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New York/West Bridgewater Blog
After much worrying and over preparing (me eating a large lunch in the cafeteria and still buying two Diet Cokes and two bags of snacks for the trip), we made it out of Boston (see picture above for the view from my plane seat) and arrived home with hardly any problems. Those didn't start until I got to my car in long-term parking and found that I had a flat tire. I have to admit that it wasn't a surprise as I knew that tire had problems, but I only figured it would be low. I also figured that the weather might be cold, but not so bad that the airport would be converted to a seaport. Fortunately, I was prepared for both situations as I had a poncho and a pump that plugs into the cigarette lighter and I was able to nurse the car home.
I am very glad to be back (and not just because I make Brooke treat me to a steak at Texas Roadhouse) and am set to conclude the blog. The overall trip was a definite success, but that doesn't mean that I still don't have work to do. I hope you've enjoyed reading, and I will let you know when the next blog will be. Until then, I think I will sleep for the next three days (I'll only be pretending to be awake at work tomorrow morning).
We're through the first of our two training sessions in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts (it went very well) and we are very anxious to finish the last presentation as get home. Our only concern is that we are hearing about this winter storm that is moving through the midwest. We can't really judge how severe it is going to be, but considering that it was the lead story on CNN this morning, that isn't a good sign.
Then again, there are worse things than being stuck here. The building here is very nice, as in it looks like it was constructed after 1950. OK, maybe even around 1990. I was able to get an egg nog coffee in "The Caf" (what they call their cafeteria) and it was (is) very tasty. I do have to admit that it is slightly disappointing because it smells just like eggnog, but when I drink it, it still tastes a little bit like coffee. But there was actualy fresh food and a real salad bar and it smelled good. (Again, do you notice that a significant portion of my blog is about food? I need help.)
It looks like were going to get our last class started early, which means we'll have more time for lunch (again, food). If only they could move our flight time up to get home before the storm. I am looking forward to getting home.
We're back from dinner here in Raynham, Massachusetts, and I am definitely ready to go home. We've eaten at many interesting restaurants over the past three days, and yet all I really want is the Texas Roadhouse and Dairy Queen. I guess I'm not meant to be cultured.
Anyway, we arrived in Massachusetts without incident, and I took my first passenger train ride in the U.S. I have to say that other than having to sit for three hours, it was a good experience. On the inside, the train looks just like a plane, except the seats are bigger, there is more leg room, and the overhead compartments can actually fit real suitcases. The train hardly makes any noise when it is moving. Overall, it was like we were in a plane and just taxied all the way to Massachusetts.
I don't have any interesting pictures today, as I somehow thought the Penn Station would have some architectural distinctiveness, but I must have been thinking of Grand Central Station. But for your viewing pleasure, here is the view in Penn Station:
Two of the things you won't see in this picture are things I figured there would be plenty of at a train station: trains and tracks. They are all underground here. You don't see either of them until it is time to board, when you join a mass of humanity and filter into an escalator as a gravelly-voiced woman mumbles to you where you're supposed to go (there are no assigned seats in our portion of the train) and you get to the bottom of the escalator and hope you didn't lose the other people who are travelling with you.
Just one more day, and I will get to come home (so I can work in Indianapolis on Friday). I'm definitely looking forward to it. The symptoms of Dairy Queen withdrawal are vicious.
Just wanted to post a quick note that we came through the train ride quite well and are heading to a restaurant called the Stone Forge for dinner. I'll have more (well, a little but) to say later tonight.
If you are done laughing now, I'll tell you that we have successfully completed our four New York training sessions and are completing some meetings before we head to Penn Station to head to Boston. We did take time to eat some Chinese food that was pretty good, although mine became defective way faster than everyone else's.
The good news (for me anyway) is that once we get to Boston, our hotel has free internet access, so I should be able to actually update the blog in a timely manner. And I can get caught up on ESPN.com, and other important stuff like that....
Normally, the walk from 49th street to 35th Street in Manhattan is not a bad way to start the day. However, when you have to haul all of your luggage that distance, and when your luggage does not have wheels, I had a feeling of what it must have been like to be one of those slaves that built the Egyptian pyramids. Of course, I was asked several times if I wanted to take a cab, but I am too macho for that. (You may now take a few hours to laugh.)
We headed out of the office around 5:45, and after much indecisiveness about where to have dinner, we settled on a place called Roberto Passon. We sat down and were perusing the menu and at the bottom we saw "American Express Only". No one in our group carries an American Express card, so we started to consider alternatives. We did ask the waiter something like "Are you friggin' serious?" After the second time we asked, he said he would check with the manager and determined that VISA would be adequate. This never happens at the Texas Roadhouse.
Anyway, there were many interesting selections on the menu, including venison, rabbit, and octopus, but I settled on one of the specials, shrimp fettucine with asparagus, tomatoes, and fava beans. (I can't think about fava beans without thinking about "Silence of the Lambs"; coincidentally, lamb was also on the menu.) It was tasty, but not spectacular. I found dessert in the form of a Starbucks white chocolate mocha, which is probably why I'm still awake and typing this.
The only other interesting thing I have to report is the sight we saw in Times Square while walking back from work to the hotel:
It is apperently the week of the annual NASCAR banquet and there have been promotions throughout downtown. I got a little closer look at Jimmie Johnson's (2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion **cringe**) car:
This just got me thinking, how long would this car have to stay parked here before the parking fines would add up to all the money that Chad Knaus (Jimmie Johnson's crew chief **cringe**) has been fined by NASCAR?
Our second training session is complete and we're still holding up pretty well. We had a few more bumps in the road (i.e., they found some actual problems), but the reactions so far today have all been positive.
I have no idea what is in store for us this evening. We went to a Kosher deli (Ben's Deli) for lunch. June was happy to go somewhere with real Kosher food, and that gave us all the more reason to make fun of her for ordering turkey. I had an extra-lean corned beef sandwich (because getting a sandwich with about a pound of "extra-lean" meat makes it better for me) and it was all right. I also tried some pickles (is that a shock at a Kosher restaurant?) but they were a tad different. June explained that one variety was half-sours, which look green like cucumbers, but are sized like dills, and taste like...well...not food. I tried a dill pickle as well and it was unique as well.
I probably won't get to post another entry today, but so far, it has been a good day, and I hope to get a chance to catch everyone up on the evening by early tomorrow morning.
We've completed our first training session and I couldn't believe how quiet it was. We either did an amazing job (what I'd like to think) or we had everyone so completely lost that they were just speechless (more likely).
Other than that, it is just a quiet morning, and I had a free moment to let you know. And while this isn't too exciting, a dull workday blog should be a sign of a promising trip...
First of all, I need to mention that I am without internet in The Time hotel here in New York; the high-speed access is a surcharge and I can't figure out how to make an outgoing call to try a dial-up connection. As a result, I don't know when this entry will reach you.
Otherwise, we arrived here without much incident. It was a noisy plane ride; The gabby cell phone woman in front of me, family with small children across the aisle, some people who had never heard of headphones, and my own seat being next to the rear engine might have contributed to that. But we got to New York early and were at our hotel by 5:20. We then went to dinner at a barbecue restaurant called Virgil's. I had an order of Memphis-style ribs (i.e. without sauce) and beef brisket that was easily the best meal I've had in New York. Of course, every other meal I've had here has been a disappointment, so there wasn't much competition.
After dinner, I went out exploring (and looking for beverages; I knew there was no way I could make it for the next 12 hours with only water to drink). I had noticed some NASCAR promotions going on around 6th Avenue, so I wandered over there. The NASCAR festivities had closed down, but I did take some pictures of the holiday decor:
In other words, I didn't find much, other than some drinks and a Starbucks eggnog latte (an almost worthy substitute for the blog-favorite Dairy Queen blizzard).
I finally decided to settle in for the night, and while lying down to watch Monday Night Football, I noticed the the pillows were a bit odd for a bed:
And in case you're wondering how soft the pillows were...
In other words, I'm thinking I've got a hotel room with no phone and crummy pillows. Heck, I couldn't even find a Bible in here; where am I supposed to find salvation? Anyway, I am happy to say that I found the stash of regular pillows in the closet.
The real fun starts tomorrow morning with the first training classes. Hopefully I'll get to tell you about it...
This trip is actually part of by job, but I don't see that as any reason why it can't be blogged. I can't promise to provide any exciting pictures, or even any interesting stories, but whenever there is as much travel as we will attempt in the next four days, something is bound to be noteworthy. Heck, there was even a movie made about a similar (but unplanned) situation starring Steve Martin and John Candy, and oddly enough, it was set around Thanksgiving.
Over the next four days, our transportation will include:
- Flight to New York
- Car to Manhattan
- Train to Boston
- Car to Boston airport
- Flight back to Indianapolis
So when I use the title "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles", I'm not exaggerating too much. We're not looking to sell any shower curtain rings though....
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