Monday, April 4, 2016

Back

You didn't think I'd be back did you?  Don't worry, normally I probably wouldn't but I had started that post last night and just posted it in the security line at IAH.  It's a significant line so this will be a significant post more than likely.  Not significant in the sense that it will be significant to your life but who knows

Just took an uber to the airport leaving the hotel at 3:10am.  Never woken up at 2:44am that I can remember.  This uber driver literally was one of the nicest people I've ever met.  Such a gentle spirit.  Former football player at a college here in Texas.   Super friendly and super honest.  He did make me chuckle quite a bit though.  When I told him I was from South Carolina he proceeded to go into a wonderful sales pitch about sc and how beautiful the water is and everything is there.  I agreed.  He then told me he traveled through there a lot to visit his fiancĂ© when she was training in NY.  I was thinking it may have been a little out of his way to go through the carolinas to get to NY, but who am I to judge.  He brought the conversation back to the lakes and asked, "Isn't Lake Tahoe in SC?"  I'm not sure I had ever been more confused in my life than I was at that moment. I gently mentioned that Lake Tahoe is in Nevada (turns out part of it is in California so we were both wrong) and then he mentioned the Great Lakes.  So yes, my confusion level went up again.  I mentioned that the Great Lakes are up near Michigan(he had mentioned Chicago earlier so things were starting to make sense in a weird way).   Then he said, "Aren't the Great Lakes near the carolinas?"  At this point I had to take a step back, a deep breath, smile a little, wish someone else was there to here this, and then say, "Well, no.  SC is above Florida and Georgia if you're familiar with those states."   I'm not sure he was, so we moved on.  When he mentioned this was his second day ubering I began to get a little concerned I would make it to IAH on time but I did.  Like I said, great guy.  Just a little geographically challenged, but who isn't?  Well at least I know I am. 

Ok back to Houston. I think it's a decent city for a final four.  If I was ranking the cities in my rankings, and I am, here are the current standings for best final four cities:
1.  Indy
2.  New Orleans
3.  Atlanta
4.  Dallas
5.  Houston
6.  Minneapolis 

Indy is by far my favorite.  Still my favorite city in the world too. 

Anyway, my experience in Houston provided a lot of good memories.  I saw former co-workers, walked in the middle of the street with one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history, made new friends, listened to great men speak about leadership and their rise in the business, and I was strengthened by being around first-class people throughout the weekend.  This was a different final four experience than others.  I was in bed at decent times and I'm not completely exhausted as I stand in this security line.  Yep still here.  Ok now at the end.  Maybe I'll write more later.  












Sunsetting



The sun is setting on another Final Four.  I believe this is number 8 for me in 6 different cities.  Houston is not too bad.  Not great but not too bad.  Hard to get a feel for the city.  More to come in a sec














Sunday, April 3, 2016

DC and Chucktown

Let me tell, Snapseed is awesome.  It's an app.  App is short for application.  Applications help people get jobs in some cases.  In other cases, it helps people like me edit photos into award winning photos.  I couldn't keep a straight face either.  

Anyway, I had the chance to go to the ACC tourney in DC and I took it. 
Yes, Steve Robinson got on tv when ESPN was showing Tony and I. DC was great.  Walked to many a monument, went to the Holocaust Museum(can't recommend this enough) and saw some awesome basketball.  

I flew from there straight to Charleston for the SCAAA Conference.  The old me said, "Yes.  Great idea.  Spend three days in DC and fly to to Charleston for 4 days."  The new me still thought it was a good idea.   And boy was I tired when it was all over.  

#Snapseed