It’s Lemming time again

A few pictures from Afghanistan

I just returned home from my adventure in Afghanistan.  Internet connectivity in this 3rd world country is difficult to come by, so I’ve waited until now to post.  Also, most of what I really wanted to take pictures of was just what the military didn’t want me to take pictures of, so I passed on those.  There are no award winners in this bunch, but it may give you a little idea of what the place is like.

Thanks to Jim Bell for the really cool carabineer for my armor.

United Airlines F’s over its Customers

On Thursday I had what must rank as one of my top ten all-time worst customer service experience at the hands of United Airlines.  It all started when my 2:30 pm flight to Washington-Dulles was cancelled due to bad weather in the DC area.  I don’t blame them for not flying without permission, but cancelling the flight altogether put the 130 or so folks on the plane in need of rebooking to get to their destination.  Had we flown when the airport reopened, I would have made my flight to Kuwait which was also delayed instead of enduring the torture that followed.

As we pulled back to the gate an announcement was made for domestic customers to line up at one gate and international customers at the other.  I’m thinking that they will give the international customers a priority since they have more expensive tickets and longer delays if flights are missed.  Nothing could have been further from what happened.

The domestic line was about twice as long as the international line, so it wasn’t surprising to see two agents servicing those passengers.  I was 9th of about 45 passengers in the international line.  Things were looking ok until the second customer in my line.  The first customer was in the wrong line so he was gone at once.  The next guy took over 50 minutes to try every possible option and ask every possible question.  Several international passengers asked for the agents to help us out a bit.  That wasn’t going to happen. 

As the ‘help’ whet on, the average time to book domestic passengers was maybe 5 minutes and the average passenger in the international line took about 30 minutes.  Even though I started 9th in line, I didn’t get any help with my travel until I had stood in line for over 3 hours.  Of course, by that time there was no way to get to Kuwait in time to catch my connection. None.  And since my connection only runs three days a week, it pushed my travel back 3 days.

Even though our line was moving so much slower, the 2 agents serving domestic passengers made no effort to help our line at all until all of the domestics were gone.  That happened right about the 3 hour mark.  Score 90 domestic, 8 international.  Nice.

At that point, some folks from further back in the international line stepped into the domestic line.  Once the domestics were gone, the agents continued with those line-jumpers in front of them instead of serving the next customer in the proper line.  Let that be a lesson to those who listen to instructions and play by the rules.  The folks behind the desk don’t give a crap about that.  They will do what is easier for them.  And did United keep all 3 agents working to help customers?  Nope.  One of the agents disappeared with no explanation.

Thankfully I was in my home town, so I could schedule a tentative trip and go home.  I really feel for the folks who were still 3 hours deep in the line and facing a night in a hotel and another day of traveling.

DId I say I could just go home?  That’s not quite true.  I still had to retrieve my bag from the airline.  That took another 30 minutes of waiting at the bag conveyor line.  From there I hopped on the waiting shuttle to airport parking and got right to my car.  Then I say the worst backup at the parking pay windows that I’ve every seen.  It took another 30 minutes to pay for the parking that I didn’t need.  I was home about 20 minutes later, much to the surprise of Dr. K.

As I’m writing this, my second try at this trip is going much better, but there is a long way to go.

The Long Layover

Now that I seem to be on my way I’ll quit being coy.  I’m headed to Afghanistan for a couple weeks.  Specifically, I’ll be traveling to US Army bases in Kabul and Kandahar.  They are exotic locations and the living conditions are much different than I am used to in the states, but the work is pretty much the same.

Is it safe?  Yes, I believe it is.  The most dangerous part by far is the flight, and not because it is in a war zone, but because it is a flight.  The problems that you hear about on the news tend to be out in the country-side or around forward operating bases (FOBs), not the big bases near cities.  I found that to be true in Iraq the past two summers and I expect the same in Afg.

I tried to get this trip started last Thursday.  The plan was to travel from Charlotte to Dulles and then on to Kuwait City arriving Friday afternoon Kuwait time.  There is an apartment that I can use there to get a shower and some sleep before continuing on to Kandahar and finally Kabul on Saturday.  Weather threatening in the DC area botched those plans.  My United flight out of CLT was cancelled.  The resulting ordeal that followed is too long for this post, but I will follow up with that rant shortly.  United won’t be happy, believe me.

Currently, I’m in the United Red Carpet Club in the Dulles International Airport.  It is a much nicer hang-out than the concourse.  Some free drinks, snacks, a bar, and NASCAR on the wide screen will work just fine.  I hope they don’t mind my changing the channel.

Because of the problems of Thursday, I didn’t want chance missing the flight to Kuwait again.  Unfortunately, the next earlier available flight out of CLT gave me a 6 hour layover here in Dulles.  So my current schedule looks like 2 hours of traveling to and hanging out in the Charlotte airport, 1 hour flight to DC, 6 hour layover in DC, 14 hour flight to Kuwait city and probably another hour or two of getting into Kuwait, getting my bag, and getting to the apartment.  After that 13 hours in the apartment, it’s back to the airport for the flight into Kandahar and then Kabul to finally get bedded down around 12 hours of travel on Tuesday.  Of course I will be full of energy and ready to go on Wednesday morning.  Right.

For security sake, I won’t be giving any details on my specific work.  You wouldn’t be that interested anyway.  I will try to snap some interesting pictures that I’ll pass along if I can, so stay tuned.

Booty Ride Wrap-up

The HearUSA 24 Hours of Booty Team had a very successful ride for charity last week.  All four members completed at least 100 miles.  Captain Tracey (“Dr. K”) and John the Trainer (picture left) completed 200 miles in just under 21 hours.

Personally, I was very happy to participate and glad that I could support my wife in a cause that she is passionate about.  I was also disappointed to have come down with a cold while in Seattle on Wednesday only to have it peak the night of the ride.  I’m thinking that the 3 or 4 days with little sleep in a strange bed and two cross-country flights might not have been the best preparation for the ride.  I had about 91 miles ridden before 4 am, but that’s where I fell out.  I returned to the course about 2 pm to complete my century and to help pack the campsite up.

We completed getting everything in the cars just as the sky opened up.  We literally threw the last two items in the car as the heavy rain began to fall and headed for home. Dr. K insisted on a beer and pizza dinner even though she had not slept all night.  She was pretty punchy by the time we returned home.  In all, the team raised $2785 for cancer research and treatment.  Dr. K is already shopping for a new bike for next year.

Fenway Update

I was just looking back through the last few months of blog posts trying to figure out what I’ve posted and what I’ve missed.  That’s when I came across the posts about one of my dogs, Fenway, and how he blew out his knee.  You can catch up on that story here.

I knew it had been a while, but I had no idea that he hurt himself back at the end of March.  It’s been 4 month or about 16 weeks.  There was a long delay in getting his surgery done as he had some skin infections.  It would have been a really bad idea to operate with the infected skin as it would have gotten into the surgery incision and I don’t want to know what would happen then.

Now to the present.  Our boy is still recovering.  He had his surgery about 3 weeks ago.  I’d say he is a bit behind in his rehab.  He should be walking and exercising more, but he gets really sore for days afterwards, so we are taking that slow.  We are hoping to have him back to normal in 5 more weeks.  I say we, but I’m going to be gone from home the majority of that time.  It’s times like that that my job is not fair to Dr. K and the dogs.

Catching up – Aloha

A few weeks back, business took me to Hawai’i.  First off, when did they add an apostrophe to the name.  I’m thinking before the trip that it was maybe a Hawaiian thing, but when I get to the island I see the state spelling Hawaii and Hawai’i.  You’ll be glad to hear that it didn’t mess up my work or my short vacation.

I mention vacation as I took Dr. K along on this trip.  She was willing to put up with me being gone during the first few days of the trip.  Having the company pick up more than half of the tap for the trip really made it possible.

There’s not a lot to say about the trip.  On the days when I was working, Dr. K rented a bike and rode around Diamond Head and Honolulu.  We rode around the island (Oahu) one day from Waikiki to the North Shore and Hanauma Bay.  Another day we visited Pearl Harbor with the Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri.

The final morning was a real treat.  Doc Chako and the Wife came on vacation and happened to stay at the very same resort.  We met poolside and had a real nice visit, met the Chako kids and au pair.

Here are the best of the  pictures that I promised weeks ago.  Enjoy.

Hanauma Bay

The Missouri looking over the remains of the Arizona (from the beginning to the end of WWII)

The Arizona Memorial from the Missouri

I’m not sure what I did with the pictures from the top of Diamond Head.  I’ll post em when I find em.

Candidate v. President

Candidate Obama (18 Sept 2008):

"Senator McCain's first answer to this economic crisis was - get ready for it - a commission. That's Washington-speak for 'we'll get back to you later.'"

"Folks, we don't need a commission to spend a few years and a lot of taxpayer money to tell us what's going on in our economy," he continued. "We don't need a commission to tell us gas prices are high or that you can't pay your bills. We don't need a commission to tell us you're losing your jobs. We don't need a commission to study this crisis, we need a President who will solve it - and that's the kind of President I intend to be."

President Obama (18 Feb 2010):

Signed Executive Order:

“There is established within the Executive Office of the President the National Commission on
Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (Commission).”

Booty Time!

Support Curtis in the 24 Hours of Booty

Join me in my extraordinary journey!

I will be participating in 24 Hours of Booty, a fundraising event for national and local cancer initiatives.

24 Hours of Booty (you’ve got to love that name) is The Official 24 Hour Cycling Event of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. 24 Hours of Booty is proud to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation as its national recipient. The LAF believes that in the battle with cancer, unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist, Lance Armstrong, the LAF provides the practical information and tools people living with cancer need to live strong.

I don’t generally ask for contributions to charities, but this one is really important to me and my family.  If you could spare any amount, it will make a difference in someone’s life and you will feel good, guaranteed.  Just go to http://www.24hoursofbooty.org/site/TR/Bike/General?px=1069905&pg=personal&fr_id=1100 with your credit card at the ready and hit the “Support Curtis!” button.  Please donate This week to beat the fundraising deadline set by the organizers.

I’m completely serious about any amount. $1 will help.  $5 will help more.  Etc. 

Lastly, some of you own or run a business.  I’ll wear stuff to advertise for you for any donation.  Just comment below and I’ll get in touch with you about the details.

Thank you.

Lost Vegas is Available

This is a book that I’ve been waiting to get for a year now.  Dr. Pauly (Paul McGuire) started this project the first year he went to cover the World Series of Poker.  We hope to get him on the Gambling Tales Podcast as soon as the current WSOP is over.  Stay tuned for that.  In the mean time, check out Lost Vegas at http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/lost-vegas/11493168

Turning 50 in Vegas

That was my plan anyway.  Plans change.

The location has not changed.  The fact that everyone that knows me is invited to come along has not changed.  Only the dates have changed a little bit.

I’ll make this official:  I’ll be in Las Vegas from Thursday,October 21 until Monday, October 25.  Dr. K is also scheduled to attend.  I’ve promised her either Cher or MMA. (I know.  You’ll have to ask her.)  My current plan is to stay somewhere in the area of the Venetian.  I’m not skimping on the room, but if there is a much better deal on an upgraded room at the Mirage or Caesar's, I may stay there.  I’ll update when I make that reservation.

My birthday is actually October 28, but the actual date isn’t as important as some of my dearer friends being there.  A plus from what I was planning before is that we will be there over a weekend which will give us a better selection of shows and events.  I could have done the 28th to Nov. 1th, but that is halloween.  That will be more expensive and crazy.  I’ll be over-the-hill then so I won’t need that.

So that is pretty much it. I’d like to have a nice group dinner on either Friday or Saturday.  I’ll have to work that around the show schedule.  Otherwise, there won’t be many/any events.  It will be a come and have fun time.  Hope to see you there.

Gambling Tales Podcast

Show 015 is out and it is our best yet.  Check it out: http://gtpodcast.com/archives/282.

Almost Live Blogging the Shuttle Launch

I haven’t had a wild hair in a long time, but I got a hold of one this week.  I’ve always wanted to see a big rocket blast off.  With the end of the shuttle program approaching and the future of the space program in doubt (no political commentary) my chances are likely to become limited.  So with work being slow (today’s the last day of that for a long while) and a high probability launch scheduled, I decided today was the day.

1:00 am (Charlotte) – Up and atom.  Throw everything in the car and hit the road.

4:30 am (somewhere between Savannah GA and Jacksonville FL) – First stop for gas and drinks.  There has been a good bit of construction but very little traffic.  I’m making good time.  I’m back on the road in 10 minutes.

8:40 am (Titusville, FL) – I arrive in town to find that the crowds are already gathering.  I try one very busy paid lot and they are only accepting cars with reservations at this point.  I continue on to find the Moose Lodge.  I pay $10 to park and use the lodge.  That lodge has a bar, pool table, bathroom, friendly folks, and a clear view of the launch.  Perfect.  It looks like I couldn’t have done any better had I planned.

9:00 am – One Moose gives me directions to the best diner in town for breakfast.  I arrive just before the line starts to form at the door.

11:45

12:08 – Wondering when the pre-game starts

1320 (T-1:00) – L:aunch Party

 

 

 

 

 

2:20 (t-0:00) LAUNCH!!!!

8:30 pm – Savannah Hilton Garden

This is where I ran out of gas.  The car did fine.  I just couldn’t give a good reason to keep driving as tired as I am.  Best to get a room and some sleep and get home safe in the morning.

I was really surprised at my reaction to the whole event.  With about a minute to go I could feel myself start to shake.  My mouth went dry and my heart really picked up the pace.  I was in awe as the ship came off the pad.  I’ve seen the video hundreds of times, but to see the ship on a column of flame that seems as bright as the sun and 3 or 4 times the length of the entire shuttle is unbelievable.  And it is all done without a sound from where we were.  You don’t hear the roar until 30-40 seconds after liftoff.  It was just awesome.

It has been a fantastic day.  There’s not many things that are so quick that is worth so much time and effort.  This was one of those things and I will, baring an unforeseen ending, always be glad that I did.  Check that bucket-list item.

Sell Your Vote

for the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions.  Here’s how:

Vote for Tom and only Tom and make $$$$.

Note: this is a longshot and there won’t be much money once split if any at all, but there is no money asked for and no more personal information than your email address.  It is for real.  I’ve gotten that straight from Tom.  It think it will be fun to have a horse in the race, so to speak.

---------------------------

This year, the World Series of Poker is having a Tournament of Champions. Only 27 players will play and 21 of them must be voted in.

Here’s the deal.

You vote for me, Tom Schneider, and ONLY ME, and you will be part of the pool that will split half of what I win. First place pays $500,000. 50% of what I win will be split by people who have voted for me. If I win $500,000, $250,000 will be split by my voters. It’s that simple, and if I get voted in, I will be competing against only 27 players.

The site below is where you vote.

http://www.wsop.com/TOC/TOP50/

They will send you an email with a code in it. That code must be entered when voting.

After you have voted. Send this email to me and the verification email you receive from the WSOP site to tom@bigstackmedia.com and you will be part of the pool. I really would like to play in this tournament and your vote is very important to me. That’s why I’m paying for it.

One more important request. Please email this to any friends or family you have that you think might find it fun to own a piece of someone playing in the WSOP Tournament of Champions.

Please vote and then wish me luck.

Thanks again,

Tom Schneider
2007 WSOP Player of the Year

A few signs from Heidelberg

Restaurants

When you don’t want something different:

Not a steak restaurant:

 

I’m just surprised that this one was almost all in English:

Hackteufel (means something like Devils Crossing).  It was the name of my hotel.  A sign over the door:

Some messages are clear - “Quit pissing on my door!”

That is all.

Blog Explosion

I managed 11 marginal posts in the first quarter of this year.  So far in April I’ve posted 18, er, 19 times and there are still 10 days to go.  I can’t say why I feel so much more like writing.  Travel helps.  I can’t say I really feel better though I don’t feel bad.  Taking pictures helps and that is something I’ve been ignoring for far too long.  I guess that I’m posting enough when I’m posting about posting.  Meta-posts count.

If an old friend asks…

to spend a little time, you should go.  I’m not talking about coming out for a beer with my and my crew.  Oh, I will be asking soon and you will make your own decision, but the folks who show up will have a good time.

I’m talking about a regret that I have.  Years ago, I had a friend named Bobby.  Bobby had a fraternal twin named Billy.  We really got to know each other during our senior year in high school and later in college at Carolina.  We ended up in the same dorm.  They didn’t drink so we didn’t spend nights out closing the bars, but we did spend quite a bit of time hanging out in their room.

I can’t remember which of them I followed to the basketball players dorm to get a bumper sticker signed for a handicapped child.  It seems more like a Billy thing.  That was a very interesting trip.  We stopped into Jimmy Black’s room and he was happy to sign.  He told us to wait and he would go get his roommate to sign as well.  He ducks into the bathroom and shortly thereafter, a totally naked James Worthy is standing in front of us asking for the pen.  I wish that memory was a bit more delable.

Bobby really saved my life when it came to calculus.  I started out doing great in class, but the further along the semester went, the worse my grades got.  Bobby tutored me and I squeaked by.  I never even had to ask.  That’s just the kind of guy is was.  We would ride to and from Charlotte some weekends.  They put up with my music as long as they could and then told me to change it as nicely as possible.

After college we went our separate ways.  I later ran into Bobby in Charlotte.  When he found out that I was working in Wilmington he made it clear that his job took him there often and that he would be calling me to come have a drink sometime soon.  And he did.

I was in my TV production career.  My job was putting together stories for a morning public interest show.  The show was on from 6-7 am five days a week.  Needless to say, I was early to bed and early to rise.  I was beat the evening that Bobby called.  I could have gone as it was still fairly early, but I postponed our meeting to another night.

A few weeks later, there was a story on the news at my station.  Robert Douglas Hurd had been shot by a jealous ex-boyfriend of a girl that Mr. Hurd was dating.  He was shot 6 or 7 times at close range with a .45 in a McDonalds parking lot around 8 am.  I wouldn’t get another chance to have a drink with that old friend.  Instead, I would host his family  at our TV station in Wilmington and attend a couple of half days of the murder trial.

I’ve seen Billy in the past few months.  We are both back in Charlotte and both making our way through life pretty well.  We’ve shared some laughs and I ask about his family, but I don’t mention Bobby even though he’s always there.  I don’t kid myself that having that drink would have changed his path or fate.  I do wish I had that one more memory to share and remember.  It was all so sudden.

When it’s going bad…

Story of my night… (sigh)

We got it all in on the flop.  I’m a 9-to-1 favorite.

BBT5.1

Well that was about the worst tournament that has even happened to me.  The coolers don’t get much worse than what I ran into tonight:

QQ – flop xQK – Miami Don holds KK (the only hand that would have been ahead)

5 hands later:

AK – All in – Call by L Johnson with KK

I’m in Germany so it’s 1 in the morning.  It took 20 minutes for me to bust out. I’ll ry again next week.  G’night. 

Sorry

A friend who will remain nameless (just because he would rather I promote his shit) is participating in a spoken word performance in a couple of weeks.  The theme is “Sorry seems to be the hardest word.”  He already has some work on his blog and plans for more.

I don’t really count myself as a writer.  I have several friends who’s blems I’d be happy to call my own.  I can sting a sentence together and get a point across, but it usually lacks for timing or wit or the creativity that makes reading a pleasure.  That reflects a big part of my personality.  I’m usually more on the logical, straight ahead side.  But on the inside, my brain makes some connections in very odd ways.  Sometimes I get some really cool ideas and look brilliant.  Most times the result is garbage and is tossed before it ever starts the journey out of my mouth.  Other ideas pass the smell test and make it out only to melt into the stinking pile of poo that they are.

All that is leading up to an attempt to see what comes out when I try to put the ideas around the word ‘Sorry’ in this post.

Can hard be easy? Does say equal mean?

So easy and fun getting getting there

So easily seen.

Don’t see sorry coming

but easy to avoid

‘So sorry’ doesn’t lower us enough

Regrets sail into the void between us and float away

Apologies are much too long and I lose track

Insincere, sorry is the sledge in the old one two

Impossible to drop my guard and give it true

only for lack of try

True sorry need not be said

Sorry, not right now.  Too hard.

I wish it was better.  Sorry.