I'm taking the rest of the week (or at least what's left of it) off. Next week, it's Washington state and Washington, DC, in that order. Later.

The Third Ring Of Hell Revisted

Of all places, I had to get back to Phoenix in August, the hottest month of the year. I landed in the middle of the night, and it was still about 100 degrees! Of course, my frame of mind after close to eight hours of travel from Raleigh-Durham was not all that great, either. The worst part is that I have multiple trips into Phoenix this month, and my travel desk seems to be wanting to route me through Phoenix for most of my upcoming trips this month. Not the most pleasant prospect in the hottest month of the year... I'm cutting this week short and going home tomorrow (I guess I mean today). Home on a Wednesday night -- what a novel concept! I don't think I've been home more than twice on a Wednesday night in the last couple of years. Anyhow, I've got to get to bed. I've got a call at 7am. Brutal! One of these days, we've got to synch up these time zones a little better. I always seem to be in the time zones that the world forgot about. Later.

Broken Down

I'm still coughing my lungs out in Baltimore. I leave for home tomorrow, and I'm stuck in a coach center for a four hour flight, so I'm hoping I get shot or something before that. Anyhow, I've had a reaaaaaally bad past few months. I'm seriously considering cutting back on my travel. Yes, I'm getting to old for this, just like Danny and Mel. Hopefully, I'll survive the trip home in the morning. Got to be in Durham, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City next week. I'm getting tired just thinking about it. Later.

My So Called Life (at least the part of it that wasn't stolen)

It's strange what you can get done when you are actually home for more than 48 hours. It's been a really wild experience, aside from the identity theft and other goofy stuff I had to deal with. I actually had time to catch up with a couple of friends this weekend. Who would've believed it? More editorials are coming your way soon. For the first time, I'm finally catching up with life. Amazing what 96 hours at home can do... I'm on my way to Phoenix tomorrow, so take care and travel safe. I'll be back... (Isn't that what Arnold said?)

Back Home from Hawaii

I went to Hawaii, came back, and here I am again. I am waiting for the next adventure, but I have four whole days at home, which I haven't had in a long time. After a week back home in Hawaii, I am ready for retirement. However, I know that's not yet possible... at least this year, anyway. My next adventure takes me into the Phoenix and San Diego area later next week. I'll do my next report from the road. In the meantime, I think it's time for more storytelling, so I'll work on my editorials this weekend. Catch you later.

Ping Pong, Anyone?

...and the adventure continues from Phoenix, Arizona. After a quick stop at home, I hopped another plane to get here. After a brief flogging at the airport, it was a relatively rough flight without any major incident. At least this time, I had a nice dinner. That's something I might not be able to do during the rest of the week. I'm off to Boston later on Wednesday afternoon, so I'll sign off for now.