Operation Peacock
(July 24-28, 2008)
SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008 - MT OLIVE/BUDD LAKE, NJ
Okay, so here is the plan. I am about to get very busy
at work and the likelihood is pretty slim that I will be able to
escape the Northeast anytime
soon
for a trip back to my Arrowhead Resort home away from home to see Gary,
Mel and the rest of my Texas friends anytime later this summer or
fall.
So, Operation Secret Peacock is now in play. Next Thursday I will
catch a flight to DFW Airport, rent a car there, and make my way to
Arrowhead for a surprise visit. I mean, how long
should I be expected to go without Mel's catfish and fudge pie?
I could probably even get a chocolate chip pie out of the deal if I gave
her some advanced notice of my visit, but that would ruin the surprise.
I called Mel this morning to talk about plans for a Christmas visit, and to give her some possible dates in October that she and Gary could come to New Jersey for a few days, so I am sure she doesn't suspect that in less than a week I will be homesteading at Arrowhead.
Why do I love doing stuff like this??????
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2008 - SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PARSIPPANY AND HOME, NJ
I talked to Mel on the way home today. She and Gary were
immersed in a home improvement project involving their first acquisition
of a flat screen television.
We chatted for a bit about their upcoming weekend - - not enough people are taking vacations in Texas folks. Get down there to Arrowhead and spend the weekend! Anyway, I think I really got her going talking about my not going back to Texas until Christmas week. I asked how my place was there and she said it was looking good, but (and this made me SAD) , it is "starting not to smell" like me anymore. Not a bad smell - just a neutral, my owner is 1700 miles away kind of smell, I guess. So, right there is another reason to sneak away to spend some time at my Texas place with my Texan friends, even if it is 101 degrees there.
It's going to be a great weekend, even if I don't get any cookie pie.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2008 - 5:45PM - PARSIPPANY, NJ
The original plan was that my flight would leave Newark, NJ at 11:59am,
which would get me into DFW at a little before 3pm or so.
Pat, my terrifically awesome assistant whom I share with two other
colleagues, scheduled a shuttle to take me to the airport and a sedan
service to pick me up next Monday. However, I
was able to move myself to the 6:45am flight to DFW, which gets me in
there in the morning and allows me enough time to drop into my old
office for a bit to see my friends and crash their Thursday morning
executive meeting. Hopefully they will be up for
lunch! Then I will head south down to
Arrowhead for the weekend.
Looks like I am going to be taking a briefcase full of work to Texas, but it will be nice to get away.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2008 - 9:49PM - MOUNT OLIVE, NJ
I did get the flight changed. The weather here is stormy and
horrible - I am concerned about getting out of here at all
tomorrow, much less on time. Right now average flight delays
are over 400 minutes according to the FAA website. I am hoping
that by getting on the early flight I stand a better chance of getting
out of here tomorrow.
I did talk to Mel on my way home - teasing her that it had been raining and in the 60's all day long.
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2008 - 5:30AM - NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT, GATE 88, TERMINAL C
Well, it wasn't a good night at EWR for a whole lot of people who got
stranded here due to the thunderstorms. So far, it looks
like my strategy to get confirmed on the first flight out was a good one
as the original flight I was on at noon is already delayed.
At 4:30am, the lines at the different ticket counters were so long
that Continental provided chairs for people to sit in that stretched as
far as the eye can see. Elite Access... works
for me!!!!!
All sorts of people laying around this place.
So,,I have my fingers crossed that Operation Peacock stays on schedule.
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2008 - 11:30AM CENTRAL - LAS COLINAS, TX
I made it safe and sound to Texas. Flight was amazingly
smooth and ontime. If eel sorry for all of those airport
overnighters though. Got my big blue Ford Explorer from Avis
and now I am at my old office in Las Colinas. Ii surprised the
group here too and was sure to wear my Dallas Cowboys shit.
A few of us are going to go to lunch, then I will be on a call for a bit
before heading down to Arrowhead on the Peacock caper!
Cathy doing ads!
Suzanne - she always smiles like that
Sue - doing important stuff, I am sure. Sue was a great boss.
Jeremy - I left my team in his capable hands and I have not been
disappointed.
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2008 4:00PM CENTRAL - LAS COLINAS, TX
Great lunch with Sue and Jeremy. It is amazing how connected
I still feel to my former colleagues here. They will
always be an important part of my life.
On my way to Arrowhead!!!
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2008 9:15PM CENTRAL - ARROWHEAD RESORT,
WHITNEY, TX
Well, wouldn't you know that I picked the one night that Gary and Mel
had a "Friends of Lake Whitney" meeting, so they were not here when I
drove backwards into their place of business. All of that
planning, down the toilet. Who wudda thunk it? I did
text message them to meet me at the Mexican joint for supper and I don't
think I was taken seriously until I said "SERIOUSLY! I AM HUNGRY"
. These people know what happens with I say that!!
When I got to my place, it has been totally cleaned and was in BEAUTIFUL condition. My sheets were cleaned, carpets cleaned. As far as my friends here knew, I wasn't coming back until Christmas yet they have taken wonderful care of my home. It was it extra special to come back to.
Here is a video round-up of the day. I know its silly,
folks. Just humor me, okay? In one part of the video I
said 680 miles... I mean 16 HUNDRED and 80 miles. I
should have just said - - a HECK of a lot of miles.
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2008 6:36PM - ARROWHEAD RESORT -
WHITNEY, TX
With the exception of a quick breakfast break this morning, I have spent
all day inside the house working. Sometimes connectivity is
a blessing, other times it can be a curse, but it is amazing how much
work one can get done without interruption. But for a couple
of conference calls, I was able to focus and knock a lot of things out
of the way.
Tomorrow I am hoping to head north and meet Eric and Rachel halfway between here and Allen so that we can have lunch and catch up with each other. I also need to make a Wal-Mart run. I have a list of things you just can't buy in the Northeast.
Later this evening I will head over to Mel's Steakhouse for some of her catfish. As I think about how much I miss Mel's cooking, there is actually one beneficiary of my not living so close to this place more - and that is my waistline.
Sadly, my landscape doesn't look too good. The Texas heat has
taken its toll.
It's a full house tonight at Mel's Steakhouse. Check out
the
menu.
This was my office today
SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2008 - ARROWHEAD RESORT, WHITNEY, TX
There are a few things here that I wanted to send back to myself in New
Jersey
so I packed a big box and made a post office run before I headed north
to
Lancaster to hook up with Eric
and Rachel for lunch.
On the way I snapped a couple of pictures of a couple of old landmarks.
Mom worked as a bookkeeper at Stinson Plumbing many years ago
I spent a few nights at Crystal Chandelier many years ago when I was
young
and a little crazy. This was a night club in Lancaster and
it was the first
place I ever saw Garth Brooks and The Judds. Back in
the mid-80's and into
the early '90s, it was the place to go in Southern Dallas Country.
It looks like
it has been closed for quite some time, but back in the day I spent a
lot of
time bootscootin; there.
Me and Eric at Chilis in Lancaster after lunch
Eric and Rachel. Cute couple, huh? Sister
Sarah didn't make it for lunch.
Hope you are feeling better, girl.
On the way back to Whitney and since I was driving through his town of
Waxahachie, I gave Jeff a call on the off chance that he may be at home
and it turned out the whole Landon gang
was at the house working on
their boat. He invited me by for a visit.
We ended up hanging out all
afternoon and going to dinner with the kiddos.
It was an absolutely
great day catching up with my friends.
Katelyn, Ashton, Carlissa, and Jeff
I made it back to Arrowhead in time to spend an hour or so chatting with
Gary and Mel, and enjoyed an awesome piece of Mel's lemon chess pie.
I don't think Mel will mind if I share the recipe with you, even though
I think
it is really classified information. It's too good not to share,
folks. It's the
best lemon pie I have ever had.
Lemon Chess Pie
1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
3
TBL flour
dash of salt
4 eggs
grated zest of 2 lemons
juice of 2 lemons
one 9" deep dish pie crust
Cream butter, sugar, flour, and salt.
Add eggs one at a time, beating between.
Add zest and lemon juice. Consistency should be like thin cake batter. Add up to another tablespoon of flour if it appears to be too thin. The variable is caused by the lemons. Really juicy ones will create the need for extra flour.
Pour into pie crust and bake at 350 until golden brown on top. (about an hour)
I think its best slightly warm.
SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2008 - ARROWHEAD RESORT -
WHITNEY, TX
Some might read my musings about Operation Secret Peacock and find it
odd that I would blog in such random detail about this and all of the
other aspects of the things in my life. Those who are
closest to me, however, would find it strange if I did not.
As I approach the end of this little escape, someone this morning questioned "I bet you don't want to go back to New Jersey tomorrow, huh?" I thought about what one would expect to be an automatic answer. The truth is, yes, I am looking forward to getting back to my daily life in my new environment. I do like it there, and I feel as if I am contributing and needed there. Nothing will ever replace the relationships I have and the connection I feel here in my native state. I would never even try. So, when, from time to time, I need an escape from the daily hustle and bustle of the big city and my corporate world, no one should be surprised when I pop up here again to recharge my batteries and reinvest in the relationships I have here that make me who I am.
In just a few short days, I was able catch up with a whole bunch of people who are important in my life. Unfortunately I didn't get to catch up with Judy and Willie - - there just was not enough time in a single weekend to do it all, but next time I will make that happen. Alyssa, I am sorry we didn't get to see each other today but you are always in my thoughts, and you will be happy to know that I beat your folks at Attack Uno tonight!
My sincere appreciation to Melinda and Gary who are always so welcoming, doting and protective of me and my need to have this second home. Without them it would not be possible. I never have to worry that things are being taken care of here, so even if I only make it down a few times a year for a while, I know things will be perfect when I get here, just as they were this time.
Mel grilling us hotdogs for lunch.
Melinda and Gary - family.
Unless I need a break sooner than December, I will be back, Mom and Beacon in tow, for Christmas. I can't imagine spending such a special time of year anywhere else.
MONDAY, JULY 28, 2008 - DFW INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT
My weekend escape comes to an end as I board my flight back to New
Jersey in less than an hour.
