Home……..

I thought it was going to be like sliding down a greased rope to go home. I was wrong.

Actually getting out of Munich worked fine. The hotel we had chosen was right above the S-bahn stop of S-8, the line that runs directly to the airport. So after checkout, all we had to do was take an elevator down two floors and walk to the escalators. 35 minutes later we were at the airport.

We spent the final night in Munich-and had gotten in by the most direct train possible from Prague. Which was both good and bad. The train was Czech train and the cars were in disrepair somewhat-we could never get the heat right in the compartment. So we either roasted or froze during the journey. Funny thing, when we crossed the border into Germany after Plzen-it settled down nicely. Important safety tip though-if you want to ride a train that sells food, leave from Holovince, not from Hvlani Nadrazi. We learned that lesson the hard way. Even though we had eaten a big breakfast-we were starving by the time we got to Munich.

So we dumped the bags at the hotel-and headed straight to City Hall, to go to the Christmas market which had just opened. We just walked around and ate sausage and drank beer at various stands. Walk around some more and repeat the food buying. After 5 bratwursts and about 1.26 liters of fine Munich beer, we were both full. We said screw going to a restaurant and explored some.

After a pretty good flight to Dulles, the adventure began. I can’t blame America’s worst run airport-much as I would like to. The weather was really bad all over the east coast and apparently getting worse. We talked our way into the United lounge and hunkered down. Our flight back to Shopping Mall ended up being delayed by over 5 hours. When we did get airborne the flight was a REALLY bumpy one-it did not help my attitude by knowing that our pilots looked both like very young guys-made me wonder how many hours they had between them, 5-600 perhaps. Not as reassuirng as that might have once been.

They got us home though and I got back to work yesterday. The process of digging out has begun. The agency I work with is going through some big changes and the powers that be are trying to anticipate them-everyone knew they were coming, but its still interesting to watch people deal with them. I should be somewhat concerned for myself I guess-but I’m not. Whatever happens is going to happen. I’ll just take one day at a time and stay fixed on my personal goal. I do need to buy a frame for my mission statement. I’ve got a spot picked out for it above my monitor here.

Its early this morning, but I could not get back to sleep. So I thought I’d get up and answer e-mails, I was supposed to do last night-when I fell asleep on the couch.

I’ve not been blind to the events that have gone on in India last week-and the appointments of Obama’s security team yesterday. I’ve got some ideas and opinions on that, as well as the recent snark from some about “victory” in Mesopotamia. But I want to close the book on the trip first. To do that I’ve got to recharge my laptop and move some pix for you to see this evening. I’m going to put all of them up on a Flickr account as well. Link to follow.

Regarding India-more to come-but I would caution anyone who draws long term conclusions about this attack and the so called global Islamic threat. I personally believe that this has some unique, Indian, causes to this particular escapade-and that the danger it could escalate into a war between India and Pakistan is real. The German paper I brought back with me had a pretty graphic article about a woman who had lost her husband in the attack. (“Mein Mann starb im Bombay Terror”-despite my clumsiness with the spoken German, I can read it pretty well).

Time to go change and go to work this morning. Bills are not going to pay themselves you know and Tuesday’s start early each week. Too damn early if you ask me, but the schedule is set by the slave masters in DC. My crackberry is buzzing to tell me so. ( I did not ask for one-but the powers that be thought it would be a good idea).

O kaeri nasai!