… when you wake up at 3:45am, quickly get ready, rush to the airport, go to the gate and realize you misread the departure time by a clear hour and a half!!

Funny part is when I checked in my bag, as I was exchanging pleasantries with the lady at the desk, she asked “How are you?”. And I said “Way too early”. And she said “Better late than sorry”. I grinned and said “I know”. Actually, I did not know what she was talking about. I was thinking she would sympathize that I had to wake up way too early and might suggest a coffee or something.

Now I know!! Ah! At least, it is Friday.

Vodka tonic?
Bloody Mary?
Woodford Bourbon? Bourbon???
Vodka tonic, again?
Gin and tonic?

I know the drinks are free but it is 9:20 in the morning, for crying out loud. And we have not finished boarding yet!!

Almost walked in looking for a glass of Pinot Noir… 🙂

Terminal B, Dulles Airport.

This is in Dulles airport

Came out of the hotel early morning in Orlando and was looking to my left and right to ascertain which side would be preferable to go for a run in the dark when the parking lot building in front of the hotel that I parked my rental car last night in caught my eye.

It seemed to me that the lowest floor was for general parking. All the floors above were for computer engineers 🙂

That is the beautiful city of Louisville in Kentucky you see below. You can detect the distinct way the Ohio River wraps around the city.

I say “beautiful” with a sense of irony. Yesterday, I flew into that city and it was 10deg Fahrenheit! My teeth were clenched as I fought my way to the rental car at the airport.

Ironically, tonight, I am flying over the same city. From inside a pressurized aluminum tube about 35,000 feet above ground, the city looks far more beautiful and hospitable!!!

Did you know that city below is where Muhammad Ali was born. Or that the song “Happy Birthday to You” was born here too (by two kindergarten teachers)?

Note that for us now, at 10 pm at night the temperature is 46 deg F. On this winter night, you would expect temperatures to go down quickly to near freezing. Instead, through the wintry night, our temperatures will actually go up. In fact, in the next four hours it will rise by 15 degrees to a very pleasant 61 deg F!! That is crazy! I assume the cloudy icon (we have been completely overcast) means the heat is not escaping and the wind from SSW means warm humid winds are coming in from Gulf of Mexico. Which would make sense in that we are going to get rains tomorrow morning.

I can’t recollect ever having seen in any winter night before, temperatures go up this dramatically!!!

With all the flight delays (of which I had more than my share this week) and none of the meals like we used to get before, flying can be onerous sometimes. And then something happens here and there – that makes you grateful to have experienced some people’s attitude during your flights.

A couple of years back, I remember a Delta pilot handing out hand written thank you notes on his business card as we settled down in our seats. This week, on my flight back from New York to Atlanta, I got another thank you note – all personalised and hand written. This one was from our very nice flight attendant – Patrick. He had one for each of the folks sitting up front.

I realize that this is not a corporate practice and was more of an individual effort. All the same, nice touch, Delta! Needless to say, very well done, Patrick!!