Wednesday, April 30
My reports are really for the previous day. I'm writing this from the hotel while waiting for the shuttle bus to go to the IBM office.
Still not able to eat very much but slowly feeling better. We went out to lunch as a group. Drove across the city to a shopping mall called City Centre. Mostly western style clothing stores and such. There are restaurants on the top floor. Luis, the project manager from the US that came over is Hispanic. As we were riding up the elevator at the mall two women get on speaking Spanish. In a country of 1.3 bill lion who would ever think you would run into Spanish speakers?!
Hyderabad is a hilly city. We drove through the area of the city called Jubilee Hills to get to City Centre. Not tall hills but rolling with enormous boulders everywhere. Hyderabad and its neighbor, Secunderabad, are referred to as the Twin Cities. How about that!
Still haven't done any site seeing for real. On the taxi ride back to hotel we passed a big festival near the hotel and had to wait while they shot off fireworks on the street. Tomorrow is a holiday - Labor Day. I'll be working from the hotel but plan on getting done at a reasonable time and going to see the Charminar and maybe do some pearl shopping -- Hyderabad is known for fresh water pearls.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Subway
Tuesday, April 29
And I'm not referring to transportation. We had Subway sandwiches for lunch yesterday. We were working through the day and missed lunch time so had Subway sandwiches brought in. I had a chicken sub Indian style. Either the sandwich or the water or both have really not agreed with me. In the US it would be called Montezuma's revenge. I'm still queasy today.
We worked late, 8:30pm, and got a ride back to the hotel with one of the team members. I was expecting a whirlwind drive through the streets of Hyderabad. Didn't happen. I think he was nervous and also timid but we had a slow drive from Hitec City, the area with all the national and international business offices, to our hotel.
We did go through the one traffic light that I have seen so far. Other than that one intersection it is just every vehicle for themselves getting through intersections or turning onto streets. They drive on the left hand side of the road like in England.
Hopefully my stomach and everything below will calm down today.
And I'm not referring to transportation. We had Subway sandwiches for lunch yesterday. We were working through the day and missed lunch time so had Subway sandwiches brought in. I had a chicken sub Indian style. Either the sandwich or the water or both have really not agreed with me. In the US it would be called Montezuma's revenge. I'm still queasy today.
We worked late, 8:30pm, and got a ride back to the hotel with one of the team members. I was expecting a whirlwind drive through the streets of Hyderabad. Didn't happen. I think he was nervous and also timid but we had a slow drive from Hitec City, the area with all the national and international business offices, to our hotel.
We did go through the one traffic light that I have seen so far. Other than that one intersection it is just every vehicle for themselves getting through intersections or turning onto streets. They drive on the left hand side of the road like in England.
Hopefully my stomach and everything below will calm down today.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
First full day in Hyderabad, India
Monday, April 28
I've been in Hyderabad almost a day now. It seems so long ago that I left Minneapolis. The travelling has definitely
taken a toll on my brain and body.
The ride from the airport to the hotel was interesting. The airport just opened 20 days ago. Very modern of glass and steel.
But it is very far out from the city. About 40 kilometers. The hotel provided a pickup which was immensely appreciated.
The traffic wasn't the horrific packed and dangerous cacophony I had expected. Sure there were lots of vehicles and
of every time. Trucks, buses, cars, three wheelers, bikes, ox-drawn carriages and even 2 camels. When I saw the camels
I figured all I needed to see now were elephants. Didn't though.
So incredible images of poverty along the way contrasted with new and modern and expensive looking housing. People living
in handmade tents right next to the street. But also these modern town homes and apartments right near by.
I spent Sunday trying to find my bearings. The hotel is very western. Clean, modern and efficient. It is connected to
a large convention center. A wedding of someone famous or with money was going on. All incoming vehicles were
checked for bombs.
As part of my recuperation I worked out in the well-equipped gym and best of all had a full body massage with foot
reflexology and eye recuperation. It was very very nice to say the least.
I did absolutely no touring and did not venture from the hotel. Today is first day of work.
I've been in Hyderabad almost a day now. It seems so long ago that I left Minneapolis. The travelling has definitely
taken a toll on my brain and body.
The ride from the airport to the hotel was interesting. The airport just opened 20 days ago. Very modern of glass and steel.
But it is very far out from the city. About 40 kilometers. The hotel provided a pickup which was immensely appreciated.
The traffic wasn't the horrific packed and dangerous cacophony I had expected. Sure there were lots of vehicles and
of every time. Trucks, buses, cars, three wheelers, bikes, ox-drawn carriages and even 2 camels. When I saw the camels
I figured all I needed to see now were elephants. Didn't though.
So incredible images of poverty along the way contrasted with new and modern and expensive looking housing. People living
in handmade tents right next to the street. But also these modern town homes and apartments right near by.
I spent Sunday trying to find my bearings. The hotel is very western. Clean, modern and efficient. It is connected to
a large convention center. A wedding of someone famous or with money was going on. All incoming vehicles were
checked for bombs.
As part of my recuperation I worked out in the well-equipped gym and best of all had a full body massage with foot
reflexology and eye recuperation. It was very very nice to say the least.
I did absolutely no touring and did not venture from the hotel. Today is first day of work.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
I made it!
Here are my typings while travelling:
Friday, April 25
Super Shuttle pickup right on time arrived at the airport before 2pm stepped up to first class/premium check-in "The 4:40 flight has an 85 min wheels up." What does that mean? Basically it is going to be late. There is some sort of delay in Chicago. Switched to 3:15 flight from MSP to DFW.
20 people on standby-list. No idea how I got a seat. A middle seat but a seat.
Pull away from gate right on time 3:15. Amazing.
Pilot tells us we are parking in a remote holding zone. Wheels-up in 20 mins. according to Chicago.
DELAYED
3:40 pilot says we've gotten the go ahead.
3:41 pilot says while had his headset off telling us we had the clear, the tower came back and said to keep the engines off.
DELAYED
Take off 4:15pm
Flying from MSP to DFW is generally just a straight shot and 57 mins. We were diverted to Traverse City, MI.
That is across Lake Michigan from Chicago. So we had to fly over the lake going east and then back over going west to come into Chicago from the east.
We landed at 5:45.
Once on the ground we had to wait for a gate to be available. While waiting lightening was striking within 5 miles of the airport so all ground crew had to go in.
We weren't able to get to the gate to get off the plane until 6:20pm
Delhi flight delayed from 7:10pm to 7:45pm
Left the gate at 8:15 to park out on the tarmac. Finally took off at 9:30pm. The pilot warned the flight attendants that we would be taking off at full throttle and something about pitch of inclination. It didn't sound good but the take, in a driving rain storm, went fine.
It was a rather rocky ride and the flight attendants had to suspend the meal service while we flew through a big storm at 31,000 feet. Lightening on both sides of the plane. Very creepy. I was seated in the middle section over the wings so really couldn't see much.
I watched The Kite Runner movie (really, really good) while eating the dinner meal (okay). I did some work on my laptop. I read my Al Franken book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. I then tried to sleep. Basically I slept in one hour pieces. I'd sleep for about an hour then wake up. Scooshh around and sleep some more. The flight was not full and I lucked out that the gentleman sitting next to me moved over and I had two empty seats on one side. I still had to sleep sitting up though because lying across the seats was just too uncomfortable to sleep though I did to get
legs up. The gentleman did take advantage of the empty seats and fell asleep across them.
Amazingly we arrived only 30 mins past our scheduled time -- 9:35pm local/11:05am CDT. Either they pad the schedule enormously or over the 7,000+ miles we made up a lot of time.
To be honest the flight wasn't too bad considering I had been on a plane of some sort for 20 hours.
Arrival in Delhi. It is hot and humid here at 9:30 at night. I had been warned that the passport check line would be
slow. It was but tolerable. My one checked bag was coming around the luggage carousel my the time I got through customs.
There aren't really any signs of where to go or what to do. I headed toward what looked like customs check and was
correct. No line really just a cluster of people going through.
Now came the tricky part. I knew I would have to transfer from the international terminal to the domestic terminal. I had read that they are about 8 kilometers apart and that a transfer bus was available. There are no signs. No signs about domestic terminal, no signs about transfer bus and not really any signs about taxis.
I wander out I'm sure looking dazed and confused. A young man approaches asking if I need help. I know I'm in trouble now. He offers to direct me to where the taxis are to take me to the domestic terminal. It is now about 11pm and my flight to Hyderabad isn't until 5:50am. I'm not sure I even want to go to domestic terminal and wait for 7 hours.
I ask him about the transfer bus but he says it doesn't run this late at night. I tell him I want to exchange money. He takes me to exchange window. I'm trying to lose him by telling him I am waiting for another person - a flat out lie.
I can't shake him. I exchange $60 US for about 2200 Ruppees. I ask him how much taxi is to domestic terminal. He shows me this official looking paper that says it is 1050 Rupees. I'm like - no way it is that much and tell him thanks but no thanks. Then the price goes down to 700. I'm still saying no. Then it is 500. And that includes 12 kilometers to get there and 12 to get back. I tell him I'm not coming back but he insists that it is 24 kilometers.
I tell him I'm going to the pre-paid taxi stand and head back into the airport. I find the pre-paid taxi stand. Off to the side is a window with a government sign. The gentleman at the window gestures me over and asks if I need a taxi. I say yes to domestic terminal. I tell him my flight isn't until 5:20am. He says I should go to hotel next to terminal. I am tired, sweaty, confused and easily persuaded. The confusion part comes when he tells me the price of the hotel room and I pay for what ends up being the taxi ride. I only figured this out after I got to the hotel.
The taxi cost 250 Rupees - much less than the 1050 I started at with the outside guy. But I ripped myself off by giving the taxi drive a $20 tip! Even with that outrageous tip he was pissed. I'm really feeling like I'm the one getting ripped off.
My first impressions of India are not good. I can't see anything of the place. It is dark, dusty and hazy. The hotel is directly across from the domestic terminal. I check in paying with a credit card. I'm sure I'm going to get busted trying to expense this but I really needed some place to be that wasn't an airport.
The hotel room is just that a room. The window looks out to the hallway. There is a super duper ceiling fan, an air conditioner that doesn't work, a television, a little refrig and a separate bathroom. The door appear to not have a lock and definitely doesn't have a latch. I'm not feeling too good about the accommodations as a pile my two little pieces of luggage up against the door.
A shower would be great as I am quite sweaty now. the bathroom is actually quite large with a big tub and shower. No hot water but that's okay. It feels good. With the door not locking and not really even shut I'm thinking falling a sleep could be dangerous. I lie down and manage to fall asleep...again doing the hour by hour thing.
There is an automated room freshner that goes off every half hour and showers me, thanks to the super duper celing fan, with a petuli, oily smell. My mind is racing all over the place but I actually do get some rest.
Wake-up call at 3:45am. I decide a shave would make me feel, and look, better. Put on clean underwear, undershirt and polo shirt. Pack up the light jacket. I don't think I'll being needing that while I'm here. The bellman comes to get me and my luggage and off I go to the airport. Quick little drive to domestic terminal. I get checked it and now I am on flight to Hyderabad.
Friday, April 25
Super Shuttle pickup right on time arrived at the airport before 2pm stepped up to first class/premium check-in "The 4:40 flight has an 85 min wheels up." What does that mean? Basically it is going to be late. There is some sort of delay in Chicago. Switched to 3:15 flight from MSP to DFW.
20 people on standby-list. No idea how I got a seat. A middle seat but a seat.
Pull away from gate right on time 3:15. Amazing.
Pilot tells us we are parking in a remote holding zone. Wheels-up in 20 mins. according to Chicago.
DELAYED
3:40 pilot says we've gotten the go ahead.
3:41 pilot says while had his headset off telling us we had the clear, the tower came back and said to keep the engines off.
DELAYED
Take off 4:15pm
Flying from MSP to DFW is generally just a straight shot and 57 mins. We were diverted to Traverse City, MI.
That is across Lake Michigan from Chicago. So we had to fly over the lake going east and then back over going west to come into Chicago from the east.
We landed at 5:45.
Once on the ground we had to wait for a gate to be available. While waiting lightening was striking within 5 miles of the airport so all ground crew had to go in.
We weren't able to get to the gate to get off the plane until 6:20pm
Delhi flight delayed from 7:10pm to 7:45pm
Left the gate at 8:15 to park out on the tarmac. Finally took off at 9:30pm. The pilot warned the flight attendants that we would be taking off at full throttle and something about pitch of inclination. It didn't sound good but the take, in a driving rain storm, went fine.
It was a rather rocky ride and the flight attendants had to suspend the meal service while we flew through a big storm at 31,000 feet. Lightening on both sides of the plane. Very creepy. I was seated in the middle section over the wings so really couldn't see much.
I watched The Kite Runner movie (really, really good) while eating the dinner meal (okay). I did some work on my laptop. I read my Al Franken book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. I then tried to sleep. Basically I slept in one hour pieces. I'd sleep for about an hour then wake up. Scooshh around and sleep some more. The flight was not full and I lucked out that the gentleman sitting next to me moved over and I had two empty seats on one side. I still had to sleep sitting up though because lying across the seats was just too uncomfortable to sleep though I did to get
legs up. The gentleman did take advantage of the empty seats and fell asleep across them.
Amazingly we arrived only 30 mins past our scheduled time -- 9:35pm local/11:05am CDT. Either they pad the schedule enormously or over the 7,000+ miles we made up a lot of time.
To be honest the flight wasn't too bad considering I had been on a plane of some sort for 20 hours.
Arrival in Delhi. It is hot and humid here at 9:30 at night. I had been warned that the passport check line would be
slow. It was but tolerable. My one checked bag was coming around the luggage carousel my the time I got through customs.
There aren't really any signs of where to go or what to do. I headed toward what looked like customs check and was
correct. No line really just a cluster of people going through.
Now came the tricky part. I knew I would have to transfer from the international terminal to the domestic terminal. I had read that they are about 8 kilometers apart and that a transfer bus was available. There are no signs. No signs about domestic terminal, no signs about transfer bus and not really any signs about taxis.
I wander out I'm sure looking dazed and confused. A young man approaches asking if I need help. I know I'm in trouble now. He offers to direct me to where the taxis are to take me to the domestic terminal. It is now about 11pm and my flight to Hyderabad isn't until 5:50am. I'm not sure I even want to go to domestic terminal and wait for 7 hours.
I ask him about the transfer bus but he says it doesn't run this late at night. I tell him I want to exchange money. He takes me to exchange window. I'm trying to lose him by telling him I am waiting for another person - a flat out lie.
I can't shake him. I exchange $60 US for about 2200 Ruppees. I ask him how much taxi is to domestic terminal. He shows me this official looking paper that says it is 1050 Rupees. I'm like - no way it is that much and tell him thanks but no thanks. Then the price goes down to 700. I'm still saying no. Then it is 500. And that includes 12 kilometers to get there and 12 to get back. I tell him I'm not coming back but he insists that it is 24 kilometers.
I tell him I'm going to the pre-paid taxi stand and head back into the airport. I find the pre-paid taxi stand. Off to the side is a window with a government sign. The gentleman at the window gestures me over and asks if I need a taxi. I say yes to domestic terminal. I tell him my flight isn't until 5:20am. He says I should go to hotel next to terminal. I am tired, sweaty, confused and easily persuaded. The confusion part comes when he tells me the price of the hotel room and I pay for what ends up being the taxi ride. I only figured this out after I got to the hotel.
The taxi cost 250 Rupees - much less than the 1050 I started at with the outside guy. But I ripped myself off by giving the taxi drive a $20 tip! Even with that outrageous tip he was pissed. I'm really feeling like I'm the one getting ripped off.
My first impressions of India are not good. I can't see anything of the place. It is dark, dusty and hazy. The hotel is directly across from the domestic terminal. I check in paying with a credit card. I'm sure I'm going to get busted trying to expense this but I really needed some place to be that wasn't an airport.
The hotel room is just that a room. The window looks out to the hallway. There is a super duper ceiling fan, an air conditioner that doesn't work, a television, a little refrig and a separate bathroom. The door appear to not have a lock and definitely doesn't have a latch. I'm not feeling too good about the accommodations as a pile my two little pieces of luggage up against the door.
A shower would be great as I am quite sweaty now. the bathroom is actually quite large with a big tub and shower. No hot water but that's okay. It feels good. With the door not locking and not really even shut I'm thinking falling a sleep could be dangerous. I lie down and manage to fall asleep...again doing the hour by hour thing.
There is an automated room freshner that goes off every half hour and showers me, thanks to the super duper celing fan, with a petuli, oily smell. My mind is racing all over the place but I actually do get some rest.
Wake-up call at 3:45am. I decide a shave would make me feel, and look, better. Put on clean underwear, undershirt and polo shirt. Pack up the light jacket. I don't think I'll being needing that while I'm here. The bellman comes to get me and my luggage and off I go to the airport. Quick little drive to domestic terminal. I get checked it and now I am on flight to Hyderabad.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Let the adventure begin
The bon voyage crowd.
My passport and Indian business visa did arrive this morning with a few hours to spare. I still hadn't packed and so spent about half hour packing and finishing up the cat care instructions.
I am taking the Super Shuttle service to the airport. Supposed to pick me up between 1:20 and 1:35. My flight to Chicago doesn't leave until 4:40. The Chicago to Delhi flight leaves at 7:10pm.
I found this article that a reporter for USAToday wrote about the exact same flight I'm taking.
USATODAY article
Once in Delhi I have another flight to Hyderabad. There is a nine hour layover but I'm figuring that will be mostly filled with going through customs and transferring from the international terminal to the domestic terminal.
I don't actuall arrive in Hyderabad until early Sunday morning....India time which would be late Saturday night time locally. India is 10 1/2 hours ahead of US Central time.
I hope to keep the blog up to date at least with text. I may not be able to upload pictures until I come back. We'll see.
My passport and Indian business visa did arrive this morning with a few hours to spare. I still hadn't packed and so spent about half hour packing and finishing up the cat care instructions.I am taking the Super Shuttle service to the airport. Supposed to pick me up between 1:20 and 1:35. My flight to Chicago doesn't leave until 4:40. The Chicago to Delhi flight leaves at 7:10pm.
I found this article that a reporter for USAToday wrote about the exact same flight I'm taking.
USATODAY article
Once in Delhi I have another flight to Hyderabad. There is a nine hour layover but I'm figuring that will be mostly filled with going through customs and transferring from the international terminal to the domestic terminal.
I don't actuall arrive in Hyderabad until early Sunday morning....India time which would be late Saturday night time locally. India is 10 1/2 hours ahead of US Central time.
I hope to keep the blog up to date at least with text. I may not be able to upload pictures until I come back. We'll see.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
First crocus
My first crocus has finally bloomed. It was looking like it was going to be the only one but another one is opening today. ahhhh, spring.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
albino squirrel
I saw an albino squirrel today. And I didn't have my phone camera. I don't think I've ever seen an albino squirrel before. It was fully grown so seems to be healthy.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Rantings
What is with people ignoring police, ambulance and fire truck sirens?! I was just stopped at a light and could hear a siren. I looked to the left and there was a fire truck approaching the intersection. The left turn light changed green and the first car pulled out and made the turn into the intersection with the fire truck headed her way. Totally ignoring that an emergency vehicle was coming.
Then the next car even started to enter the intersection as if the fire truck were going to stop at a red light!! I honked my horn and the did stop. The emergency vehicle traffic light system did switch the light to red but I couldn't believe that these people were just oblivious or arrogant.
Also, watched a bicyclist ignoring a traffic light by going through a red light with an oncoming UPSPS delivery vehicle in the oncoming lane. The driver of the USPS car was talking on his cell phone! Both are idiots.
I just paid $3.44/gallon for gas! It has gone up .20 in just a week. I don't actually drive my own truck very much because of all the travel but it cost $40.00 to fill it up. And we haven't gotten to the summer driving season yet. Looks like buying a hybrid truck was a pretty good idea.
Aunt Donna, I think you and Uncle Larry should start drilling for oil. You are probably the most likely members of the family to strike it. The copper wire thing finds dead bodies and buried electrical cables. Does Uncle Larry have an oil divining method?
I bought groceries yesterday. $70.00 for one person for about 3-4 days! I know I eat a lot and a lot of it is protein-dense but I could swear I was paying $50.00 just last year for the same amount of food.
Then the next car even started to enter the intersection as if the fire truck were going to stop at a red light!! I honked my horn and the did stop. The emergency vehicle traffic light system did switch the light to red but I couldn't believe that these people were just oblivious or arrogant.
Also, watched a bicyclist ignoring a traffic light by going through a red light with an oncoming UPSPS delivery vehicle in the oncoming lane. The driver of the USPS car was talking on his cell phone! Both are idiots.
I just paid $3.44/gallon for gas! It has gone up .20 in just a week. I don't actually drive my own truck very much because of all the travel but it cost $40.00 to fill it up. And we haven't gotten to the summer driving season yet. Looks like buying a hybrid truck was a pretty good idea.
Aunt Donna, I think you and Uncle Larry should start drilling for oil. You are probably the most likely members of the family to strike it. The copper wire thing finds dead bodies and buried electrical cables. Does Uncle Larry have an oil divining method?
I bought groceries yesterday. $70.00 for one person for about 3-4 days! I know I eat a lot and a lot of it is protein-dense but I could swear I was paying $50.00 just last year for the same amount of food.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Texas wild flowers
There are wonderful Texas Bluebonnets blooming along the highways and streets. They kind of look like hyacinths. They grow in large spreads. 
I think the other flower in abundance is the Pink Evening Primrose.
These are not my pictures. They are curtesy of www.lone-star.net.
I think the other flower in abundance is the Pink Evening Primrose.
These are not my pictures. They are curtesy of www.lone-star.net.
Another mini-miracle
My flight this morning to Dallas left on-time AND arrived early. AND we weren't penalized for arriving early by having to wait for a gate. We rolled right up to a gate and got off!
Seems so simple doesn't it? But it rarely happens this way.
Seems so simple doesn't it? But it rarely happens this way.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Ford Mustang
Nothing like a black Ford Mustang and 80 degree weather. That's what I had in Dallas this week. I've had a Mustang before and they are so fun to drive. Ya just have to crank the radio to classic rock and zip down the highway.
The ride on this one was smoother than my previous experiences. There really isn't anything fancy about the interior of this vehicle. Simple dash with simple gauges but press the gas and makes your blood flow.
They muffler and tail pipes are tuned to sound like a muscle car. Definitely worth a rental.
The ride on this one was smoother than my previous experiences. There really isn't anything fancy about the interior of this vehicle. Simple dash with simple gauges but press the gas and makes your blood flow.
They muffler and tail pipes are tuned to sound like a muscle car. Definitely worth a rental.
Poor robin
Hobbling back from my leg workout, I go by this poor robin huddled on the ground watching the snow falling and being beaten on by the wind. It was as sad and sorry site for a Spring day.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Nightmare avoided
I suppose everyone has heard about the problems with American Airlines this week. That is the airline I fly between Minneapolis and Dallas.
My 8:20pm flight tonight (Thursday) from Dallas to Minneapolis was canceled early this morning. I called AA to see what they could do for me. The reservations person said he could put me on the 4pm flight. I happen to know that thr 4pm flight is an MD80 - the aircraft that has been grounded. I asked him if he could guarantee that it wouldn't be canceled. He said no.
I knew there was a Sun Country flight available. He said he couldn't switch me to them because AA doesn't have an agreement with them. He then hung up on me!!!
I called American Express Travel which handles all are travel arrangements. They got me on the AA 12:40pm flight. The AA reservations guy didn't even offer that flight to me. The 12:40pm flight is the only one between MSP and DFW that is not an MD80.
The other side of the story is that the weather in Minneapolis was to get really bad by late evening. This morning the weather folks were calling for 8-10 inches of snow! If I hadn't been able to get on the early afternoon flight, it was going to be a long day.
But I'm home and comfortable. And have to go back to Dallas next week!!!!
My 8:20pm flight tonight (Thursday) from Dallas to Minneapolis was canceled early this morning. I called AA to see what they could do for me. The reservations person said he could put me on the 4pm flight. I happen to know that thr 4pm flight is an MD80 - the aircraft that has been grounded. I asked him if he could guarantee that it wouldn't be canceled. He said no.
I knew there was a Sun Country flight available. He said he couldn't switch me to them because AA doesn't have an agreement with them. He then hung up on me!!!
I called American Express Travel which handles all are travel arrangements. They got me on the AA 12:40pm flight. The AA reservations guy didn't even offer that flight to me. The 12:40pm flight is the only one between MSP and DFW that is not an MD80.
The other side of the story is that the weather in Minneapolis was to get really bad by late evening. This morning the weather folks were calling for 8-10 inches of snow! If I hadn't been able to get on the early afternoon flight, it was going to be a long day.
But I'm home and comfortable. And have to go back to Dallas next week!!!!
Uptown with Rachel
Rachel Druker, a friend from Minneapolis, is in Dallas this week. She works for the American Heart Association and travels here frequently, too.
We finally connected for dinner last night. She has done more wondering around than I have and knows how to get around. She picked me up at my hotel and we went over to the Uptown area of Dallas. It is a trendy area with lots of restaurants.
We dodged the rain storms and went to an Italian restaurant. It was okay but not spectacular.
It was great to spend some time with a friend and away from the IBM project and to see a new part of town. I forgot to take a self-portrait with Rachel...my apologies to her for not being able to feature her.
We finally connected for dinner last night. She has done more wondering around than I have and knows how to get around. She picked me up at my hotel and we went over to the Uptown area of Dallas. It is a trendy area with lots of restaurants.
We dodged the rain storms and went to an Italian restaurant. It was okay but not spectacular.
It was great to spend some time with a friend and away from the IBM project and to see a new part of town. I forgot to take a self-portrait with Rachel...my apologies to her for not being able to feature her.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
What's with Dallas weather forecasters?
How come all the TV weather folks in Dallas only forecast the weather for the Dallas - Fort Worth area, which they call the Metroplex? I've watched every station and they all just have maps of North Texas. They don't even show the weather for Houston or San Antonio.
At least in Minneapolis they show pretty much the whole country with weather coming in from Pacific coast and down from Canada or Alaska.
At least in Minneapolis they show pretty much the whole country with weather coming in from Pacific coast and down from Canada or Alaska.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Fitness update
Been working with the personal trainers at Fitness Together for 7 months now. Had my fifth fitness evaluation yesterday. Here are some of the results.
My weight has gone from 196.8 to 193.2. Not much of a change but it has been as low as 190. But the big difference and better indicator is lean (muscle) weight versus fat weight.
My lean weight has gone from 168.6 to 172.2, almost 4 lbs of muscle. The fat weight has gone from 28.2 to 21 lbs., over 7 lbs of lost fat. This gives me a bodyfat percentage of 10.9% where a value of 16.3 is considered well above average. I would like to get the bodyfat into the single digits.
My weight has gone from 196.8 to 193.2. Not much of a change but it has been as low as 190. But the big difference and better indicator is lean (muscle) weight versus fat weight.
My lean weight has gone from 168.6 to 172.2, almost 4 lbs of muscle. The fat weight has gone from 28.2 to 21 lbs., over 7 lbs of lost fat. This gives me a bodyfat percentage of 10.9% where a value of 16.3 is considered well above average. I would like to get the bodyfat into the single digits.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Pontiac G6 - again
Nothing new to report really except the key fob didn't work this week. Amazing how you get dependent on locking and unlocking your doors with that thing.
I thought when I locked the driver door with the key, all the other doors would lock. Turns out that wasn't happening and I didn't find out until the last day. No big deal. Nothing happened to the car. But if you click the door lock button inside the vehicle then close the door, all the doors lock on their own and the car honked its horn?! Go figure.
I thought when I locked the driver door with the key, all the other doors would lock. Turns out that wasn't happening and I didn't find out until the last day. No big deal. Nothing happened to the car. But if you click the door lock button inside the vehicle then close the door, all the doors lock on their own and the car honked its horn?! Go figure.
A travel tip
If you where dress shoes when traveling, put a shoe horn in your carry on bag. It really helps with getting your shoes back on after going through security.
Another thing is you don't have to take your belt off as long as you don't have any other metals or you belt doesn't have a big metal buckle. The metal detector is cummulative so be be sure to take off watch and remove coins.
Another thing is you don't have to take your belt off as long as you don't have any other metals or you belt doesn't have a big metal buckle. The metal detector is cummulative so be be sure to take off watch and remove coins.
I would suggest not traveling with me
I guess I can't complain too much but flight last night from Dallas was about an hour late. Some really big storms in the area and the incoming flight was diverted way south then way some where else.
Once it landed they did a pretty fast job of turning it around. I got upgraded to first class and was the first one down the gang plank/gate way. Had to wait outside the plane while the cleaning staff finished up. The gate attendant asked the pilot what was the delay so that's when I heard the story of flying all over. He then went outside and checked the plane pretty thoroughly. He even had a flashlight.
I was in the first row of first class so was closests to the cockpit. I could hear the automatic pilot voice telling the pilots how far off the ground we were when we were landing. "Fifty feet...thirty feet....ten feet....five...." It was kind of disconcerting.
This is a short turn around this week. I go back to Dallas on Monday.
Once it landed they did a pretty fast job of turning it around. I got upgraded to first class and was the first one down the gang plank/gate way. Had to wait outside the plane while the cleaning staff finished up. The gate attendant asked the pilot what was the delay so that's when I heard the story of flying all over. He then went outside and checked the plane pretty thoroughly. He even had a flashlight.
I was in the first row of first class so was closests to the cockpit. I could hear the automatic pilot voice telling the pilots how far off the ground we were when we were landing. "Fifty feet...thirty feet....ten feet....five...." It was kind of disconcerting.
This is a short turn around this week. I go back to Dallas on Monday.
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