Illinois Is Cooler Than Texas

This afternoon, I spent almost three hours in an airplane sitting on the tarmac at DFW airport, followed by another couple plus hours in the same airplane flying to Chicago. After the plane left the gate, late, we were delayed due to weather in Dallas. Imagine that, Dallas having weather! It didn't look too bad to me, just rain, but I would rather the ground controllers and the cockpit crews behave in an overly-cautious manner than go the other direction. So, I sat silently and periodically jolted myself awake just as (or was it after) I started to snore.

Now, I'm in the Chicago suburb of Naperville, sitting in my suburban hotel room. My two colleagues and I had the hotel van take us to downtown Naperville, where we strolled about a bit and finally stopped at Potters, a Mexican food restaurant. It was not bad at all...and the ambiance was nice. We sat ourdoors on the patio, in comfortable temperatures, listening to a live band (for part of the dinner). I was proud to immediately recognize an old Jimi Hendrix tune, All Along the Watchtower, as the band began to play it.

After dinner, we strolled a bit more and then called the hotel to get our van back. And here I sit.

I'm here for a client event and board meeting, as well as to complete a special task of interviewing candidates for an independent contractor gig for which the client is trying to engage a good candidate. I'll be here until late Sunday. Absent another delay, I'll arrive back in Dallas at about 7:30 pm Sunday, just in time to wash clothes to begin another workweek.

I believe I've said it before. I need a vacation. But in some sense, I am having one. Illinois is cooler than Texas right now...highs of 85 will be like a wonderful vacation to me, compared to highs in the 90s and high humidity at home.