The long and winding road

Back home after nine long days on the road. That's the most travel in a while, but the book tour begins on the 3rd.

To recap (for my memory, since I Tweeted much of the bits and pieces already):

Flew Thursday before last to St. Paul and spent the night with my Mom and sisters. Then I drive with Mom to Mankato Friday morning, have a great lunch with old friends from Boscobel, and then deliver the full brief at Mankato State U, followed with a nice dinner with the host and some online acquaintances.

Saturday I get up at Mankato and it's way below zero. A ride in the dark back to the Twins for a NWA to Indy. Grab bags and immediately check into my USAir flight to Charlotte, and then on to Reagan. Catch the Metro to the Mandarin, swap clothes, and head to dinner with just-arrived guests from Kurdistan.

Sunday is all day meetings/training with the Kurds. Do econ-focused version of the brief, in conjunction with Steve. That night I do dinner with Steve and executive from another company. Start noticing the celebs at the Mandarin.

Monday is all day meetings/training with the Kurds. I don't speak. Then reception at Ritz Carlton.

Tuesday I share a vator with Beyonce, Jay-Z and Sean Combs briefly, and the deliver a talk on the meaning of Obama to our guests. We break for the inauguration (on TV), but I mostly listen live from the balcony off the 8th floor. Then I present some more and engage in deep--as in, hours-long--debate on Middle Eastern politics with the Kurdistanis (fascinating). That night is the Heroes Red White and Blue ball (Enterra sponsors) at the Warner theater. Peter, Paul and . . . Ben Vereen. Then George Clinton and his huge band (yes, that was Steve DeAngelis dancing briefly onstage on the right!), topped off by an amazingly rare stage appearance by Sly Stone. I walk back to the Mandarin at midnight through garbage-strewn streets.

Wednesday is another long day of meetings/training, then dinner with the Kurdistan Regional Gov's rep to the U.S. (and the son of the president of Iraq)--fascinating guy.

Thurs is breakfast meet, and then on the bus to Philly. We tour Navy Yard facilities and have meets with local officials, and then quick window tour of downtown historic Philly. Then on to NYC and hotel. Warren and I have ribs at Virgils off Times Square. Then I stay up to 0200 with friend from West Coast in for meetings with Steve and I.

Up 0600 this am [Friday], and--thanks to our friend--we and Kurdistanis get tour of NY Stock Exchange (way cool), watching the bell ringing at 0930 from below on the floor (some Disney channel young lady). Real detailed history from floor trader who's been there since 1985. Go above on gallery and get to shoot some photos with floor in background. See the boardroom (with old Tiffany glass ceiling) and meet the NYSE president. Then we run the same drill with equally fascinating NY Mercantile Exchange, thus covering the alpha (equities) and omega (commodities). Then Steve and I over to Jersey City for about 4 hours of meets. Then back to hotel for some quick F2Fs, I switch out clothes, and get a car to LaGuardia for USAir flight (no water-landing) to Indy.

To say I am beat is an understatement, but a really productive, fun, and historic trip.