A week ago, Child the Younger graduated from 8th grade. I flew to New York two Saturdays ago, headed down on Sunday to the town where the children's mother lives, spent the week there, doing fun stuff with the kids (the Indiana Jones movie is bubblegumalicious), watched Child the Younger go through the exercises, went back up to New York last Saturday, and flew back Sunday night.
I'm still jet-lagged. I have two kids in high school. I'm not sure which is a greater signal that I'm getting old.
Showing posts with label Death and Taxes - World Traveler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Death and Taxes - World Traveler. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
It's a Not-So-Small World
The children arrived last Wednesday evening. Spent a night, a day, another night, and a morning in Santa Cruz. Then we got on the road and headed south, Anaheim-bound.
The kids have been to Disneyland only once before, six years ago. That time, days after the last attack on the World Trade Center, the parks were largely empty. We had no trouble whatsoever running around the Magic Kingdom and California Adventure, riding on whatever rides suited our fancy.
That was not our experience the past three days. Everyone and his brother, aunt, nephew's girlfriend, third cousin twice removed on his mother's side, and pool boy was there. The lines ran more than an hour long. The fast-passes, which Disney came up with years ago as a means of crowd control, ran out. The result was chaos.
On the plus side, they had a good time. Child the Elder didn't get all snide and full of attitude until last night. She did finally deal it out, like she was storing it up just to dish it out all at once. But at least I was spared the crap until the end of their visit.
The kids have been to Disneyland only once before, six years ago. That time, days after the last attack on the World Trade Center, the parks were largely empty. We had no trouble whatsoever running around the Magic Kingdom and California Adventure, riding on whatever rides suited our fancy.
That was not our experience the past three days. Everyone and his brother, aunt, nephew's girlfriend, third cousin twice removed on his mother's side, and pool boy was there. The lines ran more than an hour long. The fast-passes, which Disney came up with years ago as a means of crowd control, ran out. The result was chaos.
On the plus side, they had a good time. Child the Elder didn't get all snide and full of attitude until last night. She did finally deal it out, like she was storing it up just to dish it out all at once. But at least I was spared the crap until the end of their visit.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
On the Road Again
The client who sent/took me to Philadelphia earlier this month informed me today that he needs me to do another in-person negotiation with him, in San Diego. We'll be flying out on Monday at 0-black-hundred. I fly back to San Jose that afternoon, while my client and his business partner go back to New York.
This is my best client right now, for whom I do more work than anyone else. I love doing the work for him that I do. but sometimes, I wish I could do just a bit less.
This is my best client right now, for whom I do more work than anyone else. I love doing the work for him that I do. but sometimes, I wish I could do just a bit less.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
In A New York State of Mind
Holiday travel is grinding. There's no other way to describe it. Everyone and his aunt is trying to fly from one place to another in time to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. The result of that is that in order to make a 7:00 flight, you have to get up at 4:30 in the morning.
I got caught up in that same mentality this morning, waking up a mere 3 hours after going to bed, and driving to the airport at oh-black-hundred. Cleared security just in time to board my flight to Vegas. That flight got in just in time for me to board my connection to Philadelphia. Arrived early in the City of Brotherly Angst, retrieved my children from my former sister-in-law (the Ex flew to Texas for the holiday), and went to the train station to travel up to New York. We sat and waited two hours for the train, then rode the rails up to the Big Apple. Checked into our hotel in Chelsea - nice place, decent room.
I love this city. I've loved it for many many years. I'll never forget being held up at gunpoint in Grand Central Terminal, back about 20 years ago. I was a young, very naive kid at the time. It was only my second or third time in the city, and I had no idea how to handle myself. I now know how to take care of myself in such a place, and will never put myself in a situation where something like that can happen ever again. And there's just so much about the city that I love - the constant go-go-go! pace about it. The fact that anything can happen, and often does, at all hours. I wanted to stay here, back when I graduated from Tax School. I wish I could come back. Perhaps one day, it can happen.
After checking in, we walked down to my old stomping grounds - Greenwich Village. I lived a block from Washington Square Park. We'd intended to visit our favorite ice cream shop. Sadly, Mary's Dairy is no more. The grate in front is shut, and a sign above reads "store for rent". We walked across the street to a newish chocolatier, who confirmed that Mary has gone the way of Elvis, and left the building. It makes me sad.
I got caught up in that same mentality this morning, waking up a mere 3 hours after going to bed, and driving to the airport at oh-black-hundred. Cleared security just in time to board my flight to Vegas. That flight got in just in time for me to board my connection to Philadelphia. Arrived early in the City of Brotherly Angst, retrieved my children from my former sister-in-law (the Ex flew to Texas for the holiday), and went to the train station to travel up to New York. We sat and waited two hours for the train, then rode the rails up to the Big Apple. Checked into our hotel in Chelsea - nice place, decent room.
I love this city. I've loved it for many many years. I'll never forget being held up at gunpoint in Grand Central Terminal, back about 20 years ago. I was a young, very naive kid at the time. It was only my second or third time in the city, and I had no idea how to handle myself. I now know how to take care of myself in such a place, and will never put myself in a situation where something like that can happen ever again. And there's just so much about the city that I love - the constant go-go-go! pace about it. The fact that anything can happen, and often does, at all hours. I wanted to stay here, back when I graduated from Tax School. I wish I could come back. Perhaps one day, it can happen.
After checking in, we walked down to my old stomping grounds - Greenwich Village. I lived a block from Washington Square Park. We'd intended to visit our favorite ice cream shop. Sadly, Mary's Dairy is no more. The grate in front is shut, and a sign above reads "store for rent". We walked across the street to a newish chocolatier, who confirmed that Mary has gone the way of Elvis, and left the building. It makes me sad.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Redux
The period before and after Thanksgiving represents the busiest travel time of the year. Amtrak throws additional trains on routes up and down the Eastern seaboard. Airports are clogged with holiday travelers. Highways become jammed as everyone tries to get out of here to go there to visit family.
As a society, we've wholeheartedly adopted the idea of migrating from one city to another, seeking fortune, experiences, or a fresh start. Many consider it de rigeur to travel far away from their home town/city/region for university, to travel from one "exotic" locale to another, or to live somewhere precisely because it's new and different. I am no different - I went to university in another country precisely because it was another country. In addition to Northern California and Canada, I've lived on the East Coast and in the South. With the exception of New York, I must say that I'm done living in the cities I've left, and would be happy with only visiting in the future. There are too many other cities I'd like to experience on an immersion basis - Seattle, Chicago and London come prominently to mind.
This week, I join the travelers. I fly to Philadelphia on Wednesday. The children and I will then board a train up to New York, and spend a long weekend in that city. They spent quite a few weekends there when I was living in Greenwich Village.
I hope that they get a case of fascination with exploring the world. I'd hate to see them go off to college in the next county, and stay in their little corner of East Bumf*#%. There's so much to see, and so much to do in the world, it'd be a shame to miss it.
As a society, we've wholeheartedly adopted the idea of migrating from one city to another, seeking fortune, experiences, or a fresh start. Many consider it de rigeur to travel far away from their home town/city/region for university, to travel from one "exotic" locale to another, or to live somewhere precisely because it's new and different. I am no different - I went to university in another country precisely because it was another country. In addition to Northern California and Canada, I've lived on the East Coast and in the South. With the exception of New York, I must say that I'm done living in the cities I've left, and would be happy with only visiting in the future. There are too many other cities I'd like to experience on an immersion basis - Seattle, Chicago and London come prominently to mind.
This week, I join the travelers. I fly to Philadelphia on Wednesday. The children and I will then board a train up to New York, and spend a long weekend in that city. They spent quite a few weekends there when I was living in Greenwich Village.
I hope that they get a case of fascination with exploring the world. I'd hate to see them go off to college in the next county, and stay in their little corner of East Bumf*#%. There's so much to see, and so much to do in the world, it'd be a shame to miss it.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Leavin' on a Jet Plane
I went to San Diego for a tax conference a week ago Friday. While there, I spoke to a client who informed me that he needed me to fly to Philadelphia for work. So I booked a flight leaving the following Monday. Sunday, I flew back to Northern California, and swapped out one set of Armani Armor for another.
Monday morning saw me at San Jose airport, flying to Philadelphia. Met the client en route (he'd been meeting with manufacturers in Southern California that morning), and we sat on the plane discussing the deal we were going to negotiate. Major parts of the deal got worked out, and I stayed on to document it, while the client went on to talk to finance people in New York.
Wednesday night was Child the Younger's birthday. One of the things she'd requested for her birthday was to come out to California for the weekend. So Thursday, we flew together back to San Jose. We spent the weekend watching DVDs of one of our favorite TV shows, seeing family, and generally spending time like we so rarely get to do. Last night, we stayed at my parents' house in the North Bay, then headed this morning to the airport.
Every time I put them on a plane to go back to their mother's house, I feel like I lost.
Monday morning saw me at San Jose airport, flying to Philadelphia. Met the client en route (he'd been meeting with manufacturers in Southern California that morning), and we sat on the plane discussing the deal we were going to negotiate. Major parts of the deal got worked out, and I stayed on to document it, while the client went on to talk to finance people in New York.
Wednesday night was Child the Younger's birthday. One of the things she'd requested for her birthday was to come out to California for the weekend. So Thursday, we flew together back to San Jose. We spent the weekend watching DVDs of one of our favorite TV shows, seeing family, and generally spending time like we so rarely get to do. Last night, we stayed at my parents' house in the North Bay, then headed this morning to the airport.
Every time I put them on a plane to go back to their mother's house, I feel like I lost.
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