# Sitting in O'Hare

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♬ Merciful Fate - 9
# It's been a long week

## Part one - the northeast

The first part of my weekwas spent in Adams, Massachussets. I flew into Albany, New York on Sunday. Oddly, this location's scenery reminded me of Colorado around the Glennwood Springs/Aspen area. Not an exact match, but it reminded me of it strongly. It makes sense since this too is a ski area.

I stayed in a high rise hotel. Odd since I was in the small town of Pittsfield. I never expect to see a high-storey building in a small town. This hotel was very hostile to its guests especially with the parking situation. The parking garage was closed "for renovations." I put that in quotes because there were no construction workers to be found the entire time I was there. The available parking was a block away at a bank. They "offered" valet service for the parking. I put that in quotes because the valet service started at 0730 and I had to be out and about before that every single day I was there.

Due to this and the musty smell of the hallways, I checked out as soon as I got off work on Tuesdy, drove to Albany and checked into a hotel near the airport.

I worked at a plant that was part of a mine while in Mass. Mine folk are strongly reminiscent of oil patch folk. I really enjoyed the guys I worked with.

## Part two - the midwest

I flew on Wednesday to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I am not typically a fan of the midwest in general. I was born in Ohio, but ultimately never lived in the midwest due to being an army brat. However, after being in the northeast, the midwest seemed a lot less foreign. The accomodations in Cedar Rapids were not memorable. This is a typically a good thing.

The guys I worked with in Iowa were typical blue collar men. Nothing stuck out to me, but everything was pleasant and time moved quickly.

## Part three - homeward

I am flying home to spend the weekend with my family. I know this time off will seem too short. Next week I am leaving the country, flying to Calgary to another mine. After all the downtime (vacation and end of year company shutdown) between Thanksgiving and New Years, since has been go-go-go. Not bad, not good, merely a current state.