I’m here.
I got in last night at 6:15pm local time, 10:15am Utah time. The flight was long — seemingly interminable, with 5 hours to JFK, 7 hours to Dakar, and a final 8 hours to Johannesburg — but the seats were ALL equipped with flat-panel screens, so I got to watch movies to pass the time.
The Return of The King is a great time-passer. I also saw the live-action Peter Pan movie for the first time, and really enjoyed it.
Anyway, upon arrival I found that my usual deal-with-jetlag strategy of getting some natural daylight in the new location was not going to work. It’s winter in this hemisphere, and the sun had already gone down. Ugh.
Ugh Part II: The store that USED to have a wall full of New Rock boots now had a paltry display of seven styles, all basically the same ankle-boot shape. I won’t be buying boots here. I’ll have to see if I can find a place in Amsterdam or Hague that has more selection when I’m over there in a month.
Or maybe… just maybe… I’ll get by with the boots I already own. You know, save the money for milk for the kids and stuff.
Right now I’m sitting in the Sandton Convention Center not preparing my sessions. I need to fix that. It’s 1:00pm local time, and what I really want right now is a nap.
–Howard
New Rocks have gone decidedly downhill. When I was looking at mine, back in ’01, several stores were discontinuing them because they got broken merchandise shipped, or just plain the wrong stuff. Since then it’s gotten worse. Sad, because they’re darned nice chunky boots. I’ll have to make my pair last a bit – feels nice to add another 2″ or so to my paltry 6’1″ frame. ;D
Have a good stay in Africa. It’s changed a lot since I was there in 94, I hear (I have friends who work in Africa a lot, soldiering) but should still be a nice place.
And here I sit, not writing the code I need to get done. Time to fix that.
I love william gibsons’ reasoning for jetlag: That your soul can only move so fast, and so when you fly, it gets left behind, taking some time to catch up with you. 🙂
I’m actually in the middle of Pattern Recognition right now. That was the first thing I thought of too.
My soul caught up with me, and right now it’s pissed.
I can see why you’d feel in need of a nap!
20 hours on your butt, and in the air?!
In the words of James Mason – tired minds don’t plan well…
Getting by with the present pair of Howard Boots should work out. lol
Sorry about the boots.
Lack of New Rocks sucked most of the fun right out of this trip. 🙁
I hope you manage to conquor the jet lag and nail your presentations.
Love you.
Re: Sorry about the boots.
Does this mean I can buy an iPod instead?
Heh…
Can’t get boots, so he goes for the iPod. There’s a practical geek. “No, I don’t really need anything on my feet; I need a New Kewl Toy!”
Let him have the iPod if he brings back Petey! 🙂
Re: Sorry about the boots.
I figure that the money we set aside for boots is still yours to spend. Whether you spend it on boots someplace else, or for and ipod, or for one of those gas grills you’ve been eyeing, it’s alright with me.
Re: Sorry about the boots.
Man, New Rocks cost THAT much?
Howard, you owe this woman at least a hug when you get home. 😀
Just Gotta Say
You guys restore my faith in “happily married.”
Thanks.
Re: Just Gotta Say
Hear hear! 🙂
Flying to SA
Man, that flight to Joburg is a killer. We did it last Christmas to go to a friend’s wedding. The one that stops in Dakar is even worse since you have to do the 8 hours, stop, don’t get out of your seat for an hour or 2 and then another 9 or so hours. And even then, you’re only in Joburg which isn’t all that great.
Next time you can convince Novell to send you to SA, buy tickets for the whole family (sell the car if you have to) and take a couple of weeks to travel around the country (but stay away from Durban…it may be worse than Joburg). It is the most beautiful and amazing country I have ever visited and I can’t wait to go back (on the twice weekly non-stop flight from JFK –> Joburg only).
E