From pneumatic toilet lids to man-spas – reflections from the road
Between September 22 and September 27 2009, I wrote a series of blogs describing what promised to be a particularly arduous trip to a workshop just outside Grand Junction in Colorado. I’d hoped to give a sense how tough it can be sometimes traveling to participate in meetings and give invited talks. As it turned out, the trip was both more surprising and more revealing, than I had ever imagined. From pneumatic toilet lids to man-spas (and some serious stuff in between), writing the blogs made me realize that, despite the wear and tear on my family and me, these trips are often worth the effort.
On the road again – four days of travel blogs
Tuesday September 22, 8:05 PM
…faced with four days of yet more grueling travel this week, I thought I’d share the experience with my loyal 2020 Science readers, in the hope of finding some answers – the blog equivalent of the psychiatrist’s couch I guess.
It’s the shoes that are the problem…
Wednesday September 23, 6:35 AM
Shoes, I’m sure, are the elephant in the room when it comes to modern day air travel. I’m not talking about having to remove them when going through security at the airport, although that’s a pain in itself…
Never mind the hunting, check out the man-spa!
Wednesday September 23, 11:15 AM
For the next couple of days, I’ll be holed up at Kessler Canyon in the Colorado Rockies … I’m not sure how much riding, shooting and preening I’ll be doing here – the workshop has a pretty intensive schedule (more of that in a later blog). But at least I have the comfort of knowing that I’m going to be somewhere where I could be killing, eating and relaxing…
Mile high? More like mile long!
Wednesday September 23, 7:50 PM (Mountain time)
…on this last leg, I was reviewing a draft book chapter on nanotechnology cosmetics regulation. After a couple of hours of that, Dan Brown’s books are positively attractive!
Yodeling Cowboys at 3 o’clock
Thursday September 24, 3:15am (mountain time)
It’s 3:15 in the morning, and I can’t sleep. I’m being kept awake by music playing outside my room. It’s been going on forever, and I can’t find anyone to turn it off!
Absent fathers
September 24, 11:15 PM (Mountain Time)
…comfortable as things are here – and I would say that the surroundings and amenities at this workshop are exceptional – it doesn’t make up for what I’m missing, and what the rest of the family are having to do without me…
“Fruit picking,” nanotech style
September 25, 11:00 PM (Mountain Time)
…this was a meeting that addressed a very real and very significant challenge that affected people’s health and their livelihood, and came up with a concrete plan for addressing that challenge. In short, there is a strong likelihood that it will make an important difference to some people’s lives.
No wife should have to celebrate her wedding anniversary with a duster!
September 26, 12:45 PM (Mountain Time)
I’m sitting here at lunchtime on my last day at Kessler Canyon, and I must confess I’m somewhat conflicted. On one hand, this was a trip I was not looking forward to. I’m tired. I’m traveled-out. I miss my family. They miss me. And to cap it all, today is my 22nd wedding anniversary! … On the other hand, this is was an unusually successful meeting in an unbelievable place.
Hello Denver – again!
Saturday September 26, 5:40 PM (Mountain Time)
No matter how enjoyable and useful, travel takes it’s toll. At least I have the weekend to recover. Oops – this is the weekend. Darn!
On the road again – epilogue
Sunday September 27, 9:40 AM
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