OY! Is this thing fablunged!!

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The pictures from San Francisco are now posted here.

For those that received an early invitation to view the album, sorry. It hosed when I tried to upload the pics.

The tour driver picks me up and I am the first on his route. We pick up seven more people and head out.

The first stop is the Palace of Fine Arts. About a 15 minute stop to walk around and take pictures. Absolutely incredible.

Next we drive over the Golden Gate. OK, its even more art deco then I imagined – even the toll plaza is art deco. On the far side, we stop at a scenic overlook and get a fantastic view of the bridge. Wow!

From there its off to Muir Woods. Its incredible! They have a tree that fell down in 1930 and they counted the rings back and it dates back to 909AD. Thats 1021 years!

Walk up to the third bridge, around cathedral grove, cross over the bridge and back. Stop in the gift shop, of course. Then get my National Park Passport stamped.

We all board up and drive to downtown Sonoma. We have lunch at the Sonoma Cheese Factory. I had a great Tri-Tip sandwhich. Yum. Walked around the square and enjoyed the scenery.

We then travel to the first of three wineries for a taste testing. I dont remember the name, and I was underwhelmed by their wine. The coolest part of the winery was the llama. Apparently, the family got a llama and a couple of sheep for their kids. Of course, the llama’s name is Dollie.

The next winery was Viansa. This winery had a great view of the Sonoma Valley. I tried four wines – the Sempre Avante which is a cabernet – chianti mix. Plus their cabernet and chianti. I finished off with their Cabernet Reserve which was fantastic – although at $50 a bottle, it better be.

Viansa also specializes in gourmet foods. Tried a lot of those as well.

Then we went across the street to Cline Cellars. They are famous for their Red Truck wine. It was pretty good, but not the best I had.

They were the most laid back of all the wineries. No pressure, a lot of ‘you like that, then try this’ – they must have poured me at least six or eight glasses of various wines.

Then I tried the Mourvèdre. Wow! I think I now have a new favorite wine. Bought a bottle. While she was ringing me up, she gave me a taste of the late harvest Mourvèdre. It was sooo good. A desert wine – but not as heavy as a port.

So, all told I bought three bottles of wine.

Back to the hotel and – ok, let me back up. Earlier in the week my sales rep asked about the mini-bar (she is in a different hotel) and I told here there wasn’t one. That afternoon I am in the room and room service shows up with a tray of bottled water, fruit, nuts, and cookies. I had been noshing on it all week. Well, I get back to the room and Im hungry and thinking Id have an apple, but its gone.

I head down to the desk and have a chat with the manager, explaining to him that after the room not being ready and the picketers, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He apologized, had a tray of cheese and fruit sent to my room and gave me a chit for breakfast.

He took a real negative situation and made it a positive. I was impressed.

I clean up and get changed and head out to China Town and have dinner at the Empress of China. Good food and a fantastic view – its on the sixth floor of a building in the heart of Chinatown.

After dinner I wander up to Nob Hill. I heard a native refer to it as ‘Snob Hill.’

Then it was on to the Castro. Had drinks at a few bars and then back to the hotel and bed.

This morning I woke up and puttered around town doing chores. Then I headed out to The Presidio. I start out at the Golden Gate Bridge overlook and wander down to Fort Point. I watch a video about the building of the Golden Gate Bridge and quickly wander about the fort. Then I catch the PresidoGo Shuttle back to the bridge and wander out the bridge to the first tower.

Back on the shuttle to the visitors center where I have a nice chat with the park volunteer.

I hop on a bus to head to the Haight. Wander around for a while and try on a 1930’s tuxedo, but it didn’t fit. Grab a brie on a baguette at a french pastry shop.

Back on the bus and get off at the hotel. Take a nap, pack, and start typing.

For those who are wondering, according to my pedometer, I have walked 37 miles in San Francisco

Tomorrow I fly home and Monday its back to the office.

So, I get up Wednesday morning and head over. Now, on Tuesday, I skipped out of my last session of the day so we could do the Fisherman’s Wharf thing. I thought the session was offered again at 11, but it was actually at 9 (which I would have prefered) and 2. Ho hum. So, instead I go to the session I had scheduled for 11. In this session they do a drawing for a digital camera and a printer. Guess who won.

Called my manager after the session and confirmed that since it was a random drawing I was able to keep it. Yeah!

After the last session, Suzi, Bill & I head to Blowfish Sushi. Suzi is dubious about sushi, but we convince her to try some of the cooked items (unagi, spider roll, etc.) and soon she is hooked. No wonder, cause it is some of the best sushi I have ever had.

After dinner, we drop Bill off at the hotel as he has an early flight. Then Suzi and I head down to Fisherman’s Wharf. We wander through some of the open shops looking at the kitch and walk along the river. We have a great time chatting and enjoying the scenery.

Suzi and I grab a cab back to her hotel. I say goodbye and head off for a walk around Union Square followed by bed.

Thursday. My first day alone and with no conference to attend. I get up early and grab a cablecar to Fisherman’s Wharf and head down to Pier 41 to catch the first boat to Alcatraz. It was both awesome and somber walking around the island. I learned a lot – alcatraz is spanish for pelican (lets hold a peer meeting there) – that it was the first US fort on the west coast – that there was an Indian occupation that lasted nineteen months.

After Alcatraz (and every time I think it, I hear Eddie Izzard saying it…) I grab a crab sandwhich along the wharf. One interesting thing are the crab stands along the wharf – they have large steam pots where crabs that are fresh off the boat are steamed and sold. Yummy.

I wander Fisherman’s Wharf for quite some time and check out the Maritime National Historic Site.

Then I hop on a cable car and head up to Lombard St which I walk down and back up. A very kewl experience. I noticed that every driver had a big sh*t-eating grin as they drove down Lombard. I dont blame them. The walk up will kill you, however.

Back on the cable car – on the running board. Take it to the Cable Car Museum. This is doubly kewl cause not only do they explain how the system works and have some of the oldest surviving cars, but also the sheaves which run the lines operate out of the museum. It is awesome to learn about.

Oh, at the museum is a sign that lists apporpriate behavior for cable cars. Included is the line ‘rding on the running boards is not recommended.” Huh. Back on the car on the running boards and to the end at Powell Street. Watch them turn a car around. Hotel and a nap.

Get up and dressed and hope on the Muni out to Castro. Grab a slice of pizza and wander around. Its much smaller then I expected. I wander into several stores and have to laugh cause its like “I’ll have a bag of chips, a bottle of water, a pack of cigarettes, two postcards, and a cock ring please.” Just weird how its all together and side by side.

Back on the Muni to Convention Center / UN Plaza. Wander for quite a bit around the area then back to the hotel. I watch Tora! Tora! Tora! as I type this.

Tomorrow I have booked a day trip to Muir Woods and wine country. Giant trees and fermneted grapes. Should be fun!

After the days events, my sales rep, her manager, a dude from another of her accounts and I hopped on a cable car and headed to Fisherman’s Wharf.

The cable cars are amazing and seeing the hills you understand why they built the system.

We got off at Lombard St and walked down it a bit. Hehe – kewl! A convertable drove by and we all shouted ‘FLOOR IT!’ and they laughed real hard.

Then we strolled down to Ghirardelli Square. Had dinner at McCormick and Kuleto’s Seafood Restaurant which was FANTASTIC. Went though two bottles of really good wine. Then we had desert at Ghirardelli.

Then it was back home and bed.

So on Saturday, Dug says to me ‘You dont seem stressed like you usually do before traveling.” Not sure why I dont – maybe Im egtting used to traveling – maybe its the news of Gyrth’s passing. Maybe I’m just too burned out to care. But usaully I am stressed about making sure I dont forget anything. Making sure I dont miss the plane. etc. Its odd, cause once I am through aiport security, I relax. But until then I am a stress puppy. But not this time.

Sunday morning, Nia picks me up to take me to the airport. She calls me a tad panicked as she is running late. No problem I tell her. She gets here and she is like ‘Come On!’ and Im like come inside, check out the fish tanks. So she does and we get on the road. Of course, I-40 has the 278 exit under construction, so I direct her to the 279 exit. Which is also closed. So, I direct her via back roads to the 280 exit which is, thankfully, open. We get to the airport, hug, and she drive soff and I go check in and breeze through security.

I grab some breakfast and watch the airport which is very quiet as its 8am on a Sunday. I wander to the gate and they announce that the crew is here and they are towing the aircraft to the gate and getting it warmed up as its been sitting all night. A few minutes later they board and every seat is taken. Now this leg is to O’Hare. Two hours in a Canada Regional Jet 700. I think it should be illegal to use anything that cramped for a flight over 45 minutes.

Get to O’Hare, have to wander to the far side of the terminal, of course. Grab a sandwhich quikly and board a packed 757 to San Francisco (SFO). A four hour flight which features the new King Arthur movie. Like most of the world population I had never seen it, so I was trapped and figured what the hell. Well, afterwards I realized the word most commonly associated with this movie is bad. And it did leave me a moment to pause and reflect on where the Saxson leader got an Orange in Britton in 452 AD. The things Hollywood will teach you. I also wondered why Lancelot’s horse’s barding looked like the evil horses from LOTR.

After the movie, I get up and go to the bathroom, like all the other 500 passengers. It amazes me that the pane didnt drift off course from the major and sudden shift in weight. It was then that things started to go wrong. When I got up, I apparently caught the plug of my noice cancelling headphones and twisted it in such a way that it no longer picks up. Merde. Need to send them an email and see what I can do about that.

The plane lands twenty minutes early, I get off and wait for my lugage. And wait. And wait some more. Proof that Karma works is that when your plane lands early it takes twice as long to get your luggage.

I hop on the airporter and take it to the hotel – driving past and stopping at several other hotels where the hotel workers union is picketing. This, I think, does not bode well. We get to my hotel and no protesteors. Yay! I go to check in. Its now 4:15 in the afternoon local time, I have been up 14 hours and want to lie down for a few minutes, freshen up etc. Nope. My room is not ready. It will be at least an hour.

So, I wander over to the convention center to sign in. They hand me a non-disclsoure agreement to sign. Ummmm… we have one on file between the two companies I tell them. “Do you have a copy of it?” they ask. I give her a look like “Yes, I carry all corporate legal documents in my pocket when I travel just in case.” She explains, calmly and patiently that they have been told by their legal that they must have an NDA in hand before admitting anyone to the conference. And in their files in their corporate headquarters is apparently not enough. She suggests that my sales rep, who is due in the next morning, might have a copy.

Well that took 20 minutes. Now what. I am hungry, I realize. This guy on the plane told me about the Fog City Diner which was in one of those Visa commercials – you know “…cause as the Fog City Diner they dont take American Express.” So I get an address and start walking. Hehe – its about 25 blocks away I realize after having walked ten. So, I grab a hot dog off a cart to sate me and walk back to my hotel. OK, I’ll admit it, street vendor hot dogs are a comfort food for me. Probably the New Yorker in me.

I get back to the hotel, find my room is ready, and go up to it. I open the door and hear some shouting chanting and a bullhorn. “What do we want? When do we want it?” Yup, the hotel across the way is right outside my window. And I can hear every word. And that little straw just broke the camel’s back. Down to the front desk I go. To be informed that they are sold out and have no more rooms. But they will put in a note to see if there are any rooms available after folks check out in the morning. And if not, I ask already knowing the answer. Yup, then they will check the next day. And what am I supposed to do after three nights of little sleep due to a bull horn? They suggest that if they dont have a room the nxt day I talk to the manager. Apparently she believes he keeps extra rooms in his ass just in case of protestors. I thank her, cause its not her fault.

I look around the lobby and decide dammit, I want sushi. I ask the concierge and he points me to a suhi bar the next block over. I go it and get a few rolls and a sunomono. I drink some piping hot green tea. I am well sated. I am also a tad surprised to find that the ginger is not pickled but fresh. Interesting.

I wander back to my hotel and low and behold no protestors. They had called it a night. Baruch Hashem. I unpack, surf the web, watch a movie, and realize that there is a voice mail on the hotel phone. I call into the system and it wont let me have it. I call the desk who gets me into the system and I get the message. Its my sales rep asking how the flight was, if I needed anything, etc. I call her back, exchange a few pleasantries, and explain about the NDA. ‘Your kidding’ she says. Meet me over there at 8am when they open and we will get it straightened.

8am the next morning, I walk into the convention center and no Suzi. Fifteen minutes later I call her and she says she is in the convention center but doesnt se ethe registration booth or me. Then she says ‘ah. got it – be right there.’ I hang up and ten minutes go by. I call her back ‘Where are you?’ I ask… and I see her walk in the door. Apparently the convention center has three different buildings and she walked through both of the other two looking for where we were. Poor Suzi.

We go over to the desk and they pull both our registration cards and Suzi explains that there is a standing NDA at the executive level. No dice, they demand a copy of it. (Just to give some background, we are on the list of top 100 accounts which their CEP directly monitors.) Suzi makes some phone calls and leaves a voicemail or two asking for a copy of it to be emiled to the conference coordinator. I gain new insight into people who bring someone else’s kids to SCA evens without appopriate signed and noorized waivers.

The conference progresses. I meet lots of their people, and raise several issues. One of which they knew about and were working on already and one I had just escalated. We discuss that one at some lenght and I meet the engineer who, poor guy, gets assigned the case as soon as he walks over. My last session of the day is a waste so I head back to the hotel and check email etc before heading off to the receiption. I have a few drinks and Suzi takes all of her accounts to dinner. At the Fog City Diner. Dam is it good. I over eat.

Back to the hotel and sleep.

Kevin had asked me about where I grew up. Here is my response:

Twenty minutes north of Manhattan in the hamlet of Tappan, New York. And unless you are a student of the American Revolution you probably never heard of it.

Tappan is the location of the DeWint House which served as George Washington’s headquarters four different times during the American Revolution. It is where John Andre was imprissoned (The Old ‘76 House), tried (the Dutch Christian Reformed Church) and hanged. A good map of the historic district can be found here here.

Thanks, Kevin, for the walk down memory lane.

Yasser Arafat’s death. Honest Reporting has a pretty good obit for him.

It holds possibly the greatest potential for Middle East peace we have seen in several lifetimes. If a moderate, such as Abu Mazzen, steps into the role of PA President, then, I believe, a Palestinian state and peaceful co-existance is attainable. I an extremist becomes PA President, such a leader of Hamas, the US will not be able to recognize him and Israel will be unable to negotiate with him and the stale mate will continue.

It is in the hands of the Palestinian people. Let as all hope and pray they choose wisely.

I havent said much about Veterans Day. I called my dad that morning and thanked him. He doesnt need a day to remember WWII and Saipan – he has constant physical pain to remind him.

Veterans Day always makes me want to listen to a song by Crosby Stills Nash & Young – Find the Cost of Freedom:

Find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground,
Mother Earth will swallow you,
Lay your body down

On a much lighter note, two quotes:

From actual courtroom estimony:

Q: Are you sexually active?
A: No, I just lie there.

Have you tried cod pieces? – Bird’s Eye froze food as.