Hotlanta

It's a tough job, but I had to go to Atlanta for meetings on midnight regulations. I've never been so subject to politics before, and I must say, I don't like it even if it does include a free trip to Atlanta. Surprisingly, the presentation was well-done, but the message was NOT to my liking. I was told that legal types are ready to go to court to ask for an injunction the day the regulations are published. Since these types of cases are file in the DC circuit, word is that they will probably win... which will make my trip to Atlanta just a junket. I didn't have much time. I got to tour CNN. I was amazed at how small the place where they actually did the election night coverage with all those millions of people is. I was looking for something interesting to eat and saw a menu posted on the outside of the building with soething called Twisted Macaroni with Cheese and Chicken that sounded interesting to me, and kind of like comfort food. I walked in to the restaurant to discover that I had wlked in to a Hard Rock Cafe. I would have never chosen the place if the menu outside had night tempted me. When I am in a different place, I always like to find the local hot spots that are NOT chains! It's still quite do-able. I was at the Peachtree Center also. I had planned to do some Christmas Shopping there, but was uninspired because it was just like a mall in Baltimore. I think part of our problem with the American economy is that all of our malls are the same now. We don't support little people, just giant conglomerates with glitzy displays in malls. Now, for my reading material for this trip, I picked up Animal, Vegetable, Miracle which is the book about one family's effort to survive for a year solely on local food stuff that they either grew or traded with other local farming families. I was remembering my farming roots. I was remembering my aunt saying that they didn't know anything about the depression because they always had enough food and there was always plenty of work on the farm. I think the Wall Street debacle shows clearly that many Americans have lost their grip on reality. Why else would I have to go to Atlanta for meetings on midnight regulations that may get stopped in court? And then there is the question of did I enjoy my flight? Flying is great for time, but other than that,it is deadly dull. And I think we've really gone overboard with security. I really absolutely resent that travelers have no choice but to buy food and drink in the airports where they jack the price up for everything. There is definitely something wrong when an industry (and the government) assumes that everyone is rich and will pay higher prices for food, just because they happen to have an airline ticket. Hey, after, all, I don't even pay for my ticket, you do! But guess what. I don't think I've ever seen a homeless person or a welfare queen trying to get a seat for a short flight. Atlanta is good for walkers. I never knew it before. It's hilly! Oh, and the subway runs through rock. The station I had to use to get to and from my hotel was chiseled out of rock and left exposed for all to see. I liked that! BUT, Atlanta was NOT hot for this visit. It was cold and windy, just like it was when I left and when I returned to Baltimore. I was hoping for the milder southern breezes and temperatures. NOT this trip!