Day 66b: Let's Do The Time Warp Again

Just returned to the Event Horizon, safe and sound. The flight from Tokyo to Chicago was boring and uneventful. At least I think it was -- I slept for most of the way, so I wouldn't really know!

This was my second flight since all the fuss was raised on Christmas Day about security. Perhaps more importantly, it was my first flight into the United States since then. I am happy to say that there was very little added hassle -- the main change was that some very polite Japanese women came into the gate area just before we boarded and conducted very polite checks of our bags and very polite pat-downs of our bodies.

Now that I am home, the kitties here -- both sisters to The Boy -- are quite happy to see me. Stumpy wasted no time in asking for attention, and she is sitting next to me as I type this. Chirp has also gotten some petting and love, though she is much more timid and approaches in her own special way.

I am only in Chicago for about twenty-nine hours, so I do not expect to be online much. As is usual for me, there is a "to-do" list -- with seventeen items on it -- that I want to accomplish in this time!

Before I go, though, I will make one interesting observation. My flight was about twelve hours long; the time change was fifteen hours. Hence, I landed in Chicago about three hours before I departed for Tokyo. This is a known effect when flying from Japan to the United States -- something that I used to do frequently from 1999 to 2003. Still, it has the interesting effect of making this journal entry come before the one that I wrote in the Tokyo airport, before leaving!

Day 66a: Bags Are Packed, I'm Ready To Go

Another collaboration meeting over. This really is a very exciting time for T2K, as we are in the process of turning on our experiment at last! Indeed, by the time of our next meeting, in April, we should actually have some [very preliminary] results! Getting to that point is going to take a lot of work... so I anticipate the next three months being insanely busy. Also exciting and fun!

I am writing this entry whilst sitting in Narita Airport and waiting for my flight from Tokyo to Chicago. The amusing thing about flights from Japan to the United States is that, due to the large time difference, one actually lands a few hours before one departs! Thus, I expect to be in Chicago about two and a half hours ago!

This flight marks the beginning of the end for my current trip -- I am now reversing my travels to retrace a path back to Oxford. I leave Japan shortly and return to the Event Horizon for Monday and part of Tuesday. Then it is back to New York City for Tuesday evening and Wednesday. Finally, on Thursday, I fly back to Sunny Olde England and return to Oxford, the Flat With No Name, my kitties, and my beloved cheshcat.

Although I have been to Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom all in the same week more than once before, I realised that this will be the first time that I make both a trans-Pacific and a trans-Atlantic flight in the same week! That makes for a nice little start to the new decade!

Looking in my wallet last night, I realised that the contents accurately reflect my coming week. Six bills[*] within -- none of which are the same -- representing the "coin of the realm" for three different countries. Take a look for yourself:

I'm all right, Jack, keep your hands off of my stack!


As long as travel is on my mind, this may be a good place to summarise what my major plans are for 2010. Of course, Robbie Burns may strike at any moment -- so consider this all subject to change. Still, looking forward from the start of the year, this is where in the world one might expect to find everyone's favourite Nomad[**]:

Jan 01 - 03: Chicago, USA
Jan 04 - 11: Tokai, Japan
Jan 11 - 12: Chicago, USA
Jan 12 - 13: New York City, USA
Jan 15 - 17: Ironbridge, UK

Feb 01 - 05: Liverpool, UK
Feb 06 - 07: Manchester, UK
Feb 08 - 12: Liverpool, UK
Feb 12 - 14: Chester, UK

Apr 19 - 30: Tokai, Japan

May 01 - 03: Seoul, Korea
May 28 - 37: Scotland, UK

Jul 09 - 27: USA (various locations)

Aug 06 - 16: Japan (various locations)
Aug 17 - 23: Tokai, Japan
Aug 25 - 30: BiCon (London, UK)

Oct 01 - 17: USA (various locations)

Dec 23 - 31: USA (various locations)

Again, this is all a very rough snapshot of current plans. Travel later in the year needs to be refined in terms of both dates and specific locations. Existing plans are always subject to change... and, of course, other plans will certainly be added to this list as the year develops. Still, from this early January perspective, this is an outline of what 2010 looks like for me.

Speaking of travel, it looks like boarding is about to begin for my flight. So time to hop on board, gentle readers! See you on the other side!

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[*] Or "notes", if you prefer.

[**] Usual haunts like Oxford, London, and Ringstead have not been included on this list except in the case of a special event (e.g., BiCon). This list is for travel, not for where I normally hang out!