Tale of Hotels

So with all this traveling, I am seeing some hotels. You know you are at the US Naval Academy when your suite comes equipped with an electric shoe polisher... And then Catherine and I dipped seriously down the food chain in Tempe Arizona at the hotel next to ASU's campus where everything was tired but they hoped it was made up for by the large cage with exotic bird in the lobby. This week, Alison promises me the Grand Hotel Brighton, which will, I am certain, eclipse the others.

Travel

On my way to Baltimore. I had the very pleasant experience of being rung up by Delta to see if I wanted to change to a nonstop flight and be in first class as opposed to coach via Minneapolis. Ummmm, that took a little thought, not. So here I am, perched in my first class seat with the wifi hooked up and having gotten to leave the house three hours later. This meant I could do a snow shoe up Mill Creek with Sam and Craig, a shopping blitz with Catherine and some quality time on 19th century European history with Sam. Yay.

This is the big travel binge. Annapolis (Naval Academy review) till Wednesday, then Thursday thru Saturday in Phoenix, home for two days and then off to UK for Stiff Little Fingers concert and other merriment.

skin

So, I tried the microdermabrasion thing again. Astute readers may recall that the last attempt was before a tense faculty meeting and I attributed the less than happy reaction my skin had to that stress. But, it didn't much like it this time either.

On the subject of skin, I also invested in some very expensive skin care products in December and my skin does not like these either. I heard on the radio today that Jennifer Aniston spends about $8,000 a month on her physical upkeep: products, private yoga, dietician, etc. My modest $200 outlay (products formulated by a Beverly Hills dermatologist) pales by comparison... as does my skin condition.

Poutine

No trip to Canada would be complete without a picture of:

Followed by the robocall scandal that dominated the Canadian news

Ottawa pics

At the National Gallery:

At Randall and Don's local:

Back at the National Gallery:

Walking to dinner:

Things I had forgotten about Canada

1) They have the nicest immigration officers, hands down.

2) A hat is not optional in the winter if you plan to spend any time out of doors. Had to buy one after half an hour of walking today so I could keep going.

3) The amount of salt on the sidewalks is immense. My boots are now sporting the telltale white lines around the edges -- I also don't walk anywhere seriously in SLC so I guess it may be that and not Canadian over-salting...

4) People walk much faster.

5) Many, many men wear backpacks to carry their stuff around with them.

6) Far fewer people seem to be on their mobiles while walking, maybe because it is so cold and they are going so fast?

7) And it isn't even super cold.

odds and ends

"Do you think there is any connection between the amniotic sac and the...." beginning of just one of the scintillating questions @ our Classics job talk.

Heard at our most recent chairs meeting:

"I just had to meet with that very long acronym that kicks back a department's revised RPT guidelines." I like the idea of meeting with an acronym.

And, spotted around the office yesterday: a random woman washing her hair in the kitchen sink with dish soap... When it was suggested that this wasn't really the place... she rinsed and dried off with paper towels and left.