11 January 2023

Guess who gave me a ride to the airport today?

I had posted about the FAA computer glitch this morning and that I could see from my hotel window how the runways in SFO were totally empty. Somebody else also was looking at the empty runways from his hotel room a couple of miles away from me. That was Ranga my friend from college days – in fact, we were in the same hostel (dorm) during my engineering days and I had become fairly close to him and his parents and siblings who lived in Kolkata for some time.

“Rongoraajon”, as he would be called in Kolkata!!

He saw my FB post and we quickly realized that we were very close to each other. I was heading out for the airport in a few minutes. He had meetings during the day and was going to go back home (San Diego) in the evening.

It was a shame that we stayed this close to each other for a couple of days and did not get to see each other.

Not so fast.

From inside my hotel shuttle to the airport, we started texting and he offered to drop me at the airport on his way to the meetings. So, I got down from the shuttle, pulled out my suitcase and waited for him.

He showed up in 10 minutes.

That 8 minute ride to the airport was a big upgrade to my original plans.

Always good to see this old friend again!!

Category: Intersection Points | LEAVE A COMMENT
11 January 2023

Woke up to a big surprise

My flight is mid morning today. Woke up to the news that all flights across the country have been disallowed to take off due to FAA system glitches. My hotel room looks straight across to the SFO runway. The runaways are eerily empty. Usually, it is lined by a retinue of planes waiting to take off! Bracing for an interesting journey back home today. (or tomorrow? 🙂 )

Category: Travelogs | LEAVE A COMMENT
10 January 2023

One of the best gifts ever!

I had just finished wrapping up the Board meeting when Matt Moore asked me “Can you swing by my office for a second?” I figured there was a quick piece of business to attend to.

Instead, he gifted me with this longboard! One of the best gifts I have ever received. He is a long boarder himself. And certainly one of the most empathetic, thoughtful person. He had seen form my posts that I was trying to gain skills in skateboarding. We had talked about long boarding during many of my prior trips to SFO.

Today, I am a proud owner of one.

Matt was kind enough to suggest that he ship it out to me instead of lugging it thru the airport.

I can’t wait for it now to arrive in Atlanta and commence learning more skills!!

Category: Skateboard | LEAVE A COMMENT
10 January 2023

Have you ever had coffee like this?

My friend, Matt Moore, always takes me to unique coffee places every time I come to San Francisco. This time, he took me to Red Bay Coffee and we had a Charcoal Latte! The coffee is literally sprinkled with finely granulated charcoal powder!! I was fairly intrigued by what it would be like. The coffee was great to taste and I could feel the occasional grain of charcoal on my teeth.

That was a different experience!!

Category: Travelogs | LEAVE A COMMENT
8 January 2023

Guess who I ran into?

Today, I did one of those one-way runs. Instead of looping back to the starting point, I started from home and planned to finish up at the Starbucks where the old running group – Chalupa – would gather for coffee after their run. Sharmila was going to bring me back.

At some point, I entered the Greenway trail and by my math, I would reach the Starbucks about ten minutes after the group had reached. You can then imagine my surprise when I saw the whole group posing for a picture in the trail. I did my best to photo bomb the picture with hands flailing and tongue sticking out!

Once I caught up to them, I had the familiar request “Aamader ekta chhobi tuley debey?” (Will you take a picture of us?) 🙂

Finished the rest of the segment and reached the Starbucks, predictably ten minutes after they had reached in their cars.

Category: Running | LEAVE A COMMENT