An hour ago, as my plane was taking off from Portland, I noticed from my seat just behind the plane’s left wing how the jet’s exhaust raised a fine mist from rain-soaked runway. I had arrived there about 24 hours prior, before driving two hours to the middle of nowhere so as to be ready for a morning meeting to which I had been invited at the last minute. The meeting proved to be very worthwhile, if for no other purpose than as a quick immersion into a topic which into which I’d have to jump sooner or later. On the two hour drive back from the middle of nowhere to the airport, I had a little time to talk to Jennifer and the kids, getting ready for bed some 2500 miles away in Florida.

I had planned (and still plan) to spend most of the week purging our house of excess junk, moving some furniture, and doing some other covert projects in the house which will be a surprise to Jennifer and the girls. After two long days at work on Thursday and Friday, coupled with the unexpected business trip and some new tasks which have surfaced as a result, I think I will have to pare down the scope of my original plans, but I’m hoping for productive few days at home nonetheless.