DL 4506 DFW-JFK; somewhere over the eastern U.S. Partly cloudy.

Are we there yet? Flight number 2 of 4, left Dallas late for a bumpy ride to the northeast through the storm system moving in. Currently bouncing along with about an hour and twenty minutes to go until arrival into New York.

Didn’t get much sleep last night. It was hot, I had to finish packing, I’d had too much to drink at dinner, the dog was snoring, the alarm was set much earlier than it should have been and I had to wake up too often to go to the bathroom.

I’m pleased with the way that the PDO went – with the possible exception of Mehmet’s presentation – although I think it was useful, I also think that most of the usefulness derived from the dissection a number of us did afterwards. Mehmet thought he was being complete, but clearly there was more to the story than he was letting on. He’s very secular/nationalist, and I have to remember that for when we’re in Turkey. It’s a type to identify.

At any rate. The group has gelled nicely, although I’m rather wondering exactly where I fit in to all of this, since I’ve been the Man in Charge for… well, pretty much since the beginning. Now I get to sit back and be a participant like everyone else, and I really hope that’s a smooth transition. Doesn’t help that I’m tired right now and have Gator-ade drying on my teeth.

This day has been going on for so long already that it’s hard to comprehend that it’s only 2:30 in the afternoon in Austin. Oh, look, more clouds. Haven’t seen enough of those already. I’m ready to see some sunshine, and I’m not sure I care about the heat (those words will come back to haunt me, I’m sure.

At any rate. I hope that Ray will do OK and not mope the whole time I’m gone. I wonder how Natalie’s doing. I wonder how this is all going to turn out in the end. Somehow, I think I’ll do all right.

Tags: Travel