DATELINE: some mansion, near Austin TX, 10 February 2006

Been a whirl.

First, got funny email from Gen. Jim Mattis asking "where in the hell do you get off calling me 'casually profane'?" Apparently our mutual admiration survived the piece.

Thursday was drop off #2 to school (#1 sick), trip to new house, eye doc appointment with #3 child, playground with same, then drop off, then clean wife's car, then visit Catholic school near new house that we consider for next year (smaller), then pick up #2 & 3, then another trip to house (this time with spouse), then race to airport for plane to DC, then cab to hotel, then work brief on Middle East for 3 hours, then collapse.

Then up this morn for breakfast with old mentor Hank Gaffney.

Then I open conference of Arab jounalists talking Middle East in wired world at old company, The CNA Corp.

I go 45 and then 25 Q and A. Seemed to piss off some of the American experts, but plenty of the Arab journalists came up afterwards to say how much they liked my talk--especially on Iran.

Then cab to Reagan. Buy Valentine Day gifts, forgetting them in store. Sign books in Borders and Olssons in airport. Buy gear bag for my travel electronic gear and world's coolest clear rubber glove for my Treo. Then got to gate, and just as boarding begins, I realize mistake, race back to store, go through security again, and just catch totally full (middle seat) 3.5 hr flight to rainy Houston (lotsa turbulence on way). Then just make connection to Austin.

Speaking to select audience tonight. Security tight, so will tell you tomorrow.

[Posted for Tom]