Winning dirty
(Florida) — The boy was supposed to be napping. He was a sweaty, tired mess. The morning began with meeting a beach Santa in a torrential downpour. When the skies cleared, he led us...
Category: Travel
Oblivious
(Florida) — We found a joint with some character today and went for some po’ boys. The place was packed and played the Beatles. I dug it, including the part where the menu was...
Busted
The foyer of the Greenville Secret Service office was smaller than a decent walk-in closet. A pretty blond sat behind bullet proof glass stuffing envelopes and promising that somebody would be with me in...
Collateral
I’m simply too tired today to write anything that makes sense, so I thought I’d offer something that didn’t make too much sense to me at the time. Last week when I was working...
My exotic life
(G-Vegas, SC)–Back home and barely rested after several days in Las Vegas. You went to Las Vegas? How exciting? Did you see Wayne Newton? Did Elton sing “Tiny Dancer?” Was Paris a slut? I...
Things I’ve seen
(Las Vegas, NV)–It’s 9:15pm. I start work at 10pm. I could be finished at 11pm or 11am. It all depends on whether a scary Russian and maniacal Dane decide to gamble for $4 million...
And to Vegas
(G-Vegas Airport)–The gate agents always look at you with a smile when they see you’re going to Las Vegas. I don’t bother telling them it’s for work. It only leads to the old, “Well,...
Going home to a foreign country
(San Jose, Costa Rica)–The Obama victory celebration in San Jose, Costa Rica was small but dedicated. It started with my partners Dave and Joe convincing the bartender to turn the televisions to CNN. It...
Man without an Election Day
(San Jose, Costa Rica)–It’s late in Costa Rica. I’m here to work. I am among a ragtag group of local Ticos, traveling poker players, and lost gringos who gave up on America a long...
Timeless in Costa Rica
(San Jose, Costa Rica)–The great myth about the business traveler is that he spends a romantic life on the road, sucking the marrow from mythical streets of exotic cities, and running amok in cities...
Passport to Oddville
(G-Vegas airport, 8am)–Leaving is never easy. I needed small bills and raided the boy’s piggy bank for two five spots. I left a Hamilton in their place and then felt guilty enough I gave...
Coming home
I’ve been on the road for ten days or so. I just got home and unpacked the car when I realized I’m leaving again in five days for what is essentially two weeks on...
Fugitive
I play this game sometimes. It’s a product of every bad suspense thriller I’ve ever seen. I’m on the run, shoving clothes in a bag, and jumping into my car with a two-day scruff...
When the tracers are real
I was going 85 miles per hour on I-40 West when I saw it. I was tired. It had been a four-day weekend that saw me up until nearly 4am on every night. I’d...