I’m in Baltimore, waiting for my train (and ride) to whisk me to the client site for training today. In spite of some hiccups, I made it here just fine.

I raced to the airport to arrive about 40 minutes before takeoff. Though the guy at security told me “you should take your shoes off,” I brushed him off, mumbling that my shoes have never tripped the alarm before. He told me “you’re gonna have to get screened if you leave them on.” I persisted, and piled everything but my shoes onto the conveyor belt.

Sure enough, I get instantly waved to the screening area. I roll my eyes and step aside. My shoes “have a lot of metal in them,” the screener announced after passing them through the X-ray machine. Though he was cordial, I find it a bit maddening that this whole process can’t be better streamlined. I mean, it’s degrading to have to take off your shoes to travel. Who wants to look at and smell other people’s feet?

Thankfully, there is still some fun to be found in air travel. I took Southwest to get here, as they offer a non-stop. Now, a lot of people I’ve traveled with avoid Southwest like the plague. They can’t stand the cattle-call boarding process. I love it, because it inserts an element of competition to the process. Rather than your fellow passengers taking their own sweet time to park their fannies in their seats, they now break their necks getting to the gate in an effort to pick their own seat. You gotta admit that’s brilliant.

As for me, I don’t know what the attraction is for picking your own seat. Even if you do snag a prime seat, whether it be aisle or window, chances are one of the latecomers is going to plop down next to you in that center seat you were hoping would stay open.

So much for your seat advantage. And everyone still gets there at the same time.

The other great thing about Southwest is the crew’s attitude. Though the snappy jokes they announce over the PA probably get old for the veterans, you can always count on your flight crew loving their jobs. I’ve never, ever had a surly flight attendant on a Southwest flight…because there is no such thing. The crew’s attitude can go a LONG way towards making your trip a pleasant one. You’ll not find better attitudes on any other airline. Period.

I’m finally going to quit being stupid and buy some Southwest stock. They’ve got a good thing going.

Our State Department’s terrorist-screening Consular Lookout And Screening System (CLASS) visa system was shut down completely as a result of a Microsoft virus. When will our 1d10+s in gumint realize that open source is the only way to go?

I suppose the terrorists have already won.

Today marks the first day of fall. From now until the spring, darkness will rule the light.

I saw it firsthand yesterday evening when I took my daughter for a walk after dinner. By the time we were back (around 7:30 PM), it was already dusk. I’ll miss summer, since I didn’t get to do as much sailing as I’d like. But then again, when do I *ever* get to do as much sailing as I’d like?

Fall is beautiful. It’s the season that sparks my imagination, and old friend who reminds me of the circle of life. I look forward to showing my daughter all the spectacular things that fall brings.

Nice for it to be here.

I’m off on a day-trip to Baltimore and then back late. Travel kicks into high gear when the end of the quarter is approaching. I’ll do anything to close a sale, though. Look for more writing tonight, accomplished in the time I’ll be stuck in my airplane seat.