I have just returned from another work-related trip. This trip found me in lovely Phoenix, Arizona.
As with most of my trips, I have a few observations and thoughts.
- Had lunch at O'Hare on the trip out. Sat next to a lady who was going through a magazine ripping adds out. Some of the adds were placed into a neat stack, while others were wadded up and stuffed into a McDonald's bag. Not sure what criteria she was using. I decided that was info I didn't need.
- At O'Hare, I watched a lady who looked to be in her 80's stroll into a men's restroom. At first, I thought she may have been confused, then, when she didn't come out, and I saw the line at the women's restroom, I figured out that this lady had to go...and she was going to go. In my opinion, I say..."if she isn't afraid of what is going on in the men's room....go ahead. The poor lady had to go....let her go".
- Flight out was uneventful. Except for some very ill-timed turbulance...while I was in the phonebooth/bathroom. Needless to say, I spent an extra few minutes cleaning the lower part of one of the walls. Damn it.
- Got a nice Vibe for a rental car.
- The hotel was awesome. Great pool, awesome "lazy river", on-site Starbucks. I was told at "peak season" the rate for the room I had was around $500/night.
- I am going on record as saying the "On The Border" near the hotel I stayed at has some of the best frozen strawberry margaritas I have had the pleasure of indulging in. (caution, if your browser supports Flash, the link to the restaurant gets annoying after a while).
- Every day was around 108 degrees. But it only felt like 97.
- Not too many "nerd encounters" at the conference. One memorable one had to do with a gentleman wearing a stuffed fox on his shoulder throughout the conference. I ALMOST bought a stuffed elephant and some safety pins at a nearby Kohl's....almost.
- Flight back was very nice...except I noticed I had BO as I boarded the flight to Chicago . You see, when I fly I like to wear my lucky Cubs jersey....ok, I insist on wearing it. Unfortunately, I didn't woolite it after the flight out. As a result, I spent 15 minutes in the plane's bathroom rubbing hand soap under my arms trying to tame down my masculinity.
- Finally, I know the TSA folks have tough jobs. I appreciate them very, very much. But it bothered me a little to see a 70+ year old woman getting the full search treatment. She was shaking pretty hard while they were wanding her. Just doesn't seem right. Of course, I know their attention must be "random".
Anyway, it is nice to be home. Next trip (in about 3+ weeks) will take me to Atlanta, GA then to Winter Haven, FL.
