Sushi 1, Tom 0
Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 7:56PM DATELINE: Air Force Inn, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery AL, 21 March 2006
Yesterday's closing on the new house did not happen. Last minute scrambling to fix the appraisal, which came in low. The usual culprit: the lazy appraiser. The vast majority of custom homes never see the Multiple Listing Service, or MLS, because... you know... they're custom, meaning they are built specifically for somebody, so they don't go up for sale unless the original owner puts the house up for sale. Since most owners of custom homes keep for a while, it's hard to find comparables--unless you do some leg work.
So our appraiser did some leg work, and the new appraisal works.
Meanwhile, however, I had left town Monday night, providing my wife power of attorney if I don't make it back for the closing later in the week. I fly on SWA through BWI to Islip. My mistake: at the last second I add some sushi to my noodle bowl and egg roll at the airport. Could have gone with the California roll, a safer traveler's choice, but I was daring.
I made it to my hotel, made it through nice phonecons with Steve DeAngelis (just back from China) and my scheduler, Jennifer.
And the worshipping began.
Cleansing, really, in that humiliating sort of way. When I woke up this morning, I realized I had suffered more than some food I couldn't keep down. I was hurtin'!
But, work to be done: putting together a 20-minute presentation to seniors at Northrup Grumman's Bethpage location. If you remember, I was there with fellow strategist-types a few weeks back to hear this division's long-range plan. Today the assembled wise men and one wise woman came back and delivered our feedback.
If getting the strategic dump last time was interesting, this was even more so. I got to sit through Ellen Laipson's take on the world, she of past service on the National Intell Council and main shaper of the last two global futures studies they did (both excellent, and the last one praised by me in BFA specifically). She was lead-in to me. I was a bit wobbly physically, but a strong delivery that went over well.
Then I get to hear Andy Krepinevich's take, which was very impressive, and had a lot of conceptual overlap with me, which surprised me a bit.
Then Bob Work, also of CSBA, and his was like a tutorial on military history that I found very intriguing.
Then a noted biz consultant from Toffler Associates.
As four hour meetings go, it was really interesting, the kind of day you'd would have been happy to experience for free in your younger days--but now you want to get paid for. The NGC people were wonderful hosts, so all around a really cool time--save for the death struggle with the raw fish.
And the requirement to fly to Alabama tonight.
Get out of Islip on commuter Delta for 2.5 hours into Atlanta, with a very windy landing. Got a bit caught up on blogging.
Then 2.5 hours layover, which I didn't feel so hot. But many phonecons later, I connect with some Popeye's, and it's almost like the hair of the dog that bit me. I am revived.
Nice quarters on base, and it's fun to be back. Last time I was here was on election night 2004. I ended up having breakfast debate with military officers the next morning, and my reply to one question became the second "Mr. President" article I published in Esquire, March 2005. That article becomes part of the Best American Political Writing compendium published late last year.
And I got my wallet stolen on the trip home going back through Atlanta.
Have no such aspirations this time, for profundity or victimhood.
Really just want to make that closing.
Two talks tomorrow: Air University student body and a joint flag officer training course. Book signing in-between.
Between Northrup and this, a pretty air-dominated week...
Reader Comments (3)
That may not have been the sushi. There's a stomach flu going around. It lasts about 36 hours all told.
I can sypmathize...
Mine downfall was goose at a Thai rest. in Chicago during a COMDEX. Spent several hours in the ER getting 5 IV bags + meds to stop.
Sorry to hear about the wallet incident! They obviously didn't recognized you.
Ron