Went to bed Monday night with flu-like chills and a lot of dread: I needed to make a bunch of travel happen in the days ahead.
But got up Tuesday feeling weak and yet okay. So wrote a bunch and caught two flights that night to San Jose, the first one being with a very frightened air traveler sitting next to me who grabbed me in near shock during take-off (a first for me). I did a lot of writing on the flight, after she settled down, but had to talk her the whole way down into Las Vegas.
Picked up my rental at 2330 in San Jose and drove 90 mins to Carmel-by-the-Sea, Clint Eastwood's old mayoral stomping grounds, finally finding the Highlands Inn high on the coast cliff above Point Lobos. I was given a small cabin and hit the hay at 0100.
Up at 0630, I head to the main building for a 2.5-hour brief/Q&A with about 45 executives from America's top helicopter companies. That went well and will probably lead to a follow-on.
Then a quick change in the room and I'm 90 back to San Jose airport, getting to enjoy the stunning scenery this time.
My flight out of San Jose is delayed 5 hours due to mechanical. I eventually fly out at 1830 on a replacement, getting to O'Hare at 0030. United gives me a hotel voucher for the Hilton just outside, so I stagger over and drop into bed at 0130 after sending my column to Sean. I was supposed to make it to Ottawa and I was sans luggage.
So up at 0650 Thursday, I stagger back to the terminal and catch an 0840 to Ottawa. My bag does not arrive and I get hassled a bit at customs. Outside waiting is my host, Tim Barber of Canada 2020, a gov-linked think tank.
I am whisked to a swanky club that requires a coat and tie, and because I'm wearing black travel pants and a black long-sleeved polo, I need to gear up from the bin.
Inside there's a special lunch with Canadian gov and mil dignitaries, plus the U.S. ambassador.
I'm pretty blitzed, nibble at plates offered, and then am instructed to stand up and offer an impromptu speech. So I stand up and just start talking.
Twenty minutes later I'm sitting again and answering questions. I do my Boomer-pols-are-a-disaster bit, only to have the ambassador sitting next to me clear his throat and offer--sotto voce--"You're sitting next to one."
To which I naturally replied, "I know."
Then a car to the Westin, where my room isn't ready, but no need anyway, because I've got no luggage still.
We set up in nice ballroom with great AV package. I chat up my hosts for about 30 and then go 75 with about 200-plus crowd of defense contractors, officials and officers. A fire alarm sends us all outside for about 20 mins in the middle, but that's not a big deal.
After 30-plus Q&A, it's heavy finger-food and drinks with same crowd for an hour, then room fills back up to maybe 250-300 for evening, public show. I swap out a chunk of slides to make it interesting for me and less mil-heavy.
At this point I've eaten little and lived on joe all day, plus I did a tall beer during the break, so I start a bit sloppy but settle in after 5 mins into possibly the funniest performance in many months. The fatigue led to too many swears, but with the room darkened and me prowling up and down the aisle, it started feeling like a nightclub act, so the blue stuff was probably unavoidable.
After going maybe 75, I do 30 Q&A and I'm done.
Off to bar with Barbar and some govvies who let me scan the Packer game while chatting late into the night.
To bed at 0100 and up at 0700 to find my bag has finally arrived!
Fresh clothes and two flights later I'm back in Indy about the time my kids get home from school.
Christmas tree to put up and new kitten (our third Siberian just flown in from Atlanta yesterday): so we welcome Lyra to Sasha and Sofia.
I am beat, need big sleep, and must get back to writing tomorrow.
Shame about Pack, but thrilled to see Rodgers show promise. Feel we can beat them later on--even in Big D. Though next time Favre can't get slammed on every drop back.
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