RAMBLING TRAVEL OBSERVATIONS
My first meetings yesterday were in Pleasant Hill (California). Spring has already arrived over there and the fruit trees are in bloom...

The flight from Oakland to Chicago went fine. But it was the first time in ages that I've flown on a half-full Southwest plane. I had three seats to myself...

Descent into Chicago was really rocky -- really rocky...

The Enterprise guy tried to get me to upgrade. I didn't budge. But when I got to the car lot all they had was a Chevy Equinox anyway (mini-SUV); so they gave it to me for the compact price. That kind of thing happens about 30% of the time when I rent a car...

I wasn't a block away from the airport when I encountered my first "Chicago driver." A guy blasted past me while I was stopped for a red light. There was no way that he was anywhere close to being in the intersection on the yellow. The cop who was waiting to make a right turn his direction didn't think he made it either...

I think the TSA inspector who went through both of my suitcases has the worst job in the world. He or she had to figure out how to close it all back up again. They were pretty full with nine nights worth of stuff -- in addition to the committee material I brought along...

The best I can do from my motel room is dial-up. I'm in withdrawal already! I'll have to take the laptop down to Panera Bread or McDonald's a few times...

Since I'm staying so long, the lady at the desk put me in a room with a frig and microwave and didn't charge me for them. So I had popcorn for dinner last night...

I love Chicago -- in spite of the snow on the ground.