Discovering Dallas

After eleven hours in the Philadelphia Airport yesterday, I finally got on a flight to Dallas. I landed shortly after 2am, made my way out of the confusing baggage claim area, and managed to drive to find the lovely hotel across the street from the church where TexyLady is getting married.

My first impressions of Dallas are that there are many auto dealerships, strip malls, and very few pedestrians. After a nice brunch, we're sort of struggling for activities to fill our time before the wedding this evening.

She's no Daisy Duke

A gentleman of rather advanced age just strolled past me in Terminal C of the Philadelphia International Airport and his outfit was causing quite a few people to stop and stare. What was he wearing? Well, nothing more than really, really short, black hot pants and a red jog bra! And let me tell you, he had no business baring that midriff!

Stuck

After busting my ass to get from The Nonprofit's annual conference (where I committed to speaking on a panel this morning) to the airport, I found that my flight to Dallas was delayed. Then cancelled.

A bunch of other flights have been cancelled due to the weather here in Philly. Apparently, visibility is too poor for incoming planes to land, so many have been re-routed elsewhere. But I've noticed other flights landing and taking off with delays, but clearly not all flights have been cancelled. Other airlines are experiencing delays, but for whatever reason, US Airways has a bunch of cancellations. I just wish there were some consistency from airline to airline and flight to flight.

Fortunately for me, I've been put on the next flight out, which gets me into Dallas around 10pm, but at least I will get there tonight. Other passengers haven't been so lucky and many are complaining loudly to the customer service folks and gate agents.

So now I have about four hours to kill in the airport. I wish there had been some way to let me know about this situation because otherwise, I'd have stayed at the conference for a few more hours.

Who shot J.R.?

Tomorrow I leave for Dallas for TexyLady's wedding and for the past few days, the theme song to Dallas has been in my head. They just don't make theme songs like they used to.

Plan Z

Prior to the start of The Nonprofit's annual conference, the Board of Directors meets for one of several annual meetings. It's a full-day affair and I arrived at the meeting promptly at 8:30am (ahem, 5:30am SF-time), only to finish off my day and return to my hotel after 10:00pm.

During the course of our discussion about The Nonprofit's financial situation, it struck me that we really are at the beginning of a pretty serious economic downturn. In addition to modeling a "Plan B" budget scenario for the next few years, we asked the Executive Director to figure out a "most dire situation," in case funding gets cut by 50 percent. It's not a pretty situation.

No-frills flying

It's been a while since I've checked in baggage on a flight, so I was a bit surprised when US Airways slapped me with a $15 fee to check in my suitcase this morning. Furthermore, every drink was available "for purchase" once up in the air! And apparently, starting on November 1, the airline discontinued audio and video programming.

Next thing you know, I'll be paying to fly the plane myself.

So, how was last night?

In last night's episode of The Hills, the writers decided to give Whitney more to do than twirl her hair and ask Lauren leading questions! They must be getting ready to launch her new show, The City, because she actually had a plotline.

And I have to admit that I was actually pretty interested to see what happens to Ms. Port. Maybe it's because, of all the characters on the show, she's the one who is not constantly in the tabloids. She's ... mysterious!