Giant room

After months of staying at the Hilton Executive Suites, I got a big big suite.  There is a sofa with coffee table, a conference table with four chairs,  large L-shaped desk with credenza and a large walk thru bathroom.

Thank you, Lauren, at the front desk.

Malmborg's with Martha and Sari

Here we are in the back of Black Lightening with our weed killer.  Too bad you can't see all our beautiful plants.

A yard and then A YARD

First off this is not my yard. These are two yards down the block.  I just thought the contrast was dramatic.

The immaculate yard is up wind from the "natural" yard.

Christmas in Charlotte

Mr. Christmas that is. My friendly National Rental Car return agent.  Somehow Christmas almost always is the guy who is there when I drive on to return my rental.  Familiar and happy faces are always welcomed.

Ford Taurus

I haven't done an auto review in months because there haven't been any new models really.  I've been wanting to rent a Ford Taurus for a long long time but there never were any until last week.

So I finally get one and I am so busy at work all I have time for mostly is driving to and from the office and hotel.  Nonetheless, I did get to enjoy this mid-size sedan for a bit.

The driver's seat is very much cockpit-like.  The center console is fairly high but no uncomfortable so you feel securely surrounded.  There are pleny of cup holders and slots and what have you in the console to satisfy the thirstiest driver and passenger.

The display is very much the same as the new Escort with options for showing fuel usage/mileage and other numerous statistics.  The controls for the radio are bit far away and there are so many buttons on the steering wheel that it leads to some confusion.

The most odd thing is the blinker.  As with most vehicles, you can push up or pull down slightly to single lane change and the blinker keeps blinking for a couple of extra blinks.  But to turn the blinker "on" you push up or pull down until there is a click and the stem returns to neutral.  There is a since that you would have to do the same when you are finished turning but it does turn itself off.  I'm not sure why it works this way other than perhaps it is electronic and not mechanical in the sense that it isn't tied to the stem position.

The Taurus is really fun to drive though I didn't get a chance to get out on the road too much.  It could stand to have a backup camera as the rear window is small.

Spring in the backyard

This is what I wait for...

Home

After a ten day stay in North Carolina, I am finally home.

I was so concerned that I would forget that I had parked at the Humphrey terminal that I almost forgot that I had checked my luggage and had to go the carousel.  I wasn't quite to the tram when I realized.

On the light rail platform now waiting for the train...along with a plane-load of others mostly flight attendants and pilots.

Three days at home then back to Charlotte on Monday.

More Biltmore pics

Here is my traditional self-portrait and pic of mom and Betty.

Biltmore day two

Another beautiful day.  We made it to the estate a little after 10am.  There was a long line of cars to get in.  It occurred to is that there might be special Easter events.  And there were.  An Easter egg roll on the front lawn.  The estate has no problem handling large gatherings.

Pictures are not allowed inside the mansion/castle.  Needless to say it is incredible and get difficult to describe.  The thrill for Betty was an opportunity to ride the elevator.  It was really because a nice docent asked mom if she would prefer a ride down instead of the long staircase.

Biltmore day one

I kind of messed up the times for touring and tea.  The original plan was to tour the house on day one and have tea in the afternoon.

We arrived too late to do both.  So we had tea at the Inn and toured the gardens in the afternoon.

Chimney Rock

On the way to the Biltmore in Ashville, drove through the Blue Ridge to Chimney Rock.

A warm welcome

I've been staying at the same Hilton hotel in Charlotte for months.  The staff is fantastic. 

Shout out to Brittany and Lauren at the front desk.  Talk about making you feel welcomed - they are so genuinely friendly.

And you can't top Aubrey and Ester in the restaurant.  More than attentive, they know what I want before I do.

Now if the guy that man's the executive lounge had a clue...