Home reflecting — a status update I posted that I thought was worthy to share.

Ever look back and have a song stuck in your head from the previous year? Maybe you are in the car and feel you need to hit your fists against the ceiling in a specific way to go with the beat of a particular song of 2012? Take a look at these two videos posted online to reflect back on the music that formed 2012. Take a listen and don’t forget, to listen to music LOUD! 

2012 Music Mashup – performing the songs, one word, IMPRESSIVE

2012 Music Mashup – mixing the videos. Great bonus, names the song being played in the foreground and as a background track. 

Enjoy, any bring back any memories to your personal timeline of 2012?

Since living in Hawaii I have always had a hard time sleeping. It might have been the hot temperatures and no air conditioning but it is something that has followed me since. Adding the travel in my life only added to the difficulty of sleeping. While in Chicago, a neighbor asked if I had tried an eye mask. I assumed the woman must have been crazy, but on the side I purchased one from Brookstone.  It was a welcome relief for my eyes and something I would use each day since.

With the start of the year, out with the old, in with the new – meet my new bed buddy! It accompanies my Tempurpedic bed fittingly. Jennifer F at work mentioned it and while I was skeptical, it by far is the best eye mask on the market. The Velcro makes it a perfect fit, and the eye area is built outwards, where I can open my eyes and see darkness. Over the holiday season, I managed to sleep in until the late morning, and it was because this awesome product. It may have looked funny flying on the plane last week in London, but when I wake up rested and have a day before me, it really doesn’t matter. Though I do recommend a few glasses of champagne to start off any flight. If that’s not an option, Jack and Coke Zero can help things out.

Tempur-Pedic amazing Eye Mask

Thanks Jennifer F, time to call it a day and get a restful night’s sleep.

Today marked the 150th anniversary of the London Tube System. After being back in the city for almost a week, it truly is one of the easiest to navigate and supports such a massive infrastructure of a major metropolitan city. What makes it even better is its connection to the various train stations, connecting passengers to destinations around the country and continent. For the Details – click here -

Google Celebrates London Tube’s 150th Birthday

BlueBoar London

A chilly evening in London , compared to the last two evenings. Very glad to have enjoyed Winter Wonderland with Susanne on Saturday. Jet lag remains strong today, must wake up early tomorrow – not an option, 7:30 start.

The InterContinental Westminster
Is fantastic, pictures to come soon. Cheers!

Greetings from Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, SkyClub.

In between flights from Richmond to Memphis.

Hard to believe the last update I made was back on 11-Sep-2012. My resolution for the year was to Reduce The Noise, which unfortunately this blog took part in it. I will give some updates soon about my accomplishments and progress towards my goal but I thought I’d reflect back on the last 2 weeks.

Many years ago, I used to travel out of the country for my Birthday / Thanksgiving week. It always seemed like an opportune time to enjoy emptier planes and lower fares. This tradition ended a year or two ago, but this year became one of a new tradition, which I have embraced.

The typical year end countdown to use up my vacation began early on in December. My last day of work was Monday, the 17th of December. I took off the week before the holiday which I found allowed me to enjoy the magic of the season more, reduce stress and tie up lose ends for the holidays. With Christmas shopping done, chores around the home complete, the season was in high gear and I felt ahead of it finally.

Asheville, NC is a 3.5 hour drive from Atlanta but a place I enjoy to escape to. This year, I was fortunate enough to enjoy the Biltmore with Sean. The estate was setup decadently for the holidays, and it was a beautiful. The weather had a chill in the air and the Crowne Plaza Asheville remains a wonderful location close to the city but off the beaten path. Dinner at the Red Stag was fantastic, and summing up the night with the CandeLight tour commenced the weekend. The following day we explored with the Butler’s Tour and Architecture Tour. Unfortunately our guides this time around were lack luster to put it very kindly. They shared very little information, on some of the most simple things. Our last tour guide took us to the stairway and vanished, I guess the tour was over.

Biltmore exterior during the Achitectural Tour

Unfortunately one tradition could not continue, Irish Coffee at the GrovePark Inn. According to the valet attendant, new management took over and non hotel guests are only allowed to visit Monday through Thursday. The Inn also charges for parking now, which we were fine to pay for however we were given no option but to be asked to leave. This is unfortunate, and coming from hospitality, a bit airing of dirty laundry of the New Management.

The time is drawing close to board my next flight to Memphis, where I will share a bit more of my 2012 New Tradition.

Enjoying Helen today and as it approaches to 1am, I have spent a few minutes of time reflecting on that day in history, 9/11. A day that for our generation will be paramount similar to where were you during Pearl Harbor or when JFK was shot. No doubt you remember where you were when you heard the news, but my story I often try not to think about as it all seems too surreal to fathom.

My good friend is a flight attendant for United Airlines, at the time we had all plans to visit NYC, explore the city, and return home on 9/11. Through my connection with Hilton, I managed to secure a Junior Suite at the Hilton WTC (the narrow black building you see in many photos). The room was situated some 49 floors above the city, this would be my first trip to NYC. The excitement built. Flying on a buddy pass is not always easy, our odds were much better to travel through Newark.

Where I spend some time pondering, we were to spend the night in NJ, and fly home from Newark on Flight 93. This all would have occurred had one thing that summer not change. Dr. Bhatia, my stats professor refused to let me take my final early. The professor was clear that taking any test early could potentially harm others knowing the questions being asked, and the validity of his tests.

Looking back, who could possibly think that his eagerness to not let me depart for NYC as planned, would forever change my path. With the last minute change in plans, the hotels were changed to check into the WTC Hilton on 9/12. I awaited for my vacation to start, and spent the night prior in San Diego.

Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) – Alan Jackson,  Written in memory of 9/11

Where was I on 9/11? I awoke at the Hilton Mission Bay to hearing fighter jets flying over the hotel. It seemed so unusually loud and eerie. I turned the TV on, and the hotel information TV noted “Due to Presidential Order, all airports are closed”. I thought, this couldn’t be possible, why would they be closed. I called the Front Desk, in which the Front Desk agent in a very somber voice, said “yes, yes sir, they are closed”. I thought to myself, how strange and will this impact my vacation to NYC tomorrow (9/12).

I walked to the desk in the room and turned on my cell. My phone quickly lit up, voicemail box was full. Several messages were marked urgent, the first I heard was from my father.

“Hey Doug, it’s Dad, you may have not seen it yet, turn your TV on, there has been a terrorist attack on an airplane in NYC, I Love you”

The messages after that from my dad was a blur. Messages were left from colleagues, unbeknownst I changed NYC dates, frantically asking where I was, if I was okay. I changed the channel on the TV, to see footage of the second tower to start falling. The TV came up, and I fell off the side of the bed and sat on the floor, weeping. I had no clue to understand, how could someone do that in the US. Imagining the people in the building, the jumpers, the planes igniting so quickly as they passed through the building. The families on the news, asking if they found their loved one, to please, please call. Pictures of brothers, firemen, employees, EMTs, etc.

Here is a video you may not remember, from Budweiser Superbowl saluting 9/11.

With my travel and love of aviation ever increasing through the years, 9/11 has continued to grow to be more of something I accept but at times, cannot imagine. Imagining those on the planes, altitude dropping so quickly, and the unforgettable flight 93. Looking back on that day that forever changed the world, I pause in a moment of reflection and appreciation of those that lost their lives for our freedom. I pass along the memory of that day, and my love and support to those who have left us as a result of these acts.

Last month, during a work trip to NYC, we toured the 9/11 Tribute under construction. Besides the buildings being beautiful, the tribute site itself was moving. From the names of the flights, towers, pentagon and the previous attempt on WTC, to the lone tree that survived the collapse, and then survived the bad weather in the nursery. The church directly next to the WTC has some memorabilia that is most moving, and will make you heart cry for the families that posted the search papers and pictures.

9/11, it may have passed but it will never be forgotten.