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!

Providence Trip - Day 3

Hoping I'd stay in bed longer than normal (in preparation for our overnight Installation), I didn't set an alarm and kept my "white noise" generator on full blast through the night.  Sadly, I only made it to 0730 and couldn't go back to sleep.  After trying to kill time with sleep inducing activities (like reading a boring book), I gave up and went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Holiday Inn Express (Warwick) at 0845.  And, since I was already awake, it made sense to do some teleworking (meetings) from 0900 to 1200.  Even if I'd wanted to avoid work, the outdoor conditions (raining, with temps in the high 30s) didn't seem conducive to be a substitute.  One thing that I did do, though, was return to the Fitness Center for another workout.  This time, I did 20 minutes of biking (4 miles) and 40 minutes on the treadmill (2 miles).  During this time, a little boy (with him mom) came by and started using the other equipment.  When he'd gotten bored with what was open, he actually come right up to me and asked if I could get off the treadmill so he could use it.  I wasn't finished so politely told him that he couldn't have the machine yet.  Fortunately, this didn't upset him and he waited rather patiently for me to complete my walking workout.  Along the way, he asked me a LOT of questions and I did my best to answer.  By the end, I showed him how to wipe down equipment and we talked about "Fitness Center Etiquette" - his mom thanked me profusely for entertaining her son while "his dad is at work".  Following my workout, I returned to my room and joined a meeting that was intended to help several of us that were in the field - that turned out to be a great resource.  At 1415, I departed my hotel and drove (via side roads and I-95) to Quonset Point.  The weather was NOT nice and my adaptive cruise control didn't work for most of the drive.  Also, the loud (muffler?) noise continued - that is really bothersome...   Anyway, I'd been hoping to see my dad on Cape Cod during the coming weekend but he demurred, saying that there wasn't any room for my car in the driveway and that there was so much snow it would be hard to enjoy the visit.  Instead, he proposed that we meet up in Rhode Island and suggested somewhere close to the old Naval Air Station (where we'd lived when I was a little kid).  With this goal in mind, I found the Quonset Tavern on the Green in North Kingstown and he agreed to meet me there.  I arrived at 1440 and met my dad and Beth a bit later (1500).  We ended up being the only customers and had a nice, relaxing lunch (lots of food).  Along the way, I (unfortunately) forgot that it was Ash Wednesday and ended up eating some meat.  Oh well - I reset my clock immediately and hope to do better in the future...  We visited and caught up on news until we were finished with our meal (1625).  After saying goodbye, I drove back (via US-1) to my hotel.  During this transit, I ended up on a work call.  Meanwhile, it was still raining...  Just after my arrival at the Holiday Inn Express (1700), I started trying to nap in preparation for my overnight work at the Airport.  Despite my best efforts, I only got about 45 minutes of actual rest in 90 minutes of trying.  Beyond these attempts, I took care of personal admin work and did a bit more telework in preparation for overnight installation.  Since I'd eaten a full breakfast and lunch, I didn't make a special effort to eat dinner.  At 2015, Jennings picked me up and we carpooled to the Airport (arrived at 2030).  Like before, it was raining but I really didn't care.  Not only was I feeling a bit tired but I knew I'd be indoors all night.  Upon arrival, our team convened and we started the testing activities (2100).  There was a lot more "hands on" for me during this day's activities (unlike yesterday) and I had a front row seat when we found our first obstacle.  Somehow, the site had lost connectivity with their "parent" facility and it took more than an hour of troubleshooting with the National Help Desk before we could continue our planned tests.  Fortunately, we got back on track before too long.  Meanwhile, I cracked open the "thermal travel mug" (AKA "insulated tumbler") and drank some coffee that I'd brought from the hotel.  This was my first use of this cool mug - I'd received it from one of The Prouty fundraisers - and it worked great!  During each subsequent hour, I sipped caffeine off and on and managed to keep my focus.  In the same timeframe, I also managed to get my last mile of walking in (and my step goal).  I was still working at midnight (3.5 hours more hours towards my job).  Hope we are able to get this Installation completed before our internal deadline (0500)...

Providence Trip - Day 2

Let the Installation begin!  This morning, I was awake by 0630 (without an alarm) and decided to start teleworking to ensure that I was ready when I arrived at the Airport.  At 0745, I went to breakfast in Lobby of Holiday Inn Express (Warwick) and, after my meal, returned to my room to pack for my day in the field.  Outside, the temps were in the mid-30s and it was partly cloudy.  Jennings (my Prime Contractor counterpart) arrived at the hotel by 0840 because he had asked me to ride with him to the Airport (he doesn't yet have his access badge).  We only had to drive from the west side of T. F. Green International Airport, around the southern end and then along the eastern perimeter until we arrived at the access gate.  Fortunately, my badge worked to get us inside.  A few other folks from the team were waiting nearby because their own badges didn't work.  By 0845, though, we had everyone assembled in the parking lot and we went inside the main building to meet up with our local points of contact.  Officially, our work on-site began at 0900 but, other than meet and greet, I had to wait while other members of the team unloaded the truck and unpacked pallets.  During this time, I took care of other work projects but was feeling quite ready for my tasks when the team informed me it was time to start.  For the next several hours (including lunch time, when I ate a light snack), we went through several testing checklists.  Occasionally, we hit a snag but worked our way through all of them by the time we were finished.  Along the way, I did get some steps (walking around in the buildings).  My team had some familiar people but we also were joined by new ones (including a really good Test Director, Joe V) - the camaraderie seemed really good.  At 1630, we finally wrapped up our testing and, after Jennings verified that his team had already departed, left the Airport (1645).  Like earlier, I was carpooling with him again and he dropped me off at the hotel by 1700.  I did some final wrap up (answered emails) on my work computer before calling it a day.  With some daylight remaining, I went walking (reached 2 miles for the day) and birding nearby.  The conditions were still relatively pleasant (mid 30s and dry).  Without returning to my room, I left the hotel (1750) and drove north towards the area where I'd eaten last night.  I'd noticed another restaurant (across the street from the Iron Works) called El Marinero, which purported to be a "Mexican Seafood" establishment.  Feeling adventurous, I ordered the Camarones Zarandeados, which ended up being a collection of HUGE shrimp that took some effort to eat.  It was combined with a healthy serving of beans and rice.  I washed everything down with some local beer and got VERY sticky/greasy from the food.  Everything was delicious!  I was finished eating at 1840 and, after the short drive, reached my hotel by 1855.  In my room for a short time, I took care of personal admin (bills, emails, etc.) and may have gotten completely distracted by those minor tasks.  Fortunately, I made sure to get dressed in my workout gear along the way and this allowed me to head to the Fitness Center by 2100.  While there, I rode the stationary "bike" (more of a spinning machine) for 40 minutes (8 miles) and reached my step goal for the day.  Feeling good about the exercise but the cycle was VERY uncomfortable, even after I tweaked the seat and handlebars.  Hoping I can keep using it, though.  Back in my room again, I watched videos for the rest of the night.  With the intent of getting on a "mid-shift" schedule, I didn't go to bed until just after midnight (I probably wasn't actually sleeping until 0030).  Excited to get another Airport our updated system tomorrow night!

Providence Trip - Day 1

.This week, I had another work trip that would support our system's hardware installations!  After my good experience last week, I was really looking forward to the trip - this time, to Providence, Rhode Island.  Since it was a holiday, there wasn't going to be anyone online that expected to speak or email with me.  This allowed me some flexibility, since I had approval to work on this unusual travel day.  I took advantage of the situation and slept a bit later than normal - I ended up waking up at 0645 (without an alarm set).  At 0700, I began teleworking.  For the rest of the morning, I only took one short break (0800) for breakfast in the Lobby of the Quality Inn (Lebanon).  Otherwise, I stayed online until 1115 and completed the first four hours of my work day until it was time to depart from Lebanon (1130).  By then, the temps were 32 F and it was pleasant and sunny outside.  Due to my big breakfast, I skipped lunch and started driving south on I-89.  Not surprisingly, there were Massachusetts license plates everywhere and they blew by me as I mostly followed the speed limit.  After nearly an hour on the Interstate, I exited on to NH-77, which led me to NH-13.  Not only was this the route with the shortest distance, I had noticed several Rail Trails on the map nearby,  With the goal of getting some good outdoor activity, I headed towards the town of Brookline.  Arriving there at 1315, I was met with temps in the mid 30s - I've been so lucky during my Nomad Life journey!  I parked at a lot near Potanipo Lake (near Mason Road) and, after some research online (because there really wasn't any signage), I was able to locate the Brookline Rail Trail.  From my car, I hiked south (through a small covered bridge) until the trail petered out at NH-13.  Reversing course, I started north towards the Lake.  It took some help from locals (walking with their dog) but I eventually realized I was in the southern section of the larger trail.  Without blazes or signs, I tentatively headed into the "Tevye Section", which initially wandered through paved roads of what appeared to be a Jewish Summer Camp.  After this, the trail turned into a forest road that was clearly used by snowmobiles.  There was actually better signage from this point and I was able to hike two miles before I reached North Mason Road.  By that point, I had learned that there was another two mile section of the Brookline Rail Trail located to the north that connected to the Granite Town Rail Trail (total distance of the two sections of trail = 4.5 miles).  I'd also concluded that I didn't want to walk in the slushy snow to reach my car - instead, I walked east to NH-13 and headed south on the pavement.  Fortunately, there was a wide shoulder and I was able to make very good time.  By 1450, I had reached my car after just a bit more than four miles.  Overall, it was a great time on the trail!  Next, I drove south on NH-13 for about 1.5 miles, hoping to find the northwest trailhead of the Potanipo Rail Trail.  I was successful in my search and even had a short time to do some walking.  At this trailhead, there was a map of the trail and I learned that it was about 2.7 miles long, with the northern end (1.5 miles) going from the trailhead I found to the corner Bohanan Bridge Road and Oak Hill Road; another section is about 1.2 miles and connects to the Massachusetts part of the Potanipo Rail Trail.  Sadly, there wasn't enough time to really make progress on this Rail Trail.  However, I felt good about adding to my experience with more trails on the New Hampshire Rail Trails Challenge list.  Reluctantly, I left the area at 1500 and drove south on NH-13 to the Massachusetts border (crossed at 1505).  The road became MA-13 and I continued south while temps rose to 37 F.  After passing through several small hamlets, I located MA-2 and used it to reach I-190.  Following that road, I made my way to Worcester and then accessed I-290 to cross through the city.  Exiting on to MA-146, I soon reached the Rhode Island border (1610) and continued south on RI-146.  This road had lots of construction and traffic but I eventually made it to I-95.  During this part of the drive, I kept seeing cameras over the road and worried about traffic tickets (later research says they are inactive toll cameras for trucks).  The traffic volume continued increasing and I was relieved to get off the Interstate at the T. F  Green Airport exit.  Shortly after that (1640), I arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Warwick and was able to quickly check into my room.  With the drive completed, I was able to log two more hours of work (transportation to the work site).  Before resuming telework, though, I hosted a telcon with our family's Thanksgiving Planning Team (1700 to 1740).  Beyond that important discussion, I completed my last hour of work online (1740 to 1840).  Pausing my work day again, I left the hotel and went to dinner at the "Iron Works" (a restaurant at the nearby Hilton Hotel).  It was a VERY popular venue and my only choice was to sit at the crowded bar.  The only empty seat was next to one occupied by a Veteran named Greg, who appeared to be a regular, and his service dog (Hope).  It turned out that we had a lot of things in common (military experiences) and even both had family on Cape Cod.  The drinks and dinner (pastrami sandwich) were very good (prices were too!) and I stayed at the bar until 1950.  After saying goodbye to my new friend, I drove back to the hotel and finished my last hour of telework (2000 to 2100).  Because I'd already reached my fitness goals for the day, I didn't feel bad about watching movies until bedtime (2300).  I'll admit that I'm rather excited about the work I'll be doing at the Airport during the next few days!

Nomad Life - Day 169

I woke up at 0700 this morning, still feeling tired.  That sealed the deal for me on whether or not I should drive up to Bradford (VT) to join the latest iteration of the Dayhike & Dine series.  They'd been planning (coincidentally) to climb Mount Willard (in the White Mountains) during one of my days of visiting but I'd never committed.  Still, I had hoped to see all those folks.  With the decision made, though, I lounged around in bed for about an hour (reading and doing Duolingo exercises) before going to breakfast in the Lobby of the Quality Inn (Lebanon).  Unlike the previous day, it was very crowded and I had to listen to folks from Massachusetts (almost all cars in the parking lot had that plate) complaining about food, accommodations, prices, etc.  SMH....  After that (0815), I returned to my room and did some more reading & puzzles, caught up on communications with friends and relatives and did a few work tasks (travel prep and claims).  I also purchased several items online from Walmart and made plans to pick them up later.  For lunch, I ate leftovers (from Pellegrino's).  Suddenly, I realized that most of the day was over - and I'd not even been outside!  Almost frantically, I left the hotel (1500) and drove to my storage unit.  When I arrived, my odometer said that I'd reached 16K miles since I'd begun my Nomad Life on August 1 - wow!  Because I hadn't been able to access the unit for many months, I ended up spending nearly 90 minutes swapping items, adding things to the storage unit and reorganizing my car.  By the end of these efforts, I realized I barely had enough time for any outdoor activities.  Luckily, I was less than a mile from the Northern Rail Trail and, after parking at the lot near Forward's Garage, I was able to get 2.2 miles of skiing (between 1630 and 1730) between that location and the Bank Street Extension.  It wasn't as formal as I'd hoped, but I also got about an hour of bird watching (again in support of the New Hampshire Audubon Annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey.  Even better, I ended up talking with a lady on the trail about our results (she was doing it too).  Unfortunately, I saw fewer species than I had during the previous day.  But I hadn't forgotten and looked forward to entering my results online, just as I'd done for most of the years I lived in New Hampshire.  Before I was done, I watched kids playing hockey, dodged snowmobiles and marveled at the (stupid? insensitive? careless?) people who had damaged the nearby Packard Covered Bridge.  It's terrible that it can't seem to avoid getting hit by tall vehicles!  When I finished, I noticed that the temps, which had earlier risen to about 30 F, had started to fall quickly with the setting sun.  Realizing that my trip to Cape Cod was not going to happen as I'd expected, I'd earlier coordinated doing some laundry with a friend.  So, at 1745, I visited Jim & Cathy's home in Lebanon.  They were, of course, very gracious and friendly and I ended up visiting with them while the clothing was washing.  At one point, I took a break so I could drive to West Lebanon to pick up my Walmart order (hiking boots, underwear, jeans).  Just after that (1845), I ate dinner inside the Burger King on NH-12A.  At 1900, I drove back to Jim & Cathy's, turned over laundry to dryer and then hurried back to hotel so I could get the large pile of scrap paper I wanted to burn.  This resulted in some adventures with their wood stove - I always forget how to work these but, in my defense, they are all different...  Along the way, I spent time watching the Winter Olympics with Cathy.  Once my laundry was completed, I reluctantly said goodbye and departed from their home (2045).  It was clear that they were sending their well-wishes and prayers along with me - great friends!  Despite further attempts that I'd made to connect with Sarah H earlier in the evening, I never was able to make it work.  Back at my hotel (2100), I watched movies. Sadly, I forgot about getting the rest of my steps so only end up achieving about 85% of my goal.  That's twice in one weekend - dang...  I went to bed at 2300 after another day filled with some great love and happiness.  I'm really looking forward to returning to Hanover/Lebanon again soon!

Nomad Life - Day 168

This morning, I was up much earlier than I'd hoped to be (0430) and did NOT feel rested.  I stayed in bed until about 0700 but never got any quality sleep.  Instead, I did some reading, puzzles and Duolingo exercises before going to breakfast in the Lobby of the Quality Inn (Lebanon) at 0745.  Strangely, I still didn't feel great - this was probably due to the lack of sleep but maybe also from that one kind of beer I tried at Jesse's the night before...  At 0800, I went outside for the first time - the temps were initially 11 F (brrrr)!  From the hotel, I started my rounds of visits and socializing for the day by driving to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where I joined the Men of St. Joseph Monthly Meeting.  As usual, this fellowship group was very helpful and I saw several friends from our church (and even met new guys).  I stayed with them from just after 0800 until about 0945 and then said goodbye.  At around this time, I started to hear back from my family in Massachusetts (Dad and Katie).  I'll admit that I was surprised and disappointed about how they were bailing on getting together during the upcoming weekend.  Yes, they were legitimate reasons but I hadn't expected not to see them while I was in the Northeast...  Oh well - maybe I'll have better luck when I return in the Summer.  Next, I drove to my old Condo neighborhood and visited my next door neighbor, Monte (arrived at 1000).  He'd graciously offered to host me for a mid day meal and, while I was there, I got to see Beth and Ann too (they stopped by for a short talk).  For the next few hours, we visited, had lunch and caught up on news.  Monte has been helping me with some mail and has been a wonderful friend - it was great to be able to stay at his place for so long.  While at Monte's, I did some birding in support of the NH Audubon Annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey (started at 1200).  From his balcony, I recorded about one of observations and saw several species.  Out side, the temps rose to about 30 F.  Finishing up my visit to Gile Hill at 1300, I tried to visit another neighbor (Sarah H.) but she wasn't home.  After that, I headed back to the hotel (arrived at 1315) and caught up on some admin.  Another reason I was there was to wait to hear back from Jim F., who had said he wanted to meet for a meal.  When he finally called (1430), we tried getting together at The Fort (local diner) but we discovered that it was closed (no explanation).  Instead, we reconvened at Pellegrino's Italian Market, a new place (for me) with a great reputation.  The food (sandwiches) was excellent!  While there, Jim and I had a great conversation and he shared a lot of life/health recommendations (both in a Physician and friend role).  As usual, Jim was very gracious and seemed genuinely happy that I was back in town.  Just before 1600, I suddenly realized what time it was and remembered I'd planned to attend Mass at Sacred Heart. Quickly saying goodbye to Jim, I drove to the nearby Parish, barely making it in time.  During the service, it felt a but strange to be back "home" after more than six months.  Along the way, I got drafted into helping with the offering - that made me glad because I definitely wanted to support the church while I was in town.  After the service was over (1700), I went down into the Parish Hall and again got drafted to help with the Mardi Gras night.  At first, I sold tickets, a job that brought back memories of my recently departed friend, Herman.  During this time, I met a lot of Father Charles' friends and saw many of my old acquaintances from church.  Like the others earlier in the day, everyone seemed very happy to see me.  Feeling very humble but very loved...  Later, I helped Wyktor in the kitchen with dishes, cleanup, etc. and was reminded of all the evenings I'd previously supported our Knights of Columbus Parish and Father Charles.  All told, I spent nearly four hours helping and it felt like old times.  Because "they needed me", I ended up skipping another local skiing event (this one at the Hartland Winter Trails) that I'd tentatively added to my calendar.  But, like last night, I considered this a good trade.  At 2115, I departed Sacred Heart and drove a short distance to my hotel (arrived at 2130).  By then, the temps were in the low 20s but I didn't feel too cold.  I should probably have tried harder to get my 10K daily step count but, instead, decided to watch movies and take a "rest day."  This didn't really improve things, though, because I didn't make a big effort to catch up on my sleep.  I ended up online until almost 2300 and still felt tired from the morning.  Turning out the lights, though, I definitely had a lot of happy thoughts about how great the Upper Valley had been while I lived there - returning today definitely felt like home!

Albany Trip - Day 5

Because of my early bedtime last night, I woke up this morning at 0400, feeling quite rested.  Since it was so early, though, I decided to go back to sleep and, when my alarm rang at 0600, it was VERY hard to get out of bed.  Somehow, though, I began teleworking immediately.  At 0745, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Express (Latham) and then went back to work immediately after that.  For once, I actually had Friday meetings.  Even better, though, I was able to complete the final document sign offs from our Installation Trip.  By 1045, I had reached the 4.5 hour mark of hours for the day and checked out of the hotel.  As I loaded up my car, I was pleased to find that I had another sunny day and that temps were in the low 30s.  This made me feel good about the impending drive towards the Upper Valley and I immediately drove (via NY-7) across the Hudson River to Troy.  Even though it was closed (for renovations ?), I stopped to visit the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.  It was very difficult to access due to traffic patterns, one way streets and snow drifts blocking parking spots.  In the end, though, I found the building and nearby park and took a photo of the site.  Apparently, Kate Mullany was an early (late Nineteenth Century) labor pioneer - the web had some good information on her but it's not clear when the location will be officially open again.  Satisfied that I'd seen all I could, I continued east on NY-7.  There was SO much traffic and I despaired of getting out of Troy.  Along the way, though, I passed some less expensive (than in Latham) fuel - I filled up the gas tank at a Valero at 1130.  From there, the traffic thinned out and I eventually found myself entering Vermont and getting on VT-7, which took me to VT-279 and US-7.  I passed through Bennington at 1200 - by then, it was sunny and temps were in the mid 20s.  I'll admit that the sight of familiar Green Mountain peaks brought a warm feeling to my heart...  During this phase of the drive, I only saw New Jersey plates on the road - each one of those cars tailgated me and passed on double yellow lines.  It wasn't until I finally reached Manchester and turned on to VT-30 that the plates changed to New Hampshire and Vermont.  I did have to follow a lot of them towards the northeast... I got on VT-11 soon after that and followed it all the way to the town of Chester (arrived there at 1300).  Along the way, I climbed over the Appalachian Trail ridge of the Greens but then came down into the Connecticut River Valley to 35 F temps.  I followed VT-103 to I-91 and, after driving north for a while (light traffic, fortunately), reached I-89.  I crossed the Connecticut River at 1350 and was soon exiting the Interstate (very familiar feelings) in Lebanon.  In the end, the drive went very well and I was able to check into the Quality Inn on NH-120 at 1355.  This meant that I was online, from my room, when a Company telcon began.  Once that was over (1430), I did a bit more telework to complete my work week.  Just before 1500, I left my hotel and drove to the Greensboro Ridge Natural Area, where I hiked for an hour (two miles) in the snow.  This outdoor workout was a go-to activity for me when I lived in Hanover and I was able to log an hour of Volunteering for the Hanover Conservancy (train maintainer) simultaneously (and with their blessing).  Feeling very good about my change to resume some familiar tasks in support of local organizations, I returned to my car just before 1600 and drove to Jesse's Steakhouse.  Typically, the group I met there on Thursdays when I lived in Hanover (Ed and Bruce) would not have been there on a Friday - however, they heard I would be in town and I was able to join them for a "do over" Happy Hour.  The beer prices had risen to $4 but the ambiance was still just the way I remembered it.  We had a great time visiting and the party was even better when Jade (bartender) arrived for her shift.  Along the way, we made plans for my next visit (during warmer weather).  It was with a great deal of reluctance when we finished our time together (1815).  As I left Jesse's, my heart was warmed that everyone seemed genuinely happy to see me - I'll need to come back again soon!  This feeling definitely overwhelmed an opposing thought about how I would have liked to attend the Torchlight Snowshoe event at the Billings Farm (scheduled earlier in the evening).  Can't do everything!  When I reached my hotel again (1830), I caught up on a bit more telework and then went to the hotel Fitness Center.  The gym was very limited so I didn't get to bike - however, I did walk just under two miles (in 35 minutes) on the treadmill.  Afterwards, I watched movies and had an unexpected call with Eileen.  Time seemed to go by very quickly and I had to force myself to go to bed at 2300.  It's great to be back in the Upper Valley!

Albany Trip - Day 4

As I'd suspected, the overnight project (Technology Refreshment) at the Albany Airport wasn't completed until nearly 0600.  This was longer than everyone wanted but, fortunately, the end result was that we completed all checklists and tasks, as intended, and the facility was able to take over the new system just when they wanted to have it.  Along the way, I got to watch equipment being installed in the maintenance area, in the radar room and in the tower itself.  While we were up in the cab (at around 0300), I believe I could see where Carolyn lived.  Otherwise, the entire area was nearly a picture - I was reminded of my many years in black & white Navy aircraft simulators.  There were some moments of concern (delays in file downloads, inoperative speakers, etc.) but everyone stayed on mission.  Towards the end, the system was functioning correctly (yaaaay) but I had to wait to sign some documentation as the Oversight Representative.  No matter, though - by then, I'd poured myself a cup of black coffee and the rare caffeine was working its magic...  In the end, we finished our project at 0600 and I carefully drove back to the Holiday Inn Express (Latham).  By this point, temps were in the low 20s.  After arriving at 0615, I was able to join the breakfast buffet (in progress, despite the published start time of 0630) and I got some good food before returning to my room.  Before trying to sleep, I spent some time catching up on admin - I ultimately went to sleep at 0700.  Sadly, this wasn't a restful sleep at all.  If I'm generous on the definition, I managed to get about four hours of rest before I decided to get out of bed.  In reality, though, it was only about two to three hours of dozing.  After making the call to wake up, I caught up on reading, made plans for the upcoming weekend and sorted out items to return to my car.  At noon, I started (resumed ?) teleworking in an attempt to complete the last two hours of my work day.  By this point, the Site Implementation Lead had determined that there was no need for the entire group of Installers to return later in the day - as a result, I stayed at the hotel.  At 1345, I went to the gym and  did 4.6 miles on the stationary (recumbent) bike (20 minutes), 2+ miles on the treadmill (40 minutes) and 0.5 miles of swimming laps (30 minutes).  These activities really made a difference in my lethargy and I felt much more awake.  My workout was done at 1515 and I returned to telework a bit more (until 1630).  By this point, I had started to have some regret about staying inside buildings all day because it was sunny outside (temps in the 30s).  Oh well - work does come first...  At 1645, I departed from my hotel and drove to El Charro Mexican Grill (near the Airport).  After I arrived (just before 1700), my sister Carolyn joined me and we had a nice visit together.  Most of the conversation was about family news and her recent trip  to Nashville and Memphis.  This wasn't our first trip to the restaurant and we were again rewarded with some delicious food.  At 1910, we said goodbye and I returned to my hotel - by this point, I was REALLY starting to feel tired.  Forcing myself to stay awake, I spent the rest of the evening watching movies, finally heading to bed at 2200.  By that point, there had been no calls from Albany Airport about problems with the new equipment so I'm feeling really good about our work this week!

Albany Trip - Day 3

Even though I wanted to sleep well into the morning (and hadn't even set an alarm), I still work up at 0700.  Unfortunately, I couldn't go back to sleep, even though I tried to tire myself with reading.  Giving up, I worked on puzzles and Duolingo exercises before heading down to breakfast in the Lobby of Holiday Inn Express (Latham) at 0840.  Wide awake by then, I joined meetings online between 0900 and 1100 (2 hours).  Beyond that time, I took a break from work.  Meanwhile, outside, it was snowing lightly (temps in low 30s).  My next task for the day was to get as much active time as I could.  To that end, I began a workout at the Fitness Center that included: 2 miles on treadmill (40 minutes), 4.6 miles on the stationary (recumbent) bike (20 minutes) and 0.5 miles of laps in the pool (30 minutes).  It felt great to have gotten so much exercise for once!  Even though I was finished just after 1230, I skipped lunch and, instead, returned to room to take a 60 minute nap.  Awake again, I resumed teleworking and stayed online (prepping for evening work) from 1430 to 1800 (3.5 hours).  By this point in my strange day, I was annoyed to find that it was raining outside - I sure hope this doesn't mean more ice!  Fortunately, when I went to my car at one point (around dinner time), I found the temps to be very reasonable (30s).  Hoping to avoid a long drive around the traffic-snarled area, I decided to get dinner at the Hotel Restaurant (formerly known as "On Tap").  I sat at the bar there and had a great meal (Chicken Parm and mixed veggies) while watching "Big Trouble in Little China" on the bar TV (campy).  I was done eating at 1845 and then went walking around in the halls to complete my 10K step goal for the day (somehow, all the working out didn't tip the pedometer scales)...  In my room again, I did some Thanksgiving Planning and then watched some videos online until it was time for me to leave the hotel at 2215.  From the Holiday Inn Express, I drove back to Albany Airport (arrived at 2230) and met up with the other members of the Installation Team.  The place was almost deserted (just the way we like it) but we needed this quiet because we had to go through a LOT of tedious checklists to ensure everything was in order and that the new equipment could meet the needs of the facility.  To be honest, there was a lot of "hurry up and wait" but then things started to get hot/busy.  My job was mostly to observe but I was asked (several times) for "Executive Decisions" - fortunately, I was able to make these without much concern and the Installation effort stayed on track.  Throughout the evening, I kept eying the pot of coffee in the break room and wondered if this would be one of the rare nights in my life where I'd need some.  As we rolled through Midnight (I logged the last 2.5 miles of my day), our checklists showed we were less than half way through the overall process so it was sure to be a long night...

Albany Trip - Day 2

Woohoo - it's time for some in-person, on-site work!  With the excitement building, I was awake by 0545 and had started teleworking at 0600.  I took a short break for breakfast in the Lobby of the Holiday Inn Express (Latham) at 0715 before returning to my telework.  When I knocked off at 0800, I'd already worked one hour for my job.  After that (0815), I got ready to depart for nearby Albany Airport where all the magic will happen this week.  Outside, it was 15 F and partly sunny - not that it mattered, because I'd be inside all day...  Starting at 0830, I met up with the rest of our Installation Team (most had traveled from their home bases in the Mid-Atlantic Region) and we introduced ourselves to the local facility staff.  For most of the morning, our team was validating inventory and preparing for the Main Event (tomorrow night), when we plan to remove the old (2010 timeframe) computer equipment and replace it with new (2023 timeframe) stuff.  This was actually my first time in this kind of role since 2013 so everything felt unfamiliar and interesting.  My colleagues were very patient and also appreciated the extra set of eyes. While walking around inside the buildings at the Airport, I logged almost a full mile!  We kept at our job until about 1430 (six more hours of work).  Feeling prepared for the next day, our team made plans to convene the following afternoon and returned to our hotels.  I arrived at the Holiday Inn Express by 1445 and bought a "cup of noodles" for my (late) lunch from the desk clerk.  After that, I resumed teleworking in my room and completed my work day by 1600.  There was a little time after that for me to catch up on personal stuff (organizing, blogging, reading) before it was time for me to make my way to Troy for my dinner with Scott V.  I came outside of the hotel to find my car covered with a light layer of snow (not in the forecast).  After that (1640), I drove (via NY-7) to Troy and arrived at Dinosaur Bar-B-Q (on the Waterfront) at 1655.  Scott arrived about five minutes later and we sat down and had a delicious dinner (I had meatloaf with two sides and a local beer).  During our meal, we had a great conversation about Scott's life in Troy (since he graduated from RPI) and my Nomad Life.  It was a nice visit!  At 1830, I departed and then had a rather scary drive (via NY-7) back to Latham.  While I'd been eating, the light snow had turned to ice (temps in the high 20s) and there was freezing rain falling all around.  I must say that I was VERY relieved to make it to the hotel...  In my warm and cozy room again, I took care of blog and eBird entries and was tempted to lay down.  Instead, though, I went to the Fitness Center to workout again.  To complete my 10K step goal. I first walked on the treadmill for two miles (40 minutes) and then rode a stationary (recumbent) bike for 4.4 miles (20 minutes).  With my fitness goals completed, I headed back to my room and figured I had some time to watch movies.  Once again, I got carried away and didn't go to bed until after midnight (0015).  Since I'll be working "Mid Shift" tomorrow, I'm hoping I don't regret this decision...