North America Round Trip Endgame

All good thing has to come to an end, eventually. The same goes
this trip. On Thursday, it was time to say good bye to Toluca.
One last cab ride to the airport. One last security checkpoint and
I am sitting at the gate waiting for the ride back to the USA.
In summary, the trip was, what I expected. It had some interesting
moments and luckily the work potion of it went very smooth, so I
didn't have to do any last minute fixes, like the last time I was here.
This being the second time I've been to Mexico, I certainly felt more
at ease with the environment, although I would have to say that I
really need to learn at least some basic Spanish, if I'd make the trip
again. Not speaking the local language at all, makes even the simpliest
thing, like taking a cab ride, complicated. Speaking of cab rides,the
last day in the hotel I read some internet article warning of using the
green-white checkered cabs in Toluca, because they are not safe.
Mmmm, all the cabs I took from GM to the hotel were green-white
checkered. They were old, noise smelly, but I didn't feel unsafe.
Blissful ignorance, I guess.....

The flight back was rather uneventful and filled with the typical
travel annoyances. Here are a couple of stand-up comedians, that
pretty much sum up air travel for me:


Jerry Seinfeld: Classic!


Ellen Degeneres. Funny.


So, I made it back to Novi, where I woke up with a couple inches of
snow, putting the country side under a white blanket. And as my car
is sliding down the street, I realize that this trip is over.
Ahhhh, pure Michigan.

Its a Derby!

Since I went to Toluca for business and not just for the pure fun of it,
I have to make the journey from the hotel to GM and back. The first days,
I was driving with Jim, since he was brave enough to rent a car down here.
But he went off to Mexico City to test his driving skills there, leaving me with
the only reasonable choice to get a cab. Fine, no problem. So, as I was
leaving GM tonight, I got lucky that a cab just pulled up to unload some
passengers. My customer was gracious enough the explain to the cab driver
where I needed to be and off we go. The cab was an older style VW Derby,
the back seat was covered with a solid piece of hard foam for 'extra' comfort.
The open windows provided the air conditioning and extra aroma while standing
next to a truck at a traffic light. Although, a traffic light is just a suggestion here.
So while we are zipping through intersections, I am trying to guess my chances
of survival, in case we get hit by a car, truck or bus. Luckily, the cab driver knows
his way around and we driving trough side roads towards the hotel. Traffic in
Toluca is chaotic and I am glad I am not trying to drive myself. After I had
my feet on solid ground again, I was trying to think back the last time I had
such an 'exciting' cab ride. The only other time I can remember was taking
a cab in Prague at night, in an old Russian car, where the driver was trying to
prove, how fast he can go and that brakes are really an optional accessory in
a car.
Ah well, tomorrow is my last day at GM and Thursday I am heading back
to wintry Michigan.

North America Round Trip Part 3

Travel Days are no fun. First, I stayed up all night because I had to catch the
flight to Houston at 6AM. I am checking my boarding pass and I am in the
last row. Worst seat in the house, right next to the bathroom. Super!
So, during the 3 hour flight, I'll get a whiff of Eau de Continental every couple
of minutes. Nice. Changed planes in Houston and
the flight to Toluca was a breeze, until I had to go through customs.
Apparently, the scanner didn't like my little toolkit, so I had to unpack and
show everything, twice, before they were certain I don't pose a risk
to Mexico. Ah well, Jim picked up the rental and asking the manager for
directions to the hotel. "It's easy, just do a U-turn, take the  highway to the
left and in about 5 miles the hotel is on your right." RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHT!.......................
Let's just say it took us more than a couple 'easy' minutes to find it.
But, we made it after all and the day is turning to the better.
First, my room is really big with a huge TV. Second,
I am reading in the FREEP that Detroit is getting a bunch of snow, while I
change into a short sleeve shirt. Sorry, keep your chin up and the shovels
moving. There will be better days.
And last but not least, I had a huge steak at a Argentinian restaurant around 
the corner. Now, I am sitting stuffed to the gills, watching Mexican television.
Mmmmm, maybe travel days are not half bad after all.

North America Round Trip Part 2

Oh Canada! Oh Toronto Traffic!. Ah well, after spending the day teaching
a class at the customer site, it was time to say good bye to Oshawa and
returning to Michigan. Since Donald had the rental, I didn't have to take
the train back, but was looking forward to a 5 hour drive through Ontario.
We were ready to go and turned the car westwards just in time to hit
the rush-hour in Toronto. Beautiful! Nearly 2 hours stop-and-go. 
Great! I had to be back in Windsor before 11PM, because the parking lot
at the train station would close and I still needed my car to drive back
to Novi. So, as we sitting in snarling traffic, I am getting concerned.
Luckily, the pace improved and we hit Windsor around 9. I got in the
car and hit the tunnel to the US. It was a little bit of a weird feeling. I
never had entered the USA by car before. But, the immigrations officer
only had a couple of questions and I was back in Detroit.

Today, I spend pretty much the whole day preparing for the next trip.
Mexico! The plane leaves at 6AM, so I decided to stay up and sleep
on the plane. It will be a hop to Houston and then across the border
to Toluca. I'll keep you posted.

North America Round Trip Part 1

So, I am sitting in a Holiday In in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. I have a training
class to teach tomorrow, so I turn on the laptop and ....................... nothing,
nada zilch, nix, no desktop. F!@#$%K.
OK, calm down, remember Windows 101. When in doubt, use safe mode.
After a couple attempts, the computer finally boots in safe mode
and after another 2 restarts, I got my computer back. Puh, close call.
But from the beginning. I started my North American round-trip today,
which takes me to Canada for two days and then off to Mexico.
Should be fun. For the Canada trip, I tried something different and used the
train from Windsor to Oshawa. Oh boy, first I drove to Windsor, just across
the river from Detroit, passed through the border and parked my car at the
train station. Being used to the German train system, I admit, I've been spoiled,
but the cars had WIFI and the seats were better than in an airplane.
And, being driven throughthe country side at warp speed 60mph is still better
than driving on a highway myself. I made it to Toronto and had to switch
trains, no problem, besides the fact, that people didn't seem to understand my
English accent. Every time I asked "Is this the train to Oshawa", they would
answer in French. Strange. But hey, I made it. Actually, every time I hear
the people speak here, it reminds me of this great Molson Commercial:




Well, tomorrow, I will head back to the US of A and than brush up
my non existing Spanish, because I am going to head South of the Border.

Food: I ate at this great Japanese place here, all you can eat Sushi
and everything, fresh made, from the Miso soup to the Green Tea ice cream.
Awesome!

PACKERS won the Super Bowl!!!

Unbelievable! The Packers actually won
the Super Bowl. After an impressive run
through the playoffs, beating the 'mighty'
Bears in Chicago for the NFC Title,
they also beat the Steelers in the final game
to win it all. WOW!
It has been a long time coming, 14 years
since they won the last time. I remember
celebrating at Water Street in Milwaukee,
skipping class the next day. Good Times!
I have to hand to the Packers though. They had a lot of
injuries, but didn't whine or complain.
They simple played the hand they were given and made
the best of it. Also, a shoutout to the Steelers. They
came back in the second half and made a game of it,
more than I liked actually. But, all's well that ends well.


Movie Update: The Kingss Speech (4/5)
The movie is about King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist Lionel Logue, who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it.

I really enjoyed watching this movie.
Of course, there was no action and
exploding cars, but the acting was just
superb. The movie was well written and
the humor very British. Just an example:



Lionel Logue: [as George "Berty" is lighting up a cigarette] Please don't do that.
King George VI: I'm sorry?
Lionel Logue: I believe sucking smoke into your lungs will kill you.
King George VI: My physicians say it relaxes the throat.
Lionel Logue: They're idiots.
King George VI: They've all been knighted.
Lionel Logue: Makes it official then.

---

The movie has been nominated for a ton of Oscars and it certainly deserves
it. 4 out of 5 Stars from me.