Thanks, Maggie!

On a plate!

Yep. A nice breakfast date with my love, before she hops away to Taipei.

Yup, not even a week's passed an I'm headed up again. Not as much as Cloony in "Up In The Air", but definitely enough this month. Security was easy and Delta didn't want to put me on an earlier flight with available seats, unless I paid them $50 (free for Gold or Platinum status). Which means time to enjoy a cappucino with the sunrise. And then my 8:25am flight wings me to Anaheim for a week. This week will be less lonely, Frances joins me in a matter of hours, in time for dinner. All good.

Just at the airport. Soft jazz music playing. Those iconic pressed copper ceiling tiles. A full bay of desserts and pastries. Delicious cappucino, a few dozen other coffee drinks, teas, steamers, etc., and then the full bar. The menu weighs in around 22-24 pages and the prices look just as remembered from Perimeter ($4.30 for that cappucino in the photo). The breakfast menu looks good - something to try another time.

And yeah, planes out the window.

...the screen's that big. 152" plasma. And if you have to ask, you' can't afford it.

Another shot of the Eiffel Tower for my so-loved angel!

Three flights down, collect my bag, and a quick shuttle to my hotel. I've arrived, Vegas, here I am!

Got a shot outside of Salt Lake City on the final leg of my flights.

And shortly after, I remembered to update the photo quality in the LiveJournal Mobile application, lost in my transition from the Treo 755p 'back' to the Treo 700p. Future pics should be better, yet this will be enough to trigger my memories.

Bit of a 'winter wonderland' down below. Ice and snow and trees and mountains, oh my!

And what a contrast to the western side of the rockies, landing in Salt Lake City. I couldn't snap a shot - no electronics allowed by the time the clouds broke - but let's say a snow covered salt lake is a beautiful zen sight to behold.

Dang, they've done it well. Looks like I'll spend more time at the airport before flights now...if only I wasn't looking to sleep on this flight...

Rumor had it the Perimeter Mall Cafe Intermezzo was closed. That proved quite false. Yet the brief research thar rumor spawned led to the discovery of this, a brand spankin new Cafe Intermezzo in the Atlanta Airport's B Concourse. It's here, it's live, and an employee confirmed it opened all of about 2 weeks ago.

They're partnered with Buckhead Books, the overall effect is pretty good. It's a nice space, I can tell I'll send a fair amount of time here. We'll have to see how it does, as it does look a little upscale for a concourse. The atrium would have been a great location I think. Nevertheless, there's coffee, desserts (no tour guide evident though...), and looks like a full bar. Next time I'll need to find out if you can get cappucino to go. Should have asked while I was walking through.

Welcome to Hartsfield, Cafe Intermezzo. Glad to see you're here.

I remember as a kid not thinking too much about it when I truly learned that there was no Santa Claus. I think I kinda already knew.

But when I learned that Shamu wasn't a single killer whale, it was just what they named the whale performing for a given show? That was true disappointment.

Show's over, on my way to pick up the bags and head to the airport.

Here for SUPERCOMM 2009, which starts tomorrow. Got in last night, had some Chicago pizza, ready now for a coffee to get the day really started. And maybe Gino's East tonight or tomorrow for another round of that tasty, tasty pie.

Kinda didn't take any photos yesterday. Woke early, took a taxi to the airport, flew home, dealt with the "rather harrowing experience" (Syed Shahid Ali, I.O.C. member from Pakistan, as quoted by the NY Times Oct. 2nd 2009) that is this country's Passport and Baggage Control policy execution, picked up from the airport by sis, went to Fuego Spanish Grill for an early supper of tapas and paella including sis & her fiance, picked up Hanji from dear Tom & Tracy, then got home.

It's good to be home. Great trip and good to be back.

Off to Chicago tomorrow. Yea pizza!!!

[For the record, Spanish passport control was the *easiest* I have ever been through on four continents. U.S. elected officials should take some 'fact-finding' trips there to see what we ought to achieve. There: through in less than a minute including line, passport verification, and entry stamp. Simple baggage claim and well marked signage to Customs, with another less than 1 minute transition. Here? Full ten fingerprinting?! Seperate lines for flight crews and diplomats?! Almost lost in the maze between 'Passport Control', getting bags, finding 'Baggage Control', dropping bags off, then going through airport security to get through Hartsfield to pick up bags again to leave?! Bah! I think we'll try to get some tickets to the Olympics in Rio.]

Very nice at night, although we bought more during the day. Although, does three scarves for 5€ really count as 'more'? ;-)

And yes, I'm having a hotdog, nestled in its bun, covered in queso, layered with cheese, ham, and pickles with a little special tomato sauce. Back at Nebraska again. Same server as breakfast, too.

In front of the Parc de Retiro. Photo for €0.50.

Technically, we did actually see not 1 but 2 Mickey's in the Plaza Mayor after seeing Minnie. Guess it wasn't a binge in Ibeza after all!

Stylish fashion for the Frances at Zara on the Grand Via.