Memoirs from a Hotel Bar

Here I am in the "Amourath 1819" bar at the Hyatt Regency in Sacramento, California.  I am three vodka martinis, one cobb salad, and a bunch of hickory-smoked walnuts into a solitary evening of self-contemplation.  I came to Sacramento, a few hundred miles from home, with a small entourage of staff who would probably prefer to avoid me at dinner time, but would likely acquiesce if I'd invited them to a company-paid-for dinner.  As good as they are, I wanted to be alone this evening, so I released them to their own whims.

The governor was a no-show for dinner tonight (see below).  Apparently he prefered to spend the evening with his wife and her ambitions.  I met with his underlings, and was told we may reschedule with him for tomorrow.  OK, yeah, whatever, fuck you (that's the vodka talking)...

Anyway, my time in the hotel bar, watching passers-by and wandering around the internet has been more profound than any solitary confinement in recent memory.  I read about Steve "Croc Hunter" Irwin's final words to his kids before his unexpected death, about a young West Point graduate who met her demise recently in Iraq, and other stories that prompted thoughts about - ok, this is corny and cliche - my place in this world.  I am a father, and that's my proudest and greatest ambition.  My job is not routinely dangerous, but my societal and professional obligations would put me in a personally risky place should catastrophe find its way to Southern California, which it will.  Do I really want to risk my kids remembering me from some distant memory as they grow into adults?  Do I want to devastate my parents with a premature death?  Or should I retreat into a safer career that would allow me to cocoon myself with my family if our region becomes a hazard (think 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, etc.)?

Anyway, that's what's on my mind tonight.

BTW, I just farted and the hot little cocktail waitress is coming towards me.  Shit, who do I blame the smell on...?

Posted by SugartasticJ @ 11:41 pm EDT | Permalink | 1 Comments

Meeting with Arnold

I'm headed to Sacramento tomorrow for a conference.  I've just been informed that I'm invited to a private dinner with the governor to help advocate for a $400M budget provision.  I've been rehearsing a script of eloquent and persuasive lines to help my cause, but I'll probably sit at the table with a silly star-struck grin on my face.

Hey Doodi, do I get extra points if I get AS to join our site?

If I get a good pic, I'll post it here.  See you all Friday....

Soooooogar.

 

Posted by SugartasticJ @ 11:35 pm EDT | Permalink | 1 Comments

Interstates Are Blind

We're back.  Roadtrip '06 is over... sad to say.  Our adventure went pretty much as planned (see blog below) - this was one of our best vacations in years.  Despite all that could have gone wrong, we experienced no worse than a flat tire.  Nearly every stage of our trip exceeded our expectations.

Our week in the Montana mountains was a soul-satisfying beautiful time.  Incredible scenery, great people, good times.  Our second week was an adventure, trekking from Montana to Southern California, staying almost entirely on off-roads, back-roads, byways and rural routes.  In 1600 miles of travel, we spent fewer than 40 miles on interstates.  Interstates are blind.  It's amazing how much you don't see traveling 80mph through the path of least resistance.  If you want to really see our country, its people, and have an adventure, avoid the highways.  Gear up and make sure your vehicle is well equiped for the unexpected.

Below are a few of the more than 1000 pics from our trip.  You won't find any of these views within 50 miles of an interstate highway:

Posted by SugartasticJ @ 11:34 am EDT | Permalink | 3 Comments

17 Days, 8 States, 3000 Miles

If anyone needs me between now and August 14th, flag me down somewhere along the red line below.  No cell phones, no email, no internet, no TV.  No business meetings, no suits and ties, no griping employees, no project deadlines. No work!

By Sunday afternoon we'll be in a cabin in the mountains of Montana.  Hiking, drinking, flyfishing, drinking, mountain biking, drinking, and maybe even a little whittling.  I wish I smoked a pipe.  After a week at the cabin, we begin the slow trek through Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Arizona.  We'll be staying off major interstates, with at least 300 miles of off-roading.  We'll see Yellowstone, Teton, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Moab, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, then an old historic section of Route 66.  Then home... maybe.

My only regret is missing the Chicago LAN yet again.  We planned this trip a year ago, before the LAN dates were set.  I know the LAN will be a blast and I'm looking forward to hearing the stories and reading the obituaries.  I'll check in when we get home.

Sugar

Posted by SugartasticJ @ 12:09 pm EDT | Permalink | 3 Comments

A Mystical Green Lumpy Experience

I made some killer guacamole tonight.  My best yet.  It was almost mystical in its flavory goodness.  I think I finally mastered my recipe.

(My profound first blog entry.)

Posted by SugartasticJ @ 12:00 am EDT | Permalink | 4 Comments