Post from 32,000 feet

For maybe the second time this year, I'm flying American Airlines. We're chasing the sun from Austin to the Southern California Coast. I got a bump up to first class, so I have a nice power outlet, and surprise, surprise, there's a nice meal. Chicken and gravy with mashed potatoes and spinach. Couple that with the tart (!) Cabernet from the stewardess with a mad glint in her eye, and it makes for an enjoyable flight thus far. Oh, a sundae too. I'm going to have to get some exercise while in California.

I'm off to LA for a couple days of hand-holding with the Boeing users of the technology. They've got a cool use of the software, with the concept of this stuff on a combat-facing unit, using it to find other information sources, both in the combat zone and behind. But first they have to figure out how to install it. That's where I come in. It's kind of fun that they're using jboss and linux to get things all installed and running. There's going to be some geeks in the military to run all this.

I'm 5 segments away on Continental from über-platinum, and I got stuck doing this trip with American and Frontier, which is rather annoying, but they have direct AUS-LAX-DEN-AUS routing. This trip I'm being a bit more direct with my travels, since I'm checking my bag with all my noxious gels and liquids, which are no longer allowed in carryon.. you know I could be a terrorist. Who knows what I might do with my bear-in-the-woods soap from Bath and Body Works if I were left to my own devices.

I'll get at least 2 of my segments in 10 days when I head to Chicago, then who knows.. I might spend some money flying to houston and back to get the rest of them. It'll make for a trip to Amsterdam next year, I think.

The weekend was nice and easy with Charles in Arlington. We worked on his resume a bit, trying to get it in shape for finding a job in Austin. He's a bit frustrated with the tedium of working in Arlington, and being away from the house. I miss him being there too, though it is nice having the house stay nice and tidy the way I like it. We saw the Will Ferrell movie, Talledega Nights, on Sunday: tragically funny, and entirely amusing. "Shake... and Bake".
Coming home Monday, my lawn is getting to that 'extra crispy' stage of summer. With more than 30 days of over 100F (37C) temperature, it'll happen, and I dont particularly feel like paying the extra money on my utility to drain the lake just for my grass. The squirrels nesting in my yard are doing fine enough, and they have enough sense to go over to the neighbors to get their juicy nibbles. They're coming to my place to get some nice pecans and acorns off the oaks.
I've found my mp3 CD, and I totally forgot I have Ravi Shankar on it. Totally cool when buzzed on a sundae and red wine at altitude.