International Jetsetter

I've jumped from the frying pan into the fire with my new job. Last summer, I agreed to become project manager in the Americas for the new Lufthansa joint venture/alliance with Air Canada, Continental, and United. In January, my boss was asked take over global sales responsibilities for the project and kick butt because the other four divisions (Germany, Europe, Middle East/Africa, and Asia) have done nothing to get ready for implementation of the program on November 1, 2009. That means he has the authority and I have the responsibility (translated as he gets the glory and I do the work). Consequently, I have been doing things like flying to London on Tuesday night for an all day meeting on Wednesday, fly to Frankfurt for meetings on Thursday, take a bus to Seeheim for a meeting on Friday morning, take a taxi to Frankfurt for a meeting on Friday afternoon, and fly back Friday evening. ET is not a happy camper.

Let's see - China, Tibet, Nepal, India in less than two weeks! Whew! Here's a few pix, in no particular order since I'm not a blog expert, although there's many more. ET

You can't tell but the scorpions are still moving!

Y It is much more beautiful in person!

Sandy's lambchops in Kathmandu!

Did you notice that some of the passengers on top are standing? You should see the bus when it goes around the curves on dirt!

Sonom (our Tibetan guide) and Tse Vang (the most careful and competent driver I've ever seen). Sonom taught himself English (you can tell, but give him credit, he now teaches it) and I understand Tse Vang would lose his job if he weren't so careful - not to mention his life on some of the roads and conditions we encountered).

I guess this is deluxe in Tingri, Tibet (15,000 feet). No running water! Since this is not X rated, I can't show you the sang bo (toilette) - it was duh cha (bad). Let's just say that room at the hotel had holes in the floor that were open to the hillside behind the hotel.

Self portrait above 18,000 feet somewhere between North Everest Base Camp and the next base camp with Qomolongma (Everest) in the background. I had just walked through a herd of some type of antelope.

ET and Qomolongma.

Sandy and Qomolongma.

Sandy and Ernie at 17,000+ feet with Everest in the background.

Ernie eating Tibetan noodles with yak meat - not bad!

Sandy and Ernie at a Tibetan restaurant in Xegar (also Segar or Shegar) at 15,000 feet.

The source of the yak butter.

Sandy's lambchops at the base of a "snow mountain" between Shigatse and Xegar.

Yak butter for sale in Lhasa.

The Chinese Archaeology Institute reveals a newly discovered terracotta warrior!

New York, Toronto, Denver, Beijing

There's a lot happening right now. I've rented an apartment in Roslyn, NY. I guess I really am moving. :-( My junk gets packed and picked up by the movers the day we get back from our trip to China/Tibet/Nepal/India. Yuk! Been traveling a lot this week. Flew home to Denver from New York last Friday, back to NYC on Sunday, Toronto on Monday, back to NYC on Tuesday, home to Denver on Wednesday, and off to Beijing by way of Frankfurt tonight. That will be 7 flights in 8 days. All this flying should come to an abrupt end by November. My new job should only require a trip every month or so rather than every week. I'll try to keep you updated on our trip as we go.

Bored with airplanes!

Getting bored with the seven hour door-to-door commute to Long Island. While the extra money and all the hotel points are nice, I hope it doesn't last too much longer. Anyway, here's some pix from this year (so far). Enjoy!