I’m at 30,000 feet somewhere over Alabama, on my way to Houston, Texas.  Hewlett-Packard is sending me and Ginger Waters to a conference at their expense.  It’s a shame they couldn’t back this up a couple of days and included a couple of tickets to a football game cum strip show.  At least we’re staying at the same hotel that housed the Panthers, assuming it’s still in piece.

So far the flight’s been fine.  It was overcast in SC, but it’s clear now, and I’m keeping one eye out the window for the Mississippi, and one eye darting to the right at the insanely attractive woman sitting next to me. I spotted her while Ginger and I were waiting to board, and was pleasantly surprised when she sat next to me.   I’ll try to be discreet.

Apart from what I’ve already stated, I have no clue what this conference is about.  I know we’re supposed to visit the old Compaq campus sometime during the trip, but for all I know, this could be a week-long sales pitch.  I guess we’ll find out when we get there.

Later…

Well, we made it.  There was no one to meet us at the airport, so we hopped on a Wyndham Hotel shuttle and rode to what we thought was the place where we are staying.  Fortunately, they had a room for us.  Two, in fact.  Two very, very nice rooms, in fact.  In addition to hosting the Panthers last week, this week it’s hosting about 700 people from some pipe company that are on their way to Iraq for a year.  I don’t see to many happy faces.

After dinner, Ginger and I walked across the street to the mall.  It’s dying, much like Greenville Mall, and has lots of big empties.  Also, almost every sign was in Spanish.  We were able to find some really cheap Superbowl souveniers.  For example, ball caps that featured the Patriots cost $32.50, but generic Super Bowl caps went for $4.00.  As far as I can see, there was no difference in hats.