Hello From Hell’s Kitchen

I’m back at the hotel for the night, frustrated at how everything closes so early around here. Not. No, I’m in becuase I’ve got a 6 AM wakeup and nobody to go raving with me. Ok, that’s not true, either. I’m in because I’m sleepy. This may be the city that never sleeps, but I sure do.

I had lunch at the Laguardia airport after landing a little before 11. It was after noon when I connected with the customer I was going to see. The word I got was that they’d go grab some lunch and be back before I arrived at the customer site.

In reality, the cabbie got me there twice as fast as the customer had estimated. I spent 30 minutes waiting in the lobby before he got back. At least there was free wireless, though, so I had something to do.

I went up to the office and quickly diagnosed the problem. Bam. Done for the day. I thanked him and hailed a cab for the hotel.

I got to the hotel at exactly 3 PM: check-in time. After a little cooling down, I ventured out to find the Daily Show studios, a block away from me.

It was pretty easy to find it, as there were already 50-75 people lined up out front. It didn’t look good for getting in. The standby line – for saps like me without tickets – was hidden around the corner, right next to a garbage can. I met some cool people while we waited. Even grabbed a bite to eat at the local deli. Alas, we were soon told there would be no standby tickets so we dispersed.

Here’s how you see a show get filmed. First you email them a couple of dates you’d like. Then they tell you what’s available. Your name gets put on a list making you eligible to wait for tickets. See, even if your name is on the list you may still walk away empty-handed, as happened to two guys I met who had driven all the way from Philadelphia to see the show. If you’re lucky and the VIP line isn’t too outrageous, you may get a ticket and get in to see the show. About 100 fortunate people do. Those like me get to try another day. Since they got shafted by the show, the two Philly guys get put on the VIP list for the next time, meaning they’ll have a more-or-less guaranteed shot at getting in. It’s all a big gamble, it seems. But what can you say, the show is The Thing now.

I overheard one of the show staffers telling a woman to try getting tickets for the Colbert Report, a few blocks away. Not having anything else to do, and thinking it would be worth a try to see some show, I tagged along with her. Her name was Emily and she worked for the FAA. We walked to 54th street, the site of the Colbert Report and the former studios for The Daily Show.

Once again, there was a long line of ticket-holders. Absent any official direction, we formed an ad-hoc standby line where once again I got to meet some really interesting people. That’s where I met the Philly guys. One of them half-jokingly suggested they get beer for their wait and before you knew it the other was bringing back a six-pack from the corner grocery. Lacking a bottle opener, they got creative and popped the caps using the top of the steel fence we were near. I thought it was a pretty festive scene, all told.

As the show time neared, I got excited to see another staffer with a clipboard, taking names for the standby list. I actually got my name on the list before another staffer announced that – once again – there were no standby seats left. At least this guy was sincere in his apologies – it seemed he was really sorry to turn us away.

Emily decided to go see a play, so – once again lacking anything else to do – I tagged along. When we got there, I balked at the price, thinking I’d save this experience for when Kelly and I could enjoy it together. With that, I headed back to my hotel to regroup.

The many times I’ve been to New York, I’ve never gotten to visit the “Strawberry Fields” area of Central Park. Strawberry Fields was the area of Central Park favored by John Lennon. Now there is a place in Central Park named after the famous Beatles song. Against my better judgement I walked the 21 blocks to get there, but I had to go.

There was the sign right inside the park reading “Strawberry Fields.” Beyond that was a crowd surrounding the circular tile with the word “Imagine.” Flowers and photographs adorned the tile and people viewed it quietly. I sat down on the bench and just watched everyone, taking in the feeling of being there. It was very reverental. A lot of deep thoughts seemed to run through peoples’ heads.

Before heading back, I had to see the Dakota itself, the place where Lennon was shot. Guards stood at the driveway but looking through the gates was enough for me. What a terrible, sad crime. I don’t think New York will ever stop taking it personally.

For the way home, I hopped the subway and then explored some options for dinner. The hotel staff pointed me to a nearby Italian restaurant, Roberto’s. My hopes of enjoying a fine Italian meal were dashed when I was told they only take cash or American Express! I had to forgo my wine, salad, and dessert to make the cash in my wallet fit an entree (I was so hungry at that point that getting more money was out of the question). I don’t know why they have such a PITA policy, but it hurt them tonight. I would’ve happily tripled my bill otherwise. Next time I’ll come prepared.

Tomorrow is the show itself. I have to check out of my room and scoot to the Financial District for the show’s start at 8. It will be tough saying goodbye again to this hotel as it holds a special place for me. You see, it was here that Kelly first told me she loved me, nine (!) years ago in December. Things like that you don’t forget. I can’t wait to return with her so she can say it again. New York rocks!

The City So Nice They Named It Twice

Had an awesome weekend alone with the kids. Read about it on the Hallie and Travis page.

This morning I’m off to New York to do a small trade show and do some tech support at a customer site. If timing works out, I also hope to join the audience of tonight’s Daily Show, since its filmed a block away from my hotel, the beautiful Skyline Hotel on 10th Ave.

This is the last travel trip on my schedule for now, which is good. The next trip away from home is our vacation next month!

Floyd Landis Is The Man

As I alluded to in a previous post, American Floyd Landis has charged back from the brink and willed himself back in contention to win the Tour De France. Like many, I’d written Landis off just two days ago but he proved me wrong. This Tour is anything but over.

Landis started yesterday trailing by eight minutes, eight seconds, having blown a ten minute lead in his disastrous climb in the La Toussiure stage. Whereas many would have rolled over and quit, Landis charged from the very beginning, leaving his struggling rivals in his wake. Not only did he win the stage – the last in the mighty Alps – he sliced his deficit to a mere thirty seconds! That’s right. Just one day after his disaster, Landis gained most of his time back, and he did it on one of the toughest climbs of the Tour. It was one of the most phenomenal Tour De France stages in modern history.

I knew athletes like Lance Armstrong could spot rivals eight minutes and then earn it back at will, but Lance never had to dig himself out of such a hole. No one’s ever done it as spectacularly as Landis did yesterday.

Even if he doesn’t win the whole race, yesterday’s win proves Floyd Landis is worthy of standing in Lance’s well-worn footsteps at the winner’s podium. I’m hoping he crushes his rivals in Saturday’s time trial so he can claim it all. He just might win after all.

Man, what a Tour!

Bloodbath In Lebanon

Okay, Hezbollah is wrong for blowing up buses full of innocent Israeli civilians. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. Israel, on the other hand, is no better. What Israel has done to Lebanon is inexcusable. What the U.S. government has done – blindly crowing allegiance to Israel and standing idly by while Israel destroys Lebanon – is inexcusable.

If Israel wants to go after Hezbollah – terrorists living in the No Man’s Land of southern Lebanon – that’s fine. But leave the rest of Lebanon out of this. The Middle East is big enough for two democracies. Israel is destroying the other one.

I will no longer feel pity for Israel when their violence comes back to them. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

If you’ve got a strong stomach, take a look at what your tax dollars are paying for. (Warning: graphic images!) With “Made In USA” stamped on the bombs falling on Lebanon, is it any wonder that the U.S. is so hated in the Middle East?

Tour De France

I just heard the results of today’s 17th stage of the Tour De France. All I can say is wow.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

For those of you who are following it on TV, I won’t spoil it for you. But get to your TVs as quickly as possible.

This Tour is so much more exciting now that Lance isn’t dominating it.

Tour De Durant

I’ve been cycling a few mornings a week for the past few months. Its done wonders for my energy and health. I love riding in the morning since its not so hot, I can do it upon waking because it doesn’t require much thought, and its too early for drivers on the road to be yapping on their cellphones.

This is the first Tour I’ve been following while actually doing my own rides. I was disappointed to hear that American Floyd Landis ran out of steam on today’s climb up La Toussiure in the 16th stage of the race. Landis was to be the new hope for American cycling but likely won’t achieve that as he needs hip replacement surgery immediately after the race.

I hope Landis’s setback doesn’t diminish the growing popularity of cycling here in the States. So if not Landis, who will be the next American wearing yellow at the finish line?

(I was going to ask who will be the next Lance Armstrong, but that will never happen.)

Travel Follies

I got back last evening from Atlanta. The trip was smooth, up until the end at least. The show wrapped before 3 PM, giving me time to take the MARTA to the airport. I was booked on the 7:15 flight to Raleigh but thought I’d take a gamble and see if I could get an earlier flight. I arrived at the check-in desk at 4 PM for a 4:45 PM flight. The lines at the security gate were long, but still I managed to get to my gate in time. I even had time to pick up a souvenier for the kids before boarding.

The flight was late due to waiting for transfer passengers to board but we made up the time and landed two minutes ahead of schedule. I breezed through the airport and went out to my car when I soon realized I wouldn’t be so quick to come home. The front left tire was flat!

I’d noticed it was flat when I was leaving Charlotte last week. A stop by a local gas station not only got me enough air to get back home but made the tire look so healthy that Leith Honda failed to find it when they rotated my tires on Friday.

There was no sense in grumbling about it at the moment, so I put my bags in the car and got to work. Fortunately for me my Honda CRV carries a full-size spare on the back, so in less than thirty minutes I was good as new.

That’s when I really got steamed. The thirty sweaty minutes I spent changing my tire caused ExitExpress to hold me hostage for another buck. I could have wrung its electronic neck! Lucky for it my tire iron was tucked safely in the back of my car. I was headed for the cashier booth to demand a refund when I noticed a dozen cars already in the cashier line. Principle would have to wait. I paid the stupid dollar and fumed all the way home.

In spite of my unexpected delay, I still got home well over an hour before my original flight was set to arrive. Not too bad.

Now I look in the bottom of my laptop bag and notice I’d inadvertently carried my Leatherman tool through two security screenings without anyone noticing. Whoopsie! Nothing says “airport security” like a four-inch knife in your carryon bag, does it?