Another Delco Guy In South Jersey

Wordless Wednesday - August 17, 2011

 

 

Commuting

I work about 20 miles from my home.  The kids' schools are about 7-8 miles each way.  In any other place but New Jersey or Southern California this drive would probably take 45 minutes.  Some nights, if I work late, and don't have to pick the kids up, it can actually be done in the time Google Maps says.  But most times when I am driving it, it's between 60 and 75 minutes.

Varying the drive helps.  Several of the alternate routes add 10 miles or so, but the traffic flows a bit more nicely and the time still ends up being the same. I thend to prefer the longer distances and fewer tail lights in front of me.  The stress of having to get from one place to another by a given time is plenty without having to worry about if you are going to have some idiot on his cell phone not notice that you have stopped and plow into the back of you.

Every now and then I take the PATCO train into town just to shake things up.  It's not the most convenient thing to do, since I have to drive about 30 minutes to the train station and then the train takes another 30, but it's an interesting change on days when I don't have to pick the kids up.  The views are a bit more stimulating than the back of the Honda Pilot or Chevy Tahoe that I would otherwise be looking at on Route 70 in Cherry Hill.

No matter how I do it, I still spend about 20 full days a year in the car on the way to or from work.  That's an awful lot of time spent listening to NPR, Audible books, with the occasional top 40, country or sports talk station mixed in.  You'd think that for all that time spent doing something that I would have more to show for it than just returning to the same place as I started the day.

Thanksgiving Eve - Getaway Day Followed by Amateur Night

After five days off, Another Delco Guy is in the office today with his skeleton crew, dreading the traffic we will see later.  This is a work day for me that is sandwiched in between 5 off for family time and the 4 day Thanksgiving holiday. 

The kids have half days all week, and going in today was particularly hard for Emma. I had visited John's classroom yesterday to see his presentation on 'Hurricane Jyatt'  which is a pretty funny video if you are interested.  Emma was feeling a bit left out that I wasn't visiting her class today for the Thanksgiving feast.  Sadly, I didn't know about the feast until last night and had already been scheduled in the office today.  Thankfully, we have had a lot of daughter-daddy time lately and she perked up a bit when I reminded her that I would see her tomorrow and we would go see her cousins in Swarthmore for Thanksgiving.

In the meantime, we're holding down the fort at the UArts ghost town and maintaining our pre-holiday good cheer.  Later on we will fight our way through the traffic to get home or to second jobs or to whatever else might be planned on the biggest traveling and drinking day of the year.  I know many of you are on a half-day as well, so enjoy the afternoon off!

Tomorrow is the big day, family, food, football and fellowship.  It's the greatest holiday of them all, and I will of course have my 6th annual Thanksgiving Day post as well.  I know you are all breathless with anticipation!

Whatever your plans for later, please be patient and safe on the roads, enjoy your friends and family and remember to tip your bartenders and wait staff!

Cherry Hill Median Wildflowers

I have the distinct displeasure of commuting along Route 70 from Medford, NJ to Philadelphia, PA Each day. It's a nasty mess of tail lights on the way in each morning and then again on the way home each day.  I do my best to keep my cool each day, listening to NPR or one of my Audible books, but there are still some days when I feel like my head is going to explode.

Cherry Hill is the worst of the commute traffic-wise.  It's seems like the idiots per mile quotient is the highest there.  On the other hand, the town has planted some great wildflower gardens in the median strip, so at least there is some beautiful color to look at this fall as we sit idling in snarled traffic.  The flowers seem to have peaked after looking for a long time like they were just uncut grass.

Some days, it's the small things you need to treasure!

Oh To Be Young Again - Wanderlust!

My cousin Danielle (of the southern wing of the Neely Clan) recently graduated from college and has embarked on a trip around the world working in sustainable agriculture and visiting places we would all like to go.  She and her friend Melanie are documenting the trip at a blog with lots of great pictures and already some funny stuff after just two days of travel.

They are in Stockholm now, hoping to catch something I have always wanted to see, The Aurora Borealis.  I will be following them on their trip and I hope you do too.  Their travelog is called Wanderlust.

Somewhere Over Kansas

We are 1150 miles into the trip with 450 to go. A few small bumps here and there, but pretty good so far up here at 29,000 feet.

Temperature I'm the ground in Denver should be I'm the 80s. Positively chilly!

Enjoying the Maine Life

The family has gathered here in Maine for another summer vacation.  We've had 30 or so years up here so far in various houses near Kennebunkport.  As a neighbor said yesterday, "Oh you've got Maine blood in you now."

We can find things to do on days that are a bit cool and gray like yesterday.  A bit of shopping in Freeport or Kittery, some biking or a quick, fully-clothed run on the beach all fill the day nicely.  Take out lobster dinner, reading books, debating reality TV and watching kids play Wii rounds out the evening.

There will be a better day for the beach, a warmer night to go to town.  After 30 years we know that it's ok to sit at home for a night.  It's part of the reason we're here.

My brother Matt, who's getting married to his sweetheart Heidi this week, and I talked about the pull of Maine on our family last week.  We agreed it's a romance with a place.  WIth the tight clean lines of the houses, the gray rocks and cold water along the beaches, the colorful shops, good beer and crowded sidewalks.  It's where we come to renew and recharge, take photos and listen to music, write in journals and devour novels.

The air is cleaner, the people more open, the sunsets just a little bit brighter. Sure there are mosquitoes, and racoons in the trash and family all on top of each other, but it's ok because we're here in a place we all came to love in our own way and time. 

Friday Fantastic Four - Spring Break - Without Charlie Sheen!

Despite dozens several requests for a Charlie Sheen-related Fan 4 this week, I'm going to have to say no.  I mean what could the topics be?  Top four hookers Charlie has been with?  Top four drugs he's done?  Top four movies he's been in?  He hasn't been in four good movies.

Since it's Spring Break at the old workplace, and Da Boss is on Da Plane, I'm going Spring Traditional in topic selection this week.

What four places would you most like to go to spring break next week?

1. La Jolla, CA - Not so much for the golf, but for the warm breezes and the sunsets
2. Banff Springs, Canada - Soaking in a hot tub watching the Northern Lights
3. Rio - I've wanted to go to Carnivale since Demi Moore starred in the film classic "Blame it on Rio"
4. New Orleans - I've been there a bunch, but never for Mardi Gras.  I'll make it one year!

Everyone enjoy the warm weather in the northeast this weekend or where ever you are headed for Spring Break!

Hello From 37,000 Feet!

I am sitting her in seat 11C (nice exit row!) on USAirways flight 1645 over Virginia on my way back to Philadelphia from a week long conference in Orlando Florida.

Thanks to the amazing technology of this Airbus A321 and GOGO In Flight Internet, I can say hello!

I hope that everyone has a great weekend as it seems like the Holiday party season kicks off in earnest.

 

This is A Big Meeting

It kind of blows me away to be at a huge conference sometimes. There are over 2000 people in this session and we lined up 45 minutes early to get in. What's more is that the session repeats 3 times during the conference.

There are big changes happening in how America pays for higher education. The US Department of Education is hosting about 10,000 folks at Disney World this week to talk about those changes. While I have not seen any weapons this week, there is clearly some hostility in the sessions as long-time aid officers vent about their feelings on the newest Federal rules.

Needless to say the bars are full at night!

Pool From My Past

I am presenting at a conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and was startled to see this unusual indoor-outdoor pool when I checked into the hotel last night. I wasn't startled because of the unusual design where you can swim under the wall of the hotel, but rather because I recognized it from the misty distant past of my childhood.

When this Sheraton was new some 30 years ago, my mom, dad, sister and me visited here regularly so my father could attend PSEA board meetings. As a 10 year old, I haunted the halls, hung out in the whirlpool and generally made a nuisance of myself.

This week it's just a quick trip out, so last night I caught a half of football over some chicken fingers and went back to the room to prepare for today's presentation.  The food and bar were nothng to write home about.  The room, while nicely appointed has terribly thin carpet and the neighboring plumbing can be heard plainly.  It's a hotel that was built cheaply in the late 70s and the updates have not kept it quite up to what I think of as a Sheraton.

Thanks to Tom Carnwarth and everyone at the PA Datatel User's Group for having me and making me feel so welcome!

Truths From The Cockpit

You probably already know that I have issues with giving up control.  I'm not proud of it, but that's just the way it is.  I like traveling, but because of my control issues, I have a hard time handling the flying part some times.  The fact that 2 faceless people I have never met and will only meet for 2 seconds while dragging my carry-on past when I get wherever I am going have my lives in my hands gives me a moment of pause when I am settling into my aisle seat.

Stories like the one where the 2 clowns piloting a Northwest Airlines flight overflew their destination by and hour and had to be told by a flight crew member that they were way off course don't make me rest any easier when I am being bumped and jostled by the beverage cart and assorted baby-carrying parents wandering the aisles.  Today I ran across a story carried online by Reader's Digest that covers the '50 Secrets Your Pilot Won't Tell You.' 

The bottom line is that it isn't pretty behind the cockpit door.  The folks whose hands hold our lives are by their estimation, overworked, underpaid and under-appreciated.  They are afraid they don't have enough fuel to get you home safely and they really ARE up there reading the newspaper.  The general tone is that they really don't think much of the flying public and I am not real sure they care that much about the trust we place in them every day when we get aboard their aircraft.

I know these kinds of expose articles tend to select out the most salacious comments.  It's probably also true that the most jaded and disaffected pilots are the ones most likely to respond.  Still, it's pretty shocking stuff from a profession that, despite taking some hits over the years, still places much of its membership above the $100k mark in salary each year.

If you want another look into the lives of folks who fly for a living, there is a companion story from the perspective of the cabin crew.  Basically they don't like us very much.  No surprise given the fact that we are all tired and grumpy and trying to find our belts and cellphones after running to the gate after waiting two hours for security ineffectively screen us.

Seen in The Nashville Airport

All I can say is huh?!?

Friday Fantastic Four

I've been traveling a bit this week, but I am home now.  So we've got a travel-themed Fantastic Four this week:

What are the first four things you do when you get home from a trip?

1. Kiss the kids.  Even if they are asleep.  It's hard to believe how much you can miss them in just a few days.
2. Go through the mail. Email keeps you up on just about everything, but there is somehting satisfying about seeing what has accumulated on the counter while you were away.
3. Use the bathroom.  I know - TMI - but it's just better at home.
4. Put the suitcases away.  Otherwise they will be there 2 weeks from now.

How about you?  What's your get home ritual?

Have a great weekend!

PHL to LAX

Reflections in free verse ...

Rude gate clerks

Dogs and Cats on the plane

A horrible odor in the cabin and an hour on the tarmac

Turbulence

$2 water and no change

A stale slimy sandwich

Only 40 minutes into a 5 hour flight

Smooth at 36000 feet over Pittsburgh.

Expected to arrive on time

My rowmate has a role on ER as a nurse

Four corners below and to the left

Monument valley - Cool

The grand canyon - how com it's never on my side?

Smoke on the left on approach

90 degree heat though the gap

Here!

Goodbye LA!

The View From Jim Rockford's Trailer

We're having a late lunch at the Paradise Cove Beach Café, which was in a previous life The Sandcastle. Fans of The Rockford Files will remember that Jim's trailer was parked in the parking lot of The Sandcastle.

Today we made the pilgrimage to find that only a few reminders are still in evidence, but it's still an amazing spot. We walked the pier, had a beer and now it's time to eat!

Scary Smoky Evening

Scary Smoky Evening
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

This is the view looking Northwest from the Anaheim Marriott tonight.

There are wildfires burning out of control about 6 miles from here and the smoke is thick in the air. Ash covers the bottom of the hotel pool and it's really a very odd place to be.

We're safe here, but it's the strangest thing I have ever seen.

A Great Way To Be Welcomed Home

On the monitors at Philadelphia International Airport:

Hello From Cape May Point!

We're enjoying the wonderful weather here in CMP for another day. In a few minutes, we're headed over to the Ransons so we can make last night's leftover filet mignon into steak and eggs.

Then we're headed to the beach. Maybe after a nap!

In Gettysburg

I am teaching for two days at a seminar for newbie college admissions counselors. I got a chance to do it last year and jumped at the chance when I was invited back.

Why?

It's simple. I, like my dad, am a Battle of Gettysburg buff. The new visitor center opened in April and I wanted the chance to see it as soon as possible.

Well the storm clouds are gathering, but I am going to go up and see what the National Park Service and The History Channel have done to help folks understand the massive conflict that took place on these 6000 acres.

Heading Out of Maine

Well it somehow seems fitting that it's POURING rain as we cross the Piscataqua River and head out of Maine and into New Hampshire.

It's been a good trip but not a great one. The kids really enjoyed spending the week with their cousins. We got two beach days in despite the fact that it rained every day we were in Vacationland. We hit some good brewpubs and avoided outlet malls, so I'll call it an overall success.

We'll see ya back in South Jersey in about six hours according to the GPS.

I have my doubts.

Strawberry Island Morning

Just a few hundred yards from the Maine House is Strawberry Island, a rocky penninsula that only is accessible at low tide. It's one of the boys favorite places to come all week. Today the weather and tides are cooperating and they are exploring the rocks and tidal pools.

So far we've found two different kinds of crabs and a sea anemone. They're still looking for more!

Today is our last full day up here and we're happy the sun is finally back out so e can get some more beach time before we head back down the Eastern Seaboard tomorrow.

On The Trolley

We're on a Brill Company trolley manufactured in Philadelphia in 1904. The car still runs on the line at The Seashore Trolley Museum in Arundel where the volunteers have restored it and use it to take visitors on a 3 mile round trip to Talbott Park.

Moring Update From Maine

My sister Carin's birthday was yesterday and we celebrated at the Wayfarer's Thursday Pot Roast Night in Cape Porpoise.  Big, flavorful chunks of perfectly-cooked pot roast with side of steamed carrots and wonderfully buttery mashed potatoes.  The chocolate fudge cake for dessert was also excellent.  The portions were generous and the bill wasn't too bad, even with having to pick up two bottles of wine at Bradbury's.

We were sad to see Matt and Heidi head home last night, but also very happy to inherit their room.  The beds are way more comfortable than the sofa bed contraption I spent the first night on.

We got food yesterday at HB Provisions, stopped at The Port Bakery and after the cleanup headed to the beach.  The weather was perfect, with temps topping at 83 and a nice sea breeze keeping things cool.  A heavy fog came in at about 3, ushering us back to the house for showers before dinner. 

I think we're headed south today, perhaps to the zoo and butterfly preserve.  And maybe Portsmouth Brewing ...

On Vacation!

It's a misty morning on the rocky coast of Maine. We made the 408 mile trip in a bit more seven hours with a McDonald's/Bathroom/Gas stop in Connecticut mid-way.

If you think gas prices around Philly are bad, try paying $4.34 a gallon like the folks in CT do every day!

Posts will be a bit less frequent for a while since we're relaxing. Actually I am relaxing. The kids are already terrorizing the neighbors!

Have a great day!

Heading Out

Train 166 is headed out of Union Station on time, despite repeated appearances by men in navy blue tactical outfits carrying automatic weapons and terse expressions. The dudes, brightly labeled as Federal Agents, must not have found what they were looking for, so we are outta here!

Sheltered!

The weather turned nasty here in DC and we've found cover at the Station Grill at Union Station. There's not satellite signal due to the weather and I have to drink my Redhook Sun Rye out of a Redskins glass, but at least we're dry!

George Says Hi

We're doing few more things here in DC before we head home. We had a fun dinner at Clyde's in Georgetown last night with an oldhigh school buddy of mine. Today we went to The National Archives and are haded to The Dubliner for lunch.

Ahhh!

It's hot here in DC, so we stopped our trek for some refreshments! Cap City Brewing has good summer stuff on tap including my tasty Kolsch and my GF's hefewiesen, but the urban hip hop music is a bit much!

Sundown on Amtrak

We're somewhere north of Baltimore and the sunset is beautiful as Train 173 snakes southward.

Delayed

Another Delco Guy is headed to the Nation's Capital, but he's going to have to wait a bit as Train 173 is listed as 30 minutes late currently.

Sigh

A Change In Vantage Point

It's mid summer in Central Florida, which means that rain can't be far off. We've moved to the Tomorrowland Terrace, where we will be under cover if the skies open and we will also be able to see Tinkerbell fly.

Waiting For Tinkerbell

Ok - it's officially insane here at The Magic Kingdom! Ever nation of the world seems to be represented along Main Street, some in huge groups with garishly-colored t-shirts.

We're all waiting on the light parade and the fireworks over Cinderella's Castle. To end the evening, Tinkerbell will fly across the sky, which is all my princess wants to see at this point!

Enjoying Epcot!

We've wrapped up our conference business today and are enjoying a visit to Epcot now! The place is pretty deserted, so we've been able to see a lot without too much in the way of lines. Emma and I are enjoying the space jungle gym while Char and John explore the universe on Mission Space!

Super Target!

Imagine a beer and wine store, a grocery store and a Target all in one!

Awesome! and only 8 mile from Disney!!

Here Comes The Boat!

After a long day of work, we're headed over to Epcot for the fireworks. The kids are a bit tired, but still want to see the show!

A Nice, If Warm, Day

Well we are headed home from the Magic Kingdom so Another Delco Guy can go to work and the kiddos can rest up a bit. Hopefully we'll be rejuvenated enough for fireworks tonight!

Emma's Favorite

We're through Tomorrowland where I won on Buzz Lightyear and John did a great job piloting his mini F-1 car. Now we're in a short line for Emma's Favorite Ride, DUMBO!

Cinderella's Castle

We're here! How many similar pictures have been taken of this building?

Welcome to the Walt Disney World Dolphin

This is a great place for the conference if you don't mind $50 for breakfast for you and your family. The room is great, wth separate kid and adlut sleeping areas. We're going to get some Magic Kingdom time in before I really have to start work.

Have a MAGICAL day!

At PHL Gate E8

Southwest has kids tables in the terminal and Emma has spread out her art supplies and is relaxing. Our plane is not here yet but we're ready to go when it gets in!

Preparations

We're been a bit busy here at Another Delco Guy.  We head out today for a week in Orlando and having John's 8th birthday party, wrapping things up at work and getting ready for a week away has had us working hard all day and sleeping soundly all night.

By tonight I am confident that Southwest will have us on the ground at MCO, Enterprise will have the car ready and the Dolphin will have appropriate accomodations for us.

If the kids are good, we may even hit one of the four pools before bedding down for the night.

It will be a busy week, with me having to cram in NASFAA conference sessions in between the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, fireworks and princesses.  Oh and the pool!

Weather?  Highs of 93, lows of 80 and thundershowers each afternoon.  Typ[ical Central Florida in July.  I can't wait!!

I may Need To Re-Think My Travel Plans

After yesterday's post, I got an email from some cretin a baggage handler for a major airline who preferred to remain anonymous.  Hopefully he won't be handling my bags anytime soon. That would make the already dicey proposition that they arrive with me laughable.  He stated:

Your blog saying that it took 9 people to handle an inbound flight at PWM was wrong.  Each of those people is essential to the safe landing of the aircraft and the efficient handling of the passengers and their baggage.  You make it seem like we stand around all day doing nothing until the aircraft comes in.  We've each got a different job to do and we do it really well.

Well buddy, you said it.  I just showed the pictures of it actually happening.  And it wasn't 9 people.  It was 15.  There is NO WAY it takes that many people to handle the flight.  And I get your point that each ground crew member has a different job, but jeez, 9 of them?  Gimme a break.  No wonder you are having to charge $15 for the first bag and $25 for each one after that.

There should be someone looking at the contracts at these air carriers and negotiating contracts that function to increase efficiency and ensure good customer service while paying a fair wage.  I know that will mean job cuts, but airlines shutting down is the alternative.  It's time for the CEOs to earn their salaries and make some tough choices.  Apparently the airlines didn't have a handle on fuel costs when they made the labor deals earlier this month.  So now they are passing the costs along to the flying public.  And that will only go so far.   

I'll tell you now that I am thinking about not taking the next 400 mile trip by air.  Between the chaos about to ensue at the security check in lines with people trying to get their lotions and such on board in their carry on and the morons trying to stuff full-sized carry ons into the tiny bins of short haul aircraft, I think I'd rather drive.  even if that means 6 hours in the car with the  kids asking "are we there yet." it's better than waiting two hours to sit on a plane that hasn't  been really cleaned, be 14th in line for take off, get peanuts tossed at me, and then arrive only to find that the bag I paid $15 to fly in addition to my $242 ticket didn't make it.

Unless gas goes to $7.

USAirways Staffing Update

As you can see, the aircraft has made it to PWM. In the end it took 9 ground crew, 2 gate staff, 1 fueler, a captian, a co-pilot and a flight attendant to get this flight here from PHL. And there were 33 passengers. Seems a bit inefficient to me...

Good Afternoon From Kennenbunkport!

It's a stunning day in York County. The wind is brisk off the water, but the sun is warm and it's 68 degrees. That's downright balmy for Maine in May! We are headed to get some lunch and then it's back to work for me!

One More Morning of Fun

Another Delco Guy is headed out of the Hotel Regency and The Old Port for a morning on the southern Maine seacoast. Fortified by an excellent pain au chocolat from The Standard Bakery (the scone was disappoining), we are zipping toward Kennenbunkport for a few hours before the important work starts this afternoon.

The sky is clear blue and honestly there isn't a cloud in the sky! Hope things are as nice wherever you are today.

A Prettier View of Maine

  Camden Harbor 
  Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

Another Delco Guy spent the day driving up the coast of Maine from Portland as far as Camden.  It was a gray and rainy day north of Portland, but the sun broke through on the way back south. 

The highlight of the day was getting to photograph the harbors of Rockport and Camden as well as wandering along Route 1.  We had a few good brews from Sheepscot Valley Brewing at Sarah's in Wiscasset.  I particularly liked the Pemaquid Ale, which the bartender described as being "made by some guy in the next town in his barn."  Best barn-made beer I've had in a while.

We're resting up watching Casino Royale right now, and then may see if there is any nightlife to be had in The Old Port.

Is this picture prettier, Matt?

Apologies

Since I've had two readers (one quite heart-broken) contact me about yesterday's lack of a Friday Fantasic Four, please let me offer my apologies.

The Fantastic Four will return next week.  Here's a link to all of the prior weeks if you need a fix.

Now I am off to get a bagel sandwich and explore The Old Port for a bit.  As always, Gritty's was a fun spot for a few pints and a bison burger last night.  The 'stoner music' was a bit much to take after a while though!!

Have a great day.

Friday Fantastic Four

Ok - I stayed the night in Harrisburg, PA last night after some meetings yesterday.

It's umm a bit umm dead.

Soooo...

What are the four WORST towns you have ever stayed in?

1. Frostburg, Maryland - not sure why people ever settled here
2. Harrisburg, PA - Great conversation at dinner, but nothing to do afterward
3. Syracuse, NY - Cold, gray, nasty.  In July.
4. Detroit, MI - Almost too easy - Crime, drugs, trash all on the walk to the stadium from the parking lot

Have a great weekend!