The flight attendant showed me a handwritten note: “we will be landing [in Kagoshima] at 9:30 [a.m.].” I’m the only non-Japanese customer, and, by the look of it, just about everybody else on this 737 is flying for work. I like traveling with Japanese people because they are generally quiet, calm, and are considerate in… Continue reading Finding Japan
Year: 2016
Insufficient Reality
Every hotel room in Hawaii has a book or brochure pushing Hawaii as something to consume. Many first-time visitors are doomed to be unfulfilled by the activities they are seduced into buying. The experience depicted at the top of this post is dangerous and illegal: volcanic gases and Federal law get in the way. The… Continue reading Insufficient Reality
Lava: It’s Scientific Fun!
We walked on lava through fern forests down to two calderas. We rested on chunks of lava with steam rising around us. Our nephews (7 and 8) were in good spirits but they got a little bored towards the end. To distract I demonstrated how to make a whistle by clamping a grass leaf between… Continue reading Lava: It’s Scientific Fun!
Tough Jobs and a Lascivious Senior
This morning I lay in bed watching the sun rise over the Pacific. A rising sun does not have the easy drama of an ocean sunset. But I can’t say a setting sun is better than a rising sun. This rising sun meant I had a full day ahead of me to potter around Hilo… Continue reading Tough Jobs and a Lascivious Senior
Long Hauls, Cheap Tix
Tomorrow, Monday, I get on a plane. I’ve been getting on a plane several Mondays in January and February. A plane to take me to work in Portland, Oregon. This Monday is no exception, except this time I’m flying on a one-way ticket. I’ll work for my client for the last time, then cross the… Continue reading Long Hauls, Cheap Tix
Seeking Order in a Chaotic World
A few books linger on my office bookshelves. I’ve tossed many of my business books into the recycling bin, including unread 1980’s editions of In Search of Excellence. Managers passed out copies, and it would have been impolite to decline. In the absence of competent leadership, it seemed futile to spend time reading a book… Continue reading Seeking Order in a Chaotic World
DV: Delta (Airlines) Volente
DV is usually taken to mean “Deo Volente, God willing.” It’s a great excuse to avoid personal responsibility, as in, “I’ll met you at 6:30, God willing.” Or, more precisely, “If the road is congested, it’s not my fault if I’m late.” I’ve been happy with Delta Airline’s MSP-PDX on-time performance while traveling that city… Continue reading DV: Delta (Airlines) Volente
Travel Gear: Mesh Stuff Sack
On a train or plane, it’s good to have stuff immediately to hand. My solution is a mesh stuff sack that closes with a drawstring and toggle. It’s light and durable, it keeps things together, and I don’t leave random possessions behind when I disembark. My partner and I have been traveling with the same… Continue reading Travel Gear: Mesh Stuff Sack
Trains and Planes and Earworms
I don’t know how road warriors do what they do, year in, year out. My temporary home, Portland, Oregon, is a wonderful place, but I’ve been experiencing an earworm filled with loss and longing as I walk to work. Wikipedia defines an earworm thus: An earworm, sometimes known as a brainworm, is a catchy piece of music… Continue reading Trains and Planes and Earworms
Road Warriors
Tomorrow, I’ll be sitting in an airline club, tuning out the other road warriors. “Just checking in” phone calls to the home office shouldn’t last twenty minutes. Extreme road warriors cluster around departure gates. One may be begging for an upgrade, others are making sure they board ahead of the next-lower class. A common topic of… Continue reading Road Warriors