NY...again

About a week ago I went to NY...again.  I think this was the 10th time this year or so.  Funny part is I still have never really seen the city.  I continue to be committed to the promise I made to Jenny to not tour anything until she could go with me.  So for now, I am content to land at JFK and drive the 30 miles to our office in White Plains...which according to Phoebe Buffet "sounds like such a magical place."  Ben Stein was on the plane to NY.  My request to sit by him was denied and thus he sat 34 rows in front of me.  But I did pass him as I was boarding, nodded my head, he said hello, and I said I loved his old game show.  For those wondering who Ben Stein is just remember "Bueller...Bueller".  With one hour left in the flight I felt the sickness coming.  I made it to the hotel but was up all night (I'll spare the details).  I was out sick for the first time while traveling in almost 4 years.  I had it easy.  My wife also got sick that same night but at the same time so did Matt and Alex our twins.  Alex got so dehydrated he was put in the hospital for the night.  I had it easy being sick in a hotel room with no interruptions.  My wife had to be strong for all three kids while she was just as sick as me.  If anyone could ever hear her tell the whole story about what she went through those 4 days I was gone it would impress you so much.  My wife is not only my best friend, but is one of my real life heroes.  She is relentless when it comes to our family.  Nothing else matters - not even her own health.  I consider myself a very dedicated Dad, but I've got nothing on my wife.  I definitely picked the right woman to marry.  I love you Jenny.

The rest of my trip was a bore but I will say that the global economy being what it is, has brought on a lot of worry and stress in most businesses.  Mine is no exception and unfortunately it means I have to do the part of HR I hate doing - layoffs.  In my 8 years in HR I've grown pretty experienced with this but the timing during the holidays makes this especially tough.  

One more trip this year - Shanghai (again).  I was there in June and hated the city.  But hopefully now that it will be winter it will feel different.  This is my 3rd trip to China in 2 years and this time I plan to buy every boot leg movie I can.  Last time I bought Kung Fu Panda while it was in theaters and the copy was decent enough....Blue Ray even and it only cost me 6 RMB or $.80 cents.  I probably won't go next year as supposedly my travel is supposedly going to be cut drastically...no complaints here.