Nomad Life - Day 177

Even though it was Saturday and I'd stayed up late, I still woke up at 0600.  And I was still sick - yaay...  I spent some time reading, doing Duolingo exercises and working on puzzles.  At 0745, I went to breakfast at the Days Inn (Indiana) - they barely had any food but I was lucky I got some because lots of other people came away empty handed...  Back in my room, I did some more reading, more relaxing and tried (desperately) to recover from my cold.  At 1255, I went to McDonalds (across the parking) to get some sandwiches and a Shamrock Shake for lunch.  While eating (back in my room), I took care of finances, blog, eBird  etc.  With this unusual "down time", I was able to get a lot of work done and didn't feel ready to depart from the hotel until about 1445.  Once I was outside, I was stunned to find that it was 55 F!  Like so many other Nomad Life days I've had, it was also quite sunny.  Before I took advantage of the spectacular outdoor conditions, though, I wanted to explore a bit of history in Downtown Indiana.  From my hotel, I drove a short distance to the Jimmy Stewart Museum, which was located on the third floor of the Indiana Public Library.  There were parking meters on the street but didn't pay, hoping my luck would keep me out of trouble.  I arrived at the ticket booth for the Museum at 1455 and was given a quick overview of the contents by a friendly Docent (lady).  For the next 45 minutes, I wandered through the very good displays, learned about the history of the Stewart family in Indiana and met several friendly people.  Like most Americans, I've always admired Jimmy Stewart and this museum was a great tribute to his life and accomplishments.  I especially enjoyed the Military section (lots of good artifacts).  Afterwards (1540), I left the museum and took photos of some historical markers (including a larger than life size statue of Stewart) in the area.  I also explored a bit of the nearby Philly Street district before returning to the area of the Hoodlebug Trail.  I began where I'd parked the previous day, exploring signage and trying to find the northern terminus for the trail.  In the end, I determined that there was a discrepancy in the maps, local knowledge and other data and gave up on trying to connect any trail dots (more research needed).  While there, though, I walked a little bit on the trail before departing for another section. I drove (via back roads) to Homer City and parked at the Yankeetown Access Area Trailhead.  By this point, tempos had risen to 60 F - whew!  Starting at 1610, I walked back (north) to the Homer City Asphalt Plant (where I'd turned around the day before) and then backtracked towards my car.  Along the way, I saw a family gardening in their yard, accompanied by a well-behaved pet pig!  At around this tame time, I figured out that Mass would be starting at a nearbyt Catholic Church nearby so modified my walk on the Hoodlebug to merge with a walking route (on side streets) to Homer City neighborhood that included the St. Mary's Holy Protection Byzantine Catholic Church.  I arrived at 1650 and Mass began at 1700.  This was the first time I've ever been to one of the "Eastern Rite" Churches and it was a truly special experience.  For one thing, the entire premise of the service was a series of chanting sessions between the Priest and Cantor.  This made it similar to the Orthodox churches I'd encountered in Eastern Europe back in 2024.  For another thing, the Altar was set apart, with gates and mostly "mysterious goings on" behind the "curtain".  The Order of the Mass seemed to be following a little booklet I found in the pew - it matched with the Mass format developed by St. John Chrysostom.  Still, it was hard to follow most of what was happening.  All around me, there were LOTS of pretty icons.  Overall, the service only had a few places regular speech but I got used to the chanting.  There was a lot of standing for prayers (rather than kneeling) and lead up to Communion was very solemn and respectful.  The biggest surprise was when the Eucharist was scooped on to my tongue ("Body soaked in Blood ?") with a little spoon.  The Priest served me, a "Servant of God", and I hoped I wasn't acting too far away from what he expected when I accepted it.  My fellow Parishioners were mostly older and I heard some other languages than English.  Beyond Communion, there was a kind of memorial service for departed church members (a Lenten tradition of the church, apparently).  The whole experience was very moving and I've so glad that I attended.  After Mass (1800), I made my way back (still walking) towards my car at the Hoodlebug Trailhead (arrived at 1815).  Next, I drove north on US-119 until I reached the Levity Brewing Company (1825).  The place was all decked out for a Mardi Gras Party that I'd heard about on the previous day and, when I went inside, almost all seats were reserved or filled with people.  The bartender, Ed (I'd met him yesterday), showed me a spot against the wall and I squeezed in there.  To get food or beer, everyone had to wait in a big line to get food or drink.  When my turn came, I ordered the special gumbo, some King Cake and a beer I hadn't tried the day before.  When the King Cake arrived, the lady who served it showed me that I'd "won" a free beer because I'd gotten the Baby!  I'm feeling quite lucky...  Later, the gumbo arrived and it was so good and had a bit of a kick.  For this reason, I had to get in line for another (this time it was free!) beer.  During that time, a New Orleans Style Jazz band started playing.  When I returned to my seat, I learned that a young man (probably early 20s) sitting next to me was the nephew of the band's Trombonist.  He told me the band members were all faculty of IUP.  My new friend himself was a student at the college and he told me about life on campus.  We had a good conversation while the band wrapped up their first set (and took a break) and I genuinely enjoyed this encounter.  At about 2010, I reluctantly decided I'd had enough fun for the night and closed out my tab.  Saying goodbye to my friend and his uncle, I left the Brewery and returned to my hotel (arrived at 2030.  Back in my room again, I took care of some online stuff before heading down to the Fitness Center (2100) to ride the stationary bike again (this time, I completed 9.3 miles in 20 minutes).  for the rest of the evening, I watched movies.  With my cold seemingly subsiding, I managed to set a deliberate bedtime for once (2330).  What a great day in Indiana, Pennsylvania!

Nomad Life - Day 176

The (common) cold is really taking its toll - case in point, I woke up at 0500 without an alarm - feeling horribly congested...  I managed to start teleworking almost immediately but my heart wasn't really in the work.  I took a break for some reading, Duolingo and puzzles and later (0745) went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Quality Inn (Johnstown).  There were some (annoying) loud talkers in the lobby but I managed to ignore them before returned to work.  All morning, I kept fighting the cold (headache and congestion).  When my last meeting was complete (1100), I decided that four hours of work was enough (I balanced out my day with four hours of leave).  After loading up my car (I saw a South Dakota license plate in the parking lot!), I departed the hotel.  It was (again), a marvelous day: sunny and 43 F!  My next destination, the town of Indiana, was located to the northwest of Johnstown so I used PA-65 and PA-403 to drive through the old downtown area.  Several of my friends are from this area and it was very familiar (Mollie and I also visited the nearby Johnstown Flood NPS site in February 2020).  Beyond the edge of town, I followed US-22, PA-65, P-954, US-422 and PA-286 until I reached my new hotel, the Days Inn (Indiana) at 1150.  It was too early to check in, so I went in search of the Hoodlebug Trail, a nearby rail trail that was (at least) 10 miles long.  I located the Hoss' restaurant on Rose Street (see FEB 2020) at 1200 and parked in their lot (I didn't realize there was a trailhead parking area across the street).  With great weather, I headed south on the paved bike trail.  There were plenty of other walkers with similar ideas and I encountered lots of birds too.  In the end, I walked almost three miles and only turned around when I reached an informal trailhead next to the Homer City Asphalt Plant.  It was warm and sunny - it seemed so much like Spring!  During my outbound leg, I'd noticed the Levity Breweing Company and decided to stop their (for lunch) during my backtrack.  Started at 1350, I ordered a flight of beer and a delicious fish sandwich.  Everything was delicious.  The bartender (Ed) invited me to return for the Mardi Gras party the following night - it sounds interesting!  At 1420, I left the Brewery and walked back to my car after nearly 6 miles (3 new miles of the trail) outdoors.  Since it was now possible to check into my hotel room, I drove back to the Days Inn and was settled inside by 1445.  Even though my work day was done, I still checked on work computer to make sure I hadn't missed anything important.  After that, I did some reading and watched movies until I felt tired.  Between 1630 and 2030, I took a nap from 1630 to 2030.  This may not have been the best idea because it screwed up my sleep schedule.  Still, I felt better.  I did some more reading and also ate a late "dinner" (snacks).  At 2200, I went down to the Fitness Center and rode on the stationary (recumbent) bike - I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to get some more miles!  In 20 minutes, I logged 9.4 hours - it felt good to keep up with my fitness goals.  I then returned to room and worked on Blog.  For the rest of the evening, I watched movies and didn't go to bed until about 0045.  Being sick is not pleasant but I must admit that I maximized my body's potential today.  Hopefully, I'll start to feel better soon...

Nomad Life - Day 175

Even though I suspected it might happen, I really hoped I wouldn't succumb to the common cold for the second time this winter...  Unfortunately, the scratchy throat and runny nose caused me trouble overnight and, even though I hadn't set an alarm, I was still up by 0645.  Dang...  Before getting out of bed, I did some reading, completing Duolingo exercises and working on puzzles.  During this time, the birds were singing loudly outside my window and I took advantage of this easy Merlin App capture to start my daily birding statistics.  At 0700, I began my telework day.  About an hour later, I took a break and went to breakfast in the Atrium of the Super 8 (State College).  Once I was finished eating, I went to the Fitness Center and rode their stationary (recumbent) bike for 20 minutes - somehow, I logged 7 miles!  After that, I walked on the treadmill for 1 mile (17 minutes) before returning to my room.  The cold symptoms started to wear on me and, when I reached the four hour mark of work, I'd had enough of the hotel room and computers.  Despairing of being able to get some good outdoor adventures under the circumstances, I left State College at 1200.  The weather was good (sunny, with temps at 38 F) again!  I stopped for a gas fill up at Unimart (cheapest gas around) before getting on US-322, which I used to reach I-99.  I then followed the Interstate until I could switch to US-22.  This road took me from Centre County, through Blair County (1225) and into Cambria County (1255).  Before long, I was on US-219 and was making my way towards Johnstown, my destination for the night.  Upon arriving at the exit for my hotel (1320), I spotted a Primanti Brother's franchise at the Johnstown Galleria (mall).  I'd heard this was a "real Pittsburgh" experience so decided to check out the venue for lunch.  I was fortunate in this decision because the restaurant had a lunch special of a HUGE corned beef sandwich, lots of fries and a drink.  The knife in the soft bread was a good touch and the price was very reasonable.  And, of course, the food was great!  I was finished with my meal at 1345 and started a work call while I drove a short distance to my hotel, the Quality Inn (Johnstown).  Between meetings, I was able to check into my room (1400) and resume teleworking with barely a hiccup.  I stayed online until 1600 and then unloaded the rest of my car before continuing my teleworking.  At 1715, I hit the 7.5 hour mark for my hours and I decided to return to the Primanti's Brothers for their "Half Price Happy Hour".  Unlike what I'd seen during the lunch hour the place was packed! I was pleased to find that they had good deals on large beers and some cheap pizza slices - I got one of the former and two of the latter.  Due to my cold, my enthusiasm level was low and I only lasted until 1810.  Hoping to make it to my 10K step goal, I drove across the parking lot to the main building for the Johnstown Galleria and went walking inside the Mall.  It was warm and spacious and I was easily able to get lots of steps.  Once I was finished, I returned to my car and headed back to my hotel.  In my room, I finished up my last 30 minutes of telework and then worked on eBird and my blog.  For the rest of the evening, I watched movies until it was time for bed (2300).  With the nasty cold progressing, I had a hard time imagining a good night of sleep.  This sucks...

Nomad Life - Day 174

Unlike most of my Nomad Life weeks, it doesn't look like it would be a good idea to stay in one place for a few days.  Instead, I'm going to try to make my way lazily west (in the general direction of Pittsburgh) and see what I can see in short, overnight stays.  This morning, I was up at 0630 (no alarm set) and started teleworking.  I had meetings for most of the morning and spent the rest of the time catching up on lots of work from the preceding Installation trips.  I took one break (0815) for breakfast at the Super 8 Mifflinville.  After that, I kept working until 1130.  The forecast had said that there would be snow overnight but none ever felt where I was.  It was, actually, mostly sunny.  Also, the temps seemed very pleasant (38 F) and it seemed like Spring while I was walking around in the "courtyard" of the hotel.  Once my car was packed (1140), I departed my hotel and drove across the street to get lunch (to go) at Burger King (1140).  I waited to eat and repositioned my car from Miffliville (east side of the Susquehanna River) to South Centre (on the west side).  I parked at Columbia Park and, between 1200 and 1300, I went wandering around on trails near the river.  On such a beautiful day, I found LOTS of birds!  Even better,  I logged two miles of walking.  I encountered a deer carcass during my exploring but I don't think there were any major predators around - the area was residential.  Before departing the area, I finished my lunch and joined a work telcon (1300).  While listening to that, I made my way to I-80 and drove west.  As I entered Montour County (1315), I started to see snow again.  The Susquehanna River paralleled the Interstate in this area and I crossed it more than once. This part of the drive was punctuated by lots of curvy roads, fast trucks and narrow canyons through the hilly country.  I lost signal on my telcon but regained it less than five minutes later.  Signs along the highway warned of a major exit closure (for I-99) so I followed Google Maps' advice and exited I-80 at PA-64.  After following that road for a while (very little traffic), I reached PA-26 - from that intersection, I merged on to I-99.  Before long, I had reached State College and I exited on to US-322 (towards the south).  Soon after that, I got off the Interstate at College Avenue and made my way (via side streets) to my hotel, the Super 8 (State College).  With a conference call still going on at that point, I waited in the parking lot until it finished (1440).  Immediately after that, I checked into my room and resumed teleworking.  I stayed online until 1630 (when I reached my 8 hours).  Next, I went to the Lobby and printed documents at the hotel business center.  By 1700, I was ready for some fun.  Leaving the Super 8, I was stunned to find that the tamps were in the high 40s!  Following recommendations from the clerk at the hotel, I drove to the PSU campus and was able to find parking at the East Deck. (arrived there at 1730).  Next, I walked to the Penn State Berkey Creamery and ordered a Peachy Paterno ice cream (bowl, with cone on top) at 1740. I ate my delicious "dinner" inside the venue - I was surrounded by young ladies in small groups - they all seemed to enjoy the location for its comfort food.  After that, I went walking around the campus and logged another two miles (met my step goal for the day).  Like I've been seeing since Scranton, there were only snow remnants to indicate that Winter was still out there somewhere...  The air was very pleasant and I was treated to a pretty sunset.  I saw some interesting looking ski areas in the distance.  While I was walking, I got photos of football stadium, watched students playing pickleball and lacrosse and got a better feel for PSU.  When I reached my car again, I left the garage (1820) and drove a short distance to the west.  My target was the local Marzoni's Pizza and Brewery.  When I reached the bar, I ordered four of their brews (6 oz each).  A nearby couple, originally from the UK (Northumbria region) engaged me in conversation - it turned out that she was a PSU professor.  We had a good chat before we were all finished with our drinks (1940).  Feeling quote good about my choices this evening, I drove back to my hotel (arrived at 1950).  After quickly changing clothing, I went to workout in the Fitness Center (20 minutes of biking, 6 miles total).  Back in my room, I blogged, logged eBird entries and watched watching movies before going to bed at 2300.  This was my first visit to State College since I'd brought Erin here (see AUG 2015) and I really enjoyed the vibe!

Nomad Life - Day 173

It was finally time to say goodbye to Connecticut and my wonderful friends - I hadn't expected to stay with Kelly & Steve in Glastonbury so long but but it has been wonderful!  This morning, I woke up at 0630 (without alarm) and started teleworking immediately.  Despite the terrible snowstorm, Steve had to drive into Hartford for work - I was able to say goodbye (and "thank you") as he was leaving.  I then took a break from my computer and ate breakfast before quickly returning to work.  Kelly had to run some errands so we made my farewells at about 1030.  For the rest of my time at their home, I teleworked, with only a short break for lunch.  At the seven hour mark for my work day (1345), I logged off of my computer, packed up the car and reluctantly departed Glastonbury.  It was a beautiful, sunny day and temps were in the mid 30s!  Using CT-2, I-91, I-691 and I-84, I headed west.  Along the way, I passed the time by listening to SiriusXM.  After I crossed the New York border (1450), I began to encounter significant traffic.  Fortunately, I kept moving along OK.  While in this area, I saw lots of snow along the side of the road.  I passed through Danbury, my old Appalachian Trail Hiking Zone (near Fishkill) and crossed the Hudson River near Newburgh without incident.  In fact, I made it all the way to the New York / Pennsylvania border without any problems and, for this reason, decided I had time to get off the Interstate for a short visit to visit Montague (Sussex County), New Jersey (1555).  After finding a little park (just off CR-653, south of the gas stations and NJ-23), I took a stretching break and did some birding.  At 1605, I got back on I-84 and crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania.  The drive on the rest of I-84 (to Scranton) went well and I transitioned to I-81 (headed South) at 1655.  I was startled to see that almost all of the snow was gone!  Temps were still in the high 20s but they must have had warmer weather to melt everything...  At this same time, the traffic volume steadily increased significantly (with no warning from Google Maps) until I was almost completely stopped.  With warnings from road signs and (finally) the map app, it was clear that the drive to the I-80 merge was going to take far longer than I'd hoped.  Not wanting to be "trapped" on the Interstate, I exited as I saw an opportunity.  For the first time in all of my years of traveling nearby, I got an amazing view of the Montage Mountain Resort, just to the east of my location.  Ignoring all the map app suggestions, I weaved my way south on back roads (mostly paralleling I-81) until I was able to get on US-11.  The choice I'd made didn't make the trip go faster (lots of traffic, lights and narrow streets) but I felt better because I was still moving.  Google Maps kept trying to get me back on the Interstate, even while reporting that "there is a 12 minute slowdown". I ignored the guidance and kept "feeling my way along" until I accidentally missed a turn for US-11 at Pittston.  This error didn't seem like a big deal at the time but, soon, the four lane road abruptly ended at a stop sign.  From there, I was able to follow (via South Township Road and Main Street) the traffic towards the south and, after cutting north to River Street, I found myself in downtown Wilkes-Barre.  In all my years of traveling along I-81, I don't recall ever being in this immediate area - there were lots of interesting buildings and monuments!  At one intersection, I saw a chance to cross the Susquehanna on Market Street and took it.  After driving a bit west, I rejoined US-11.  Passing through the town of Plymouth, the speeds opened up and I felt like I was home free from the traffic jam.  This route, with took me southwest along the Susquehanna, was very pretty and I got to see a beautiful sunset at the end of the valley.  Also, alongside the road, I noticed lots of signs about the Susquehanna Warrior Trail (bike trail).  While it was still a bit light, I passed a huge Nuclear Power Plant (Susquehanna Stream Electric Station) that was creating the only "clouds" in the sky.  Strangely,. there was still no snow on the ground and the river looked mostly free of ice.  Just after I passed the town of Berwick, I stopped along the side of US-11 (just before the I-80 junction) and was able to locate a hotel within three miles with availability for the night.  Reservation completed, I got on I-80 east for one exit (had to cross Susquehanna River again).  I found my hotel, Super 8 (Mifflinville), on the east side of the river and, after arriving (1855), checked in quickly and found my room. By 1900, I was online for work again and logged one more hour on my computer.  Afterwards (2000), I tried to do some walking near my hotel.  It was cool and brisk and the darkness didn't help - in the end, I didn't reach my step goal.  That's OK, I'm having a good month already...  At 2100, I logged on to one of my entertainment websites and spent the rest of the evening watching movies.  I was awake until 2330 and then went to bed.  Strange to feel that I've "escaped" from the Winter - it seemed so powerful in Connecticut but so tame in Pennsylvania.  We'll see if that continues as I make my way west...

Nomad Life - Day 172

Steve had been very worried about potential loss of power, due to the predicted "wet" snow overnight.  He assured me that he had a generator but I kept wondering whether I'd get to experience an old time power outage in New England like when I was a kid.  When I woke up at 0600 (with alarm), there was already LOTS of snow on my car (probably over a foot).  The power was still good so I started teleworking immediately.  I stayed at it for the whole morning, with only a short break for breakfast (bagel) at Kelly & Steve's home.  Meanwhile, it continued snowing and temps stayed near freezing - added to that, there was lots of wind.  Despite the rather scary conditions, I must admit that I enjoyed pretty views that I got from the window in Kelly's dining room - there were LOTS of birds!  My work day continued, with meetings through the early afternoon.  After that, I took a break to eat a late lunch (turkey sandwich).  Along the way, I could hear Kelly watching news stories about power outages everywhere.  It sounded like it was even worse in Providence and on Cape Cod so I contacted my dad to see how he was doing (power was out and he had over 24 inches of snow).  It occurred to me that I'd really dodged a bullet by having the Installation trip last week rather than this one!  Back to the present, though, I was finished working at 1530.  I'd thought that Steve would want some help with shoveling the driveway but he kept delaying the task, hoping the snow would stop completely.  While waiting, I went upstairs to the guest bedroom and did some reading.  Somehow, I ended up falling asleep!  At 1645, I heard Steve outside with his snow blower and I hurried outside to assist in removing about two feet of new snow.  Unlike most of the snow I encountered in New Hampshire, this stuff shoveled like cheesecake.  It was interesting to see how deeply my car was covered (I got lots of photos).  In the end, it took a LOT of work to get Nessie dislodged from the giant snow bank.  I worked with Steve to clear the driveway for his/Kelly's cars and, eventually, I was able to get mine out to the main street.  At Steve's request, I drove down to the cul-de-sac to further clean the car and was there for nearly 20 minutes - whew!  Meanwhile, Steve finished clearing the driveway.  When I returned, he asked if I'd clean the walkway and front step and I happily obliged.  During this project, I noticed that there might actually have been 36 inches of snow (some from previous storms).  While we were working, it got dark but we continued shoveling by street/driveway light.  Steve also had time to generously assist his neighbors (including letting one borrow the snow blower).  We were finished outside at around 1800 - or, at least, I thought we were.  Steve insisted on clearing the patio in the back of the house while I got warm in the house.  For a little while, I relaxed, watching news and doing some reading.  Before long, Kelly started making dinner (chicken with veggies, rice) and Steve and I joined her at the table at 1930.  As usual, the food was good and we had some nice conversation.  We wrapped up our meal at 2030 and, after I got changed, I went downstairs to complete my 10K step goal for the day (treadmill).  I was finished at 2145 and returned to the main floor to find that Kelly and Steve had already retired for the night.  After getting back up to the guest room, I did some reading until I felt ready for bed (2300).  What a day - it's been a long time since I was "snowed in" but it was great to be surrounded by my friends!

Nomad Life - Day 171

With a huge winter storm inbound and important Winter Olympics coverage on the docket, I had planned to get up early to maximize my outdoor time.  However, I again slept later and wasn't awake until 0715.  Fortunately, I had just enough time to get ready for Mass at a nearby Parish and left Kelly & Steve's house at 0745.  Outside, it was 31 F and overcast, with a light snow falling.  I only had to drive about 1.5 miles (it would have been quicker to walk across Buckingham Park (behind Kelly's neighborhood) to St. Dunstan's Catholic Church.  Mass began at 0800 and, after so many interesting and unusual services that I've seen as part of my Nomad Life, it was kind of bland.  When it was over (0845), I returned to Kelly & Steve's to find them already watching the Olympic Gold Medal Game between the USA and Canada.  The first period had just ended and the USA was leading 1-0.  While the second period was going on, we ate breakfast (Taylor Ham, bagels and cheese sandwich, with a side of hash brown casserole).  All the food was very good and we topped it off with Mimosas.  Megan came by at one point and watched the game with us and was on hand to see Canada tie up the game.  Everyone was feeling a bit apprehensive by that point but the tension was broken when Megan left to get her sister (Maura) at the airport.  The third period ended with the game still tied and I went into the other room to get some work done on my computer.  About five minutes later, Kelly and Steve started cheering loudly - the USA had won the Olympic Gold medal in Overtime!  From that point, the "hockey household" celebrated wildly and there was additional excitement when Megan and Maura returned. From now on, the names of Jack Hughes ("Golden Goal") and Connor Hellebuyck (goalie) will be on most Americans' lips... Apart from hockey, I had time (just before noon) to get some Duolingo exercises completed and read a bit.  In the early afternoon, I also worked more on the 2026 Nashville Thanksgiving Plan (got help from Mollie along the way).  With all this, I got distracted and almost missed my chance to do anything outside!  At about 1500, I started to realize this might be my only chance to get in some skiing while in Connecticut because of the huge storm.  Wrapping up my personal business, I got changed and departed Kelly & Steve's to the north (using CT-83) at 1600.  I stopped for a gas fillup at Gulf in Manchester (1620) and then headed back south (towards Glastonbury) to park at the Manchester Country Club.  Starting at 1625, I took Steve's advice and skied around on the fairways.  It was not very easy due to a combination of deep (unpacked) snow, ice in places and a lack of broken trails.  The cold was a bit of an issue in the beginning but my blood warmed up with the workout and I was feeling fine by the time I got done (1725).  All told, I logged about two miles in one hour.  Not my best ski (even this season) but I'm glad I didn't miss my chance.  Back at Kelly & Steve's (arrived at 1735), I cleaned up and checked caught up on eBird and my blog.  Meanwhile, Steve started making dinner.  At 1830, I joined my friends and we ate a delicious dinner of chicken ranch tacos and rice.  The conversation and food were good and we stayed at the table until 1930.  After that, I went downstairs to use the treadmill so I could reach my step goals for the day.  This effort required less than two miles of walking and I was done by 2045.  Afterwards, I spent time visiting with Kelly and Steve in their living room - we watched lots of Olympic news (Closing Ceremonies) and ominous weather reporting.  I retired at around 2145 and spent some time reading before bedtime (2230).  Very glad to have gotten out on my skis today - bring on the Big Storm!

Nomad Life - Day 170

I actually slept until 0800 this morning!  The bed was comfortable and the (non-hotel) room was quiet - this gave me the rest I needed to "reset" after my work week.  There was also time for texts with all three of my daughters.  While still in my comfy guest bed, I spent time reading, doing puzzles. completing Duolingo exercises and updating my "Nomad Life Fans" on social media.  At about 1000, I got ready and went downstairs to see Kelly and Steve (they were watching TV).  We talked for a bit before Steve left to do errands.  After that, I ate a late breakfast (cereal), caught up on emails and worked some more on Thanksgiving Planning.  Lunch was a delicious panini from Hot Table (a local sandwich shop) and then I had time to complete a treadmill workout (walked 3 miles in just under one hour) in my friends' basement.  At 1400, Kelly and Steve drove me into downtown Hartford so we could attend the UCONN versus BC hockey game.  We arrived (and parked) at the historic Traveler's Insurance Building by 1430 and then had to walk across the middle of Downtown to get to PeoplesBank Arena.  Along the way, we passed the Old State House, the "Gold" Building and lots of little pubs and shopping areas.  We arrived at the UCONN "home ice" venue at 1445 and, once inside, we had to walk to almost the completely opposite side of the arena to find our seats.  The area where we were sitting had a nice view of the ice and I really enjoyed watching the Team Intros at 1500.  Even better, the UCONN Band was located nearby and they made a lot of interesting arm signals ("U" "C" "O", etc.) and they made great sounds through the game.  Behind us, there were three men who spent nearly the whole game talking about their wives, drinking, life-philosophies, etc. - the sounded like a real (sarcastic nod here) "brain trust." For on-ice action, we were treated to a very exciting display of hockey skills and there was great defense, scoring attempts, goalie saves and penalty scenarios.  Overall, the game was very good and stayed close (tied 1 to 1) all the way until overtime.  Sadly (especially for Steve and Kelly), BC ended up scoring only a short time into the Sudden Death and UCONN lost.  Along with many other dejected UCONN fans, we departed the Arena (1730).  Due to these loyal fans watching until the very end of the action, it took a while to get out of the building.  Thinking we were headed to the car, I followed Steve and Kelly in a reverse direction from when we'd arrived in Hartford.  We changed direction near the Traveler's Building, though, and ended up heading towards Bear's Smoke House.  Once inside, I immediately noticed that the venue looked very familiar - I soon realized it was the same chain as I'd visited in Asheville with family in 2023.  The line for service was pretty big and we didn't get our food until about 30 minutes later.  However, my dinner (I got the House Poutine, cornbread and was worth any waiting.  Fortunately, I was able to convince Steve & Kelly to let me treat them to dinner (they've been so generous and had been resisting my efforts to "treat" them for several days).  With my dinner, I also ordered a local beer (NEBCO) from the tap room on site.  We were in the restaurant from about 1745 to 1900 and really enjoyed the meal and conversation.  Afterwards, we walked back to Steve & Kelly's car at the Traveler's Building and left the Downtown area.  To get back to Glastonbury, we drove east, across the Connecticut River and used I-384 and some State highways.  We arrived at Kelly & Steve's home by 1945.  Everyone scattered to their own pursuits and I ended up doing some more work on Thanksgiving documents until around 2100.  Beyond that time, I joined my friends in watching local news and Winter Olympic Coverage and later went to the guest room for some reading before heading to bed (2300).  What an interesting (and fun) day!

Providence Trip - Day 5

With work completed in Providence, it was time to return to my Nomad Life.  The weekend had nearly arrived and some pressure was off - it felt good!  I'd earlier failed in my attempts to plan a get together with family in Massachusetts so had, instead, coordinated with my Notre Dame friends, Kelly and Steve, to meet up in the Hartford area.  Before that, though, I had some more telework to do.  I was awake (without alarm) by 0630.  I spent some time reading, working on Duolingo and doing puzzles before finally starting work at 0730.  An hour later, I took a break and went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Holiday Inn Express (Warwick).  After that, I worked out in the Fitness Center (from 0900 to 1015) and got one hour of walking on the treadmill (3 miles) and 15 minutes on the "spinning machine" (3 miles).  The same little boy from yesterday was there and he had lots of news and questions to share.  I might have stayed in the gym a bit longer but my time in the hotel was running short.  This was emphasized when I tried to use my room key after leaving the Fitness Center - it didn't work at first and I had to return to the lobby to reset it.  With one hour of work already completed, two hours allocated for my return travel (post business trip) and a healthily leave balance, I decided to call it a day.  After double checking that I had no open actions on my work computer, I checked out of the hotel (1200).  By then, it was snowing lightly - fortunately, the temps were at 36 F.  To reach Connecticut, I got on I-95 and headed south.  There were some tough driving conditions and I was VERY careful as I drove on the Interstate.  This caution was even more essential when I exited on to RI-102 and followed that road to RI-165.  Before long (1225), I crossed into Rhode Island and transitioned to CT-165.  This road merged with CT-138 and I followed that until I reached Griswold - there, I got on the Griswold Expressway and used it to join I-395.  For a while, I followed the Interstate (fair road conditions)and crossed the Shetucket River at 1245.  At that point, the light snow turned to sleet and temps had dropped to 32 F.  Understandably, there were lots of cops patrolling the roads - the crazy drivers were severely tempting the road conditions!  Somehow, I think I missed an exit because I never saw a lane to transition to CT-2.  The end result was that Apple Maps took me through three-quarters of a full cloverleaf loop at the junction of I-395 and CT-2!  From there, though, I was treated to a nice four lane that continue towards Hartford.  My map app indicated I'd complete the trip in about 90 minutes and I was feeling good - until I suddenly noticed lots of flashing lights in the distance.  I decided to edge over towards an approaching exit lane - this turned out to be fortuitous because I next heard "road closure ahead" from Apple Maps.  By then, though, I had already exited the freeway.  Using a parallel side street, I followed a snow plow around the obstruction (I assume it was an accident because I'd already passed a few of those) and was soon back on CT-2.  The rest of the drive was uneventful and I exited the highway (near the town of Glastonbury) on to CT-83.  From there, I used surface streets to reach Kelly & Steve's home (arrived at 1330).  The last time I was there (August 2025), the weather had been totally different - this time, the roads and yards were covered with a thick layer of snow.  As I was parking, I realized that his was the first time I revisited a friend's home during my Nomad Life.  And, like last time, I felt very welcomed immediately.  Kelly offered me lots of food and drink but I was still full from breakfast.  In the end, I skipped lunch.  With no more work planned, I spent the rest of the afternoon visiting with Kelly.  We shared lots of news because her family isn't really into social media.  Meanwhile, we watched a lot of the "live" Winter Olympics coverage (mostly skiing).  Later, we started watching the USA Men's Hockey team playing Slovakia.  Steve arrived soon after that and immediately got into the game.  There was time for more visiting but our main focus ended up being the ominous weather reports of a big snow storm coming.  The USA won their game, setting up a major match with Canada a few days later - Steve and Kelly were clearly very excited.  At 1900), we ate dinner (Kelly had made delicious pumpkin spice pancakes) and had a nice time talking.  Beyond the evening meal, we spent the rest of the night watching TV and ended up getting deeply involved in a UCONN v BC (Men's) hockey game).  I did my best to keep up with their passionate hockey fan-dom.  However, by 2145, I was feeling tired and said goodnight.  I spent about 30 minutes reading in the guest room and finally went to bed at 2300.  Very glad to have successfully completed my work trip but even happier to have immediately resumed by wonderful Nomad Life!

Providence Trip - Day 4

As the clock struck midnight, I was still working at the T. F. Green International Airport in support of a technology refreshment.  My teammates on the Installation Team appeared to be exhausted and it took all of our eyes and ears to stay on mission.  Working together (and drinking a lot of coffee, something that is VERY rare for me), we successfully resolved all issues and managed to complete our project by 0615.  Paperwork and local acceptance were wrapped 0645 - I was extremely happy to say farewell to site (Adam and Derek, the local reps, seemed pleased).  With seven hours of work already completed for the day, I could afford to relax a little bit.  Outside, the sun had risen (partly cloudy) and the temps had already reached the mid 30s.  Next, I departed (carpool) with Jennings and arrived at the Holiday Inn Express (Warwick) 0700.  Breakfast in the lobby was already in progress and I managed to scarf some food down before 0720 (I was mindful of my "Ash Wednesday Fasting Reset").  Returning to my room, I checked online briefly and then went to bed.  Fortunately, I managed to get more than two hours of rest (0730 to 0945) before I got up again.  Upcoming projects in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic necessitated that I pay attention to some telcons between 1000 and 1145 (well worth missing sleep because it will make that work easier for me, down the line).  When I reached the end of the online meetings (nine hours of total time), I decided to call it a (work) day.  I ended up skipping lunch (although I did have a few snacks) and went back to bed for some more napping.  Luckily, I did actually sleep for a few more hours.  Up for good at 1400, I spent the next two hours working on travel arrangements for the next few weeks and on Thanksgiving Planning.  Colleagues from work attempted to creep into my personal time but I resisted successfully.  Along the way, I ate an early dinner (leftovers from the Quonset Tavern) and then (1700) went outside the hotel for about 30 minutes of walking.  Somehow, i managed to reach 2 miles worth of steps for the day before I felt ready to depart the hotel.  I'd coordinated with Jennings and Joe (Installation Teammates) to meet at Proclamation Ale Company for a drink and I arrived there at 1745.  While waiting for the others, I tried four of beers produced by the Brewery (all pretty good).  The other guys arrived at 1800 and we had a good time talking until the Brewery's Trivia Night began.  After that point, the volume rose tremendously and it became nearly impossible to communicate.  We managed to stay until about 1940 but then gave up on all the noise.  After saying goodbye ("see you later" is more accurate, since we'll be reconvening at other airports in the future), I headed back to my hotel (arrived at 1950).  Before going to my room, I walked around inside and outside for a little bit.  Next, I spent some more time (family and finance) on my computer.  At 2100, I went to the Fitness Center and rode on the stationary bike for 20 minutes (4 miles).  After finishing (2120), I watched movies in my room.  I suppose it was the odd hours and/or the extra napping but I didn't go to bed until 2330.  What a week - I feel very good about having been part of the team that completed this installation but I'm bushed!