Waiting to Get There. Usually on the A/C/E in Chelsea, New York City.

My trip to DC went flawlessly and say this in breathless awe. All my trains were on time. No problem with the hotel reservation or the taxis or the shipments of stuff I needed for the conference I was going to. The bonus logistical round began on Wednesday morning. I decided not to head directly to the office. I decided instead to walk to Tribeca and go the Fountain Pen Hospital. This plan to go to the Fountain Pen Hospital was super vital in a non-life threatening way. Here's the crux of the main challenge: The store is not open on the weekends. It is not open evenings.  It is open 7:30-5:30 pm Monday through Friday. Basically, if you don’t work in a five block radius, you have to make a special trip there. And because I’m not a retiree, this required deft time management. The whole idea of going to the Fountain Pen Hospital began when I heard Neil Gamin on the Tim Ferris podcast talking about his fascination with fountain pens. He mentioned this store, which has been...

When I learned about this work thing I needed to attend in Boston, I immediately snapped into action. The work thing required me to be in Massachusetts for a grand total of 18 hours: 4 hours of meetings, a dinner, a good nights sleep, and then home on the train the next morning. Boston -  Destination for the Work Thing I booked a hotel within walking distance of the train station.  Then I decided I wanted to actually walk the walking distance.  Then I made the daring call to *not* take my rolley-bag. I would eschew the rolley-bag. Because simply, who could disagree that rolley-bags on sidewalks suck if you’re going more than like 10 feet? I decided I would take my work backpack and my handbag, which is a tote-style affair. That’s it. And exactly then ... the whole endeavor became a full-on OCD challenge: How do I pack for one night’s stay in Boston with everything I need for work still in my work backpack, but then also manage to stuff in there all I need ...

After a really lovely brunch at Nix with Kate and Renya, I attempted to walk home. All was going well until I hit 5th Avenue. And when I say "hit 5th Avenue" I mean I hit it like a solid wall of humanity completely decked out all manner of gorgeous saris and scarves and golden tassels. Turned out to be the Hare Krishna parade. I had previously not realized how many followers of Hare Krishna there are in the New York City metro area. There did not appear to be any way to cross the avenue. Rolling ever so slowly down the street were these towering red and gold floats with people sitting on them cross legged possibly smoking hookahs. Or maybe it was incense. And all around the floats, flowing over every square inch of the asphalt and sidewalk, a jangle of men, women, children, strollers, kids all marching. Entire family trees turned out for the festivities. So I joined the parade. It might not be the best plan. It might be more a click-your-heels-twice-and-pra...